Chapter 21: Lost.
The Skydancers were hard pressed to keep up with the dragon.
Having lost sight of him just at the edge of the Netherrealm they took a moment to regroup and collect themselves.
"We can't just storm in there without some sort of strategy." Breeze said as he hovered a little bit above the others. "And, we have to find a way to convince Skyler to back down. If he gets hurt…"
The young prince had fallen behind because he was not as fit as the rest of the Skydancers. Jade glanced back and shook her head.
"He won't." She said. "I'll stay with him. I hope Slam's okay…"
Breeze gave her a sympathetic look. "Stay here and wait for him." He said. "The rest of us will go on. Jade, do not let him get ahead of himself."
The dark haired girl smiled slightly and nodded. "If I can handle Slam I can handle a young prince." She said. "Keep safe you guys."
Nodding at each other the Skydancers separated.
Watching her three comrades leave Jade couldn't help but suppress a shiver.
Closing her eyes she silently prayed that both Slam and Joanie were alright.
Slam had the fright of his life when the dark shadow passed over him. Ducking down he balled his fists and watched as the dragon circled around the Netherworld.
The beast didn't appear to have seen him but Slam couldn't imagine how that could be possible as he had been in relative clear sight from the skies.
Cursing his stupidity he slowly began to move away from the ventilation hole.
The dragon circled twice before it dropped down just beyond his sight.
Jumping up, Slam balled his fist, ready to strike out with his powers if the need arose.
When the dragon didn't come back Slam flew back a bit more and circled the Netherworld. He found the dragon perched over one of the unopened entrances into the large metal world. With a touch of surprise and unease he noticed that the magician was with him.
The imposing man, perched on the junction of the dragon's wings and neck, raised his staff high above his head and commanded something in his foreign tongue.
The dragon pushed away from the entrance with two strong wing strokes, took a deep breath and discharged an eye searing stream of liquid fire.
Fascinated and horrified Slam watched as the dragon heat the metal door in the same way he would've done heated a smaller. Then, in a surprising move the dragon dipped his claws into the molten iron and dig a hole large enough for his head to go through. When he dropped the molten iron to the ground he turned slightly. Lor Robain raised his staff again and, as the green stone flared to life, drew the heat from the metal.
The dragon carefully moved closer to the hole and allowed the Magician to safely climb through it. As the magician disappeared from sight the dragon landed on the side of the Netherworld again and dug his claws deep into the metal. Lifting his head he gave a strange, soft rumble and looked around. Serpent like eyes turned suddenly in Slam's direction but, they passed through him and rather turned towards the hole.
Confused Slam looked around him and saw three figures flying towards them in the distance…
Although she knew that they had only been walking for a few minutes, Joanie felt as if she, Skyla and the semi conscious sorceress had been trapped in the never ending dark tunnel all their lives. Her light sphere winked in and out as her concentration wavered. Although she didn't want to admit it, she knew with a cold certainty that somewhere in the unending maize of twists and turns she had made a wrong turn and had managed to get them hopelessly lost.
She couldn't look at Skyla as they trudged on hopelessly. She used the spear to half prop herself up on the one side in an attempt to keep her balance. The woman had not lost consciousness again but, except for the odd step she didn't acknowledge their presence. Joanie was close to exhaustion and, she knew that Skyla wasn't far behind her. The girl was pale and shaking in and effort to keep walking with half of the woman's weight resting on top of her. Even in the weak light, Joanie could see that her wrist was very swollen. In Skyla's credit though, the young princess-to-be never made a sound.
Joanie couldn't help but admire her.
A loud metallic echo suddenly interrupted her thoughts.
Joanie jerked as her light sphere winked out and blinked around surprised in the dark.
Skyla held her breath and reached out behind the sorceress to nudge Joanie's arm.
"What's that?"
Joanie bit her lip and shook her head. Swallowing she formed the light sphere again.
"I don't know." She said tensely. "Let's get moving again. I don't want to…"
"Wait…"
Both girls shrieked with surprise.
The sorceress tried to stand on her own and took two steps away from them. When she tried to straighten herself though her knees immediately buckled underneath her and, if it wasn't for Joanie's quick jump to her side, she would've collapsed to the floor.
"Let me… sit." She attempted in a thick voice. "Just… a moment."
