Chapter Twenty Four

Behind Bars

ELSA

Two days had gone by since the Warriors had been sent to Stormtide and put behind bars. This wasn't the first time Elsa had found herself locked up, but it still came as a bit of a culture shock to her, and she was pretty sure the same could be said for the others.

This time was different though. These were legitimate Molcorran authority figures appointed by the Confederation - and most likely King Uxzas himself - to keep the sorcerers locked away from the rest of the continent.

As if that weren't enough, living in such a closely monitored environment was quite unnerving and was really beginning to infringe on Elsa's privacy. For one, guards patrolled the corridors constantly, standing in clusters when the prisoners were out in the recreation yard or in the mess hall on the first floor.

The guards were even present when the prisoners were bathing in the common bathing area, just to make sure none attempted to mount an escape. That alone was enough to make Elsa loathe the place. She valued her privacy above all other things, and to be forced to bathe in such a communal setting was deeply unsettling for her. Unfortunately, she was not adapting well to this aspect.

As for clothing, everyone wore the same thing. Tight fitting grey pants, cheap white shoes, and sleeveless grey shirts had been given out to the women, with the option of wearing an uncomfortable white undershirt. It rubbed and grated against the skin though, so Elsa and the others had opted out of it. Besides, they spent most of the time indoors and hardly went out to the recreation yard anyway.

Meals were more or less atrocious, though Elsa supposed she didn't really have the right to complain. The food was still better than the dried meat and stale crackers she had gotten on the road to Stormtide, but honestly not much better.

Prisoners would usually stand in a long line at mealtimes with thin aluminium trays. Meagre portions of cold beans, shrivelled over-boiled meat and some hard vegetables would be dumped onto the trays, topped off with a few mouthfuls of days-old rice and some gloopy soup that more often than not landed on Elsa's shirt than on her tray. The water was taken from the river and put through a simple filtration system, so at least that was in abundance.

The prisoners would usually sit together in the mess hall for meals while being watched by the eagle-eyes guards, who were definitely no slobs as compared to the Blue Wolves. It was far from comfortable, but at least Elsa still had the company of her friends.

With the collars around their necks, no one really posed any sort of threat to the guards. Therefore, the prisoners were allowed into the mess hall and out into the open recreation yard everyday at specific timeframes. So at least she still got to see the rest of the Warriors.

Janus was obviously their ace in the hole, since he didn't have any powers or magic to be neutralised. And to have him walk about freely without any form of restraint other than the collar around his neck, he was their best chance at escaping, though he was still keeping things quiet. But Elsa knew a plan was being formed in the recesses of his tactically trained mind.

Maui, Tracy and Deirdre all were equally agitated from being cooped up in their cramp cells, and every time they were released out from their cells, they were clearly relieved. On the other hand, there was Jade.

Things were a tad bit more complicated with Jade. The girl had been placed in the cell beside Elsa's, and it disturbed and pained Elsa greatly whenever she heard the girl softly cry herself to sleep in the silence of the night after the lights went out.

Apart from that, Jade spent most of her day just lying in her cell, refusing to talk to anyone. Even when the cells were open, Elsa had to firmly force her out of the cell so that she could get some fresh air and company with the rest of the Warriors. Jade's mental state had become quite worrying, though Elsa, feeling helpless, really didn't know what she could do about it. Nothing, I suppose.

"How you holding up?" Tracy asked Jade for what must have been the fourteenth time in two days. Elsa rolled her eyes. The girl was well intentioned and truly cared for her depressed friend, but sometimes the gesture came off as more irritating and unhelpful than anything.

Jade muttered something inaudible in response, as she often did when someone spoke to her these days. It had become something the Warriors had accepted as part of her way of mourning and coping.

Elsa shot Tracy a look, and the girl gritted her teeth as if to say "what? I'm just trying to help." Nonetheless, she piped down and returned to tackling the gloopy portions on her tray with visible disgust.

They were having lunch in the mess hall now, which was jam packed with the rest of the imprisoned sorcerers. Guards patrolled at random intersections between the rows and columns of benches. More guards stood in the wings at the sides of the mess hall, all armed with pistols, muskets, batons and shields to protect themselves in the event of a prison riot.

