MistyTrail stared into the last cell and saw the calm male elf sitting with his back against the wall. He stared at her curiously. MistyTrail smiled broadly.
“Avalar?” asked MistyTrail.
The man smiled and nodded. “You should not talk in here,” he said softly. “They will punish you. Stay strong and preserve. Kaltara will aid you.”
“No talk,” shouted a krul as he advanced towards MistyTrail.
Tamar inserted himself between the krul and MistyTrail. HawkShadow tapped Mistake on the arm and pointed to the lock on the cell holding Avalar. He then straightened and rounded the corner, walking briskly past the krul. The krul frowned and turned to watch HawkShadow while Mistake raced to unlock Avalar’s cage. Avalar became suddenly interested in what was going on. He looked at Mistake and then at MistyTrail. He shook his head and focused on Tamar. Finally, he rose and stepped close to the door of the cage.
“Who are you people?” he whispered.
“We have come to free you,” MistyTrail grinned. “Are you all right?”
“Elves and humans?” frowned Avalar as he stared at Tamar.
“I am elven,” Tamar said softly. “The other male is human. Act calmly, but be ready to run.”
Meanwhile HawkShadow wandered from cage to cage sticking his face up to the bars on each one. He not only captivated the attention of the first krul, but every other krul at that end of the corridor was watching him. HawkShadow managed to keep an eye on what was going on at the end of the corridor as he moved from cage to cage.
The corridor seemed to stretch onward forever. HawkShadow counted over forty kruls before he gave up counting and he was sure there were more at the far end of the corridor. He had managed to pass by six of the giants while keeping their attention focused on him.
“Give him the uniform,” MistyTrail urged softly.
Tamar glanced over his shoulder at the kruls and then reached into his pack and passed the uniform to Avalar.
“You people have come prepared,” Avalar said as he hurriedly put on the uniform.
“It’s open,” Mistake grinned as she restored the piece of metal to her belt.
Avalar was struggling with the uniform. He had large bracelets on both arms and he could not fit them through the sleeves. MistyTrail opened the cell door and stepped inside. She grabbed the material on one of the sleeves and pulled hard. She heard the material rip, but she got Avalar’s arm through the sleeve. She immediately repeated the procedure on the other arm.
Suddenly, one of the kruls noticed MistyTrail in the cage. He bellowed loudly and pointed towards the end of the corridor. All of a sudden the corridor erupted into chaos. Kruls started running towards the cage with Avalar and MistyTrail in it. The kruls growled as they charged and it was obvious to everyone that the time for talking and bluffing was over.
Tamar drew his two-handed sword and stepped towards the charging kruls to make room for the king and the princesses behind him. MistyTrail and Avalar stepped out of the cell while Mistake’s hands filled with knives. Tamar slashed into the first krul, slicing his abdomen open. The huge krul continued to charge and Tamar jumped back a pace and brought his sword out in front of him. The krul impaled himself on the sword. When the krul tumbled to the ground, it pulled Tamar’s sword from his hands.
HawkShadow pulled his sword and charged at the kruls from behind. He swung his two-handed sword at the legs of the first krul he could reach. The sword sliced cleanly through one leg and half way through the next. The krul slammed to the floor. HawkShadow jumped on its back and drove his sword deep into the krul’s neck. The krul stopped struggling, and HawkShadow pulled his sword free and charged towards Tamar.
Tamar pulled his sword out of the dead krul just in time to swing at the next giant. He sliced deep into the krul’s extended arm just as Mistake’s knife flew into one of its eyes. MistyTrail threw a Sakovan star at the next krul and hit it in the head, but it halted only long enough to rip the star from its flesh and throw it aside.
“I could use a weapon,” Avalar said.
MistyTrail handed him a knife as she threw another Sakovan star. This time she struck the krul in the eye and it turned to one side as it screamed. Tamar sliced high on the krul that Mistake had wounded. He sliced into the neck of the krul while Mistake dove under its legs and came up behind it. She turned and drove a knife into its back as high as she could reach. The krul wobbled from both assaults and tumbled to the ground. Tamar had to jump out of the way of the falling giant.
