A/N- Ok, well I have a couple of big pieces of Homework to do over the weekend, so it might not be up as soon as I hoped. Thanks should to go to x17SkmBdrchiczxx who while I was reading her review, sparked off this idea. The below is not a reply to anyone in particular, just a general statement towards flamers cough…
The majority don't need to bother reading below, unless it tickles your fancy.
And a note to any flamers, (not constructive criticism, I find that very useful) I value your opinion, but to be honest, I don't mind if you think they're 'retarded' or 'have issues', fine, we all have our different views, but there is a difference between voicing them and downright rudeness. It's my style of writing, and if you don't like it, don't read it. Oh, and there is such a thing as a comma. You may want to consider using it sometimes instead of 'and'. Just a bit of advice from a fellow writer to another.
Disclaimer- is as always; if you don't know what it is, read the other chapters because I'm don't get paid by the word so until I do…
Chapter 27: The Wheel of Misfortune
Recap in the castle: "It's off the scales, sir."
Recap in the woods: The cave loomed before them, dark and hiding secrets that were about to be discovered…
Jonathan paced anxiously back and forth, that part of the old oak floor was now a good foot deeper than any other; he'd been pacing that hard he'd worn himself down into a pit.
Daine watched him go right, then left, then back again, then turn around and then carry on, her head felt dizzy just watching. "It's like watching a game of tennis."
"What's tennis?" Jonathan asked, but still didn't stop moving.
"I saw some youngings playing it outside the walls last week. It's like our jousting-only not."
"So they ride horses?"
"Not exactly."
"Use big lances?"
"Kind of…"
"Do they get hurt?"
"Sometimes…"
"Wear heavey armour?"
"Not that I know of…"
"Is there a tournament every year?"
"Only when the weathers good…"
"And how about the fact that they ram into each other with whats basically a wooden stake?"
"Not usually, although…"
"It's nothing like jousting, is it Daine?"
"No sir."
She decided to keep quiet after that.
(In the woods, the cave awaits)
The darkness submerged them as they travelled warily into the mouth of the cave. The little light the candles gave off were blown out almost instantly, and so Alanna and Numair had to tap into their gifts for light, used only as a last resort.
"We're lost, aren't we Numair?"
"No, we're in the cave in the woods, and we took three rights, a left and then another right, two more lefts, a right again, then one straight path to get here."
"So that would be a yes then." George generally liked to phrase things simply.
"Face it, we've been travelling for what seems like forever and a day, we have no clue where we're going, how we're going to get there, or what we're going to find- that's if we get there of course, which from where I'm standing, isn't looking too likely." Said Dom, fed up of walking, of the darkness, and hearing gurgling sounds that seemed to be getting closer.
"Wait."
"What is it now Alanna, hear another mouse?"
"No Dom, you're so quick to judge, can no one else hear that?" Alanna stopped dead in her tracks, causing a domino effect behind her- but luckily it was only Neal at the end. He was the unfortunate one to land right in Peachblossom's open bite…
"It sounds like…that place, with the things…and the stuff…"
"Don't be too descriptive Dom."
"Where have I heard it before?" Dom couldn't quite put his finger on it, until… "That's it! The Corus Casino!"
"You're got to be kidding, we're in the middle of a cave in nowhere, the forest is out to get us, and now Dom is hallucinating gambling. What a barral of laughs this trip is turning out to be."
"I know what you mean…it does kind of remind you of it, doesn't it?"
"O great, now George is going mad…"Numair was losing his cool at the whole situation, he really should have left when they'd received that note from Jonathan. Stupid. "Guys, I just remembered something…weren't there meant to be Spidren's guarding this cave?"
That put shivers down everyone's spines.
"I'm hoping Kai was wrong."
"Let's hurry up, we'll go towards the noises then, maybe I'll strike it lucky."
So, while Neal dislodged himself from Peachblossom's fierce bite, they decided things couldn't get any worse, so might as well carry on. That was until they rounded the corner and were blinded by flashing lights.
"I can't see anything!" Alanna shouted, trying to shield her eyes from the strong glare. She backed up into George, who feel on Dom, who collapsed on Numair, who stumbled into Neal, who tripped into Peachblossom's waiting mouth…
The lights slowly dimmed down to a bearable brightness, and they were confronted by some sort of…thing. It had a glowing gold aura, but it's immense awe was brought down a notch by it's bright red shoes and stripy silver tuxedo. Not to mention it's wooden cane.
"Hello! Welcome to The Spidrens Cave, the casino where you're a gauranteed a winner!" The thing stated boldly trying to cram as many words into one sentence, then whispered something about 'there being no actual gaurantee, although if you lose I do get to keep your soul…" Obviously not loud enough for them to hear though, of course.
"Someone pinch me. Ow! Not that hard Dom…whatever happened to cousinly love…"
"You've got to be joking."
"O, master Numair, I'm being deadly serious." It said, tapping it's cane on the floor twice.
"Why did you say deadly in italics?" Neal asked.
"I didn't…"
"Yes you did, you said deadly serious. Does that mean we could die?"
"Ah, I can see we've got a bright lad here…how about a game of blackjack?"
"But you still haven't answered my-"
"Poker? Cards not your game then, huh? Russain Roulette? Nah, I was never keen on that one myself…I know what a clever boy like you will love to play. The Wheel of Fortune."
"The Wheel of Fortune?" Alanna wondered.
"Did I say that? Oh, sorry lass, I meant the Wheel of Misfortune. Always get those two mixed up."
"I'm not sure I like the sound of that…" Neal whsipered, backing away from the gloved grasp.
"I'm sure you'll love it, our top prize today is a once in a life time win."
"What is it?" Numair said, wary of the striped maniac.
"Look for yourselves…" They followed the point of his hand, and saw a giant coloured wheel, every colour must have been on there, some they'd never even seen before. They let out an awed gasp.
"Wow… What does it say on each of the segments though?...Does that one say Tar Couldren!"
"Don't be ridiculous Sergaent Dom, I think you need your eyes checked…Look in the centre."
"Kel?"
"That's right, our grand prize…All you need to do is land on the Gold segment there."
"But it's smaller than all the others, and there must be a one in a thousand chance of it landing on there!" Dom exclaimed, how was this wheel fair?
"Life is all about taking risks Dom, and gambling for life is one of them…"