“You really think people are going to stay in dungeons for years upon years and not talk to their cell mates?” She scoffs. She actually scoffs.
“I suppose I never thought about it.”
“New guy, huh? Okay, well, maybe you can help me. It’s no matter that you’re new. I am, too. Besides, I’m pretty sure everyone in here was new at some point. Listen, I need to get out of here, though. For real. I have to talk to the king.”
Suddenly, I’m on high alert.
The king?
Why?
Suspicion must shine in my eyes because hers suddenly narrow.
“It’s important,” she says. “I don’t think he knows it, but he’s in danger.”
“Oh really?” I ask dryly. “What kind of danger?”
“The kind you don’t come back from. I’ve got to find him, oh, and I’m also looking for a wizard. Have you seen a wizard down here?”
“Do I look like the directory for magical creatures locked in jail cells?” I ask.
“Well, technically, they’re dungeon dwellings, but I won’t hold that against you.”
“The wizard’s on the other side of me!” The person next to me says.
“Nice going,” I say. “Don’t try keeping secrets in case she’s a criminal.”
“We’re already locked up,” he says. “What’s she going to do?”
“I need to speak to the wizard,” she calls through the little hole. “Wizard, can you hear me?”
A muffled sound.
The girl looks at me with questions dancing in her eyes.
“He can hear you,” I say, interpreting.
“I got your book!” She calls out.
Another mumble.
“He says that he thanks you.”
“Is there a way to pass it to him?” She asks. “Do you and the man beside you have a hole between your cells?”
“I’m not sure,” I tell her honestly. “I suppose I never checked.”
“Well, go check,” she says. “Because the wizard needs his book. Then I have to find the king and then I need to get out of here. For real.” She shivers. “This place sucks. It’s creepy and it’s cold. And why is everything so damn wet?”
Rolling my eyes, but unwilling to admit that I’m the king just yet, I move to the opposite side of my cell. How interesting that this woman arrived and instead of moping, instantly started looking for ways to escape. It takes some touching and prodding, but after a few minutes, I find a stone that seems to be a little loose than its counterparts. I tug on it and then it slides out. Two little eyeballs peer back at me.
“Hello!” My cell neighbor says to me.
“Did you do it?” The woman from the opposite cell asks.
“He did it!” The little man says.
“Hey, calm down,” I tell him. “Look, go to the other side of your cell. See if you can slide a stone out. We need to get something to the wizard.”