And that was pretty much exactly what they were counting on. The plan was still in its infancy, with the details being still rather rough, but Janus had come up with something at least. Something that had a chance - though slim - of them escaping Stormtide and freeing the rest of the sorcerers being held on the island.

Elsa's eyes darted round, making sure the immediate vicinity was clear of prison guards, and then dropped her voice. "Alright Janus. Go."

JANUS

Janus glanced around one more time for good measure. He was seated opposite Elsa, and the rest were pressed together close at the table to listen to what he had to say. With the exception of Jade, who still looked spaced out.

He leaned in closer while trying not to look too suspicious. "I think I have the basic layout of the place. From when we were first brought into Stormtide, and over the past two days whenever we weren't locked in our cells. It's not…" he paused when he thought a guard was passing by, and waited for a few seconds just to be sure. "It's not ideal."

"I mean, this is a prison." Maui said.

Deirdre rolled her eyes.

"Outside, there are prison guards patrolling every wall, and up high there are snipers perched with a bird's eye view. Vantage points all around, with torches and lanterns to illuminate every shadow. This place is virtually impenetrable both from the outside, and from the inside. But…"

"But?" Tracy echoed.

"But if we can take out the men at the walls and the snipers up high, and get rid of the torches," Janus said. "The land and the water will be clear. The real problem is the water. If we can even get out of the gate, we won't get far if they can still spot us on the water from their vantage point and with those torches."

"Okay, but how are we even going to get out of this building before we can deal with the guards?" Elsa asked.

"That…is the problem." Janus said slowly. "I haven't managed to figure out a way to get out of this damn fortress. Whatever the Confederation did to put this into motion, they did a good job."

"So we're stuck then?" Tracy hissed.

"Not exactly, I've been doing some talking, making a few new friends." Janus said, and then nodded over to the next table, where three sorcerers, two men and a women, were seated. "They've been feeding me some useful gossip and intelligence."

During his short time in the prison, he had gone about trying to understand the general atmosphere of Stormtide - gathering some intelligence and doing some reconnaissance. To put things simply, most people here in Stormtide were innocent civilians with strange abilities who had been snatched off the streets by the Blue Wolves.

Before they had been branded as criminals, many of these sorcerers had been simple farmers, accountants, merchants, cleaners, priests, and even politicians. As harsh as it sounded, Janus had no real use for them. They wouldn't be able to give him the information he needed.

However, there were always a few exceptions, and fortunately he had found them. Among the many prisoners, there were a couple of sorcerers who were indeed of the rougher specimen. Thieves, robbers, or simply petty criminals who had taken advantage of their special abilities and magic.

And so, hoping to get a foot in the door of the inner circle, Janus had introduced himself as a mercenary, which was true enough. It had worked, and a few of a thieving circle of sorcerers had told him what he wanted to know.

"Monco over there, knows a way out of the prison." Janus continued in a low voice, nodding ever so slightly at the man seated at the table beside them.

Monco, the largest and most intimidating looking of his trio, gave a half nod back. It wouldn't be wise to let the guards see them conspire together during lunchtime, and so low profiles had to be maintained.

"He found a way out?" Maui asked hopefully.

"Wait," Elsa said quietly, glancing over at Monco with an apprehensive expression. "If he knows a way out, then why hasn't he already escaped?"

"Because others have tried before. And failed." Janus replied grimly.

"Makes sense." Deirdre said. "We sorcerers in here rely on our magic, and with these damn things on-" she jabbed at the metal collar around her neck with a finger as though it had personally offended her. "No one really stands a chance."

"But you do." Tracy pointed out to Janus. "You were a mercenary and you don't have powers. You can get out easily then."

Janus nodded. "That's the hope."

"So where exactly is this escape route?" Elsa asked.

Hesitating a little, Janus considered how to put it across without alarming his allies and potentially raising a commotion. He gave up. The hell with it. "Through the prison morgue."

There was a hushed silence, and then-

"You've got to be kidding me." Elsa hissed, the look on her face saying it all. "The morgue?"

