“When Rebecca entered the prison she did so through the delivery entrance used for supplies. This worked well because the guards weren’t overly careful about keeping people out, mostly just keeping them in.” Lady Valrith said.

  Jesse nodded along, listening intently. They were in the library and had maps of the city and prison spread out on the table. Jesse looked them over carefully.

  “They will not make such a mistake again. Any of the easy points of access will be either eliminated or heavily guarded.” She continued.

  “Yeah I can’t think of no easy way into the building.” Cleb said. His eyes no longer had the sheen and were normal white. His speech was less slurred and he seemed more alert. “There are no windows on the stone face either so I don’t see how we could climb through.”

  Jesse looked at Tormund. “Could we just make a hole?”

  The young man studied the maps for a moment before looking up at Jesse. “We could but we would have to get to the prison through its grounds first. It’s surrounded by this wall here completely.” He said, indicating points on the map. “I’m honestly surprised at how easy it was for Rebecca to get in the first time.”

  “Not much effort was put in keeping the place secure. Nobody had ever really tried to break in, only out. Most the soldiers guarding it were the rejects.” Cleb said looking down.

  “Cheer up friend.” A taller skinny man who had identified himself as Dan. Jesse found the name odd, given what everyone else’s name was in the area. “We are doing important work here.”

  Any ideas Golem? Jesse asked his AI mentally.

  “Perhaps we should scout the area ourselves. There may be something we are missing.” The AI suggested.

  “I think I would like to take a look in person.” Jesse said.

  “You’ll be recognized!” Tormund objected.

  “I’ll leave Aegis here and bring Cleb. I’ll dress according to some local style with a sleeve long enough to cover my arm and prosthetic.” Jesse explained. “They certainly aren’t stopping every passerby in a city this large.”

  Lord Valrith nodded. “A sound plan. It would not be practical for them to stop everyone. Though I suspect they are aware you are in the city now. I doubt the cut canal grate will leave much doubt. Just be careful.”

  “I’ll also stop by and meet with our smith on the way through town.” Jesse said.

  “No need son. We have one on our grounds out back. It isn’t as large or fancy as the ones in town but our personal smith is discrete at least.” The lord said.

  “No I would prefer to use the smith that has been traveling with us. We work well together. She is aware of our… affiliations.” Jesse said, exiting the room with Cleb.

  Jesse and Cleb went on their way. The man showed him through the city, which was much busier than it had been the night prior. The smells of baking wafted into Jesse’s nose and his stomach growled.

  “We should get some breakfast.” Cleb said to him reading his mind.

  “Do you have any suggestions?” Jesse asked.

  “There is a street vendor up here that makes a flatbread with eggs and pork in it.” Cleb said with a shrug.

  Jesse nodded and Cleb led him to a nearby wooden cart with a man standing behind it at a grill. Cleb ordered and the man handed two wrapped packages back. Cleb gave one to Jesse. It looked like a soft taco but the bread was slightly thicker than a tortilla. It was full of scrambled eggs and slices of ham that had been grilled. All of it was covered in spices that Jesse didn’t recognize. It smelled savory and a little spicy and absolutely delicious. Jesse took a bite and the flavors exploded in his mouth.

  “This is so good.” He said through a mouthful of food. Jesse had nearly forgotten what seasoning tasted like with how long they had been on the road.

  “It really is.” Cleb happily agreed.

  The pair ate and walked for a few minutes after. Jesse pulled his coat to both keep out the morning chill and better hide the metallic hand. Jesse watched as a group of soldiers walked by. They carefully examined everyone they passed but did not stop for Cleb or himself. He internally breathed a sigh of relief. Soon they approached the entrance to the fortress that held the prison. It had a large wooden wall surrounding it that was topped in spikes. Over the wall Jesse could see the fortress. It was only two stories tall but was made of solid stone with only arrow slits on the second floor in terms of natural light. He couldn’t see over the wall to assess the entrances but could tell by the amount of activity around it that this would be very difficult.

  “I don’t think we are just walking up.” Jesse said. Cleb grunted in response.

  “I detect a hollow section below ground and running underneath the prison.” Golem chimed in.

  What is it? Jesse asked.

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  “Unknown.” The AI responded. “The stone of the ground interferes with my sensors.”

  Jesse looked around but didn’t see anything obvious. Highlight it for me.

  In his vision a yellow path formed under the road he stood on and heading towards the prison. It ran along the road in both directions and stood at several feet wide and deep. He thought for a moment before speaking up. You know the old Roman sewer systems? I think I read about them one time. Something Maxima?

  “Cloaca Maxima. An ancient sewer system originally designed as an open air canal but later developed into a much larger sewer system. Some portions were used up until the late twenty-first century when Rome was destroyed.” Golem reported from his endless repository.

  Well what if this is a sewer system? Jesse asked.

  “That would be a logical conclusion.” Golem said.

