Warlord 13
Danielle was sitting in her cell along with Maria who still lye unconscious, and Rachael who didn't seem to be breathing normally. Curious of Janelle's plan Danielle lifted her self up pressing her back along the stonewall and cutting her ropes on a jagged rock. Instead of cutting her ropes she nicked her blouse, which now had a gaping hole in it. On the second try she was able to snag her ropes and cut herself loose. Though Danielle depended on her friends and Justin saving her, she knew she would have to help rescues herself. After pulling her ropes to the floor, she rushed to the open bar window. Out side their window she could see a man standing next to the door, from what she could see it wasn't Samuel. Danielle took initiative and decided to try something.
"Guard, Guard over here!" Danielle shouted, "This girl over here has fallen into a deep sleep from her hit to the head."
The Guard moves in front of the window and gave a gentle smirk, "Why should I care that your friend over there is about to die? They ended up killing that other women."
Danielle gasped at what had happened to Richards mother but she had to keep to her plan, "Well if Janelle went through all the trouble to kidnap her then she must obviously be important to her."
"Janelle is keeping you all alive until she has finished her collection."
"Well if she dies, the collection will be incomplete."
"Janelle knows what she is doing and I don't think she will care if your friend dies."
"How do you know that?"
"Because I do," He said, "That's why."
"Well if you ask me, she is going to die and it's going to be all your fault." Danielle implied, "Now I can save her I just need to get to my tools and a good working room."
The guard nodded his head and unlocked the door. As soon as the door opened, Danielle took the rope that lye upon the ground and rapped it around the guard's neck. She thrusted her hands downward and kneed the guard right in the face, breaking his nose. With blood flying from his nose and mouth, he flew backwards and lye unconscious on the ground. Danielle felt bad for what she had done but she couldn't just let them take advantage of her. She woke Rachael and cut her ropes with one of the guard's keys. When Rachael was untied she began to breathe normally again and she got up from the ground. Danielle noticed Rachael's strong stature, so she thought Rachael could carry Maria. Danielle kept watch while Rachael threw Maria over her shoulder. Danielle ran from the front door. There were no guards in sight and from what she could tell there was no one around for at least a mile. They ran towards the camp entrance since it was the only way out. The camp was surrounded by wooden posts at least a quarter of a mile high. The sun could be seen slit in half by one of the post. When they ran past the main tent that was centered in the middle of the camp, they heard voices with in. Danielle knew that they should leave when they had their chance but the opportunity was to great to pass up. Danielle crawled towards the back of the ten and took the guards keys and cut a small hole in the tent. She peered her eye through to see Samuel and Janelle talking about their plan.
"Samuel I am going to need you to go back and get Lady Kathryn," Janelle said, "Her fortune and her power will come in handy in the end design. Next after her I need you to get Twanria for I know the King will have let her his fortune and probably the kingdom it self. I knew poisoning the King would be to my benefit.
Danielle gasped as she heard what had happened to the King. Rachael was listening most intrigued.
"Next I will need you to kill that damn protectorate Erin." Said Janelle, "She has the power to make the war end in the lands favor. The upcoming war for this land means a lot of guns and weapons needing to be sold. I have a good half of all the weapons in the land and that means lots of money for me."
Danielle and Rachael were listening more intently then ever trying to get every scrap of detail they could.
"With these girls out of the way," Said Janelle, "this war has the potential to last for years and with everyday this war continues the more money for me. Lastly, there are the three men, which have been encouraging those girls to band together. I need you to take care of them after Erin. Justin, Darrell and this small boy. . .'
Before Danielle could get the rest of the information she heard yelling coming from behind her. She saw a bunch of guards running for her. Rachael and Danielle took off for the front of the camp. When they reached the front of the camp, they heard yelling coming from the front. Danielle looked over by the trees, which seemed to surround the outside of the camp and noticed the guards engaged in a battle. From what she could see, she saw Julian and that other girl Natalie and a bunch of other knights. They had to keep moving since the guards behind them were gaining. They ran into the forest and kept running until Danielle ran into some man who she couldn't identify since being knocked over.
