Chapter 8
Talayne checked that she was all right before running out to scout out the rest of the castle.
Celena quickly retrieved the keys from the guard at her feet and set about unlocking the other doors. Nodding a natural but slightly stunned you're welcome to each of the Caeli knights as they walked out and thanked her. Allen knelt before her when he got out. A bruise was marring the side of his face, in fact all of the knights bore some injury or another. The Caeli knights were the most feared and hated by Zaibach, and apparently the enemy soldiers had made it clear to them.
"No, I'm not hurt."
"Celena, I'll ask where you were later but for now I want you to get into one of the cells. Take the keys with you, and if you see someone in need of help let them in and then relock the door. Okay, promise me."
She didn't want to, especially with Talayne running around, but her brother did know best and arguing never got her anywhere. "I promise."
Allen smiled understandingly. "I know I can count on you." He pressed the keys into her hands. "Now go." He had taken a sword off one of the guards and he saluted her along with the other knights just before they rushed up the stairway.
Only a few seconds passed before the echoes of battle reverberated back down the staircase. The knights had evidently not gotten far. She darted into the cell and began trying keys. Although the Caeli knights were the best fighters in the kingdom, against the unrelenting troops rallied by the guard who had turned tail and run pressed them back into the dungeon where they eventually had to surrender. She was knocked out sometime during the fight, but when she woke her brother was sitting next to her, worrying.
Now she sat next to him, leaning back against the wall as the other knights stood sat or paced the small area of their cell. Where was Talayne? She should be back by now. then the first lightening of the sky bloomed as the sun rose over the horizon. The cool light shed a chilly brightness into the room. As if it was some celestial cue, her ghostlike friend slipped soundlessly down the spiral stairs.
It took her only a moment to assess the situation and start towards the key bearing guard who was twirling the target ring on his hand. She knew her time was short, so she didn't hesitate to take the matter to hand. She wouldn't win a tug-o-war, that was certain. But certain things would cause the guard to release the keys, like being smote on the back of the hand with a burning wall torch.
They clinked as they hit the floor, and Talayne immediately swooped down to pick them up. As she was rising the guard collected his wits somewhat and slashed with his sword catching the torch and Talayne to the ground. Only a few feet away from arms length. For a guard he was awfully clever and pounced on the visible keys, grabbing and holding it. Sunlight peeked over the edge of the window. Talayne's eyelids began to droop, visibly. When freedom was so close too.
"No! Talayne, fight it! You have to stay."
"So tired."
"Throw the keys! Let go!" Ignoring the startled and confused looks from the other knights she gripped the bars and strained for the keys. The keys wobbled slightly as her friend's grip went lax. "No TALAYNE YOU MUST NOT GO. STAY!"
Her friend blinked at her and disappeared entirely. The force the guard was exerting to pull the ring from her friends grasp, through some twist of luck and fate ended up flinging the key ring right into her lap. Celena leapt up and flung open the door to the cell as soon as it was unlocked. Through another twist of fate however the only other guard present who had been staring in shocked silence made it to the door before her brother or any of the other knights could, closing and locking it.
When she turned around to see the reaction of the first guard he had his sword poised to slice her in half. The hilt of the sword moved about two inches before he gained a very confused and agitated look on his face. He jerked the hilt of his sword at her twice before he tipped backwards, landing hard on the flagstones. Celena spun to face the other guard who also had his sword drawn. Talayne appeared beside him, more alive than she'd ever seen her, with no transparency either. Startled gasps from the cell announced that she wasn't the only one seeing her. The guard narrow eyed with suspicion didn't turn around to see her friend, probably thinking it was a trick.
"Talayne, I thought you couldn't stay beyond sunrise!" She asked completely surprised.
The other girl did not look to be in the best of moods. She flashed her eyes sarcastically commenting, "that's not all, now for some reason I can do this too!" She made a fist and punched the guard in the face when he turned to face the new threat. She must have been fuming, he was out like a light. "I'm not going to ask what you did Celena, but it better be temporary!"
She swallowed lightly, already apprehensive of the future results Talayne's temper might cause. Then she saw her brother tense, and quickly reassured him, gently patting the air at her side. Allen took the guard's sword, and knelt in front of Talayne.
"M'Lady, I do not yet know your name but know that this debt shall be repaid and any friend of Celena's is a friend of mine." Talayne's eyebrows rose higher than the palace's steeple. She glanced her way for direction.
One of the other knights, another blue eyed one but with shorter semi wavy hair bowed as well kissing her hand. "A friend of all our ours, M'lady. Give us the honor of protecting you, we shall make sure the castle is safe and that you shall come to no harm, momentarily."
Celena watched Talayne closely as the girl's shock turned to comprehension then to anger before the sarcasm rose full force to the surface. She hoped the girl wouldn't wound their pride too much, her tongue was sharper than many a sword. "It would be my pleasure, except I've much more of an advantage than you currently so I'm afraid I'll have to decline."
The language was bold. Especially to be spoken by a Lady and the knights looked aghast but managed to cover it quite well. "What might that advantage be may I be so bold to inquire?" her brother asked.
Talayne sighed dramatically. "Give away the best advantage by telling it? I think not! However I am much more.elusive when it comes to sneaking around the castle so why don't I go protect the King and Princess before you start attacking, to secure their safety of course."
"Absolutely not! M'lady we could not risk your getting injured!"
Celena heard a meager "ye gods!" before Talayne was up the stairs the rest of the Caeli knights rushing up after her.
