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Chapter 13:

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Ash swung his sword, taking down yet another guard. It seemed for every monster they took down, three more came in its place. Though, he knew their luck could only hold for so long, for the guards were quickly outnumbering them.

He, for one, was quite impressed with the girl's sudden fervor in fighting, for they worked together as a group splendidly in the absence of their heart-holder. Guards would be blasted with bursts of water in their face, freeze dried with a cool wind, and bound with vines like their own assembly line.

Then, suddenly, a swarm of guards came from the broad stairway to the throne room, flooding into the court like they were water themselves. All were armed with bows and swords, and surrounded Ash and the Guardians indefinitely.

"We can blast our way to the exit easily," Kadma informed them, as they were herded together with their backs to one another.

"Girls," Ash said to them over his shoulder. "This is not over yet."

-

"Sydrin!" Nerissa called through the jails halls, but there came no answer. She realized she had taken a wrong turn somewhere in her search for the queen, and had now wound up in someplace with even dimmer lighting than before. The Heart around her neck began to glow brightly as any torch, so she held that out in front of her as she tried to find her way back. Even with the small light, it only illuminated not more than five feet in front of her, she started to become afraid, especially after she heard a shuffling noise.

"Sydrin?" she called out again, whirling around with her light. She was only hoping it was him. "Halinor?"

The only answer that came through the dark was a low growl. She recognized that growl.

"Anyone?" Nerissa said desperately, as those red eyes shined through the dark to see her. More of them came from all around, and Nerissa began to panic in paralyzing fear as one drew closer.

Suddenly, one of the beasts let out a squeal in pain, and the next a roar of charge, but not on her. They were attacking something or someone else. More scuffles arose, as did the distant 'twang' of a bow, and that's when she realized who it was.

Then, she felt a firm hand grasp her own, leading her hurriedly through the dark to safety. Soon light was in view, and she found herself back in the dungeon halls. She breathed a sigh of relief as Sydrin let go of her hand.

"Silly girl!" he scolded. "You saw the raiken pens on the way inside! You are wanting to be killed?"

"I'm sorry!" Nerissa defended. "I got lost."

She felt so stupid then, for her lame attempts at an excuse, and she felt even worse when she saw that Sydrin was grasping his tricep in pain. Blood began to pour through his fingers. The wound was deep, most likely from those machete-like claws on the raiken.

"Oh, you're hurt!" Nerissa exclaimed with pity.

"Yes, I knew this," Sydrin retorted, then straightened up quickly like he bore no pain at all. "Now, come, we must see if Halinor has located the queen."

Nerissa's brow shot up in surprise. Surely he did not plan on going on with a wound like that?

"But--!" she began, but her voice failed her.

"But what?" Sydrin asked in genuine confusion, looking back to her. Obviously the soldiers in Ash's army did not bear much to tending to pains while they were still in battle—then again, maybe it was just him. Either way, it was a sign of a good soldier.

"Thank you," Nerissa said instead. Sydrin nodded an understanding 'you're welcome', then they continued on their way.

-

The queen stayed quiet and watched as Halinor looked over her assailant, who at the moment was holding a sword to her neck. The man was really only a boy, with black hair and silver eyes. His face had sharp features; with hallow cheeks and square-ish jaw, though he stood tall and lean like a boy who exercised more than he ate. He would've been a handsome lad, if it weren't for his foul, prideful expression. He held the sword as if he had years of practice doing so.

"Who are you supposed to be?" Halinor said, now only with an attitude in the place of fear. She flicked his sword away carelessly. "A bad guy, I presume, judging by the spooky outfit. That cape is the cat's pajamas, by the way."

"I am most relieved that you approve of my attire," he scoffed in a low, but very smooth voice. He seemed to enjoy his work a little too much. "Now if you would please, come with me. My master is very anxious to meet you."

Halinor put her hands up in surrender, a large grin glued to her pretty face.

"What is so humorous?" he asked with impatience.

"You," she replied with a giggle. "You forgot to ask which guardian I was."

Suddenly her hands exploded into flame, a stream of fire blazing out of each of her fingertips. The boy barely had enough time to protect himself, he was so surprised, and that was just enough time for her to slip out with the queen.

Right out to a barricade of monstrous guards.

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Suddenly Sydrin stopped in their return run and grabbed Nerissa by the wrist, yanking her back to where he stood. Nerissa was utterly surprised by this, and once again found herself blushing at their closeness. She scolded herself, for she knew he didn't think their distance was in any way cause for a second thought, like she did.

"What's the matter?" Nerissa whispered, but Sydrin promptly shushed her, holding her close to him behind the pillar, her back to his chest.

Then Nerissa saw a guard come around the corner, and he heart pumped in stunned fear. A young boy in a cloak came next, carrying an unconscious Halinor, and Nerissa gasped. At her outburst, Sydrin immediately covered her mouth with his hand, as the boy carrying Halinor stopped abruptly, looking around in suspicion.

"My lord?" a guard said in confusion.

"Never-mind," the boy commanded, his distrusting eyes still searching the hall. "Let's go."

