Plink

The crowds were enormous and overwhelming. They pressed against Cole on all sides, making him feel like a prisoner. He hated this claustrophobic feeling. The way that the gallows hung over them didn't help this feeling, either.

He kept his arm right around Varasach, who was still a bit drowsy from when she'd awakened just over an hour ago. She observed her surroundings as they walked the Square with mild curiosity.

She especially loved watching the children. The way that they ran in circles around their parents or their friends, giggling and chattering without a care in the world. It made her smile.

Cole could understand Varasach's enthrallment. Her job back on the Dark Island had been to take care of the toddlers. And she had adored that job.

Maybe it would be good for her to stay with Cyrus while he was fighting the Overlord; he seemed like Cyrus could always use more help with the refugees. Varasach and Liana might get along well.

Cole swallowed and pushed it from his mind. The thought of being separated from Varasach for any period of time was a killer for him. He wanted to keep her and Chedva close to him forever. Never let them out of his sight.

But such a thing was not meant to be. Not in a world like his.

So Cole contented himself with the now, holding Varasach and reveling in every moment he spent with her as though it was his last. And for all he knew, it could be.

"Are you all right, Cole?" Varasach asked, her accent grinding each word like rocks between the teeth.

"Yeah," Cole said, navigating out of the path of an oncoming carriage. "Why do you ask?"

"You haven't let go of me before since I woke," she replied, then sniffled.

Cole realized his grip on her shoulder might be a bit hard, so he loosened it a bit. "It's a large gathering," he said. "I can't risk losing you."

"Mmm." Varasach stood on her toes and scanned the faces in the crowd. "Understand."

"You need to say 'I'," Cole said. "I understand."

"You know what I meant," Varasach said. "Do not expect me to perfect your language. You do as worse weeth the Dark Tongue."

"That may be true," Cole said, "but that doesn't mean I can't help you get better at it."

Varasach sighed dramatically, and her breath rose in a dancing cloud from her cracked lips. She coughed into her sleeve, offering no other reply.

Cole caught sight of Jay and Kyle in the crowd- wearing scarves and hoods to conceal their faces, of course- and he waved. They saw him and waded through the sea of people toward him.

"Anything new?" Cole asked when they stopped beside him.

"Garmadon's coming," Jay said. "He got his 'confession' out of Malian, just like we planned."

"Good. Where's Kai?"

"With Zane, I'd assume," Kyle said. "Don't worry. They'll be here any minute."

It was hard for Cole not to worry. He always had jitters before a raid, but this was...different. More was at stake. If they failed here, they would be carted off to prison for life. Even Varasach.

Aha. So that's what was bothering him.

Varasach shouldn't be here. It isn't safe.

Varasach coughed again, then pressed her face into Cole's coat. She was wheezing, short of breath.

"Are you okay?" Kyle asked.

Varasach nodded. "Mmm. Eet's just...my head hurts."

Kyle took off a glove and- hesitantly, avoiding Cole's acidic glare- pressed his hand to her cheek. "You have a fever," he said, brow wrinkling. He rubbed her flush skin with his thumb, then pulled away, replacing his glove. "Cole, she needs to rest. The hypothermia weakened her body; she may have a cold."

"Don't tell me what to do," Cole said. "But...yes, she should probably get warm." He squinted at the snowy signs that hung from every building in the Square, eyes eventually settling on one that read Square Inn and Tavern.

Jay followed his eyes and nodded. "How much money do we have left?"

"Just a few klips," Kyle answered, patting his pocket. "Not enough to rent a room."

"Yes, but that should be sufficient to buy a hot drink and food," Cole said. "Here, Kyle, give me a couple coins. I'll leave her there, and she'll be able to rest while we take care of this...you know."

"But that won't work," Kyle said, speaking quietly to avoid being overheard. "Remember, after we get Malian, we're running from the town as fast as our horses can carry us. We won't have time to pick her up if we leave her at a tavern."

Cole hated when Kyle was right.

"Well, what do you suggest, then?" he asked.

Kyle pulled a canteen from his belt. "I'll go into the tavern and get something hot for her. She can wait on a horse, as planned, and after we're done running for our lives we can stop in another town and get her some medicine to hold her over until we reach home."

"Fine," Cole said. "Do it."

"Hurry, though," Jay said. "Look, there's the party we've been waiting for."

Jay was right. The 'party'- Guards on horseback, Garmadon, and the two nobles' carriages were approaching. Malian was between six Guards at the front, wearing a Southern uniform that was ragged and filthy. He kept his head low.

