Sabotage - Chapter Ten

                                       Chapter Ten


  Everdron stands at the steps of the throne. He was worried. The princes could not be found. The escort had been the ones who informed him they were missing. That they had vanished right infront of them. 'How could they have escaped the escort?' he wondered. He made sure Bersion did not find out or he would inform the High King. Everdron did not want the High King to worry yet. A group of lithe shadowy black figures stand on all fours infront of him. Two pinpoints of piercing green light glow from each, seeming to be glowing green stars on a dark night. Sharp black teeth are exposed for all to see. No light reflects off them as they shift and move in the dimly lit room. "Why did you summon us here, General Everdron?" the largest asks in a deep powerful voice, standing on it‘s hind legs. Everdron folds his hands in his sleeves. "Great servers of our Lord Daemon. I summoned you here in dire need. The princes of the High Royal Family are missing. I have scried for them. They appear to be north of here. I fear the intruder who murdered a soldier has once again arrived inside the palace and has taken them. I will pay a great reward for their return." "Why do you not go yourself?" another figure asks. "I must stay here to make sure no one finds out of this. I implore you, great and mighty Nightshades. You are the only ones who can find them." Everdron replies, bowing his head. The shadowed creatures turn to each other and hiss in their own language. The leader faces Everdron. "Very well." it says. "We shall find your charges and return them to you." Everdron looks up, feeling relieved. "It is much appreciated, Daemon's servants. You are our saviors." he replies. The figures disappear. The campfire dies down as the night passes. Skreme has his head resting on his knees. His face is covered by his hair. Mondre` is dozing off while gazing at the fire. 'They probably know we're gone by now.' he thinks. Ryuu seems to still be wide awake. A rustling makes him look behind him then he rises to his feet. "We need to leave." he whispers. “Is something wrong?” Mondre` yawns. “They're closer than I thought.” Ryuu says. Mondre` shakes Skreme by his shoulder. He begins to tip over on his side. He wakes up in an instant and catches himself. "I didn't!" he cries. He blinks and rubs his eyes. "Shhhh! Time to go." Mondre` whispers. Skreme moans and falls back onto the ground. "I don't want to." he whines. "Those people are still around." Mondre` says, getting up. He lowers his part of the protective dome then pulls Skreme to his feet, who releases his aura. Something crashes through the grasses. Mondre` and Skreme go to turn, but the people put blades to their throats. Ryuu goes to grab his dagger. “I wouldn't. Unless you want your friends to die.” one bandit says. Ryuu keeps from moving. Mondre` doesn't sense any aura coming from the bandits. ‘They must be humans.’ he thinks. He looks to Skreme without turning his head. “Ready?” he asks him. “Of course.” he says to him. “Now give us all your money or we'll take it.” another bandit says. “We don't have any money.” Ryuu says. “Yes, you do. Give it to us now!” the other bandit orders. “No! I want to go home!” Mondre` yells. “Silence!” the one who has him says. “Me too! I want to go home now!” Skreme shouts. They stomp their feet. Strands of their aura run from their feet to the bandits’. The bandits stiffen then drop their weapons, collapsing to the ground. Ryuu stands there for a moment then steps forward. “What happened?” he asks. “Just a simple technique. It paralyzes the entire body, but they're still conscious.” Skreme says, kicking one bandit in the side. “Huh?” Ryuu asks. “They're still awake, but can't move.” Skreme says. “Oh.” Ryuu says. He walks over to the bandits. “These two are from the guild.” he says. “Are you sure?” Mondre` asks. “Yeah. I'd know their faces anywhere.” Ryuu says. “We should hurry. The paralysis doesn't last long.” Mondre` says. Ryuu nods and puts the remaining flames out with dirt. The three hurry off to the distant forest. Night sounds make the area seem alive. Eyes reflect light from the many crescent moons and stars. A small pair of yellow eyes follows them. The cousins stay close to Ryuu. He notices them looking at the reflections. "Don't look them in the eyes." he warns. The cousins look straight ahead, keeping their gazes away from the predators. Far off cries make them shiver. Skreme isn't paying attention to where he is going. A vine catches his foot, making him lose his balance. He falls head first