In Which Somewhere Low is Broken Out Of


Three nights into her captivity Justina was woken up in the middle of the night by someone yanking her from her bedroll. She came to instant panicked wakefulness.

"What?" She yelped as cold night air hit her. There was a commotion going on around her as she was hauled before the Sargent. The fear that had been her constant companion since the attack on the camp froze solid in her belly.

The Sargent, still rumpled from sleep, looked at her.

"Are you sure?" He asked the cringing man on his right.

"I'm sure. Mostly sure. I mean I haven't…" The man blushed, staring at the ground with flat slitted eyes. "I haven't… investigated or anything, but surely if she wasn't a witch someone would know what her animal was by now."

"What? I'm not a- mmmph!" She was interrupted as the man holding her covered her mouth.

"Hmmm." The Sargent looked at her grimly. "Send someone for the Medic."

The medic arrived at a run in his sleep shirt and with his kit in one hand, rubbing sleep from his eyes. "What is going on here? What's the emergency?"

"Ah." The Sargent looked uncomfortable for the first time. "It seems the men have come to the conclusion that one of our prisoners is a witch."

Justina made a sound of protest behind her captors hand.

"What?" The medic stared at him in disbelief. "That's ridiculous. Witches aren't real. You got me out of bed for an old wives tale?"

"It's not!" The snake eyed man finally looked up. "I can see heat, and nothing about her has a unique heat signature."

"And this is infallible is it?"

"Well… No. Only about half the time do peoples animal parts look different from the rest of them, but it's not just that. None of us know her animal, that's not something you hide!"

The remaining three soldiers as well as the one holding Justina made a grumbling sound of agreement as the medic looked at him tight-lipped. "And do you make a habit of trying to see parts of your prisoners you were not invited to look at."

"No!" The man looked back at the ground and mumbled. "but… someone would know."

"And even if she has no animal, so what? Witches aren't real. And we aren't superstitious serfs from a hundred years ago."

"It's not just me! We were talking to some of the locals in the last town. Rumor is Lupe has a witch and we have a prisoner from Lupe's crew without an animal!"

"If she was a witch, she would have freed herself ages ago."

"She was lying low but now we've exposed her, she'll kill us all in our sleep!"

"That makes no sense. Why even let herself get-"

"I don't want to die!" The man interrupted. "We need to get rid of her before she gets rid of us."

The medic sighed and rubbed his temples as around him the men rumbled unsettlingly.

"Just examine her." The Sargent ordered. "Figure out what her animal is and put our minds at ease."

"And then what? If her animal isn't obvious, as not everyone's is, what will you do? Kill her? Leave us with only one third of the prisoners we captured because of haste and superstition? The Baron would like that, you think? Just tie her up if you really need to soothe your minds, but don't act like children."

The medic folded his arms and the men went into a huddle. Justina watched them with wide eyes as she struggled to breathe over the hand on her mouth.

After a few minutes they came back and their chosen spokesman said, "She is to be tied arms and hands down and gagged. And an extra guard needs to be on her at all times."

"Thank you for volunteering." The Sargent said dryly, but Justina caught the unsettled glance he shot her way.

Justina stayed as still as she could, trying to look harmless. I haven't done anything. She thought hopelessly. How can I stop being scary when I never did anything to scare them in the first place?

She didn't sleep well that night and it was only partially because of the ropes they cocooned her in.


Traveling was even harder on Justina after that. Tied hand and foot, gagged, lashed to the horse, and constantly watched by men who flinched when she sneezed. When she finally saw the Keep in the distance all she felt was relief.

As soon as they got inside Bea was taken away, but Justina was kept in the opening hall for long enough to make her tired legs think of just sitting down right there.

Better not. She thought with a sigh. The ropes might cut off circulation to my feet completely.

The Sargent, who looked tired and grim himself, had sent a runner off with quiet instructions. When the boy eventually returned he was trailed by a tank of a man in a trim uniform and a long tail draped over his arm.

"Sargent," The man said, saluting and running a concerned eye over their party. "Where is Captain Keasan? And the rest of your men?"

"Commander!" The Sargent saluted back. "They are fine. They are traveling on foot behind us, I'll give you a full report on why, but the Captain sent us ahead with the prisoners."

"Prisoners! Excellent, well done."

"There's just one problem." The Sargent glanced at Justina and back to the Commander. "Sir, with permission, may we speak out of the prisoner's earshot?"

The Commander's eyebrows rose, and he gestured off to the side of the room. They spoke at length looking back at her every once in a while. The Sargent got more and more flustered while the Commander looked unmoved. Once Justina heard the Sargent's voice rise enough for her to hear the word "Witch."

