The Princess's Secret [completed]

32: Ruins.

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Caspian.

The guard unlocked the cell door, letting it open with a loud creaking sound. “Enjoy your stay.” One of the knights growled as they tossed him in.

Caspian stumbled, hit a wall, and collapsed to the dirt floor. The cell door slammed shut behind him, the knights cackling as they walked away. Another door slammed, then, silence fell over the dungeon.

He lay there a moment, taking in his surroundings. The cell had no lighting aside from the torch in the hallway and the bit of sunlight filtering in through the barred window, and the only wall he could see was the one he’d hit. The scuffles and squeaks of rats seemed to be the only sound in the cold, dark castle basement.

He started to get up, then gasped as pain shot through his leg again. He sat back down, studying the wound. It was bone deep, with ragged edges from all the rough treatment. Not a huge deal with proper care, but in a place like this, he would be lucky if he didn’t lose the leg or die from infection.

He sighed. Great, now what? He looked around again. The window was far too high to climb with this leg, and that was really his only chance of getting out. I could sit here and wait, or I can rot while I search for a way out. He grabbed his shirt, glad once again for it’s length, and ripped a strip off, wrapping it tightly around his leg.

He tightened his jaw and dragged himself to his feet, limping towards the side of the cell, trying to figure out how large it was. Suddenly a thought hit him; This is way too big to be a one-man cell.

The hairs on the back of his neck raised, sending a chill down his spine. As he made his way deeper into the darkness, he heard someone gasp in fear. He stopped and squinted, searching for the source.

Slowly, his eyes adjusted and he saw four figures, cowering in the shadows. Two shadows were shockingly small. Children? In the dungeon?  He took another step, and heard another muffled wimper. They think I’m a criminal. He realized.

“It’s okay, I’m no danger to you.” Caspian said quietly before continuing nearer. Now he could see them, and saw that is was indeed a family. The parents and two children, both boys, huddled with their backs against the wall. Their eyes only widdened as he neared.

He came as close to them as he felt he could without making them panic further, then cautiously lowered himself to the dirt floor, grimicing as his leg and back protested. Now he was eye level with them, reducing some of their fear. They continued to stare.

It was the father who spoke first. “Who are you?”

“My name is Caspian. Who are you?” He answered. There was no point in them knowing his true identity, after all, he wasn’t really a king anymore. Besides, he enjoyed moments where nobody knew him like that.

The man opened his mouth to answer- “Enjoying your little chat?” Everyone jumped as a voice sounded behind him. Caspian spun around to see a giant of a man, hands and feet chained together. The man held the extra length of chain like a weapon.

“S-sorry-” The father began to studder, but the giant interrupted him loudly.

“Shut up, scum!” The man turned his gaze back to Caspian, sizing him up. He didn’t look too intimidated. Slowly, a wicked smile spread across his face, and before Caspian could react, the giant planted a foot on his injured leg.

The pain was immediate, but his reaction was more so. He yanked his leg free before it was fully pinned, using his free leg to kick the back of the man’s leg. The giant started to stumble, and Caspian grabbed the front of his ratty shirt and pulled himself to his feet.