Mark of the Princess (14 page)

Cavalon reached over and gave his wife’s hand a re-assuring squeeze before he continued.

“I have asked you all here so that we can discuss the conditions of our armies, strategies, and options regarding a war should that be what Maligo plans to bring to us.” He said in a sure and steady voice.

The king and queen sitting at the far end of the table were the first to speak. Within moments, each were listing the strengths of their armies and proclaiming their support and standing should a war be proclaimed.

* * *

Sometimes it was as though the silence was comforting. She listened to the slight sounds of the twigs breaking under their feet. Her wings were tired from the morning’s flight so she had retracted them in. It had only been a couple of days since they left on their journey to find Alannah. She knew they were close to where the forest meets the mountains, but it still seemed so far away. She thought of the fight with the Drow Assassins, the encounter with the Centaurs and all Alaricus had told them. The drained look on her father’s face when she last spoke to him. He wanted so badly to send his army to attack Maligo, but with Maligo being in the mountains he could see them coming and possibly kill Alannah out of spite. He realized that his best chances lay with Kaleb, Tristan and Evyette reaching the castle quietly.

She looked ahead at Kaleb who walked with severe determination and marveled at his dedication. He had only known Alannah for a day and yet was here risking his life to find her. It was as the stories she had read about in books. But why was Tristan here? Was it really
just
to help his best friend? Could he be there for her? She thought to herself. The fluttery feeling in her stomach came in waves, as she saw him looking at her several times. She thought back to how she felt this morning when she awoke to his hand on her shoulder waking her gently. How she wished that it was a dream she would never wake from. His soothing voice calling to her….

“Oh, that’s great.” By ‘great’ she meant wonderful that she was that much closer to finding her sister, and at the same time terrified of never having been in the mountains and not knowing what lurked in there. Her emotions were construed, sadness for her sister mixed with anger toward Maligo. Longing to find her sister and at the same time being mad at herself for acknowledging feelings for Tristan when she thought she should solely be concentrated on her finding Alannah. Still, it was a welcome distraction at times. “I think we should rest by the edge tonight before venturing into the mountains.” She continued. “I want to make sure we have the daylight on our side when we begin our ascent”

Tristan and Kaleb glanced at each other for a moment before shaking their heads in agreement.

Once they arrived at the edge where the forest meets the mountains they began to search for a place to rest. Tristan began quickly to set a place for a fire, since the nights were becoming chilly. And Kaleb returned after only a few moments with a couple of hares. Evyette finally returned to their small campsite with her hands full of berries. Once they had all eaten, they decided to clean and sharpen their blades and get all the weapons ready for the next day.

Evyette, had been taught sword fighting when she was younger and always practiced with the guards. Although she never once actually thought that she would have to use these skills to defend her life or the life of others.

* * *

Alannah had looked down, a grin spreading across her face, pleased with herself for remembering a few basic spells and even for remembering the enchantment to unlock a door. She moved the cup to the side so that no one saw it next to her. She tilted her head back against the wall and brought her knees up to her chest. Her blood red dress and bodice were covered in the dirt and dust from the cell, the edges were torn now. Her brown hair half pinned up and half falling down her back and shoulders. Yet amidst all the signs that she was worn, she was more alert than ever.

She knew it was night as there were now less trolls guarding the area and walking through it, she realized that this would be her best time for escaping. But the poison she made would only be enough to defend herself against one, maybe two trolls.
Until I can find a weapon
she thought grimly to herself.

Alannah stood and walked to the doors of her cell. She looked to the right and left of the hallway and saw no one. She tried to feel the magic that her mother told her about, closing her eyes and trying to extend her emotions and feelings, but felt nothing. None of the life she felt when she was in Meira was felt here.

This place was dead, the cold stone walls offered no life at all.

“
Expediere,
” she said lowly so that she wouldn’t be heard. There was no response or reaction from the lock. “
Expediere!
” she muttered again, more forceful.

Nothing.

Her eyes welled up with tears, frustration causing her to question her ability for spell casting. Did she even have the gift? Was she passed over for that as well as her powers? Was it because she never concentrated on it, or studied it? Was she so intent on gaining her powers that she squandered the only gift she had?

No
. She thought to herself, not allowing herself to believe that.
That was laziness and nothing else
. She closed her eyes and tried again, concentrating as hard as she could. She reached for any magic she could find inside the castle even just the slightest feel of… “
Expediere
” her voice was loud and firm, she was demanding it.

A loud click echoed in the hall and the lock fell open. Suddenly as with the unlocking of the cell, there was an unlocking of herself. Renewed with confidence she smiled.

I did it!
She thought excitedly,
now to find my way out
. She grasped her cup of poison carefully and reached for the cell doors. Still hanging on it’s hinge, she reached through the bars and grasped the lock in her hand.

“What was that?” The voice sounded a bit closer than she would have liked. The sounds of the footsteps increased. She swung open the door and ran up the hallway to her left. Trying to remember the path she was taken down when she first arrived.

As she ran the footsteps seemed to be coming at her. She felt her heart pounding against her chest. She grasped the first door she found and tried to open it.

Locked.

“
Expediere
” she demanded, and the door swung open. She quietly closed it behind her, feeling an unfamiliar burning on her arm, but realizing she had no time to check it.

Just in time,
she thought as she heard the foot steps get closer and then pass in front of the door. Once she knew the troll had passed, she opened the door carefully. “Troll!” She shouted, cup ready in her hand.

The creature turned to look at her but had no time to speak as she tossed the poison on his face, the fumes silenced him instantly as the poison ate through his skin and he dropped to the ground.

She looked at her cup and realized that she used all the poison she had. Damn.
Well, at least there was no alarm raised yet
, she thought.

