Turning the bend, at the bottom of the stairs, she spotted the door she needed with two elves sitting on the outside. One leaned his chair against the wall. The other leaned forward, elbows resting on his legs. The worst guards ever.
Maezy knew if she took one down, the other would be alerted immediately and shout the alarm. Their escape would be hindered. She couldn’t fight off those who would come running and stay under the radar. They wouldn’t make it out. She had to go with Plan B.
Sighing, Maezy replaced her sword and crept up on the one leaning backward. Although bashing a few heads would be nice right about then, she knew using her sword or force wouldn’t help the situation. Feeling disappointed, Maezy began the next phase.
Sinking low, balancing on the balls of her feet, Maezy grabbed one leg and jerked it out from under the elf. His language as he crashed to the ground was inappropriate.
Shaking her head, she stepped back to wait out the argument.
“Are you drunk?” The one leaning forward laughed at his friend’s repeated expletives.
“I don’t get drunk! This chair—” He paused in his tirade. “Wait, do you feel it?”
Elves were sensitive to changes in the atmosphere, more so than humans. Maezy never got away with being around them for long in her realm walk state before they caught onto her presence. Even if they couldn’t see her, this could get tricky.
“Yes, yes, I do,” Guard Two agreed.
Both stood looking around. Their blue eyes grazed her but never stayed for long.
“What do we do?” Guard One peered over her shoulder.
“We stay here and maintain the task,” One said.
“What if someone’s just around the corner? King Ingvar will be displeased if we don’t investigate,” Two advised.
“Go investigate then. I’ll stand guard here.” Guard One nodded in Maezy’s direction.
“I will. Be ready.”
Guard One nodded again as Guard Two walked off, passing close to her arm.
Maezy shook her head. Too easy.
Sword out, she had Guard One bashed on the head and on the ground just after Guard Two disappeared around the bend. Next, she rushed forward, before he could turn back, and came at the second guard with raised sword. The hilt crashed into the back of his head, and he went down. Dragging his body into a cell, she closed the door and locked it with the keys from his belt.
Back to the first guard, Maezy dragged him into another cell, locking the door behind her. Finally, she was able to open the door holding Agathon and Arna.
“You came back.” Arna threw her arms around Maezy’s neck, knocking the breath out of her.
“I said I would,” she choked around the arms squeezing her airway.
“I thought you lied.”
“Understandable.” Maezy shrugged again as Arna took a step back. Now, I’m going to try a spell Brandalfr gave me to get your bonds off. He said it might not work, but we can give it a try.”
Agathon nodded and held out her wrists. Maezy took a deep breath and pictured the words in her mind as Brandalfr had spoken them to her. Chanting them over the bonds, she grinned wide when they sparked and dropped to the floor.
Smiling, Agathon rubbed her wrists. “Thank you.”
Maezy nodded. “Here.” She handed Agathon a knife from her right boot.
Agathon positioned it in her hand and nodded.
“Let’s go.” Maezy led them back up the hall and blew out the candles as they went.
They reached the end of the hallway where stairs led up and out. Deep breath, Maezy took them up in haste. At the top, a door blocked their exit. Holding up a hand, Maezy shifted into her invisible state and opened the door inch by inch.
Surprised, she found the area outside the door clear. Eyes twitching back and forth, she whispered, “All clear,” and they exited.
Before they’d gone five steps, voices came from the left, around another corner. Glancing to the right, Maezy opened another door and motioned the women inside before closing it and becoming invisible again.
“He said to make sure they are well fed.” A guard advanced around the corner followed by another. Both held trays filled with fruits, cheeses, and breads.
“I still think you went overboard. There’s enough here to stuff an army,” the second one whined.
“Stop complaining. Get the door.”
“Wait,” the second one instructed.
Both paused, sensing her presence, and probably the women as well.
“Someone’s here,” the first realized.
“Hello?” the second called. “Ollindar? Aron?”
No answer.
“Maybe we’re picking up on the women below stairs.”
“Perhaps,” the second agreed.
They turned back to the door. The second flicked it open with a nod.
Maezy waited until the first steps were taken. Then, with a shove, she sent both elves flying into the air and tumbling down the steps. Their cries were loud, and the clang of dishes echoed throughout the room. Without waiting, she slammed the door and rushed to the room where Agathon and Arna waited.
“We have to go. Now!” she urged them, before turning and running up the hallway to the right.
Hoping it was less occupied, she ran as fast as she could. Arna on her heels, and Agathon bringing up the rear. All three veered right again. Taking a chance, Maezy ushered them into a room off the right. The left was lined windows.
Voices shouted orders and feet pounded up the hall. Invisible, Maezy flattened herself against the wall. She held her breath and waited.
“This way!” one shouted.
Five elves, varying shades of hair, flashing swords and arrows cocked in bows appeared at the end of the hallway and made their way in her direction.
Waiting until they were in front of her, unaware of her presence yet, she threw her body to the floor. Feeling the kick of their feet as they made contact with her shoulder, arm, hip, and leg, Maezy waited until they tripped over her and each other before standing and revealing herself.
“There!”
“A girl!”
“Get her!”