Maui raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure?"

"If you don't believe me, you can always ask Monco." Janus shrugged.

Elsa stole a glance at the big thief sitting at the table beside them, and Janus could see that she'd decided not to question it further. Janus looked round at the others. They were all slowly considering what he had told them, even Tracy, whom he had expected would make a fair bit of noise. She didn't however, thank goodness.

"I'll manage fine. I know where the morgue is now, and I can probably test the escape route once just to be certain before the actual breakout." Janus' eyes flicking to Elsa as he spoke. He was quite aware that she was worried for him - as she always was - and he tried to give her a look that told her firmly that he would be fine.

"Look," Elsa frowned. "Even if we are even considering using the morgue-"

"Not us." Janus said. "Just me."

Elsa drew in a breath to argue, but didn't. Janus knew that she was wise enough to know that with their powers out of commission, no one else stood a decent chance of survival but him alone. The former mercenary who had no magical abilities to begin with would be able to make it out alive without jeopardising the lives of any other sorcerer.

"There's always the problem of how you're even going to get out of your cell without being spotted." Elsa said stiffly.

"I…" Janus glanced over at the woman sitting opposite Monco at the next table. "I have an idea for that, but I'm going to need you to help with something."

ELSA

I can't believe I'm doing this. It wasn't a dissatisfaction at being given such a lowly task, but a disbelief that this was what her life had come to. After years of royal court training, and now I'm bargaining with the prison underbelly.

Elsa slipped into the prison library on the second floor of the prison where the men weren't allowed, with Tracy in tow. It was after lunch time now, so that roughly gave them about half an hour before it was time to be locked back in their cells.

The prison library wasn't big, that was for certain, but it was still a second home to a good number of prisoners who desired spending their time buried in books while they lived out the rest of their sentence in Stormtide. It was also the black market for trading illegal items and acquiring certain packages away from the prying eyes of the prison guards.

She'd always read in novels and books that conventionally there would be a "quartermaster" or "supplier" among the prisoners, but she'd never thought that she would actually find herself in a situation requiring one. Thankfully, it isn't just a fictional thing.

Janus had told the Warriors in hushed tones that the friends he had made - the circle of thieves - had good connections. And since Janus or Maui weren't allowed up on the second floor which belonged to the women, it was Elsa's task to meet up with the woman who would take her to the "black market". She thought it was ridiculous, placing the library on the level where men wouldn't be allowed access. Who planned the layout of this place? Nonetheless, the responsibility to acquire a certain item was now hers - and Tracy's.

"You didn't have to come, you know." Elsa said again as they entered the poorly lit and stuffy room that was being used as a library.

"Rubbish. There's bound to be some rough gals in there." Tracy waved a hand nonchalantly. "Putting you in there alone to bargain with the black market folks? You're bound to get skewered or cheated. You need me."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence." Elsa muttered with a scowl, and scanned the library for her contact. Young woman in her teens, short black hair, slim and wiry figure, a lazy gait and slouching disposition…Found her.

"Follow me." Elsa beckoned to Tracy. They found the woman skulking in front of the second bookshelf from the right.

"Excuse me, are you Monco's friend?" Elsa asked in a low voice.

"You're Janus' friends, aren't you?" The woman said with a rough Vjorman accent.

Elsa nodded. "My name is Elsa."

"Wait, you mean like the Snow Queen Elsa? The leader of the League of Sorcerers?"

She sighed. "Yes."

The woman gave a low whistle. "Damn. There's so many stories about you. Legends, man. Didn't think you were real."

Elsa spread her hands. "Well, I am very real."

"Sweet. So they caught the famous Snow Queen too. The world's going to hell." The woman snorted. "Name's Venetiataneon. You can call me Venetia."

"Right," Elsa shook her hand cautiously.

"So, breakout huh?" Venetia grinned lazily. "What makes you think any of us hasn't already tried?"

"Janus tells us you know the black market dealer?" Tracy cut right to the chase.

"Yeah, yeah." Venetia motioned for the two of them to follow her. "Come with me."

