Author's Note: I know the last chapter was short but I'm hoping this one makes up for it.
Maira watched as Roth locked the cell once she was out of it in the hallway. He looked down at her and she smiled hugging the bowl that was piled with pink tinted rags and water. The salves in the basket hooked on her arm. She looked at him briefly before looking down and following him towards the stairs that led up. Roth held the top door open for her, and didn't say anything. Maira noticed he seemed tired, and she couldn't tell if it was from the wine, or the fact it was very late, into the early morning and he had been up the entire day and then some. With a brief thank you and good night, she put things away and slipped back to her cot that was now cold. A brief hint of light was coming through the window and she tried to close her eyes thinking about the problem of escape. She drifted to sleep, thinking about Diaval in the cell all alone. Her bed was cold but quickly warming up with herself under the covers.
When she awoke later in the morning and had a plan that could work. Her Aunt must have known she didn't sleep well, because she had already gone to start the fires in the kitchen. Slipping on her warmest under dress and over skirt, Maira quickly headed for the courtyard to collect the dried cloths that had been out in the rising sun. Time to repair tears and holes in clothing and she had been asked to make a pearl embroidered overdress a few days ago for one of the court ladies. That was going to be her excuse to help get Diaval out. She worked for a bit, sitting in the sun with a few of the other ladies who were helping to sew. She skipped breakfast, but in between a few shirts, she went to the kitchens for part one of her plan. In the kitchen, her Aunt gave her a brief hug and listened to Maira's excuse about a sore tooth keeping her up all night. Her Aunt seemed sympathetic, and packed her a small jug of wine with some poppy in it to help with the pail, but warned her that more then a few sips at a time would result in Maira sleeping on her feet. Maira took the jug, thanking her Aunt, and then tucked it under her bed. Smiling, she was glad that was done, heading back to continue working.
Sometime in the afternoon, she was in the kitchen and saw the plate for Diaval on the counter. This time, Roth grabbed it and headed down to the dungeon. While everyone was trying to ask Roth about the mysterious prisoner, Maira slipped to the shelves and grabbed one of the small bottles of poppy juice, tucking it into her skirts. As everyone started going back to work, Maira slipped to the corridor that led to the dungeons. She paused at the kitchen doorway because she saw the King's personal guards at the doorway to the stairs. Maira knew that meant King Stefan was down there, and was probably trying to get information from Diaval. It was quiet, so she figured whatever they were doing might not have been that bad. Slipping from the corridor, Maira walked to the courtyard and helped move cloths back inside. It was still sunny out, so Maira began the next part of her plan.
Stefan used the flail again across Diaval's back, causing him to hiss in pain, but he refused to speak. Roth shook his head watching the bird demon curled up against his cell wall and take a beating.
"Sire, my guys and I worked him over last night and he refused to speak. I don't think he will give in from beatings." Roth tried to explain, looking at the chain on the wall that kept the prisoner from moving too far. Stephan growled and threw the flail, moving closer and kicking Diaval in the side.
"Where is the weakness in the wall?" Stefan tried again. "How do I send a message to that witch? Her old meeting spot is burried in a thorn wall. You want to stay alive? I want the curse removed from my daughter! Tell me how to get through to have a meeting!" He kicked Diaval again, hearing a groan from the man in black, but Diaval suddenly reached out grabbing Stefan's foot.
"I will not let you hurt my Mistress!" Diaval pulled on Stefan's foot, causing him to fall forward, and Daival looped the chain that held his shackled wrists to the wall and pulled with what little strength he had left to try and strangle Stefan. Roth yelled and pulled out a club, beating on Diaval's shoulder and side and then head as Stefan clawed and gasped for air. It only took a few hits to cause Diaval's grip to loosen and he went limp. Stefan staggered away, rubbing at his neck which was bruised.
"Roth! Rack him and leave him like that until I say otherwise. No food or drink!" Stefan gasped and left the cell as Roth shook his head and moved to do as he was ordered. ll the while thinking how stupid the King was to get so close and to not listen to them. Now he would have to be down there again all night.
Maira watched King Stefan storm through the corridor past the kitchen doorway. She was done her repair work and was now helping her Aunt with the rolls for the dinner, and from the way King Stefan was walking, she would guess Diaval still hadn't spoken. She paused from slicing chunks of dough to roll and fold, and her heart sank as she realised that the person she would be helping escape, might not be in the best condition to do so. Maira had made sure to put some bandages and jugs of water near the grate that allowed water and sewage to flow from the dungeon level to the moat. She pulled the pins on the hinges so when she needed to, they could kick the grate out, and hurry away. Maira was certain her plan would work, but now she was starting to doubt that Diaval would make the trip. If he angered the King that much, he was probably being beaten again.
"Maira? Something wrong?" Her Aunt asked, noticing she had stopped her work. Maira shook her head quickly.
"No ma'am, just concerned that the King is so upset. That's all."
"It's that Moor folk demon in the dungeons." Her Aunt replied, with a disdainful tone. "He works for Maleficent, and His Majesty is trying to get information from him. Roth told me this morning that the demon won't cooperate, even for his own good."
Maira frowned and went back to her work. Her Aunt studied her for a moment and then went back to slicing vegetables herself.
"How is your tooth ache?" Her Aunt inquired. Maira kept folding.
"It's a bit better. The wine has been helping and I've been sipping it when the pain gets too unbearable. Is it alright if I skip dinner tonight? I want to try and get some more rest." Maira tried to sound pitiful and her nervousness must have added to the charade.
"Of course you can dear. I want you to get plenty of rest. I would also recommend going to the physician in the morning. He can probably do something about it." Her Aunt smiled and dumped all of the vegetables in a large pot. Maira nodded and lined up the rolls, then took a sip from a similar jug to the one she had been given. It didn't take them long to have everything ready, and then Maira was given the rest of the afternoon off, with "Aunty's Orders" to go rest.
She went to her room, and laid down, making sure the poppy oil and the poppy laced wine was in it's hiding place. Maira went over her plan in her mind, and began to shake as she realized she was about to do something that could be considered treason. Traitors were beheaded. A hand went to her throat as she laid on her bed, trying to think if there were any flaws or things she hadn't considered. She had thought of everything that she could, and it was all because of how cruel the guards and King Stefan had been to a man who had been polite and kind to her. Being a demon, according to everyone else, she knew there was a possability that he was manipulating her, but she couldn't just sit back and watch anyone be treated so cruely. Aside from the fear of getting caught, and losing her head, Maira was certain this could work. She closed her eyes and tried to get some sleep because she wouldn't be getting very much of it tonight. As she drifted to sleep, her dreams were full of her imagination of the Moors, hoping and praying that Diaval would be in a condition to escape. That she could pull this off.