The shackles on her wrists that bound them in front of her had dug into her flesh, and her hands were caked with dried blood. She was sitting with her legs straight out in front of her, and equally heavy chains kept her ankles bound together. Her left eye was swollen and there was a bluish ring underneath it. A cut was visible on her bottom lip, and there were various scratches on her neck and chest.
Her armor was piled in a heap in one corner of the room. Sath took a few steps back and clenched his fists. Now was not the time to reveal himself because he had not yet sounded the alarm. He turned his back to leave, but found to his chagrin that he was trapped in the room. The door was closed, and if it opened on its own, it would catch Dorlagar’s attention.
“Did he hurt you?” Dorlagar asked, still looking out the window.
“No more than you and your master, Lord Taanyth, already have,” Gin hissed.
“Do you think I enjoy this?” Dorlagar asked as he turned to face her.
“It does seem that way,” Gin said. Sath noticed the sadness in her voice, and his anger threatened to burst out of his chest. “Get out of here, Dorlagar, I don’t want to look at you.” She settled back as well as she could against the pillows, and Sath saw that the chains were too short to allow her to truly become comfortable. She was clearly exhausted, and that was why she had not healed herself, he thought. Magical ability requires energy from the user, not just the power given to them by Orana. Dorlagar turned on his heels and stalked to the door with Sath right behind him. I could just take her now, while he is out of the room, Sath thought, but quickly changed his mind. His friends were depending on him to follow the plan, and that was exactly what he had to do.
Twenty-One
Elysiam shifted in her seat as she meditated. “I hope nothing’s happened to Sath,” she said. “We should have had a ton of wyverns on us by now.” Gaelin stood up.
“Perhaps I should summon him back to us, for I too fear that something has gone wrong,” he said. Teeand nodded, and Gaelin took a small stone from his backpack. Focusing his energy into the gem, he spoke in Elder Elvish. “Sathlir!” he said, and soon Sath was standing in front of him.
The Qatu blinked. “What happened?” he said.
“Are you all right Sath?” Hackort asked. “You were gone a long time, and no screaming wyverns came to kill us, so we wanted to make sure you were still all right.”
“But how did I…?” Sath began, and Gaelin held up his hand.
“I used the magic in this gem to bring you back to us,” he replied.
“So you could just bring Gin to us and then we can get her to safety?” Sath said hopefully. Gaelin frowned.
“Sadly it does not work that way, Sathlir. I can bring you to us because I have an idea of where you are. I would have to locate Gin first, and then I could bring her here. You see, the magic in the gem is tied to…” He looked down at Hackort who was making loud whining noises. “Something troubles you, Hackort?”
“Finally! I did not think you would stop talking. Sath, are you all right?” Hackort replied.
“Aye, I am just fine.” Sath sounded slightly annoyed. “I found her,” he said, gritting his teeth. “He’s hurt her, and is keeping her bound so that she can’t cast any spells.” Unconsciously Sath cracked his knuckles. The popping sound startled Elysiam, who let out a derisive snort as Sath took off running. This time he stopped at the top of the stairs. “Brothers, to arms!” he shouted in the language of the dragons, Eldyr. “Invaders just over the drawbridge in the courtyard! Attack!” His shout was greeted by a flurry of wyvern speech that seemed to come from everywhere at once and was followed by the thundering sound of the sentries flocking to the drawbridge to defend their master’s Keep. The Qatu hurried past the cells and turned the corner toward the chamber at the end of the hall. He carefully turned the knob and entered the room.
Gin did not look around when the door opened, assuming Dorlagar had returned. “I told you to get out, Dor. I heard one of your guards shouting; perhaps you should go see what is going on,” she said. Sath moved into the room, his hood still covering his features. He began searching for the keys to her shackles. “Ah, it’s one of you,” she said. “You must be the new guard, but aren’t you a little too short to be a wyvern?” Sath bit his lip and nodded his head, continuing his search. “Listen,” Gin said, her voice softening. “You and I could make a deal. I wouldn’t tell your lord Dorlagar anything about it.”
Sath tried to make his voice sound gruff. “What deal?” he said, hoping that she did not recognize his voice just yet.
Gin cocked her head to the side a moment, but then shook it before speaking. “Let me out of here. I have money and weapons in stores. Please,” she said, her voice strangely hollow, “I’ll do anything, just let me go. The keys are in the chest under the window.”
