Chapter 4 - Reflection

Alexander could clearly hear the sounds of a fortress city at work through the walls of The Bane as they walked. He expected to hear others sparring and did notice the occasional clanging of metal striking metal. It was somehow soothing to him, almost familiar, but the occasional taunt from filled cells that they passed by roughened his mood again.

They walked a while without saying a word to each other until Alexander asked, "Who is The Warden?"

His escort quickly responded with. "The Warden is Gorge Steelforge, Iron Legion."

"And you are?"

"Fera Heartsplitter, Blood legion."

Alexander scrunched up his face. "Your surnames are odd."

She grunted and took her helmet off to hold it under her arm, the other still held the end of his chains. "A Charr's surname represents their warband and skill."

"Hmm… That has some merit." He thought for a while as they walked, ignoring the jeers and taunts still coming from the cells they passed. Humans weren't commonplace or well liked here.

Just as he opened his mouth to ask another question, Fera stopped and gestured towards a barred cell, "Here we are."

The door was already open and Alexander waited for his restraints to be removed before walking in. It was a smaller cell with a high barred-window and a decent bed, but most important were its barred walls, giving neighboring cells a clear view into one another. He could already picture Caeda resting in the cell neighboring his and grimaced.

Fera spoke again as she closed his cell door, "Be careful around her Alexander. Ripstep is known to be violent."

He nodded and rubbed at his neck, "I can feel why."

Fera gave him a surprisingly warm smile and left the same way they had come.

'She's pleasant' Alexander thought as he walked over to sit on his new cot. 'Pleasant…' He assumed a thinking position and began working his mind through ways to return home.

Some ideas were clearly better than others, 'Sneaking away could work, fighting wouldn't, not while injured.' but they all ended with the same problem, each plan was missing someone to help him through when one person wasn't enough, someone with more muscle. 'The guards, Fera..? No. The Warde-no, not at all. Caeda…' He sighed deeply. 'Of all the options...'

Time ticked by as the noise echoing through the halls of the prison fluctuated. He thought about his mother in Ebonhawke and hummed a quiet prayer for her. 'Please stay strong, you're in good hands. I'll bring back Roran and find father, for all of us.'

'Whatever it takes.' He leaned far forward and brought his brows together in deep thought, winding his way back a few days and humbling himself with a reminder of his capture, 'Hunted like a rabbit, but I took one down.' He shuddered briefly as he remembered the malicious grins on his hunters' faces.

He had left Ebonhawke alone on a personal mission, leaving behind friends and his remaining family in search of his missing brother and father. The journey ended with him face-down in the dirt, pinned under a dead charr and caught by its friends. He couldn't tell why he was imprisoned rather than enslaved like most other humans, but he had other matters to worry about.

And one of those matters could be heard coming down the hall, thumping through the corridor accompanied by the clank of her chains. Alexander shuffled to the end of the cell's bed and leaned forward to sneak a peek.

The thumping stopped and was replaced by the sound of an armored figure walking, Alexander froze and waited.

First was the puff-tailed guard, chains in one hand and a ring of keys in the other. Then he saw Caeda, who was walking at the same speed as her escort but moved like a leopard stalking its prey, in absolute silence. Alexander leaned back surprised, 'She heard me?'

He leaned forward again to see her shadowing the guard. Her eyes locked on his as she held her head steady, claws already bared. Alexander straightened out and gave her a concerned look in response.

The guard opened her cell door and she crept inside with her restraints still on, never breaking eye contact with Alexander. The guard let out a harsh chuckle and locked the door behind her before heading further down the hall.

Alexander opened his mouth to speak, but her lips curled back in a silent snarl and he hesitated, mouth hanging open.

She spoke first, "I almost wish I killed you when I had the chance."

Alexander closed his mouth and frowned. "In the mine? Almost?"

"In the mine, in our cells, during sparring, any time you were in reach." She began gesturing wildly, "The only reason you're not a crimson smear on the wall or decorating my claws, yet, is because The Warden likes you."

He hesitated again, shuddering slightly before saying. "I'd like to say that I'm sorry." It was sincere, not at all heartfelt, but sincere.

She started to smirk but her snarl took over as she made a mock swipe at her throat, "I'm sure you are."

Alexander's concern turned into disappointment and he narrowed his eyes. "I'm sorry I insulted your warband, I didn't intend to." He started to gesture with his injured arm, but stopped himself as it ached with the movement, "If I truly cared for my health, would I really insult you as often as I do?"

Her expression softened and she questioningly raised one brow before returning to her snarl and saying. "Yes, because you're a fool who likes to run his mouth and rely on the protection of others."

Alexander's expression turned into a full glare and he stood up. "I may run my mouth but I do not let others handle my problems for me. I've dedicated my life to protecting others and will not have my efforts trivialized by some rage-driven beast!"

"Protecting others huh? And how have you done that?" Her smirk returned, now she held the reins.

"I joined the Ebon Vanguard so I could keep my friends and family safe from the fiends beyond The Hawkgates." Saying the word fiends with some force.

Her tone changed, a mix of venom and vague respect seeping in. "And how do you plan to do that from a cell, Vanguard?"

He broke eye contact and stared at the space between them, searching for an answer.

Caeda's smirk grew and she took a seat, waiting for him to speak.

"I suppose I don't. But I hope to bring those that left back to safety."

"They're already caught, nothing gets past the patrols that comb Charr lands."

He looked down and sighed, "Then I'll have to find them and take them back once I get out of here."

Caeda started to laugh, but she stopped herself and looked at Alexander with honest curiosity. "You have no idea where you are, do you." Spoken like a statement rather than a question.

Alexander looked up, confused. "In a different prison, one that trains fighters?"

She nodded. "We're being held near The Bane, an arena for settling differences and hosting entertainment." Then she shook her head. "Which is in the Black Citadel..."

Alexander visibly blanched, "The Black Citadel? The scrap stronghold built on the ruins of Rin?" He thrust his face into one hand and let out a long groan, "All because we fought in the mine."

She growled out, "That was a terrible move. You're lucky I was feeling groggy then or I would've taken that arm." Thrusting a point at the sling.

The color came back to his skin and he started shouting, "Lucky!? I'm stuck in a damned forge fortress with a particularly hellish Charr who hates my guts as my only remote ally!"

Scattered laughter sounded from some of the various cells not far from his, including Caeda's.

He sat back down and hung his head. "Laugh away, I still took a round from you with just one arm."

Caeda shook her head and flashed him an amused smile, "You're a spirited mouse, brave. I like that."

He shrugged off the comment and lied down on his good side with a grunt, closing his eyes and resting.