It was the pain in his chest that woke him. The screaming pain that burned his senses and coursed through him. Garrett came awake slowly; his eyes didn't want to open. His entire body was on fire with pain and it took all the effort he had left not to pass out again. Finally he managed to tear his eyes open. The room was dark, with only the tiniest illumination coming from a torch a short distance away…beyond the bars. Garrett was in a cell, three stone walls and an iron cage front with a door in it. Rusty metal chains hung from the ceiling or we're draped on the floor, attached by iron rings to the wall. Rubble and the bones of long deceased prisoners lay strewn around the cell or piled in the corners. The floor was damp with water and there were pools of it here and there. The occasional rat scurried around in the darkness.
Garrett was chained up by his wrists on a chain connected to the ceiling, his back to the wall. His bare feet hardly touched the floor and it was a wonder his arms hadn't broken while he was unconscious. He had been stripped of his possessions; he wore only his black leggings, which were torn and dirty. His chest had a long red gash across it, caked in blood, and a present from the monster. His ribs still felt broken and in pain, as did his sword arm. The other arm with the gash was also covered in blood; Galen's bandage had been removed. His hair was dirty and matted and his entire body felt grimy. Garrett's face was also bloodied and soiled.
Garrett groaned and shifted, causing more pain to shoot through him. The chains clinked and rattled as he did so. His wrists were raw and chafed; moving only made them worse. He slumped, letting his body slide into a more comfortable position, which also put more pressure on his wrists. How long he waited in that cell he didn't know. The pain was the only constant in his world. There was another cell across the hallway from him, but if there was anyone in there, he couldn't see him or her or hear them in the cell's dark depths. The hallway remained empty, although once or twice Garrett thought he could hear movement nearby. The hours passed without him noticing. He slipped in and out of consciousness until the two states melded together in the chaos of his mind. He could no longer determine if he were awake or in an unconscious world of dreams.
Finally, when he thought that he would soon go mad from the pain and isolation, he received a visit. It was short, but it served to keep him sane a while longer. A door in the hallway creaked open and footsteps sounded in the hall. A large man stepped into the torchlight. He carried a black baton and a bowl and tin cup. Keys jangled at his side. His arms were covered in coarse, black hair and he smelled of beer and blood. The man opened the iron bar doors with a key on his belt and pushed the door open. He walked over to Garrett and reached up to his arms. He unlocked the chains holding him. Garrett collapsed to the floor in a heap and lay still. The man put the cup and bowl down in front of Garrett and prodded him with the baton. "Eay! Eay sit oop yew taffer! Et yer food afore it gits taken away! Yurr lucky tu have ole' Urgoth as a jailer. Ye gits yer vittles every once in a whoile and oi gives ye a chance tu rest yore arms. I tells ya mate, ye gots it purtty good with me." Garrett barely moved, but managed to bring his head up and drag the bowl closer to himself. It was filled with some sort of gray mush, but Garrett didn't care. He put his face in it and ate mouthfuls of it. "Yore lucky yew's so urt or oi'd be beating ya roight now, ohhh how I does enjoy that part." Urgoth got an evil glare in his eyes. "But, gotta follow the master's orders, yew gotta be aloive when he comes to speak to ye. But oi say he'll take care of yore beatings hisself." Aw well I ain't worried, the pretty lass in the uther cell more than makes up fer yew." He smiled a smile of disgustingly sick pleasure. Garrett finished the mush and gulped down the brackish water, spilling it down his chin. Urgoth took the two dishes from Garrett and walked to the door. "Oi ain't gonna lock ye back in yon chains yet, I dun think yew could take much more o' that. Gotta keep yew roight in the 'ead so yew can answer the master's questions. He left the cell; it locked when the mechanism hit the doorjamb. Garrett heard the hall door open and shut again and then there was silence.
Garrett lay on the floor for hours, trying to reorder his thoughts; his mind had become fragmented in the agony he still felt. Finally he remembered what had happened to him. He started to think about his current predicament. Where was he? There were no windows in sight. Then he remembered what Urgoth had said. " The pretty lass in the uther cell." He had said. Garrett laboriously crawled over to the bars and peered into the other cell. Now that he was closer, he could make out the huddled form of somebody on the floor of the cell. "Hey! Hey you!" He called. They didn't move or answer. Garrett grabbed a bone off the floor and hurled it at the bars. They clanged as the bone hit and clattered to the floor. The person stirred and rolled over. "Hey! Over here!" Garrett called again. "Wha…who is there?" The person said. "My name is Garrett." They stood and came over to the bars. It was the girl from the bathhouse.
