Chapter 228 - The Willing Escapee (2/2)

They looked at each other, even Sel and Layton had paused their fight to weigh in. Finally, Alistair spoke again.

”Of course it gets to us, Little Thorn,” Alistair said, ”But we have all been here much longer than you have. There have been attempts at escape before. They never end well for the escapees”.

”Even if they get out of the Arena and onto the streets, they have no way off the Island,” said Talo, ”Believe me, I tried”.

Talo turned and lifted his shirt. Aegin had seen the ugly scar on his back plenty of time. The scar that went from the back of ribs and curved jaggedly around to his hip on the opposite side.

”No one can navigate that fog unless they've seen the path through it before,” said Talo, ”If you take even one wrong turn, you end up one of the thousands of ships on the reefs and jutting rocks. I was one of few to survive”.

The twins, Eros and Eon stepped forward and each put a hand on Aegin's shoulder.

”Sorry Aegi,” said Eros, ”But once you come to Herguard-”

”You don't leave without the Master's permission,” Eon finished for him.

Everyone off the Island assumed that the Pirate Lord was the Master of Herguard. It was all a front. The Pirate Lord plundered what he could whilst in service to the Slave Master. No one even knew the Slave Master's real name. The Mistress as well. Though the Mistress adhered to whatever the Master said.

”And of course,” Will continued, ”That's assuming you can get out of the Arena. With the Posion Guards he's stationed randomly, you have to be careful with any of the Guards you fight in case you get cut. No antidote, which of course only the Master has access to, and after a couple of hours, you're as good as dead”.

Aegin had heard about the poison guards before of course. One of the many warnings he'd been given. He'd silently applauded the Slave Master for being creative with his lack of resources. He'd had poison but not enough to coat the blade of every guard. So he only coated some, but never told his workers or any one else which ones were coated and which weren't. It made for slow and dangerous conditions if anyone attempted to make an escape.

Aegin sighed, ”So if I come up with a plan that'll get us past the poison guards and onto the boats and through to the open ocean safely, then will you be willing to work with me”.

”Of course,” Talo scoffed, ”Do you seriously think any of us want to be here?”

The others all nodded in the short silence before Talo pointed at Layton, ”Except maybe Layton, but no one ever knows what that kid is thinking”.

”He's currently thinking you can go fu-”

Alistair slapped the back of the sixteen year old's head and Layton looked at him with a frown.

”We're warrior slaves, not animals. Don't make me wash your mouth out with the only soap bar we get this week,” Alistair declared.

Not just Layton, everyone looked significantly disgusted. No one wanted to put the soap bar that had been shared with a hundred or so sweaty men in their mouths.

Alistair turned to Aegin, ”You have our allegiance Little Thorn, on the condition that you have a viable plan”.