Dishonored

Chapter Twenty One: Kingsparrow Island

Esma had certainly been correct about it being a better choice to enter Kingsparrow Island at night, since that night was one of the darkest that Dunwall had seen in a while, but that was due to the storm that was forming. Thick clouds blocked the moonlight, and the heavy winds that came along with the hard pouring rain masked the noise of Samuel's boat approaching, but the storm itself was also hindering them as much as helping, due to the darkness and waves.

"I'm glad you're here, Samuel." Corvo said just over the wind. "I wouldn't want to try this on my own."

"Aw, this is just a light drizzle." The old boatman called back as a wave moved them several feet up for a moment. "Don't worry, I can already see the lamps on the island."

Holding up his hand to block the rain, the former Lord Protector squinted to see the small lights in the darkness ahead, and wished that he hadn't lost Pierro's mask, so that he could still get a closer look at things that were far away. Of course, on the wish list was the collapsing sword, folding crossbow, and pistol that he had been carrying since the prison… Esma had been able to give him a new sword from her father's things, but they had agreed that a pistol would be too loud… since any attention brought to himself could endanger his daughter.

"Hold on tight, now, Corvo." Samuel called, slowing the boat's motor. "I'm gonna try to get us close to the rocks without crashing… pretty sure I can do it."

With the amount of light they had, and the storm, it was a miracle that the old boatman was able to get as close to the island as he did, so Corvo didn't complain about having to walk through a couple feet of water to the shore. However, before he could leave, Samuel made sure to tell him good luck, as well as asking the former Lord Protector to give his best to Emily, since after this was all over, the little girl probably wouldn't have time for silly old boatmen anymore.

"Oh, and just one more thing, Corvo… just between us." Samuel continued. "When we were at the Boyle Estate… did, you know… you, with, uh… Esma and Lydia… did that really happen?"

"I told you before, Samuel, a gentleman doesn't discuss such things." Corvo replied. "Now, go on, get back to the mainland before the storm gets too rough."

The old boatman laughed and shook his head before starting away, quickly vanishing into the darkness that surrounded the island, and leaving Corvo to begin navigating his way toward the lighthouse. The good news was that it was the tallest and most illuminated thing on the island, but the bad news was that the rest of the island was barely illuminated at all, allowing him to see the shapes and shadows of rocks and other obstacles just enough to avoid… most of them.

As suspected, there were guards patrolling, but they tended to stick to paths that took them near where the few lights were located, whereas the former Lord Protector was free to find his way through the darkness. Okay, truth be told, after about the tenth time of tripping over a rock or whatever, and eating the dirt, Corvo started to consider that maybe it would be a better idea to stick to the lighted paths, himself.

What he needed was a better way to sneak through toward the lighthouse, and that opportunity presented itself during the next patrol through the nearest area. Having done guard duty, himself, once upon a time, Corvo knew that in times of severe weather, when foot patrols were required, the guards would draw lots to see who had to do it. Then only one of them got soaked, while the others relaxed in the buildings, because after all, who in their right mind would be out looking for trouble during a storm?

Just like in the old days, it was only a matter of time before a single guard came walking down the path of lights, barely paying attention, and focusing only on how long it would take for him to get back into the dry building. Unfortunately for the guard, his return was going to be delayed indefinitely, as the former Lord Protector crept up behind him between lights, and brought the hilt of his sword down on the back of the guard's head with a loud whack!

For the simple plan that Corvo had to work, he needed to make sure not to kill the guard, at least not with a blade, since blood on the uniform would give him away, when he used it to sneak through. So once the guard had collapsed, he wasted no time in removing the uniform, getting dressed, and then kind of rushing back down the row of lights. He could see lights on through windows, and the entrance wasn't very far away, but in such small units where all of the guards knew each other's faces, there was only one way to get past them.

"Wet enough out there for you, Pete?" The first one laughed as he entered. "Still raining, eh?"

