Game of Dice and Dominos (Domino Series #1)

Timo opened his eyes, but if not for the light crawling through the gap between the uneven door and the floor, he would've thought he had gone blind. Dingy, wooden boards surrounded him in what seemed like a makeshift shed. It reeked of salt and mildew, but after a while, his nose got used to the odor.

Clink! Clang!

When he tried to stand up, his numb body was immediately pulled back down by gravity. But there was another contributing factor, and it was tugging his ankle. Groaning, he looked at his left foot. Shackled...to an iron ball? Weren't these obsolete since after the Middle Ages? He recalled, footsteps derailing his train of thought.

Silhouettes streamed, blocking what little light that peeped from the gap.

Abandoning whatever attempt he had at getting back to his feet, he plastered himself on the floor, ignoring the pain that came with the thump, feigning lifelessness. As if on cue, the door creaked and slammed on the wall, quaking the shed, light seeping through his eyelids.

A boot clomp. A heavy wooden click. Grunting breaths. 

Splash! Timo was drenched in cold water. In surprise, he shot straight up, forgetting the act he was playing. 

The man before him held a bucket, his tan skin darker from the shadow of the light cast behind him. Squinting, he saw a clearer picture of the man's mish-mash of blue and green clothes.

"Good," the man started, "yer awake." The man's raspy voice sent chills down Timo's spine.

"I am now," Timo snapped, but when he was met with a snarl and a golden tooth, he flinched backwards as if the man was about to assault. 

"Heh," he cackled, "I'd be surprised if ye weren't."

"What am I doing here?" Timo demanded, clenching his fists.

"Good question." The man cackled again, letting his thumbs hang on two of his belt hoops after he set the bucket on the wooden floor. "Ye just popped right out of the portal 'bout the same time as I opened it for some deliveries. Didn't know what to do with ye. Didn't wanna let ye escape without answers either, so we had to chain ye up." He cocked his head to the ball and chain.

Timo followed his gaze then squinted at the man to get a better profile. The man's pointed chin seemed sharp enough to puncture his neck if he looked down enough, a sight Timo wanted to see. But since that was too much of a wishful thought, he considered other ways he might be able to escape from this place.

"Where am I?" he said hesitantly, choosing to ignore the question.

His hands were free, he could use that to his advantage. If only he visited the gym as much as he'd been devoted to his studies, then he would be able to drag the iron ball with ease.

"Yer in a dock. Er-- a ship, more like it," the man answered, his one jade green eye blinked, the other stayed hidden under an eye-patch.

They were onshore. He recalled the swimming lessons he was required to take when he was at the police academy.

"Aren't you gonna let me go?"

Didn't the man say he wanted answers? What could this man possibly gain by questioning Timo? It's not like he knew anything about this world. Except for the fact that he's the heir to a--

Oh. Timo's heartbeat pummeled on his chest.

"Hmm." The man scratched his chin. "I'll wait it out a bit."

Timo sighed and looked around the room to try and find a way to escape. As long as the man doesn't know, he's safe. As long as the man doesn't know--

"So, what are ye doin' in the Crystal Labyrinth?" the man asked, interrupting his mental chants.

"The Crystal Labyrinth?" Timo echoed, wide-eyed.

"Where ye came, y'know, before ye appeared through that portal."

Knock! Knock!

Timo flinched at the sudden knocking on the doorframe.

"Kin of Aldrige're lookin' for 'im, Cap'n!" another man appeared, trembling. A bandana tied on his forehead, and a silver ring hooked on his nostril glinted.

"What is it this time," the man --called Captain-- grunted.

As the bandana-man scurried away, Captain turned his back to Timo and fished something from what appeared to be a desk just on the other side of the room Timo was in.

It wasn't long before he stepped back in the room, a large, wide hoop in his hand. Captain kicked his shin, Timo groaned. A jolt of pain rang through his body as his knee crashed onto the wooden floor.

Captain knelt down toward him, peeling the hoop, which made it resemble a roll of tape. Timo's fist landed hard on Captain's cheek which made him fall back, but only for a little while.

"What are you going to do!" Timo demanded as he scrambled out of Captain's reach, as far as the chain would let him.

A shrill sound came from between Captain's teeth. Bandana-man was back but with another man who had a scar on his cheek. They grappled Timo's wrists all while pinning him on the hard floor, a small, cold metal dug into his chest but sure enough, it wasn't their doing.

"Let go of me!" Timo continued to yell, his neck ached from having to look up.

Captain was in front of him, plastering the tape on Timo's mouth muffling not only his words but all of the sounds he made entirely. He screamed and thrashed, but nothing could be heard from him.

"You be quiet here, lad." Captain stood up and walked to his desk as the two men pressing their weight against Timo bound his wrists with metal cuffs.

Not again. Gah!

As soon as the men we're done with their work, they exchanged haughty laughter and walked out as well, swinging the door to close behind them, but it or was left ajar.

"Ahh, well if it isn't my favorite customer." Captain's gruff voice was tinted with arrogance. "What can I do for ye this fine day, miss?"

The floor creaked as familiar the owners of the footsteps walked into view through the narrow opening of the door.

"Where are you keeping him?" said Zara, her usual teasing tone turned bitter.

"Not in the mood for friendly greetings, I see."

"Where is he?"

"Now, now, let's not lose our temper." Captain paused. "Surely, we wouldn't want to let anything happen to the heir of Truscott?"

A few moments passed and Zara hadn't said anything. And then, "Let's not waste our time here. I know what you're really after."

Captain grunted.

"Care to trade the heir of Truscott with the heir of, say..." she trailed off, smirking, "Everlune?" Trouble swirled in her eyes, and for once Timo was relieved to see it again.

When Captain didn't reply, Zara continued, "Surely, you wouldn't want to ransom a royal imbecile if his parents aren't even present at court."

Imbecile? Who does this girl think she is?

Another round of silence, Zara's smirk unwavering.

"Bring her to the tavern at the end of the docks at high noon on morrow."

Zara folded her arms. "Deal." She turned away from Captain to exit where she came when her gaze caught on the door to his wooden prison.

Timo wriggled as much as he could hoping that it might catch Zara's eye. But Captain appeared, blocking the gap.

"Now, get off me ship before me crew makes ye walk the plank!" He waved his arms and Zara's footsteps slowly faded away.

Captain was back in Timo's prison, looking down on him.

"Well, yer highness, looks like you be sleepin' 'ere tonight."