into a patch of grass. Mondre` and Ryuu turn when he cries out. They try to help him up, but he gasps and winces. "My arm! It burns!" he hisses. Mondre` notices a Cratje plant broken beside his arm. A little rip is in his sleeve, ringed by black blood. "He's been cut." he says. "I have a salve that can cool the burn. But we have to get to where we're going for the antidote." Ryuu says. He takes out a small jar from his satchel. He takes the top off and dips his fingers into a tan colored cream. He rubs it onto the small cut. "What do you mean, an antidote?" Skreme asks. "The poison doesn't leave the body unless the antidote is given or it stays with you. I have to keep the antidote in a cold place or it'll have no effect. If we don't run, it won't spread as fast." Ryuu explains. He closes the jar and puts it back into the satchel over his shoulder. "But we should hurry or they may catch up." Mondre` says. "You should've mentioned that before." Skreme says. "It was in our herbology books." Mondre` tells him. They help him up. "You actually paid attention?" he asks Mondre`. "A little." Mondre` replies to him. They keep their pace quick as they go down the hidden path. The eyes get closer as time goes by, glaring at them. The grass moves against a breeze. Skreme grumbles and scratches at his arm. "This is so irritating!" he hisses. "It gets worse if you scratch." Ryuu says. Skreme clenches his teeth together and stops scratching, becoming silent. He soon starts up again. They come to a path that leads into the dark forest. Mondre` looks up at the thick branches that seem to be gnarled fingers. “I don't like this place.” he whispers. “Neither do I.” Skreme mutters, rubbing his arm. “Stay close." Ryuu whispers then steps in. "I placed traps along the path so the wild animals won't attack anyone coming through." "If something attacks, we'll stop it." Mondre` says, watching where he steps. "If you like, we can teach you some techniques you can use to stop them." "That would be nice. I hate getting things in my traps all the time." Ryuu replies. "After we get the antidote." Skreme says. "When he gives me the antidote, we leave." he says to Mondre`. "No. He's helping us, so we help him." he tells him. They duck under a low branch. "Remember the plan." Skreme hisses at Mondre`. "I remember it. We can show him some techniques. All right?" he says to him. Skreme sighs and starts scratching his upper arm. "It's burning again." he announces. "We're almost there." Ryuu says. The crunching of leaves underfoot echoes all around. Other than that, the forest is unusually silent. No night birds, no insects, absolutely nothing. Luminous fungus can be seen in the darkness, glowing a multitude of soft colors. Small ones are attached to trees that line the path. Skreme comes to a stop and gazes into the woods. Mondre` bumps into him. "Why'd you stop?" he asks. "There's something over there." Skreme whispers. He stares straight ahead, squinting his eyes. Mondre` focuses his eyes in the direction Skreme faces. Three pairs of turquoise eyes stare back on a long head. The animal sees the boys’ expressions change from concentration to horror. It opens it's beak-like mouth, showing razor sharp points on the edges. "Aaaaaahhhhh!!!" The two run to Ryuu. "What?" he asks. Mondre` stands beside Ryuu, holding a concealed ball of flame behind his back. Skreme keeps behind them. "Something is over there." Mondre` says. He points to where they had been standing. Ryuu bends down and grabs his dagger. They wait, hearing heavy steps. Something comes into view. It looks like an enormous half-plucked bird with spikes along it's back and sharp teeth along it‘s beak. "I thought you said you had traps." Skreme snaps. "It found a way through." Ryuu says. "But that's not the one we saw. There was another." Mondre` says. The bird snarls and runs at them. "We need to leave." Skreme says to Mondre`. "No! We stay and help." Mondre` tells him. Ryuu aims his dagger. Mondre` notices a faint light brown and dark orange aura surround him as he concentrates. He throws his weapon as hard as he can. It hits the bird's beak, wedging into one of it‘s nostrils. The bird squawks and falls back. "Run!" he shouts, pushing the two up the trail. They don't argue. As they run, Mondre` hears in his mind. "Then grab his arm. We'll carry him." He grabs Ryuu's right arm. Skreme grabs his left. "What are you.....waaaaahhh!!!" Ryuu screams as everything quickens. The cousins race up the pathway at high speed. They hear the animal chase after them. It squawks again then scuffling. They slow to a stop. The bird was being