More of the same. She thought with a sigh and ignored them. She worked her mouth around the gag trying to ease the ache in her jaw.

The Sargent's conversation broke off suddenly when a tall man walked in through a side door. He had his eyes on the floor and hands in his pockets. All the guards straightened up when he wandered into the room.

"My lord!" The Commander called.

The tall man froze for a moment, then sighed looking up. "Yes, Luke?"

"It looks like we caught some prisoners from the rebels. We should be able to get information about their plans!"

"Oh? Alright, well done."

"But my lord," burst in the Sargent, exhausted and frustrated. "This one is a witch!"

The Baron glanced over at her, meeting her eyes for just a moment. Justina stared at the man who had caused her friends so much suffering. He wore expensive clothes that while clean were noticeably worn. Not exactly what I'd expect from nobility. He looks exhausted, older than I imagined, and he holds himself like a man in pain. Is this really who I've been so afraid of?

"Put her with the others." The Baron sighed.

"But Sir! She's a witch."

"So?" The Baron didn't seem to care or believe him.

"Well, Sir – "

"Just put her with the others." The Baron turned and left, cutting off any further argument.

Oh God, what kind of dank dreary dungeon am I going to end up in now? Justina felt the knot in her gut twist as they went through a door and down a long dark stairway. The door at the bottom was solid wood. A guard unlocked it and pushed her though slamming the door behind her. Justina wobbled and fell over slowly. With rope wrapping her arms and thighs it was impossible to stop herself. On her way down she'd gotten a good view of the room. This doesn't look like a dungeon, it looks like a white washed cellar with cots tossed in as an afterthought.

Bea appeared in the patch of ceiling Justina was looking at. "Oh good! They did put you in with us."

Justina felt a rush of relief as Bea pulled the gag from her mouth.

"Us?" Justina croaked as Bea began on the knots around her torso.

Bea hauled Justina into a sitting position to get the knots on her back and turned her toward an older couple sitting on one of the cots. The woman waved.

"Tina, these are Lupe's parents; Charley and Mara Tiller. And this," Bea rested a hand on Justina's head for a moment, "is Justina. She's one of us."

Mara smiled at Justina "Thank you for helping my daughter. We're proud of her, no matter what happens."

When Justina spoke her voice was still rough. "It's an honor to meet you."

"You as well."

Justina rubbed feeling back into her extremities and tried to work the taste of cloth from her tongue. Eventually Justina asked, "Have you had any luck escaping?"

"We tried at first, but I twisted my ankle and I'm afraid I won't be going anywhere for a while. They haven't actually treated us too badly here. They even sent someone to make sure my ankle wasn't broken. I do worry Lupe will do something reckless when she finds out about us. Is that why you're here? Did she get caught too?"

"No. She wasn't there when they found us. And we had no idea you were here."

"Well, that's good then." Mrs. Tiller nodded firmly.

"Can't you magic us out somehow?" Bea piped up looking at Justina expectantly.

"Um, no? Why would you think that?"

"You're a witch. I know you couldn't free us on the road because of the guards and how they tied your hands, but you're free now. Can't you do something?"

"I don't know magic. I know you all call me witch because I don't have an animal, but I really don't see how the two are connected."

Bea didn't look convinced but she let it go.

"We should brainstorm ways to escape." Justina proposed to fill the silence.

"Brainstorm?" Mara cocked her head.

"Come up with as many ideas as you can without committing to any. Like the magic one. It's impossible, but reward yourself for thinking of something instead of punishing yourself for not thinking of something perfect right away. In theory if you have enough ideas you will eventually find a solution."

They came up with several ideas but nothing practical. As the hours dragged on Bea got quieter and quieter eyeing the door. When they heard footsteps on the stairs Justina flinched. Please don't let them be coming to tie me up again.

"Ah! Must be lunch time." Charley said cheerfully.

Bea jumped up and moved to stand beside the door.

"What are you-" Charley began but Bea put a finger to her mouth and shook her head violently. He shut up.

The door rattled as it was unlocked and the instant it swung open Bea lunged through the gap. She dived past a shocked young man in a servants livery and ran face first into the guard behind him. She tried to recover and dodge around him but he caught her and shoved her back through the door. Bea fell hitting her head hard on the edge of one of the cots. Shaken, the servant almost dropped their food tray as he put it down and fled. The guard closed and locked the door behind him.

Justina helped Bea up and onto one of the cots.

"What was that? Are you okay?"

Bea started to nod but winced and squeezed her eyes shut. After she caught her breath she grinned and brought out a hand she'd been hiding. "I got his key."

"That was reckless, you could have been killed!"