Maezy allowed them to see her as she ran down the hallway in the same direction they’d come. Once she got to the end, she disappeared again.
She flattened herself against another wall. Sinking into the stone once again, Maezy watched as they raced right in front of her. Not one stopped as they dashed by.
Sighing, she sprinted back up the hall, and stopped at the door where she rushed Agathon and Arna inside. Opening the door, she came face to face with a guard.
“Lose something?” he sneered.
9
Crushing her palm against his nose, Maezy brought her knee up to his middle, and then shoved him to the floor.
“Agathon? Arna?”
“Took you long enough!” Agathon jumped over the guard right after Maezy slammed her sword hilt against his head. Arna followed.
“Couldn’t you two handle one guard?” Maezy felt exasperated.
“We were taken by surprise. I thought it was you, and when he opened the door, he had me on the floor and the knife out of my hand before I knew it,” Agathon explained.
Nodding, Maezy sighed.
“I hope we make it out of this alive.” Arna frowned at Maezy.
“I’m doing my best.” Rolling her eyes, she shifted fully into the room.
“He took your dagger. In his belt,” Agathon told her, before she could scurry back up the hallway.
Bending, Maezy stole his sword and handed it to Agathon, then checked his belt for her dagger, which she handed to Arna.
“Let’s go!” Dashing back up the hall, Maezy held up a fist for them to pause.
She looked around the corner. No one there. Taking a left, they headed down a new hall. Windows still to the left, doors still on the right, they continued on at a slower pace.
“We need to be careful. They must know I'm here by now.”
N
ods all around, Maezy tried to search for an exit. Looking at the windows, she decided on a plan. “We can’t keep going blind. We have to get out of here. Can you climb?”
“Yes,” they both said.
Opening the latch of the nearest window, Maezy looked out and down. The area stood above a garden. It was clear. No guards in sight or coming from a corner.
Heart beating fast, she climbed on the ledge and hoisted herself over. Holding onto the rough stone, feet feeling for a crevice, Maezy began her descent. Without a word, Arna clambered out behind her, and Agathon stepped out last.
Slipping, foot missing the next cranny, Maezy slammed back into the stone wall. Sharp edges dug into her. Gasping, Arna paused above her. “Are you alright?” the girl whispered.
“Yessss,” Maezy hissed and gulped in a breath. “Hold on.”
Readjusting her hands, she attempted to gain her foothold once more. With a bit of work, stretching her leg out to the right a bit, she was able to secure a hold and continue her downward climb. An eternity later, she dropped to the ground. Arna and Agathon descended right behind her.
Unsure how to proceed, Maezy gestured them to the left. It looked as though a forest would be nearer to that side. They could hide in the trees until they found the path out. Maezy hoped Agathon would be able to help her find it.
Ignoring the pain in her hip and leg, she guided them to the side of the house. From there, they were in the woods. Several feet in, Maezy couldn’t believe they had pulled it off.
“I can’t believe we got away,” she gasped.
“I don’t think your father expected you to enact a rescue.” Agathon smiled for the first time.
Returning the smile, Maezy looked around. Nothing but green.
“Thank you for saving us.” Arna wrapped her arms around Maezy.
Returning the hug, she smiled at Agathon over the young girl’s head. Releasing her, they all took a look around. No one seemed to be following them.
“Do you know how to get us out?” Maezy faced the older woman and questioned.
“I think I can find a path. My question is, where do we go? Your father knows where we live. We can’t show up where my son is. That would put him in jeopardy. Do you have a suggestion?” Agathon returned.
Maezy closed her eyes to think. Where would they be safe?
At that moment, a flash of nausea rumbled through her. A sharp pain exploded in her head. Screaming ripped through the air. Knowing it was her own, but powerless to stop the pain, Maezy barely heard Agathon and Arna over the pain.
“What’s the matter?”
“What’s going on? Are you okay?”
The questions faded along with Maezy’s surroundings. The green surrounding her turned black. She whimpered. Her stomach wrenched again, and she heaved.
“Stop it!” Her mother’s voice. “Stop it! I’ll tell you how to wake her up. Just stop hurting her!”
Through the pitch black, Maezy heard her mother’s voice, and then two familiar tones joined hers.
“It’s not working! I told you it wouldn’t!” It was Brandalfr.
“You may stop, Brandalfr. Tell us, Maleficent. What do we need to do to wake up my daughter?”
“You won't be able to wake her. Ever,” Maleficent enunciated coldly.
Fear twisted its way through the dark, wrapped fingers around her heart and mouth. No longer screaming, she couldn’t seem to catch her breath. Her mother’s words chilled her. Because she knew they were true.
“Nothing you do will wake her, and if you kill me, you’ll never have a chance. This boy’s powers are not enough to wake her. Magic won’t help,” her mother continued.
“Tell me, witch!” he screamed.
“No.” The word echoed in the black, trying to pull her back to King Ingvar’s room. Refusing to return, Maezy mentally yanked herself from the dark.
Leaving behind the black nothing, she heard mother’s final words, “She’ll remain dead until I decide otherwise. Congratulations, Ingvar. You lose.”
10
“Maezy?!”