"Hurry," Jay said again, this time giving Kyle a little shove. "Who knows how much time we have left."

Kyle was off in an instant, canteen and deflated money bag in hand.

As the carriages came to a stop in the center of the Square, the people's chatter faded. Cole pushed through to the front with Varasach and Jay.

Garmadon, with his glittering crown and richly decorated black clothing, stepped from his carriage first. He made his way to the platform, hands loose at his sides. Next came Kaytake and his extensive escort of red-clad bodyguards. Too many bodyguards. There were at least twenty-five, making them more numerous than even Garmadon's men.

Lastly, Lord Julien and his two children exited their carriage. Zane spotted Cole and approached him.

"Where's Kai?" Cole asked, heart pounding. Zane's actions conveyed a sense of urgency- panic, even.

"He...accidentally confessed," Zane whispered into Cole's ear. "He's in prison."

Cole's heart pounded harder. They couldn't do this without Kai: he was the one who would use Moonsong's power to confuse the Guards so Jay could fly up the gallows and cut Malian free before the trap door gave way.

"How much time do we have?" Cole murmured back.

"Thirty minutes at the most," Zane said. "Garmadon will want to make a speech, list the crimes, etcetera. Lots of theatrics."

"Fortunately for us," Cole said, "that might be enough time for me to get Kai free. Can you take Vara to your carriage? It's the only safe place for her to be while I'm gone."

"Of course." Zane took Varasach's arm and gave Cole a nod. "You're taking Jay and Kyle, right?"

"Er, yes," Cole said. He turned to Jay, eyes hard. "Let's go get Kyle from the inn and retrieve our horses."

"Right behind you," Jay said, smiling wryly. "Let's go rescue Kai from Imperial prison, the most heavily guarded building in the country. And we'll be back here in time for rescue number two."

Cole had no patience for this. He grabbed Jay's coat and pulled him toward the Square Inn and Tavern.

It would take a miracle to make it to Kai and back in time.

Kai was shoved into his cell by a Guard with a pale, round face. He fell to his knees with a grunt, then splayed his hands on the wet stone to keep from hitting his face.

"You're the first rebel to be captured," the Guard said, backing out of the room, torch in hand. "So you'll be getting special treatment." He shut the cell door, then locked it.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Kai asked, righting himself. He wiped his hands on his trousers and turned his head to look at the Guard.

"Nothing in particular," the Guard said as he walked away, voice echoing in the tunnel. "Just...enjoy. And try not to go crazy like the last guy." He was gone, and he took all the light with him.

This confused Kai. What was in here that could make a man lose his head?

He reached out with his mind and tried to find Moonsong, who's signal had disappeared from his mind just before entering the dungeon. Come on, you stupid Blade. Don't leave me now. But the Blade was gone. He could not feel even the smallest traces of its power.

And it terrified him.

He knew that the Guard carrying Moonsong had been one step behind them. And right up until they reached the entrance to the prison, he could feel its presence.

Then it had left him. Just like that.

Trembling, he rose to his feet and shuffled to the barred door. He shook it once: it was solid, immovable under his hand. It didn't budge by even a fraction of an inch. Now, most doors will do at least that. But in this case, he'd have better luck trying to move a mountain. Why?

He felt along the dark walls until the tie of his boot found a cot. He settled onto it, feet on the floor, and folded his hands on his lap. There was no light. They'd better have plans to give me a torch soon, he thought. The darkness was thick, humid, cold, and oppressive. He felt like he'd choke on the air if he stayed here too long.

Then he heard a sound. A tiny, musical note that sent a chill down his spine.

Plink.

There was water in this cell.

Plink.

There was water in this cell!

His heart rose into his throat, and he scrambled to his feet, chest heaving.

Calm down. Calm down. It's just a little drip. That's why the floor is moist. It's not going to hurt you.

Plink.

Kai's skin break out in a cold sweat, which did nothing to alleviate his fear. He shrank against a wall, trying to make himself as small as possible.

This time it landed on his scalp.

Plink.

"Ahh!" he screamed, springing like a rabbit from that corner and into another one. His clammy fingers felt the bars of the door, and he clung tight, panting. "No! You can't leave me in here! The water will-"

Plink.

It seemed to get louder with every drop. Plink. Plink! PLINK!

"Let me out!" Kai screamed, kicking the bars. "You can't leave me here!"