attacked by the six eyed thing Mondre` and Skreme had seen. "Laedryn!" Ryuu calls. "Laedryn?" the cousins repeat. The animals fight, clawing at each other‘s faces. The six eyed animal named Laedryn hops back then rams into the bird, knocking it to the ground. The dagger pops out of it's beak when it slides along the dirt path. It gets up, hisses, then runs off into the trees. Laedryn runs after it then stops a few feet. It comes back, striding up to the boys. It is an iridescent lavender with spots of sickly green glowing in the darkness. It's body is thin and lithe. It's eyes have no pupils, just turquoise light. It's ears are long with spikes every inch or so. Hooked claws are on it's large talons. 'It's an Abyssal tarn.' Mondre` realizes. Ryuu runs up to it. The tarn lets him hug it's beak and scratch behind it's long ears. It starts making a deep purring noise. "Good boy, Laedryn." Ryuu says, patting it's shoulder. He sees the cousins standing where they had stopped. "It's all right. Laedryn won't hurt you." he says. They don't look so sure. Ryuu retrieves his dagger then walks up to them with the tarn following like a monstrous dog. "This is Laedryn. I raised him from an egg." he says. "So it's a pet?" Skreme asks, eyeing the animal warily. "I don't put him in a cage like people do with their pets. I let him go anywhere when he wants to. He's very friendly." Ryuu says. "We'll take your word for it." Skreme says. "We can ride him up to where we're going." Ryuu suggests. "I don't believe I will." Skreme says. "I think we'll be safer riding him than walking beside him. And isn't the poison spreading?" Mondre` says. Skreme huffs, scratching at his arm. "I suppose we could. But if it tries to eat me, I'm leaving." he says. "He won't eat you." Ryuu laughs. He climbs up first then holds out a hand. Mondre` takes it and climbs up then Skreme follows. Laedryn shifts at the extra weight then begins trotting up the path. It felt like riding a nightmare. "What was that bird anyway?" Mondre` asks. "Ah, it's a snix. That one's been avoiding my traps lately." Ryuu says. "How many people have come through here?" Skreme asks, scratching his shoulder then winces. "Not many. About twenty-three." Ryuu says. "I'm not surprised." Mondre` hears Skreme say. "By the way, how'd you do that? With the running?" Ryuu asks. "It's a technique we were taught." Mondre` says. "Can you teach me?" Ryuu asks. "I suppose. But we'll have to leave soon after we get the antidote." Mondre` says. "Can you come back?" Ryuu asks. "Perhaps. All we need to do is know where you live and we're able to return any time." Mondre` replies. Skreme rolls his eyes then pauses. He elbows Mondre` in the side. "What?" Mondre` asks. Skreme seems puzzled as he points up ahead. A huge old tower can be seen through the treetops, black against the night sky. Spots where shingles had fallen off are replaced by wooden planks. Ryuu smiles at their curious faces. "Like it?" he asks. "Yeah." Mondre` says. "It's not at all as impressive as the palace. But I suppose it's good enough." Skreme says, scratching his neck. "I think it's spreading." Ryuu leans forward and whispers something into Laedryn's ear. The Tarn bolts toward the tower. Skreme and Mondre` have to hold on tight. They arrive at the front door in a few bounds of Laedryn‘s long gait. Ryuu slides down with ease. Mondre` and Skreme jump down. Ryuu whispers again to Laedryn. The tarn stalks back into the woods. Ryuu takes out a skeleton key from his satchel and places it into a lock below the door handle. He twists it then turns the doorknob. The door opens with a squeak. He grimaces. “We need to be quiet in here.” he whispers. He glances inside then beckons for them to come. They step up onto the stone step then walk inside. They can see it is vast within, with a staircase leading to the top. Several levels jut out, seeming to be rooms cut in half. Candleholders with old melted candles are attached to the walls. "Let's get some light in here." Skreme says, raising a hand. "No!" Ryuu hisses, forcing his arm down. "Why not?" Skreme growls. "We can't have light in here or the Redcap will wake up." Ryuu says in a hushed voice. "Redcap?" Skreme asks. "I thought they lived on the plane of Tir-Na-Nog." Mondre` says. "The High King lets them do what they want here as long as they don't attack any Daemoniacs." Ryuu whispers. "Then we've nothing to worry about." Skreme says. He raises his hand again. "No! I don't want to risk it." Ryuu says, putting his arm down again. Skreme yanks his arm out of his grip. "Are you going to get some light in here?" he