She stepped out and dragged the heavy troll by his feet into the empty room. Once she closed the door behind her, she began down the hallway again. Small torches lit the hallway but only barely. They cast shadows on the ceiling that continuously tried to distract her. It was damp and smelled of mold in there. She turned down a corridor that she thought would lead her to the main foyer. She had to duck into different rooms in order to avoid being seen. In the back of her head the sight of the dead troll haunted her, she had never harmed anyone or anything and now she had killed. Her stomach turned. “NO!” she said forcefully to herself. “I cannot think of that now. I have to get out.”

Alannah came upon a door that was more intricately decorated than the others. Intrigue lead her hand fast to the door before she could decide if it was a bad idea. She slowly turned the knob and walked in, spotting instantly a map on the table. It showed the mountains they were at and the surrounding valleys and forests, and he had hap-hazardly drawn what looked like the mark she carried on her back across the clearing in front of the mountains. She noted also a marker on a desolate valley south of the mountains, wondering what he could possibly be planning but deciding not to stand around trying to figuring it out.

She opened the door slowly and verified that there was no one around. She heard what she thought was a moan, and realized it wasn’t that of the creatures guarding her.
Am I not the only prisoner here?
She whispered to herself, turning to walk in the direction of the noise trying to run without making a sound. She thought of using her wings to get around faster, but didn’t for risk of upsetting the dust and cobwebs around her and letting the trolls know where she had gone.

She reached a hallway that had three doors on each side. Each door had bars lining the first half of them.
More cells
. She slowly walked up to the first door on her right side and peered in, but found nothing. She walked to the second and found the same. In the third she had seen bones in a corner and realized that it was a prisoner once left here to die. She choked back tears as she saw the bones of the wings behind it.
It was a faerie
, she thought, putting her hand over her mouth and taking a step back, her shoes sliding on the dirt and dust piled on the floor.

The slight moan she heard snapped her out of her trance. She turned again and began to search the cells on the left. In the last cell on the left she saw a shadow in the corner. His arms were hanging above him clasped by chains.

Alannah opened the cell and entered slowly.

“I told you that I will not help you!” The prisoner yelled.

She realized then that he couldn’t see that she wasn’t a guard as his eyes were blindfolded. He stood, although it was painfully obvious that he hurt all over.

“I’m not here to hurt you.” She whispered softly, trying to reassure him without arousing the guards. Clearly shocked by the tone he heard, he cocked his head to the side wondering who was there.

“I was a prisoner and have escaped. I can help you get out of here. Can you walk?” Alannah asked, walking toward him cautiously and glancing at the doorway to ensure no-one was coming.

“Yes, but who are you?” He asked, his voice deep and soothing despite his condition.

“I am Princess Alannah of Meira.” She said as she got closer, looking at him in astonishment as she had never seen a faerie with so many markings. They were on his arms, his chest, and some ran up to his neck. This was clearly a gifted faerie.

“Princess… you cannot waste time on me. Save yourself as you are much more valuable. I have heard him speak of you.” He said, his voice pleading softly.

“Me? But I have no powers. How could I be valuable?” Alannah said self-consciously.

“I do not know but he has plans for you. I actually heard him say that your powers are beyond measure.” His face turned toward her.

“
Expediere.
” Alannah said, the cuffs scraping his wrists releasing him as he fell to the ground. His wrists were bleeding from where he had tried to pull his hands out. She reached down and slid her hands around his large back and under his arms to help him up. He stood and reached for the blindfold around his head before turning to look at her.

Her hair, still half picked up was a bit messy. There was dust and dirt on her dress and on her delicate face. The expression on it was of determination. “What is your name?” She asked still stealing glances at the door to make sure that there was no one approaching.

“I am Brennus. I am from the Kingdom of the Anrad.”

“The warrior faeries?” She whispered.
That would explain the large amounts of markings.
Alannah thought to herself.

“Indeed.” Brennus responded proudly.

“Brennus, although I am now intrigued to your presence here, we truly have no time to waste.” She ran to the door and peered out to the hallway.

“Can you…” Her words fell off as she watched him. He had been reciting some healing spells, and suddenly looked better than he did when she first arrived.

“Why didn’t you do that after they hurt you and whatever else they did to you?” Alannah asked completely confounded.

“And let them know of my healing ability? They already wanted me for other things. I needn’t feed their hunger.” Brennus responded, walking over to her. She realized that although he was more healed than before he was still hurt. She could still see the bruises on his body and face. His eyes were swollen, the purple and blue skin surrounding his light grey eyes.

He grabbed her hand, and she gasped slightly.

“Apologies princess, but I have been dragged up and down these hallways many times and may know our way out.” Brennus spoke as he searched the halls for guards.

“Then I will follow you.” Alannah whispered.

He walked out of the cell and back down the hallway. Creeping around the corner with his arm stretched out behind him pulling her along, when he noticed a large door with an insignia on it and he dragged her to it.

“Where are we going?” she whispered while still looking around.

“This insignia is in the ancient drawings. It means weapons.” He opened the door and was disappointed to find that it was not as stocked as the weapon rooms he was used to back home, although there was some relief to see a few of his items in there. He slipped on his wrist bracers quickly and buckled them tight. He reached for a large belt with a sheath attached to it bearing the crest of his Kingdom and wrapped it around his waist. Brennus continued searching until he found a smaller one, turning to Alannah, “It might be loose, but it will do” She had been looking at the weapons when she realized he was talking to her. “Oh.” Before she could respond, he had walked over to her and began to wrap it around her waist. “Begging your pardon Princess.” He chuckled a bit to himself as it draped to one side, he tightened it a bit more until it was snug on her hips.