Judging by the laughter down the tunnel, his guards knew exactly what was going on. And they were enjoying it.

"You don't understand!" Kai said. Then a little quieter, "you...you don't understand."

Plink.

He turned, head against the door, and sank to the floor. He drew his knees close, trying to make himself as small as possible.

Plink.

"My friends will rescue me. And not an army of ten thousand soldiers, or the Overlord, or King Garmadon himself can stand between them and me. Do you realize what we've been through together? Nothing is impossible."

Just a few moments ago he had been filled with courage.

But now, with the darkness and the cold and the sinking feeling of dread (because he knew that something terrible was about to happen), he felt small and finite.

Plink.

The Overlord was a hundred miles away. Why did it feel like he was right here, scraping his fingernails along the walls, whispering in Kai's ear, snaking his hand across Kai's shoulder, his back, down and down to his-

"Why?" he said aloud. "Why are you doing this?"

Plink.

After what seemed like a thousand heartbeats- loud; blood coursing through him a hundred miles a minute- he spoke a little quieter. "How long? How much longer will I have to put up with this?"

Then the voice in his head spoke in a low hiss. Until he breaks you, Kai, it said. Fighting him...it is a futile effort. You will only delay the inevitable.

But delaying it is good, Kai said, feeling like he had been here before. It gives Cole and Jay time to rescue me.

Rescue? The voice laughed. Don't be a fool. Nobody cares about you, Kai.

Plink.

"Stop it," Kai whimpered, all energy sapped from his mind and body. "Just...please...stop it."

But why would it stop? That would be too kind. Too merciful. Too everything Kai knew he did not deserve.

So he covered his ears with his hands, pushed his face between his legs, and wept.

Cole, Jay, and Kyle left their horses hidden in the trees just outside the King's keep. From there they walked, doing their best to stay unseen by the Guards who frequented the road.

It was quite a view. When Jay looked over his shoulder down the hill, he could see the town- in the center of which was the Square, filled with a plethora of people, all fixated on King Garmadon's speech.

"Here we are," Kyle whispered, pulling Cole and Jay to the side of the road behind a leafless, snowy hedge. Just in time, too, because a duo of Guards in black and green came around the bend, chattering lightheartedly about the sensual plans they had for tonight. They did not notice the three intruders.

Once they passed, Jay released a breath he didn't know he'd been holding in. What was left of his leg throbbed from the exertion of their hike. It was ridiculously difficult to travel through snow with a prosthetic limb. "How do you do that, Kyle?" he asked. "Knowing exactly when to hide, having all those hunches. It's not natural."

Kyle shrugged and winked, grinning crookedly. "Just a gift I was created with. Come on, look." Crouched low, he ran around a cluster of poplars. Jay and Cole followed.

"There's the entrance," Kyle said. "By my estimation, we have twenty minutes to get in, rescue Kai, and make it back to the Square in time to save Malian."

"And how long do you think this'll take?" Jay asked. He peeked through the bushes at the gate to King Garmadon's keep, which was guarded by two more men.

Kyle's smile grew more rueful. "It's uncharted terrain in there," he said. "I'd say, when added to the ten minutes it'll take to get back to the Square- well, maybe eight minutes, since we'll have a downhill slope on the way back- uh...yeah. This'll take at least thirty minutes."

Cole swore. "It'll be impossible to get past these two gate sentinels without those other two at the front door spotting us and sounding an alarm. We don't have any long-range weapons."

"Yeah we do," Kyle said. He drew a six-inch cylinder from his pocket. "My gun. I could shoot them, then-"

"What- no," Cole said, snatching the gun from him. "I don't care who these people are; we're not killing them."

"Why not?" Kyle asked. "They're traitors. They deserve to-"

"No," Cole snapped. "These men have lives. Families to support. They might even be here against their will. Should we deal out the ultimate punishment on the pretense that they're all as wicked as the ones that arrested you and Vara?"

Kyle's dark eyebrows scrunched close together as he pondered this. "Huh. When you put it that way... What do you think, Jay?"

Jay looked at the gate sentinels again, then at the mansion door Guards sixty paces beyond that. "What do I think?" He took a deep breath, then grinned.

Don't, Stormstrider said. You've used up too much power already. I can't support you forever.

In reply, Jay swallowed a painkilling pill from his pocket. The Guards have their backs turned to the mansion. It'll be a cinch. Don't worry, Stormstrider. I'll fly us above the clouds tonight and recharge you.

Stormstrider rumbled grumpily but did not resist.