asks sharply. "When we come to the top. That's where I stay." Ryuu says. He leads the way past the levels. The stairs creak under their weight. Mondre` can see cobwebs and dust dangling everywhere. He bumps into a few. “Bleh!” he grunts, pulling them off his face. He hears someone below him laugh. Down at the bottom step, a pair of white eyeballs gaze up at him with gray irises surrounding thin round pupils. Terror runs through him. "Go!" Ryuu yells. Everyone dashes up the stairs. The figure runs after them, making a fast 'crik crik crik' as it moves over the stairs. Ryuu comes to the top, which is a complete ceiling. He opens a trap door attached to it and pulls himself up. Skreme leaps up after him. Then Mondre` leaps through the doorway. Ryuu slams the trapdoor and locks it in time. Something runs into it, sending up dust. He falls away from the door. The thing growls then slips back downstairs. "Why do you stay here if it wants to kill you?" Skreme asks angrily, waving the dust out of his face. He coughs a few times then clutches his arm. "My Mom birthed me here. This is my first home." Ryuu says, standing up. He walks to a shelf that holds many kinds of bottles and vials. A cabinet sits on the middle one. "You stay here because of that?" Skreme asks. "Yeah. You would stay in the place where you were born, right?" Ryuu asks. 'That's why? I never thought of it that way.' Mondre` thinks. Ryuu opens the cabinet, which seeps a cold mist. He picks up a jug of liquid then places it down and gestures for Skreme to come over. Mondre` follows Skreme to see what happens, ducking under a cobweb. Skreme kneels down and holds out his arm. The wound had sealed. "I need to open it again." Ryuu says, taking out his dagger. "Oh, no, you don't. I'll do it." Skreme says, snatching the dagger away. He places the blade to where the cut had been, shuts his eyes, and rubs it over his skin. Black blood flows from the injury. Ryuu pours a tiny droplet from the jug onto his finger then places it onto the cut. Skreme feels the burning sensation leave in place of a numbing feeling then it disappears. Ryuu hands him a rag, which is covered in dirt. He instead uses his shirt. When he wipes it away, he flexes his arm. "It actually worked." he says. ‘That's strong alchemy.’ Mondre` thinks. "Say thank you." he says. Skreme rolls his eyes. "Thank you." he mutters, handing the dagger back. "You're welcome." Ryuu says, tucking it back in his boot. He puts the jug back. A powerful presence surrounds the area, making Mondre` go rigged. Skreme jumps to his feet. "Someone's here." he hisses. “Who?” Ryuu asks. Several cries come from below. The three stand stock still, breathing very little. The birds fly out of an opening in the roof. Mondre` listens as the cries die down. A ruckus occurs downstairs. "The bandits!" Ryuu whispers. “I thought they would've learned their lesson the first time.” Skreme says. “The Redcap might stop them.” Ryuu says, creeping to the trapdoor. Pounding moves up the stairs. A black mist seeps through the panels. It's top solidifies into the shape of a spiked skull with glowing piercing green dots for eyes. It bares sharp black teeth at him, who backs away in terror. He darts over to the cousins as more dark figures rise out of the floor. All of their eyes light the whole room in green. The boys back into a shelf. Ryuu slowly reaches behind him with one hand and grabs a vial. A creature darts at them. Skreme shoots a spout of fire at it from his palm. The flames engulf it. It disappears in a smoky puff. "That was simple." he says. Another rushes at them. Mondre` thrusts his hand out and clenches it into a fist. The air collapses in on the figures. They are crushed into clouds of smoke. The three cough and wave it away from their faces. “Are they gone?” Ryuu asks. “Yeah.” Mondre` says. "What were those?" Ryuu asks. "Nightshades." Skreme says. "Nightshades? Here? But they're supposed to serve..." Skreme's ankle is grabbed. He is yanked off his feet and onto his stomach. His breath comes out in a "Hhhhhuuuuu!" Mondre` goes to help him up. But the neck of his tunic is grabbed. He is lifted off the ground. He slides out and runs to Skreme, who dangles upside down. He grabs his arms and pulls. Skreme kicks at the nightshade that holds him. His foot only goes through it. One grabs Mondre` by his legs, making him let go, and lifts him up. Ryuu is fending three off with his arsenal of potions. One catches him from behind. It holds his arms to his sides and picks him up. He kicks, trying to wriggle out of it's grip. The room sinks into the shadows.
 
Copyright 2007