Meanwhile, back at the Laxcorna castle the Usul princess sits in her room
waiting...
The Usul princess Laiondite patiently sat on her bed listening for the knock
that was sure to come. When she heard it she ran over and opened the door. "Corinth,
thanks for coming," she said to the young yellow Zafara. "The last words
Pailoth spoke to me were his telling me to catch the one who had poisoned his
drink." Laiondite looked towards the ground, "I know before I even ask that
daddy won't let me leave which is why I need you to help me get out."
"I am at your service princess Laiondite," Corinth said bowing.
"First of all try to not draw attention towards me. I don't want anyone knowing
that I am the princess. Let's go now."
Corinth and Laiondite worked together tying Laiondite's bed sheets and curtains
together until they had a long rope to climb down. "Let's go!" Corinth said,
and they climbed out of Laiondite's window, and down the castle walls unnoticed.
Thus, they began their search for me.
Laiondite and Corinth made their way through the city, and then they were
at the forest. Corinth went in first with Laiondite close behind him. They were
unaware that they were following my trail as they continued slowly through the
dark forest. They walked past the cave that Tarnox and I had rested in, and
then they came up to the place were I had climbed up the tree to escape my pursuers.
Slowly they were edging their way towards me.
Suddenly Laiondite screamed, and clutched at Corinth's shoulder. She pointed
to the ground where a lifeless Usul lay, and not too far from him lay a Pteri.
Corinth walked over to each of them. He knew at first sight that the Usul was
out cold, but when he walked over to the Pteri he saw it move. Corinth picked
up the Pteri, which groaned, and he handed it to Laiondite. "He still is alive,"
Corinth said, "He only has a broken wing." Corinth took one last look at the
Usul, and then he continued with Laiondite close behind him, Laiondite holding
the Pteri
At dawn they got their first glimpse of me. Tarnox and I had just woken up,
and we were on our way towards Teralk's fortress when Corinth and Laiondite
spotted me. "I bet that she is the one who poisoned my brother." Laiondite said
ready to run out, and jump on me.
"Wait Laiondite!" Corinth said. "Let's find out where she is going first.
Then we can grab her." They followed me all the way to Teralk's fortress, and
then they watched me go inside. "Let's try and find a way inside that is not
guarded."
"There probably is not an unguarded entrance," the Pteri said faintly.
Laiondite and Corinth looked in amazement at the now awakened Pteri "I am Bakel,
and who might you two be," the Pteri said.
"I am Corinth, and she is Laiondite," Corinth said to Bakel.
"Princess Laiondite?"
"Yes, I am the princess. I have come here to get the Zafara who destroyed
my brother," Laiondite said.
Bakel looked from Laiondite, to Corinth, " I will help you in your quest for
the Zafara I owe it to you for not leaving me to die in the forest. Let's try
and find a weak spot on this fortress." They walked around the fortress looking
for a way to get in. when they reached the back of the fortress they heard the
clashing of swords from the guards and me as we fought. They heard Tarnox's
screech as he flew through the window, and they looked up in time to see the
arrow pierce him and with a squawk, him fall to the ground not too far from
their feet.
Corinth walked up to Tarnox, "I have seen this Airax before, but I don't remember
where."
"It is the Zafara's Airax That Airax almost killed me!" Bakel yelled.
Tarnox suddenly started to wiggle on the ground panting. Laiondite whispered,
"Look the Airax is still alive."
Tarnox tried to get up, but then he fell down. Then he started to talk, "In
trouble… Everyone… in trouble!" Tarnox said panting from just those few words.
He tried to get up, but when he tried he fell to the ground once more with an
agonising screech.
"The poor thing" Laiondite said picking up Tarnox. Quietly she said, "Airax,
what do you mean when you say that everyone is in trouble."
Tarnox opened his eyes, their hazel colour clouded by his tears of pain. "Zarrel
trapped and… and she is in… in trouble. Teralk… want to destroy… father. Be
king… of… all…" and then with a gasp for air, Tarnox closed his eyes, and lay
still.
