Tal utilized this free time wandering the island. He did it by increments, letting Zirga find him outside in the old marshaling yard, inspecting the chickens or pigs; then a month later, when Zirga came upon Tal down in the tiny meadow on the lee side of the island, seeing how the cattle and sheep were doing, Zirga didn’t object.
By the onset of Tal’s third winter, he knew the island as well as he knew the mountains of home. He knew the fastest way to the north beach, where there was a stand of trees containing a hive of bees. He smoked the bees out and robbed their honey the way his grandfather had taught him, and Zirga was inclined to say nothing about his forays as long as the food continued to be wonderful.
None of the guards seemed to notice that Tal had moved two prisoners out of the dungeon, all assuming that Zirga had ordered it, and Zirga never bothered to inspect their quarters. And as far as Tal could see, Zirga assumed everyone was doing just fine until otherwise notified.
Tal had got to know every prisoner well. He had managed at one time or another to bring food personally to each of them. Between the information Will had already provided and his own discussions with the men, Tal had a good idea of what they were capable of.
It was an interesting mix, mostly political prisoners, which gave him a core of five men who were former nobles, like Visniya, men who were familiar with Kaspar’s court or the administration of Olasko. These men Tal was determined to see safely home if possible. They would give him allies once he returned to Opardum, for they all had friends and families still at liberty.
The other thirteen men were common murderers, rapists, habitual thieves, and robbers, men who had been condemned to the Fortress of Despair because of some oddity in their case, or because a judge had wished them more suffering than a quick hanging would bring. These men were expendable to Tal, but at the start he would need strong and ruthless men if any of them were to survive.
So Tal was doing his best to keep everyone alive. He organized excuses to get prisoners out of their cells, such as the honey raid, or to clean away deadwood from the cattle meadow, or to chop firewood for the coming winter. Everyone got some exercise and much-needed sunshine and fresh air. He even convinced Zirga to allow the men to gather in the courtyard for a small celebration on Midsummer’s Day, Banapis. Several men wept openly at the day spent outside and the food on the table.
None of these men would be fit for combat when he mounted his escape, and some would die along the way. But he was going to ensure they would survive as long as possible.
One night, as autumn approached, Will sat at the small table in the kitchen with Tal. He said, “I talked to Donal today.”
“How is he?”
“The coughin’ has stopped. He thanks you for that tea you sent ’im.”
“It’s an old family recipe,” said Tal.
“You know, these men would die for you, Tal.”
Tal nodded.
“You’ve given them hope.”
Tal was silent, then said, “I pray that’s not a cruelty.”
“Me, too.” Will was silent as he chewed on a piece of ham. After he swallowed, he said, “You remember when we first met?”
Tal nodded.
“You said I was ‘uncommonly cheerful for a man condemned to live his life on this rock.’ Remember?”
Tal nodded again.
“Back then, I had nothin’ to lose. Now I find I’m not so happy, if’n you take my meaning.”
“I do,” said Tal. “Now you feel as if you have something to lose.”
“Ya,” said Will. “I feel like I got somethin’ to lose.”
“Hope.”
“Hope,” Will agreed. “So, let me cut right to it. When we goin’ to escape?”
Tal was silent a moment, then said, “Next spring. I don’t know when exactly, but it’ll be the day after the next ship puts in.”
“We goin’ to boost a ship?”
“No,” said Tal. “The men here are fitter than they were when I got here, but they’re no match for Zirga’s four guards and a shipful of healthy sailors.
“But there’s a reason I want to go the day after the next ship puts in, and I’ll tell you about it when it’s time.”
“And that’ll be…?”
Tal grinned. “The day the first ship puts in next spring.”
Will sighed, and resigned himself to having to wait another six months. After all, he’d already waited twelve years. What was another half year?
Fifteen
Escape
Tal watched.
The ship lay off the point and Zirga and two guards, Anatoli and Kyle as always, waited to see if a new prisoner was being delivered. Tal observed from the entrance to the keep, hanging back in the shadows. Will stood behind him, also watching.
The longboat rowed from the ship to the dock, and Tal saw a prisoner sitting in the center of the boat. As was the case when Tal arrived, the sailors were efficient in getting the prisoner off the boat and up the ladder. As was the case when Tal arrived, Zirga didn’t bother reading the writ on the docks, but directed the prisoner to follow him up the hill to the keep.