Fifth day in Nottingham Castle

[stuck_mynock]

Atton's not been having fun.

The guards aren't imaginative, but they do take a certain delight in their cruelty, and Atton's been given barely any chance to rest over the past almost-week. His arms are aching from being chained up, and his face and torso has a constant, burning ache from the abuse its been through over the past five days.

He's waiting, though, for an opportunity.

Comments

[stuck-mynock.livejournal.com]

"Aye, I won't."

He hurries out.

[will_scarlett]

Up from the landing, things are still fairly quiet since most of the castle is asleep with a few guards wandering about since their barracks are just up from the dungeons.

[stuck-mynock.livejournal.com]

Atton needs to find his weapons. He'll need them if he ever returns to Arcadia.

So, he approaches one of the guards, smart and confident.

"Sir Guy sent me to find the newest prisoner's weapons. Where were they taken?"

[will_scarlett]

The guard gives him a rather disbelieving look,

"Sheriff took the sword and gauntlet an 'e'll na be givin' 'em up to a fool like ye."

[stuck-mynock.livejournal.com]

"I'll let 'im decide that."

[will_scarlett]

"Good luck then, ye can go on yer own."

He just sneers at Atton before walking off.

[stuck-mynock.livejournal.com]

Atton watches him go, then waits for another guard.

"The Sheriff's rooms are at the top of the castle, aye?" If he's wrong, then he's hoping the guard will correct him.

[will_scarlett]

The question gets a blink,

"Aye, ye drunk?"

[stuck-mynock.livejournal.com]

Sadly: "A little bit."

[will_scarlett]

"Then dinna go wakin' the Sheriff, 'e'll 'ave yer 'ide."

[stuck-mynock.livejournal.com]

"Aye, I'll wait until mornin'. I'll be much more sobererer by then, and 'e won't get so angry with me."

Atton slings an arm around the guard's shoulders, leaning in close - Given that he's just had ale, it's easy to smell it on his breath, even if he isn't really drunk. He might as well play it up for information.

"I - I'm a terrible person, ye know. I drink. A lot. Ye may 'ave noticed, aye? An' I'm tellin' ye this, 'cause ye're my friend. Right? An' I 'ad a bit too much ale tonight, just a bit, an' I think I should go and, and confess. Ye know? For my drunkin'." Wide arm gesture with his free arm. "'Cause it's bad."

Thoughtful pause. "But I cannae really remember where to find a Man o'God, right? So, so, I was thinkin', since ye're my friend, and my fellow guard, and, and other 'portant things, you could just point me. Point me in the righ' direction, ye know? Tell me where t'go?"

[will_scarlett]

The guard sighs and starts to turn Atton towards the chapel,

"Go through there an try na to fall on the cross."

[stuck-mynock.livejournal.com]

"Thank ye. Ye're much better than my best friend. I think he may be the Devil." Beat. "I think a lot of my friends may be the Devil. Devils. I dunno." The guard is eyed, suspiciously, before Atton heads into the chapel.

[will_scarlett]

Atton will have to head outside for a moment to get to the chapel and see that the castle gate is barred for now.

Inside the chapel, its all very quiet, no one really prays this late except for monks and they're all over at Newstead Abbey.

[stuck-mynock.livejournal.com]

Atton eyes the gate, briefly. It's an obstacle, but not an insurmountable one.

He looks about the chapel for a priest, or a monk, or anybody who is religious and alone.

[will_scarlett]

Its a silent and lonely place until just as the sun starts to move through the sky and an old and tired monk creaks his way to the chapel. He doesn't even notice Atton as he says his prayers and genuflects to the cross.

[stuck-mynock.livejournal.com]

"Excuse me. I don't suppose you 'ave any spare robes I could borrow, do you?" He doesn't particularly want to knock an old man out and steal his clothes just for the sake of a temporary status boost.

[will_scarlett]

The old man turns to look up at him,

"What did ye say, my son?"

[stuck-mynock.livejournal.com]

Atton leans closer.

"I was wondering if ye 'ad any spare robes I could borrow? The Sheriff demands them. Somethin' t'do with outlaws."

[will_scarlett]

"Oh nay, Abbey would 'ave 'im an I'm na that 'mportant anyway. Too many lost souls 'ere."

[stuck-mynock.livejournal.com]

"I know. S'a sad place. Are ye monks, at least, safe? The Sheriff wouldn't dare do anything bad to you, or punish you, would he?"

[will_scarlett]

"I'm fairly safe cause the Lady Marian watches o'er me. An the monks in the Abbey keep safe by na causin' trouble."

[stuck-mynock.livejournal.com]

Marian. He's heard Will mention her.

"Okay. I'll come clean with you here." But he's prepared to knock the monk out if things go badly. "I'm being wrongfully held. Haven't committed any crime. I need to pretend to be a monk, or a priest, to escape. I promise nobody'll get harmed."

[will_scarlett]

The old monk nods and looks Atton over,

"Ye're rather tall but I could send ye as me errand boy to the Abbey 'rhaps. Wait in 'ere an I'll see if I canna manage somethin'."

[stuck-mynock.livejournal.com]

Atton beams.
"Thanks. Will I be able to get into the Sheriff's chambers as your errand boy? He has something I need to get before I leave. Once I'm up there, I have a plan about how t'get out."