Making a Break For It

Writers: Chelle, Miriah, Paula
Date Posted: 8th June 2013

Characters: J'ackt, Ashfur, Baldris
Description: Jenackt makes a break for it
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 13, day 29 of Turn 6
Notes: Mentioned: Zandan

J'ackt

Ashfur limped the stairs leading to the cell section slowly and
painfully. The limp was a result of being kicked by runner beast and
since then, he had been the jailor, the only guard job he was still
able to do.

"It's your turn," Ashfur told the holdless lad in his cell and
inspected him critically. "Did ya eat all of your breakfast?" Jenackt
had been given a good breakfast and set of clean clothes. He glanced
at his pair. Normally he would had at least two other guards with him to
escort a prisoner to a trial, but it was Turn's end Gather and the
staff was stretched thin. Most guards were at the Gather square to
maintain order. What he got was only a lad barely old enough to shave
regularly.

Jenackt didn't budge from his place at first, reclining on the floor next
to the wall. Instead, he turned his gaze to the two guards, his
eyes half-hooded with disdain. They had dressed him up, made
him look half-way decent, but he knew it was all for Corowal's little
show. His gaze flicked to the younger guard and then back to the
limping one. His eyes flared for a moment, but he kept a straight
face and slowly stood, kicking at the empty plate in answer.

Baldis took his lead from Ashfur. The young guard knew this was a high
profile prisoner and he really didn't want to mess this up. This was the guy
they had searched for for so long.

"Step next to the back wall and keep your hands over your head,"
Ashfur told Jenackt and took out his key ring and the shackles. "You
point him with your bow," he murmured instructions to Baldis and
stepped forward to open the cell door.

Jenackt's gaze was sharp and there was an intensity to it that he
couldn't hide. But he didn't offer any argument. Instead, he was
flicking through ideas in his mind, possible options. Remaining calm,
he took a step back and almost too obedient, put his hands up.

Baldis put the bow up and trained it on Jenackt, standing outside the
cell door. The young guard watched him carefully, waiting for Ashfur
to do what he needed to do.

Ashfur started to open the lock. It was stiff, so he had to put down
the shackles to turn the key with both hands. He pushed the door open
and bent to pick up the wrist irons again.

Jenackt saw the opportunity and seized it. While the guard was bent,
Jenackt acted. Though his relationship with his father had been strained,
he was suddenly very thankful for the skills his father had taught him.
Leaping forward, Jenackt aimed a swift kick to the bent guard's temple.
It wasn't a killing blow, but one that he was confident would bring
the man down.
Before the man could tumble, Jenackt caught him around the throat,
using him as a shield. With a snarl, he faced the younger guard, his arm
tight around Ashfur's throat. "Put it down or I'll break his neck."

It had happened so fast Baldis hadn't let the arrow fly. And now he couldn't
without hitting Ashfur. He couldn't lock the man in there with Ashfur to get
Zandan because the boy might very well kill the other guard. Indecisive and
not knowing what to do, he kept the bow up and trained for a few moments.
"How do I know you won't just kill him anyway if I do?"

Jenackt's grip tightened and he placed his other hand on Ashfur's
head, ready to twist."I don't want to do that. I don't like killing,
even when I have to, but I'll do it." His eyes narrowed to slits. "Put
it down. Now."

The kick had dazed Ashfur, he was barely conscious and unable to move. He
gave Baldis a helpless look, silently pleading the young guard to obey.
Jenackt wasn't worth dying.

Things like this didn't exactly come up in training. Baldis didn't want to
disappoint Zandan and the Lord Holder. This was Ashfur he was talking about
here, though, and that piece of holdless trash wasn't anything near worth
the old man. If only he knew he could aim true enough to kill the bastard.
But the truth was, he didn't and he couldn't chance it. "And why won't you
kill me if I put my weapon down?" **Maybe if I stall, someone will come**

"I have no reason to if you do what I say." At the further
questioning, Jenackt wrenched Ashfur's head at a painful angle and his
jaw set. It wasn't enough to break the neck, but enough to be painful
to the man. His arm tightened around the man's neck, perilously close
to completely choking off his air. "Don't make me do this." His voice
was a snarl. "I'm going to count down and I swear to you on the First
Egg, if that weapon isn't on the ground before I finish, his death
will be on your head. Five..."

