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“What do you mean they never left?” I barked the question while I paced the floor of my room. The others would be expecting us back soon, but I was having trouble believing any of what she had said.
“The ladies never left. The travel date kept being postponed, then it was like everyone forgot about it all together. King Graeme proclaimed an end to the war and called all the soldiers home. He even sent out an invitation for Bruralian soldiers to come to Castle Hill to celebrate.”
It was like he was inviting the wolves right to our doorsteps.
I shook my head as I tried to make sense of everything that had happened. The agreement regarding the ladies hadn’t been completed, why would the King announce the war was over? There had to be more going on.
“Are you sure Captain Rekker wasn’t in that camp?” I asked Will again.
“After he bit me I never saw him again, but Arrow you’re missing something important.” Will answered, looking at me confusedly.
“What?” Everything that Brex had revealed was beyond terrible.
“The King recalled the soldiers home. That means Uncle Jasiro is home.” My heart stuttered in my chest at Will’s words.
“I’ve seen him, Arrow.” Brex assured me and tears gathered in my eyes.
My father was home.
“Oh Maiden.” I croaked ready to forget everything and run to him, but he wouldn’t be impressed if I did that.
“He knows some things are not right here. Epione said if you return, you should go see her, and she’ll get him for you,” Brex said, and I was heading for the door before she finished speaking.
“Arrow, we can meet him, yet we need to go tell the others what happened.” Will said, rising from the bed to grab my hand.
“We need him, Will. He’ll probably know more and can advise us on the best course of action. If he’s here we need to get to him.” I also really wanted to see him.
I hadn’t seen my father in three years. The young girl in me couldn’t wait to be wrapped up in his arms. He’d make all the monsters go away. This burden of people relying on me would cease, and I’d be free to be myself again, running through the woods barefoot shooting arrows from a bow that I wouldn’t be judged for. My father encouraged me to be myself, always had, always would.
“I think that’s a good idea. He’d know way more than me.” Brex agreed. She was a force, but I’d never known her not to sniff out every detail. Still, fresh eyes would certainly help, and after I filled him in on my side of things, he’d know exactly what to do.
Will sighed but followed us as we carefully made our way through the castle. We hid from one servant and three different guards which only cemented the fact that something was dreadfully wrong here.
Epione’s door was slightly ajar, and I wouldn’t put it past the old woman to be expecting us. I’d only known her a short time, but she had to be more than simply human. Maybe it was a long-lived life’s intuition, but I got the feeling it was more.
I paused before opening the door, wondering where that thought had come from. I wasn’t sure. I just knew that she was more, I just had no idea what. It was something I'd definitely need to ask her.
“Arrow, quickly.” Brex whispered from beside me looking over her shoulder at the passageway behind us.
Thinking someone was coming, I pushed the door open completely missing Will’s movement as he lunged for me. I turned to see what had happened when Brex pushed me through the doorway. I stumbled as arms grabbed me in an iron grip. Before I could fight or even scream, a cloth covered hand pressed over my mouth and nose. I breathed in the scent of rotting pumpkins before the edges of my vision grew foggy then everything went black.
Drip. Drip. Drip.
The sound woke me, grating on my ears. It wasn’t the rush of water over stones like I was used to. This was different. A lonely echo. The kind that only caves and dungeons could produce.
I opened my eyes but all I saw was blackness. Never-ending. My first instinct was to panic, but the splitting pain in my head prevented me from thinking beyond it.
Taking stock, slowly, I found that everything was working with no obvious injuries except for my head. I rolled to my side and the splitting pain turned excruciating. Breathing deeply, I decided that figuring out where I was would have to wait until the pain dulled.
I slipped into a doze hoping the stillness would help. Thoughts were sluggish but eventually they began to clear from the painful fog. Memories surfaced and the first thing that popped into my mind was Einri’s silver eyes watching me from the body of a wolf.
A clang jerked me to awareness. The pain in my skull was noticeably better but not completely gone. The darkness had lightened. I could make out the cave I was in, but the metal bars and chains told me where I really was.
The passage in front of my cell was lightening rapidly but thankfully it wasn’t bright enough to cause my head anymore pain. I sat up, not comfortably, to see my possible captor laying on the floor. I leaned against the stone wall letting it bear my weight as I started to make out footsteps.
I steeled myself, mentally preparing myself for whatever may come next. Pain and torture seemed the obvious choice, but since I had no idea why I was here, talking would be first.
Two men came into view dragging another and I recognized the features of an obviously unconscious Little John. I bit my tongue to stop my reaction to call out. Another pair of soldiers appeared dragging the probe and bleeding body of Tuck. I gasped then covered my mouth to stop any further sound and prayed silently to the Moon Maiden, asking for protection for my friend.