When Danielle was helped off the ground she saw Justin standing in front of her along side of him was Twanria and Richard. Richard had a knot on his head, and the feeling of pain in his arms. Danielle embraced Justin with tears flowing finally letting down her guard of courage. She was overwhelmingly happy again. Danielle seemed to be the only thing that kept Justin from being so closed. He closed his arms around her and rested his head on hers. Twanria looked over enviously and a little overjoyed. Richard was staring over at Rachael who was carrying the girl of his affections. Rachael introduced herself and explained what had happened while they lay prisoner inside the tent. Rachael explained what she overheard from the guard of what happened to Richards mother. Richard fell to his knees, now he didn't have either parent. He was alone to raise his brother and sister. Richard was the eldest of his family now and he had to now take responsibility. Richard didn't want to show weakness in front of Maria but he had no other choice. Just at that moment Maria began to wake so Rachael put Maria down to her feet. Danielle was still crying in Justin's arm when Maria finally was able to stand straight. Maria's heart fell when she saw Richard lying there on the ground. She always thought Richard as simple and kind but in this form he seemed gentler. Maria knelt down beside him, looking into his simple kind eyes and shed one small tear with him. Maria in her state of sleep heard all that happened around her and was devastated how she couldn't move to do anything about it.
Justin, Danielle, Maria, Richard, Twanria and Rachael were running away from the battle back to Danielle's home since Richard's mothers place was a wreck. When they entered the first town they sent word to the others to meet at Danielle's home. The journey would be at least a day's walk so Twanria thought it best to stay in the Castle for the first night. Each of them would have their own room if it were desired. When they approached the Castle Twanria felt a cold shiver go over her. It was not but that afternoon when the king had passed away but now it was close to night. The moon could already be seen in the sky and the castle looked as could as ever. They entered through the doorway and head towards the north of the castle to where all the rooms were. At the end of the hallway is where the Kings door to his bedchamber was and at the sight of it, Twanria fell helplessly to the floor crying into her hands. She was upset at herself still but somehow the trust and money that he bestowed upon her was great. Secretly she wanted to know why the King didn't tell her the truth earlier. Maybe he never got the chance to.
Danielle and Justin's room was next to Richards, which was next to Maria's then Twanria's. Danielle was upset that she left out the part of the story, of how Janelle was the one who made the king ill. She knew she would regret it and Twanria would hate her for it but she didn't think Twanria could handle it. Danielle and Justin's rooms were vast in size and elegant for corner to corner. On every other stone brick was a crest carved into the wall showing the Kings shield. On the floor was a circle, hand woven carpet that one could easily stare at for hours. On the east corner of the room was a marble and Ivory colored fireplace that just about spanned the entire wall. To the west side of the room, was an immense bed made of the finest wood and hand woven sheets that were white with a picture of a fire breathing dragon being slain by a gallant knight. On the south side of the room were three large windows, from which the sun was vibrantly coming through. The entire courtyard could be seen from here along with much of the land. Danielle ran to the large window and took in all the sunlight, which accentuated her long golden hair. Justin walked up next to her putting his arms around her waist and they just starred at the wonderful green land that they loved so much.
Richard knocked on Maria's door but when she came to the door, she was a little surprised to see him. She noticed that he was dressed nicely like he was coming to a formal dinner or somewhat. She bid him to sit down at one of the chairs along the west wall. Maria's room wasn't as big as Danielle and Justin's because it was just she.
"Ms. Maria I knows you don't likes me all that much but I have this to say." Said Richard, "I want you to know that I dos care for ya dearly and I would do anything for ya. Yous the ritzy fancy type, I know, and your edjumcated but I can be all that stuff too. I knows you can have anyones you want because your pretty and your really really smart but I think you should settles for just me."
Maria looked at Richard in more of a disgusting nature but sympathizing, "Richard that is sweet, it really is, but I don't think I am ready to be in a relationship at the moment."
"I knows you aren't ready to be in a stitiation or nothing but I thought you might wants to give me a try and all." Begged Richard, "I thought you would be a good mother to my mamas kids and stuff and maybe just maybe you would like me too."
Maria feeling truly flatter didn't have much to say, "How about I'll think about."
