The only option

Even though they had the time to sit there and eat something, none of Jim's companions gave themselves the freedom to laugh or to forget to look around when they heard a sudden sound. As they sat there in paranoia, a new plan had to be made. The longer Jim thought about it the more he wanted to do things on his own, but now that Melody's parents were involved, it wasn't his problem alone anymore. They had to stay together from now on or someone could get in terrible danger. But what should they do after dinner? Jim didn't know how much money Melody had left, but he certainly knew he himself wasn't able to pay for much shelter.

"Hey, I say we find a room for one night in one of the inns around this restaurant and head for the palace early in the morning." Suggested Ram suddenly. It was obvious that he didn't say this in just a guess. He had been thinking really deeply this whole time. Jim gave it the worth of thinking over. After a few minutes, he said:

"You know that the enemy would be at our end destination then, right?"

"It's unfortunate, I know, but we have to go somewhere and you said yourself that we have to confront him sooner or later. I know we technically already did, but.."

"Yeah, I get your point. Jim sighed. I agree with you. You too, Melody?" Jim and Ram looked both to Melody who hadn't said anything in a long time.

"Well, I guess I really want to see my parents, so I'm in. But I'm afraid I forgot all the fight-techniques you taught me, Ram. I think that will be a problem."

"I'm afraid, it's too late to teach you now. Said Ram down. Then promise me not to forget how to ran. Will you promise me that?"

"Of course." Melody nodded. She knew next time what was coming, so she should be fine.

The owner of the inn looked quite surprised when the three adolescents asked him for one room for one night. He assured them that they had only rooms for two persons. That didn't matter, they would take one room with two separately beds and one couch. Ram would sleep on the couch and they others in the two beds, it was an easy matter.

The room was quite dark, so they decided to let the curtains open. That way, the morning sun would wake them early. Without saying anymore words, they went to bed.

When they hid the early morning road, the sun shined strongly upon their faces. Even though it was still better than rain or strong wind, it didn't made them happy. It was like the weather turned a blind eye to their dangerous fate. It would be a long journey, but no one seemed to mind that. Talking was unnecessary, everyone knew each others' thoughts already.

On the middle of the day was the sun so hot that they had no choice but to stop and rest. They were at an open road with merely trees to get shade from.

"What if we get captured before we can even do something?" Asked Melody with a soft almost shaking voice. She didn't dare to look the boys into their eyes, she knew that this wasn't the time for such questions.

"Well, whatever happens, I am not going back to Montressor." Replied Jim a bit brutally. There was a silence.

"Well, we know that. Ram looked a bit offended when he stood up again. We better get moving, the longer we linger here the more depressed I get."

It took them two more days to get to the palace. It was already getting darker the moment they saw the building in the distance. Even though they had said before that there would be no more postpones, it was pretty clear now that there was no point in getting into the palace now. They build up a little camp alongside the road and got an early rest.

When they stood right before the palace the following morning, it was not difficult for them to get in, Melody showed them an easy road through the backyard, to a low window. Everyone knew what to do separately, but for the most part they would stick together. The palace had no dungeon or anything like that, so the real question was: which room in the palace did the creature chose to keep his prisoners? Certainly not their own room, that would be too obvious, but what if it wanted them to find the prisoners? No, it definitely wanted them to find the prisoners! Melody nodded at the two boy's meaning that she wanted to take the risk to look into her parents room immediately.

They stormed in and found…Melody's parents inside a large smoky cage. The faces of the king and queen brightened when they saw their daughter again although they knew it wasn't lucky for her to be there at all!