The queen, on the other hand, was nowhere to be seen.

-

As Ash lifted his sword to strike once more, a booming voice from the top of the throne room stairs stopped his blow.

"Halt!"

All the guards in the room stopped, and even the guardians froze in their tracks, and looked up to see where the voice was coming from.

"Well!" Favian Roarke said at the top of the wide, majestic staircase. "If it isn't the man of the hour… Ashlee. Just the person I was waiting to see."

Ash didn't lower his sword, but now seemed very alarmed.

"Where are the rest of your Guardian friends?" Roarke asked him with such an eerie calm. "Ah, no worries. I'm sure they'll be here soon enough. Wilona, darling, look who's come to see you!"

A burly guard came forth to show the queen, who seemed to know by now that fighting him was futile. She seemed very disturbed, though, to see Ash standing down below her.

"Ashlee!" she called in worry. Ash said nothing, though his distress seemed to be heightening. Yan Lin put her hands to her mouth, biting her nails in apprehension. Kadma seemed ready to attack Roarke at any excuse, and Cassidy seemed like she would indubitably follow.

"Now that you are here," Roarke said, his creepy cheer finally falling into a cold evil tone. "You may die."

The guards moved in, overcoming Ash with their sudden numbers and forcing him to his knees. At this, Kadma sent a rush of vines and stone at Roarke, calling out with anger and exertion. Roarke laughed and with a wave of his hand, blocked it with some sort of invisible barrier. It was useless.

The guard to perform the execution stepped forward, opening a vile and pouring its dark contents over his blade. It was surely poison, to make sure the task was completed one way or another.

Ash only looked to Wilona with sorrow and longing, with so strong a love and sadness in his eyes that Kadma had too look away.

The guard lifted his sword above Ash's neck, as Ash closed his eyes and prepared for the blow.

"WAIT!" the queen begged, falling on her face before Roarke in earnest. "Favian, please… Hear me—I will marry you! I beseech you, spare Ashlee's life."

"You sure change your tune when the reality is in front of your eyes," Roarke replied. The guard with the sword above Ash hesitated and looked to Roarke, awaiting his orders. Roarke nodded to him, and the guard backed away, though the other guards still kept a firm grasp on Ash's arms. Roarke leaned down to the queen, and lifted her to her feet like he would a dear child.

"You have chosen wisely, my queen…" he assured her smoothly, then began to lean in for a kiss.

At this, Ash had about had enough, trying to shake off the guards in anger, yelling to Roarke insistently.

"Her people will not follow a leader of monsters! Let her go!"

"Oh, but they will," Roarke vowed.

"My men will always defy you!" Ash tried again. "They are loyal no matter what!"

"You think your pathetic little army frightens me?"

Then Roarke began to lean again for the queen's mouth. Wilona winced with disgust.

"Wait!" Ash called. "You cannot marry her!"

Roarke pulled away again in frustration.

"And why not?" he spat out. "Because you are in love with her?"

Ashlee and Wilona looked to one another, having an entire conversation with their eyes, which ended with Wilona shaking her head furiously no.

"Don't, Ash," she pleaded. "Knowledge is our only power."

"You are right," he replied. "It is, at this point."

"Ash," Wilona insisted. "No…"

He looked to Roarke next, as Wilona ineffectually begged of him for something that was beyond Kadma and Cassidy's understanding, though Yan Lin was beside herself with stress of what she knew what coming.

"You cannot marry her, Roarke," Ash said with a loud, courageous, and the guards let him step forward. "Because of this."

Ashlee bared his breast to show Roarke the rectangular mark on his left peck, just over his heart.

Roarke's eyes grew wide in shock.

"The mark of union… When…?" Roarke said in confusion. Something about the sight of that mark greatly upset him.

"Just before the death of her mother and Wilona's coronation," Ash explained. "So you cannot be married to her… because I already am."

Kadma gasped, but Cassidy was still confused.

"The mark of union?" she said. "That's what his mark meant? But why…?"

"The mark of union is magic bond for marriage," Yan Lin explained in a low voice. "They bound together… if Roarke tries to marry her, she will die… and he need her alive."

"Wait," Kadma said with surprise. "You knew about this?"

Yan Lin bit her lip and didn't answer.

Roarke stepped toward Wilona to check if she had the mark as well, but Ash put up his hand to stop him and said:

"Don't even think about it… Trust me, its there."

Roarke looked down to Ash with a harsh expression, then suddenly… he burst out into laughter, much to the bewilderment of all.

"Oh, my," Roarke chuckled, drying his eyes with the side of his long sleeve. "This is simply too much."

"I don't understand," Ash pressed.

"You have undone yourself more than I ever could have. Once the people have heard that their precious leader and good queen have betrayed them all…" He began to laugh again. "Now I don't have to kill you. The people will do it themselves. And after you are dead… then I will marry Wilona… and Meridian will be mine for the taking."

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So now I have finally revealed the meaning of the Ash's mark. Intense, eh? Please review.
Signed,
--RedRogue