Nauseous with a sudden fear that she couldn't explain Joanie wordlessly helped the woman sit against the wall of the tunnel.
"My father…" The young woman began. "He is…"
Joanie swallowed and glanced at Skyla who was still standing exactly as she had when the sorceress stepped away from them.
"Not here." Joanie said quickly. "Lady Oriana we…"
The woman's violet eyes flashed.
"Do not interrupt me." She snapped with a sudden show of temper. "I…" Her face contorted and she sluggishly drew her knees up to rest her forehead against them.
"I am not…" She shook her head. "My father is here. I can sense… my staff? Where is my staff?"
Joanie had to blink.
"What?"
The woman gave her a look.
"It was with me, where is it?"
Steeling herself against the tone Joanie sniffed and motioned behind her.
"I saw it in the chamber where you were held." She said off handily. "That's what made me realize that it's you. I left it there."
Joanie had never seen a more expressive blank face in her life.
"Why?"
"It's not mine."
"Child, you have to go and get it."
"No."
Joanie glared at the woman.
"Listen Lady." She snapped before the woman could get in another phrase. "We have to get out of here. I didn't have time to grab your staff and more to the point I didn't want to. Now, could we get going again?"
The sorceress stared at her unblinking.
"You have gotten us lost." She said, her voice stronger than it had been. "With my staff, my father will be able to find us. Without it, we are stuck here until either he or the people who brought us here find us. Go and get it, we will wait for you."
The petite Skydancer had to blink surprised.
"Who died and made you queen?" She snapped. "I'm not your servant. You can't just wake up and…" She cut off what she wanted to say when she felt Skyla's hand on her shoulder. The young girl moved closer to the sorceress.
"It's a long and confusing way back to the cell." She said softly. "I don't think Cara would find us again."
Her soft tone seemed to take away some of the wind from behind the sorceress.
The dark haired woman sighed and shook her head.
"Please," she said softly, "I really need that staff. It is very important. I can…"
She gathered herself and stood up. Taking a moment to steady herself the Lady Oriana motioned in Joanie's direction.
"It is impossible for me to concentrate at this stage." She said softly. "But I can try to…"
She took a deep breath and drew a shaky symbol in the air.
The two girls blinked and unconsciously drew closer to each other when they saw the lines between her fingers begin to glow with a strange purple hue.
The sorceress paused and glanced at Joanie.
"How fast can you move?"
The girl sniffed confidently.
"Very."
The woman swallowed.
"If I complete this, it will take you through the straightest path to my staff. I can't move you there; this… amateurish light display is the best that I can manage at the moment. If you hurry, you can follow the residue back to us. Please."
Joanie bit her lip.
"I haven't even told you…" She cut off and shook her head frustrated. "When I leave, my light will wink out. Both of you are hurt and you will be left in the dark, all alone, with nobody to defend you."
She shook her head again.
"I have to take care of Skyla." She said fiercely. "She's my responsibility. This is my only chance to make a difference and, if you and your bloody staff take that chance from me I will kill you myself, do you understand? If your father hurts her again I will kill you both, do you understand?"
Both the sorceress and Skyla gave her a surprised look. The younger girl blushed and took a step back as if she didn't know quite how to handle such loyalty but the older woman smiled gently for the first time.
"I understand, I swear that I will not harm her and I can assure you that my father won't either." She said. "Now, will you go and fetch it?"
Joanie bit her tongue and nodded.
"Just finish your bloody light show." She said and turned in the direction she came.
She didn't see the completion of the weave but before she was completely prepared for it a purple light shot out behind her and raced down the corridor.
Praying that she didn't make a mistake Joanie jumped away and raced after it.
AN:
:P I'll leave it here for now. Howdy howdy! How was your holiday? Mine was fantastic!
To answer some old questions. Yes, there will be more stories after this one, there is "To Dance with Lords and Ladies" which I just have to fix up a bit before I can post it and then I'm planning two more stories, the last one of my "trilogy" so to speak. (feather in the wind, to dance and the next one.)
And another entitled "ghost of a Rose.:"
I just have to finish this one. Sorry for dragging it out so much! I'm currently a bit stuck on where to go with it from here!
Take care and hope you are safe!
Alyss.