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Neopia's Fill in the Blank News Source | 31st day of Collecting, Yr 26
The Neopian Times Week 123 > Continuing Series > The Zafara Assassin 4: Darkness and Light -- Part Seven

The Zafara Assassin 4: Darkness and Light -- Part Seven

by meratocat

Return to High Reaches

I trudged through the snow, Kirin and Kalzar right behind me. We were upon the mountain and making our way slowly up to High Reaches. The cold mountain wind washed over us, threatening to topple us over, but we pushed on ahead, relentless of anything the mountain could throw at us.

     "Is the weather always this bad?" Kalzar yelled to put his voice above the screaming of the winds whose cold teeth bit into us at all points.

     "Usually not," Kirin said. He had had to live up there many years trapped by Jown, until he had finally made his escape. "Don't worry, this is just one of the worst passes. The weather really evens out as you reach the top for some reason."

     Kalzar nodded and we continued to pull our way upward. We pushed through the snow, and climbed over some of the larger rocks until we came up to the massive drop face that lined the border of High Reaches on this side.

     "We have to go up that! In this weather!" Kalzar's voice gave out into a squeak as he yelled that out and I couldn't help but chuckle.

     "You don't honestly think that we would attempt to scale a cliff with the wind wanting to throw us all about do you?" I said. "We will wait to see if the winds will die down. If not, we can just make our way up tomorrow. However, if by then the winds are still blowing strongly. I will not ask you to come, but I will go myself. I owe it to Zana!"

     "Okay, well that's at least partially reassuring," he said eyeing the cliff as the wind blew bits of snow down from it.

     Kirin looked at me. "Guessing by how these winds are blowing, I don't think that this weather will clear away today. Tomorrow it will most likely be calm, but I think our best bet is just to set up a small camp here. At least then we can be warm as we wait out these winds.

     "Good idea," I said, and turned to Kalzar who was still staring up the cliff. "We are going to wait out the storm, come on." And I pulled myself through the snow up to the base of the over drop looking for anything cave like etched into the mountain.

     "Look over there," Kalzar pointed, "That looks like it will give us good enough shelter." Sure enough, he was pointing to what appeared to be a cave. Whatever it was, it would keep us much warmer then if we stood out in the piercing winds.

     We pulled our way over to the cave, and I looked inside. It wasn't that deep, probably only extended some ten feet, and was only wide enough that I could lay down and touch one end with my hands, and the other with my feet. However, the size didn't matter much, for it was warm inside. It wasn't damp and smelly as some caves are, but instead it had an almost warm air circulating around it.

     "This is perfect," I grinned. "Wonderful eye Kalzar!"

     "Well I'm just glad that it's warm," he said, and then laid back against the cave wall. "At least we won't have to worry about making a fire."      

     "Good point," I said. "Besides I don't believe any of us want to go searching through that wind to find a tree and then get wood from it."

     "Very true," Kirin said. "Well, let us get our rest now so that we can make it up all the more easier tomorrow." So with that little bit of advice, we settled back hopping to get a few winks of sleep while we waited.

***

Back in Laxcorna, Corinth paces back and forth across his cottage, grumbling to himself.

     "What is wrong?" Wherric asks, walking over to the general knight.

     Corinth, seeing Wherric approach, stops in his pacing. "I am sorry that I am acting so cross today. I am just angry that he didn't tell me himself that he was leaving."

     "You mean Erred don't you?"

     "Yes, even though you are as good as a son to me, he is the only one of my blood, and yet he is so…"

     "Egotistical?"

     "Yes!" Corinth said falling back to sit in a rocking chair. "I don't know. I guess that I always expected him to follow me, and to take my path, but he is always much more interested in putting his life on the line, of purposely falling into dangerous situations."

     "What did he do this time?" Wherric asked. He was all expecting to hear some dangerous tale in which Erred carelessly put himself into.

     "It is Wintroq," Corinth said. "Now don't be taking me wrong, Wintroq is a wonderful knight, and a fine friend, but I think that Erred is much to absorbed in his stories of deeds past done, and especially of his adventure with Zarrel Charmain."

     "Oh yes, I remember that," Wherric said. He had been naught but a pup but he had met up with Zarrel Charmain who had dropped him off with Corinth. "If I never go through something like that again it'll be too good."

