Aedan descended the wooden ramp from the ship and gave Bayard a friendly slap on the back in greeting. "No rest for the wicked, I suppose. Lead the way, Sir Volström." Of course the sailor smirked as he spoke, even finishing his statement with an over the top salute.
Bayard rolled his eyes as he spun around, pivoting on his heels. "Will there ever come a day when you don't do that?" More of a rhetorical question rather than seeking answers. Bay knew Aedan better than most people, and one thing he loved more than others was poking fun at his friends. In particular, Bayard. But, the once nice thing about their friendship was the comfortable silence. So often in the company of others, people felt the need to fill the silences like the quiet deafening. But not for Bayard and Aedan.
Ilyos was the type of place that was never silent, from the breeze that whistled through the homes and sails, to the seagulls that sounded overhead or the waves lapping against the Luna Island coast. Most called this silence, but it was a melody Bayard cherished like a sweet lullaby. He could spend hours sitting outside while the sunset, listening to the cacophony of sounds these lands created.
But it wasn't long before they were walking past more and more people, and the sounds of the nature around then fell silent upon the bustle of the populated streets. While people snaked their way around moving to their homes, shops or taverns, Bayard let his steps fall in sync with Aedan's. "I can't help but wonder why we've been summoned to the dungeon, of all places," he said, leaning his head toward his friend slightly. "Maybe the king intends on making you the royal executioner," he added with a smirk and a raise of his brow.
It seemed the closer they got to the keep, the more people crowded the streets, not that this was anything new. Everyone in Ilyos learned the art of weaving through crowds seamlessly from a young age. If it was an emergency, Bayard would have shoved through the people or taken to the rooftops. Since Percy didn't seem like it was a pressing matter, Bay was taking the time to enjoy his stroll to the castle, taking in every moment of freedom before having to listen to whatever orders the King had.
Bayard adjusted his leather armor as they finally reached the long bridge that lead to the castle's entrance. His mind flipped through the possibilities of why the King could be requesting his presence along with Aedan's. Sure, Bay was called upon for nearly everything, but not Aedan. His job was on the sea, not defending the King. The strangest part was meeting in the dungeons. In all his years that Bayard has been a member of the King's guard, not once has he been summoned to the dungeon's. He wasn't a stranger to them, but the King himself had never been known to step foot down there. After all it was where they kept the traitors, thieves and murderers. It was no place for royalty.
It seemed the closer they moved to the keep, the more sporadic citizens were. It wasn't often that people lingered on the bridges surrounding the castle. More often than not it was guards or those seeking an audience with the King found traversing the bridges. As Bayard got closer toward the entrance, he started to see silver hair amongst a field of brunettes. He glanced over his shoulder toward Aedan, giving him a smirk while nodding his head in the white haired elf's direction. With that, his stepped picked up as he moved ahead of his friend, snaking his way through the crowd toward the woman.
When he reached Athelia's side, Bayard slowed so that he walked in step with her and lightly nudged her shoulder with his arm. "Hello, stranger. I see you have been summoned as well, any idea as to why?" He couldn't help the feeling of eyes on him as he walked with her. Bay raised his head, scanning the crowd until he noticed a few guards walking several paces behind them. "Just a moment," he said while holding up his index finger toward the elf.
He walked to meet the guards, with his arms cross over his chest. Bayard came to a stop before them. Obviously this were newer guards because their names slipped his mind, nor did they seem to know he was or what they were doing. "Leave," was all he said, while making a shooing motion with his hand.
"Excuse me, who do you think—" one of the men started but was cut off by the other smacking him in the chest.
"Do you not know who that is?" the guard hissed under his breath at the man. "Apologies, Sir Volström," he saluted and bowed, evidently nervous, trying not to misstep before the head of the King's guard.
"Why are you here and not at your posts?" Bayard asked. He then scanned the bridge counting at least a dozen guards holding the regular posts on the way to the keep. It was obvious these two were not stationed here, but more than likely were charged to patrol the streets of the common areas. "Looks like there are plenty of guards here."
The guard did a double take, glancing around at the guards positioned on the bridge, then looked back toward Bayard. "We saw the elf, sir... We thought that was..." His voice began to trailed off slowly as he noticed the unamused facial expression on Bay's face. "...Suspicious,"[/color] he concluded with an awkward laugh.
