Clara

In spite of herself, Clara had to admit that since they had gotten into that giant mess, it was not as if she was getting much out of it. The only thing that had been clear to her from the beginning was that there was bad blood between Amos and that cowardly bastard bird.

In her opinion, Amos should have simply rehabilitated his position from the beginning, proving that he was the son of an incredible pair of heroes, rather than continuing to be pointed at as the bloodthirsty, traitorous monster siding with the enemy.

That then, this factional struggle, too, was such a stupid and sad thing. No matter whether you had wings or not, whether you had yellow or black wings, different skin colors, or whether you simply liked comic movies more than historical ones, the division between the different would always try to rule supreme in whatever space, time or dimension you were in.

But, such a sad statement of fact aside, now there was a plan to be put in place to go and retrieve that sort of green model before she was used as a special ingredient for a new recipe for "pesto" or who knows what else!

No, action had to be taken; okay, they probably wouldn't have exchanged cooking recipes, but, for sure, she wasn't going to stand by and watch an innocent, or pseudo-innocent, suffer. Everyone in life has a mission, and well hers is to fight against injustice, hoping to come out on top if possible.

«Well folks, do we have a plan?» She asked, breaking that unbearable and deafening silence. She hoped with all her might that at least of the two Riace bronzes in front of her would answer yes, otherwise it would involve her putting together one of her crazy plans and she was not sure if she would get all four of them out unharmed! The glances between the two of them continued, then switched to her and vice versa, but still not a single breath came out of their mouths.

«I mean, if no one has any ideas, at least you could be polite enough to simply say you don't know what to do.» She exclaimed, beginning to get fed up with male tergiversations!

«Hey do you really think it's that easy to conquer such a prison, avoiding, moreover, that you literally lose your mind in that one second when they take their eyes off you?» Amos replied, stymied. Indeed, he looked just like one of those old-fashioned vessels with ears smoking like chimneys. Well, at least that was how she imagined it!

«At least I try to think and I urge you to do the same, as opposed to a certain acquaintance of mine who comes swaggering in, tanned worse than a boxer coming out of a bout with some kind of behemoth, beginning with, 'Well, now that we're free, let's go rescue my ex, too.'» She uttered, complete with mime attached!

Well, this time too the show had begun, and as always it was up to Elijah to cool the restless spirits of those two. The handsome blond couldn't help but wonder if maybe Clara wasn't some kind of mythological being, too, because he really couldn't explain how she could find so much energy to counter each time. Seeing and considering that the situation was more than delicate, he sprang into action, shushing the two, who realized, after an avalanche of bickering, that he was still there!

At that moment Clara was thunderstruck by the winning idea and did not even waste half a second in reporting it. «We will do what this handsome man here has also done.» The two looked at each other in puzzlement as they waited for more specific explanations.

«We're going to hunt for some papable prey, remove his clothes, lock him up in one of these 'comfortable' Alcatraz-style cells and head out in search of him.» She proudly explained. Surely this was how a great general felt leading his troops into battle. But self-praise could perhaps have waited until they were outside those walls, indeed, directly outside that "hellish" realm, anything but a fort of peace and justice!

«For once in a while, you may be right, however, you stay here good, good, while we deal with the treatment of a few guards. I suppose the vicinity of each exit will be manned by many more sentries.»

In any case, in the meantime he was busy with his rhetorical activity, the girl had already armed herself with arms and baggage and was already approaching to descend the stairs with bow outstretched in hand. As much as Amos could call himself a gentleman, at least in some respects, he had to admit that he sometimes felt the strong sensation of tying her to a soft bed filled with goose feathers and then never letting go, but perhaps this would have been better kept to himself!

Seeing and considering that the bed was not available and that, for the sheer sake of going against him, she would not listen to him, he decided that it would be useless to fuel any more controversy, so he and Elijah stood at her shield, one in front and one behind, ready to attack. The two just hoped that she would not be so clumsy that she would shoot an arrow with them in front, not least because Amos had already taken his ration and, at least on the day, he certainly did not care to take an encore.

Fortunately, fate was on their side, allowing them to knock out a guard, since for Clara's camouflage the two had come to a solution that got everyone present to agree (Except for the person directly concerned, of course).

Going down one ramp after another, the three finally arrived at one of the busiest floors, hoping their camouflages would hold at least until they were out of there.

«Perfect, no one seems to suspect anything.» Elijah affirmed, slightly relieved and more optimistic. Maybe they really could make it!

«Let's not increase the pace and keep a low profile.» This time it was the other who spoke, carrying a rather "noisy" sack that had come out from no one knows where. Well yes, desperate times call for desperate measures. Moreover, it was a practical choice since she was the smallest and lightest to carry. What's more, he had chosen a sack worthy to be a king's bedding and had been the prince of gallantry in lowering her into it!

Just when the plan seemed to be proceeding smoothly, the three began to break out in a cold sweat upon being stopped by one of the footmen.

«Hmm, you have familiar faces, but I don't recall ever seeing you on guard duty.» The man exclaimed inquisitively.

«Well, that's because we were recently transferred here. My colleague and I were stationed to defend the big temple, then we were told that some definitely dangerous bigwigs had been locked up, and we immediately rushed in to offer our support.» Amos uttered, definitely with a more ready response than his brother!

«Your sack is rather peculiar, I want to take a look.» But the Dark One came up with another excuse on the fly, hoping it would hold up.

«I don't recommend it. These are the troll refreshments and they are a rather disgusting sight, but if you really insist I certainly won't be the one to stop you.»

After a few seconds of indecision, the guard thought better of not ruining his lunch, letting them continue on and resuming his rounds.

Now that this obstacle, too, had been overcome, the three heard a voice they knew, namely that of the "snob in green," as Clara had so dubbed her. And now that they had figured out where she was, it was just a matter of figuring out how to free her and leave. The time had come for action!