     "That is what I mean. You are much more level headed then Erred. Well, he has gone off with Wintroq on a quest to get rid of some of the bandits that roam about. He didn't even tell me he was leaving; I just found this note on his bed last morning. He is going to really hurt himself one of these days pursuing danger."

     "Do not worry, I know that Wintroq will keep him safe."

     "That isn't what I worry about Wherric. I worry more about what mess he'll get himself into in the future. When he gets back I'll have to have a talk with him. To try and explain that the life of a rogue, or someone who constantly is in danger, is not what he really wants."

     "Good luck on that," Wherric laughed. "I'll wish you luck."

***

I was the first to wake up as it usually was. Reaching into my provisions pack, I found a small biscuit, and nibbled upon the edges thinking of what we would do next.

     Slightly later Kirin woke up, and he looked up at me. "Has it cleared up at all?"

     I nodded, pointing outside of the cave where the light breeze didn't even upset the fresh snow lying outside the cave. "Wake up Kalzar so we can head out. Meet me outside." I said, and then standing up I walked outside to look for a good place to climb up.

     I was looking over the sides of the drop-off when Kirin came out with Kalzar closely behind. He looked up the very steep slope "Is this the only way up to High Reaches?"

     Kirin glanced at him, "No, it is not, but the only other path is some three days walk in either direction. This is the most direct route, and the ones that are easier to make it up are watched. Most won't attempt this route, so Jown sees no reason to position his creatures here. He doesn't have to worry anyway, because the chances of someone not only making it up here safe, but then evading all of his patrol groups are really small."

     "Comforting," Kalzar said rolling his eyes.

     Kirin laughed. "That is the exact reason that this is the perfect route for us to take. We can make it up that slope, and I can help us evade his patrols." He turned to face me, "I won't let the same mistake as last time happen again."

     "I know you won't," I smiled.

     Kalzar walked between us. "Wait, so you've been here before? And what mistake did you make?"

     "Yes," Kirin said slowly. "I have been here before. Jown held me as a prisoner to himself for many a year until I escaped and met back up with Zarrel." He smiled, "Zarrel, her long time friend and partner a green Eyrie named Dorono, her brother Wintroq, and a large black Uni named Herupah ended up going back up to rescue Herupah's brother Decorah from the fate that I had suffered. We were spotted by a patrol led by Jown."

     "If that happened, how did you escape?"

     "Not all of us did. Zarrel and I were the only ones to be able to and that was just barely."

     "What happened to the others, though?"

     "They were captured," I said taking place in the conversation. "Jown brainwashed Dorono into hating me, and in turn Dorono almost killed me. Before he could do so he realized what he was doing and turned on Jown. We rescued the others from Jown's fortress and went on a wild chase to this summit and escaped Jown's grasp… barely."

     Kalzar just nodded. "Kirin said that the Eyrie, Dorono, was your partner. If so, where is he now?"

     I sighed. "He left me some three years ago to learn new things that I could not teach. I must say that I miss the bag of fur." I grinned thinking of mine and Dorono's name calling we practiced.

     "One more question. Why would you return up here?"

     I glared at Kalzar. "Zana Taru, my daughter, was captured by Dsupa and taken to Jown. We are going to rescue her, or be destroyed trying."

     With that, Kalzar gave up questioning, and the conversation returned to what path to take upward. Finally, we decided upon the area that looked safest and relatively easy. I was to go first, so I walked up to the first rock, looking for some hand and foot holds, and then I slowly started to pull myself upward. Once at the top of that rock I looked back down at Kirin, and nodded for him to follow suit. Once I saw him start his ascent, I went on myself. I used small stones, and uneven surfaces as if they were steps, and used some of the grasses that grew out as something to hold onto.

     The climb mostly went smoothly, but there were some difficulties. On a particularly steep area I went to put my foot onto a small stone that jutted outwards, and it crumbled underneath me, leaving me to dangle by my hands for a few alarming moments until I managed to pull myself high enough to get another foothold.

     Kirin took him time moving upward, checking each hand and foothold so that they would not crumble below him. At the same time Kalzar tried to hurry upwards. At one point, Kalzar slipped up, and started to fall backwards, but Kirin, acting quickly, turned around and caught his paw before he could fully fall off, and lifted him to the next flatter area. After that, Kalzar made sure to be much more careful of how he climbed.

