A/N: And here is chapter three! In which we find Albel can pull off a tutu and still look fierce and prove that he actually has some heart no matter how fierce he thinks he is. Does that make any sense at all? No? Oh well. I'm going on vacation next week so I can reevaluate my sense drive then. XD
Disclaimer: I don't own Albel…and if he was real, he'd throttle me and disembowel me just for THINKING about putting him in a dress.
"So, fool," Albel growled. "Have you been doing anything at all or are you still completely devoted to the bastard king?"
Fayt sighed heavily. It was the evening of the coronation. No, he hadn't really been working on his plan, but it had only been a day. He hadn't had too much free time to think things over.
Albel paced impatiently about the room. The black gown had been substituted for a frilly pink dress that looked ridiculously childlike on Albel. Although it fit perfectly, it was far more suited for a young princess than a supposed future queen. Albel had kicked off the matching pink slippers and was walking barefoot. Fayt watched as Albel completed a full circle of the room.
Albel scowled and put his hands on his hips. "Well?" he demanded. "I'm waiting for an answer."
Fayt sighed. "Well, all I know so far is that you have six guards watching the outer door. They open the door for me and let me in. Then they just sit right inside the outer door. I'd really expect them to sit right outside the inner door, but I guess they figure they can catch you before you make it out into the hallway."
Albel frowned. "You're right. They should be guarding the inner door, where I am."
Fayt shrugged. "Unless they're just concerned with keeping out people who might conspire with you."
Albel smirked. "Well then, they failed. If they're that far away, it means you and I can talk freely without being overheard."
Fayt frowned. "They're not that far away. It's just few extra feet of space."
Albel shrugged. "But it's unlikely that they would hear me talking. If they heard me say a thing, they'd know the charade was up and they'd have to rush in and convince you I'm a spy and ban you from the place. This way, they don't have a clue we're discussing escape right under their ignorant noses."
Fayt nodded. "I just wish I knew what to discuss."
"Well, I'll do the talking then and tell you exactly what you need to do." He pointed a glittering pink finger at Fayt. "You need to either poison or drug those six guards so I can leave this cursed room. Then you need to get me out through the castle and out the gates without us both getting caught and killed. If the gate is heavily guarded, you may need to drug a few of the sentries there as well. There's only so much I can do against armed guards without a weapon." He looked thoughtful. "Another thing you can do is smuggle me in some sort of weapon. A sword would be nice but I can't afford to be picky."
"It sounds easy enough," Fayt agreed. "I can taint the food before I deliver it to the guards. I could try to bring you a weapon, but I know once you're freed you'll probably kill everyone in sight. Keep in mind that I have friends here, friends who have done nothing to you and know nothing about the situation."
Albel rolled his eyes. "Don't worry, fool. If your friends stay out of my way, they won't get hurt. After all, they will probably run and hide from the man with the sword. The soldiers on the other hand, will oppose me and I will cut them down where they stand." He laughed wickedly.
Fayt sighed. "So, I'll drug the six guards and then slip you a sword if I can find one. I really don't know if I can get access to any weapons but I will try. I can plan for your escape tomorrow night when most of the servants will be in bed to avoid casualties."
Albel nodded. "I'll be ready." His fierce expression softened slightly. "If you want, I can take you with me. Your king will be very angry after losing me and he is likely to make life miserable for the whole castle."
Fayt smiled sadly. "I'm used to it." He rolled up a sleeve and demonstrated the bruises on his arm and lifted up the back of his shirt so Albel could see the scars from when he had once been whipped. "At least this time I'll be punished for something. Usually we get kicked around for no reason at all."
"I see," Albel said quietly. "You know your king is an evil wretch that mistreats his people. But I cannot help you if you don't want to help yourself."
Fayt smiled and shook his head. "I'll be fine. I know it's not a great life, but I choose to be here. I'm not a captive. If I truly hated my life, I would have run away a long time ago."
"Fine," Albel huffed. "Be ready tomorrow night. I want to get out of this place."
"Tomorrow night," Fayt repeated to himself as he gathered up the empty dishes from Albel's dinner.
After Fayt slipped out the door, Albel sighed heavily and saw down on the edge of the bed. He didn't like relying on anyone else. Fayt seemed like a decent person, naïve and idealistic. Albel had no doubt that Fayt would try very hard to help out. Whether or not he would be caught, however, was yet to be seen. Fayt wasn't exactly the smartest young man Albel had ever met. He was far too sheltered in his life of servitude. There was a big chance Fayt would somehow mess up the rescue operation and get caught. He didn't seem to realize how much he was risking. If the king even suspected Fayt at all, he could be accused of treason. Life would not simply go back to normal once Albel was gone. King Vox would want Albel back and he would want to make the man who had helped him get free pay. If Fayt fled with him, his guilt would be clear, but at least he would be safe.
The door creaked open slowly. Albel cast a swift glance in its direction. A sneer spread across his face as the six guards filed into the room, followed by King Vox. "So, ready to be humiliated again?" Albel taunted. "Since you're certainly not man enough to take me yourself, your miserable dogs should help you. After all, I bet the king doesn't want to get his hands dirty fighting a woman. Oh yes, he needs all six men to hold me down or he'll never get what he wants."
"Silence," Vox snarled. He adjusted the collar of his royal robe and thrust his nose in the air. "I can handle you myself. You're all talk. Just a skinny little savage in a skirt. You talk tough, but you won't be able to resist me forever. I will break you and make you realize your own insignificance." He flung his arms out dramatically and let his robe swish about his body. "As you see, I am now the king and the ultimate authority. You cannot defy me."
Albel laughed. "How very like a spoiled little noble you are. Just because you are king I will not surrender and fawn over you like a brainless worm. You are in the wrong. Your show of power has no influence over me. My people are a people unto themselves. We swear no allegiance to you. You marched into our village, insulted me and my looks and then expect me to obey your every command? Ha! How could I be broken by such a man?" Albel threw his head back and let out another bark of laughter.
Vox's eyes narrowed in rage. "Silent, insolent wench. I'll be doing you a favor by putting you in your place."
Albel looked amused as Vox stomped across the room towards him. Albel crouched down and waited until he had gotten close and then brought his leg up to kick Vox right in the nose.
Vox staggered backwards, holding a hand under his bleeding nose. He swore loudly. "You'll pay for that, wench!"
Albel smirked and dropped back into a fighting crouch. "Ready to give up yet or do I need to knock out a few teeth? Obviously you can't take me on your own. Maybe if your six slugs hold me down you can get a decent punch in. Isn't it time to admit your shortcomings? Unless it's seven against one, you have no hope of hurting me."
"I'll deal with you later," Vox snarled. He wiped at his nose and scowled at the blood. He stormed out of the room, the guards following closely behind.
Albel snickered and straightened up. He laughed to himself as he flopped across his luxurious bed. Vox was an idiot who thought far too highly of himself. Yes, he had captured Albel, but his henchmen had done most of the work. Without their help, he had no hope of restraining him. Yet he was determined that he could pin Albel down and make a woman out of him. As long as he was determined to do it on his own, he would fail every time.
