By the light of the flickering gas lamp on the wall, Helene examined the prisoners already in the cell.
They, too, wore shackles that restricted their movements. There were men and women of various ages, their eyes either vicious or listless, little different from the pirates she had seen on wanted posters at sea.
As her gaze swept over the prisoners, Helene suddenly spotted someone she knew.
In fact, they had parted only half an hour ago.
"William, how did you end up in here?"
Ignoring the Church of Knowledge clergyman who had escorted her in and was still standing at the cell entrance, Helene hurried over and asked in a low voice.
Her Sailor Chief, William, wore the scholar's outfit he had used as a disguise after entering Lenburg. Looking somewhat more spirited than the other prisoners, he stood alone in a dark corner. At her question, he lowered his voice as well and replied:
"After Tia and I escaped the inn using invisibility, we planned to rescue you along the way and flee Azshara together. But the moment we returned to the vicinity of the inn, the clergy on alert spotted us. Tia told me to draw away the pursuers while she prayed to Miss Angelica for help... Then I was caught and brought here."
"Did Tia succeed?"
Helene pressed him, glancing at the cell door out of the corner of her eye. The clergyman in plain white robes was still standing there, showing no intention of leaving.
"She hasn't been brought back, so she probably did..." William answered uncertainly. "Why don't you try praying, Captain?"
That would have to wait until late at night, when everything is quiet, not right in front of those official Beyonders... Helene muttered inwardly, shaking her head to indicate that now was