Sabotage - Chapter Nine

                                             Chapter Nine



Skreme rushes through the corridor walls. He searches each area he passes before moving into another. He slips through a room, not seeing anything unusual, then runs out of the next wall into a hall. He passes another corridor. His tunic sleeve is grabbed. He swings around from the surprise, but he is still moving and trips over his own feet. He spins then lands hard on his side. Marinae stands over him, hands on her hips. The escort stands behind her. "Where have you been?" she asks. He gets to his feet. "Wherever I want." he says, brushing his clothes off. "Did you get the rat? Where is High Prince Mondre`? What are you running from?" she asks. He walks down the hall, not saying a word. She follows him. The soldiers follow at a short distance. "Answer me. Where are you going?" she asks. "I am looking for the rat. If you want to come....." "No. That is fine. You search for it. But where is High Prince Mondre`?" "I suppose he already found it. Or maybe he found a nest of rats." “Found a…..nest?” He notices her shudder. "I never knew the palace was infested with so much vermin. Why are you going after it? You should have one of the soldiers get it." she says. 'She inquires as much as Everdron.' he thinks then gets an idea. "High Advisor Everdron was the one who set the rats loose. To.....help us train." "He did?" she asks. “Yes.” he says. "Oh. Could he not have released another sort of animal for you to train with instead?" she asks. "No. I need to return to training." he says. He runs down the hall. She huffs at how he dismissed her so easily. Mondre` stops infront of Everdron‘s bedroom. He had followed the figure all the way there. Everdron’s protective aura is still around it. Nothing is at it's base. He looks down the other end of the hall. There is nothing moving down that way. 'If nothing is here, then I will go upstairs.' he thinks. He does the same as Skreme did to open the barrier and opens the door. Someone stands over the desk, looking through papers. He recognizes their clothes. "Debern!" he hisses. Debern jumps. A relieved look comes over him when he sees it is only Mondre`. "Master Andre`. You surprised me." he says, straightening the papers. "There are soldiers everywhere. You and the others have to go now." Mondre` says, stepping the rest of the way in. "I need to find something first." Debern says, returning to the desk. "You must leave now." Mondre` says, making the request an order. Debern faces him, seeming surprised. "All right." he says, putting the papers down. He walks past him to the door. He waves a finger at the shield. It wobbles then moves away for him. He steps through. 'How did he do that?' Mondre` wonders, jaw dropped. "Coming?" Debern asks. "Oh. Yeah." Mondre` steps out after him. Debern releases the aura, letting it return to being a solid wall of light. Mondre` escorts him down the many halls. He remains quiet, gazing at the boy's clothes. They arrive at the invisible room where the siblings were supposed to be. There is no one inside. "Ryuu? Ashla?" Mondre` calls. Ryuu peeks out from behind a piece of old furniture. "Andre`. I thought it was one of those guards. Where's Ream?" he asks. Ashla peeks out beside him. "Jaran went off to search for you." she says, facing Debern. "All right. I will go search for him." he says, turning back to the door. Mondre` stands between him and the door. "I'll search for him. You three stay here." he says. He rushes out. He slowly and quietly closes the door. He finds Ivinin standing behind him and starts. "There you are, Your Highness. Where is Daemon Prince Skreme?" he asks. "He is.....looking for Marinae. I think he may be on the west side." Mondre` says. Ivinin appears doubtful. He looks to the door. A frown crosses his face. "Were you talking to someone in there?" he asks. "No." Mondre` says quickly. "Then what were you doing?" Ivinin asks. "We were....looking for a rat we have seen running the corridors." Mondre` says. "A rat?" Ivinin asks, puzzled. "Yes. But it is not here. So, let us go look for Skreme. Perhaps he found it." Mondre` says. He pushes Ivinin away from the door, waving his hand at the door. It becomes solid wall once again. Skreme isn't having