Sath closed his eyes a moment, then opened them and started over for the chest. He opened it, and found a large ring with only two keys. Fumbling with the ring, he moved back to the bed and started to unshackle her legs. Gin stared at the hood.
“Please, remove that hood, I wish to see your face.”
“Nay, wood elf, I cannot,” Sath said. He couldn’t run the risk that she might botch the plan if she knew who he was and who was with him in the Keep. Gin was just as likely to run out ahead of him and get herself in trouble as she was to agree to stay there in order to ensure the safety of the rest of the group.
He released her legs and then moved up to unlock the cuffs at her wrists. After the first one was free, Gin reached up quickly for his hood. Hating himself for doing it, Sath grabbed her wrist before she could knock back the hood, knowing that he was pressing on the wound left there by the shackles. She yelped. The giant cat released her other hand from the shackles, then shoved her backward. “Stay here and stay quiet,” he said. Sath crossed the room to the door and stuck his head, still hooded, out in the hall.
Gin saw her chance. Silently she slid out of the bed and crept across the floor to the pile of armor. Her sword was next to the pile, and she quickly snatched it up and ran at the hooded figure. Her melee skills were lacking, however, and her blade sliced through the side of the robe. The tip of it did graze Sath’s side, however, and he roared in pain. As he spun around to face her, his hood fell back.
Gin dropped the sword with a clatter onto the stone floor. “You?” she said in disbelief. Her voice was barely a whisper and he could not tell if she was afraid to see him or not. “Am I…dreaming…are you real, Sath?”
“Aye, Gin, now get behind me and keep quiet,” he said as gently and quietly as he could.
“You’ve got to get out of here, he’ll kill you Sath!” Gin hissed. “Here, I’ll port us both out so that you’re safe, and then...”
“You’ll do no such thing,” Sath said. “Others of the Fabled Ones are downstairs, Hack and Elys, Tee and Gaelin, and we’ve got to go help them.”
“Did you bring them all here?” Gin asked eyes wide.
“Aye, couldn’t have gotten in here without them,” Sath replied. “Ailreden sent us after you, actually,” he added, not yet ready to take any credit for her rescue.
“Then let’s go help them!” Gin shouted as she darted past Sath into the hallway. Sath cursed himself under his breath for setting her free at all, and then followed her down the stairs.
The steady stream of wyverns defending the courtyard had slowed a bit, but the Fabled Ones were starting to show signs of wear and fatigue. Elysiam was doing nothing but healing the group. Gaelin had used most of his magical energy and had to meditate in a safe place before he could be of any help. “Where is that cat?” Elysiam hissed as another wyvern corpse fell at her feet.
“I don’t know, but he’ll be here,” Teeand said. “Sath would never leave us hanging like this on purpose.” The dwarf continued swinging and slashing at the wyverns and other creatures that advanced on them, all under the control of Lord Taanyth.
“Maybe he stopped to kill that twit Dorlagar,” Hac
kort said. The group managed a hollow laugh.
“I’m out of gems,” Gaelin said, “and further, INCOMING!” He moved over behind the warriors as the ghost of a dragonkind warrior ran at him. “I can’t summon him. We are just going to have to wait. Did we know there were spirits in this Keep?” The elder wizard grumbled as he returned to his corner to meditate while the others fought on.
“Come back here!” Sath bellowed as he ran down the stairs after Gin. He had thankfully remembered to pull the hood back up over his head so that he could be mistaken for a wyvern if spotted. “Gin!”
Gin continued down the stairs and out into the courtyard. She spotted the Fabled Ones across the drawbridge, engaged in battle back toward the front gates of the Keep. They were separated from each other, and each had an attacker advancing. Stopping in the doorway, Gin began casting healing spells on each of them in turn without alerting the enemies to her presence. Sath had almost caught up to her when she darted into the middle of the fighting. Pulling the robe off, Sath flung it to the ground before chasing after her.
“Ginny!” Hackort glanced over at her between swings at a giant hand that seemed bent on squishing him like an insect. “Hi! Now…oof! Get out of here! We’re...” he ducked as the hand swatted at him, “fine!”
“Elys, can you draw their attention with magic for a moment?” Gin shouted.