Corinth sat there thinking, "Well obviously the Zafara is in some kind of
trouble. Most likely from that Teralk guy. Though I don't get the destroy father
of king part."
Laiondite wrapped Tarnox up in a towel that she had, and then said, "I bet
that the Zafara knows what that means. We must get to her."
"But how?"
Bakel walked over to Laiondite as they sat trying to think of a way to get
to me, "While you two were sitting there I searched the walls, and I found an
area in the wall that is old, and had cracked, giving us a path into the fortress.
The crack is small, but I still believe that you both can fit in if you try."
"Okay," said Corinth picking up his sword, and walking over to the crack he
said, "let's go!" Corinth squeezed in through the wall after Bakel, and Laiondite
who barely made it by with her large Usul tail followed them both. They walked
out into a large courtyard with many trees and bushes lined up against the walls.
Suddenly there was the sound of footsteps. "Someone is coming. Hurry into the
bushes," Corinth yelled ducking under a large bush.
From the bushes all three of them watched as a number of guards run by. One
of them was talking as he ran by. "I knew that the Zafara was trouble. I would
have told the boss, but he probably would have thrown me into the dungeons for
telling him what to do. Instead we had to wait for the Zafara to attack the
boss, and get her Airax shot. So she finally got what she deserved, to be locked
up in the dungeons."
As the last two guards ran by, a Usul and a Zafara, Corinth hit them on their
heads with the flat of his blade putting them unconscious. He dragged them into
the bushes before anyone noticed. "What did you do that for?" Bakel hissed at
Corinth.
"I figure that we can put their uniforms on, and then get by the guards unnoticed.
Since there aren't any Pteris around here for you to take Bakel, we will pretend
that you are our prisoner, and that we have to take you to the dungeons. This
way we can make it up to the Zafara, and find out what her Airax meant by what
he said."
"You can put that uniform on Corinth, but I can't," said Laiondite. "If you
were paying attention you would have noticed that there are not any females
around here, and I definitely would have been picked out at not being a real
guard. I will just go as another one of your prisoners Corinth."
"Enough talk Laiondite and Corinth, let's go."
Before long they were walking out of the bushes, with Corinth dressed as one
of Teralk's guards holding Laiondite and Bakel captive.
Once they got inside the main building they wandered around aimlessly until
a guard stopped them. "You have walked past this area twice. Where are you headed
soldier?"
Corinth held his head high, "I am to take these two prisoners to the dungeons,
but have forgotten where they are. Can you lead me in the right direction?"
"Yes I can young Zafara The dungeons are just up these stairs." And he pointed
up a stairway, and Corinth started up them holding Laiondite and Bakel in front
of him. The guard took another look at Corinth. He looked at Corinth's helmet,
and at his shoes. "Wait, you are no guard!" and the guard pulled out his sword
and ran up to Laiondite, Corinth, and Bakel. They ran up the stairs higher and
higher towards were I was locked up with the guard gaining at their tails.
When it appeared that the guard would get them Corinth turned wielding his
sword, "You two get to that Zafara I'll hold this guard off."
Laiondite nodded and continued to run up the stairs with Bakel on her shoulder,
until they came to a large room, and at the end of the room a door stood. "That
must be were they are holding the Zafara"
Back to me sitting in my cell
I griped the bars that were across the window, my eyes blurry with my tears
for Tarnox. I looked on to the ground where some guards were running across
the courtyard, and started cursing at myself. Why couldn't I have stopped that
archer from firing his arrow? Maybe then Tarnox would still be alive.
My eyes suddenly caught something. Coming from some of the bushes was three
creatures: a Zafara, a Pteri, and a Usul It looked like some creatures had breached
Teralk's security, because they didn't have his colours on. I watched as they
made their way around Teralk's HQ until they were out of sight.
