My friend in the dungeon

There was a very heavy pour of rain that night. Sparks of lightning and resounding thunder claps, and rumbles echoed through the sky. There was someone running hastily under the rain, with a bag hung on his shoulder. He was running towards the temple.

Zelta was asleep already, she was covered in the blanket with a fire in the fireplace to give warmth.

Slam!!

She was woken up by the sound of the main entrance door, as it slammed open. She jumped out immediately from the bed. Fully awaken at this point, she watched in alertness, to see who this would be, at this time of the day, and with this weather. She hid in the corner of the room, and there she saw the figure of a man, with a very huge physique, storming down the dark stairs. He was completely drenched by the rain.

"Who is this, and why is he here?" she thought, trying to unravel his identity. But she couldn't see clearly through the dark stairs.

"Zelta, are you there"? Called the person. She recognized the voice at once. It was the voice of her uncle, O'Neil.

"Uncle O'Neil is that you?" she asked.

"It's me," he answered.

"Well your rapid rush-in really freaked me out," she said.

"Sorry for that. I've got something for you," he said, bringing out a small box from the black leather bag he carried on his shoulder. He gave it to Zelta through the space between the bars of the door.

"I know this thing," she said.

" It's the stiff dumb box that mother gave to me when she was still alive," she added.

" It's not dumb, it's very important," he said.

"Even as I speak to you, De voe's men are on the search for it. I took it away from the house because very soon they'll be on their way there to search," he added.

" I'm not interested in keeping this thing uncle, I have to sleep. What I'm I even supposed to do with it?" she said. She really wanted to go back to bed, she was feeling sleepy.

"Just hide it okay, we cannot let it fall into the wrong hands," he said at last.

"Bye, take care of yourself," she said to him as he ascended the steps to leave.

Slam!!

He slammed the door shut behind him, sneaking his way through, away from the temple. Zelta tossed the box underneath her bed and went back to sleep.

Zelta was woken up so early in the morning by a messenger guard, who operated to and from the dungeon and the block chamber. His duties were to provide food and other necessary supplies for prisoners and captives. His name was Gideon.

"Rise and shine my queen, and beseech such a blissful day bestowed upon thy kingdom," he said, bowing jokingly before her.

Zelta had known Gideon since she was little. He was like a brother to her. She remembered him living with them for about three years before he joined the military. Before he was taken up by the priestess, he was a poor boy who lived in the streets, among the underprivileged and impoverished of the masses. He had no memory of his parents, who abandoned him in infancy. No one knew his parents. Due to his state of being, he became a street thief and a known pick-pocket in order to survive. Multiple times, he was caught stealing. This led to continuous beatings and floggings by the people. As a matter of fact, he became known by the name, street rat. As a little boy, Gideon faced rejection from the people. Rejection from obtaining a day payable job win which payment was a single denny, and rejection from associating with the people. But when it seemed like all hopes were lost for him, the priestess came to his aid and took him, making him her son.

"Gideon is that you?" asked Zelta, as she stretched her limbs and waved her hairs that were obstructing her vision.

"Well, who else would it be except thy noble subject, Gideon," answered Gideon, with a bow to her.

"You better don't get yourself caught addressing me as queen. Believe me, De voe wouldn't take it easy on you," she said with a sluggish and dull voice, showing that she was just waking up.

"You are the true ruler Zelta, my daily prayer is for your kingdom to come," he said.

"How many times do I have to tell you, Gideon, I'm not ready for any of that," she mumbled, as she took the food items from his hands through the opening between the bars.

"Do you have any message for me, from my friend in the dungeon?" asked Zelta.

"I do have a message from your mysterious friend Zelta. He says that he wishes to see you again and that he dreams about you more often," said Gideon. Zelta giggled on hearing this.

"I think he's into you like you are to him," said Gideon.

"Oh stop it Gideon, we're just casual friends," she said, busy with her hair. She was blushing now.

"And lest I forget, he also gave me this letter to send to you," he said, as he fumbled out a smartly folded sheet of paper from his side bag. Extending his hand, he gave it to her. She quickly collected the latter from his head and unfolded it impatiently. It read;

"Dear Zelta, how's it going over there? I really miss you Zelta. Although we didn't spend much time together, I miss you like I've known you my entire life. I wish to see your face once more, that face so fair than that of a celestial being and hear your voice, that voice of a Nightingale. Please don't let the death of your mother leave you cold and broken. Hold strong to the ones you love, and give your friends a chance of forgiveness... It's Simon, your friend in the dungeon". As she read, memories of Simon flashed through her mind, she visualized his blue shimmering eyes and his compelling smile. No doubt, she missed him. She might have even read the letter twice or more.

"Aww, isn't that romantic, voice of a Nightingale," said Gideon, with a smile. Zelta grinned in surprise.

"How did you..." she muttered.

"Don't Tell me you read this Gideon, don't tell me you went through my letter".

"I kinda got tempted though, just a little peek," he said.

"That is silly you know. Have you been doing this?" she asked.

"No, just this once," he said. With a look of concern,s he asked him,

"Why are you doing this for me?".

"What?" he asked.

"I mean, why do you take the risk of sending and receiving these letters for me, knowing that you'll be executed if you're caught?" she asked.

"Zelta, you and I both know how loving and kind your mother was to me. I wouldn't mind reciprocating that love to you, even if it means risking my life," he said.

"Thank you, Gideon, you're such a brother," she said.

"Is there anything you want me to tell him?" asked Gideon.

"Not much, just give this to him," she said, giving him a folded paper of her own.

"And no peeping," she added.

" There's no need to worry, your wish is my command," he said, bowing down again before her.

"Seriously, when will you get rid of that old Chestnut of yours? It never was funny though," said Zelta.

"Try to eat some food okay," he said as he ascended the steps.

"And wash yourself before you do so!!" he added.

There was an additional space in the chamber. Within it was a round well of water, which seemed to be endlessly deep. It was in this place that she had her bath and took water for drinking and other things. Zelta knew she had to take a bath. She went at once into the outlet, to do so. She carefully took off her clothes and hair band, as she started to view her self-image that was displayed on the surface of the still water of the well. She admired her fair and pretty face, with her cherry red lips and small pointed nose, her smooth and spotless skin, and her slender body, with curvy hips and small round breasts. Truly speaking, Zelta was stunningly beautiful. Regularly looked at by young and old male folks when she passes the streets. Even men old enough to be her father made eyes at her. As she admired the image cast on the still water surface of the well, something caught her attention, something underneath the water. As she bent down, completely bare, holding the rim of the well and trying to unravel what hid beneath, one could only imagine the view from behind. She later observed that there was a lock at the bottom of the well. She wondered what would be inside the lock, or where it led to. She was so anxious to find out. A large quantity of water splashed outside the round well, causing the surroundings to be flooded with water. Her curiosity had gotten the best of her. She dived in to see for herself, the mystery that hid within.