Kaymele (part 3)

    I awake lying on my back, looking up to the blue sky with thick bulgy clouds trying to cover the sun.  I see Florentide flying above I try to call her, but no words escape from my lips.  I sit up only to see the dead body of Locien still staring with unblinking eyes.  A new wave of sorrow rushes over me as I take account of what happened last night.  I find my voice and call Florentide, she slowly wheels in so her wings don't get snagged on any trees.
    'I found you at last!  I waited and waited for you to come but when dawn broke I began searching.  What happened?' said Florentide looking at Locien's body slumped against the tree.
    'Oh Florentide, I killed him in anger.  He told me he only waited for Eleniel to sign his name into her will for everything, and was to have her killed afterwards.  Now I will be on trial for murder undoubtedly.  Oh Florentide, what am I going to do?!' I say standing up.
    'I don't know, but we must get you back to your family, they were more worried than me when I left,' answered Florentide.
    Florentide always knows how to make me feel better even when I feel like I can never return from sadness.  Off we fly over the woods and we circle the castle before landing on the grass before the steps.  Mother was working in the gardens when she saw me walking up to the door, she cast everything she was doing aside and hugged me like I was never to be seen again.  Then she notices the blood on my hands, face, and torn dress and quickly takes me inside to clean up.
    After I have changed my clothes and I am washed clean of the dirt, blood, and grime I walked to the Moon Pool to talk to Father, Mother, Naneth, and Ada.  Uncle Arthion, and Rimedur stand a way off on the other side of the pool.  I sense the anger, sorrow, and thankfulness.
    'Kaymele, when the Council arrive to put you on trial, what is your story, what happened in the woods?' asked Ada in a raspy deep voice.
    'I... I just killed him, it was to avenge my sister you know that.' I say trying to make myself look and sound innocent.
    Almost perfect timing, all 6 of the other Council members strode into the chamber, and took their places behind the carefully cut, white rock at the back of the chamber.  Ada took his seat with the Council, and the trial began.
    'Kaymele, you have broken our most punishable law.  What can you say in defence?'  said Vehiron looking sternly down at her.  Vehiron is the head Council member, and is to be treated with the most respect.
    'I was bringing justice to the real murderer of my sister Eleniel.' I say, trying not to look directly into his eyes.
    'Can you prove this?' asks Vehiron.
    'My sister is dead with multiple stab wounds, and slight poisoning,' I say clenching my fists.
    'But that was done by Cave Trolls.  You know that,' he says.
    'He hired them to kill her, he confessed it, and my dragon can say that I killed him in blind anger.  I ment to bring him back to face trial, but he taunted me until his death,' I say, the anger flashing in my eyes.
    'But you can get your dragon to say whatever you want her too, and since there was no one else to see your actions in the forest we must punish you!' he says, and slams the gavel against the hard rock, 'We will come to a penalty in 1 hour, dismissed.'
    I am grabbed from both sides by armed solders, and led away to the holding chamber, until they decide what to do with me.  Locked in a small room is something I never like, but if it's only for an hour, and against my will I must.  I lean against the wall with my head bowed.  The tears begin to flow again.  'I have failed my sister, she wouldn't have let anger blind her from what should have been done.'
    I continue to think this when I hear the key turn in the lock.  It's only been 10 minutes, none of the council members agree, and Ada will be on my side, so who's trying to get in?  The door opens and I gasp.

I'll leave it there as a cliff hanger...

Natia (Part 1)

 

   We galloped on.   We had to get out of the forest before the spies caught us.   "The Grasslands of Afriki are ahead.   We shall stop there," I told Anakis.   She nodded.   I could tell she was nervous.   "Don't be scared," I told her.

   "But, the Grasslands are full of lions!" she replied.

   "I know.   But it is our only chance to survive."   She nodded, still nervous.   "Don't loose heart.   It will be okay."   She smiled a bit and told Derpa to go faster.

   The next morning, Soot and Derpa finally got us to the Grasslands without disturbing the spies.   Tired and weary, we stopped at a hut for shelter.   Who opened the door was not a man, but a lion.   He had huge golden eyes, golden fur, and a massive golden mane.   Anakis almost turned and ran until a boy came to the door.   He was tall, handsome, and if he wasn't a boy he would certainly pass for one of the lions.   He looked to be about 18.   The lion purred at us.
   "My uncle Simbani gives you travelers greeting and welcome into his house.   My name is Prid.   Come in and have some food." the boy said.   As we ate, Prid told us his story.

