Page 67 of Cursed By Gold

Fairy Godmother's eyes harden. "Right, to business then." She unrolls a parchment map, tapping a section past the dungeons. "My sources say they've held Tabitha here, in an isolated cell. But at midnight she's to be transferred by covered wagon to Lightspire Hold."

"Lightspire Hold?" Rose cuts in, aghast. "She'll never make it out of there alive!" The mountain fortress is almost impenetrable, its dungeons carved into the sheer cliffs themselves.

My stomach turns over. Tabitha is just a kid, too green for a mission of that caliber. If we fail her now...

Fairy Godmother jabs a gnarled finger at the parchment. "Which is why we must act before then. Word came at a price - the king has tripled the dungeon guards. She wouldn’t be getting moved there and getting the extra attention if he had gotten anything out of her. We do not want her to become another missing person poster caused by the king." She eyes me pointedly.

I grimace. "So what do you propose?"

"I have made a map of an entry to the castle that is in the process of being repaired. A side entrance for servants." Fairy Godmother traces a hidden passage through the catacombs. "You can find that here. You two are going to go in through that and get Tabitha out."

It isn't our most daring plan, but time is short and Tabitha's life hangs in the balance. I straighten, resolve hardening. "Consider it done."

Rose nods grimly then cracks a wry half-smile. "I do so enjoy causing trouble."

We drink a fortifying draught of Fairy Godmother's brew, the heady concoction dulling my pain. Too soon, it is time.

I hug Fairy Godmother fiercely. "Be safe, my child," the old woman rasps. "You as well, Rose. Look after each other."

Rose clasps her shoulder briefly. "We'll bring our girl home."

I meet my rival's - no, partner's - determined gaze and give a single sharp nod. We will succeed, or die trying.

Fairy Godmother secures my cloak around me. "Remember, timing is paramount. You must reach Tabitha's cell by midnight or she won’t be coming home."

With that sobering reminder, we slip into the damp tunnels winding beneath the city. Faint torch glow illuminates crumbling stonework that marked foundations long forgotten. I focus on navigating the treacherous route, each step echoing in the oppressive gloom.

How much time has passed? The uncertainty eats at me as we descend deeper into ancient catacombs. We have to reach Tabitha before the transfer wagon departs. Failure is not an option.

At long last, I pick out the iron-banded oaken door Fairy Godmother had indicated, tucked away in a shadowy deadend. Fresh tool marks surrounding the lock show its recent construction.

With bated breath, Rose pulls out her pics and works on the lock itself for a moment until a soft click can be heard. We ease open the door just wide enough to slip through. The temperature plummets as we creep into the heart of the dungeons. I bite back a shiver, moving as silently as possible despite the waves of pain rippling through me. The barest scuff of our boots on stone sounds deafening in the heavy stillness.

We cling to the shadows, evading the guards' torchlight on skulking patrols. Fairy Godmother's map guides us unerringly deeper through the labyrinth until I we find the heavy iron door to Tabitha's isolated cell. I sag against the wall in relief and shoot Rose a grin - we've made it.

Rose listens intently at the door but shakes her head - no sounds come from within. I swallow past a lump in my throat. Is Tabitha even still alive? Please, I pray desperately. Let us not be too late.

With agonizing care, I ease my lockpicks into the ancient mechanism while Rose stands watch. The minutes crawl by, each scrape of the tools echoing like thunderclaps to my hyper-aware senses. Finally, the lock springs open with a muted click.

We slip inside, and my breath leaves me in a whoosh. Tabitha lies crumpled on the filthy straw, face swollen and limbs at unnatural angles. But the shallow rise and fall of her chest confirms she still clings to life. I dash to her side, heart in my throat.

"Tabitha," I whisper urgently, cradling the girl's battered face. I hardly dare jostle her broken body, but we are running out of time. I tap her cheek insistently until her eyes slit open with a whimper.

"Hush, it's alright, we're getting you out," I soothe. With Rose's help, we lift Tabitha as gently as possible. She bites backscreams as her shattered bones shift, my vision spotting with white-hot pain from my own barely healed injuries.

But together, we manage to awkwardly maneuver Tabitha between us, bearing the brunt of her weight. Step by agonizing step, we stagger towards freedom and slim hope of escape. Boots thud in the distance - the changing of the guards. Panic lances through me. "Faster," I urge through gritted teeth.

Navigating the lightless maze with our precious cargo feels endless. But miraculously, we reach the cellar door that Fairy Godmother had marked undiscovered. Panting and trembling, we ease it open - straight into the path of an oncoming patrol.

"You there! Halt!" The guard's shout reverberates down the tunnel as they fumble for their weapons.

Without hesitation, I lower Tabitha gently against the wall and step forward, my daggers in my hands in a heartbeat. My injuries scream in protest as I drop into a crouch, but I push through the agony. The darkness is my ally here. I creep forward on silent feet honed from years of stealth training. As the first guard comes into range, I strike. My dagger hilt collides with his temple and he drops without a sound.

Before his companion can react, I whirl and slash at the back of his knees. He crumples with a garbled yell, but my second dagger pommel crashes into his skull, cutting it short. I pause, panting, as pain ripples through my torso. We have to move. Now!

Rose grabs my arm to steady me. "Nicely done. But can you keep going?" Her voice is taut with concern.

I clench my jaw and nod curtly. The alternative is capture or death. My body trembles with the effort to remain upright as we drag the unconscious guards into the shadows. But I refuse to fail our mission. "Let's go," I rasp.

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