Chapter 4 – The Rescue
"This is Palon. He is my best informative on what is happening in Zaibach." Dryden was introducing a young, short, thin man, with dusty blond hair. He was wearing the plain brown clothes of a farmer. The others were sitting around a table with the remainder of breakfast in front of them.
Van looked accusingly at Dryden. "What kind of informative?"
"A very good one, I assure you." Dryden said with a smile. Van and the others looked over at Millerna. She mouthed the word spy.
"Anyways, Palon has been reporting some…well, I'll let you tell them." Dryden told Palon as he sat down.
"I've been keeping a close eye on all the activity in the Zaibach area for the last couple of years, ever since the city was destroyed and now lies in ruins. For the most part, it's full of criminals and the homeless, but I've been noticing a steady flow of people and supplies going into the ruined capital. This has been going on for about the last two/three years. Unfortunately, I can't tell you what exactly is happening, because I don't know. What I do know is that there are people in there that are being very careful about everything they do. Something big is going on, but my contacts in the city are trying to locate and penetrate their base, if there is a base that is."
"So what are you suggesting we should do?" Allen asked.
"If you think your friend was captured and is being held there, I suggest an immediate strike, a stealth strike, we get in, find your friend, and get out."
Van shot out of his seat. "When do we leave?"
"Right now. We take a ship to the border and then go the rest of the way by horseback. We can be there by nightfall."
"I'm coming too." Allen said standing up. He smiled at Van and Van smiled back, thanking him for his support.
"Me too! I can help! Let me come, Lord Van!" Merle cried.
"I don't think that would be a good idea Merle. You can be very sneaky and quiet, but you can't use a sword." As Merle was about to object, Palon spoke up.
"I have to agree with King Van, Lady Merle. It will be easier for just the three of us to sneak in."
"Please Merle." Van pleaded.
"Oh, all right! I'll wait here for you to return. Just bring back Hitomi." She said sitting back down.
"Well, what are we waiting for, let's go!" Van said excitedly. As they started to leave, Van remembered something and waited for Dryden.
"Hey Dryden, just how extensive are your 'informatives'?" He asked.
"It wouldn't be a good 'informative' network if I didn't have them scattered allv over the place."
"Does that mean there are some in Fanelia?"
"Yep, but we can talk about that when you get back if you want. You really should get going."
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Hitomi woke up to the nice sensation of a cool cloth on her head. She stirred and opened her eyes. Right away she was aware of how sick she was. She was having trouble breathing, her head was hot, and she felt dizzy as soon as she tried to sit up. She quickly gave up and put her head back down. She noticed she was in another strange room. It wasn't the cell she used to be in, but a warm room. She was lying in a bed, covered in blankets. She could hear a crackling fire nearby. She also heard a shuffling noise.
"Hello? Is someone there?" Hitomi weakly called out. A person stepped out of the shadows and came over to where Hitomi was resting. The person was a young girl, about Hitomi's age, and she was wearing a ratty old dress and had dirty, black hair. She seemed very nervous and avoided eye contact with Hitomi. She took the cloth off Hitomi's forehead, dipped it into a bucket, and reapplied it.
"My name is Hitomi. What's yours?" The girl appeared puzzled and looked over and studied Hitomi. She was suspicious of Hitomi. She looked into Hitomi's green eyes and saw only warmth.
"Lola." She said in a quiet voice. She started to walk away, but she felt someone grab her wrist. She turned around to see that the sick girl and reached out and taken it.
"Thank you for your kindness, Lola." Hitomi said with a smile. Hitomi released Lola's hand as she began to violently shiver. Lola brought her another blanket and forced Hitomi to drink some water with a little medicine in it. She felt Hitomi's face and it was burning up. She re-dipped the cloth and began to wash Hitomi's face. Eventually, the shivering passed and Hitomi relaxed.
Just then, the door at the far end of the room was thrown open, causing a loud noise that startled Lola. Hitomi was just conscious enough to have the sense to look like she was out like a light. She heard about three people enter the room.
"You there." Hitomi heard Dilandau say. "What's her condition?"
Lola carefully inched her way to the back of the room. Hitomi could hear the fear in her voice. "She is still very ill, master. The fever has not yet peaked."
"As she wakened yet?" Lola looked over at Hitomi and bit her lip.
"No master, she just stirs in her sleep."
"It's just like her to ruin everything! She can't die now! I need her for later!" He vented. Then he pointed a finger at Lola. "It's your job slave to see to it that she gets better. If she dies, you die."
"Y…yes master." Lola whimpered. Dilandau grunted and marched out with his men. Hitomi heard the door close and lock. Hitomi opened her eyes and saw Lola still cowering in the corner, too scared to move. She had obviously been through some hard and terrible times. Hitomi wished that there were something she could do. As Hitomi was about to say something, a wave of dizziness suddenly hit her and she moaned. She started shivering again. Lola came out from her corner and helped Hitomi drink some more water. Hitomi then fell into sleep again as the fever started to peak. Lola came over and pulled the blanket over Hitomi better and put another cool cloth on her head. She sat and watched as Hitomi's body fought the fever.
