The prisons of the fort were actually a network of caves in the mountains. Niira had been put in what had to be the point furthest from the entrance, judging by how cold and damp it was. It made her skin crawl. She did have one small view of the fort through a chink in the stone wall of her cell. It wasn't the best view in the world, but it helped break the monotony of the darkness, as well as gave her some means of telling time. She knew she had been in there one night already, and now the sun was close to setting again. She watching the goings-on below in the dimming red light.
There was an entire section of the fort that couldn't been seen from outside. It was pushed back into the mountain pass, well-hidden from the casual passer-by. Phoenix's army had even added their own touches to the place, rebuilding several of the collapsed structures, such as small storage houses, and a single tower built right out of the mountainside.
The army itself was made mostly of musteliforms, which didn't surprise her. Hundreds of them had passed below her during her stay; certainly hundreds more were in places she couldn't see. Occasionally, avians would flash past her 'window' on their way to the tower. Their roosts were at the top, giving them the best view of the camp.
These creatures still worried Niira the most. The advantage of aerial warfare had been lost for Serpent Mother now. With what she knew of Phoenix and his love of destruction, she could easily imagine the avians being made to drop fire-bombs and other such deadly items into a battlefield. Or worse, in civilian areas.
She had also seen a few groups of Fallen walk past. Those feliforms who had long ago 'fallen' from Serpent Mother, defecting to Phoenix's cause. They had been exiled by the other feliforms, pushed to the most inhospitable deserts of the Northlands. Years of such a harsh existence had given them lean, fast bodies, and the mindset to kill anything that threatened their livelihoods. While not as numerous as the rat-people, they were certainly just as dangerous.
Once, she thought she had seen a Fireborn float past, but it might have just been the shadows. Fireborn were rarely seen individually anyway. They derived most of their fearsomeness from being in groups.
Niira knew more of the fort's layout as well, from when she had been brought in. Enough to know that the main entrance of the fort faced south, which would make it difficult for any army coming from the north to assault. And seeing as the bulk of Serdio's armed forces resided in the north, she had little hope of a rescue from them. She knew where the various officers' quarters were, as well as where the Moon Scintillation and her Black Gold Dragoon spirit were being kept. In the tower that the avians roosted in. So anyone who was trying to get to them without the proper permissions would face death from above.
The sun had gone down far enough that her eyes were straining to make out shapes from the shadows. Sighing, Niira slumped against the wall. She wished they would kill her already. Obviously they had no use for her, so why keep her around?
A loud shout made her jump. Scurrying back to the viewhole, she craned her neck, trying to see what had happened. She caught a brief glimpse of a large creature flying over the broken eastern wall...and it wasn't an avian. It dove down to the ground, out of her view.
"Kitty?" she whispered to no one. He wouldn't have come here alone. Somebody's with him. I told him to go back to Bale but someone found him first. The knights that the messenger mentioned? She felt her heart race from excitement.
More yelps and screeches, and the sound of something large crashing about. Whoever was riding him had the right idea--use the gryff as a mobile battering ram. Simply knock aside any who stand in your way, get to your destination before real trouble can arrive. The sound was coming closer to the prison caves. They're coming...for me...
She turned away from the window. If she got out, she would have no weapons to help fight with. She had left her spear back in Bale, probably the one time she had ever willingly parted with it. She could well enough with her fists, but that would do little good against a mob of angry, armed rat-people and Fallen and avians.
Soon the sounds of battle at the front of the prison echoed back to her. She pushed herself against the cell door to listen better. Steel on steel. Someone being thrown against the wall. Someone else running through the cave tunnels.
Please god let it be help. "Over here!" Niira shouted. Remembering the path she had taken to get to her cell, she added, "Right passageway!"
The person came closer. "Niira!"
"Coen? Coen!"
And then a miracle happened. A friendly face peered at her from the other side of the door. The knight's hair was mussed, and he panted heavily, but he managed a small smile at her.
"My hero," Niira said, surprising herself with her lack of snark.
"Not quite yet." He stepped away, and she could hear the metallic clink of keys. The lock to her cell turned, then snapped open. The door swung outward on its aged hinges.