Adonis (Part 1)

Ok, first off, when it starts raining girls you are a little surprised, especially when you get crushed by one. When Nairi crushed me I didn’t know what to make of it, and then she started telling me she wants to go to the king’s palace. I laughed. “You want to go to the king’s palace? Wow you make me laugh, little girl.”
The look of determination she had a few seconds ago was replaced by anger. “I told you I’m 16.” She snapped.
Man, this girl had a temper, though not saying I don’t. “Ok listen,” I said “Let’s make a deal.” I had an idea, “OK, first off, I will be so kind as to tell you my name is Adonis, and I am half dragon. But the dragon council looks down upon humans. So they kicked me out, and  I’ve been thinking  to try and get myself back into the council and my uncles favor I should kill this king guy, because he has been taking the dragons by force and making them his fighters. And I don’t think my dear old Uncle like’s that very much.”
The look on Nairi’s face was hard to describe. It was a mix between surprised and angered. “Are you serious? Your own kind kicked you out? That’s harsh.” She looked a bit mad and it made me feel kind of happy, that at least one person cared, but my thoughts were interrupted by Nairi “So, what’s this deal?” She asked in a very matter of fact tone. She looked me dead in the eye with her piercing blue ones, for some reason it felt like she could see right through me, could see all my secrets, I felt like I should hide. “Well what is it?” She said moving a strand of black hair from her face.
“Ok, if I promise to get you there safely you have to promise to let me kill the king got it.”
She looked kind of sad for a moment then looked up at me in a movement that made her long waist length hair ripple all the way down “Fine.” She said “As long as I see him suffer.” It surprised me that she said this even if she seemed bad tempered and annoying she didn’t seem like the person to say something like that. But I could tell from her face I shouldn’t ask. “So shall we be off then.” I said as I stepped out of my little shack and past her.
 “Ya.” She said as she ran to catch up to me. “So how far away is it?” She asked as she looked up at me.
“Don’t worry it’s not too far, actually it’s just on the other side of this forest.”  We walked for a little while then I stepped out into the bright day light and pointed to a huge stone wall surrounding a large dull stone castle. “That is the king’s palace.” I said making a grand gesture for effect.
Nairi’s expression wasn’t what I expected it to be instead of surprised or in awe she looked angry as if the castle were her worst enemy.
“All right, Shorty let’s get going.”
 I turned towards the castle and I heard her stomp her foot. “I AM NOT SHORT AND MY NAME IS NAIRI!” Then she ran after me.
When we finally reached the castle gates Nairi suddenly stopped. “Hey Adonis, do you hear that?”
I listened then realized what she meant. It sounded like shouting.

Kaymele (part 2)