as much luck. He walks with his hands over his ears as Marinae talks. Her eyes wander to the doorways, afraid something will come out of a room. "Is he dead? Oh, I hope not. How many rats are in a rat's nest? Do you think he is hurt? Do you know where it is? We need to save him. How are we going to save him?" she says worriedly. He puts his arms by his sides and whips around to face her. "Then go search for him! Take your escort with you!" he snaps. "I will not." she says, hands on her hips. "Why not?" he asks. "Because you are looking for him too. If you find him, we both find him." she says. "That does not even make sense." Skreme mutters. He continues walking. 'Where is Mondre` anyway!?' he wonders angrily. Marinae hurries to step infront of him. “Why are you just walking? We need to find him. Do you know where he is? He could be on the other side. You should send someone.” she says. Skreme opens his mouth to say something when he sees Jaran walk down a distant corridor. Marinae notices him pause and turns to see Jaran. He does not look like any of the other servants she had seen in the palace. He wears a dirty peasant's outfit with a belt laying over his left shoulder that has daggers sheathed along it. His boots are caked with mud and his hair is unkempt. He strides to the other end of the corridor, disappearing from view. "Who was that?" she asks, staring after him. "One of the servants. I need to speak with him. Wait here." Skreme says. He runs off before she can say something. He turns the corner to find Jaran checking an empty room. "What are you doing here?" he snaps. Jaran swings around, a dagger in his hand. "Oh, it's you. Ryuu and Ashla were worried about you. So, Tino let us in to see if you were all right. Are you wearing silk?" he says, looking him over as he sheathes his dagger. ‘Tino brought them? How could he get them past the barrier?’ Skreme wonders. "You all should leave before the Daemon High King finds out you're here." he says. It felt strange calling his uncle that. "I can't leave unless we find Tino. Or you can take me back." Jaran says. "Prince Skreme! Where are you?" Marinae hollers. She comes around the corner. "Stop talking to servants. Finding the High Prince is more important." she says. The soldiers step up behind her. They get suspicious looks when they see Jaran. Skreme takes a step back. 'This is not good.' he thinks. "Run!" he yells, running the opposite way. Jaran tenses then dashes after him. They race away from Marinae, who is now red in the face. She raises a hand. Bright leaf green aura shoots toward them. "No, Milady!" one of the soldiers shout to her, running at her. Skreme senses it. He slings his own aura at it. It explodes on contact. Jaran loses his balance and hits the floor. Skreme pulls him up and keeps going. Marinae coughs from the green smoke, waving her hand to move it away. She looks up to find the hall empty. "What was that? Who was that? And why did she call you Prince Skreme?" Jaran asks, keeping pace. "I counter-acted her aura. That was a Marques’ daughter who won't shut her mouth. She calls us all sorts of names." Skreme says. He was becoming irritated from all the questions. "She thinks you're a prince?" Jaran asks, laughing. 'How funny.' Skreme thinks. "This way." He grabs Jaran’s sleeve and pulls him to a wall. "Are you mad!?" Jaran cries. He goes to pull away, but Skreme holds on tight. He pulls him right into the wall. They pass through like it isn't even there. Jaran looks back to see the wall gone. The corridor can be seen outside. "How'd you..." "There's no time. We need to hurry." Skreme says. They hurry to the room where Ryuu and Ashla are supposed to be. They have to dodge guards who march by, but they arrive at the spot. Skreme raps on the wall while they stand in the hallway, listening for the sound of hollow wood. Jaran keeps an eye out for any guards. Skreme finds the door then pulls him through. Ryuu and Ashla are hiding behind the old furniture, talking to Debern. They look out when they hear the footsteps. "Why'd you take so long?" Ryuu asks. Jaran chuckles. "Sorry. Prince Ream and I had a little run-in with the Marques’ daughter." Everyone looks to Skreme. "She thought I was the prince. That's all." Skreme says haughtily. "Do you mean