Bayard sighed softly, shaking his head. "That would be Athelia Nelmos... She has been on the King's guard since before you were a twinkle in your mother's eye." The two guards looked at each other, then back at Bay without saying a word. No doubt, they realized they had overstepped... majorly. "Return to your posts, or I'll have words with the King presently."
Without a seconds hesitation, the two men scurried off nearly tripping over each other as they hurried back to the towns. Bayard chuckled slightly, shaking his head as he returned to Athelia's side. He walked with her in silence until they reached the entrance to the keep. Bay stepped ahead of her, holding open the door for her and Aedan, then followed them both inside. "Maybe we should make a spectacle in the middle of town where you save my life all valiant like." He grinned teasingly toward the female elf. "Then maybe these young idiots will be less nervous."
Bayard glanced over his shoulder toward Aedan as they headed through the corridors toward the dungeons. "You could always kill Aedan. No one would miss him." He laughed, smacking Aedan on the shoulder in a teasing manner.
Phaedra's brow quirk in a very subtle smirk in response to Asa's own, no doubt the both of them getting entertainment from the mouthy dwarf. "Is that a Dwarf joke?" Varric feigned being insulted. "I think that was a Dwarf joke." Phaedra scoffed, rolling her eyes as he complained toward the elf in the cell with him.
"Sounded like a dwarf joke to me." Asa replied as she adjusted where she sat. "I was wondering the same myself, but then I figured, you could probably talk her to death instead."
Phaedra laughed weakly, taking a step back from the iron bars. Her arms slowly sliding back against the metal until her hands rested across the bar. She tapped her thumbs against the cold metal. "I don't quite know what sounds worse... Death by drowning or death by your mouth," she added with a little bite in her words.
She couldn't help herself and her lingering gaze that kept finding its way back to the staircase that lead up to the keep. Phaedra knew if she could make it out of her cell, that she could make it free and clear of the keep. There was always a possibility of death, but she'd prefer to die by the blade rather than be forced off the ledge of a waterfall, drowning to death. One thing she knew for certain, Ilyos was not known to be merciful. Death for criminals was certain and escape was as likely as seeing a dragon rise up from the ocean.
It seemed as though the moment these thoughts crossed her mind, the guards at the base of the stairs stirred before ascending to the keep. Phaedra's brows furrowed as she looked between Asa and the now empty dungeon. It wasn't like there was anywhere they could go, the only way out of the cell was through the falls... But, no doubt it was odd that the guards just up and left them alone in the dungeon.
Varric, for being a talkative seemingly oblivious dwarf, he even noticed the departure of the guards. He quickly moved to his feet and walked up to the iron gate that separated him from the center of the cells. "Did that actually just happen?" He sounded as confused as he looked, glancing between Thalin, Asa and the empty staircase.
Taking the opportunity for himself, Varric quickly started to scan everything at his disposal, hoping for something that could be of use for an escape. Of course, Ilyos didn't get its reputation for no reason, so he was unlucky at finding anything to give him aid. With nothing else to try, Varric turns sideways, and slips his right leg and arm between two of the iron bars. With a grunt, he begins to wiggle and push himself, trying to worm his way through to the other side. He wasn't even halfway through when his broad chest seemed wider than the opening.
Phaedra chuckled, letting her arms slip between vertical bars of her own cell, her elbows resting upon a crossbar. She entangled her fingers, letting her forehead rest against the metal. "You did not actually think your thick dwarven ass would fit through that did you?"
Varric scoffed, retracting back into his cell. He dusted off his clothes before looking back over toward her. "And you think you can do better?" he asked, motioning his right hand toward her.
Phaedra smirked, cocking her head to the side. "Is that a challenge?" She took a step back, patting her hands against the bars as she sized them up. Instead of going for the center, she walked toward one end of her cell. The gap between the iron bar and the rock wall was just slightly larger than that between each bar. With a crack of her neck, she slipped her left leg through and then her hip. Once her shoulder was through, Phaedra squatted, turning her head to the side. She could feel the space feeling tighter as more of her frame tried to squeeze through.
Just as she was halfway through, nearly certain that she might be able to make it, Phaedra heard the door at the top of the stairs open. Her eyes widened. She had merely moments to either escape and prepare to fight or go back in her cell. With one final push, Phae tried to wiggle her way through the bars, but when she realized if she tried any further she'd remain stuck. With a sigh, Phaedra jerked herself free and fell backwards, down on the ground in her cell. After catching her breath, she propped herself up on her elbows, looking toward the stairs expectantly... Wondering who was about to join them.
RPG