    Once we reached the castle I know I have to find Father and warn him of the coming danger.  I know that Locien is planning something terrible, and we must stop him before it's too late.  I find Father in the Starlight Cavern, looking into the pool, in the center of the room, and gazing into the clear water and his reflection.
    The Starlight Cavern is the starting place of all Merpeople.  I was born mermaid, but my mother became one when she, Ada, Naneth, Arthion, Rimedur, Vanya, Anira, and Santiel all jumped into the pool on the night of the Full Moon.  It transformed them into mermaids and mermen, now anyone can simply ask the Council if they can have their tail, or remove it.
    But now none of that matters to me as I walk towards Father.  I see a tear fall from his cheek into the water below and I stop short wondering if I should approach now, or wait.  He hears my foot steps and turns to welcome me; but I don't wait another moment.
    'I know what happened to Eleniel,' fighting back tears, 'it was Locien, he had her murdered by Cave Trolls while he must have run to the caves.'
    'How did you come by this knowledge?' asks Father now looking angry.
    'I was looking for him and I found him in the abandoned caves.  He is planning on killing someone else, yet I know not who,' I answer.
    No sooner had I said anything had Father rushed out of the chamber with his face turning bright red. He shouts for the guards to assemble, and soon they are lined up and awaiting orders.  They leave for the caves to find the Cave Trolls, and Locien.
    When the last officer is out of sight I see Locien dash away from the castle and into the deep woods.  Without thinking I grab my hunting knife and a hunk of bread and set off to chase him down.  'Don't stop until he stops,' I think, 'he thinks no one saw him and will go to sleep sometime, I hope,' I keep running after him taking care to cover my tracks just in case he doubles back.  Finally I see him walking at a leisurely pace, and then throw down his pack to make camp.  I hide behind a tree and wait for night to fall.  I eat some of the bread and watch as he builds a small fire and prepares for bed.  I see he has rope in his pack, and I also see that he is going to sleep with a knife in his hands.  I groan silently, and wait until the fire is low before I make my move.  He is leaning his back against a tree.
    I creep along the edge of the woods before I reach for the pack a few inches away from his feet, pulling out the rope I make a noose; not for hanging, but restraint.  He moves, I freeze and see my chance immediately.  Softly I loop the noose around his neck and tie the rope tightly around the tree, and slip the knife out of his hand and replace it with a short, smooth branch about the same size.
    'Wake up murder!' I shout at him.
    He tries to jump up but nearly chokes himself on the noose.  'Kaymele, what are you doing?' asked Locien trying to look innocent.
    'I'm here to bring you to justice,' I say gritting my teeth.
    'I haven't done anything, what are you talking about?' snorted Locien.
    'You had my sister killed, cut her halfway open!  And you say you haven't done anything,' I shout, and slap his face.
    'So you finally caught me,' he laughs, 'so what do you plan on doing to me, hang me, torture me with your knife, cut me open like I had your sister.' he spits and tries to loosen the noose.
    'Not one more move,' I say holding the knife to his throat, 'it will be easy to slit your throat, but that's too good for someone as low as you.'
    I remove the knife and pace infront of him.  I could throw him into the river with a rock tied to his feet, but that's not going to be enough.  I grab him from behind and cut his both his cheeks slowly.  He doesn't cry out in pain, at least not yet.
    'Why did you have my sister killed?' I ask tapping the knife against my hand.
    'I wasn't to be king when she was crowned queen because I am not of your race. She created a document, because she was so loving to me, and put my name in for everything that could make me a king, I wasn't going to wait for her to gain the crown and have some say in everything.  Your parents were next to die, I made the Cave Trolls an offer they couldn't refuse.  If I myself were to be found out before I was crowned king, and killed.  The Trolls were to have everything.  So either way your family dies, and there's nothing you can do to stop it.  If you kill me you'll have no proof of anything I have said, and your sister would not be avenged if you let me live.  The choice is yours,' he says in his snarky way.
    'What, makes you so sure I won't kill you in an instant,' I say running the knife across the top of his head, the blood dripping into his eyes.
    'Because you would never disappoint your sister,' hoarsely whispers Locien.
    I stop and stare into his wicked black eyes.  'I will never disappoint my sister, you killed her for no reason  accept for your own selfish gain.' I shout, 'My father will never allow the Trolls back into our city, and your plans will not succeed.  I will go to my death knowing that I have avenged her death!' with that final word, I plunge my knife into his stomach, and slowly work my knife deeper and deeper into his body, and I pull it up his chest wrenching it as hard as I can.  His blood and intestine juices squirt onto my sky blue dress and my face.  I ignore his cries for help and mercy, his screams get louder and louder with every cut of the knife.
    'Nin gurth indome tegi trasta o le, (My death will bring trouble to you)' whispers Locien.
    'Then I will face that trouble with as much anger as did with you,' I stab the knife into his throat.
    With blood running out of his mouth and his intestines falling out, he chokes on his own blood and dies.  He stared at me with unblinking eyes that seemed to laugh at me, and I punched them out.
    I look at him now the light of the moon his eyes forever staring at me from the ground where they lay.  I look down at my hands, covered with blood and filth from him, and the knife, also covered in blood, gleams red in the moonlight.  I break down and weep 'I killed him... I really killed him, in blind anger I killed another, and for what... revenge.' I kneel down beside him and untie his bonds.  I run my hands over my face, smearing the blood and gore.  Slowly I uncover my eyes, and without thinking run my fingers through my hair, look up to the stars and slip into unconsciousness.

I hope this isn't too graphic for y'all.  I can always rewrite...