HawkShadow caught up to another krul and again went for its legs from behind. The massive creature screamed and fell forward. As HawkShadow jumped on its back and delivered a killing blow, Mistake shouted.
“Behind you, HawkShadow!” she screamed.
HawkShadow did not even look back. He hurled his body forward and dove for the floor, tossing his sword high to get rid of it. Avalar reached up and snatched the sword from the air. The elves moved to the sides of the corridor as HawkShadow rolled past them. Tamar and Avalar immediately strode forward and attacked the krul that was chasing HawkShadow.
“The arms,” shouted Avalar as he struck out with the sword.
Avalar sliced cleanly through the creature’s left arm while Tamar cut off the right arm. The creature halted and screamed horrendously. MistyTrail’s star and Mistake’s knife both impacted the creature’s face. It fell atop the body of another krul and Avalar ended its life with a strong slice of the throat.
“We will not make it out of here this way,” shouted HawkShadow as he gained his feet and saw dozens of kruls heading towards them from the far end of the corridor. “Try the lock on the door we came in, Mistake.”
The kruls that were approaching were not charging. They were approaching cautiously although they were growling loudly. They clumped into groups, totally blocking the corridor as they approached. Avalar handed the sword back to HawkShadow, while Mistake ran for the door to the rear of the temple.
“I would like one of those if we come across one,” smiled Avalar.
“You certainly know how to use one,” smiled HawkShadow. “We will find you something.”
“It’s no good,” shouted Mistake. “It is magically locked like the cell in Elvangar.”
“You are from Elvangar?” asked Avalar. “But I have seen you girls outside my cage before.”
“Only I am from Elvangar,” Tamar said. “It is a long story, and it can wait until we are free.”
“Freedom from my cell is not freedom on this island,” frowned Avalar as he watched the kruls move slowly towards them. “We had trouble with those last five kruls. I cannot imagine how we will survive the next dozen. Even if we get by them, we will be hunted down.“
“We have a ship,” offered HawkShadow as he stepped alongside the elven king. “We are not staying on this island.”
“We are in deep trouble,” Mistake interrupted nervously. “A mage is joining the battle. Look at the far end of the corridor.”
“Stop!” the mage shouted loudly. “Stop at once.”
The kruls turned to look behind them and saw the mage walking towards them. They growled and turned back towards the elves. The mage shouted again, but the kruls paid no attention to him.
“Get ready,” warned HawkShadow. “Try to keep the kruls between us and the mage. If we can keep the kruls crowded together, we have a chance of defeating them. Don’t let the back ones move around the ones we attack.”
“That is Aakuta,” snarled Mistake. “He will kill the kruls just to get at us.”
As if her words were prophetic, the mage hurled a fireball at the backs of the kruls. One of the creatures burst into flames. Its scream was horrifying as it threw its body to the floor and began rolling around trying to extinguish the flames.
“Mistake,” Avalar called urgently, “if you can get around locks, try the ones on my wrists.”
Mistake ran to Avalar’s side and studied the bracelet. Aakuta threw another fireball and another krul erupted in flames. The other kruls growled with rage. They turned to face the mage. Aakuta stopped approaching and threw another fireball. Another krul erupted in flames. The rest of the kruls shoved aside their flaming comrade and charged towards the mage.
“Got one,” Mistake said triumphantly as she move around to Avalar’s other wrist.
“Looks like the kruls have a different idea than the mage,” grinned MistyTrail. “Maybe we should charge after the kruls? Then we would be too close for the mage to get all of us.”
“Or we can stand our ground and hope that the kruls get the mage,” countered Mistake.
“And that there aren’t too many of them left when the mage dies,” added Tamar.
“No,” announced Avalar as the other wristband fell away, “we advance but slowly.
HawkShadow’s eyebrow rose as he looked at Avalar. “Are you a mage?”
“That is what the bracelets were for,” grinned the elven king.
“I think I’ll keep this sword for myself then,” grinned HawkShadow. “Let’s go.”
