Once they reached the front palace steps Alecie turned to Athena.
"Will you take us to the hideout?" she asked. In answer Athena flew off as the others followed her. It was a silent group as they flew after the sphinx.
"Lecie?" Rowen asked gliding up next to her. She took to look at him and he could see the tear stains on her cheeks.
"It's going to be okay. Athena said that your family is safe."
"But, my people. You saw how many dead cloudrunners there were back there." Alecie said. Rowen didn't know how to answer her as he took her hand. Alecie looked at him surprised as he gave it a light squeeze.
"I promise, everything will be okay." He said. Alecie gave a small smile.
"Thanks Rowen." She said as he dropped her hand.
Ryo and the others were flying a little further back than the others.
"How could Broadway have done this much damage in only one night?" Ryo asked as they passed soundlessly over the destroyed city.
"Probably caught them by surprise." Sakura said. "They thought he was attacking the capitol, not here."
"But according to Athena, they attacked that as well." Anubis added.
"My guess is that it was attacked, it just didn't get the full force of Broadway's attack." Cye said.
They were silent for a moment before Sakura broke the silence.
"Poor Alecie. She must feel awful."
"Even if she had stayed here there probably wasn't anything she could have done." Anubis pointed out.
"But she still feels bad nonetheless." Ryo answered.
"As if she didn't have enough on her mind already." Sakura said looking at Alecie as Rowen took her hand.
"What do you mean?" Ryo asked her. She turned to him and smiled.
"You mean you can't tell?" she asked.
"Can't tell what?" Ryo asked puzzled. Sakura laughed.
"Well if you haven't figured it out by now, then I'm not going to tell you." She said as she sped up her speed. Ryo looked at her then at the others.
"Do you know what she is talking about?" he asked. They all shook their heads as he sighed.
'Women.' He thought with a smile. Sakura looked back at them as she shook her head. 'Men!' she thought with a grin.
A few minutes later Athena started to lead them down. The group followed as they landed at the entrance to a stone tunnel that was located near the outter edges of Star Keeper City. Athena led them inside as they walked through the dark tunnel. They had just rounded a corner when a flashlight beam struck them in the face. The group held up their hands to block the light.
"Who goes there?" A strong voice called out.
"Joren?" Alecie said stepping forward in to the light. "Is that you?"
The light dropped as the man stepped forward.
"Princess Alecie?" Joren asked as she stepped forward for a closer look. "It is you! It's so good to see you alive. Your parents are worried sick."
"I know, please can you take me too them?" she asked.
Joren gave a small bow. "Certainly, follow me." Alecie made a gesture to the others to follow her as Joren led them through a series of tunnels. Sakura looked behind her, noting that the sphinx had once again mysteriously disappeared.
"This place is like a labyrinth." Cye said after a while.
"Probably why this is the hideout." Anubis answered.
"A person could get lost down here for days if they didn't know they right way to go." He added.
"Where do you suppose all these tunnels lead?" Sakura wondered aloud.
"Probably a dead end." Ryo said coming up next to her.
"Or some of them could be alternate ways out." Rowen guessed. The group turned silent as they came upon a passage that was more lit than the others. Joren led them down a flight of stairs; at the bottom the tunnel panned out into an enormous underground room. Cloudrunners were everywhere, huddled in little groups and talking to one another. The cloudrunners fell silent when Alecie entered the room. All eyes turned to the princess as they looked at her with respect and relief that one of their royal family was safe. But the relief faded when they caught sight of the blue E glowing on the Ronins shoulders. Whispers filled the air as Joren led them silently through the room.
"Why are they all staring at us like that?" Sakura quietly asked Ryo as she moved closer to him in discomfort from the stares and whispers. "It's like they are ready to jump us."
"I get the feeling that we aren't wanted here." Rowen said as they passed through that room to enter another tunnel.
"Alecie, why were we stared at like that?" Anubis asked. Alecie looked at him from the corner of her eye as she continued to follow Joren, not answering his question. Anubis was about to ask again but as soon as he opened his mouth they entered another room, similar to the last. At the far end of the room were two thrones. Upon them sat…
"Father! Mother!" Alecie said breaking away from the others and running to her parents. King Tallas looked up surprised as he hugged his oldest daughter tightly.
"Oh Lecie, we were so worried about you." He said lovingly.
"I'm sorry, father. I didn't mean to worry you." She said as the king looked up and spied the ronins.
All kindness left the man's eyes as he stared at the Ronins.
"Who are they?" he asked coldly as his eyes rested on the E showing on the Ronins shoulder.
