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envoy thought for a moment before
replying. "The power struggle is beginning for a new Scarlet King.
You and Jeremy are unfortunate pawns in the struggle. If it were
not for the protection the Spirits of the Forest have provided you,
I am afraid those who would assume power would have already had
their way and you would be no more."
    Jeremy asked, "What is wrong with the present
Scarlet King?"
    "Have you not noticed the lumpy nature of his
skin? That is a sign that the disease of the royal blood is well
advanced and with it comes a sickness of the mind followed by
seizures and death." He added, "It was his fear of this disease
that caused him to seek your Sacred Water and begin the war against
your peoples."
    Edna spoke, "The mind of the Scarlet King is
very tortured and ill."
    The envoy then spoke in a very quiet whisper.
"I am arranging for your escape tonight. You must make your way
back to the ship and depart immediately. I can leave you no crew so
you must sail yourselves. I think your King Jason is capable of
navigating." In a somewhat louder voice he said, "I would you ask
the Spirits of the Forest to release the King and his cousin from
their visions in return from releasing you from the stocks." He
then used his fingers to indicate just a small decrease.
    Edna was quiet for some time as she tried to
make this message heard by Betty. She then said, "The Spirits of
the Forest are not controlled by me but I will pray to the God of
the Sacred Water that they have some mercy on the Scarlet
King."
    The envoy then reached out and took Jeremy's
hand saying, "I wish you the peace of the Forest." In his hand was
a slip of paper which Jeremy kept hidden as the envoy turned to
leave the cell. It was only after all the guards had left that
Jeremy unfolded the piece of paper and read the message. It said,
"Just before the rising of the moon your cell will be unlocked and
you must make your way back to the ship. Depart at once."
    The envoy reported back to the palace and
relayed Edna's message that she was praying to the gods of the
Sacred Water to have mercy on the Scarlet King. The King appeared a
little less distraught, but his cousin, the Pet Bird, seemed no
better. The envoy then again requested permission for the release
of those of the Forest but the King's advisers would have none of
it. The envoy knew that there were those in the palace who were
happy to see the suffering of the King and hoping it would lead to
an even quicker death. Others, of course, wished for their Scarlet
King's suffering to end and would willingly allow the release of
the two strangers.
    The envoy had already decided that he could
not wait for the outcome of the power struggle. He had planned to
do what he knew must be done. By making it look like an escape,
hopefully face could be saved by all and his King's suffering
ended.
    Being free of the stocks made Jeremy and Edna
a little more comfortable, but the mash that arrived for the
evening meal was no more appetizing. The hours of the evening
slowly crawled by as darkness gradually obliterated their one small
opening to the outside world. Jeremy tried to figure the time of
the rising moon, but the few days in captivity had distorted his
sense of time. They were in an area of isolation without other
prisoners, and silence pervaded except for the scurrying of the
rats.
    A slight click reverberated only slightly in
the silence and then Jeremy detected the softest of footsteps.
Another click and the door slowly opened. In the darkness Jeremy
could see only a small figure who spoke not but simply held the
door for them. Just before departing the cell, Jeremy tore a strip
of cloth from his cape and boosted Edna up and stuffed it into the
bars of the small opening. Jeremy thought if the ruse had worked
for Daniel maybe it would help them.
    They followed the footsteps through the many
gates, all of which were unguarded at the moment. The torches
provided a dim light, but Jeremy could see only a figure