     It took awhile, but we did finally make it to the top, all intact and not much the worse for wear. My fingers were vaguely sore from grappling for handholds, but it was not bad enough to make handling a weapon any harder.

     As soon as Kirin and Kalzar made it to the top I stopped for a second to take a look over the edge of the drop-off at the land vastly spread out below us. The view was just as magnificent as I remembered the first time we had made our way to the mountain. The only thing the scene was missing was to have Dorono by my side. I sighed, and quickly turned around to catch up to Kirin and Kalzar who had already started walking, and left the magnificent sight behind me. Perhaps forever.

***

Zana let her eye carry over the boy in front of her. He was older then her, that much was obvious, but at the same time he did not look to be any older then sixteen she guessed by the boyish features still engraved in him. He was lean, and his short yellow fur helped add to the affect. He was tall and skinny in a way that made him appear quite lanky, but still he held a handsome touch of what he would become once he grew older.

     "I don't even know how it is possible for us to escape," he sighed. "Jown has his guards positioned everywhere and if they see me in an escape attempt they will stop us."

     "Don't worry Zana," Galthur the boy thief said with a cheeky grin. "I have this all planned out. They won't even see us if things go correctly."

     "Okay," Zana sighed. She wasn't sure if she could trust one she just met, but she had no other choice. It was trust him or forever be trapped with Jown. Besides, the thief didn't look like he would betray her. "Lead on Galthur."

     He nodded and walked up to the door or her room, silently opening it. He looked down both ends of the hall before motioning for Zana to follow, and then he silently made his way to the left. Zana followed suit, and she walked after him just as quietly if not more so. She had been trained to go silently ever since she knew how to walk, and if she could easily make it through a forest quietly, a building was effortless.

     Soon enough, Galthur walked up to a small door, and then after quickly peaking about he opened the door and rushed inside. Zana followed after him and closed the door softly behind her.

     Inside, she looked around, and was disappointed to find that she was in a rather large closet, but before she could say a word Galthur commented on her.

     "I have to admit, at first I thought that you would be trouble, making a ton of sounds and trying to start up talk. You surprised me. Where did you learn to sneak about like that, it looked like you weren't even trying!"

     "My mother taught me," Zana said quickly. Galthur eyed her, but decided against asking how her mother would know such things, he had more pressing business to attend to. Turning his back to Zana, he walked to the back of the closet where several dull brown messy tunics hung off of a rack. He began to finger through them and soon emerged holding out two of separate sizes. He tossed Zana the smaller one.

     "Here, put that on."

     "Why?"

     "So that you can appear as a servant instead of Jown's apprentice," he said simply. "These were all made for creatures older then you, so that was the closest to a fit I could find. Give me your tunic after you change and I'll wrap it up so that it doesn't get damaged," he said when she looked at how big it was compared to her. When Zana stared blankly back at him he asked. "What is it now?"

     "You're looking at me."

     "What does that have to do with any… Oh!" he said and quickly turned around as his cheeks reddened. "Sorry, I'm used to working on my own, and when someone else is with me, they're male."

     Zana grinned once he turned around and quickly changed into the baggy servants clothing. And then turned around in suit to allow Galthur to change. "Here's my tunic and cape. She said handing him her outfit, which he wrapped up carefully in a bundle.

     "Give me your sword, too."

     "Why do I need to do that!" Zana said laying a protective hand over the sword given to her by Tron.

     "Because servants don't carry swords."

     Sighing, she handed it to him in its sheath and he wrapped it up even more carefully then he did her clothes. After he had wrapped up his clothing as well, and not even half as carefully as he had Zana's, Galthur walked back up to the foot of the door. "And now the real fun begins."

     Reaching into one of the many bags that he still had tied to his belt, he pulled out a tiny mirror. Zana was about to ask what its uses were when he slipped the thing under the door. He tilted it to different angles and looked down both halls to check if anyone was coming. "Coast is clear," he said and wavered for her to follow him once again.

     Galthur led Zana through several different halls as he tried to avoid all of Jown's creatures. Every time they heard a voice they would scurry into a different passageway, preferably one that looked like it wasn't frequently used. Using this method they had thus managed to keep from running into any guards.

