Another update! A bit short, sorry. I'll have to work on that.
Sorry for the wait, but I have homework and coursework and other evil things.
Since everyone likes Leena, (except for cotg() who suggested that I kill her off) I will leave her in the story. I would like it known that I am not a sadist and I do not kill off charectors for fun.
(And noone is allowed to quote Bloodfire at me! I would like it known that I did NOT grow tired of the story. It WOULD NOT HAVE WORKED if the charectors had survived. And I'm the author, so I should know.)
*
Chapter 9
*
Leena woke up and wished she hadn't. Her head was one massive ache, and lines of firy pain riddling her torso mutely testified to the several cuts she had received.
Her arms and legs were pulled behind her back in an unnatural position, and her cramped muscles complained vehemently. She tried weakly to struggle against the ropes that tied her wrists and ankles together, but a searing pain filled her right arm, and she had to stop or faint.
:Destus?: she thought muzzily to her Companion. :What - happened? Where are we?:
Destus' mindvoice was thick with worry. :The bandits; they overwhelmed you. You took a blow to the head,: This explained the headache, at least. :They took us over the border; we're in Karse now.: Fear drowned the anxiety in Destus' voice. :As soon as a Sunpriest gets here, we'll be executed for witchcraft.:
A chill swept over Leena, wiping the giddiness of her concussion away. :Destus? Where are you? Can you get me out?:
Now the anxiety was back full force. :I wish I could, Chosen.: His voice was slightly sharper than usual with distress. :But after they captured you, I took an arrow in the shoulder. They have me hobbled, by all four hooves. I can't get out.:
:Do the Heralds know where we are?: Leena asked, desperately hoping for a chance of rescue.
:Yes,: Destus replied. :Rolan, the King's Own Companion, can talk to any Companion if he needs to. He found us, and I told him. He says -: The hopelessness in Destus' voice made Leena, too, begin to despair. :- He says their is noone who can help us. He says to escape if we can, send any information we gather - and that the prayers of all the Heraldic Circle are with us.:
*
"What do you mean, no chance of rescue?" demanded Cassa. "They're alive, aren't they? There's always a chance of rescue!"
Cassa had awoken, more than twelve candlemarks after riding exhausted into Haven, to be informed by none other than Jedin, the King's Own, that her greatest friend was captured behind enemy lines.
"Fighting will soon be beginning in White Foal Pass," Jedin said, trying to make her understand. "No one could get through the entire Karsite army, even if they could get to Leena before she is executed. I'm sorry, Cassa, but it just isn't reasonable to beleive that she'll get out of this alive."
With a half stifled sob, Cassa turned and ran back to her rooms. Jedin heard the bolt click shut behind her.
*
Cassa paced angrily around her quarters. The Heraldic Circle had given up, had they? Well, Leena had saved her life by holding off the bandits to let her through, and she'd be damned if she let Leena die on some Sunpreist's fires!
:Camber?: she asked her Companion with grim humour. :Are you ready to go on a suicidely insane mission into Karse, against the advisement of the King's Own, to save Leena and Destus?:
Cassa could feel Camber smile grimly in response. :Any time.:
*
Cassa snuck down to the stables, avoiding others with a skill that surprised even herself. She saddled Camber, and placed the few supplies that she knew she'd be needing in the saddlebags. A non-descript change of clothing, the best medicine she could steal from the Healers and weapons. Leena smiled slightly. Lots of weapons.
Cassa swung easily onto Camber's back, and the pair trotted to the stable door. And stopped.
Rolan was standing in the way.
He was alone, and being perfectly non-threatening. He was just, quite firmly and irrevocably, in the way. With an icy anger building within her, Cassa dimounted.
She glared into Rolan's deep sapphire eyes. "She saved my life." Her voice was quiet and fierce. "Do you really expect me to leave her to die?"
Rolan looked her up and down, and quietly moved aside. A strange, masculine voice sighed in Cassa's mind.
:I'll give you this,: Rolan said to her. :You may be an idiot, but you're a brave idiot. You have a candlemark before I tell Jedin you're gone.:
Cassa felt awed. Destus and Camber were unusual in that they often talked to both Cassa and Leena. Normally, Companions only spoke to their own Heralds.