Anakis (Part 1)

  

   I let out a sigh as I looked back at the Fairy Tree.   Tears slowly ran down my cheeks.   Here I was, leaving the only home I had ever known, to heal people I had never seen before.   Now I was cold, alone, and lost in the fact that I was now shunned by all respectful Fairies forever, just for wanting to help the poor and weary soldiers on the battlefront!
   I needed to sit down and think.   I sat on a mossy rock and wondered where to stay the night.   Then I remembered my best friend, Natia, who had been shunned two weeks before me for speaking of the tyrant King Felix and how the Fairies needed to help the soldiers.   "I wonder if Natia lives around here," I wondered aloud.
   Suddenly, a black horse and cloaked rider speed past me.   The figure grabbed me by the hair and pulled me on the horse.   I screamed and shouted to no avail.   There was no one else in the forest.   "Where are you taking me?!" I yelled at the figure.   It said nothing.   I was terrified    Was this one of King Felix's men?
   We came up to a small hut.   The figure slid down the horse, tied him up, and reached for me.   I had no choice but to follow it.
   Once we were inside the hut, the figure took off its cloak.   Brown, wavy hair fell to the waist.   Large, blue wings were exposed.   "Natia! Oh, you frightened me!   I thought you were one of the King's men!" I said.
   "What are you doing here, Anakis?   It's dangerous being out in the forest at night!   Especially when exposing your wings," she said, pointing to my rather ruffled, wet wings.
   "Oh, Natia, I was shunned for trying to heal a wounded soldier.   I didn't have time for a cloak."
   "You may use one of mine.   Get in on quickly, for we must fly."
   "Why?"
   "The forest is full of spies for the King.   We need to leave now.   I know someone with a centaur you can ride."   Natia grabbed a cloak from a basket and threw it to me.   She made a bag full of food and supplies.   We both ran out the door to leave.
   We stopped in front of a huge stable.   Natia knocked on the door.   "Linki!   Linki!   Wake up!   It's Natia!   Linki!"   A rather sleepy figure emerged from the darkness.   She had short brown hair and black eyes.   She was dressed in stable garb.   "Oh, Natia, have you finally decided to take me up on my offer!" said Linki.   "Come on in!   Derpa is waiting for you!"
   "She's a little hyper, Anakis, don't mind her." said Natia.   I nodded.
   "And here is Derpa!   Come on, Derpa!   Come on!" laughed Linki.
   "Can't he talk?" I asked.
   "Nope.   That's why I'm giving him away!   No use to sell one with a defect.   Plus, he's a bit purple.   Who wants a purple centaur?  Everyone wants black, grey, brown, horse colors.   No, Derpa isn't for selling." Linki said.   Derpa looked sad as she said this.
   "Well, I think he's a very fine centaur."   said Natia, smiling at Derpa.   Derpa smiled back.   "Come Anakis.   We must fly!   You must ride Derpa, and I shall ride Soot.   Come!"   We rode out.   As we rode on, we heard Linki say, "Tell Derpa that I'll miss him!"

Kaymele (part 1)