"It wasn't actually on purpose." Bea started to shrug and winced. "I just thought I'd make a run for it and come back for you."

"But… then how did you get the key?"

"Habit. I grew up on the streets in Lower Castlenest before I had to stow away with the merchant caravan that kicked me out here. Sometimes the best takes are from a sloppy guard after you've been caught. I won't pretend it's fun. Nothing you would set out to do. But this is nothing! Just let me get my balance and we can all be on our way. "

"I'm afraid I won't be going much of anywhere with my ankle." Mara interjected. "But that was very brave. Perhaps I can convince the guards you're all still here, somehow."

"I'll be staying with you, dearest." Charlie said, almost amused.

"No, Charlie, please. Our daughter's out there. She'll need you."

"Our daughter has been a full grown badass for a long time. She doesn't need me and she'd want me here with you."

"People need family, not just followers."

"She's got Xanaria." Justina interjected. "Ever since we joined the Resistance those two have seemed like family."

Mara gasped, both hands flying to her mouth. After a shocked pause Charlie began to laugh a deep booming belly laugh.

"I told you, Mara!" He chuckled, clapping her on the shoulder. "Didn't I tell you? Little Ri is just too drowned stubborn to die. Good on her! She showed them."

Mara recovered and smiled warmly. "You did. I'm glad. You should still go, love."

But Charlie just shook his head putting an arm around her.

"Just the two of us then eh, Tina?" Bea said, sitting up. Justina squashed a flash of irritation at the familiar nickname.

"Just the two of us. How are you feeling?"

"Better." Bea said but when she stood she swayed and staggered sitting down hard on her cot. "Or not. Shit."

"Is it a concussion?" Justina went to kneel before Bea looking at her eyes. They looked normal, but Justina was the first to admit she didn't actually know what a concussion looked like in someone's eyes, just that you were supposed to check them.

"A what?"

"A concussion, a brain injury that gets worse the more times you've had them. They happen if you hit your head wrong or too hard. Can you squeeze my hands, please?" Bea took her hands and squeezed them looking confused. Justina grimaced, feeling Bea's right hand was much weaker than the left. "I think it is a concussion, it might be a while before the dizziness passes."

"I'll be fine." Bea insisted, but time and a few more attempts to stand and walk proved her wrong.

"There's no help for it." Bea eventually sighed, "It'll just have to be you, Tina. Tell Lupe what happened. She'll get the rest of us out."

Justina's eyes widened, "But I don't know how to get out of here! The only useful skill I've had this entire time is how to read. I can't escape a castle full of soldiers and-"

"Hey." Bea grabbed her chin and made Justina look at her. "You're overthinking it. This is a tiny keep. It doesn't even have a proper dungeon. You can do this, you just need to keep moving forward."

"But I've never-"

"You can do this. I believe in you. Don't worry about us, just get to Lupe, that's all you need to do. She'll take care of the rest."

"O-okay. But you keep the key? In case I get caught and you need to try again?"

"That's a good idea, but you won't get caught. Now go, the longer you wait before you start the worse your nerves will get. Go get 'em Tina!"

And Justina went. Her heart was hammering as she climbed the narrow spiral stairs in the windowless dark. The stairs seemed to go on far longer than she remembered. At first she thought it was just her worried mind but as the steps kept stretching up and up before her she began to wonder if she had missed the door.

Maybe I should turn around? Oh god. I do not want to go back. It took too much to get going in the first place.

She was almost ready to go back anyway when her reaching hand found a door knob. Finally!

Turning it she found herself in a hallway. There were still no torches or lamps but the hall didn't stand in complete darkness like the stairwell. There was light spilling in from around some of the doors and through the wide crack where one had been left open.

Light must mean a window, she thought, and a window means a way out.

She made a beeline for the door. The room beyond was tiny and neat with a narrow bed behind a folding screen, a small desk stacked with papers, and shelves of cleaning tools and office supplies. There was a second door on the right wall. But Justina was focused on the window straight ahead. Three steps across the room and Justina was looking down from a dizzying height.

Well then. It seems I did miss a door. Or three. Back to the stairs, I guess. She sighed and was about to go when she heard footsteps from the hallway. She looked around wildly but the bed was too close to the ground to hide under and the desk too small. She dove for the second door and felt a wash of relief when it turned easily in her hand letting her into a much larger office.

This room did have a desk big enough to hide under and Justina ducked down behind it, knocking some papers off the edge in her haste to crawl into the footwell.