Now was no time for idle thought, however. They had a friend to save.
Sorry for the wait, but I have homework and coursework and other evil things.
Since everyone likes Leena, (except for cotg() who suggested that I kill her off) I will leave her in the story. I would like it known that I am not a sadist and I do not kill off charectors for fun.
(And noone is allowed to quote Bloodfire at me! I would like it known that I did NOT grow tired of the story. It WOULD NOT HAVE WORKED if the charectors had survived. And I'm the author, so I should know.)
*
Chapter 9
*
Leena woke up and wished she hadn't. Her head was one massive ache, and lines of firy pain riddling her torso mutely testified to the several cuts she had received.
Her arms and legs were pulled behind her back in an unnatural position, and her cramped muscles complained vehemently. She tried weakly to struggle against the ropes that tied her wrists and ankles together, but a searing pain filled her right arm, and she had to stop or faint.
:Destus?: she thought muzzily to her Companion. :What - happened? Where are we?:
Destus' mindvoice was thick with worry. :The bandits; they overwhelmed you. You took a blow to the head,: This explained the headache, at least. :They took us over the border; we're in Karse now.: Fear drowned the anxiety in Destus' voice. :As soon as a Sunpriest gets here, we'll be executed for witchcraft.:
A chill swept over Leena, wiping the giddiness of her concussion away. :Destus? Where are you? Can you get me out?:
Now the anxiety was back full force. :I wish I could, Chosen.: His voice was slightly sharper than usual with distress. :But after they captured you, I took an arrow in the shoulder. They have me hobbled, by all four hooves. I can't get out.:
:Do the Heralds know where we are?: Leena asked, desperately hoping for a chance of rescue.
:Yes,: Destus replied. :Rolan, the King's Own Companion, can talk to any Companion if he needs to. He found us, and I told him. He says -: The hopelessness in Destus' voice made Leena, too, begin to despair. :- He says their is noone who can help us. He says to escape if we can, send any information we gather - and that the prayers of all the Heraldic Circle are with us.:
*
"What do you mean, no chance of rescue?" demanded Cassa. "They're alive, aren't they? There's always a chance of rescue!"
Cassa had awoken, more than twelve candlemarks after riding exhausted into Haven, to be informed by none other than Jedin, the King's Own, that her greatest friend was captured behind enemy lines.
"Fighting will soon be beginning in White Foal Pass," Jedin said, trying to make her understand. "No one could get through the entire Karsite army, even if they could get to Leena before she is executed. I'm sorry, Cassa, but it just isn't reasonable to beleive that she'll get out of this alive."
With a half stifled sob, Cassa turned and ran back to her rooms. Jedin heard the bolt click shut behind her.
*
Cassa paced angrily around her quarters. The Heraldic Circle had given up, had they? Well, Leena had saved her life by holding off the bandits to let her through, and she'd be damned if she let Leena die on some Sunpreist's fires!
:Camber?: she asked her Companion with grim humour. :Are you ready to go on a suicidely insane mission into Karse, against the advisement of the King's Own, to save Leena and Destus?:
Cassa could feel Camber smile grimly in response. :Any time.:
*
Cassa snuck down to the stables, avoiding others with a skill that surprised even herself. She saddled Camber, and placed the few supplies that she knew she'd be needing in the saddlebags. A non-descript change of clothing, the best medicine she could steal from the Healers and weapons. Leena smiled slightly. Lots of weapons.
Cassa swung easily onto Camber's back, and the pair trotted to the stable door. And stopped.
Rolan was standing in the way.
He was alone, and being perfectly non-threatening. He was just, quite firmly and irrevocably, in the way. With an icy anger building within her, Cassa dimounted.
She glared into Rolan's deep sapphire eyes. "She saved my life." Her voice was quiet and fierce. "Do you really expect me to leave her to die?"
Rolan looked her up and down, and quietly moved aside. A strange, masculine voice sighed in Cassa's mind.
:I'll give you this,: Rolan said to her. :You may be an idiot, but you're a brave idiot. You have a candlemark before I tell Jedin you're gone.:
Cassa felt awed. Destus and Camber were unusual in that they often talked to both Cassa and Leena. Normally, Companions only spoke to their own Heralds.
Now was no time for idle thought, however. They had a friend to save.