The plan they came up with was crude, at best. It would have been so terribly kind even to say that it had a chance of success, but it was the best they could come up with in the short time they had.
“Why couldn’t he just share his plan with us,” Kre muttered. “It’s obvious that he has something in mind or else he wouldn’t be gathering supplies.”
“Could be that he’s bluffing. Bloke like that can’t be half as good as he thinks he is.” Henric was braver and more confident now that Kersath had departed, though Kre noticed that the guardsman still stole a look down the tunnel just in case the two had somehow snuck their way back into earshot.
“Nah lad,” Gnore chuckled, “the dark one be twice as good as’ee seems. Mark me.”
Henric shivered involuntarily and turned back to Kre, in hopes of putting images of the dark Ylveryan out of his head. “How long do you think we should wait?”
The soft clear sound of a clanging gong reverberated through the passage just then, followed by three more higher pitched ones in quick succession.
“Damn!” The curse was out of Henric’s mouth before he thought to stifle it.
“What was that?” Kre asked.
Gnore spat and mumbled something that was likely very un-priestlike under his breath. “The bouts?” Though he phrased it as a question, it sounded more like he already knew the answer and didn’t like it.
Henric nodded, “That’s the first notice for folks to return to their seats. The final matches will probably be starting in five minutes or so.”
“Final bouts? We need to check on Beleg!” Kre turned as if he knew where he was going but stopped short when realization caught up. “How do we get to the fighters area?” he asked Henric.
The guardsman shook his head. “That’s a whole other area of the caves. I’ll be honest, I don’t think I can get us there from here without getting a little lost in the process and I don’t think we have the time for that.”
“No time fer that, and we cannae wait on Kersath either,” Gnore said. He hefted his stolen blade and twirled his borrowed serving fork in his offhand. “Ahm ready.”
Kre sighed and looked over at Henric. The guard only shrugged and wagged his hands underneath his bonds. “One second,” Kre responded as he pulled a small knife out from his belt. He cut at the ropes keeping Henric’s arms tied up behind him, as he knew he wouldn’t easily be able to untie Kersath’s knots.
With his hands finally free, Henric rubbed the circulation back into his forearms and nodded at the others. “If you’re ready,” he said, not looking as confident as he sounded.
Kre nodded and gave Henric back his sword without a single thought of hesitation. The former guard stared at it blankly at first, then at Kre, as if he really couldn’t believe the kid just gave a weapon back to a former foe so quickly.
“I guess… we’re set. Operation Escapee… is a go.” Kre took a deep breath and nodded to Gnore to begin his run.