Venetia led them to the other side of the library, where there were a bunch of tall, well built women standing guard in front of a small wooden desk. Behind it sat a middle-aged woman who looked to be in her late forties at least. With unkempt red hair, a slightly plump frame, alarmingly sharp eyes and an overall unfriendly disposition, she looked to be one of those stereotypical "black market dealers" that Elsa had always pictured when reading books as a child.

"Hey, it's fine. It's fine." Venetia waved the dealer's muscle out of the way as they stood unbudgingly in front of the desk. "It's me." She hitched a thumb over her shoulder. "These gals are with me too, so piss off."

Without a word, the dealer behind the desk signalled to the guards to give them some space, and they shuffled away, glaring at the three girls. As they drew nearer, Elsa could see the dealer had quite a few cuts on her skin, presumably from street fights or some form of scuffle with authority figures. She didn't like the vibe she was getting from the dealer.

"Aft'noon, Petra." Venetia said lazily. "I brought you some new customers."

Petra leaned forward and sized the two of them up for a moment, before directly addressing the two "new customers" with a rough, impolite tone. "And who are you girls? Why should I do business with you?"

Evidently, this woman didn't know their real identities. Elsa opened her mouth to speak, but the rude woman cut her off.

"You look to be some posh, uptown sort of innocent girl." Petra spat, a fat finger prodding Elsa's chest. "More than once, your sort sang to the guards after getting caught, and I got beaten by Deputy Warden Leonid for dealing and thrown into isolation for two weeks. And for what? Trying to make an honest living in here? No, I don't do business with your sort."

Annoyed that the woman had invaded her personal space, Elsa batted Petra's hand away from her chest.

"Your kind are trouble. No way in hell I'll deal with you. But you-" Petra looked at Tracy. "The street tough who knows how to keep a secret. You, I'll do business with. Maybe."

"Gee, thanks." Tracy said.

Glancing sidelong at Tracy, Elsa saw Tracy give her a wink as if to say "I got this."

"So what do you want?" Petra leaned back in a wooden chair which creaked beneath her weight. "Don't waste my time."

"Ah." Tracy cleared her throat. "Do you trade anything that'll help us get out of our cells?"

"Breakout, huh?" Petra barked a laugh. "More than one person has tried and failed. And gotten punished badly for trying."

"What I said." Venetia shrugged.

"No one has a chance once they hit the water." Petra went on. "The lights up high will catch everything in the dark."

"All the same, we'll like to try." Elsa said.

"It's your funeral." Petra spread her hands. "So, show me."

"Show you?"

"What'd you think? You just walk in here and I'll give you what you want for nothing in return? What do you have to trade?"

"Ah," Tracy glanced at Elsa, lost for words, and then turned back to Petra. "We don't have anything on us now. Can we sign an agreement or something?"

Petra roared with laughter. "What do you think this is? A bank loan? No. Either you give me something worthwhile, or get lost."

Elsa's eyes flicked over to Tracy, who looked a little helpless. Truthfully, they could have prepared better for this. They didn't have anything to trade.

"Look, we need to get out of here." Tracy said desperately.

"Well get in line, honey."

"You get us out of here, we can give you whatever you want. Name it."

"What I want," Petra said, eyes gleaming. "Is freedom. But that's not something you can give me, now is it?"

"Well, we can." Elsa said in a low voice. "If you give us what we want."

"You?" The dealer rounded on her incredulously. "And who do you think you are?"

Elsa wanted to laugh. Finally, someone who didn't know who she was. And in such an ironic situation too. She breathed in deeply. "Have you ever heard of the League of Sorcerers?"

By the look on Petra's face, she had. "What about it?"

"Where you're from, I wouldn't be surprised if you didn't know who I am." Elsa stared hard at Petra with an unflinching, cold gaze.

"My god," A look of realisation overcame Petra and she seemed ready to have a nervous breakdown, leaning back in her chair. "You're her. The Snow Queen. The Pilgrim. I…I didn't see it."

"Then if you know who we are, then you know what we're capable of. And we fully intend on getting out of here."

When the woman didn't reply out of shock, marvel or disbelief, Elsa continued. "The way I see it, this can go two ways. You can either do business with us pleasantly, and I guarantee that you'll get your freedom once we neutralise Stormtide's defences."