She was wearing a tattered white and blue blouse. Most of it was torn and frayed. One of her eyes was black and swollen, and her arms were bruised and cut. Her lips were bloody and she wore no footwear. "YOU!" She shouted, her voice hoarse and strained. "You bloody taffer! You disgusting ball of slime encrusted dirt! You filthy bastard!" Her eyes were filled with rage. "What the hell are you talking about? Why are you here?" He questioned, his voice weak. "I'll tell you why I'm here you revolting piece of garbage! You're why I'm here. All of this because of YOU!" She screamed, it echoed in the stone chamber. "What? What's going on?" Garrett said. "Shutup! I don't want to hear your voice you filthy man!" She said, half sobbing. She went to the back of her cell and curled up in a ball, weeping. The effort of moving had tired Garrett, and so he fell unconscious there on the floor of the cell.
When he awoke, the girl had fallen asleep in her cell. He wondered what time it was. The pain seemed to have lessened; he was gaining a tolerance for it. But if he didn't get treatment soon, he could be in serious trouble. He groaned and tried to stand, lying on his broken ribs had probably made them worse. But, he had barely had the strength to turn over before. Now, he felt stronger, as the pain dulled and his resistance to what little was left grew. He was still frail, but he could move and stand and speak, if a little shakily. He got to his feet and picked up another bone. He tossed it at the girl's cell. She woke with a start and looked up. Her face was tearstained and red, making it look even worse. "Listen." Garrett said before she could gather up the strength to yell some more. "I don't know what I did to get you into this, but whatever it was you're here now. Tell me what happened." He implored. "Why should I?" She said defiantly. "Because I'm willing to help you get out of here if you're willing to cooperate with me." He replied. "How are you going to get us out? We're trapped…trapped (sob) I WANT OUT!" She screamed. "Listen to me!" He shouted. "LISTEN! I can get us out and I will. You're here now, sobbing won't help you! You want to escape then you choke back those tears and help me! Otherwise when I get out I'll leave you in that cell!" He finished. "No…" she whispered and started crying into her hands. Garrett couldn' t get another response out of her.
He went and sat down in the corner of his cell, listening to her whimpering and thinking. Finally she stopped. Garrett stood and went back over to the bars. "Are you ready to talk now?" He asked quietly. She nodded. "Ok." He replied, trying to soften his cold voice. "What is your name?" he said. "Claire." She replied softly. "And how did you get here?" He asked. She looked as if she were about to cry again, but didn't. "I don't remember how long ago it was. Time in here is nonexistent. It was about two weeks ago, as far as I can guess. After you left the bathhouse I was in my room, when someone grabbed me from behind. They were strong; they held me tight and put some odd smelling cloth up to my nose. I felt dizzy and collapsed. When I awoke, I was in a small room. Some men came in and started questioning me about you, it was dark in the room and I couldn't see their faces. They asked me if I knew anything about you and many other questions I couldn't answer. But they didn't believe me. They…hurt me…a lot. I pleaded for them to stop, saying I didn't know, but they wouldn't listen." She started to break down again. "Hey stay focused, I'm going to get us out." Garrett promised. She nodded and continued. "When they finally quit, they threw me in here and gave me to the jailer. Every night he comes and…" She drifted off. Her body was shaking. "He touched me…and hurt me…so badly." Her face took on a look of resolve and she bit her lip. "That's all I can remember. I don't know where we are or who did this. I just want to get out." She said. There was silence for a while, neither of them spoke. Finally Garrett broke the spell. "I'm sorry for bringing this upon you." He said. She didn't reply, just stared at him.
The door slammed opened just then, and several men marched into the hall between the cells, carrying torches. Claire backed fearfully into her cell. The jailer was with them. They stopped in front of Garrett's cell and he opened the door. Two of the larger men strode in, grabbed Garrett by his forearms and slammed him against the back wall. He arched his back in agony and screamed. They held him pinned there. The jailer stood in the hall, watching gleefully and the third man stood by the cell gate. Then another person entered the hall, the men holding Garrett were blocking his view of the man, but he could hear his footsteps. He entered the cell and strode up to the men. "Move aside." He ordered. They parted and stood on either side of Garrett, holding him against the wall. Emilio Cathegar's face appeared in front of him.