“Can’t, got to keep fighting,” the other druid shouted back. “Just get out of here, Gin!” She continued swinging at the wyvern that was on her. Gin swore under her breath and started running around, smacking the different monsters as she passed in the hopes they would chase her. Some of them followed her, but most were too interested in their prey to notice.
“Gin! STOP!” Sath shouted, though he knew that she was too stubborn to heed his words. He watched her for a moment, his annoyance turning to admiration. He had never seen her be this brave. She darted past him, planting the hilt of her weapon in his chest as she did and knocking him off his feet. She dashed back toward the others, but Sath was ready for her this time and scooped her up as she ran past him. She kicked and struggled, but Sath’s height and strength won out. “You do not have the strength for this, Gin, please…,” he hissed in her ear, grimacing as she hit the spots in between his pieces of armor.
“Get her to a safe place, Sath, we’ll transport out of here as soon as you’re clear,” Elysiam said. Sath nodded and began running for the drawbridge.
Elsewhere, a wyvern knelt before Dorlagar. “I have a message, my lord,” it said, and held out the backpack, now caked over with dried blood. Dorlagar took the bag and opened it. The rancid smell that greeted him nearly turned his stomach.
“It’s a heart. What does this mean?” he asked. The wyvern said nothing and handed Dorlagar the note. Dorlagar’s face paled a bit as he read it. “Insolent cat,” he growled. “I’ll lay out his hide on the floor in front of my fireplace.” He looked up suddenly, noticing that the wyvern was still there. “Do you require a reply?” he asked curtly.
“Nay my lord...but it seems that we are under attack,” the creature replied. “One of our brethren...a runt, it seems, for he was quite short... ran through the halls sounding the alarm. Most of our numbers are engaged in battle between the courtyard and the drawbridge.”
“No!” Dorlagar pushed past the wyvern and out the door, certain that the “runt” was Sath. He flew down the hall, the sounds of battle and death growing louder as he ran. He finally came out onto the parapet above the drawbridge. He could see a battle to the right, with a small group of adventurers clearly outnumbered. He smiled, but the smile faded when he saw a giant cat running across the drawbridge with Gin thrown over his shoulder. “No!” he screamed, and jumped off the parapet into the moat. Quickly swimming to land, he barked orders as he ran. “Stop them! Kill the Qatu! Bring me the wood elf!”
Sath skidded to a stop, replacing Gin on the ground but keeping his arm firmly around her neck. “This wood elf is not yours to have, Dorlagar,” he said, his voice booming across the front of the castle. As Dorlagar stopped in front of Sath and Gin, Sath inclined his head slightly and whispered in Gin’s ear. “Follow my lead, Gin. No matter what. I will not hurt you if I can avoid it, do you understand me?” Gin nodded slightly.
“Hand her over, cat,” Dorlagar demanded. “No need to die over this. She was mine, she is mine again, and if you give her to me my master Lord Taanyth will let you leave alive!”
Sath beamed an evil smile at Dorlagar as he flexed his hand that was wearing clawed armor. The blades glinted in the sun as Sath deliberately wrapped that hand around Gin’s neck and jaw.
She gasped, but held very still. Dorlagar stopped and stared. Sath drummed one finger lightly against Gin’s face, simultaneously enjoying the look of horror on Dorlagar’s face and fighting the revulsion at what he was about to do. If I can get her and the others out of here, I will worry about their forgiveness then, he thought.
“Let her go, Sathlir,” Dorlagar hissed, not daring to move.
“Hmmm, no, I don’t think so,” Sath said. “I used to make a good living killing druids just like her as you well know...got quite good at it, as a matter of fact.” He took a deep breath and drew the bladed finger down the side of Gin’s face, leaving a tiny trail of blood. Gin cried out and Dorlagar roared.
“Final warning, cat!” Dorlagar screamed at him as he drew his blade. Sath merely smiled at him and tightened his grip on Gin’s throat. This was going exactly as he had hoped. Dorlagar would lunge at him, he would toss Gin to safety to run to meet the others at the entrance, and he would hold Dorlagar’s heart in his giant hand, squeezing the last drop of blood from it. However, Dorlagar did not lunge. “You see, my Blueberry, how he treats you? You are a snack to him, not an equal! I would never hurt you like that, never!” Though bellowing, Dorlagar stood fast, his giant blade aimed at Sath’s head. His eyes glowed red as strands of his gray hair, still wet from his swim in the moat, stuck to his forehead and cheeks.