"And what's the other way?" Petra's voice had gone very small.

"You know that we are resourceful." Elsa placed her hands on the desk and leaned in close, channeling whatever threatening aura she could muster. "Difficult as it may be, we will find another way out of here. We will break out of Stormtide Prison and liberate every sorcerer here regardless. And when we do, we will remember how you impeded us. You are, after all, still a criminal, and we're sworn to uphold justice.

"You will be free, yes, but you will toss and turn in your sleep every night, not knowing when we'll come for you. When I will come for you. And believe me when I say," Elsa whispered in a hair raising voice. "Posh and uptown as I might look, I am a woman of my word."

There was a tense moment of silence, and Petra looked to be considering her options. From the peripheral of her eye, Elsa noticed the awed look on Venetia's face.

"Alright, alright." Petra threw up her hands. All the insolence and fight went out of the woman like a deflated balloon. She gave Elsa a sour look. "What do you want?"

"Like my friend said," Elsa kept her tone icy. "A means to get out of our cells, and in return, we'll ensure that you go free."

Petra scowled and beckoned for one of her underlings to fetch something. Shortly after, a rusted over metal box was placed on the table. Petra dusted it off and opened the box, swivelling it round so that the item inside faced her customers.

"Hydrochloric acid." Petra said grudgingly. "Strong enough to burn through the lock on the cell."

"We're going to want to cover our tracks too."

Petra looked thoughtful, and then fished out something from under her table. She placed the heavy item on the table with a metallic clang, audibly displaying her displeasure at being arm-twisted into a deal. "This is an identical lock to the ones the guards use."

"But the key hole?" Tracy spoke for the first time in a long while.

"The keys the guards use are universal. They can be used for any of the locks. Both men's and women's cells."

"How convenient." Elsa muttered. "Very good." She took the heavy metal lock, while Tracy cautiously picked up two vials of hydrochloric acid from the box. "We may require more of your services. We'll be in touch."

With that, Elsa drew herself up, spun on her heel and walked away as haughtily as she could. Tracy and Venetia followed closely behind.

"That…" Venetia said when they were safely out of earshot and near the entrance of the library. "…wasn't good."

"What do you mean?" Elsa said in her normal conversational tone, every trace of iciness and hostility gone.

"You gals threatened Petra. The biggest dog in the yard. And I brought you two to her." Venetia looked uncomfortable. "She's not going to be happy with me."

"Just remind her that you're friends with the Pilgrim." Tracy suggested. "That should be enough to keep that crook in check."

"Right." Venetia still looked unsettled. "I guess I'll see you around."

"That was insane." Tracy hissed when Venetia had left the library. She punched Elsa genially in the arm, and then remembered that she herself was carrying two vials of acid in her pocket, and then steadied herself in a hurry. "I didn't know you had it in you!"

"Had what?" Elsa feigned innocence.

"That mean streak! The way you threatened Petra in there. And I thought I was the witch here. Damn, you have the chops to run your own criminal ring or something!"

"No, not really." Elsa admitted. "I just tried to channel my best Ingrid Grendstav impersonation." In truth, she didn't feel good about having to resort to such tactics to get what she needed. It was a bluff, of course. The Warriors wouldn't be able to find another way off the island without Petra's items, and they certainly wouldn't hunt her down in her sleep. Thankfully, the dealer had believed her at face value.

"Come on." Elsa glanced up at a clock on the wall. "It's almost lock-up time. We should go find the others to tell them we got the goods and pass them to Janus."

"Yeah, let's." Tracy gritted her teeth and fingered the vials of acid in her pants pocket. "Carrying these acid tubes around is making me jumpy."

Author's Commentary:

Writing a prison storyline has been on my list of plot ideas since Book 1. Taking inspirations from TV shows and movies that feature prison scenes,

And that prison black market scene? I really enjoyed writing that. Another unseen dimension of Elsa where she channels a mean streak. In this story, our characters are pushed to their breaking points and are forced to cross some lines they would normally never have to. This is war, after all, and no one escapes unscathed.