The guard heard the shouts coming from the princess's cell and drew his sword, advancing cautiously. Then he saw the guard assigned to princess's cell going in, moments passed but nothing happened. With guarded steps, he reached near the door of the cell. As he peeked around the door to look inside, an arrow pierced his throat. He dropped on the floor, choking on his own blood, gulping for air. Then he saw a hooded figure with a long cape and emerald eyes drawing her dagger.

  Yakshini peeked around the door and shot one more arrow. Another guard dropped dead, giving Yakshini clearance to move out. Yakshini walked out, still keeping her stature low to hide behind stone railings. She observed that the prison was hexagonal with a flight of stairs on opposite sides. Every cell door was attached with a lantern, leaving a dark patch between cells. The only way of entering or leaving the premises was through the giant main gate.

  Yakshini signaled Devsena to come out. Devsena crouched out of the door. As she saw the guards lying in a pool of blood, a gulp escaped her breath.

  Yakshini removed the arrow from the guard's throat and a small fountain of blood erupted.

  "Gross", whispered Devsena looking at Yakshini as she put that arrow back in her quiver.

  Yakshini ignored the remark and continued scanning the perimeter.

  'Three more cells to cross until we reach the stairs, also two guards are on patrol', Yakshini noted.

  "Where is infirmary?", Yakshini asked Devsena.

  "After two rooms to the left of main gate, there is a short passageway. At the end of passageway is the infirmary", answered Devsena pointing at the dark passageway.

  Yakshini and Devsena started running towards the staircase, rushing through the lit passage and pausing in the dark patches between cells to observe the movements of guards.

  As the couple moved forward towards the stairway, Yakshini saw another guard marching towards them with a suspicious face. Yakshini steadied her breath and shot another arrow. It hit the guard between eyebrows and he died in no time.

  They moved a few steps further towards the staircase when a conch shell blew loud from behind, alerting the prison. Yakshini looked back, she swiftly shot two arrows at same time. One arrow hit the target as it got buried in one of patrol guard's torso. The second arrow missed its target, leaving a scratch on guard's cheek.

  The guard attacked with his spear. Yakshini grabbed the end of spear in her grip and pulled the guard towards her. As the guard approached, she jumped and kicked the guard in the face. The guard tumbled and fell on his back. Soon, an arrow ended his story.

  The loud noises of conches and gongs filled the air in prison.

  Yakshini could hear the guards rushing towards them from both sides.

  Yakshini grabbed Devsena's wrist and started to rush her towards the stairway. Devsena stood on her place like statue, her legs were shaking heavily.

  Yakshini panicked. The guards were getting closer with every moment.

  Yakshini tore a piece of her cape and wrapped it around Devsena's eyes. Then she wrapped one side of the cape around her wrist.

  "Let's go, keep moving forward and don't stop", Yakshini whispered in Devsena's ears.

  Devsena nodded.

  The jailor was observing the breach from the fourth floor, ordering his guards around.

  Yakshini along with Devsena soon reached the staircase. Yakshini saw a small platoon of five guards running towards them. She could also hear the footsteps of number of guards rushing down the stairs from upper floors.

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  Yakshini removed the lantern hanging from the cell's door and threw it on the stairs, a wall of fire soon barricaded the flight of stairs. She took out few marbles from her waist pouch and rolled them towards the platoon of guards running towards them. As the guards stepped on marbles, they burst out and a thick smoke covered the passageway in no time.

  Devsena heard the guards, who got caught in the smoke, wailing in pain. She hugged Yakshini tight.

  "It's ok, they will be fine", Yakshini said, freeing her from Devsena's grip.

  They climbed down the stairs and reached the first floor.

  'One more floor', Yakshini thought.

  The couple started their descent again but were forced to retreat back up as a platoon started rushing up from ground floor. Yakshini again threw the marbles. The smoke covered the staircase.