  “We just need to find an entrance and then we could use it to cut into the bottom of the prison. Jesse mentally said excitedly.

  “What are you doing?” Cleb asked him. “You are just staring into nothing.”

  “Oh yeah, I’m uh thinking.” Jesse said flustered. He always forgot about the other people around during his mental conversations with the AI. Though they occurred much faster than normal conversations they weren’t instantaneous.

  “Well did you think of a plan?” He asked.

  “I did actually. We need to do some exploring.” Jesse responded.

  Some time later, after exploring and finding a service entrance to the sewers, they moved to the same tavern they had stopped at the previous day, the Rusty Fork. Inside they found Myra already sitting at the bar. Jesse moved to sit beside her.

  “Hey Myra. This is Cleb, he’s a friend.” Jesse said, introducing the large man with a meaningful look to the smith.

  The large man stared at the middle aged blacksmith awkwardly for a moment before stammering out a sentence. “Uh, hi. So.. uh… do you take apprentices? I uh… I’m a slow learner but I can work real hard. Especially for.. such an impressive person.”

  Jesse stared at the large man’s face as it grew increasingly more read. Myra also stared in shock at the man, though her face did not show that she took insult. After a moment she said. “Sorry Cleb. I… I uh don’t take apprentices. I’m not a master smith.”

  “Oh I doubt that very much mam.” Cleb responded before ordering a drink.

  “Anyway.” Jesse interjected into the awkard… whatever that was. “How is your daughter?”

  “She is doing well!” Myra responded excitedly. “She is nearly through her studies! She worried about the current state of things, but is determined to finish regardless. I honestly tried to convince her to to flee the city with me.”

  Jesse nodded. “That’s good to hear, but selfishly I am glad you stayed. I have an offer for you. I need some things made and my benefactor would be willing to pay a good salary to keep you on staff.”

  “That sounds interesting! I warn you though Jesse, I won’t be fighting anymore. It was one thing when we were traveling here but I’m not a warrior.”

  “With muscles like those I think you can be whatever you want to be.” Cleb said to the side.

  Jesse continued. “I don’t need you to fight. I actually have something else in mind.” The two continued discussing Jesse’s plans for a time before the three of them departed for the manor once more.

  Aegis bounced with excitement when they arrived and Jesse gave Myra a tour of the forge area, which was already occupied by a grumpy old man who was the Valrith family's smith on retainer. He was less than thrilled to be sharing his forge but gave in after a moment of grumbling.

  Jesse took out some drawings he had prepared that morning and went over them with the man and Myra. The other smith grumbled about not understanding the purpose of half of it but agreed to help Myra make the items, but she gave Jesse a knowing look and smiled at the prospect of the new designs. Jesse handed over his shield and club to them, though he removed the crystals. He kept the pipe gun, though the crystal no longer shined with light. It wasn’t burnt out like the ones he saw in the ruins, just dull and no longer filled with light.

  Jesse spent the rest of the day in the library going over plans with the lord of the manor. Late in the evening he returned to his room to find a bundle on the bed. It appeared the two smiths working in concert got the modifications done even faster than expected.

  “What do you think Golem?” He asked.

  “The weapon appears to be well constructed. The addition of the spikes and the modifications to the wiring and crystal housing appear sturdier, though I am unsure of what the effect will be.” The AI said.

  “The shield modifications appear to be well made as well. The crystal housing reinforcements and the additional function laced within the wiring will make for a useful surprise to any enemies you face.” He continued.

  Jesse pulled the last part of the bundle and smiled. “This will be much better!” He exclaimed to his AI.

  “Agreed. You should install it and I will attempt to help bridge the control with your nervous system.” A few minutes of work awkwardly assembling with a single arm and a quick rewriting of his AI module crystal housing and Jesse looked down at his new addition. In place of the simplistic prosthetic he had Myra quickly make on the road was a sophisticated metallic arm and hand.

  Instead of simply extending from the stump of his lost arm, the interlocking plates and mechanisms now covered the AI module and ran up his entire arm, fixing to his shoulder with various straps. Different pistons extended from his shoulder and elbow to help facilitate movement. A complex series of wires in various shapes reminiscent of runes lined the interior of the limb and Jesse slid the protective metal plate over the top of them. Slowly he flexed his hand and each of his five new fingers articulated when he moved. His limb hissed slightly and there was a creak of metal on metal articulation. He lacked feeling in the limb but could sense when he applied pressure to things.

  “Did you do that?” Jesse asked his AI.

  “Yes, I thought it would be useful to you to have rudimentary feelings in the limb so I simulated it. I also believe this new limb will move much faster than your biological one, now that it extends beyond the forearm.” Golem responded.

  “That was the idea.” Jesse said, smiling at his new creation. “I wish we had time to make a full exoskeleton but we need to get moving. Tomorrow night we will make our move on the prison and we need to prepare.