"We meet again Garrett." He said. His voice calm, and the same cunning twinkle in his eyes. He wore a suit of green and black, a pace stick held at his side. "It seems that now we have to opportunity to converse at greater length." He said. "Urgoth, take the girl to your room and stay there for the next hour." He said over his shoulder. Urgoth smiled and unlocked the cell. He moved inside. "No…no please NO!" Claire screamed. He dragged her out and down the hall, her screams pierced Garrett like a knife wound. "So, Garrett…what shall we talk about hmm?" He brought his pace stick up and forced Garrett's head sideways against the wall. "Nasty scar that. My boys were a little rough on you it seems. But then, you brought that upon yourself didn't you? It could have been easy you know. You could have given me the Vestrius and your death would have been quick, painless. But no, you fled, fled as all of them do, and now you will suffer for it." He moved his pace stick from Garrett's face and traced it across his chest. "I'm sorry to say that my men did not have the pleasure of inflicting those upon you Garrett. Perhaps you can tell me who did." He jabbed the stick hard into Garrett's chest. He cried out in pain. "Eh Garrett? Who else if after you?" Emilio questioned. "Nobody." Garrett managed to get out. Emilio brought his stick up and cracked it against Garrett's skull. His head whipped aside and blood splattered against the wall. "I don't appreciate lies Garrett. Someone in your position would be wise to take note of that and not do it again." He said, his voice eerily calm. "Now, we'll try that again shall we. Who else wants you?" Garrett didn't answer. He couldn't breath. "Very well, we'll leave that one for now. It is actually better for me that you ran in the first place, come to think of it. You've brought me the second piece. Saved me the trouble of looking for it. Once again Garrett you've been so cooperative." Garrett remained silent, his head bowed, blood dripping from his mouth. Emilio lifted Garrett's chin with the tip of his pace stick. He stared into his eyes, the cunning twinkle never leaving them. "Now, let us continue this discussion." He said.
The longest hour of Garrett's life passed there in that cell. He was questioned and beat until he could speak no more. By the time they were done he was covered in his own blood, bruised and broken and hurt in every place until the pain felt like a second skin, enveloping him completely. Then it came to an end. Emilio left with his men. "Leave him here to rot for a little longer. Then we'll have another chat." That was what he had said before they let go of him. Garrett collapsed to the floor, unconscious before he hit. The hall door slammed shut, and he was alone.
He started awake. He was still in pain, if a little lessened. He looked up just in time to see Urgoth slam the door shut on the cell opposite him and leave. Claire lay on the floor, she was near catatonic. She just lay there, shivering and moaning. Garrett felt sorry for her. That last hour with Urgoth must have broken her. It was his fault she was in this hellhole. He needed her as well; his survival instinct kicked in. He needed her and he needed her sane. "Claire." He whispered. She ignored him completely. "Claire." He said again. Still no response. Then he thought of something. "The price of luxury goods is high ever since the import tax that the lord governor imposed last month. House Janqout has been vying for Edward's downfall because of this. See they can't get their shipments of Zari spice. That's an illegal substance in the city. They're using smugglers, but that's still costing them a fortune. Anyway, did you know that textiles are now more valuable than wine? Its true, the Fermian act makes it like this. See…"
He continued like this for hours. Rattling off the various facts and intricacies of trade and the guilds he had learned from the paper and through talking with Dumont and Faulswitz. He spoke of everything he had heard of from the nobility, all the boring tales and facts. His mouth was dry and his throat parched, not to mention the pain he felt. But it served his purpose. He wanted to keep her mind occupied and focused. Keep her from thinking about the vileness of this place. It worked. At first she just kept shaking. But then, slowly, she lay still. She didn't speak, just let him keep talking, listening to his voice. Clinging to the words as though they were a lifeline and she was drowning in a sea of madness. Then, she dropped off. He could hear her regular deep breathing. He sighed and crawled over to a corner of his cell. He sat up and leaned against the wall, his knees tucked under his chin. Then he too fell asleep.
Garrett awoke again later. He had no idea as to the time. He realized he was getting cold, despite the torches. It was cold in his cell. He huddled tighter into the corner and put his hands under his armpits. Claire was still asleep. He sat there, thinking about what he was going to do. How they were going to escape. Nothing was coming to him. About an hour later the hall door opened, and Urgoth came in. He went to Garrett's cell and unlocked the door. He brought him another bowl of gruel and a cup of water. Garrett stood to get it from the floor where Urgoth had placed it. Urgoth pushed him back down with his baton. "Yew little bastard think yer just gonna waltz over 'ere and take yer food eh? Crawl on yur belly like the worm yew are and lick me boot in thanks yew maggot!" He said obviously feeling particularly cruel. Garrett crawled over and made to do so. Then he grabbed the bowl and started eating furiously. Moments later he was kicked back. There was pain, but he thrust it down. "Big mistake worm!" He said and swung his baton. Garrett caught it across the face. He fell backwards. Urgoth laid into him. His baton rising and falling as he hit Garrett. Then he stopped. Urgoth turned and grabbed the bowl and cup. He flung them into the hallway; they landed with a crash. "Just fer that, yew ain't gettin' any vittles till oi think's yew learned yer lessin'." He went out, slamming the cell door.
