It was dark.
The sound of rats scuttling across the ground could be heard. Water dripped from a pipe above him.
The duke stirred, "Where am I?" he asked.
No one answered.
Looking around the room, the duke tried to make sense of where he was. Bricks layered ran up the walls. One creaky light hung from the center of the ceiling and there was a spiral staircase off in the right hand corner. The duke tried to stand but his legs gave out. Falling back to his bum, he tried to move his hands but found them tied behind his back.
He couldn't remember what happened. He had been headed somewhere when all of a sudden he just blacked out. Everything was fuzzy after that. He thought he saw the count right before he lost consciousness.
Straining to get a better look at the staircase, he tried to see if he could make out the door at the top, but no light shined through.
"What is going on?" he said aloud.
He was met with no answer, yet again. He closed his eyes and fell back asleep.
He awoke with a start. At the top of the stairs was a man standing with light surrounding his figure. The man's foot lowered down to the first step, and then his other foot descended. The man closed the door behind him before continuing his descent. Arriving at the bottom of the staircase, the duke stared back at his chief advisor.
"Chuck, Chucky!" the Duke said excitedly. Clapping his hands together, he waited for the duke to respond. The duke did not.
"I come bearing good news," the count said. "I'm getting married tomorrow."
The duke stared impassively back at the count. A hard glare in his eye, even in present circumstances.
"Are you not happy for me, duke?" the count prodded, tapping his foot against the duke's knee.
The duke remained silent. Raising his hands the count said, "Fair enough."
"I thought you'd like to know since Amelia is to be my bride."
The duke spat right at the count's feet. The count simply stepped back. "My, my, duke."
"That's not very civil," the count said, his smile faltering.
"I don't think I much care for the way you're reacting."
Before the duke could do anything else the count brought his hand back and swung it down striking the side of the duke's face. The duke glared but said nothing.
"Oh, would you like another one?" the count laughed. "I guess, if I have to." and he struck the duke again.
"Duke, duke, duke," the count said as he grabbed his chin.
"Why are you making me do this?" and the count brought his hand down again.
The duke rolled over and coughed.
"I grow tired of you, duke. I guess I will let you know how things go after the wedding. Ta ta for now."
The count turned around and marched back up the stairs. Opening the door at the top, the duke was struck by the light again before everything went dark.
"What have I done?" the duke dropped his head.
"Dear Amelia, I'm so sorry," the duke said as he let his tears fall.
*****
"What's this?" the captain said as he stared at the document before looking back at Henry.
Henry said nothing. Not having much to go on, the captain turned his gaze back to the order. The count was ordering him to move the prisoners. Why would the count want the prisoners moved the day of his wedding? The missive said the captain was to release the culprits into the capable hands of Henry and Henry would know what to do after that. The note was signed and sealed with the count's ring.
Looking back up at Henry one more time, the captain frowned before rolling up the missive and handing it back to Henry.
"Follow me."
The captain led Henry down the now familiar hallway and headed towards the cell in question. Taking hold of his keys, he placed them into the lock and opened the door. Henry stepped back as the captain motioned for the men inside to stand and come forward.
The captain turned to close the cell door but as his back was turned, Henry wrapped his arms around his neck and brought the captain to the floor. Dragging the captain back into their cell, Joedan and the others bound his hands behind his back and tied a gag around his mouth.
The men cleared the cell and started to make towards the end of the hall. Joedan stopped. The others turned back, "What is it?" Griff asked.
Turning away from the others, Joedan grabbed the keys from Henry and headed back towards their cell. Looking down at Ralph, Ralph still had his back turned, Joedan slotted the key into his cell.
"What are you doing?" Griff barked.
Joedan twisted the key. Caleb and Trevor were wondering the same thing. There was a click and the lock popped. Ralph spun around and faced Joedan. Joedan pulled the door open to the cell.
Lowering himself to a crouch so he and Ralph were closer to eye level, "You and I haven't always been on the same side of things. I know you have your beef with me over what happened with your brother." Joedan paused to see how Ralph would react.
Ralph nodded.
"But, the way I see it, we got two choices." Joedan held up two fingers. One, we go on being enemies, if we fail to overthrow the count, it won't really matter cause we'll all be dead." Joedan paused again.
"And the second choice?" Ralph said.
"You join us." Joedan said bluntly.
Ralph raised himself up to his feet.
"The way I see it, none of us would be in this mess if the count wasn't in the picture anymore." Ralph said.
"I don't know if I can forgive you for killing my brother and leaving him there in cold blood." Ralph continued. "But, as much as it is difficult for me to admit this, were I in your position, I don't know that I would've acted any differently."
Joedan offered his hand, standing to his full position. Ralph took it and he helped raise Ralph off the floor.
Griff came to the side of Joedan handing his knife forward with the handle out and Joedan grasped it. Ralph paused as his eyes fell on the knife. Joedan noticed where Ralph's focus went. Reaching towards Ralph, Joedan cut the bindings off of Ralph's wrists.
Joedan looked at Ralph, "Do you want it back?"
Ralph shook his head. "You keep it."
The three together now, they headed back down the hall towards the others. Caleb and Trevor had their belongings and began passing them back out. Trevor picked up Amelia's mace and looked over at Joedan.
After a brief moment, he handed the mace to Joedan. "I think she'd want ya to have it."
Joedan smiled. "At least until you can give it back to her," Caleb said, shoving Joedan's arm as they fastened their equipment.
Henry turned towards the group and motioned it was time to leave. Griff paused. "Why did you decide to help us?" he asked Henry.
Henry stared back. For a moment, Joedan didn't think the man was gonna answer and then Henry spoke, "I had.." he trailed off, taking a deeper breath, "a daughter."