As the five escapees advanced steadily along the corridor, the kruls charged Aakuta. Fire flew from the fingertips of the human mage as the kruls got nearer. The front row of kruls erupted into flaming balls of fur. They turned and tried to flee away from the mage, but other kruls were right behind them. Some of the second tier kruls began to catch fire from the burning kruls.
Aakuta started stepping slowly backwards, tossing fireballs as he retreated. The flames from the burning kruls leaped upwards, and the prisoners fled to the back of their cells as the intense heat began to spread. The flames were so high that the mage could not see the escapees and they could not see him. Neither side could actually see that all of the kruls were already dead.
The escapees halted before the fires. Suddenly, a blue cast surrounded the corpses. The flames died out completely, and ice began to form on the bodies. Over the heap of charred bodies, the escapees were able to see Aakuta again. Avalar’s arms rose and pointed towards the human mage.
“He is all that stands against us now,” Avalar stated as he prepared to cast a spell.
“No,” shouted HawkShadow as he knocked Avalar’s hands down.
“What are you doing?” shouted Mistake. “Are you crazy? That is Aakuta. He can kill us with one spell.”
“That is not Aakuta,” announced HawkShadow. “That is Master Malafar, Lyra’s father. Do not harm him.”
MistyTrail stared at the mage’s face under his hood and gasped. “HawkShadow is right. That is Master Malafar.”
“Hurry,” shouted the human mage. “You do not have much time. Follow me.”
Aakuta retreated to the end of the corridor where he had left the door blocked open just a bit so he wouldn’t have to unlock it. He pushed it all the way open and placed his back against it while the escapees climbed over the bodies and raced for the door.
“Enter the first room on your right and be silent,” instructed Aakuta.
Mistake led the group and slid into a small storage room. A woman in a robe frowned as the group piled in. As soon as the last of the group had exited the cell area, Aakuta let the door close. He followed the group into the room, unaware of the furtive figure that was hiding in the stairwell just outside the door to the cells.
“You are Master Malafar!” gasped MistyTrail. “Why did Mistake think you were Aakuta? What are you doing here?”
“It is too long a story to relate now,” answered Aakuta. “The short answer is that I came here to repay my daughter’s people for the ill that I caused them. I could not do so in the Sakova or in Omunga. I needed to be someone else. I became Aakuta. What is important now is to get you out of here. I also want you to take Rhoda with you. She is a Khadoran mage who was kidnapped and tortured.”
Rhoda looked with uncertainty at the strange group. Aakuta smiled at her and placed his hand calmly on her shoulder.
“I know most of these people, Rhoda,” the mage said. “If anyone can get you home, it is them. I can’t protect you here forever.”
“But if I am gone,” frowned Rhoda, “they will suspect you. They will kill you. Come with us.”
“I cannot,” Aakuta shook his head. “My work here is not done. Besides, I have no life left on the mainland. I betrayed my own people, and I betrayed my daughter’s people. I have nowhere to go.”
“Lyra would love to have you back, Master Malafar,” stated MistyTrail.
“Omunga and the Sakovan are now one,” added HawkShadow. “There is no need for you to stay away now.”
“There are other reasons, HawkShadow,” frowned Aakuta. “My wife and son are dead. My academy and reputation are ruined forever. It is not just a matter of acceptance. I don’t belong there any more. I will not spend my life as an old aging mage with nothing to do. I have a purpose here. I must alert the Torak when I discover the timing of the invasion. If I can’t do it, no one can. There is no one to take my place here on Motanga.”
“I do not know you,” Avalar said, “but I admire your courage. Thank you for saving us in the cell area.”
Aakuta nodded curtly to the elven king and rolled a scroll across the table. Everyone gathered around to see what was on it.
“This is the best map I could create,” apologized Aakuta. “Leaving by the front door or the rear is out of the question. The alarms will be sounded before you could exit. There are two balconies on the second level. They know that the girls came and went from the library one the last time they were here, so they have magically alarmed both of them, but they are sloppy with their security, as you already know. Otherwise you would not be inside this building.”
