Ol' Flint the Crow

The Princess's Tale pt. 4

It was difficult to comprehend the hag from her stuttering and pleas for her life in between everything she said, however the rangers and I were able to discern this from Granny: The townsfolk taking residents in the castle were in a state of fervent discord. From the day after Granny had released me from the cells, Todd had grown unhinged to the point of violence. He was desperate to know who had taken me away and was willing to pry into his own people's personal lives to get it. Todd was so livid from this betrayal that he even sent a few of his brethren to the dungeons.

"Todd's gone mad!" wailed Granny. "And everyone else is going mad obeying him or trying to stop him. There's been so much fighting. Some of us have been thinking... Perhaps it's best to just leave this awful kingdom and go far away to start a new life. Honestly, I'm beginning to agree with that. Especially now that bandits have been roaming these lands. Just this morning, in fact, there was a group of mounted riders on the eastern hills staring at the castle like a pack of vultures. A storm's coming. And no matter what I say to Todd, he won't listen to me! He's nearing the edge of an abyss. An abyss that will drag everyone along with him."

Thankfully the cavern was dark enough to hide the smile gleaming off my face. This foolish hag was already unclear of her commitment to Todd. With a little incentive, she would be putty in my hands.

"What of my people?" I questioned the hag.

There was a veil of bitter sorrow that crept over Granny's face that unnerved me so.

"What has he done to my family?!" I insisted.

"N-nothing!" she wailed. However, the hag immediately added, "He has forgotten about them. Left them to suffer in the dark. No longer does he torture those poor souls. B-but he has also stopped feeding them."

Retching just at the thought of the nameless slop that the prisoners received, I, for a brief moment, sighed in relief. But my solace that the nobles were no longer suffering pain and death at the hands of Todd's whip was short lived. Without food they would not last for long.

"He's starving them to death?" I growled. "You'll let my family shrivel up and die in that hell hole?!"

The hag clenched her eyes shut and gasped, "I-I've sent food down to them as much as I can, especially to the children and those on the verge of the dead. However, Todd is getting suspicions. Me being here tonight is a big risk in itself." Suddenly, Granny stared at the rangers with me. I could tell she was raking her brain to figure out what was going on.

"So tell me," I said, being as aggressive as I could, "will you let Todd bring about the death of your people and mine. Or are you going to do something about it? Will you be willing to stop him for the protection of your people?"

"But how can I stop him?!"

"I can help you, but you must do something for me in return. Keep my family safe... To make sure you do that..." I lifted my eyes up to the bats overhead.

Looking directly at Vesper, I nonverbally signaled for him to fly down to me. Immediately, the bat swooped from off the ceiling and landed on my shoulder. He chirped then hissed when he glared at the Hag before me.

But I shushed him and said to the Hag, "This is Vesper, the leader of the bats. I want you to take him with you to the castle. Help him to gain entry along with his fellow animal brethren. Keep the secret entrance to the castle open for them. This will give them freedom visit my people so that they can be fed." I then spoke to Vesper, "Give them the berries you cherish. You must do this for me. This will give my fellow royals enough sustenance to remain alive until they are free. Whatever you do, try not to be seen. You may be safe since the townsfolk might think you are nothing more than mindless bats, however if too many of you are noticed, the whole plan will be ruined."