This is bad. This is very, very bad. I can't believe the soldiers actually caught us. I was sure we were free. And how could Val Cath betray me like that? Why would he betray me like that? Recently, there's always been a question to be asked, and usually no answer. The worst part, however, isn't that I was thrown backwards and passed out. It isn't that Captain Val Cath, who I once considered an ally, betrayed me. It's the fact that they also captured Madgick.
She looks like hell. Her face is pale, and her once clean blonde hair is now in tangles around her. Her eyes are wild, and she can't stop trembling. I'm sure I don't look much better - in fact, I probably look worse - but at least I know who these people are, and why they're after me. Poor Madgick was dragged unwillingly into something horrible. Merciful magic, she's a human! I doubt she even knows who Valdorians are, much less what Alyncia is. I wonder how I managed to conjure a portal into the human world in the first place. Mages have been trying to do this for centuries with no results. But that isn't my top priority right now. I try to lock eyes with Madgick, to reassure her somehow. But I find it difficult to even open my eyes, much less get her attention. Besides, I doubt I'd have much time to do so anyway. It appears we have arrived at the Valdorians' destination.
It's a large grey building that resembles a storage facility. But I'm sure the humans have a better name for it. As far as I can tell, it has no windows, and is well hidden from the busy city. Val Cath smiles at Madgick and me.
"Welcome to your new home, kiddos." He throws open the gnarled wooden door, and the soldiers carrying us march inside. The door slams shut behind us.
The soldier escorting me throws me to the ground in front of a large stack of crates. I'm quite sure I hear something crack. I whimper, and clutch my side in pain. The burly man who holds Madgick flings her beside me. Then Val Cath jerks his head, and they go to stand guard by the door.
"Now, children, let's get started." He raises his index finger, and I suddenly feel as though I have been encased in thick rope. I try to squirm out of the invisible bonds, but they only grow tighter. I let out a shriek as I sense a tightening around my throat.
"I wouldn't move if I were you," Val Cath says with a smile. I thrash, gasping for air, and then go still. The pressure immediately lessens.
"What do you want with us?" Madgick croaks. She tries to sit up, but the spell restricts the movement. I have to commend her bravery. If I was in her situation, I would most likely say nothing for my own safety.
"Straight to the point, little human. I like it," Val Cath laughs. "It's a pity you aren't an Alyncian. You would have been a great mage. Let me explain a few things. You see, your friend here learned something she was not supposed to learn. And now she is a threat to an entire community. So, when us Valdorians get threatened, we must act." He leers at us.
"And by act," I growl, "you mean murder." The captain nods soberly.
"Then why did you bother rescuing me in the first place? They were going to execute me in the morning anyway," I say. Madgick lets out a gasp, but doesn't say anything.
"Well, I want to ask you a few questions first," our enemy explains. "For example, how did you find us?"
"Why do you want to know THAT?"
"Don't stall. Just answer the question," Val Cath hisses.
"My dispel ring just started glowing. And then the illusion was lifted," I say hurriedly. Why does he want to know this? It's not very difficult to guess.
"You are lying to me. You have one more chance to tell me the truth, or else," Val Cath says. He is now deadly calm. This is worse than if he was yelling at me.
"I'm not lying, I swear! That's what happened," I shout. And then the worst possible thing happens. Captain Val Cath draws a human machine from inside his armour. It is long and has a trigger at one end. He pulls that trigger. And a sharp object is ejected, right into Madgick's leg. There is a lot of blood.