Baldis looked askance. He heard nothing-saw nothing. No one would
come. Ashfur would die if he didn't disobey orders. **I hope they catch
you again and you rot.** He knew he couldn't try hand-to-hand combat
with this one. He wasn't there yet-not yet. So with a breath, he lowered
the bow and unnotched the arrow. He was seething, but he was watching
Jenackt very closely. "Fine. Put him down."

"Four... I told you put it down, not lower it. Drop it on the floor
and get on your knees. Three..."

Ashfur couldn't move or couldn't talk. With his eyes he tried to tell Baldis
to obey the prisoner.

This went against everything Baldis wanted to do and had been trained for.
Still-it was Ashfur. He wouldn't be responsible for the old man's demise.
Finally he put the bow on the floor, lowering himself as he did so. When the
bow was on the floor and Baldis was as well, the bow was still within reach,
though. "Fine." **Let Zandan come, please Faranth**

Cautiously, and with knowledge that he had to hurry, Jenackt stepped forward
and with a kick, knocked the bow out of the cell and against the far wall.
He had them both, but he had to move quickly. Recalling his father's
instructions (Faranth knew that Jenasom had personally demonstrated on him),
he applied pressure to the elder guard's neck just enough to cause him to
lose consciousness. And with another swift kick, he aimed for the jaw of the
other.

Prepared for the prisoner to do something, Baldis put his hands up. Still,
the kick connected with them and he felt immediate pain. Ashfur was his
priority though and he scrambled to try and get to him.

Jenackt released Ashfur and lunged to the cell door, kicking it closed
behind him before picking up the cross bow and turning to face the pair. His
eyes narrowed as he leveled the now armed crossbow towards Baldis. "Keys and
your shirt. Toss them to me."

Baldis was skeptical and again buying for time, but he did reach Ashfur.
Grunting, he managed to get the tunic off, but he didn't do anything about
the keys. "Why do you need my keys? This gate automatically locks." Which
was true. That was why he had been standing in the open doorway.

"I'm not taking any chances. Toss them both here. Now."

And then Baldis decided to take a stand. He wasn't just going to lay down
and take this. Not now. The boy did have the crossbow trained on him through
the bars, but he didn't care. "Well sorry but I'm not giving them to you so
shoot me if you want. But the more time you take here, the more chance
there is of someone coming. So you're wasting your time to get away or
whatever it is you plan on doing." Holding Ashfur against him, he heard the
old man breathing. **He's alive-good.** "And if you do shoot me, they'll
find you. They won't stop looking."

A cold, calculating smile appeared on Jenackt's face as he leveled the
crossbow towards Ashfur. "Who said I was talking about shooting you?" His
eyes narrowed. "I'll not have you unlocking this gate the moment my back is
turned. Toss them here, or I'll shoot your friend and you'll have to live
with the knowledge that you caused it for the rest of your life. Toss them
and your shirt and you both get to live." He fingered the trigger
meaningfully. "I can shoot him and leave if you like."

It wasn't more than a minute, but Baldis pulled himself on top of Ashfur. There was no way to shoot the old man. It was clear the young one was angry enough not to be afraid. "If anyone's going to be shot, it'll be me. You leave him alone." The others. They had to be coming.

Jenackt's eyes narrowed and he took a step closer. making a decision, he unbolted the crossbow, thrust the bolt into the keyhole and with a wrench of movement, snapped the head of the bolt deeply into the keyhole. He eyed it quickly. It would take someone with tiny tools to get that out. Nodding to himself, he took the crossbow, unstrung it and then with a whirl, smashed it against the stone wall. With a mock salute, he spun on his heel and ran out, slamming the outer door behind him and taking to the shadows.

Ashfur groaned, returning to conciousness. "What sharding happened?" he asked with groggy voice.
"The prisoner held you hostage and escaped. Now we're stuck in here till help comes. And Zandan is probably going to kill us." Baldis sighed, though inwardly he was thankful Ashfur was talking.

"He'll be angry all right, but won't kill us...probably." Ashfur said, holding his head. It hurt.

Last updated on the June 18th 2013

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Making a Break For It