Ch 4:
As Ren and Ioz plan out their escape, Bloth is watching Morpho check Tula's pulse. "Ok, Morpho, the wench is knocked out. Now what are you going to do?" "I want to see how her powers work. I can see this by placing this sponge on her head. I believe you told me when she uses her powers it comes from her head." Bloth says yes. But he still doesn't understand.
"Wait, before you place that thing on her head, you and I have to have a little talk. I never agreed for you to use her powers for your master. You want to see how her powers work, that's fine. But that's all you're going to do." Bloth then leaves the cabin. As he is leaving, he calls Mantus over. "I want you to go inside and watch him. I don't trust him. He does work for the Dark Dweller. When he is done seeing how ecomancer's powers work. Tell him to wait. I can't use her against Ren if she is dead." Mantus nods his head and goes inside the cabin. When he walks into the cabin, he sees Morpho placing the sponge on her head. At first nothing happens, but suddenly to his horror the sponge begins to move. She is also moving, as if trying to fight it. Morpho looks up at Mantus, and says, "Are you afraid of my little friend, Cepticus. He is simply making her use her powers. She can't fight it. She may try but it won't work. It will control her thoughts, and make her do as I ask." Mantus is stunned. "Do you wish to watch?" "Yes, do you mind. I'm interested in what you are doing." "You don't like Bloth, do you, Mantus. I could use someone like you. My master would reward you kindly." When Mantus hears this, he smiles. "Can I get back to you on this. I suspect you know that Lord Bloth wants me to watch you. He doesn't trust you. And I have to be honest, neither do I. When you get done seeing how her powers work. Let the girl rest. Lord Bloth wants her alive. If she is dead she is no use to him. He wants to use her against the boy." Morpho smiles. "Of course. I'm done with her at the moment anyway. But I will want to do this again. Next time, she won't fight and I'll be able to get the rest of her ecomantic secrets." He then laughs and takes off the sponge and puts into some yellow - like jelly substance.
After the sponge is put away, Morpho watches Mantus leave the cabin. He then leans down to her and says, "I'm not done with you yet, my dear." He also then leaves the cabin. As he comes out, he sees Bloth. He walks over to him, and says, "Have someone take the girl back to your boat. Don't worry, it will be a while before she wakes. And she won't be able to use her powers for a while. If she tries; she will get dizzy and pass out." Bloth nods his head and calls one of his crew over. "Take the wench back to the Maelstrom." "Yes, Captain." As Bloth watches the large pirate go into the cabin, he looks up into the sky, it's getting dark out. He will get rid of Morpho in the morning. He then watches as his loyal pirate carries Tula out of the cabin. The pirate then throws her over his shoulder and carries her down the ladder. He then puts her in the canoe and paddles back to the Maelstrom.
When he gets back to the Maelstrom, he carries her aboard the ship. He meets Konk when he gets aboard. "I'm taking the wench down to where the two prisoners are." Konk smiles, but when the pirate is about to go inside, he stops him. "Don't put her in the same cell. Put her down the hall. I don't think Bloth wants the boy to know she is here." The fat pirate and Konk go inside the cabin to go down the hall, as they are walking, the pirate asks Konk, "Do you think Bloth will let the creature continue his experiments on the wench?" Konk laughs, and says, "No." "Once we get on our way, he will throw Morpho overboard. He is no longer needed, and I don't think Lord Bloth trusts that creature anyway." Since it is late, Konk assumes the prisoners are asleep. But he is wrong. Niddler is not asleep yet. Konk doesn't notice Niddler opening up one of his eyes, and watching him and the pirate carry Tula down the corridor.
"Ren, wake up. Tula's here." When Ren hears this, he immediately wakes up. "Did you see her?" "Yeah, Konk and a large guard just carried her down the hall. She looks like she's sleeping." "I don't like this." As Ren then wakes up Ioz, but as he does so Niddler hears the two pirates coming back. "Ren, they're coming back." "Pretend you're asleep, Niddler. When they're gone, I'll wake up Ioz again." Niddler nods his head and pretends to sleep. When Konk and the guard are gone and out of the cabin, Ren again tries to wake up Ioz. Finally Ioz's eyes begin to open. "We have to move now, Ioz. They brought Tula back. We have to get her and us out of here. And we have to get the guard with the key. Once we knock him out, we will get the key, and go find Tula." They then begin to make their plan of escape. As they are thinking, Ioz suddenly points to his head, "I have an idea, Ren. I'll call Konk back into the cell. You ask him some stupid questions. While you're distracting him, I'll put my legs around him. He will probably have the keys. Once we are free, we'll chain Konk to the wall, and gag him to make sure he doesn't call for help." "But what about the guards, won't they notice Konk missing?" asks Ren. "Nah," says Ioz. Ren then calls Konk into the room. When Konk comes in, he is eating a piece of chicken. "You interrupt Konk's dinner. What do you want?" "Where's Tula? Has Bloth back her to the Maelstrom?" When Konk hears this, he drops his chicken, and says, "Where did you hear that, you where asleep when we brought her in here." Ren then looks at Ioz as if to give him a signal. Ioz then grabs Konk by the neck with his legs. "Ok, piglet, you're going to have us that key, or am I going to have to break your neck?" When Konk hears this, he hands Ren the key. Ren then unlocks the chain, while Ioz holds Konk.
