Page 15 of Wolf Trap

We followed Dolph, still eerily quiet until we came to a wooden and iron-studded door.

Sweat on his brow, he pulled it open. We cringed as he slid the massive door back, willing it not to make any noise. The wood scuffed on the stone. Sweat ran down my back as I glanced behind. Puffing, Dolph held out his arm as we stepped through.

Whispering, he pointed, “Through here, the Oubliette.”

I glanced over my shoulder again. But I couldn’t hear any noise. The room was dark, thick with dust, just a beam of amber light coming in from narrow slits in the walls, like archers’ windows. Pushing the door closed, Dolph scurried around and lit a candle. At the side of the room, a grated hole blew a sickly scent that filled the room.

“There. I don’t know who’s in it.”

“Well, let’s find out.”

Lycaon unslung the rope from around his body as Dolph carefully removed the grate. As Lycaon lowered the rope down, I held the candle over it, but all I saw was darkness staring back. Someone grabbed onto the rope, and Lycaon pulled them up.

My muscles clenched, hoping whoever it was wouldn’t be loud. Or crazy. We had two more of these prisons to find, as well as the other prisoners. And so far, the castle was too quiet.

At first, the prisoner made no sound. He fell to his knees, gasping for air.

Whispering, Lycaon asked, “Are you alright, can you stand, move?”

Slowly, rasping, the man moved, and I edged the candle so we could see his face.

His scent seemed familiar, but then shifters smelled of earth and rain.

His voice was weak. “Lycaon?”

“Marrock, what the hell?”

Holding out his hands, Lycaon helped Marrock up as Dolph glanced around us, gathering up the rope.

In shock, and keeping my voice as quiet as I could, I asked, “What are you doing here? How did this happen?”

His legs wobbled. “Water? Do you have any water?”

Dolph moved, holding Marrock by the back. “No, but we can find some. Come, there’s two more of these and the prisoners.”

Holding the candle back, I offered, “We should split up. Dolph, you go to the other Oubliettes and take Marrock. Lycaon and I will free the prisoners. We need to find the room with the portal first. There’s no use in freeing everyone if we end up back here.”

Nodding, Dolph muttered. “Follow me.”

Lycaon placed a hand on the shifter’s shoulder, “Marrock, can you walk?”

His voice pained, Marrock offered, “if it gets me the hell out of here, I’ll bloody crawl.”

We left with Marrock hobbling. Outside the room, I could see Marrock better. His skin was filthy and a shade of purple. I dared not ask how long they’d kept him there. But his loyalty was obvious, otherwise he wouldn’t be in such a gruesome cell.

Sticking to the walls, we crept through the corridor and up a flight of steps. A landing revealed many doors. In a hushed voice, Dolph informed us, “The portal should be here. Somewhere. I’d heard it was on the first floor to the east of the castle.”

Taking a staggered step forward, Marrock muttered, “I know where it is. I came through it.”

Lycaon and I shot a glance at each other. Dolph questioned him, “How? We, their prisoners, were not brought through the portal, not here at least.”

Marrock didn’t speak but pulled himself up, walked towards a door to our right. It shocked me that the door wasn’t locked. A quick glimpse at us, and Marrock was through the door. We moved, but he leaned out, “Wait here…”

We could hear him talking to someone. What the hell?

Lycaon glared at Dolph, who peered around the door, but as he did, Marrock was at the entrance.

“I came here… not as a prisoner, but to negotiate. But these guards didn’t know I ended up being a prisoner. Come, look for yourselves.”

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