Instead of responding, Corvo ducked his head down, rushing right past him while holding his stomach and groaning as if he were in pain. Understanding this universal sign, the others quickly cleared out of the way, even holding the door to the bathroom open for him, before laughing and returning to their card game. However, immediately after entering the bathroom, Corvo ducked out again before the door closed, and continued down the hall unnoticed.

So far, so good, he thought as he followed the corridor through the building. Without knowing the layout of the island, the only thing that the former Lord Protector had to go on was the general direction of the lighthouse. With the storm now raging outside, and all of the guards playing cards near their posts, since they knew that no one could get in while they were all sitting there, the only thing stopping him from finding his way to Emily was the fact that there were no directory signs in this place.

"Hey, why aren't you at your post?" A voice said from behind. "The Lord Regent wants one hundred percent security at all times."

"Right, that's why I'm here." Corvo replied, faking a cold and sneezing to disguise his voice while partially looking away. "I'm Pete, from the, uh… east post, and I was sent to provide extra security at the, uh, lighthouse entrance, but… I'm new, and I'm… lost?"

This other guard simply shook his head, smacked Corvo in the back of his head, and gave him a quick set of directions that would take him to the lighthouse elevator, before also telling him to pull his head out of his ass. Thanking the guard for the help, and then honestly not believing that his ruse had worked, he waited until the guard had moved on, before following his directions.

Good thing that encounter happened, because this place was a maze, and without those directions, the former Lord Protector might have wandered around the fortress for hours without finding the entrance to the elevator, which he would have walked right past if he hadn't known what to look for. Bad news was that there were two guards already posted there, one on each side of the elevator door… they would have to be dealt with if he couldn't talk his way through.

"Hold it, the elevator's off limits." The first guard said, putting up his hand. "Lord Regent's orders."

"Right, I know, but um." Corvo replied, trying to come up with a good story. "I'm actually here to bring an urgent message to the Lord Regent, uh… you know, for his ears only. Security matter."

Unlike the one he had met before, these two didn't seem to be impressed with his story, reminding him that no one was to go up the elevator without approval coming to them from the Lord Regent, and only the Lord Regent, so if there was any kind of special report, it would have to be called in from there first. If anything was called in to the lighthouse sanctuary before he got there, Emily might be put in danger, so just as the first guard was reaching for the intercom button, Corvo made his move.

Drawing his sword in such a way that it was brought right across the guard's wrist, there was a small spray of blood as the hand flew across the room, right into the hands of the startled second guard, who had reflexively caught it. While the second guard fumbled around with the hand out of shock, the former Lord Protector slashed with his sword again, cutting his throat, and then stabbing backwards into the first guard's chest, preventing him from calling for help.

The two of them slowly sunk to the floor, each breathing their last well before the elevator doors open after being called, and now it didn't matter if someone discovered the bodies, since he was already on his way up to the lighthouse sanctum. If guard duty was still done like in the old days, it would be at least an hour before anyone went around to check on the individual posts… plenty of time for the elevator to reach the top, and for Corvo to save Emily.

Higher and higher above the island fortress, through the elevator's glass walls he could see all of the little dots of light below, and maybe it was the anticipation of finally ending this whole nightmare, but it felt like the elevator was taking forever to reach the top. It did, however, finally come to a stop after passing through the bottom of the great sanctuary which had been built by Hiram Burrows, and then the doors opened to reveal… nothing?

The corridor ahead was empty, a simple metal tunnel that led into a larger chamber, dominated by a bronze statue of Hiram burrows, standing proudly, in contrast to how he was probably sobbing like a little girl inside of Coldridge Prison. The furnishings were elaborate, looking more like the Boyle Estate than a secret hideaway, but then again if someone was forced to go into hiding, why not be comfortable about it?

A staircase hugged the far wall, and more light was coming from the next level, along with what sounded like voices. It was Farley Havelock speaking, it had to be, meaning that he and the other Loyalists were right there… and now the former Lord Protector was creeping up the stairs… it was time to end this madness once and for all.