Kaeleer: Little Terreille

            Aaron paced back and forth in the tiny cell, trying to keep from rising to the killing edge. He didn't want to alarm Kalush.

            When he had first awoken from the drugged sleep, his immediate reaction was a cold, merciless rage, swiftly followed by concern for the Queens, namely one in particular. He was able to control his rage long enough to ascertain that Kalush was awake and unharmed but it surged over him when he broke contact.

            The other boyos watched Aaron warily as he strode back and forth, gritting his teeth in frustration at his inability to do anything. It was mostly Morton who watched. Khary was preoccupied with contacting Morghann, who was still not awake. Aaron stopped pacing and went to the door. * Sapphire-locked, * he sent to Morton.

            Morton merely nodded.

            As he tried to peer through the tiny grill in the door, Aaron thought he could hear Karla shouting. He shouted back, wondering how far apart their cells were.

            The next second something hard banged against the door and a rough voice said, "Shut up!"

            Aaron muttered something rude to the guard and turned away from the door. He slid down to the floor, wanting to vent his frustrations on something or somebody… Morton stared across the cell at him calmly, providing the perfect target.

            "Why are you so calm?" Aaron snarled. "Don't you realize what's happening? The Queens are in danger and you're just sitting there like a-"

            "Stop it, Aaron," said Morton tightly. "I know what kind of situation we're in, perhaps better than you do." Morton's face was a strained, white mask. "We have to get the Queens out right away-"

            "Well, I'm glad you realize that," said Aaron sarcastically. "And here I thought you were waiting around until someone comes to break Kar-"

            "Shut up!" said Morton, his eyes glittering fiercely as he shot to his feet.

            Aaron rose also, his nerves tingling as he let his Warlord Prince's instincts come rushing in. Morton, realizing that he was facing an angry Green-Jeweled Warlord Prince, blanched but his own anger kept him standing. The tension in the cell rose.

            Khary, having finally reached Morghann, returned his focus to their own cell. Realizing that in a couple of seconds there was about to be a full-blown fight, he tried to quickly defuse the situation.

            * Aaron, Morton,* he sent forcefully. *What are you doing? Lord Rafel would be laughing hysterically if he could see us. Stop being idiots and help me figure out how to get out of here. *

            Morton dropped his gaze from Aaron to Khary, in doing so, retracting his challenge to Aaron. Aaron closed his eyed briefly and took a deep breath, trying to rein in his temper. What had he been thinking? Khary was right, he was an idiot for trying to fight Morton, his friend, instead of saving his strength for escape and for finding that son of a whore, Lord Rafel.

            When he opened his eyes again he found both Khary and Morton staring at him anxiously. He smiled a weak smile. "I'm fine now. Sorry Morton, I shouldn't have said that."

            "It's all right," said Morton quietly, not meeting Aaron's eyes. "Now let's make a plan."

     *                                                          *                                              *                                            *

            As they discussed the escape plan, the boyos tried to keep their worries and fears hidden from the Queens. The impossibility of this task didn't sink in until Karla announced that she could only break one of the locks.

            * It has to be the Queens' lock that is broken, * said Aaron fiercely.

            * Agreed, * said Morton, Khary echoing him.

            * Once all the girls are out, Morghann, or Kalush or even Karla if she has any strength left, can place a shield around themselves and get out of… of wherever this is,* said Aaron.

            *We're probably still close to Goth, * interjected Khary. * I don't think that we were unconscious for that long. *

            * That's probably right,* agreed Morton. * So, once the Queens are out of the cell they use a shield, get into Goth and catch the first Web Coach back to Dhemlan. This leaves us to…? *

            * To face whatever Lord Rafel had planned for us, * answered Aaron grimly.

            * How do the Queens get out of their cell without any one noticing? * asked Morton. * The guards will surely notice a cell door being broken by Sapphire-level Craft. *

            * We stage a diversion, * said Khary smugly. * Yours and Aaron's little argument gave me an idea. Aaron and I will stage a fight, using Craft, and you'll try to break it up. There'll be Craft flying everywhere and the guards will be so busy dealing with us that they won't notice the quiet breaking of the door. *

            * Will that work? * asked Aaron doubtfully.

            * Do you have any better ideas?* Khary demanded. * It's not an escape plan. All we're trying to do is provide a chance for the Queens. We don't know when Lord Rafel is coming back; we need to get the Queens out as soon as possible.*

            Both Aaron and Morton agreed that this was their best chance. As Aaron was explaining the plans to the Queens he heard faint voices from outside the cell.

            * That's the big plan? It won't work.*

            * It'll- wait, someone's coming,* Aaron ordered. He pressed his ear against the grill.

            " Why can't we get ta t'Queens now?" whined a voice.

            "Yeah, why not?" chimed another voice.

            "We need to subdue the males before we can break the females," answered a cultured voice, Lord Rafel's. "It'll make it easier, trust me."

            Aaron paled. "It's Lord Rafel and some men," he hissed to Morton and Khary. *They are planning on breaking the Queens! *

            Morton sent an urgent message to Karla. * Karla, you have to break the lock now!*

            * What?* she answered bewilderedly.

             Morton decided to be blunt. * Karla, Lord Rafel is here with some men to break you and Morghann and Kalush. We're going to delay them for as long as we can. On my signal you have to put all your strength into breaking that lock. Got it? *

            * Yes. *

             Lord Rafel stopped outside the boyo's cell. "Hopefully this shouldn't be too difficult, I imagine they're still drowsy. Prince Tasmel, would you be so kind as to open the Sapphire lock?"

            Aaron grinned maliciously as he descended to the Green. Morton and Khary also descended. Lord Rafel was in for a surprise. He descended quickly, getting to the Green and setting his shields just as he started to feel the effects of the Sapphire shield come undone.

            * Karla, NOW! *

            Chaos erupted.  

Author's note: Sorry for another cliffhanger! They're addicting, I just can't seem to stop. ;) I just want to say thank you to all the people who have reviewed so far. Thanks also to my great beta reader Foxfire. I'm anticipating about 4 or 5 more chapters for this story, yes I do know how this is going to end and no I'm not going to tell you yet! You'll just have to wait and see. Stay tuned for the next chapter, it'll be a doozy!