She heard someone shuffling around in the other room and some quiet swearing. Then she heard the door between the rooms open. She held her breath, shrinking back as far as she could. She heard footsteps approaching and a muttered "there you are." She heard the rustle of paper and then the footsteps retreated back to the other room. She heard the joining door close then she heard the outer room's door closely followed by the click of a lock. She made a face but stayed silent. After a few minutes, when Justina was reasonably sure whoever it was wouldn't be coming back she crept out from under the desk. She picked up the papers she had knocked off, planning to put them back when the heading caught her eye.

It said

From:

His Lord High Majesty, Ruler of the Southern Reaches, King of the Middle Plains, Lord of Feral Heights, Arbiter of the Final Court, Master of Mountainburrow, and First Among the Seven Kings, Atarro Johnathan Matt William Alder Kelly Quinton Sarah Martin Cane the Second.

To:

Baron Alexander Ben Grayson, Third of the Anchrilots, Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, Lord of Grayson Hill

After a moment's hesitation Justina unfolded the letter. It was short, only one page, but had two sets of handwriting on it. The first part was very neat and clearly legible with elegant little embellishments while the second was crabbed and spiky.

Maybe a scribe and then a personal note? That seems odd from a king. She began to read.

From:

His Lord High Majesty, Ruler of the Southern Reaches, King of the Middle Plains, Lord of Feral Heights, Arbiter of the Final Court, Master of Mountainburrow, and First Among the Seven Kings, Atarro Johnathan Matt William Alder Kelly Quinton Sarah Martin Cane the Second.

To:

Baron Alexander Ben Grayson, Third of the Anchrilots, Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, Lord of Grayson Hill

We do feel for your trouble, unfortunately with the threat of aggression from the North we do not have available men to send to your aid. We wish you all speed with your bandits and trust you can bring them to heel.

I know you miss her, Grayson, but it's been years. Get your shit together. I've told you to remarry and I've told you the sooner you have an heir the sooner you can retire and mope about in peace. I'm sick of hearing about this. We could be at war this time next year and I can't have you distracted by your little rebellion. Handle it. By any means necessary. We may need even your warriors before this is over.

Signed by an illegible scrawl, His Lord High Majesty, Ruler of the Southern Reaches, King of the Middle Plains, Lord of Feral Heights, Arbiter of the Final Court, Master of Mountainburrow, and First Among the Seven Kings.

Justina folded the letter back up and placed it back on the desk. That didn't tell me much. Except that I seem to be in the Barons office. And he won't be getting any backup against Lupe. And that he thought he needed help enough to ask for it. Okay, maybe that did tell me a lot. I really need to get out of here.

She slipped through the other room but when she tried the handle on the door she had come in through it was locked. I figured. Worth a try anyway…

She went back to the bigger office. There was another door there in the wall that should have the hallway on the other side. She tried the handle with little hope. It was locked. She tried the other door in the far wall from the scribes office but it too was locked. She crossed back to the window. It wasn't locked but only because it wasn't designed to open. Damn it. Not a single open door. Not even the window, although I suppose that wouldn't have made much of a difference. I'm 50 feet up at least and I don't see much in the way of hand holds.

Justina turned back to the room and looked it over again looking for anything she could have missed. Big desk, three doors. Two locked, one to the servants office. A couple tapestries and a big black curtain on the wall. I suppose that curtain could be hiding a secret door… It doesn't really look door shaped, but maybe that's what makes it secret?

She pulled aside the curtain and had a moment of panic as the black silk just started to slide and fall under her fingers.

Not a curtain, a drape! She swore as she wasn't fast enough to get out from under it before a fold of cloth flopped down over her head. She wallowed her way out of the fabric and shoved it aside with her foot. I'm really glad no one saw that. She was thinking when she looked up and locked eyes with a lovely woman.

After a breathless moment Justina realized, It's a painting. There was a painting under the black silk drape.

The painting was of a woman with a cascade of red feathers where her hair should be. She had a slightly lopsided smile, twinkling eyes, and a spray of laugh lines most artists would leave out but that added to the impression she had a joke she was bursting to tell once the painter had finished.

Oh. This must be the Baron's late wife.

Justina heard a door open. She turned but it was too late to hide back under the desk and she came face to face with Baron Grayson once more. He remained expressionless as he met her eyes and then looked past her to the painting. The servant beside him, however, shrieked and jumped, almost dropping an armful of papers.

The Baron took the papers saying, "Could you go fetch a couple servants to put the drape back up, please?" The servant looked like he was about to argue but the Baron added. "Oh and a couple guards." The servant didn't look happy but, glancing nervously at Justina, he bobbed a quick bow and fled back out to the hall.

The Baron crossed to his desk leaving the door open and proceeded to ignore Justina's presence. Justina considered leaving, it was obviously what the man wanted, but something stopped her.