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Van, Allen, and Palon were ridding hard through the forest inside Zaibach territory. They kept to the game trails and avoided any little towns or hovels. A few hours ago, the Exes had dropped them off. They had been on the ship for hours and Van had finally managed to get some sleep realizing he would need to be alert and ready to move tonight. Palon suggested they wear commoners hunting clothes, in case they did run in to anyone. They also brought a change of black clothes along that would make it easier to sneak into the city.
Palon lead them through the forest and eventually he called a halt as the sun was setting.
"We'll leave the horses here and carry on the rest of the way by foot once it's dark. Let's get ready. We'll have a few minutes to rest." They dismounted and watered the horses by a small stream. Then they tied them to a tree and got dressed. They all ended up wearing loose, black pants and a black tunic with a hood. Van and Allen carefully hid their swords amongst the folds of their tunics. They sat around and had a quick bite to eat. It felt like forever, but Palon finally decided that it was dark enough to continue.
Palon lead them out of the forest and Van could make out the ruined capital of Zaibach. It was quiet and dark. He could make out little lights moving around the city, maneuvering around fallen buildings and statues. The city had some buildings still standing but it looked like a few had been fixed up. The three of them quietly entered the city. Palon didn't necessarily keep them out of sight, it's just that no one approached them. Every once in a while they would have to duck into an alley as some soldiers walked by. Palon said that must mean things were picking up, them being comfortable enough to walk the streets. Van and Allen recognized the uniforms as the old Zaibach uniforms. Palon lead them into another dark alley and instructed them to wait there while he went out to contact his people. Van and Allen watched as Palon disappeared in to the darkness.
It was dark and the ruined city was silent. Van and Allen rested and waited.
"Hey Van?" Allen whispered.
"Yes?"
"I know it's been over six years now, but I won't feel right unless I say this." Van's eyes widened with curiosity. He pulled his hood off, revealing his mass of unruly dark hair. "I'm your friend and advisor, Van. I want you to be happy and I would never do anything to stand in the way of that. I just want you to know that whatever history Hitomi and I ever had is long over and there is nothing left, in fact there was hardly anything there to begin with. I've seen how you have cared and worried about her all these years and I know how much she means to you." Van was a little surprised at Allen's sudden statement. Allen started to get embarrassed. "Sorry, maybe this was obvious to you already, but I just feel better saying it. I want you to be happy and I'm here to help you in whatever way I can." Van smiled at Allen and walked over a put a supportive hand on his shoulder.
"Thank you, Allen. That means a lot to me." Van and Allen waited for about forty-five minutes until Palon finally returned. He informed them that he had learned the location of 'the base'. He said that the base wasn't a single building, but a series of underground rooms and passageways that connected all over the city. He was told about a building that had an entrance to the underground lair that was the least guarded. Van pulled his hood back over his head and the three of them headed back out in to the night. Palon eventually lead them up a ladder and they continued on by carefully leaping across the tops of buildings. Finally, they stopped.
"There it is." Palon said in a whisper. Van peaked through a hole in the wall to see a nondescript, old building, about three stories high. There were no lights visible from the windows, but Van could make out two guards standing by the front door.
"Is that the only way in?" Allen asked.
"No." Palon answered. There is a back door that isn't guarded, mainly because it's so too hard to access, but I can get us there."
"Wait!" Van spoke up as Palon started to move. "Did you hear anything about a prisoner being held there?"
"No…but someone I talked to said that a bright white column of light did appear somewhere around here."
"Hitomi must be around here then! Give me one minute" Van said as he pulled out the pendant from under his shirt and held it out and concentrated on Hitomi. Allen watched as the pendant started to swing towards the building.
"She's here!" Van whispered excitedly. "I can use the pendant to find Hitomi in there! Let's go!" They quietly slipped in to the night and followed Palon. Palon lead them around and down the building, through a little maze of ladders, trap doors, and tight passageways. Eventually, they found themselves in the back of the building. They ran over to the door and Van tried to open it.
"Darn! It's locked." Van immediately reached for his sword, intending to open the door one way or another.
"Wait, King Van. I can open it." Palon said. He reached within the folds of his tunic and pulled out a small piece of thin metal. He inserted it in the lock and jiggled it around for a couple seconds.
"There we go!" He said as the door unlocked. He opened it slowly and looked inside. "All clear, let's go. And remember we want this to be quick and quiet. We want to avoid everyone when we can but if we have to take people out, we do it fast and quietly. Come on." Palon lead the way in.
They were in an empty room, which probably use to be someone's kitchen. Palon lead them to a door that went downstairs. They went down and found themselves connected to a different hallway. They waited as Van used the pendant and pointed to the left. They quietly crept along.
They were very good at avoiding the soldiers and scattered people that were running around down there. Eventually, they came to a long stretch of dark hallway. As they entered, two soldiers entered from the other side and started coming towards them. Van and Allen rested their hands on their swords and continued walking. The soldiers got closer and closer until one of them stopped suddenly.