Talayne checked that she was all right before running out to scout out the rest of the castle.
Celena quickly retrieved the keys from the guard at her feet and set about unlocking the other doors. Nodding a natural but slightly stunned you're welcome to each of the Caeli knights as they walked out and thanked her. Allen knelt before her when he got out. A bruise was marring the side of his face, in fact all of the knights bore some injury or another. The Caeli knights were the most feared and hated by Zaibach, and apparently the enemy soldiers had made it clear to them.
"No, I'm not hurt."
"Celena, I'll ask where you were later but for now I want you to get into one of the cells. Take the keys with you, and if you see someone in need of help let them in and then relock the door. Okay, promise me."
She didn't want to, especially with Talayne running around, but her brother did know best and arguing never got her anywhere. "I promise."
Allen smiled understandingly. "I know I can count on you." He pressed the keys into her hands. "Now go." He had taken a sword off one of the guards and he saluted her along with the other knights just before they rushed up the stairway.
Only a few seconds passed before the echoes of battle reverberated back down the staircase. The knights had evidently not gotten far. She darted into the cell and began trying keys. Although the Caeli knights were the best fighters in the kingdom, against the unrelenting troops rallied by the guard who had turned tail and run pressed them back into the dungeon where they eventually had to surrender. She was knocked out sometime during the fight, but when she woke her brother was sitting next to her, worrying.
Now she sat next to him, leaning back against the wall as the other knights stood sat or paced the small area of their cell. Where was Talayne? She should be back by now. then the first lightening of the sky bloomed as the sun rose over the horizon. The cool light shed a chilly brightness into the room. As if it was some celestial cue, her ghostlike friend slipped soundlessly down the spiral stairs.
It took her only a moment to assess the situation and start towards the key bearing guard who was twirling the target ring on his hand. She knew her time was short, so she didn't hesitate to take the matter to hand. She wouldn't win a tug-o-war, that was certain. But certain things would cause the guard to release the keys, like being smote on the back of the hand with a burning wall torch.
They clinked as they hit the floor, and Talayne immediately swooped down to pick them up. As she was rising the guard collected his wits somewhat and slashed with his sword catching the torch and Talayne to the ground. Only a few feet away from arms length. For a guard he was awfully clever and pounced on the visible keys, grabbing and holding it. Sunlight peeked over the edge of the window. Talayne's eyelids began to droop, visibly. When freedom was so close too.
"No! Talayne, fight it! You have to stay."
"So tired."
"Throw the keys! Let go!" Ignoring the startled and confused looks from the other knights she gripped the bars and strained for the keys. The keys wobbled slightly as her friend's grip went lax. "No TALAYNE YOU MUST NOT GO. STAY!"
Her friend blinked at her and disappeared entirely. The force the guard was exerting to pull the ring from her friends grasp, through some twist of luck and fate ended up flinging the key ring right into her lap. Celena leapt up and flung open the door to the cell as soon as it was unlocked. Through another twist of fate however the only other guard present who had been staring in shocked silence made it to the door before her brother or any of the other knights could, closing and locking it.
When she turned around to see the reaction of the first guard he had his sword poised to slice her in half. The hilt of the sword moved about two inches before he gained a very confused and agitated look on his face. He jerked the hilt of his sword at her twice before he tipped backwards, landing hard on the flagstones. Celena spun to face the other guard who also had his sword drawn. Talayne appeared beside him, more alive than she'd ever seen her, with no transparency either. Startled gasps from the cell announced that she wasn't the only one seeing her. The guard narrow eyed with suspicion didn't turn around to see her friend, probably thinking it was a trick.
"Talayne, I thought you couldn't stay beyond sunrise!" She asked completely surprised.
The other girl did not look to be in the best of moods. She flashed her eyes sarcastically commenting, "that's not all, now for some reason I can do this too!" She made a fist and punched the guard in the face when he turned to face the new threat. She must have been fuming, he was out like a light. "I'm not going to ask what you did Celena, but it better be temporary!"
She swallowed lightly, already apprehensive of the future results Talayne's temper might cause. Then she saw her brother tense, and quickly reassured him, gently patting the air at her side. Allen took the guard's sword, and knelt in front of Talayne.
"M'Lady, I do not yet know your name but know that this debt shall be repaid and any friend of Celena's is a friend of mine." Talayne's eyebrows rose higher than the palace's steeple. She glanced her way for direction.
One of the other knights, another blue eyed one but with shorter semi wavy hair bowed as well kissing her hand. "A friend of all our ours, M'lady. Give us the honor of protecting you, we shall make sure the castle is safe and that you shall come to no harm, momentarily."
Celena watched Talayne closely as the girl's shock turned to comprehension then to anger before the sarcasm rose full force to the surface. She hoped the girl wouldn't wound their pride too much, her tongue was sharper than many a sword. "It would be my pleasure, except I've much more of an advantage than you currently so I'm afraid I'll have to decline."
The language was bold. Especially to be spoken by a Lady and the knights looked aghast but managed to cover it quite well. "What might that advantage be may I be so bold to inquire?" her brother asked.
Talayne sighed dramatically. "Give away the best advantage by telling it? I think not! However I am much more.elusive when it comes to sneaking around the castle so why don't I go protect the King and Princess before you start attacking, to secure their safety of course."
"Absolutely not! M'lady we could not risk your getting injured!"
Celena heard a meager "ye gods!" before Talayne was up the stairs the rest of the Caeli knights rushing up after her.