Hiranneth went outside with Ahéawan following her. However, Amdireth strangely was not in sight. She must have seen us and gone back for help, Hiranneth thought. She led her horse beside Ahéawan and walked back over to the Elders. They seemed sad to see her go.
"I thank you for your help," she said as she embraced the. "Hopefully we can see each other once more."
Nelbet smiled and said, "Yes, I hope so."
Leeum came out of the cabin and went around back to the barn. Nethusila yelled to him, "Get Rusty; he's a good horse."
Hiranneth looked confused.
"It's all right," said Nelbet. "Leeum is going to lead you to the Morenne Wraiths' castle; it is difficult to find."
Shortly after, Leeum led his saddled sorrel-colored horse over to the group. "Shall we go?" he asked sadly.
Hiranneth nodded and climbed on her horse. At that moment, she felt Kiran again, showing her images of where he was. She felt that it was dire to get to him and Kiarton quickly, or something terrible would happen.
"Let us go," she said as she kicked her horse into a trot.

Standing motionless on the balcony, Kiarton saw a group of silhouettes moving towards the fortress. He made out the one in the front as an Elf and almost called out. He quickly reached for a torch that hung on a wall from the room inside. He waved it and waited for the figures by the trees to see it. The Elf in front pointed to the castle and he saw Hiranneth look up to see the torch. Up here, he mouthed. His mind blurred suddenly and an image flashed by. He had been taken through the wall that had been opened by the dark creatures. What had they said? He suddenly remembered. He remembered the hallways, the torches on the walls.

Kiarton dashed back through the large hall and followed the passages. He avoided many Wraiths and finally found the stone wall that he had come through. It looked solid enough, but he knew that it was the secret passage. He put both hands on the wall and muttered, "The crown shall never touch her head." The stones shifted, and he stepped out into the night. He saw the group of shadows once more and made the sound that a bird might make to get their attention.

Hiranneth saw Kiarton from the window in the castle. She hoped he didn't alert the Wraiths to their presence. Leeum motioned the group to a darker part of the tree line. He looked up at the castle and whispered, "I must leave you now. Good luck, Hiranneth…and Ahéawan." He walked to his horse and galloped away.
The silence thereafter was eerie.
After a minute, Kiarton had oddly disappeared from view, and Hiranneth wondered where he had gone.
She could not see much due to the dark of night, but the shadows of the place where scary enough. She stood in deep thought wondering if anything would happen.
Just then she heard a bird, calling out in the night. Yet it sounded almost…human?
"Did you hear that?" she asked Ahéawan.

Ahéawan nodded silently. "Yes, but what is it? And what happened to Kiarton? I could have sworn I saw him," she added, as she realized the others might not have seen and she was just wistfully hallucinating.

Hiranneth looked around for the source of the bird-like call. She saw a dark figure emerge from the castle and stared at it, trying to determine who it was.
"Who can do bird calls?" she asked.
Then suddenly she gasped as felt someone behind her; it was Leeum. "I can do bird calls," he said without explanation of his return. He cupped his hands around his mouth and bleeped out a bird sound that sounded real. Hiranneth watched as the dark figure moved toward them.

Kiarton waited until a reply bird call came from the shadows, then rushed forward to meet Hiranneth, Ahéawan, and another Elf that was with them. "You have come! Quick, they have Kiran trapped inside!" He was introduced hastily to Leeum, brought them forth, staying within the shadows of the trees. When they came to the secret wall of the castle, Kiarton issued the password once more and stepped into the black hallway.

As Kiarton whispered the password, Hiranneth gasped in shock. She had heard the words before, but where? The wall became a passage way which they all went into. It was dark, and Hiranneth felt the strong presence of Kiran. She gasped, trying to find her breath. It was like breathing in death. They walked down the corridor and soon came to a door. Hiranneth stood close to Ahéawan; she felt safer with her.

The door opened and two Wraiths stepped in, shoving the guard aside from his post.
"You fool!" one shouted. "Why did you not tell us that he was awake? We must make the sacrifice now!"
The guard Wraith cowered as he drew a sword. It had a black blade, as though covered in blood, and Kiran could see the sharpness of it. If it had not been so dark, it could have been mistaken for an Elven blade, for so was its beauty and terror.
Kiran felt himself slipping back into the delusional state he had been in as the poison fought for control of him. The Wraith came closer, sword in hand, prepared to sacrifice him before the poison had its full effect.

Kiarton was once again over powered by the suffocating smell that filled every room in the forsaken place. He began to worry as he heard a Wraith yell something about sacrifice and he quickened his steps considerably. The group rounded a corner, and the strange prison cells came into view. They were empty. "Through here," Kiarton whispered. He pointed to the arch that led into the sacrificing temple.
The Wraith that now stood guard suddenly called out to the one holding the sword above Kiran's head, "The vile! It is the key ingredient, you dolt!" Making sure Kiran could not possibly escape, the Wraith headed into a back room to search for the vile.

"This is our chance!" Kiarton whispered to his companions. He found his lance on a nearby shelf, along with Kiran's sword. He grabbed both and ran into the room, lunging with his sword at the guard Wraith. The sentry only looked down at the sword that stuck into the massive shroud that he wore. "Fool!" The Wraith tried to attack Kiarton, but its clumsy advance was dodged. Kiarton ran backwards, wondering why Kiran's sword did not harm the Wraith. Maybe the weapon has to have magical qualities. He dropped the sword, but the Wraith ran towards him. "Looks like you're out of ideas, boy!" it wheezed in a deep voice.