     The evening is cool, the sky just dimming into twilight.  The sound of the evening insects begin to harmonize.  I sit on my swing, listening to them.  Florentide lies not too far off curled up like a snake, watching me with her gleaming blue eyes.  I wonder where my sister and her husband to be are in this beautiful evening.
     'Florentide, are you going to go hunting yet?  I am going back into the house to help Mother with dinner preparations.' I sighed.
     'I guess I'll go on and catch something,' answered the dragon lazily.  She stood, stretched and took off with such power and strength that is so amazing even when you've watched it hundreds of times .
     I go into our large unknown castle.  We haven't had strangers around for thousands of years and now we have a new visitor and he tells us of the terrible King.  How hard he is on the poor and helpless.  Everyone is afraid of his power and authority.  Our visitor's name is Sarothax, he seems friendly enough so we offer him food and shelter.  He is soon to leave our modest bit of country, we live along the Great River, and we are surrounded by many friends and neighbors in their small houses and sometimes caves or huts.
     'Naneth, are you sure?  You saw them?  When?  They were headed in their direction?  Oh dear what are we to do, we aren't fighters how can we stop them before...' I hear my mother's voice coming from the other room, yet I hear not of Naneth.
    'What is wrong?' I ask.
    'Kaymele, where is your dragon?' quickly asks my mother.
    'She is hunting.  Why, is there any trouble?' I ask now worried.
    'Naneth saw Cave Trolls stalking towards the river.  Huge she says they are, and I'm worried for Eleniel and Locien being out there so long and the moon is already rising. ' said Mother looking towards Naneth.
    Just then, in the still of the evening we hear it the high piercing scream.  I rush to the window calling to Florentide to come quickly.  But before she even arrives I am running down the hillside to the river where the sound came.  Though before I'm even very far up the river I see a trail of blood flowing with the river's current.  I follow it, hurrying.  Before to long I see the dim shadow of Florentide flying over head she tells me that I'm not to for away from where the blood ends.  This news pushes me forward faster and faster, until I'm there.  I see the tail and the flowing blonde hair of my sister she was thrown into the water.
     With the help of Florentide I am able to pull her out of the water without turning myself into a mermaid.  One drop of water on my skin turns me into a fish out of water in seconds.  Florentide dries her with her wings, and I turn her over and see the multipul stabs that were bleeding badly.  I put her on Florentide's back on the saddle.  'No,' I told myself, 'she will make it back home safely.  I need to look for Locien.'
    'Florentide take Eleniel home to mother so that she can tend to her,' I said.
    She nods her head and takes off.  I search for an hour for Locien yet I find nothing of him, and head back home.  When I reach home everything is quiet, too quiet.  I walk to Eleniel's room, and see my mother washing Eleniel.  Her wounds were bandaged but I still see the blood seeping through the fresh cloths.
    'How is she?' I ask in a shaky voice.
    'I truly don't know, she is still loosing blood, and this far surpasses any of my healing abilities,' answered Mother with tears in her blue, green eyes.
    'She can't die... she just can't,' I say falling to my knees beside the bed taking Eleniel's pale hand.
    'We will wait until morning, and if she lives she may survive.  But there is another thing, she has been poisoned as well.  Not much mind you; but enough to possibly kill.'
    'Oh, Mother!' I collapse into my mother's arms weeping.
    I then realize that my mother's pain is so much greater than mine.  We waited up all night taking shifts, Father eventually came and stayed with us.  Then all to soon the dark hours came when she was awake and told me that she wanted mother and father at her side.  Pain now claimed her for it's own and the ills that vexed her feeble flesh were too much for her body.  Yet with the wreck of her frail body her soul became strong.  I never left her for more than half an hour ever since Eleniel told me.
    "I feel stronger when you're here.  Please don't go away." she said in a whispery voice.
    The hours passed by so slowly, and the birds came in time to say a final farewell to Eleniel in the early dawn.  Like a tired but trusting child she clung to the hands that had led her through all her life.  As Father and Mother guided her through The Vally of the Shadow, they knew she was ready.
    As Eleniel had hoped, her tide went out slowly, and in the dark hour before the first rays of light were above the horizon she quietly drew her last.  With no farewell, but one loving look, one little sigh.  When morning came I was not at my usual spot, the fire was out, and the room was still; but a bird sang loudly on a branch outside the window.  The new morning sunlight streamed in over the placid face on the pillow, a face so full of painless piece that those who loved it best smiled through their tears and were thankful that Eleniel was well at last.
    'Father, have you seen Locien?' I ask after I had wept for an hour and ran out of tears.
    'No, not since they left last afternoon.  Why?' answered Father.
    'I didn't find him when I found...' I stopped choke by coming tears.
    'I know yende (daughter).  It will go away eventually.' said Father in a soothing tone.
    'I don't want it to go away!  I want to find whoever did this and bring justice upon them!' I cry angrily, and storm out of the room.
    I continue to go outside to find Florentide.  I call her, and she is there infront of me.
    'Did you find any sign of Locien?' I ask angrily.  She knows I'm angry and this change in tone doesn't surprise her in the least.
    'I flew above the city all night, and saw nothing but a few fires that burned low.  Though one was not too far away from Locien's house.  I wonder if he ran and left her, like the coward he is.' said Florentide, stamping the ground with her forefoot.
    I search the land with my mind, and still find nothing; which is odd I always receive some sort of signal from any and everyone.  Until I finally found a slight connection towards the caves.  I climb onto Florentide's back and sit upon the saddle.
    'I think he's near the caves, we must hurry he may be injured,' I say to her, and she takes off in a flash.
    We reach the caves; which is really a small village built into the rock.  I can hear his thoughts much clearer now, and we walk to the abandoned caves where it is strongest.  Before we even reach them I smell Cave Trolls, the stench is unmistakeable.  The smell gets stronger as Locien's thoughts get stronger.  I wonder if he is dead or just barely clinging to life.  As we reach the mouth of the cave I hear Locien's voice.
    'You did your job well, and you will be paid in full.  You killed her right? Good, I don't want to be away for too long or they might get suspicious.  Go, I have to get moving.  I'll pay don't worry I know exactly what I'm going to do to her.'
    I pause wondering if those horrible words are truly coming from his mouth.  I back away slowly and finally run to Florentide.  'He had her killed,' I thought, 'but why, did he want the jewels? No, he wants something else.' 
    I reach Florentide and climb onto her, and she sees the distress in my efforts.
    'What troubles you?' asks Florentide.
    'I think Locien had Eleniel killed by Cave Trolls for some reason.  Not riches, but power over all the merpeople.  To control them and use them as he sees fit.  Maybe his greedy little mind also wants the riches as much as the power that has darkened his heart, so much that he would kill my older sister to get it,' I answer.
    'Then we must fly back to the castle and leave this place before we are spotted,' says Florentide.