Richard feeling a little triumphant and a little defeated all at the same time went back to his room to collect the pieces. Meanwhile, Maria was looking out her window trying to sort out her feelings. She didn't like Richard he was somewhat annoying and beneath her but he was genuinely sweet.
Twanria sat in her room alone on the end of her bed. Her mother walked in, when she heard Twanria had reentered the Castle. Her mother put Twanria's head on her shoulder. Twanria was still crying a little but this made it feel all the better. It was devastating to see the Kings room for Twanria and after the note she was all confused inside. She kept thinking that he wrote it just so, she would like him in the end, but if he was truthful, she would have been hating him for the wrong reasons these past few years.
Darrell and Katie spent most of their walk in silence. Darrell visited many homes explaining the Kings sudden illness and that he may die soon. He didn't want to bring the bad news on to quickly.
"Darrell how come you spend so much of your time doing the Lord William's business," said Katie, "It doesn't seem like you have any time for your self.
"I do lots for myself my lady," Said darrell smiling at Katie as he usually did, "I'm surprised your not that busy yourself. Your family does a lot of business with the King."
Katie looked confused at Darrell and said, "My family is just a simple noble family. I never heard of them doing business with the king."
"Look my lady, you haven't been out of the house as often as you should of," Said Darrell, trying not to over step his bounds, "Your family is one of the wealthiest and financial/business smart nobles in the land. I believe they hid it from you to make sure you didn't grow up conceded and snobby like your sister."
Katie had to realize that her sister was quite conceded and she supposed that her family did it so she wouldn't turn out like her. Katie never did grow up thinking their family was rich just that they were known through out the land as kind generous people. They didn't have many fancy things except their nurse Sara. Sara was found on the street. She was an obvious drinker and she spent most of her time scrounging for money, so she could by her liquor. Sara turned it all around when she started working for the Parson family. She was sober more often then drunk and her work around the house was to be respected. Sara did envy Lady Kathryn though. Sara was short with equally short hair that barely touched her shoulders. Her face was riddled with confusion all the time and when she went out into the streets she wasn't as revered as Lady Kathryn was.
Darrell held arm in arm with Katie as they walked through the more dirty and poor ridden cities. Katie had never seen real poor people before and the sight of all of these people made her heart quake. She wanted to ask what had happened to all of them but she was too afraid to speak. She clenched Darrell's arm even tighter then before when they had to walk up to a little shanty that was covered rats, cats and vermin of all kinds.
"I can't be choosy with who I go up and talk to," Said Darrell, "I basically run around the palace trying to make the King look good by collecting smaller taxes then he ask for and making up the rest from my own pocket."
Katie starred startled at Darrell for a moment and said, "Where do you get all the money to finish paying these people's taxes."
"I get the money from donations, churches but my main source of income, come from a Queendom far away ran by Queen Liana Foster." Said Darrell.
"This Queen Foster person must really are for the people," Said Katie.
"She does and she and King William were once in a great alliance between the two lands." Said Darrell, "But after the Kings great depression she broke off the alliance and helps our land in secret whenever she can."
"She must be truly a wonderful person," Said Katie, "How did it come about for her to break off the alliance."
"After the depression started our land went into a great poverty," Said Darrell walking to the next house since no one was home at the one they were at, "King William started to not care for the land which led to the depression and higher taxes. Queen Foster didn't want to have any part of our land."
Katie feeling as though she had to do something but knew she couldn't just walked quietly keeping her thoughts to herself.
They soon came upon another murky house to wear Katie had to stay at the roadside while Darrell went up. Darrell knocked three times and in a couple of minutes the door opened. Suddenly crashing through Darrell came Samuel upon Katie. She didn't have time to concentrate the littlest of Psychic orbs so she was immediately knocked unconscious by Samuels arm waving. Darrell chased after Samuel but because of his immense size Darrell was unable to catch up. Darrell couldn't figure out how or why Samuel was in the house but someone on the inside must have betrayed him. He forwarded a telegram and to the Castle and to Richards mothers home. He had to inform the others that Katie was taken. Instead of walking back he took a nearby horse and pursued Samuel but he wasn't sure of what he was going to do we he found him.