Niira fairly threw herself at her friend, wrapping her arms around his neck. Never had she been so glad to see someone she knew. And to think I may have never seen him again... Guilt about her actions the past few days washed over her. She shivered, clinging to Coen.
"Hey, it's okay." He stroked her shoulder with his free hand. "We need to get out of here before the whole damn army arrives."
"Not without my dragoon spirit."
"You know where it is?"
"In the tower...come on."
She led the way back down the hall. Near the entrance were the guards, or rat-people who had once been the guards. They were flung against the walls, limbs in awkward positions. Niira didn't want to take a closer look and see exactly why theye lay so still. Something about thinking of Coen, as rserved as he was, being a killer unnerved her. She did pause just long enough to grab one of their long-handled swords. Better this small weapon than none at all.
They stepped into the silvery evening light to find themselves confronted by dozens of enraged soldiers. Kitty and Lavitz were bravely holding their own against the enemy, keeping them far enough away that Niira and Coen had a chance to make a run for the tower.
It was a chance they wanted to take, and they made a mad dash for the stone building.
"Above!" was all that Niira could get out before the first avian made a dive for them. They threw themselves to the ground, and the bird missed, swinging back into the air for another strike. Niira quickly scrambled to her feet. As the second avian dove, she threw her sword at him. The weapon connected with the avian's shoulder. Shrieking, the creature fell from the air.
With that momentary distraction, the two friends made it to the tower, slamming the door shut behind them. Niira was able to find the dragoon spirit almost immediately. It called to her with a curious tone, as if wondering what had happened to her.
Coen was digging madly through the piles of various objects strewn about the room. He had an intense look on his face that scared Niira.
"What are you looking for?"
"Moon Scintillation," he muttered.
"Well, it should be here somewhere, they said it was being kept with my dragoon spirit." She started searching as well. "What's it look like?"
"I think Haschel mentioned a small red box at some point..." He stopped, then straightened. He held out his hand to Niira. On it rested what was most certainly a small red box, a bit worn from its travels. It radiated a strong magic that made Niira shiver. "King Albert sent me to bring it to him. And I will."
Suddenly, the very floor shook beneath them. Niira rushed back out into the courtyard, not wanting to be inside the tower should it fall. To her surprise, most of the army in the fort was rushing out the front gate. What just happened?
Coen was running for the one group that remained to harass Lavitz and Kitty. With one motion, he sliced his sword across the back of one rat-person and into the leg of another. Kitty could be seen tossing aside a Fallen with his spiked head.
Niira gripped her dragoon spirit tightly. Come on Yinwu, help me out and stop being such an ass about it. She closed her eyes, feeling a tingling in her shoulders. A wave of black magic swept over her, covering her in slick, dark armor, flinging itself outward from her shoulders to form shining wings. That's more like it. She lacked a weapon, as she had left the sword with the avian, but that didn't stop her from charging the enemy.
The soldiers flew from her path and she crashed into them. She managed to grab one mustelid and flipped herself upward, flying high above the fray. Then she dropped the unfortunate victim, right onto his comrades. Niira had no sooner let go of him than she pulled herself together to prepare a magical attack. Thrusting herhands forward, she sent bolt after bolt of dark energy at Phoenix's troops. The magic fell like black stars, striking down all they touched. The creature bolted in fear, some scattering to various hiding places, others deciding to join the rest of the army beyond the front gate. Satisfied with her work, Niira allowed herself to float down until her toes touched the ground.
Kitty forgot whoever he was attacking and gleefully bounded over to greet Niira. He affectionately bumped his head into her back, nearly bowling her over despite her dragoon armor. Lavitz's reaction was much more subdued, as he was holding his left arm in pain. Blood stained his tunic from where he had received a wound in his upper arm. He shook his head slowly as he looked at his daughter. "If only your mother was able to see you now..."
"What'd everyone make for the front gate for?" Coen joined them, also sporting a few cuts and bruises.
"Wait." Niira pushed off from the ground, rising until she could see over the wall. She blinked at the sight. "You'd never believe it," she called down to them, "but they're fighting the First and Second Knighthoods. And some dragoons."