Rescue Mission, Part 3

“We’re not doppelgangers!” cried Winfry and Felix in unison. And at that moment, as if sensing it’s protection was no longer necessary, the spell broke, and Winfry and Felix resumed their proper identities.

“Oh thank God,” said Estonia.

“And thank you,” said Latvia to Winfry and Felix, with a genuine expression of gratitude. “For doing… what you did.”

“But you aren’t supposed to be here,” said Felix. “You’re supposed to be as far from here as possible. They want you.”

“We couldn’t just let you guys rot here now could we?” said Estonia.

“Alright, whatever, that’s beside the point now,” said Winfry, his hands firmly gripping the librem. “My librem doesn’t seem to have enough juice. And I don’t know about you guys, but I’m not sure how we’re going to get out of here.”

Estonia waved her quilaire. “We need Isa,” she said. “We’re hoping the two quilaires combined can muster up enough magic to teleport out. I know where she is.”

Winfry’s face brightened. “Great. Lead the way.”

Slightly comforted by the men’s presence, Estonia started down the tunnel, the others following quietly behind. Left turn. Right turn. Right again. Then left. Then Estonia kneeled and placed her hand over what looked like a smooth, almost perfectly camouflaged manhole cover. “We need to get at the dungeons from underneath,” she said. “Isa’s is too heavily guarded for us to get to her straight on.”

“That thing looks welded shut,” said Felix, meaning the manhole cover.

Estonia frowned. Rubbing the inner curve of the quilaire with her left thumb, she placed her right hand over the manhole cover and focused. And then, footsteps down the hall.

“Estonia, hurry!” whispered Latvia. The footsteps were coming closer. Estonia exhaled loudly, clenched her fist, and the cover vanished.

“Quick, hop in,” Estonia whispered. One by one they slid quickly into the hole, and once Estonia had climbed in safely behind them, she unclenched her fist and the cover reappeared. They were concealed, for now.

“Alright, Isa is over in that direction,” Estonia said, leading the way.

Once they were directly below Isa’s dungeon, everyone stared at Estonia, expectantly. “So… how are we going to make our way through who knows how many feet of solid steel?” said Felix.

“By pooling our resources,” Estonia said. “Winfry, your librem.”

Winfry objected. “But—”

Latvia snatched the book from him and handed it to Estonia. “And mom’s book,” said Estonia. “Just in case it’s got any juice.” Latvia handed over her own book. Estonia opened both books, placed one hand over her mother’s book, and the other hand, along with the quilaire, over Winfry’s librem. The spoon glowed faintly. “Latvia, I need you too.” Latvia placed her hand on Estonia’s shoulder. “OK. Let’s try this.” Estonia closed her eyes and pursed her lips in concentration.

A few seconds passed.

Estonia gasped, exhausted. “There’s so little magic here…” she mumbled.

“Come on,” Latvia said encouragingly. “You can do this.”

Estonia nodded, closing her eyes once again.

A faint cracking sound, and a perfectly cylindrical tunnel, about two meters in length manifested between Estonia and Isa’s cell, seperated only by a tile on the ground of Isa’s cell. Estonia kept her concentration, while Winfry whispered Isa’s name up the tunnel. A moment later, Isa removed the tile and slipped through the tunnel, draped in a white sheet. She landed gracelessly, on her butt, and the spell that kept her in Lithuania’s shape broke.

“Oh thank God,” said Winfry, taking Isa in his arms. Isa stiffened. Winfry stiffened. Winfry let her go.

Estonia broke her concentration, and the tunnel to Isa’s cell disappeared, replaced once again with solid concrete and steel. “We’re together,” she said, relieved.

Everyone was smiling. “Now all we have to do is get out,” said Latvia.

“Isa,” said Estonia. “Whip out your quilaire. We’re about to break out.”