“It sounds like they were expecting someone to return,” frowned Mistake.
“Indeed,” nodded Aakuta. “Avalar has been kept here for many years. He has been their insurance that the elves would not interfere with Vand’s plans. They thought that he was the target the last time you snuck in.”
“So how do we get out?” asked HawkShadow.
“They constantly check the alarm on the library shutters,” explained Aakuta, “but that is not true of the other balcony. I disabled that alarm over a week ago. No one has noticed yet. I know because I check it daily. This is the location of the room that leads to the balcony,” he added as he tapped the hand-drawn map.
“A meeting room?” asked Mistake. “Will anyone be in it?”
“No,” replied Aakuta. “It is seldom used. Important meetings are held in the throne room.
MistyTrail stared at Rhoda in her red robe. “Is that all you have to wear?”
Rhoda nodded and MistyTrail reached into her pack and gave Rhoda her uniform.
“It may be a little tight, but it better than nothing,” smiled MistyTrail.
The men turned their backs to Rhoda as she slipped into the uniform.
“I will check the corridor outside the door,” Aakuta said. “I dare not travel with you, though. Are you sure that you can find the balcony?”
“We will find it,” HawkShadow assured the human mage. “Take care of yourself, Master Malafar. I will tell Lyra about your decision to stay.”
“I am not sure that I want her to know,” frowned Aakuta. “She already has too much to worry about. She holds too many responsibilities for one so young. She does not need another.”
“Perhaps not,” MistyTrail said as she hugged Aakuta, “but you must know that she loves you dearly. The Sakovans will welcome you whenever you wish to return. Never doubt that.”
Aakuta’s lips pressed tightly together, and he broke the embrace. He opened the door a crack and peered out. Seeing no one, he opened the door fully and stepped into the corridor.
The six escapees filed out of the room. HawkShadow took the lead and headed towards the front of the temple. He left the lowest floor at the first staircase, heading towards the ground level. He paused to listen at the ground level and then continued up to the second level. He moved stealthily as he stepped out of the stairwell. The corridor was empty and he turned towards the rear of the temple.
When he reached the rear corridor, he halted before turning the corner. He could hear two men around the corner talking. Mistake moved close to him, and he bent down to listen to her.
“An alarm will sound as soon as anyone enters the cell area,” she whispered. “Once that happens, alarms will go off all over this island. We cannot wait for these men to finish their conversation. We must hurry if we wish to live.”
HawkShadow nodded and tapped Mistake’s palm. She nodded as a knife slid into her hand. HawkShadow nodded three times. On the third nod, Mistake ran around the corner and threw her knife. It struck a hooded man in the throat. HawkShadow stepped around the corner, his long sword held before him. With a quick slash, the second man’s head rolled across the floor. Mistake retrieved the knife from her victim as the rest of the group rounded the corner.
The rear corridor ran the width of the pyramid and no one else was in sight. HawkShadow picked the pace up and began running quietly. The others matched his speed. When they reached the far corner, HawkShadow slowed and peeked around the corner. There were two soldiers at the far end of the corridor near the front of the large temple. He pulled his head back.
“Two guards at the front of the temple,” explained HawkShadow. “They are way too far away to attack, and we cannot wait for them. Any ideas?”
“How far is the balcony room?” asked MistyTrail.
“About half way,” answered HawkShadow.
“Do you think they would see a soldier walking the corridor as strange?” she asked.
“Probably not,” shrugged HawkShadow. “What do you have in mind?”
MistyTrail hopped onto HawkShadow’s back and wrapped her arms around his chest.
“Carry me to the room,” ordered MistyTrail. “I will create a fog so that the others can follow us.”
“A fog indoors?” frowned Mistake. “Is that wise?”
“I don’t know,” shrugged MistyTrail. “Do you have a better idea?”
“I can dissipate it when we reach the room,” offered Rhoda. “Perhaps they will not notice it, or they will think they didn’t really see it.”
