Nicholas had been placed in a cell with about a dozen other kids.  The cell had rough stone walls on three sides, and iron bars with a gate on the fourth wall.  The floor and ceiling were also carved stone slabs.  Modly hay covered the floor.  The ceiling was held in place by stout oak timbers.  There was no window.  The only light came from a lantern at the guard station down the hallway.

The kids in the cell were a mixed lot.  Their clothing made up of the rags from their pyjamas.  They ranged in age from little five year olds to sturdier eight year olds.  Nicholas was the oldest.  So he took charge.

He made sure that the little food they got was divided evenly.  He tried to keep spirits up by singing songs and telling stories.  He then took a look at the bars at the front of the cell.

The bars were held in place by some sort of cement.  He organized the kids into a pyramid so he could take a closer look.  The ceiment was old and water damaged.  Great flakes of it came off when he poked at it. He [dismissed] the pyramid before the guards came back around. Now he had a plan.

He organized the kids.  The smaller kids were lookouts.  They kept an eye on the guards and sounded the alarm when the guards were coming close.

The bigger kids, including himself, Nicholas split into two teams.  They arranged themselves into chains.  The first kid would grab the bar, then the next kid would grab the first kids waist and so on.  They worked in different directions on the same bar.  Wiggling it back and forth to loosen it from the cement.  Now they used the songs to coordinate their pulling.

It wasn't immediate. It took some time, but the bar eventually came loose and fell out.  The kids were able to contain their excitement and slipped quietly out the cell and further into the dungeon.

The guards never noticed.

Nicholas had everyone hold hands so no one would get lost. They wandered through the dimly lit halways. Eventually they came to a waterway.

Nicholas kneeled down and considered the water.  It must be used to carry watse out of the castle. His nose wrinkled at the idea.  He noticed which way the water was running.  It had to get out somewhere.  And anywhere was better than here.

He led the kids single file and carefully went along the walkway beside the sewer.

The was a strange scratching noise coming from further down the sewer.  He signaled the kids to swat down and bee quiet.  he strained to ehar the noise.  It sounded like ... dogs? The clicking sound definately sounded like dogs walking on tile.  Patrol dogs?  He could hear someone talking.  It must be a guard giving orders to the patrol dog!

Suddenly there was the sound of a running dog.  And excited barking.

Nicholas backed the kids into a niche in the wall.  He prepared himself to face the dogs.

He could see the dogs running towards him.  There was no guard in sight.

The dog in the back was a golden retriever.  The dog in front was some sort of husky...

Nicholas was knocked over as midge launched herself at him. She pinned him down and gave him a slurpy kiss.  Then the pirroetted in circles to show her joy.

The golden retriever was a bit more dignified.  It came over and sat in front of Nicholas.

"Hello, you must be Midge's boy.  My name is Chip." He offered a paw.

"Are you here to rescue us?"

"I think that was Midge's plan.  My plan was to hang around and see if I could be helpful."

"Can we get out of the castle this way?"

"Yes, there is a grate at the end you can swim under to get out into the moat.  You have to watch out for the most monsters, earlier today a frog kicked their butt."  Chip looked rather proud.

Midge yipped at Chip.

"Yes, yes, I was getting to that.  Women." Chip rolled his eyes.

Midge woofed.

"Ok, Midge is reminding me that getting out of the castle is only part of it.  In order to get home, you have to find the magic book to release the Good Fairy."

"I don't think we should take the little kids when we look for the book."

Midge did her best "look cute" face at Chip.

"Ok, just because you asked so nicely." Midge gave Chip a lick on the side of the face.

"Midge has suggested that the little kids follow me out while the two of you find the book and rescue the Good Fairy."

The little kids were formed into a line behind Chip.  The first kid grabbed Chip's tail.

"Hey watch it!  That's a new tail!" Chip led them back to the grate.

Midge and Nicholas went to find the Library.