"She looks like she knew a good joke or two." She found herself saying instead.

He froze quill dripping ink on the paper. He was still and silent so long Justina wasn't sure he was going to answer at all. Eventually he sighed and set down the quill looking up at the painting.

"She did, for every situation."

"Do… you want to talk about it?"

"No one ever wants to talk about things that hurt."

"Why do you keep her picture covered?"

"I don't want her to see what I've become. She would be disappointed."

"She would still love you though, surely it would be good to be reminded of that."

The Baron shook his head and sighed. "If I may ask," He began, obviously changing the topic. "Why were you with the rebels when my soldiers picked you up? You seem rather mature to be running around with that gaggle of children."

"Didn't you try to marry one of those 'children'?"

"Yes, well." He glanced at the painting and then away. "That was a mistake."

"But you thought it was a good idea at the time?"

"I didn't think anything was a good idea at the time. It simply seemed the least painful way to follow orders."

"Orders?" She asked, then thought of the king's letter.

"It doesn't really matter anymore does it. This is how things are."

"Is this about the coming war?"

"That war has been nothing but potential for the last 60 years despite the best efforts of both sides to move it one way or another. There won't be a war."

Justina heard running feet in the corridor outside.

"Have you considered actually talking to the Resistance?"

The door burst open before the Baron could have answered and guards poured into the room led by the Commander. Two of them grabbed her arms while more got between her and the Baron.

"Really, Luke, this seems over the top."

"Sir, she escaped from a prison cell and made her way to your office. I'm starting to think she really is a witch!"

"It's not like the root cellar is some impregnable dungeon."

"You don't seem to be taking this seriously."

"Just put her back." The Baron retreated toward the doorway Justina hadn't seen opened yet, unlocking it with a small gold key. "And make sure your men remember to lock the cellar door this time."

"But, Sir-"

"Now, please." The Baron opened the door and beyond it Justina glimpsed a large bed with a dark coverlet and a little bedside table of honey colored wood. "I need to lie down."

The Commander looked grim but made a hand signal at his men and they all moved out.

"Oh, and Luke." The Commander turned back. "Maybe search the room to see if someone smuggled in a pair of lockpicks." The Commander gave a tight nod as his men dragged her out of the room.


Justina soon found herself back in the root cellar with the others. The guards did a thorough sweep of the room but found nothing. When they left the lock clunked behind them and the knob rattled as someone shook it.

"How far did you get?" Bea asked quietly.

"Too far, honestly. I missed the ground floor door and got cornered all the way up in the Baron's office."

"And all they did was put you back down here?" Bea looked flabbergasted.

"Yeah. That is a bit odd, isn't it?" Justina allowed. "It's like he just didn't care."

"That's the problem, really." Mara sighed. "He doesn't. Not anymore."

"He really was a good man once." Charley added. "He had an open court twice every week so people could bring him and the Baroness their problems and they would do their best to find fair compromises. They sent food to all the midwinter feasts in the Barony too. That's not a small undertaking to organize."

"But when she died he just retreated and we didn't see him again for years and years, not until… Well, until he came for Lupe."

"I wish I had just said no. But he was so different and he didn't really give me an opening to talk. I didn't think it could be real until it was all over. It was so out of character, so unexpected."

"His guards weren't even local boys anymore."

"No. They came from the capital I think. Had different ideas about how things are done and the Baron never corrected them or trained them in how we do things here."

"I miss the Baroness," Mara's voice got very quiet, "and I miss the way things used to be, even when I'm angry at how they are now."

"I never thought-" Charley shook his head. "I couldn't have imagined how things would go, and I regret all the things I could have done differently."

"Does it matter?" Bea asked, anger thick in her voice. "He's a right bastard now, whether he tells his soldiers what to do or just lets them do it."

They sat in silence for a long time each thinking their own thoughts. Eventually Justina sighed and turned to Bea asking, "Do you still have the-'' Panic flashing in her eyes Bea clapped a hand over Justina's mouth. She put a finger to her own lips glancing at the door. Justina raised her eyebrows confused.

Bea leaned close and breathed, "No footsteps after they locked the door. The guard is still out there."

Justina nodded her understanding and Bea released her. Justina cleared her throat, "Excuse me, the leftovers from lunch?"

"No, I'm afraid it's all gone." Bea paused before adding with subtle emphasis, "I swallowed them."

Justina blinked and raised her eyebrows. Bea made a face and put a hand to her throat

"It might be a little while before we get another chance." Bea added. "To eat."

"Pity." Justina sighed, but nodded in approval.

They lapsed into silence again. The guard stayed outside until another relieved him and Justina didn't have much hope she'd get to use the key again.