I sat on the floor of my cell, which was covered with old straw that smelled
of mold. I tried to think of a reason why some creatures would sneak into here,
but could not think of any reason why. Then after pushing Tarnox into the back
of my mind I started to try, and think of a way out of my cell.
I got up and pushed on the bars of the window, but they were completely firm,
so I headed over to the door. I pushed and knocked on the door, but it was solid
oak. I looked through the tiny, but bared window like thing on the door, and
through it I could see the keys hung up on the wall next to my pack and my dagger.
They were on the other side of the room so I sat back down in the hay all glimmers
of hope gone.
As I sat the memories of Tarnox came back to me again. A single tear fell
down my cheek, but before another one came my ears pricked at the sound I heard.
I could hear the pat patting of footsteps, and the clinging of steel against
steel. I jumped up, and rushed over to the door to look through the small window.
I looked through in time to see Laiondite run up from the stairway with a
Pteri on her shoulder. She ran up to my cell door, and looked at me with disgust,
"You're the Zafara that destroyed my brother."
"There is no time for anger Laiondite. You have to let me out Laiondite, because
you are all in danger!" I told her, for I had to warn her about the attack.
That Teralk planed on her kingdom.
"Why would I believe you? You are nothing, but a lire, and a..." but she didn't
get to say anything else, for a guard walked in holding Corinth who was wounded.
"A maiden? This shouldn't be to hard," the guard said lifting his sword.
"You will be even easier to get then that yellow Zafara
I couldn't let her be captured, so I yelled to her, "Use my blade Laiondite.
It is on the wall." She nodded, and ran over grabbing the dagger. She lifted
it completely wrong, and I could tell at first glance that she was inexperienced,
and would quickly be beaten so I yelled, "Toss me the keys, and I will help
you out."
"Shut up Zafara!" the guard yelled at me, and Laiondite took that time to
grab the keys. She started to run towards my cell door, but the guard turned,
and tripped her as she ran by making the keys go flying. They hit the ground,
and bounced up again going a few more feet before coming to a complete stop
right in front of my cell door.
I reached under the door, and grabbed the keys bringing them inside of my
cell. I then reached through the window of the door for the lock. I stretched
out my arm as far as it could go, but I still couldn't reach the lock. I was
going to try once more when I saw the Pteri standing right by my hand.
"I pulled up a chair so that I could reach the lock. Now hand me the keys,
and I will unlock the door. We need you to rescue us."
"Okay," I said handing him the keys. He picked up the keys in his beak, and
walked over to the lock. He barely managed to get the keys into the lock and
turn them, but he did, and the lock came off allowing me to open the door.
The guard grabbed my dagger from Laiondite's hands, and threw it across the
room. The dagger landed right at my feet where I picked it up twirling it in
my fingers. "I think that you should release her," I said to the guard, "Someone
could get hurt if you don't."
"Your right," he said dropping Laiondite on the ground, "and that person is
you!" he ran at me holding his sword straight at me. I waited until the last
second, and then I ducked to the side swinging my blade. With a gasp the guard
crumpled to the ground, so with him gone I walked over to Laiondite.
"Are you okay?" I said as I helped her up
"Yes, I'm fine, but it's Corinth that I worry about," she said pointing
to Corinth who was slowly getting up clutching his side.
"Don't worry, I'll make it," he said.
I grabbed my pack, slinging it over my shoulder, while Laiondite picked up
the Pteri putting him on her shoulder. "Let's go," I said, "Anytime soon
this place will be crawling with guards." And I started to lead them out of
Teralk's HQ.
We ran down the stairs, and then I stopped. "What's the hold up?" the Pteri
said.
"I haven't been in this area of the fortress before," I said looking at the
three passageways ahead of me. "I don't know what path to take."
"Stop. You are to remain where you are!" we looked down the far left passageway
to see several guards running up towards us.
"Just take one of them!" Corinth said, and he started to run down the far
right passageway. We started to follow him when he suddenly turned around. "Wrong
way, turn around!" I looked down the passageway, and saw why Corinth turned.