     They were about to turn down one hallway when they heard a good deal of voices coming from it headed towards them. "This way," Galthur said pulling Zana off to the side towards a small staircase, and they started to head down it.

     The staircase was very thin, and it twisted in a way where you could not see in front of you very far. It was that fact that almost led to their capture. Coming up on the other end in a right old fury was none other then Dsupa. He had his wings spread wide so that each one brushed an end of the staircase and he grumbled to himself as he made his way up the stairs. "Jown doesn't know what he is thinking letting that little brat of the Zafara assassin have a position of power. She is even worse then the Eyrie, and that Eyrie was bad enough. His policies are going to get himself killed one of these days… I'll just wait for that day and then I'll come back to my power."

     Dsupa grumbled to himself, not paying attention to who was coming down, just as Galthur and Zana tried to quickly get down, only listening to see if no one was behind them. The three of them rounded a bend in the staircase and then slammed into each other.

     Dsupa cursed as he pulled out his sword. "Watch your steps servants!" he shouted, but then he got a closer look at Zana Taru. "Wait, you aren't servants!" he shouted jumping up at the same time.

     "Run Zana!" Galthur yelled pulling her up by her collar and running down the stairs. Shoving Zana in front of him he turned around and threw a small dagger at Dsupa, which slowed him down some as he dodged it. Galthur quickly turned and ran off after Zana as Dsupa pulled himself to his feet.

     The two ran down the stairs as fast as they could as behind them the shouts of Dsupa rang out. He was commanding any creatures within hearing distance to drop what they were doing to capture Zana Taru before she could escape.

     "So much for getting out silently…" Galthur muttered as they came to the end of the staircase and took a quick left as some creatures were running in from the right.

     "Galthur!" Zana panted as she ran. "The exit is that way, we are going in the wrong direction!"

     "I know!" he said quickly as his eyes searched all about. "They will try and head us of that way so we can't expect to make it out with our skins if we go straight towards the front door. Ah-hah!" he exclaimed suddenly.

     "What?" Zana said stopping in her tracks as did he.

     "That." Galthur pointed to a small hole in the side of the wall, a garbage chute. "What about it!" she yelled as she heard the voices of guards coming nearer.

     "It's our escape," the Lupe said grinning.

     Zana gave him a look like he was crazy, but then when she heard the shouts of Dsupa closing in on her, her expression turned to one of fear. "Hurry," she whispered.

     "Follow me," Galthur said, and then taking a step back, he dived into the hole. Zana took one last look behind her and then she too jumped inside.

     The darkness hit her, and she blinked to try and see, but all was black. The garbage chute shoved her in all directions and she was sure that by the time all that was over she would have a great many bruises. She flew through it very fast, and then suddenly, her ride was over and she shot out the end and landed right into a very large pile of filth right next to Galthur.

     Zana flailed her arms. "Ack! This smell is never going to come off of me."

     "At least your stuff is wrapped up in a bundle," Galthur said, equally displeased with their landing spot. He started to pull himself out. "We have to get away from here. No doubt they will come after you outside of the castle soon."

     Zana pulled herself out after him. "Where are we going?" she asked.

     "We are going to a meeting with some of my friends. I think that they'll be glad to receive you."

To be continued...

Previous Episodes

The Zafara Assassin 4: Darkness and Light -- Part One

The Zafara Assassin 4: Darkness and Light -- Part Two

The Zafara Assassin 4: Darkness and Light -- Part Three

The Zafara Assassin 4: Darkness and Light -- Part Four

The Zafara Assassin 4: Darkness and Light -- Part Five

The Zafara Assassin 4: Darkness and Light -- Part Six

The Zafara Assassin 4: Darkness and Light -- Part Eight

The Zafara Assassin 4: Darkness and Light -- Part Nine

The Zafara Assassin 4: Darkness and Light -- Part Ten

The Zafara Assassin 4: Darkness and Light -- Part Eleven

The Zafara Assassin 4: Darkness and Light -- Part Twelve

The Zafara Assassin 4: Darkness and Light -- Part Thirteen

The Zafara Assassin 4: Darkness and Light -- Part Fourteen

The Zafara Assassin 4: Darkness and Light -- Part Fifteen

The Zafara Assassin 4: Darkness and Light -- Part Sixteen

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