“I am game,” replied HawkShadow. “Hang on, shrimp, you are going for a ride. Just get off me quickly if they approach us. I will want my sword.”
HawkShadow straightened and turned the corner. He strode close to the wall to minimize the view of the far away soldiers. The two soldiers appeared to be engrossed in their conversation. They did not turn to look, and HawkShadow opened the door to the meeting room and entered sideways to avoid having MistyTrail seen.
“Don’t overdo the fog,” warned HawkShadow as he looked around the room to make sure it was empty. “Just enough to hide our people.”
MistyTrail nodded and cast her spell. The corridor grew misty and opaque. As soon as the soldiers disappeared from view, Mistake led the rest of the group in a run towards the meeting room. The group entered the room and Rhoda immediately turned back to the doorway. She cast a spell and the fog came soaring into the room. She closed the door, leaving the corridor appearing normal.
“Nice,” complimented Avalar. “We have the makings of a fine team here.”
Rhoda smiled at the elven king as HawkShadow opened the shutters to the balcony. He stepped onto the balcony and looked down. He quickly withdrew his head and backed into the room.
“We have three problems,” the Sakovan assassin announced. “We have no rope, and there are two guards below the balcony.”
“No rope?” questioned Avalar.
Tamar shrugged and said, “we left it in the forest when it became apparent that we could not walk through the back door carrying it.”
Mistake looked at MistyTrail and grinned. “We can take care of the other two problems,” she announced. “You guys find some rope.”
The elven princesses snuck out onto the balcony. They peeked over the railing at the two guards standing below. MistyTrail tapped Mistake and pointed towards the distant frameworks of the shipyard. Mistake nodded. The princesses each cast the compulsion spell on one of the guards. The guards looked at each other and then started walking away from the temple. They crossed the clear area and entered a street heading towards the shipyard. When the princesses turned around to reenter the meeting room, they bumped into Avalar.
“There is much I have to learn about you two,” he smiled. “May I get past you?”
“You will learn a lot about us later,” chuckled Mistake as she moved aside to let the elven king onto the balcony.
Avalar cocked an eyebrow but quickly dismissed her words. He leaned over the railing and gazed at the ground below him. He closed his eyes and magically searched the grass below. Mentally, he felt the blades of grass brush against his face, but he kept on searching until he found the buried treasure, a winter store for some hard working squirrel. He focused on the acorn and concentrated. He did not need to open his eyes to see the mighty oak sprout upward. He continued to concentrate as he bent the forces of nature to his will. When he finally opened his eyes, the oak tree’s branches danced happily near the railing of the balcony.
“We are ready to descend,” Avalar announced as he entered the meeting room.
HawkShadow stared through the open shutters and shook his head as the sight of the tree awaiting them. He wasted no time asking questions of the elven king. He moved swiftly to the balcony and stepped over the rail and onto a sturdy branch. Within seconds, HawkShadow was on the ground, sword drawn, as he waited for the others to descend.
When the whole group was on the ground, HawkShadow led the way across the clear area and onto the street leading away from the temple. They turned to the right at the first intersection and proceeded to the end of the block.
“More fog, MistyTrail,” ordered HawkShadow. “I think that is the only way to get this large group across that wasteland.”
MistyTrail nodded and cast her spell. She did not hold back this time and great billows of fog rolled out across the wasteland. When the fog was thick enough to obscure the forest ahead of them, HawkShadow led the way forward at a run. They paused when they reached the forest and HawkShadow nodded to Rhoda.
“Disperse it,” he nodded.
Rhoda called upon the winds and blew the fog upwards into the sky. No sooner had the fog lifted than the alarms started sounding. The soldiers at the rear of the temple immediately became alert.
“That is cutting it close,” sighed HawkShadow. “A few more minutes and we would not have made it.”
“You don’t understand, HawkShadow,” corrected Mistake. “The escape is not nearly over. The soldiers and kruls will not just be chasing us from the temple. The woods will be crawling with them. They will be coming at us from every direction. The kruls can smell elves very easily. We need to run, and run fast.”