"Hey, you're not supposed to be down here! Who are-" But the soldier never finished. Van had whipped out his sword and used the end of it to knock him over the head. Allen came in at the same time and punched the other hard in the face, also knocking him out.
"Quickly!" Palon urged. "We must hide them before anyone else comes!" Van and Allen each got a soldier by his feet and dragged them to the end of the hallway and found a small, unused room to dump them in. "Let's tie them up and gag them, and then move on. We're running out of time."
"No, wait!" Allen said, looking closely at the two unconscious soldiers, "I have an idea."
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Lola was sitting in her chair near Hitomi's bed. Hitomi was fighting off the worst of the fever, but Lola was confident she would pull through; although she knew that the master had some horrible plans for her once she recovered. Hitomi was moaning softly in her deep sleep. Lola changed the wet cloth on her forehead. Lola curled her legs up to her body and held them there as she stared at Hitomi. She had been the first person in a long time to be nice to her, and Lola couldn't figure out why. This girl was being held here against her will. She should hate me, yet she was so kind…I don't understand. Lola and her family had been living in Zaibach during the Destiny Wars which her father and older brothers had been killed in. Her mother, sisters, younger brothers, and herself had escaped the city before it was destroyed. They had been living in the woods with other refugees since they had no where else to go. A terrible day came when a band of ex-soldiers found the camp and took most of the people as slaves. Lola had been away from her family when she had been captured so she had no idea what had happened to them. She had been brought here and forced to live and work as a slave for almost two years now.
Lola fell into her same dreary and sad thoughts as she turned to stare in to the fire. She sighed.
There was some commotion at the door. Lola stood up in fear. She heard the key enter the lock and turn. Two soldiers entered dragging another behind them. Do they want me to take care of him too? She thought.
"Go away!" She told them. "The master's orders were that no one comes in here!" A third man in black clothing walked in, closed the door behind him, and then stood by the two others. They looked at each other, puzzled. At that moment, Hitomi let out a moan and one of the soldiers took off his helmet to reveal dark black hair. "Hitomi?" He said. Lola couldn't remember seeing him before, but then lots of new people had been coming in lately. He started coming forward, but Lola jumped in his way and held out her arms.
"Stop! I won't let you come near this girl. She's not like the others, you can't have her!" Her bold statement startled him and he stepped back.
"Please," he said in a soft voice, "we're not here to hurt her, we're here to save her. We're her friends."
"You could be lying. Anyway, you're a Zaibach soldier."
"No. We took these only to get in here. I can prove it to you." He reached over and pulled out his sword. Lola gasped and stepped back. "No, don't worry, I won't hurt you. Look." He was holding the handle out for her to see. She carefully inched forward until she could see the royal insignia of Fanelia. Lola's eyes widened.
"That means that you're…you're-"
"Van Fanel, King of Fanelia." He finished for her. He put his sword back. Hitomi moaned again. "Please," he pleaded, "let me see her." Lola looked in to his brown eyes and saw so much concern and love in them. Her mother's eyes used to look the same way when she thought about father. Lola lowered her arms and stepped aside.
Van rushed to the side of the bed where Hitomi lay and knelt down beside it. He had finally found her, but what was wrong with her! "Hitomi, wake up. It's me, Van, I found you Hitomi. Everything's going to be alright." Hitomi showed no sign that she had heard him, but started to shiver. Van felt as if a knife was stabbing him each time she moaned in pain. He couldn't stand to see her like this. He picked up her hand and held it in his. It was so cold. "What's wrong with her?" He asked.
"She has a fever. The worst is almost over. She won't wake up for a couple of hours, but she'll be fine." Van felt a little bit better but he would have given anything for Hitomi to open her eyes at that moment. He was afraid that he would never get to tell her how much she meant to him. He wanted to hold her and feel her embrace again and never let go. He gently stroked her soft face. Then he noticed a purple bruise on her check. Van went red with fury. "Who ever did this to her is going to pay with their life." He growled.
"Van, we have to get going. This is not the time or place for revenge." Said one of the soldiers.
"Yes, King Van, time is of the essence. Pick her up and let's go." The second said.
"No!" Lola exclaimed. "You can't take her now, she must rest!"
"I'm sorry, but we have to leave now and I'm not leaving without her." Lola could see that the legendary King Van was serious.
"Okay, but take this medicine with you. Make sure she drinks a little with water every couple of hours until it's gone. And keep her warm!" Lola handed the medicine to the other soldier and then helped Van wrap a warm blanket around Hitomi. Van gently picked her up and held her close. Hitomi's bare legs were hanging out and Lola carefully wrapped the blanket around them, noticing her odd footwear for the first time.
"You have to take me with you!" Lola told him. "He'll kill me when they find her gone." Van nodded and motioned for her to follow as they carefully made their way out of the room, back into the awaiting darkness.