  Now Yakshini started to rush towards the other flight of stairs, at the end of passageway, using arrows and marbles to keep the guards at distance. Devsena was slightly behind her.

  The inmates were now cheering the runaways, whistling and clapping with every dead guard.

  Yakshini could feel her quiver and pouch getting emptied slowly. In the rush, she was barely getting any chance to retrieve the arrows.

  'Are there no archers in here?', thought Irritated Yakshini. Blindfolded Devsena was crouching near the stone railing. Although unintentionally, she was slowing down Yakshini.

  An arrow soon went whistling near Yakshini's ears and got buried in the door behind. Yakshini looked up and saw the jailor mounting another arrow on his bow.

  In a blink of an eye, Yakshini took her shot.

  Before the jailor could take his shot, Yakshini's arrow broke his bow's string and went past him, kissing him on cheeks.

  Yakshini saw jailor retreating to his office.

  The guards were now closing in on Yakshini. Yakshini turned and rolled the remaining marbles toward the platoon coming from behind. Then she turned again and started moving towards the staircase. She saw a larger platoon coming, she checked her quiver.

  'Not enough arrows', groaned Yakshini.

  Yakshini saw Devsena, still crouching near her. She was trying her best to not break out in middle of fight to demoralize her savior. Her blindfold though was soaking wet with sweat and tears.

  Audible gongs were now roaming the premises of the prison.

  Yakshini mounted two arrows but before she could take a shot, a burning door went flying past her and slammed on the guards.

  "We thought you could use some help", said a voice from behind.

  She turned back, arrows still mounted, pointing towards the two prisoner standing a few feet away. One of them was extraordinarily tall and was built like an ox. Another one was shorter and a little obese.

  "Well, no need of that, we want to get out of here as much as you do, lady", said the shorter guy looking at the arrows.

  Instantly, he peeked from the stone railing and saw a bigger platoon of guards waiting for the smoke the wane so they can rush up.

  "This staircase is of no use and the path towards another is barricaded by door. I think we should jump. This is just first floor", said the shorter guy, rubbing his chin as he thought.

  "Can you not see those guards??", yelled Yakshini.

  But instead of answering her question, he removed a lantern from one of the doors.

  "Shoot it when it reaches directly above the guards, brother, fetch me another one", said the shorter guy as he threw the lantern beyond railing.

  When it reached above the guards Yakshini shot the arrow which broke the glass lantern, sprinkling the fuel on the guards. The sparkles of fire fell on the guards and vanished.

  "Here is another", said the shorter guy as he threw another lantern. Yakshini took the same shot.

  This time the sparkles fell on the guards and erupted in flames. Burning guards started running like headless chickens.

  "There we have our opening, now let's jump", suggested the shorter guy as he climbed the stone railing, ready to jump.

  "Wait, what is happening, don't leave me behind!!!!", pleaded Devsena.

  "Poor little princess, brother, can you please help out our guests", requested the shorter guy and he jumped.

  He landed on the floor and rolled a few times before finding his ground. His brother jumped next, piggybacking the princess, who was still blindfolded. He landed on the floor with loud thud but he stood his ground. Yakshini jumped last.

  "So how do we get out?", said the shorter guy to Yakshini who was spreading few marbles along the grounds.

  "There is no 'WE' here mister, I never asked your help", said the Yakshini as she grabbed Devsena and started running towards the passageway that lead to infirmary.

  Thick smoke burst out of marbles and covered the veranda.

  "Oh, so we are using the infirmary tunnel", taunted the short guy as he followed Yakshini. His brother followed him.

  Yakshini rolled her eyes in disappointment.

  The veranda was soon covered in thick grayish smoke. Although it was not poisonous, unlike the ones used on the upper floors, it produced darker and thicker smoke screen.

  The four of them soon reached the infirmary at the end of passageway.

  Thank you for reading 'Adventures of Yakshini', I hope you enjoyed your time with the story.

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  New chapters every Friday.