a prince or the High Prince?" Ashla asks. "The High Prince's cousin, perhaps." Debern says. Skreme tries to change the subject, agitated by what he said. "Where's Andre`?" he asks. "He went off to look for you." Debern says. "I'll go get Tino. Stay here." Skreme says. "You need not bother. We can leave on our own." Debern says. "I have something to show you tomorrow. Will you and Andre` be able to come to the guild tomorrow night?" Ryuu asks. "Depends." Skreme says. Ashla turns to her brother. "What do you mea....?" Mondre` bursts through the door, closing it fast behind him. He pants hard, leaning against it. He notices everyone in the room. "You need to leave now before the lieutenant comes back. Is Tino here?" he says. "No. He's in the kitchen. I was just telling Prince Ream I have something to show you tomorrow." Ryuu says, patting Skreme on the shoulder. "Prince Ream?" Mondre` gulps. "Uh huh. The Marques’ daughter called Ream Prince Skreme as he was bringing Jaran here." Ashla giggles. Mondre` looks to Skreme, whose cheeks are red. "We should go now. I think we have overstayed our welcome." Debern says. He puts his hand on Jaran's shoulder and grabs Ryuu's arm. Ashla takes Ryuu's hand. They disappear into thin air. Mondre` and Skreme gape. “He can travel!” Mondre` gasps. “So he is an Avantra.” Skreme says. Mondre` sits down on the floor, sighing. "Fantastic." he mumbles. “What are we going to do?” “We won't say anything about this to anyone.” Skreme says, standing beside him. “But he'll come back.” Mondre` says. “We'll make sure he doesn't.” “How are we going to stop an Avantra? He was able to move Everdron‘s aura aside as if it wasn't there.” Mondre` leans his head against the wood. “He did?” Skreme asks. Mondre` nods. Skreme looks back at where Debern had been standing. “Then we'll need to stop him another way.” he says. “Our Alchemic bombs?” Mondre` asks. “Maybe that'll work.” Skreme mumbles. They stop when soldiers run by. "And I never want to be alone with that yapping girl ever again." he growls. Mondre` grins. "Now you understand how it feels." he says. "We need to tell her you're still alive." Skreme says, walking to the door. Mondre` gets up. "She thinks I'm dead?" he asks. "Probably. She wouldn't relent having me try and fight rats to save you." Skreme says. Mondre` laughs. "I suppose we should go tell her then." he says. They walk out to search for her. She is exasperated to see Mondre` safe when they do find her. "You are alive! Did you destroy the rat's nest?" she asks. The escort is still with her. "Rat's nest?" Mondre` asks quizzically. "I mentioned you may have encountered a rat's nest." Skreme says to him. "Yes. How many were there?" Marinae asks, hands clasped together anxiously. "Oh, uh, about thirty. They were fairly large and disgusting." Mondre` says, wiping his bangs back from his eyes. "You are so brave, my Lord. Tell me how you defeated them." she says, overjoyed. Mondre` gets a sheepish smile. "All right. But I need to find Lieutenant Ivinin first." he says. "You can tell me on the way then." she says cheerfully. "All right." he says. The trio walk through the palace, talking while looking for Ivinin. Mondre` makes up a tall tale about how he defeated the giant rats all alone. Skreme adds to the tale by saying he used a sword from one of the trophy rooms. Even their escort seems impressed. Marinae gazes at Mondre` with wonder. “You will be a great High King one day.” she says happily. Ivinin comes out of a hallway. "You are safe." he says. He sounds relieved. "Yes, we are fine. There is no need to worry." Skreme says. "Of course, Your Majesty." Ivinin says with a bow. "Where shall we go, Your Majesty?" Marinae asks, holding Mondre`’s arm. "How about the courtyard?" Mondre` suggests, mostly to Skreme. “Excellent idea!” Marinae says excitedly. "Yes. Let us go." Skreme says. They walk to the back of the palace. The next night, Skreme and Mondre` sit at the dining table. Marinae sits opposite them. The soldiers stand all around, watching them eat. They had already checked the food for any sort of poison. Nothing could be found. The boys remain silent as they eat. They were still tired from yesterday. Their parents had reprimanded them for sneaking away from the escort. They had not run