Tell me what y'all think about this for the first part of my story.  Coment please! :D

Xander {Part 1}

He splashed his face with water, and shook his head like a dog.  “Captain Bolivar, here is the most recent report” a young servant.  Xander nodded, and took it without even glancing at the boy, who scuttled out, as if serving a Captain in the King’s Guard was a death sentence.   

Xander glanced over the report, most of it news he’d heard a hundred times in a hundred days, but he glanced at it again a second time, “Imprisoned hostile nation ambassador?”

He frowned, and rolled the report up, “I’ll need to look into this”.

 

The day was surprising beautiful for a summer, a cool breeze had came in from seaward, and gave the air an almost fall nip.  Xander strolled out onto the training grounds, where Lt. Greven Yark was watching the newest additions to the guard shoot arrows like a gaggle of maidens. 

"If you plan on catching the King's eye, boys, you'd best start at least hitting the target" Xander shouted, he chuckled as a few of the young men dropped their arrows in the surprise of seeing him on the training grounds.

A few enthusiastic 'Yes sirs' accompanied Ernest tried to do better at their archery. 

Greven shook his head and stood beside Xander, "So, what brings the esteemed Captain to the training fields this morning? Surely the King hasn't sent you to me to instruct you, has he?" Greven joked, and Xander chuckled, tapping him on the shoulder with the rolled up report. "Hardly, you bumbling Ox. I think the only reason the King made you archery instructor, was because you are so bad at the actual action of it, you would be a hazard to us on the battlefields" 

"no fair, Xander. You know I could turn your tail to ash with my archery anytime I want" Greven said jokingly. 

Xander smiled, his rebuff practically dropped in his lap, "Tail? So, not only is your archery bad, but so is your eyesight! I'll have you know, Lt. Yark, I do not have a tail". 

Greven pretended to fume for a few seconds before jumping back to the point, "You can't fool me, Xander, what did you come here for? I know it wasn't to get the trainees back in line" Greven gestured towards the boys who were shooting slightly better, and all secretly hoping Captain Bolivar was watching. 

"Ah, Greven, you cunning skunk" Xander winked, and unrolled the report. "This, about the ambassador?". 

Greven scratched his beard, "Hmm...that wasn't my squad..."

"But you always know everything, somehow, you Skunk". 

"stop calling me skunk, and I'll let you in on what I heard"

Xander rolled his eyes, "I am Captain, and could force the information from you, Lt." 

Greven squinted his eyes, "Could you now? Your only Captain because the king needed an empty head to do his bidding" 

Xander felt himself bristling, "Repeat that?" it was one thing to banter about with each other, but saying King Felix needed a pawn...that walked the ridge of too much. 