Some of Teralk's guards were running up.
"The centre passageway! Hurry!" I yelled, and then I started down the passageway.
Several times I had to stop and wait for Laiondite and Corinth who was slow
because of his injuries. If they didn't hurry up they would be captured. I urged
them on down the stairs, for I could here footsteps and the scuffling of guards
as they made their way towards up. We reached the bottom of the stairway just
as I got my first glimpse of the guards that were perusing us.
"I recognise this hallway," I said looking up and down the hallway. "Follow
me I know the way out!" and I led them to the exit, which stood at the far end
of the hallway. We were almost at the door when three guards jumped out at us.
I pulled out my dagger, and each of the guards pulled out a sword. Two of the
guards ran at me, and I jumped to the side swinging my blade at them. The third
guard ran at my back, which I protected with a backhand stroke of my blade.
I saw from the corner of my eye Corinth start to pull his blade from his scabbard,
but then he clutched again at his side wincing with pain. Then the guards ran
at me again, and I had to work hard to keep them from cutting me to ribbons.
I could fight one guard, or even two by myself, but three was cutting the line.
I had just deflected another attack from the guards, when Laiondite's voice
rang out.
"Help!" I turned to see Teralk's second in command standing next to Laiondite
with his blade to her throat. I started to walk towards him ready to save Laiondite,
but then he silenced me with a stroke of his free hand.
"Move assassin, and she gets it." I had no choice; I had to stop in my tracks.
I could think of no way out of this, and I thought that I would be doomed, but
sometimes things are not the way you would think that they would turn out.
I looked up, because above the second in command's head a giant spider was
hanging by its silk threads. Suddenly the spider dropped onto the second in
command's back, and it slowly started to climb up his back. "What are you looking
at assassin? If you think that you can get me to turn around you are wrong."
Then I got an idea. "Well just in case you want to know you have a giant spider
on your back," I said as calmly as I could hoping that he, like most sensible
creatures, would jump up and down in fright if a giant spider was on their back.
"Your tricks don't fool me," he said, but at that precise moment the
spider climbed over his shoulder. The second in command looked down and yelled.
Then he started jumping up and down shaking himself trying to get the spider
off of him. All of the guards ran up to him, and were trying to help him out,
but they only made matters worse. I took that moment to lead Laiondite along
with the Pteri and Corinth out towards the courtyard where I had seen them enter
Teralk's HQ. There were just too many guards at the exit to cope with, and as
we were heading off into the courtyard we heard Teralk's second in commands
voice faintly yelling, "Get this spider off of me!"
"The courtyard looked empty enough of guards at first glance, but I knew better.
"We had better run to the place where you entered this terrible place. There
are many archers up on the roof, and they will fire as soon as they see us.
You are lucky that they didn't see you when you entered," I whispered to my
companions. I just hoped that they could make it those twenty yards or so to
the bushes. "On three run. Okay one… two… THREE!" and at that we ran out, and
made our way towards the bushes. Then the arrows started to fly.
Laiondite and me were almost at the bushes when I noticed that Corinth was
only about halfway. He was holding his side, and it seemed to really be hurting
him. Laiondite stopped to look also, but I gave her a shove and yelled, "Keep
going, don't wait!" so she made it to the safety of the bushes. Then I ran over
to Corinth for he needed my help. Suddenly one of the archers fired a shot straight
at Corinth. "Watch out!" but it was too late for Corinth to dodge the arrow,
so I jumped at him, and so I jumped pushing him out of the way of the arrow,
but not me.
The arrow pierced my side making it feel as if flames had engulfed me. I heard
Laiondite scream, and even though I felt like lying down I was not yet dead.
I got up and pushed Corinth the rest of the way to the bushes. A few more arrows
were fired at us as Corinth crawled into the bushes, but we were able to dodge
them. Then I crawled inside. "Well we made it," I said, and then I was engulfed
in blackness.
To be continued... | 
