Thank you everyone who reviewed!! Though Alenor had a very good point—One that I will try and remember. Thanks everyone! Here's the next chapter!
"How far behind them do you think that we are?" Dom asked the old Siren.
"Close enough that if we ran we would bump into them in less than half an hour."
"So what are we waiting for? Let's hurry!!"
"We need to have some sort of plan. I say we wait until nightfall, sneak into camp and then free your friend."
"But. . ." Dom fidgeted. He had a strange feeling that they should not wait, but he had no reason behind him, and he knew that Eilya would not like being crossed for 'a feeling.'
"Do you have any objections to that?" she asked him, not so much as a thoughtful question as it was a dare.
"I. . . No. That sounds like a good plan. But I think I'm going to scout ahead, just see what we're up against. I'll find you around nightfall." He hurried off, not giving her a chance to argue.
---
The Kirizo had just come to a clearing when Dom caught up to them. They stopped once they were completely out of the forest. He circled around their group, careful to hide in the dense trees behind them. He had just gotten around to where he could see the front of their ranks when he spotted Kel.
She was alright! They hadn't hurt her, although she was clearly exhausted. She was looking at something, and Dom followed her gaze.
What he saw made his stomach lurch.
. . . . . . . . . . . .
"Come on Peachblossom, we can't be far behind them now." The Kirizo were obviously not afraid of being followed because they didn't worry about hiding any of their tracks. Raoul couldn't help thinking somewhat smugly that they were as easy to follow as a herd of Carthaki elephants.
It did not take him long to catch up with them. He was just trying to figure out what his next move would be when he saw something, or rather someone, out of the corner of his eye.
It was Dom.
"Psst! Dom!" Raoul whispered as loudly as he dared. The young sergeant didn't hear him. He was strangely focused on something else. Raoul tried to maneuver around to get over to Dom, but with two horses, it didn't see possible. At least he knew that the young man was alright. Instead he focused his attention to whatever it was that Dom was staring so intently at.
There was an old ruined castle, but there was nothing else of particular interest. Although Raoul did notice a man standing there, obviously wealthily dressed, but he couldn't see closely enough to make out any of the man's features.
But there was something about him that seemed strangely familiar. . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .
"We will get to the Boss' castle before the day is out, Kel. There's not much that you can do, but I wanted to give you fair warning." Trick looked sheepish, and wouldn't look Kel in the eyes—Which was understandable, because the glare that the lady knight was giving him would have scared even a very brave man (something that Trick was not).
"You're a coward," Kel spat.
Trick just scuffed his foot in the dirt and shrugged.
"You're mother was a warrior, and you don't even have enough guts to stand up to the man who murdered her. Be a man! Help me!"
"I've told you before, I can't do that Kel. And for all of your big talk, you don't seem very brave. I've heard you when you dream. Who is it that you call out to in the night like a little baby? Dom? He can't help you anymore than I can, and you're not brave at all."
"You idiot," she muttered, deciding he was a lost case.
"What?"
"Guilt, love, those are very different things than bravery. And you know what? I'm not brave, but I do have courage-- which is yet another thing that you don't seem to understand."
"Enlighten me."
"I am scared, and I will admit that. But I have the courage to fight it, to stand up for myself, for what is right. You don't need to be brave to be courageous."
"You don't know what you're talking about," the boy muttered, and with that, he quickly walked off.
---
Several hours and many miles later the sun began to set. Kel, weary, sore, and stumbling, was roughly shoved to the front of the Kirizo. She lifted her head just enough to see what was ahead of her, and was amazed at what she saw. There, just before her, was an ancient castle, old and crumbling.
What surprised her more was the man who stood in front of it.
Thanks again to all of my reviewers and supporters! I really appreciate it! Hope you liked this chapter, in the next one we will finally meet 'The Boss.' Hehehe. Please review!