"Not quite!" Kiarton pulled out his lance from behind his back and stuck it firmly into the Wraith's stomach. It stepped back, stunned. There was a blinding flash and it fell back, bursting into an oblivion of tiny particles of light.

Hiranneth ran forward to Kiran, who was lying on the pedestal, barely alive. Kiarton suddenly remembered the other Wraith, which was coming down the hall, vile in hand. Kiarton rushed forward and barred the door. The Wraith screamed from the other side, and Kiarton looked up, his back against the door. "He will have called the other Wraiths! Grab Kiran and let's go! He is poisoned!"

Ahéawan felt the adrenaline rush through her as the action took place all around her. She drew her blade as Kiarton barred the door, ready to defend, but the boy beckoned them onward. Obediently, she sheathed her blade, rushing to the aid of Hiranneth who was trying to lift the unconscious Kiran. Ahéawan grabbed one of the lad's arms and flung his limp body over her shoulder, wincing at the heavy weight. She motioned for Hiranneth to take hold of his legs and searched for the way out.
Seeing none, Ahéawan cried, "Kiarton, how do we get out?" More screams erupted from outside the door that tore through her head like a thousand daggers. The door was being rammed by the Wraiths, thundering crashes shaking the whole room. At the next ram, a terrifying sword tore through the door, clutched by a black arm.
Ahéawan cried out as she realized she must abandon the unconscious Kiran to fight the Wraiths, for keeping hold of him would ensure quick death to them all. She cast a fearful glance toward Hiranneth, whispering, "Hold him, dear girl. I will fight to the death to defend you."
Loosing Kiran from her grasp, Ahéawan held back tears as she drew her blade. Mercy, help us, she thought fleetingly. They had escaped death before, but she feared their share of miracles had run out. She faced the door boldly, ready for the onslaught of horror that was to come.

Hiranneth held onto Kiran as Ahéawan went to defend them. Hiranneth was suddenly filled with despair and began to cry. Her tears fell upon Kiran's face. He moved slightly. Hiranneth held his head up and looked into his barely opened eyes.
"It's alright," she said in a quiet voice, even though the screaming of the Wraiths filled the air.
She cradled his forehead as the Wraiths began to come through, slowly.
She closed her eyes and prayed, hoping that she would receive an answer.
Then, suddenly, for moment out of reality she was at home, with her familiar living room and kitchen. She looked around and observed that it must be her birthday, for she had her new cloak on. She saw her mother and father come in and embrace her. They were smiling and full of joy. Hiranneth's heart was light within her and she began to laugh. Her father left the room and her mother stooped in front of her.
"Hiranneth," she said in a calming voice, "I want you to know something." Hiranneth grew silent. "You carry the very thing that can save you. Go back." She stood up and took Hiranneth's hands, whispering, "Your friends need you."
Hiranneth suddenly realized she was back in the chamber, with Wraiths breaking down the door. She looked to her side and saw the sword of Hunvel, glinting at her.
Leeum came to Hiranneth and took Kiran, "Go," he said.
Hiranneth stood up and wielded the sword like a master. Her eyes shone with a new energy, and she came forward, the power of the Elves of Hunvel in her hands.

Kiarton held his lance. Wraiths rushed forward with an amazing energy. Hiranneth suddenly rushed forward, blade in hand. Just when it started to look hopeless, a crash resounded through the room.

"Fly?" Kiarton wondered, squinting in the sudden light that filled the room.

It was Fly jumping in through the window that opened the room to the sky. "You don't know how long it took me to find you." He grinned and stood atop the pedestal. The Wraiths suddenly backed away in fear. Kiarton threw his lance with deadly accuracy, Hiranneth swung her blade, and the mere sight of Fly was enough to drive the Wraiths back into the shadows.

"The Heir of Hunvel has returned!" someone shouted triumphantly. The Wraiths suddenly turned, fleeing. Kiarton let out a yell of victory and embraced Fly. "Thanks."

Fly smiled grimly. "It's over."

Ahéawan said, "Not quite. We have a life to save." The memory of Kiran swept through the room. They left quickly, taking back the equipment and possessions that had fallen to the Wraiths when Kiran and Kiarton were captured. They ran down the hallway and left through the open wooden door. Leeum could be seen outside, holding Kiran. "Where can we go with him?"

Kiarton suddenly spun around frantically. "Wait, we need the antidote!"

Hiranneth suddenly spun around and ran down the hall, thinking the antidote should be in the room were Kiran had been held. Thankfully, it was there. She grabbed it and began to start down the hall, but then she felt a cold wind come all around her. She froze and fell to her knees. Suddenly realizing what might happen, she threw the antidote out a near window to Kiarton, who caught it with no trouble.

Suddenly, a dark figure came up behind Hiranneth and grabbed her waist. She screamed and tried to get away, but she was paralyzed by his grip.
From what Hiranneth could see, this dark figure was a Wraith, but was much more powerful and had eyes of fire. It spoke in a harsh voice, "The crown shall never touch her head." Hiranneth heard her companions outside calling her name frantically, but she was powerless to respond. As a hand curled around her throat, she gasped and heard no more.