Greven realized his mistake, and backed up, "Never mind. I'll just go ahead and tell you, so that way you'll scoot, and let me do my work"

Xander let him slip, and nodded for him to continue. 

"A girl, they say she's a real beauty, and young. I heard from Fredrick she looked hardly older then 16. Of course, the squad that drug her back isn't saying anything, nor The jailer. But from what I hear, she was charged with actions of war". 

Xander lifted an eyebrow, "Could she be with the Rebellion?" 

Greven shrugged, "I don't know. Why not ask her yourself?" he winked, and started walking back to his student. 

Xander gave him a glare, and even debating making a face, but realized how that would damage his reputation amongst the admiring trainees. 

Glancing at the report, he shrugged, "Silliness, I can't go visiting every War Prisoner the King arrests. I have better things to do". 

He waved at the trainees, and walked back to his quarters, breakfast would be nice. 

                          -~-

He couldn't get the imprisoned ambassador from his head. 

Xander had tried to rid her from his thoughts, yet stay she did. 

"Why honestly, do I even care?" he grumbled. 

He had wondered whether she was being fed. And how an Ambassador, who surely was used to the finer things in life, was doing in a dark, wet cell. 

Xander sighed, and shook his head, "I shouldn't wonder. A prisoner of war is a criminal, she deserves whatever she did". 

But stay, she did. 

Always bumping against his mental presence, always nagging at something, and guilt. Strange, whenever he thought about her, he felt guilt. 

He dropped the polishing cloth he had been using on R'zyy'k, his heritage sword, and shoved the weapon into its sheath. 

"One thing to do, apparently". 

If the mental nagging wouldn't go away with avoiding her, maybe facing the prisoner would. 

The dungeon wasn't terribly far from the barracks, and as he neared it, the normal amount of servants in the walls diminished. 

Coming to the solid oak door, he righted his appearance, and, feeling like a fool, pushed the door open. 

Just inside was a steep stone staircase, leading down into a dark and wet common room. 

As he stepped off the bottom step, Juno, the jailer, rose from a chair, and made an attempt at a bow, "What an honor to have the King's favored Captain visit us, eh?" he gestured around at the cells, most of which were empty, due to the fact the King did enjoy a good execution from time to time. 

"I heard you had a new prisoner, one of interest" Xander crossed his arms, and tapped his foot. The sooner he saw this ambassador, the sooner he could get back to his work. 

"Ah, yes. The ambassador, I do think they are getting younger and younger, and she isn't a normal gal either, she's-"  It was rumored that Juno could talk your ear to shreds if you let him, so Xander gestured impatiently, "Yes, yes. So I heard, what cell is she in?" 

Xander had glanced around the common room where most of the cells branched off, but couldn't see much in the dim light. 

"Ah, back here" Juno took a light, and led him to a small hallway, "this is where they put her". 

She laid with her back to the door, and wore a Expensive looking white gown that was now as dirty as peasant's fare. Her long blond hair was tousled, and lay around her, pooled like liquid gold. 

"Does she get fed?" Xander crouched, and looked at her firmly. 

"Yes sir, the King might like executions, but he ain't one to outright starve his prisoners". 

Xander nodded, and frowned. Instead of making the guilt and worry over her better, it had grown. 

Juno stepped forward, and clanged his keys on the bars, "wakey wakey sleeping Princess!" 

The girl sat up quickly, a small terrified gasp coming from her. 

She quickly tucked her knees against her, and viewed them from the back of her cell, her face reminded Xander of a trapped rabbit's. 

She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, and Xander nearly fell back. 

"Y-your, an Elf!" he gasped, quickly standing himself, and feeling every inch of himself go cold and hot in flashes. 

But she looked ashamed, she lowered her head, and as a year rolled down her cheek, asked " where is Tenzin? Oh, please tell me".

Xander slowly stepped back from her cell, but kept his eyes on her, "An elf". 

This wasn't supposed to have happened. 

{{So, sorry for the length of this. :-p And, I know, they haven't escaped yet, but I think I'll do that in Bly's next part. You can still publish yours, Kathrine, it won't mess up the flow of anything. But I'm going to give Anna and Kayla a chance to post before I post Bly's. 

And, second, I really feel like this is second rate work on my part, but it's what happens when you stay up until 1 AM writing because you are threatened. XD }}