“Ah, you’ve figured me out,” Sath replied, barely able to form the words. “Tis none of your concern now, Dorlagar. Go play with your drakes over there.” He took a step backward, hoping that would prompt Dorlagar to move. Dorlagar stood still, just staring. Over Dorlagar’s shoulder, Sath could see the blonde top of Elysiam’s head sticking out into the hallway leading to the drawbridge. Not yet, guys, he thought, but had no way to call out to them without revealing their presence.
“What’s going on out there?” Hackort said, tugging on Elysiam’s leg. The druid turned to him, a harsh expression on her face.
“Could someone put a leash on the gnome here?” she said. “I can barely hear what’s going on as it is!” She inched up a bit and could finally see clearly around the corner. She gasped when she saw Sath holding Gin by the throat. “I think the kitty’s been charmed,” she hissed. “He’s got Gin!”
Hack started to charge forward, but was stopped by Gaelin laying one slender hand on the gnome’s shoulder. “Stay put, Hackort,” Gaelin said. “We have to remain hidden until we get the signal to evacuate. That was Sath’s plan as well.”
Hack peeked around the Elysiam’s legs. “She’s bleeding, Gaelin! This wasn’t part of my plan,” the gnome whined, wiggling free of Gaelin’s grasp and darting out into the hallway. Elysiam grabbed for him but he ducked under her hand as he ran.
“Plan B?” Teeand asked, sighing deeply.
“Aye, and hurry,” Gaelin said. “Elysiam, you hang back for heals yes?”
“As usual,” Elysiam said. The three of them ran after Hackort.
“Never fear, Ginny, your gnome is here!” shouted Hack as he ran up behind Dorlagar.
“Stop, gnome,” Sath said, inwardly pleading with Hackort to back off. This was NOT part of the plan.
“Sath, I know you’re charmed and it’s not your fault, but I can’t let you hurt Ginny,” Hack said. Dorlagar turned slightly and took a swing at the gnome with his sword. Hack dodged the blow. “I can’t let you hurt her ei
ther!” he shouted as he charged on Dorlagar.
“Root Hack, Gin,” Sath whispered. Gin made neither move nor reply. Sath sighed deeply. “Root him. NOW,” he hissed in her ear, tightening his grip on her neck. Biting her lip, Gin recited the Elvish words that caused roots to weave around Hackort’s feet.
“Hey!” the gnome exclaimed.
“Dorlagar is mine, gnome,” Sath barked. “Call your friends and get out of here. You’re not needed anymore.” Hack cocked his head to one side and looked at Sath quizzically.
Suddenly Elysiam smiled. “He’s right, Hack,” she said.
“What?” said the other three in unison.
“We’re not needed anymore. We should leave while we still can,” the druid said, winking surreptitiously at the Qatu. She moved carefully up to Hack and began reciting the words for a spell that would take them to a safe place. Gaelin and Teeand ran up to her just as the four of them disappeared, and Sath could just imagine the tongue lashing that Elysiam would get when they landed.
At least she understands what I am doing, Sath thought. I just hope Gin does. I will not let her become a cold-blooded murderer by killing Dorlagar. I will do it for her.
“Your friends are gone now, Qatu,” Dorlagar said coldly. “Let her go and be done with this game.
“Negative.” Sath tightened his grip on Gin’s throat, and she gasped as the points of his claws pressed into her flesh. Dorlagar winced. “She and I are leaving now.” Sath turned but focused his keen feline hearing behind him so that he would know when Dorlagar was about to attack. Sure enough, as soon as his back was turned Dorlagar charged after him. Sath slung Gin as far as he could out in front of him. “Run, Gin!” he screamed as he swung around to face Dorlagar, weapon drawn.
Gin hit the ground with a thud and slowly got to her knees. She stood unsteadily and turned back around toward Sath and Dorlagar. The human had already cast a deadly spell on the Qatu, and dark clouds of black and red distorted their images. After reciting a spell to heal her wounds, Gin changed her mind suddenly and ducked down at the last moment, interrupting the spell casting. She wanted the wounds to stay until this was done.
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