Garrett lay back in a haze of fresh agony. He didn't know how much more his body could take before it just gave out. Claire had been wakened by the noise. She came over to the bars and looked at him. "Thank you." She said. "What for?" Garrett managed to ask. "For what you did before, your words…they kept me alive. And now, you distracted Urgoth from taking me again. He was busy hurting you and forgot about me." Claire said sincerely. "Thank you." She whispered. "I'm sorry I yelled at you, this isn't your fault. You didn't know." Claire said. "I may be a courtesan, but I couldn't stand Urgoth. He hurt me so much. Rape isn't any easier if you're an escort. I would have gone mad if you hadn't spoken to me." She stopped and sat down. Crying. Garrett just lay in silence.
Garrett spoke up after some time had passed. "I have a plan." He said. Claire looked up at him, her eyes red. He turned and looked at her pathetic state. "Claire, I need your help with this." He said. "She nodded, drying her eyes on one of her tattered and grimy sleeves. "What do I need to do?"
****
It was days before Urgoth next came to the prison. His vow to not feed Garrett had apparently extended to Claire as well. It was fortunate in that Claire had several days in which she was not touched. Her mind had time to heal. Both of them were ravenously hungry however, by the time he did come. He entered the hallway in an apparently foul mood. He slammed Claire's cell open and grabbed her viciously by the wrist. She struggled a little but he easily overpowered her. He had brought no food and didn't speak, just dragged her out.
They returned later and he threw Claire into her cell. Her face was ashen but she seemed in control of her faculties. As Urgoth unlocked the cell, Garrett carried out part of his plan. His mechanical eye whirred softly as it zoomed in on the key that he used to unlock Claire's cell. Garrett noted every detail of it and then returned the eye to its regular focus. Urgoth left and slammed the door shut. Garrett moved up to the bars and started whispering to Claire.
****
The next time Urgoth entered Garrett's stomach had shrunk horribly. He was gaunt and pale. Added to his other injuries and uncleanness he looked like a corpse. Urgoth brought no food again this time. He went over to Claire's cell and opened it. He dragged her out and started to shut her cell door. "Hey ugly! How about some food?" Garrett called as he pressed against the bars. Urgoth turned, and left the door open. With a strong hand on Claire's wrist he grabbed Garrett's neck and squeezed. "Usually oi'd beat ye fer that, but the master is forcin' me tu keep ye aloive and fed. There'll be food tomorrow maggot. But yew listen tu me. Axidents 'appen down 'round here, so yew best watch yer step." He said, the true meaning of his words evident. With that he flung Garrett back and left. Garrett sat up, gasping for breath. He peered over to Claire's empty cell. The door was still open.
****
They returned later, Claire didn't look fearful this time. Urgoth went to her cell and tossed her inside. He shut the already open door. The lock mechanism clicked and locked without the key. Urgoth left. As soon as he did, the two prisoners started talking.
****
Urgoth came in once again when it was what Garrett assumed was tomorrow. He had food with him. He used Garrett's cell key and opened his door. He placed the food on the floor. "Now yew maggot. I 'ope ye learned yer lessen. Crawl over 'ere and lick moi boot." Urgoth said, his baton was already out and held at his side. "You know I don't think I will." Garrett said. Urgoth looked incredulous for a second. "DO IT!" He screamed. "Mmmm…. No. In fact, I've got a better idea, why don't you lick my feet." He said, as calmly as he could manage. Urgoth's eyes bulged and his face got red. He brought his baton up. But the strike never fell.
A rusty chain suddenly whipped over his head and around his neck. The baton dropped from his nerveless grasp as the chain tightened and tightened. His face got redder…but not from anger. He opened his mouth to breath but couldn't. Instead, a choking sound came from his gorge as his eyes rolled back in his head. His tongue lolled out and with a final gag he collapsed to the floor, dead.
Claire let the chain drop from her hands. She stared down at the body, her eyes cold. "Like you said. Accidents happen." She said. Then she seemed to snap out of her reverie and she started crying. They were tears of joy. She flung herself on Garrett and hugged him tightly, crying into his shoulder. He sat on the cell floor with her clutched in his arms, comforting her softly. He looked over at her cell. The key was sticking out of the lock. The key he had studied. The key she had stolen from Urgoth when he took her. The key Urgoth didn't know was missing, because the cell door had been open. They were out of the cells but still caged.