off since. They were too busy thinking of a decision they decided on last night. The grown-ups already ate and were in the War room, discussing the problem. Marinae sees the princes’ exhausted expressions. "What is wrong?" she asks, putting her fork down. Mondre` looks up then smiles. "Nothing is wrong. We are only tired." he replies. Skreme puts his silverware down and gets up. "We are full. We are going to bed." he mumbles. Mondre` yawns then rises along with him. “As are we.” he says. They walk to the door with half the soldiers following a yard away. The boys turn the corner. The soldiers turn to see the cousins' backs to them, as always. Mondre` and Skreme watch them walk after their copies. "We have to hurry." Skreme says to Mondre`. They make their way through the walls to their room. They change outfits then travel. Ryuu is on the steps, waiting for them. He stands up when they walk in. "Ready?" he asks. "We need to tell you something first." Mondre` says. "Come on." Ryuu says, walking past them to the door. "Where are you going to take us?" Skreme asks. "You'll see." Ryuu says. "Isn't Ashla coming?" Mondre` asks. Ryuu gives a stiff shrug. "She doesn't want to come." he says. "Is this going to take long?" Skreme asks. "Not long at all." Ryuu says. ‘It'll be one last adventure before we tell him.’ Mondre` thinks. "All right. We'll come." he says. Skreme frowns at him. “It'll keep us from Marinae.” he says to him. He strides up to Ryuu. "Are you coming?" Ryuu asks. Skreme appears to think about what Mondre` said. "Very well. I'll come. But afterwards, we need to talk." he says. He strides past them out into the street. He goes down one end of the road. "Ummm, it's the other way." Ryuu says. Skreme stops then turns and walks the other way after Mondre` and Ryuu. People walk across to a set of stores, getting in their way. They have to push through the crowd to get away. They come to open space. The wind rustles the leaves on the trees and whistles through gaps in the wood, cooling the hot city lanes. The buildings block much of the setting sunlight and trees, making them look like towering monsters. The waterfalls can still be heard. 'This is far better than sloshing through the sewers.' Skreme thinks. He watches Ryuu lead the way. 'We should tell him now and go back.' he thinks. The image of Marinae yapping comes to mind. He shudders as a cool breeze blows through. 'I suppose we can keep going a little longer. At least until she's asleep.' he decides. Mondre` looks to the stores. They are all busy, lit with candle or lodestone light. The merchants beckon for them to see what they have. The three continue, since they didn't have any money and they already had something to do. The lodestone lamps light the street with eerie pale green-white light. Mondre` looks over his shoulder. The palace looms behind them, rising among the clouds. The glowing tips of the spires appear to be parts of the dimming sky while some are covered in cloud. His eyes move down to the city. Figures creep past two dark buildings. He catches another darting between a small alleyway on the other side, moving in their direction. He walks over to Skreme. “I think someone's following us.” he whispers. “Are you sure?” Skreme asks. “Yes.” Mondre` says. He hurries his pace enough to catch up with Ryuu while keeping a lookout. "We're being followed." he says as softly as he can. "I know." Ryuu says just as softly. They don't say anything else, keeping their eyes and ears open. Ten turns later, they come to the edge of the city. Ahead of them is a vast plain covered in purple and green plants. To the right, the Donoghue mountain range can be faintly seen, covered in forest. People walk down and up a pathway to a winding dirt road heading north. "We need to pass the Burning Plains to get where we're going." Ryuu says, walking down a flight of stairs that end the cobbled city roads. "Be careful. One cut from the Cratje and you burn all over within moments." He steps out into the open, going straight instead of walking down the path. "We know of it." Skreme says. A sound makes him turn back. Nothing moves. "What does the Cathe look like?" Mondre` asks. "Cratje. I'll show you." Ryuu says, jogging ahead. "Why are we going into the Burning Plains?" Skreme