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Outside in the Courtyard

Evening had fallen outside in the yard, turning the mud into a cold slush that sucked the heat from the body through one's feet. A few guards were around the top of the wall, sentries, it seemed, bleak silhouettes against the grey and black sky beyond. The silver embroidery on Simon's cloak and jacket glittered as he joined them outside, as did Lynx's jewelry and gleaming eyes. Somewhat more hesitantly, he outlined the same instructions as he had within, carefully avoiding Opal's gaze.

Opal looked at Simon for a long moment, then turned to the other two women, her back towards the Lady's messenger and her attendant. "This is difficult...." she whispered. "I am tempted to try to cut a deal."

Opal looked at Dot. "I can tell them what they want, and I can make it difficult and costly to get. You must get them to the plantaxy, yes?" Opal whispered. "You can do it. Once you get to mine, you must touch it. I will know."

Opal looked at Jenever. "Get her to the Plantaxy. Don't trust any of the others. We may have a traitor among us. Will you do this? Both of you?"

Opal looked at Dot and Jenever, standing there shivering, waiting for their answer.

Dot nodded quickly. Her mind was calculating possibilities quickly, and checking the odds of survival on a minute to minute basis.

"Do what you have to do," Jenever said softly. "I'll protect Dot and the others the best I can."

She sighed. "I hope the men choose me to be tortured... I have no knowledge to reveal, under whatever pain..." Her eyes widened. "If that is the deal you are cutting, Opal, you're playing a dangerous game... We may need you, possibly the most of anyone."

Opal shook her head. "I'm no good at fighting," she whispered. "And with my foot I'd slow you down. If you make it out, take my Plantaxy with you if I haven't rejoined you by then. There may be a chance if you do that."

Opal looked at them. "Trust in your powers. They live in you, and they're stronger than you know. That knowledge is the best help I have for you."

She took a deep slow breath then, pulling her shoulders up. She nodded to the two woman, then slowly turned back to Simon and Lynx. She took a a single step towards them. "I have a deal to offer," she said to them, standing almost regally in the wet and mud.

"You take me, and only me," she said quietly, "and I will tell you what you want to know." She said this directly to Simon, not looking at the woman next to him.

He twisted his head slightly, quizzically, his expression still blank but his posture almost that of a curious animal. "That was not what I said, Mistress Opal," and his voice barely caught on her name at all this time. "Your instructions were to choose one of the other five between you." He stopped, and frowned. "But that is not what you are offering, is it?" Simon gave a small smile, folding his hands again. "Mistress Opal, you appear to be under the impression that I have the power and authority within me to make a deal with you."

In spite of the situation Opal gave Simon a small smile. "You must, otherwise they wouldn't have sent you here to do their bidding. But even if you don't, what would they do if it became known you refused my deal out of a need to do exactly what they instruct?" Opal tilted her head slightly. "Wouldn't this deal be better for them?"

"That is not for me to say," he replied blandly. "And, as I can imagine you know, initiative is not normally one of the traits the Lords of Karadon prize most in their servants." He did not seem annoyed by that statement, rather accepting it, as was his general infuriating manner. "Nor could I assess whether or not your offer was more beneficial without knowing what sort of information you could confess to."

"You wanted to know about the Academy," she said softly. "Why I left? She, I suspect, wants to know why and how I left. How could I possibly have turned away from her service? How a mere girl of 15 could have escaped a sealed shadow."

Opal's gaze turned to Lynx. "But then again, I think she already knows some of it, if she sent you. Forgive me for saying so, but I hope you have the same luck as the last girl to wear that hair clasp. Her name was Topaz, if you didn't know."

Lynx raised her hand to her hair - her face reflecting nothing but bewilderment.

"Topaz?" she said unhappily. "Was she a friend of yours? I'm sorry ... The Lady gave it to me ... "

Simon looked at her for a long time, so still he seemed to have turned to stone on the spot, were it not for the gentle evening breeze stirring his hair across his face. He did not move for so long that some of the nearby guards looked over apprehensively, half- lifting their weapons, no doubt wondering if another sorcery had been worked by the prisoners.

Of course, perhaps one had.

"Do not address her so," he whispered at last, evidently referring to Lynx, his voice so very quiet. "The last thing she needs is your cruelty as well." There was a light now in his eyes, a flicker of life that danced and lent an almost human air to his otherwise inhuman mannerisms. "You presume to know the Lady's desires and intentions," he continued, more loudly, though his voice remained low. "Perhaps you might - that is not for me to say." He hesitated then, as if there was some terrible internal conflict that he resolved with a slight shudder throughout his long frame. "If you will tell these things, I will take your offer," he concluded.

Opal gaze became remote. "You have much to learn about the real nature of cruelty. But, yes, I will tell you these things."

She looked around the courtyard. "Here? Shall I reveal all in the cold and mud?" she asked, her voice somewhat flat.

But as they was speaking, five guards suddenly burst into the courtyard where they stood.

"We have to check their manacles," said one of them to Simon. "One of them seems to have got hold of something they could use to pick them ... "

The others were already advancing on the three women prisoners.

"By all means," he murmured blandly. "I take it there are no problems in the Cage?"

"No Sir," said the guard, looking hard at Simon. "All their manacles are secure ... "

The other guards, meanwhile, had turned Dot, Jenever and Opal to the wall, shoving them hard against the unyielding stone. Then they jerked at the manacles ... agonising pain for each of them ...

Dot's manacles held firm ... so too did Jenever's ...

and Opal's ...

For a long moment her manacles held - and then suddenly the weakened bracelet gave way. Opal's arms fell apart - and were grabbed by two guards, who turned her to face Simon.

Opal winced as the guards seized her. "This has not been one of my better weeks," she said to no one in particular. She had on her face a look that might have belonged to a cat caught at the cream. Rueful, yet somewhat unrepentant.

The guard shot another look at Simon - and then motioned to the others.

"Exercise period's over, Lady-toy," he said, and then three of them began to manhandle Opal away.

The others grabbed Dot and Jenever and began to haul them back towards the cage.

"Now, Missy," one of them said to Jenever, "don't try to fight us - or you'll find out that we can drag you even easier when we've knocked you out. Only you wouldn't like the state of your face after it's been dragged over these nasty rough stones."

Jenever stiffened, outrage showing plainly on her face. For a moment she forced the guards to practically carry her over the stones, before she began to move again, smiling her most terrifying smile. "I hope you enjoy pain," she said quietly, memorizing his face.

"A good thing you discovered that," Simon commented dryly, falling in behind. "I take it you are returning her to the Cage, then?"

"These two," said the guard, gesturing to Dot and Jenever. They'll go back in the cage. This one ... " He jerked Opal's shoulder. "That'll be up to the Hunter, now."

They were in the cavern by now ... and could see the scattered unused bales of straw outside the cage, the abandoned pails and brooms. And inside - the male prisoners, watching.

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