Then, within the ultimate cell, I spot a silhouette, on his knees along with his wrists chained overhead to the wall. My coronary heart stops as I step nearer, a sconce on the wall igniting close by to light up the determine.

“Dad!” I cry out.

He doesn’t reply. Panic reaches its measly claws at me as I fumble to choose the lock on the cell, however I received’t let it have me.

When the lock clicks, I kick the cell door open. It bangs in opposition to the concrete wall, its ear-ringing clatter waking my father as he squirms in alarm.

“Ah! No, please!” he yells.

“Dad, it’s me!” I exclaim, grabbing his gaunt face. “It’s me, Hanna!”

The concern on his face slowly melts away, changed with fervent shock as he blinks in disbelief.

“Hanna? Is that you just? It will probably’t be…”

I pull his head shut, resting it on my shoulder as he begins sobbing. I cry with him, my tears working down my face and touchdown on his unkempt hair.

His howls are heartbreaking to take heed to, a bit piece of me withering away with every pained cry.

“I by no means thought I’d see you once more,” he tells me in brief bursts of breath.

He tries to talk coherently however fails as I squeeze him tighter.

“You’ll be able to cry, it’s alright,” I say via my very own sobs. “I’m right here, Dad, I’m not going anyplace.”

I can’t assist however discover how weak he feels in my arms. He has misplaced weight, a transparent signal that Zathex was underfeeding him. From the seems of the meals bowls on the ground, my father appeared to have been handled like a wild animal.

He smells as if he has not washed in weeks, although I do know it isn’t the fault of his personal. Filth stains his physique, in addition to darkish, hardened spots of blood.

Bruises sit alongside his arms and ribcage. I hear him wheeze in ache with each breath he attracts.

His prickly stubble rubs in opposition to the pores and skin of my arms, irritating me however I don’t care. He’s overwhelmed up badly, however I’m glad he’s alive.

I undo the cuffs chaining his wrists to the wall with my dagger. He falls into my arms, his weakened physique a far distinction from the robust gardener I’d come to know.

“You got here again for me,” he says. “I can’t consider it.”

“Dad, for those who’re mad at me for disappearing, I perceive,” I reply, my voice coated with disgrace.

“How may I be mad at you? The considered my dearest daughter was the one factor that’s stored me alive this complete time.”

We nestle into one another’s shoulders.

“I’m sorry I took so lengthy,” I whisper, stroking his head.

“Don’t apologize,” he mentioned, pulling again. “However Hanna, what occurred? Zathex got here to me and mentioned you deserted coaching. I don’t consider the asshole, so inform me your facet of the story.”

As I inform him the story, I clear the grime from his physique utilizing no matter material I’ve on me.

“He tried to coerce me right into a relationship with him and I mentioned no. He took that personally and tried to have me enslaved and bought off, however I used my coaching to flee.”

“Intelligent woman,” he says, smiling proudly. “However the place did you escape to? New Solas is crawling with extra of his type.”

“Nicely… I ran away to Ikoth.”

“Ikoth!”

“Sure, with a demon by the identify of Kazrith.”

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