asks, hurrying to keep up. “It'll be faster than the path.” Ryuu says, slowing down. "When do you have to go back to the castle?" He comes to a stop at a patch of tall grasses and kneels down beside a purple plant that has thorns down most of it's stalk. "We don't any time soon." Mondre` says. Ryuu takes a dagger out of his boots. He cuts the plant at it's base where there are less thorns. He stands up and hands the plant to Skreme when he walks up. "That's the Cratje. Don't cut yourself." he says, sheathing the dagger. Skreme notices the long thorns very close to his hands and drops it. "Why are you giving it to me? He's the one who asked." he snaps, pointing at Mondre`. "I thought you wanted to see it." Ryuu replies. “Don't yell.” Mondre` whispers. “I can if I want to.” Skreme says. “But we might be found out.” Mondre` says, seeing the people walking down the road close to them. Ryuu looks to the horizon to see the first moon edging it’s way up in the north-west. "Since you two don't need to go anytime soon, let's make camp." he says. "How long is it going to take to get to this place of yours?" Skreme asks sharply. Ryuu ponders, gazing at the distant forest. "We could make it by the eighth if you don't want to stop. It isn't far." he says. Skreme looks at the city. Mondre` elbows him. His eyes dart over to glare at him. "We don't have to stay. We can always go back to Marinae's talk." Mondre` says to him. Skreme fumes, surely imagining how Marinae would talk non-stop at them. "Fine. We'll stay. But what are we going to do about them?" he grumbles to him. "They won't come anywhere near us if they know what's good for them." Mondre` says to him. Skreme looks back to the city then returns his gaze to Mondre`. “I have an idea.” he says to him. Ryuu watches them stare at each other. "What's wrong?" he asks. "Nothing. We want to rest before we go." Mondre` says then gives a tiny nod to the city. Ryuu understands the motion, but is confused. "Then we should gather some wood for a fire." he says. The three separate, but remain close, gathering anything they can use for fuel. Mondre` picks up anything he thinks will work for a fire. He pulls a branch off a small tree. The sound of snapping twigs gets closer. He gathers everything then hurries back to the campsite. Skreme picks up anything that doesn't have insects or dirt. Mondre` places his moderately sized pile down into a space Ryuu had cleared. Skreme drops nine wilted plants on the ground and sits with his arms crossed. His aura brightens to warm himself up. "Are you all right?" Mondre` asks. "I'm tired." Skreme mumbles. Mondre` feels the same way, but the work keeps him awake. Ryuu comes up and puts his pile of branches and sticks down beside Mondre`'s. He picks up a group of green blades of grass then sets them aside. “These won't work. These will.” he says, sorting through the pile. He puts everything he needs in a pile then takes out two flint stones, blowing on them to make sure they are dry. Then he strikes them together by the pile. Sparks fly into the wood. He blows into the pile then strikes the stones again. Skreme puts a finger on the ground. A stream of his aura shoots across the ground into the pile while Ryuu blows on it again to get the fire going. It bursts into flames. Ryuu looks to the stones. Skreme and Mondre` sit close to fire, trying to warm up. “They're coming.” Mondre` whispers. “Stay quiet.” Ryuu whispers. “Should we put a barrier up?” Mondre` asks his cousin. “We should.” Skreme says to him. The cousins concentrate. Dual streams of magic shoot up then spread out into a dome over them to the ground. Ryuu doesn't see it. He was putting the flints back into his satchel then sits opposite of them. "So how long have you lived with the guild?" Mondre` asks. "Ever since my mother died. I wander around sometimes. But the guild is like my family." Ryuu replies. "Where's your father?" Mondre` asks. Skreme hugs his knees. His eyes glance about. "I never knew him. Mother didn't like to talk of him." Ryuu says, gazing at the flames. Mondre` becomes silent, watching the fire eat at the dead grasses. 'He never knew him? That's terrible. Why wouldn't she tell him about his own father?' he wonders.

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