After Ren releases Niddler from the cage, he gets Ioz to let Konk go. Niddler then unlocks Ioz's chains. As Ioz is rubbing his wrist, he sees Ren grab Konk by the collar, and says, ""Ok, Konk, where is Tula?" Konk says nothing. "If you don't tell me, I'll have Ioz chain you up and let Niddler poke out your eyes." When Konk hears this, he gulps, and points down the hall. "She is two doors down. Now you let Konk go, right?" "Wrong." He then chains Konk up, while Niddler and Ioz watch the door. "You won't go away," says Konk. "Oh, yes, we will," says Ren. "See ya later, piglet," Ioz chuckles. Then Ren, along with Ioz and Niddler leave the room, and go search for Tula. They then start looking through all the rooms, searching for Tula, when Ren sees her lying in the cell. He unlocks the doors and rushes to her side. "Tula, wake up!" No response. Niddler tries to tickler her with his wings, nothing. Ren is about to try something else, when they hear voices. It was Ioz. "We don't have time, Ren, we need to get out of here. Grab Tula and let's go. When we get back to the Wraith, we'll try to wake her up." Ren doesn't like this, but agrees. They then close the door, and hide. The voices are getting louder.
"Where is that piglet Konk? Mantus, I told you not to leave him in charge." Ren whispered to Ioz, "It's Bloth." "Ren..." but he never finishes his sentence, because Ren puts his hand over Ioz's mouth. He then says to Ioz, "Be quiet, Ioz! Konk's bound to hear Bloth's calling him, so he will probably want to get his his attention." "We should have gagged him," says Ioz. "Never mind about that. When Bloth and Mantus go to investigate, we'll sneak behind them and lock the door behind them." The plan sounds good to Niddler, but Ioz is shaking his head, he then looks at Ren and says, "Ren, Bloth is very strong. He could easily kick open the cell door." "Don't worry, I have that part covered, too. As you're holding the door closed, I'll put my sword against the lock of the door so it braces shut." "But, Ren, you'll need your sword, anyway, when we get back on deck," says Niddler. "Niddler, I can't use my sword since I will be the one carrying Tula. Unless Ioz wants to do it." Ioz grunts, "Alright." They then wait for Bloth and Mantus to arrive. And they don't wait long, because a short time later, they can hear Bloth and Mantus coming down the corridor. And Bloth is mad too. He doesn't like it when he finds out that Mantus let Konk be in charge of the cells. Konk can hear them too. He wants to get out of his chains, but he is afraid that if he calls for help, Lord Bloth will kill him when he is free. But he calls for help anyway, "Lord Bloth, get me out!" "Konk! You fool! Mantus, get him out of there." "Yes, Lord Bloth," says Mantus. They then go inside the cell.
As Mantus and Bloth go inside the cell, Ioz rushes to the door, closing it shut. "Now, Ren!" Ren then puts Tula down, and places Ioz's sword into the lock of the door, bracing it shut. He then picks up Tula and goes down the corridor. As they are walking down the corridor they can hear Bloth yelling, "I'll get you, boy! You will pay for this!"
When they get to the door, they see a couple crewmen standing outside. "Ioz, we need someone to distract those guards. Someone has to go out there," but Ren didn't know whom to pick. He knew he couldn't do it. He then looks at Ioz and then at Niddler. Ren doesn't know if he can ask Niddler. Maybe Ioz could do it. He is about to ask Ioz to distract the guards, when Niddler touches his arm and says, "I'll distract the guards, Ren, while you and Ioz escape. When you see them chase me, you and Ioz get one of the escape boats. I'll meet you at the Wraith later on." Ren and Ioz are both surprised by this.
"Niddler, I don't understand. I appreciate what you're doing, but why?" "Ren, I like Tula, too." Niddler then flies out onto the deck yelling at the guards. They wait a couple minutes, and then Ioz goes outside. "Ren, I'll see if the coast is clear. When I think it's safe I'll wave to you." "Ok, Ioz." He then waits for Ioz to make his move. Ioz then goes outside, looks around then waves to Ren to come out.
As they escape to the lifeboats, they can hear Niddler yelling at the pirates; making them chase him. They can't help but laugh when they hear what he is saying. "You, Dartha Eels couldn't find a treasure if it snuck on up you and bit you!" When they get to the lifeboat, Ioz tells Ren that he will go first. Ren agrees. After Ioz goes down to the boat, he calls to Ren and says, "Ren hand Tula down to me." Ren nods, and says, "Ioz, be careful, because her being unconscious, she's dead weight." He agrees. Ren then hands her down to him, then he comes down the ladder. They then began to paddle back to the Wraith. When they get back to the Wraith, Ioz climbs up the ladder, and gets on deck. Ren follows, with Tula on his shoulder. When he gets on the top, Ioz takes Tula off Ren's shoulders, so Ren can get on the deck. He then tells Ioz to keep an eye out for Niddler. He then goes inside the cabin, carrying Tula in his arms. Ren then places her on the small bed inside the cabin, carrying Tula in his arms. Ren then places her on the small bed inside the cabin, gets a seat and sits down next to her. "What did Bloth and that creature Morpho do to her?" Ren is still watching Tula, when Ioz comes into the cabin. "Ren, Niddler has returned. We should get back to Octopon. Maybe Jenna can get a doctor to look at her." When Ren hears this, he looks up at Ioz, and says, "Maybe you're right. I'll be right there." He then bends down and kisses Tula on her forehead and leaves the cabin.