SWNOVELS Chapter 32: Hanna’s Declaration
Hanna woke out of fitful and useless sleep in her cell, still chained and in the dark. For many hours, the screams of tortured souls in the dungeons had been echoing through the cell, interrupting any sleep she had been able to get. As she sat up and looked around at the darkness, searching for any sign of light, she began to wonder whether she had hallucinated the meeting with Gabriel and Dan. She also pondered whether the great feline Xenian had ever visited her at all, or that this cell was the same one she met the Xenian in when her mind lay imprisoned in the other clone body. Nothing gave her any indication that the Xenian had been there. Yet, a strange peace filled her soul. Voices at the door and the rattle of the lock being unlocked caught her attention. The light abruptly turned on, temporarily blinding Hanna. When her sight returned, she saw six burly guards pouring through the door with the jailer. They came directly to her and the jailer warned Hanna, “It’s time. Don’t try anything foolish. None of us want to lose our head to that beast.”
The words intrigued Hanna, so she sat still as a lamb as they unchained her. Three guards assisted the jailer while three others stood with swords drawn ready to cut Hanna down if she resisted. As the guards pulled her to her feet and re-chained her hand and foot, she couldn’t help but notice her telepathic ability stirring noticeably, letting her see into their minds and know what they were feeling. They were scared to death she was going to do something that would get them killed, even as a woman. Of those around her, she particularly noticed that the jailer and two of the guards actually believed that she was the Last Caverias of the prophecies, making them potential allies.
As they chained her, Hanna submitted, saying softly but firmly, “Don’t worry. I won’t do anything to bring the wrath of the Emperor down on you. You needn’t die because of my rebellion to the Emperor. But know this: whether I live or die this day, the Emperor’s days are numbered and those days are running down. The sands in the glass are rapidly running out for him. You won’t have to fear him much longer. The winds of freedom are beginning to rise.”
One of the guards standing ready to dispatch her if she tried to escape struck her across the face with his fist and mocked, “The only freedom you will have is death in the Arena, bitch. The Emperor has demanded your blood and he will have it, oh, great warrior. We shall see whether you’re really the One now.”
Hanna felt pity for the man and replied after the stinging hit, “Yes, we shall see. Take me to the Arena. I’m as eager to find out as you are.”
The comment surprised the guard and he drew back to strike her again with his fist, but the jailer restrained him, saying harshly, “You forget your place. If the Emperor knew that you were striking this woman, you’d be dinner for his pet tarok. Now, back off.”
The man withdrew his strike with an angry growl, putting up his sword, as did the others. They then roughly grabbed Hanna and dragged her out of the cell, heading toward the Arena. As they moved through the dungeons, she heard the moans and cries from others who were being held and she called out to them, “Take heart, my brothers and sisters, his days are numbered!” The guards smacked her again and told to shut up, but she continued to call to the prisoners, trying to give them hope while the guards continued to batter her. After the fourth time, they gagged her and dragged her to the Arena. The result of the incident was that the prisoners in the dungeon that heard it suddenly found hope in their hopeless situation. Word began to filter around the dungeons that the Prophesied One...the Last Caverias had proclaimed the end of the Emperor’s tyranny.