Pete waited for her for what seemed to be hours to Pete but, in reality it was only matter of minutes. He could hear her jiggling the key in the lock. Then he heard her speak.
"Belethhyandoion, the door's stuck again. Don't you have any oil?"
The handsome guard that was sitting at the end of the hallway got up and came over.
"No we don't. You'll have to get Meneré on it. And how many times must I tell you to call me Beleth."
"Until I get use to it," she paused, "Beleth."
"Help me push."
They pushed on the door with the shoulders until it popped open and left them sprawled on the floor. Pete saw his chance and jumped over them. Before he knew it the guard was on him and he was being forced back into his cell. The woman was picking up his food from the floor just outside the door. "The pigs will eat well tonight."
"So that's where the Kent's pigs have been disappearing to." Pete said to himself.
"Get used to being in there if going to keep behaving like that," said the guard, "Next time you try to pull a stunt like that; it's a lashing you'll be getting."
"Any idea where to find Meneré this time of day, Beleth?" asked the woman as she pushed her shoulder-length auburn hair out of her bright green eyes.
"He's usually lurking around the kitchens or up there by the lake," she called to the young woman who was now walking away, "Do me a favor, Katy, and heckle him for me?"
The woman turned sharply on her heel, "Please don't call me by that name, Beleth. I don't want anything to do with the people up there. I don't want to be one of them anymore. I'm one of you now." Beleth was rather shocked by her sudden flare of temper.
"Then what name am I to call you?" he asked in a quiet voice. He did not want to invoke her fury once again.
"Waenbariel," she said tersely and left without another word.
Up there? We must be underground! Clark will have one hell of a time finding me down here, Pete thought to himself.
"I'll cut you a deal. You give her to me and I'll arrange for you to see your little friend. What was his name again?" The young man thought for a moment, "Oh, yes. Peter Ross."
How could he have known that! Clark thought. However that was not what came out of his mouth. "What have you done with Pete!" Clark cried.
"Don't be hasty, Clark. You'll see him in all good time. That is, if you cooperate with me. Give me all that I ask and in return I shall arrange a guide for you. She will lead you to him."
"What do you want from me?" Clark queried.
"Only the woman you're holding," the stranger eyed Clark for a moment and talked on, "And maybe your shoes."
At that moment the sound of the Kent's beaten up pick-up was heard as it pulled into the driveway. The young man, called Alakgriston by the woman, glanced at the car and announced, "Think about my offer. When you decide to accept just say this aloud: I accept your offer. She is yours," he smirked. "Trust me. I'll hear you."