A/N: This story is set in the second series and in the third book at the part our heroes are going back to the surface in those boats with the piper really annoyed at them in the other boat. When they're in the grey. (Around page 275)
Barda looked curiously around the grey. He'd had a bad feeling ever since they entered the waters. He looked over at Leif and Jasmine who were sitting far apart and avoiding eye contact. They were both hiding secrets from one another. He sighed and looked away: he was sick of them being their normal teenage selves.
'What is that?' Leif said and Barda followed his finger to see a young woman in the distance.
'Pull the boats over.' The piper commanded and the boats swiftly moved to the side and stopped. The woman in the distance didn't notice them as they got shakily out of the boat. The piper stood there for a second and then spoke. 'That woman in the distance, do not go near her. She is nothing but a trap. She baits men into following her into the caves and there they are eaten by the Rabis.'
'What is the Rabis?'Jasmine asked.
'A large eel. That woman is unable to age because of the eels magic-'the piper started but Emlis was eager to finish.
'She was trapped a long time ago and forced to gather food for the eel. The eel captured her and killed all her friends, including her brother.' Emlis said.
'Why would he let her live?' Barda murmured.
'Because of her beauty. He fell in love with her.' Emlis said as quiet as any of them had heard him speak.
'Why does she not just run away?' Jasmine spat. 'If she was smart enough she would do that.'
'She can't.' Emlis said. 'She has a chain around her ankle that when she is wanted the eel pulls it and if she doesn't come, he drags her back. Sometimes you can hear her screams as she gets pulled back.' Emlis added and Barda looked curiously at the way she had wrapped the chain that bound her around a large rock.
'She has twisted her chain around a stone. The eel would be unable to pull her back now.' He said to himself but Leif had heard.
'What happens if she has no kill?' Jasmine asked.
'He imprisons her for one more year.' The piper sad and the sadness crossed her face. 'She is going to be trapped forever.'
'We've killed an eel before.' Barda reassured Leif. Leif knew what he was implying: they could save her.
'We didn't kill the eel it turned back to its human self. We could cut the chain and wrap it around a rock.' Jasmine said.
'The chain is enchanted, if it is cut it will just rejoin it's self. Many men have come down to free her. All have either pulled out or become food.' The piper put in.
'I think we can save her.' Barda said enchanted by her long black hair and green set eyes. She wore a long white dress that covered the chain around her leg and the chain was thin and silver. She was still in her own world.
'You're such a prince charming.' Leif teased and Barda hit him up the back of the head.
'Don't try me.' He warned and pulled a face.
'We could save her but we would need bait, wouldn't we Barda.' Jasmine told him. He was confused by what she said and then he understood: he was going to be the bait.
'That's a good idea. Barda you can go with her but do not tell her of our plans and we will follow and kill the beast when it goes to strike.' Leif said and Barda grunted.
'I really dislike putting my life in the hands of two young hot heads.' He said and the Kins laughed a bit.
'You can take your sword if we don't show up in time.' Jasmine said. Barda grunted and walked across the narrow path and across a small bridge to the woman. The woman looked up at him in shock and her green eyes shone in the darkness of the cave.
'Are you lost?' Barda asked trying to keep his part. She shook her head. 'Why are you down here? Surely you have come to this place for a reason.'
'I have no reason other than I live here.' She said and even Leif was enchanted by her sweet voice.
'It does not seem the place for a young maiden like yourself to be living.' Barda said and the woman laughed a bit and stood up.
'It does not matter.' She said and Barda felt obliged once again to tell her of the great pleasure that is to come. 'You must be tired; walking through these caves would have made you drowsy. Would you like to come and rest at my home?'
'She's good, not even a name.' Leif said and Jasmine who was jealous hit him in the arm. 'You were going to leave us for dead.' He brought up and she blushed a bit.
'She is going to lead him to death and I did have my reasons.' She said in her defence.
'She is quite beautiful.' Leif said after looking at the two. Barda was pretending to decide whether to go or not. Jasmine felt even more jealous now: she was apparently more beautiful and her hair was as shaggy and her clothes were just as dirty. Leif turned to her and saw her face. 'You are pretty to Jasmine.' He said and she looked at him in shock and went bright red. Now she felt silly for such a feeling, what did she car what others thought of her anyway?
'That is a nice offer and I will take you up on it. But-,' he grabbed her arm as she went to walk past. 'What is your name?' she stood there for a second in disbelief, no one had ever asked her name.
'Calista, what is yours?' she asked.
'Barda.' He used his real name because he wanted her to know if he is to get her out of here alive.
A/N: okay done! Please review!
R&R
-Stars-