Kyle poked Jay's shoulder. "Oi. What are you thinking?"

Jay grinned. "I'm thinking that you should be quiet for the next ten seconds. Once I give the signal, take care of the gate guards."

"Jay," Cole began. "I-"

Jay shot into the sky before he could hear the rest of the lecture. He moved fast- faster than he ever had before- and he was confident that no one could see him as he soared over the gate.

Less than a second later, he came to an abrupt halt and landed, smiling at the door sentinels. "Afternoon," he said, then grabbed the first one's face and pushed his thumb up under the jawbone.

As expected, the man crumpled soundlessly to the marble steps, unconscious. He did the same to the second one.

The nerve trick. One of his favorites for when he was playing his role as the thief. Sure, they'd have a bruise later, and they might be out of a job, but at least he hadn't risked damaging their brains. That is, he hadn't hit their heads with a heavy, blunt object and given them a concussion.

Jay turned around and gave the bush Cole and Kyle crouched behind a thumbs-up. After a moment, they exited their hiding spot and charged the Guards at the gate. They, unfortunately, were given the 'blunt object' treatment.

The Guards were slid to the side, and Cole and Kyle shook the gate, trying to figure out how to open it. Jay heard a cry of alarm and looked to a building nearby. Jay cursed and rushed into the guardhouse, incapacitating all the Guards. He found a key on one of them and used it to unlock the gate.

"Heh," Jay said. "It unlocks from the inside, apparently. Smart..."

"That was stupid," Cole said, stepping through behind Kyle.

"Hey, it worked," Jay said. "And it only took like...twenty seconds. Now come on. Once those other two Guards on the road double back and see our surprise, it's all over. Our time is limited."

He pushed the massive oak doors open and stepped into the warm, open, and empty entrance chamber. It was lit with candles and carpeted in rich reds, greens, and golds. But they did not stop to admire it.

"Which way to the dungeon?" Jay asked.

Kyle closed his eyes, then opened them again. With a faint click, his eye color changed from honey to a vibrant yellow. "Hmm," he said, head rigid. "Right. Turn right."

"What's up with your eyes?" Jay said. "And...how can you tell where-"

"No time," Cole said. "Talk later. Come on, to the right. Before we cross paths with a servant or another sentinel."

"A brilliant plan," Kyle said. He blinked again, and the light in his eyes went out. He took one each of Cole and Jay's hands in his own and pulled them down the passage ahead and to their right. For the next few minutes, he seemed engrossed by his duty, guiding them through a labyrinth of halls, stairs, and rooms. They had to stop twice to avoid Guards, and one unfortunate servant had to get Jay's neck-squeeze.

Overall, the trip to the lowest level- the dungeon- was swift. That isn't to say it wasn't stressful, or that they weren't as high-strung as a gazelle with a hunter on its tail, but the ease of which they made it through this phase of their plan was...well, strange.

It was hard to get down the echoey steps of the dungeon without making a racket, but they managed. The distorted sound of rushing water helped to shield them. When they reached the bottom, they crouched behind three large barrels and listened for any human noises.

They were rewarded with sounds of snoring. Cole carefully edged around the barrel, then stood. He motioned for Kyle and Jay to rise.

At the far end of the dimly-lit room sat two Guards, slumped against the wall, sleeping open-mouthed like children. In their hands lay mugs, presumably filled with some sort of alcoholic beverage.

Cole approached the Guards, wary of tricks, but a nod from Kyle assured them that the scene was as it seemed: For the moment, they were safe. It was time for the rescue.

Cole reached for the first Guard, but Jay caught his hand. "Let me," he whispered, and went to work searching for the keys to the many cells that sat within each of the dark halls that branches from this central chamber; like a spider web.

After finding no keys, Jay went on to the second Guard. "Why does Garmadon keep all his prisoners beneath his keep?" he asked. "It seems dangerous, keeping so many criminals so close to the King."

"This is the most heavily guarded facility on the island," Cole explained. Then he looked around and shrugged. "Supposedly. So Garmadon figured he might as well save the manpower: better to have a high concentration of men guarding him and his prisoners in the same building. Any other way, he would have to split his forces and having them work miles away from each other."

"Well, doesn't Garmadon just do a terrible job at everything," Kyle murmured. "Keys, Jay?"

Jay backed away from the Guards and shook his head. "No. No keys on either of them." He looked around the room. "They're not hanging on the walls, I don't see them on the floor, there isn't exactly a lot of clutter for them to have fallen behind...hmm."

