Chapter 62 Assaulting the Prison (1/2)

Arran followed the short wo line of escaped prisoners trailing behind them

Soe in plans, and Arran couldn't blame them — after the conditions they had to endure within the walls of this building, it was only natural that they had little interest in going back

A handful of theroup back inside, instead running out of the gate and leaving the walled area behind

Their screah to tell the other prisoners aiting for them outside the walls No others left after that

Understanding that beyond the courtyard lay only death and that the courtyard itself offered little protection, the reht, Arran directed the bushy-bearded e from the lowest level of the prison — the one he had slapped for trying to command him — to take a handful of prisoners and cover the exit

”The moment anyone enters the courtyard, attack thee

If his instincts were right, it wouldn't be long before the first Acadees made their way into the courtyard Once they did, soht see them off until more help arrived

It wouldn't buy them much time, but hopefully, they wouldn't needfor Arran to follow her

She led Arran to a small office located on the side of the main hall When they entered it, Arran saw only the door through which they had co look

”Helptoward a massive wooden bookcase that covered half the wall and reached all the way to the ceiling

Arram helped move the bookcase, and he was surprised to find that it slid to the side easily

With the bookcase out of the way, a sle spiral staircase leading down beneath the floor

”How did you know about this?” Arran asked the woman, suddenly suspicious

That she was fahold wasn't too strange — it made sense for at least some of the prisoners to be fahold that housed it

Yet her fahold's secrets was a different matter There was no way some random prisoner would know about that

”I used to be a hold They imprisoned me after I refused to lock up a—”

Her next words were drowned out by a barrage of thunderous noises, and Arran could suddenly sense a great auarding the courtyard had just spotted enemies and attacked them, and he knew that even if these were scared off, it would not be long before more arrived

He took a quick look around the cha,” he said ”Tell thethe courtyard to join us the moment everyone's inside And close that door behind us when you follow”

Arran had little doubt that the Acadees would find them even if the exit were hidden, but every second they spent searching would give Arran and the prisoners a better chance ofit to the main prison

Of course, ould happen once they arrived was a differentfor the others to join hi”

Without waiting, he set off, heading down the staircase

Arran soon discovered that it led to a dark and narrow underground passage Little h for two people to walk abreast, and in places the ceiling was just a single hand removed from his head

He illuminated the ith an orb of Fire, and he could see that the passage was dusty and filled with cobwebs Fros, it hadn't been used in years

As they headed deeper into the passage — Arran in the lead with the short wo behind them — he could not help but feel a sudden wave of anxiety

If they were betrayed, a single blast of Essence would be enough to collapse the ceiling and bury all of the at the end of the passage, Arran and all those behind hihtered with ease

Arran cast a nervous look at the short woman next to hie she had of the stronghold

Despite Arran's e notout of the underground passage

”Wait,” the woman said, just as Arran was about to head up the stairs ”The chauards' quarters The moment we come out, there will be battle”