Through the bars of the small window the moonlight fell onto the cold stone flooring of the prison cell and lit the ripples the incessantly falling droplets of water leaking through the ceiling caused upon merging with the small puddle having formed on the ground. Ruben was uncomfortably sitting on the hard bench in his small room, lightly asleep. Outside, in the shine of a candle placed on the table slept Nadia on a wooden chair, huddled in her cloak to ward of the chilling air within the old walls. A guard struggled to stay awake, having shifted most of his weight onto his halberd. Suddenly his awareness returned upon hearing the creaking of a door. Following the footsteps descending the stairs, Eduart Bahans appeared in the flickering light of the small flame illuminating the room.
"No need to raise your weapon, Martin, it is but me."
"Eduart?"
The guard calmed down again as the burgher walked past him, who thereupon took out a set of keys and used one of them to open the rusty iron bars keeping Ruben sealed away. He greeted the boy ending his uncomfortable rest, as well as Nadia's.
"Let me be the harbinger of great news, Ruben!"
"Huh... what?"
"We sent someone to visit Oblatia's tower and your claims were proven correct; indeed she was dead, and her valet also confirmed that she had been the vampire consuming the lives of our citizens."
"Gerhardt? How was he?"
"Oh, I was told he was of course in a rather dark mood. Neither overly angry nor depressed, but apparently his behaviour appeared almost painfully formal and from the report of our messenger his emotions seemed to be devouring him on the inside... but let us no waste our breath on such things."
Both young travellers had gotten onto their feet by now, and Nadia had joined the two in their conversion.
"The bishop may hold the jurisdiction in this city, but he is by no means almighty. The city council still has most of the say in Ketherbrühl's matters and he would not dare to go against their decisions; neither against widespread popular opinion."
"And how does this relate to us...?"
"He might have been able to lock you up here, but worry not, our young hero. We have spread the news of your deed wide enough for your death to become one of a martyr. His Excellency cannot want this as it would severely weaken his position. In addition his recent growth in power was mostly induced by the insecurity of the people which he utilised to exert pressure on the council by influencing the citizens. But now that these murders will have an end his might is going to decline again, and with the word of what you have done having already become more widespread he will not be able to push for your punishment any more."
"I guess I'm glad to hear that."
"But, how long will Ruben still be locked up in here?"
"Not much longer I can assure you. Ketherbrühl's inhabitants will desire to see their saviour, and he cannot oppose their will for long. The council will also meet again right in the morning and discuss the matter. I would not be surprised if you will have left this filthy cellar ere the sun is already on its way downwards again."
"Phew, that's good to hear."
"Should you need anything, ask Martin here. He is a loyal friend of ours and is not going to deny you a wish should you desire for example a proper meal or even a short walk outside, as long as nobody notices."
The guard put on a friendly smile and nodded into Ruben's direction.
"Thanks a lot."
"Ah, it is nothing. You have helped us more already than we can do for you. I assume you will still honour us with your presence for a while? A lot of our burghers burn to meet their and our hero in person..."
"Of c..."
The warrior's voice grew quiet as he saw into Nadia's face. Her eyes returned his gaze bearing an almost desperately worried mood.
"Well, I am sure we can count on you. I will depart for now, may you two have a good night."
Leaving the door of the cell widely open, Eduart parted from the two adolescents and after still talking to the guard a little exited the prison.
"What's the matter, Nadia?"
He laid his hands onto her shoulders.
"Oh, Ruben... I feel bad about all of this. They're just utilising you for their petty power struggle with that bishop."
"I know... But we can't just leave here now either."
"They're just going to show you around to bathe in your fame. Is that really worth it?"
"You're right. If just because I couldn't bear to see you this unhappy here! Tomorrow I'll thank him for everything but also make it clear that we won't stay here any longer once I'm out of jail."
"Thank you..."
"Besides, our job here is done anyway. The people of the city are safe, so there's nothing left to keep us in Ketherbrühl! I don't really want to get caught up in all this intrigue stuff either."
"No need to raise your weapon, Martin, it is but me."
"Eduart?"
The guard calmed down again as the burgher walked past him, who thereupon took out a set of keys and used one of them to open the rusty iron bars keeping Ruben sealed away. He greeted the boy ending his uncomfortable rest, as well as Nadia's.
"Let me be the harbinger of great news, Ruben!"
"Huh... what?"
"We sent someone to visit Oblatia's tower and your claims were proven correct; indeed she was dead, and her valet also confirmed that she had been the vampire consuming the lives of our citizens."
"Gerhardt? How was he?"
"Oh, I was told he was of course in a rather dark mood. Neither overly angry nor depressed, but apparently his behaviour appeared almost painfully formal and from the report of our messenger his emotions seemed to be devouring him on the inside... but let us no waste our breath on such things."
Both young travellers had gotten onto their feet by now, and Nadia had joined the two in their conversion.
"The bishop may hold the jurisdiction in this city, but he is by no means almighty. The city council still has most of the say in Ketherbrühl's matters and he would not dare to go against their decisions; neither against widespread popular opinion."
"And how does this relate to us...?"
"He might have been able to lock you up here, but worry not, our young hero. We have spread the news of your deed wide enough for your death to become one of a martyr. His Excellency cannot want this as it would severely weaken his position. In addition his recent growth in power was mostly induced by the insecurity of the people which he utilised to exert pressure on the council by influencing the citizens. But now that these murders will have an end his might is going to decline again, and with the word of what you have done having already become more widespread he will not be able to push for your punishment any more."
"I guess I'm glad to hear that."
"But, how long will Ruben still be locked up in here?"
"Not much longer I can assure you. Ketherbrühl's inhabitants will desire to see their saviour, and he cannot oppose their will for long. The council will also meet again right in the morning and discuss the matter. I would not be surprised if you will have left this filthy cellar ere the sun is already on its way downwards again."
"Phew, that's good to hear."
"Should you need anything, ask Martin here. He is a loyal friend of ours and is not going to deny you a wish should you desire for example a proper meal or even a short walk outside, as long as nobody notices."
The guard put on a friendly smile and nodded into Ruben's direction.
"Thanks a lot."
"Ah, it is nothing. You have helped us more already than we can do for you. I assume you will still honour us with your presence for a while? A lot of our burghers burn to meet their and our hero in person..."
"Of c..."
The warrior's voice grew quiet as he saw into Nadia's face. Her eyes returned his gaze bearing an almost desperately worried mood.
"Well, I am sure we can count on you. I will depart for now, may you two have a good night."
Leaving the door of the cell widely open, Eduart parted from the two adolescents and after still talking to the guard a little exited the prison.
"What's the matter, Nadia?"
He laid his hands onto her shoulders.
"Oh, Ruben... I feel bad about all of this. They're just utilising you for their petty power struggle with that bishop."
"I know... But we can't just leave here now either."
"They're just going to show you around to bathe in your fame. Is that really worth it?"
"You're right. If just because I couldn't bear to see you this unhappy here! Tomorrow I'll thank him for everything but also make it clear that we won't stay here any longer once I'm out of jail."
"Thank you..."
"Besides, our job here is done anyway. The people of the city are safe, so there's nothing left to keep us in Ketherbrühl! I don't really want to get caught up in all this intrigue stuff either."