“Maezy?!”
Voices screamed in her ear.
Flinching, Maezy opened her eyes.
“What happened?” Brandalfr’s mother stared down at her.
“Occupational hazard,” she whispered.
Agathon tilted her head and tightened her lips – just like her own mother’s. Blinking the image away, she tried to focus on what Arna was saying.
“We thought you were going to disappear again! You started screaming and fading in and out. It was creepy to watch. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. They’re trying to break through. The king wants me to wake up. We’re running out of time. Where can we go where he won’t find you?” Maezy explained.
“What about you?” Agathon questioned.
“I’ll have to return at some point. He has my mother.”
Agathon nodded. “Will you help my boy still?”
“Of course.”
Arna wrapped an arm around her and helped her to her feet. “I know where we can go,” she whispered.
“Where?” Maezy asked as Agathon stared at her daughter.
Hesitating, Arna looked to the ground. “We can go to father’s sister’s house.”
Agathon shook her head even though she didn’t say a word.
Worried, Maezy looked Arna in the eye and asked, “Is it a safe place?”
“Yes. It would be safe. You know it would be, mother.”
“Arna…” Agathon shook her head.
“Where is your aunt’s house?” Maezy wanted to know.
Deep breath, “Earth Realm.”
“Oh.” Maezy’s wide eyes found Agathon’s. “Is she right? Would it be safe?”
“Yes,” Agathon sighed. “She’s human. Maggie didn’t inherit the warlock or witch blood. Her mother was human. In fact, she’s my husband’s half-sister.”
“Alright then. We can go there. As long as it will be safe?” Maezy looked between the two.
“It will. I promise,” Agathon agreed.
Sensing there was more to the story, and she wasn’t going to hear it, Maezy just nodded and took a deep breath. “We need to get out of here.”
The wind stilled on the leaves, and an eerie calm quieted the forest. Knowing it didn’t bode well, Maezy turned her gaze on Agathon. “Where’s a path?”
“Here!” The shift and shimmer of the door appeared against a large tree trunk. Agathon turned the knob, glanced back and signaled them forward. “Hurry!”
Without being asked twice, Maezy held onto Arna’s hand and jumped through the door behind Agathon.
Jerked backward, Maezy landed half in and out of the doorway. Hands pulled at her clothes and hair. Hands yanked on her legs and feet. Being stretched both ways, Maezy looked right up into the eyes of another guard. This one appeared to be very angry. Recognizing him as the guard she’d kneed moments before, she had a feeling he held some pent-up aggression.
Arm pulled back, she punched him in his broken, bloody nose. He didn’t look as beautiful and ethereal with sticky blood everywhere. The purple face and angry grimace made him quite frightening.
Popping him in the nose a second time released both a furious howl and more blood. Some of which dropped onto her forehead and cheek. Shuddering at the sight, Maezy grabbed his leg and yanked.
Not staying to see if others showed up to take his place, Maezy grabbed the doorway and wrenched her body through the opening. Inside, she heard the portal close behind her. That would keep him out for a while. He wouldn’t know they’re destination.
“This way,” Agathon heaved her to her feet in the dark. “Think of going to Maggie’s house in Independence, Missouri. Hold my hand and don’t let go!”
“Of course.”
“Arna, grab my hand,” her mother commanded.
Both held onto Agathon's hands. Neither let go, and for a moment, Maezy was thrilled not to be in charge. Keeping her thoughts focused on Maggie’s hou
se in Independence, Missouri – wherever that was, Maezy squeezed Agathon’s hand.
It was comforting when she squeezed back.
Surrounded by black, foggy nothingness, Maezy felt a bit at home. Hopefully, her father wouldn’t try waking her again. She didn’t want any cause to lose Agathon or let go of her hand. They were almost to their destination. So close to being safe and sound.
Maggie’s house. Maggie’s house. Maggie's house. Independence, Missouri. Independence, Missouri. Independence, Missouri.
She repeated it over and over, Agathon’s warm hand in hers. Soon the path began to clear. The black faded just as it did when she entered a realm walk. Trees appeared all around them. Bright blue sky. Tweeting birds. Sunbeams.
Heat.
Wet heat.
Sticky heat.
“Does Maggie live in Hades?” Maezy wanted to know. The humidity was overwhelming. A slap in the face.
Laughter. “No, she doesn’t. This is Independence, Missouri. Her home is through these woods. She’ll have air on inside. We might as well head that way. Since we made it this far,” Agathon explained.
“Will she welcome you?”
“Yes. I’m not her favorite person, but she won’t leave us without shelter.” Agathon started forward, letting go of Maezy’s hand and holding onto Arna’s.
“Are you sure?” Maezy felt sad at the release and shook her fingers out.
“Yes. I am. Her manners won’t allow her to do anything less.”
They walked through the trees, coming to a clearing five feet ahead and bursting through to find a large white house in front of them.
“White. How original,” Maezy remarked looking at the two story house. All the walls, minus balconies and a plethora of windows, made her nervous. “Are you certain this will be safe?”
“Yes. Positive.” The clipped tone told Maezy all she needed to know.
The Four Tales Page 72