Warning: this chapter contains some major character whump. If you don't like violent fighting scenes then don't read.

Chapter 13

Ayron was in his room packing when someone tapped on his door. "Enter," he called.

Sparke pushed his way into the room. "Are you ready?" Ayron nodded, and picked his pack up from the bed.

As the pair made their way into the courtyard other people joined them. A crowd gathered to see them off. There were the Prince and Princess standing beside their parents; the guards standing along the edges of the crowd, and everyone else in between.

"Good people of Narnia!" The king began to speak. "Today our friend, Ranger, and loyal guard, Sparke, are leaving to investigate the news of an army massing itself within our borders."

A little murmur ran through the crowd. Some had not yet heard the news of the army.

The king continued, tuning to the companions as he said, "May Aslan guard you."

Ayron and Sparke bowed, then they walked through the aisle down the center of the crowd and out the gate.

~o~o~

The Ruins loomed before them, a giant tangle of half-broken walls and boulders. What had once been the castle of Miraz the Usurper was now a desolate area where wild animals wandered at will.

Now, though, they could hear the sound of people moving, metal on metal, and even horses.

"They're not being very unobtrusive." Ayron remarked. "No," Sparke replied with a grin. "But we can be."

Ayron smiled back, and the two of them crept forward.

Silent as shadows they had snuck up to the western wall when they encountered a problem. The sentries were marching back and forth, keeping constant watch. It seemed there would be no getting past them, but Sparke and Ayron managed to find a way.

Disaster soon struck.

Ayron and Sparke were eavesdropping on a conversation between two generals, but as they were listening footsteps approached the place where they were hiding. Both of them looked around wildly, but there was no place to go. They were caught between a wall and several supply wagons; it was definitely not a good place to be caught in.

"What do we do? If we're seen we're dead." Sparke whispered. "They might miss us if we keep still and silent." Ayron replied. "If not –"

He paused as the footsteps approached the wagon and stopped within ten feet of their hiding place. The two companions held their breath, and let it out with sighs of relief as the soldiers passed by them.

Unfortunately, their success did not last long.

As Ayron moved out from behind the wagon he ran straight into one of the patrolling guards. The guard struck out with his spear, but Ayron dodged the blow, unsheathed his knife, and drove it into the guard's thigh. As the guard bellowed in pain Sparke rushed out and sank his teeth into the guard's arm. He quickly let go as more soldiers rushed upon them, and the pair began to run.

Soldiers chased and nearly caught them several times, but Ayron and Sparke would fight them off and continue their hopeless flight. The soldiers were right behind them.

After several minutes of running they found a hole in the wall just large enough for a fox to get through. But Sparke refused to leave Ayron's side.

"We can't both get through." Ayron told the Fox. "You have to go; I'll find another way."

Sparke shook his head. "I'm not leaving you."

Soldiers appeared around the corner, drawn swords in hand. With barely enough space to maneuver Ayron drew his own sword and set his back up against a wall.

"You have to go now!" he shouted. "If you don't go we could both die."

Again Sparke shook his head. "I will not leave you."

Swords clashed in the dark and Ayron was now totally focused on giving his friend time to escape. A sharp edge caught his arm, while a hilt slammed onto his back. Ayron grunted in pain and swung his own sword at the attacker.

Just as he raised his sword to block another stroke from above a sudden, burning pain stabbed through his side. Cold metal shone in the moonlight as a spear head was pulled out from below his ribs, and Ayron knew he possibly wouldn't survive this encounter; already he was tiring. Sparke was still fighting beside him.

Risking momentary exposure he turned, bodily lifting the Fox, and shoved him into the hole.

"Go!" he shouted, as a heavy club descended toward his head.

Sparke was forced to crawl forward–and away from his–friend because there was no space for him to turn around and come back.

He growled, then whimpered as a sickening crunch came from behind him. Finally out of the tunnel in the wall the Fox hesitated for a moment as he heard some shout a command from the other side.

"Take the spy for questioning, and find the other one as well!"

Aslan help him, Sparke prayed as he raced from the Ruins toward Cair Paravel.