Chapter 17: Sandre

I watched Vaughan enter the cabin and knew it was of little use both of us hunting inside for clues. Instead I turned right and walked round the house scouring the ground in search of anything that could potentially be a clue. I was half way round the house when I began to lose hope of finding any indication to where Lisora went that fateful day. I trudged forward feeling disheartened as I approached the final tree of the last corner of the cabin. I had almost past this tree when a bag of shells glinted in the early afternoon. Why were there shells here when I knew the nearest shoreline was 2 or so miles away? How did they get here? These questions flashed through me before I came to the only conclusion that Lisora had collected them and brought them back. However to me this wasn't an unusual thing to occur to be so bored as to start wondering to the sea to find a reprieve from the forest surrounding me now.

With a heavy heart I finally entered the cabin with no leads to where Lisora might be the bag of shells hanging loose by my side."This would be a good time to have a vision" I muttered to myself willing the words to become true but alas no burning sensation occurred. I entered the kitchen to find Vaughan with his head in his hands at the small table. I sat opposite him placing the shells carefully on the table, my mouth opened then closed it again at a complete loss of what to say or do next. The silence stretched for what seemed like an eternity before Vaughan broke it his voice cracked with the effort of not crying.

"Anything? Have you found anything?"

I hated the one worded answer I gave "No."

He raised his head to look at me the despair clearly etched into his very soul as his eyes found mine. His dark eyes glancing at the bag of shells, they turned wide in astonishment as he beheld the sight. Noticing his gaze I stated "I found the bag outside by the tree to the left. Lisora must have collected them the day before she disappeared.

"Lisora hasn't ever been to the sea," Vaughan said slowly "I've never been there with her, never approved the beach because of the open nature of it and the impact the sea has on her. If she was regularly visiting the sea it was without my knowledge. "

I had caught on and finished off his train of thought "Then there's a chance she went to the beach that morning."

Vaughan was already on his feet re-strapping his sword to his back as we ran in the direction of the beach. It felt like the longest 2 miles I had ever ran although I know it was the quickest I had ever ran but Vaughan was even quicker reaching the beach a full minute ahead of me. He stood at the edge of the cliff staring down at an abandoned soldier camp, their ships we're still here which meant their attack had been unsuccessful and they were probably buried under 6 feet of earth at this moment. Slowly we walked down the cliff edge, once we reached the beach I turned back and noticed several caves carved into the cliff face. I nudged Vaughan "Look."

"Caves" He whispered it was barely audible. I took the farthest cave and he took the one next to it with a nod we walked into the different caves in search of Lisora. I had not gone more than 30 paces before finding myself looking at a collapsed tunnel. Realising there was no going through I turned back. I emerged and almost the same time as Vaughan.

"Collapsed?" I asked. A single nod was my only reply.

We did the next 4 tunnels like that until only one remained. I felt the hope dwindle as we entered this last cave together. It seemed shorter than the others but not collapsed. We reached the end and a dug out room greeted us but no Lisora. I turned to leave the way we entered when my iron claws tingled as I passed the left wall.

"Vaughan I think there's something here. My fingers are tingling with something like anticipation" as I spoke my voice became louder and louder with excitement.

Vaughan swiftly moved to my side and ran his hand over the wall until he hit something. Without thinking he slammed his full weight into the wall. The walls shook and dust flew down from the ceiling but Vaughan neither cared nor stopped. In moments a door gave way to the reveal a smaller iron room with a women lying shivering on the floor. Vaughan scooped her up and walked out of the cave back into the sun where he placed her down on the sand. Lisora didn't move, didn't speak just stared at the sea. Vaughan stood over her silent tears streaming down his face as he tried to pry the collar off her neck; no use. Lisora stood suddenly on shaking legs and Vaughan was flung away from her as she pushed us back with her power. Only then did I notice the sword she held. Fear enveloped me as I then fought to get close to her, tears also streaming down my face. With one final look at us the sword went through her neck and her and the valg both died right in front of us. My knees hit the ground as I completely fell apart whereas Vaughan took to the skies.