"Well, we can worry about that later," Cole said. "Right now, we need to find Kai. We don't even know if he's being held here."

By the First King. Jay hadn't thought of that.

"Lets split up," Cole said. He pointed with his finger as he spoke. "I'll take these two passages here. Jay, you go over there to those two. And Kyle- Kyle!" He gasped, clutching his chest.

Kyle, eyes glowing again, turned to Cole. "Yes?"

Cole's mouth moved like a fish's for a moment before he regained control. "You...you look like a demon or...something," he said. "Please, warn us before you do that."

Kyle blinked the lights off, eyes returning to normal. "Sorry. But I found Kai."

"You did?" The intensity in Cole's voice surprised Jay. "Where is he?"

Kyle pointed to the fifth tunnel. "Last cell on the left," he said. "You can-"

Cole was off before Kyle could finish. Jay followed.

The darkness seemed unnaturally dense just a few feet into the tunnel. Cole drew his Blade, then frowned. "It doesn't work," he said.

"Huh?" Jay grunted.

"Raindancer. Its power is light. But I can't light the tunnel."

"No problem," Kyle said. He rolled up his sleeve and opened a panel on his arm. Moments later, his face lit up with a soft amber light.

Cole stared for a few seconds, lips stretched thin across his face. "What did I just say, Kyle?" he said. "You look like a demon."

"Can't help it," Kyle said, grinning with glowing white teeth. He took the lead, Cole and Jay following suite.

A numbing sensation washed over Jay as they went further into the tunnel. As if the walls themselves were draining away his strength and resolve. He couldn't feel Stormstrider's regular thrum. When he reached out with his mind to the Blade, he met only void. Even his leg had stopped throbbing. Everything was just...gone.

He saw the final cell on the right, as Kyle had said, and he quickened his pace.

"Kai," Cole said, dropping to one knee outside the cell. He reached inside and pulled Kai's hands away from his ears. "Hey. Are you okay?"

Kai raised his head from between his knees and drew in a shaky breath. With his back turned to them, they could not see his face.

"Kai," Cole said, more intently. "Did they hurt you? Talk to me."

Kai wrapped his arms around his knees. His voice quivered, as though he were a frightened child. "Can you hear it?"

"Hear what?" Cole touched Kai's shoulder. "Hey. Come on. It's all right."

The gentleness in the way he interacted with Kai left Jay flummoxed.

"Kai. Did they hurt you?"

Kai shook his head once. "Make...make it stop, Cole."

"Make what stop?" Cole asked. "We-"

"Shhh!" Kai said, voice echoing.

They all fell silent. Jay wasn't sure what to expect. Voices?

Maybe it was all in Kai's head.

Plink.

The sound was harmless. A droplet falling into a puddle; probably a runoff from the stream they'd heard a few minutes ago.

Cole's face fell. "Oh," he said. He extended a hand around Kai's collarbone and squeezed in something like an embrace. "It's all right. He's not here. He can't hurt you."

"But he can," Kai said, on the verge of hysteria. "He-he's here. He's everywhere! How does he do it? Why won't it stop?"

"There's some kind of sickness here," Jay said. "I can feel it, Cole. It's...not good. And my powers are gone. It's got Kai's mind, too."

"Yeah, I noticed," Cole said. He released Kai and stood. "We need to find that key. Kyle, how much time do we have?"

"Ten minutes," Kyle said. "And that's at best. Malian might be dead already. I just don't know."

Kyle didn't know. For some reason, that was scarier than anything else right now. Kyle always knew.

"The key," Kyle said. "Where is it? Neither of the Guards had it. We might have to search the entire prison."

"That will take too long," Cole said.

"Well, do you have a better idea?" Kyle asked.

A voice spoke in the shadows behind them. "Maybe," it said.

The trio turned as one, expecting a Guard. What they saw instead was even worse.

Queen Misako stood tall, dressed in black, crowned in silver and holding Moonsong, Kai's Blade. "The trap worked," she said, the folds of her dress fluttering around her sandals as she walked. "I sent most servants and Guards away, drugged those two men in the dungeon entrance, and took their keys. Made it easy for you to get down here, to the evilest place on this island."

Her eyes were sunken and lined in red. Cuts and bruises adorned her hands and face, though Jay could tell she was trying to hide them with powder and paint. The result was a look not unlike a phantom- gaunt, pale, deathlike.

"Now," she held the keys up in her scarred left hand, "I've caught you."