Exams, life, blablabla. Yes, I've been busy, but please don't bite me! Now it's CHRISTMAS HOlIDAYS so I will hopefully be able to whip up several more chappies for my lovely readers :)

QUESTION - Do you guys want me to write a chapter about Tei'jal getting her hubby, or should I just skip it? IF NO ONE REPLIES I WILL SKIP IT because I'm lazy like that and Mel's situation is far more interesting.

I might just skip it anyway... .

Oh and I haven't edited the second half so beware of the typos

Merry Christmas :D


Chapter 3

I've never left Harburg, apart from to visit the surrounding Shadow Wood. And now an angry vampire is dragging me away from what I called home. Will I miss it?

"Where did you say we were going?" I have to run to keep up with Te'ijal quick pace – her iron grip on my wrist stops me from going any slower than a quick jog.

"We must head west. We can escape through the Thial Mountains to Thais. You will be safer there."

Whoa, whoa, whoa. Thais? The capitol?

"Is that...necessary? There must be somewhere...closer." I pant from behind her.

"It's the safest place from my brother for now." Is her curt reply.

"But why-"

"Save your breath." Te'ijal interrupts. "Thais is a long way yet, even with my short cut."

Thanks to Te'ijal's lack of social skills, we travel in silence through the dark woods after that. The stars are hidden by clouds, which in turn are mostly hidden by the thick trees lining the overgrown path.

Angry army of vampires or not, I would much rather travel through the trees. Wouldn't that give us protection if the suddenly flew down the path at us? How long does it take for an army to get assembled anyway?

Perhaps it's better if I didn't know.

It isn't long before we're deeper than I've ever been.

The forest is silent and empty, save the odd gang of foxes we startle as we run past. Every now and then I see red eyes peering out from the trees and I think – this is it, we've been found. But then I realise that the eyes are far to bright to be a vampires. No, they belong to the forest guardians. As the trees get even thicker and the path gets narrower, more of those red eyes appear.

Is it the leaves making that noise? Or are the guardians whispering among themselves?

At a fork in the path we stop, and I double over. I don't get long - all Te'ijal is doing is getting her bearings. She quickly grabs my arm again and yanks me on faster still.

"This way will be better," she says as I slip on the muddy ground. So much for my new shoes.

Time disappeared as we ran. All I could focus on was the stitch spreading across my body and the air clawing it's way up and down my throat. I haven't been this tired since I got caught stealing a grey hound for a client. I had to run all over Harburg to try and lose the servants chasing me (and the gave me next to nothing for it. I should have just eaten the dog). Boden found me hiding in an old crate of fish. He helped me get the dog calmed down and back to our client. He didn't laugh at me.

You know, I don't think he's ever laughed. Not in the ten years I've known him, anyway. I can't imagine him laughing - he always looks so serious.

If I ever get back, I'll...

'If I ever get back...' There's a thought.

~O~O~O~

The trees start thinning, the ground starts climbing up, mountains are suddenly peering at us over the tops of the trees. I must be allowed at rest soon, at the mountains. I mean, some of us need to breathe.

~O~O~O~

The edge of the forest is within sight, just around the corner. We turn-

And see two vampires guarding the way.

We both dive behind a tree before we're seen.

"We are too late." I say. Te'ijal looks calm, but her eyes are glowing softly.

"I must leave you now."

"Here alone? With them?"

"Be a good rabbit and hide. I am going to lead my brother's men away from here. When they are gone, escape through the Thial Mountains."

I try to visualise the plan in my head, think through the logic. I don't like the sound of being left alone, but I can't think of anything else. There could be more hidden in the trees, more than Te'ijal can fight off. If she runs, she might be able to distract them from me, then she could fly away, or do whatever vampires do to get to safety. Meanwhile I'm halfway to Thais, which should mean safety.

"Where am I supposed to go?"

"Go north into the mountains, then continue west," she says quickly and quietly. "Don't stop until you reach the Kingdom of Thais. Seek out a man named Ulaf. You can find him at the School of War and Magic. Ulaf will keep you safe. Give him this letter." From one of her pockets she hands me a letter and bares her fangs in a grin. "Don't get too cosy without me, rabbit. I'll be around to collect you eventually."

"Where are you going?"

"I must retrieve my husband. He has escaped again."

"You're married? Er...your husband escaped?" Again?

"It's a long story."

"Um, okay. Good luck with that."

Te'ijal turns, then stops. "Oh... and rabbit? Do me a favour?"

"What?"

"When you reach Thais, do not go out on dark nights. My brothers magic is strongest then. If you encounter vampires, use this." From another pocket she gives me a vile of water – holy water, I guess. I stash both water and letter in my bag.

"Before I go, I have one last gift for you."

She doesn't reach for anything, just stares at me. I open my mouth to remind her we have a bit of a time limit, but...

My arms suddenly start to tingle. Looking down, I see all scrapings from the boulder gone. My stitch has also gone, my heart and breathing rate back to normal.

"Wow, how did you do that?"

"You don't want to know. I must go now."

This time she does. She runs out from where I'm hidden, then out across the path in plain view of the two vampires. In a flash all three have vanished into the trees.

It appears I'm on my own. I stay hidden for a few more minutes, then hurry north out of Shadow Woods and into the Thail Mountains.

~O~O~O~

The mountains are harsh.

The cold wind bights at my face and fingers and rocks keep sliding under my feet, moving me back down hill. That's the least of my problems though.

A pack of wild chickens are attacking my ankles, sending feathers and dirt everywhere and slowing me down even more. I throw the last of my bread behind me, hoping they'll run after it, but they do not.

"Go away!" I yell, kicking out and striking one, sending it flying. It comes charging back in to the fray.

"Aargh!" I run as fast as my tired legs will take me, across a bridge and into an old mine.

"Good riddance." I mutter to myself.

I find a river to dunk my head in, then continue, past old and collapsed mine shafts and large steps heading deeper into the mountains. Something small scurries over the ground as I draw nearer. Ah, rats. My kind of animals.

~O~O~O~

Thais is west of here, both Te'ijal and a sign post have told me that. But how far?

It's still pitch black, though I don't know how. Feels like it should be noon.

At least the sky has cleared up. That way I can get my bearings.

After I've left the old mine and dodged a mutant dragonfly, I reach another rickety ladder, but not the usual ones heading up. This one goes down. Finally!

~O~O~O~

I emerge from the final cave of the mountains into a forest. Not Shadow Wood (that would be a disaster), but what must be Brightwood Forest that surrounds Thais. Not long now, hopefully. I've got a bag of rats just begging to be roasted.

It's starts to get light as I trek through the grassy forest, and I slow my pace. Vampires don't like light, right? So I should be safe now.

I wander off the path to a nearby pond. I take a drink and sit for a moment, enjoying how still I am after so many hours of running.

A noise jerks my eyes awake, and I quickly stand. It still isn't quite light. Those vampires must know where I'm going – why else where they guarding the entrance into the mountains? They could be here any moment, so I'd best hurry. When I reach Thais, then I can rest.

The path I'm on splits of in three other ways. I stare at the sign post for a minute. My reading is a bit shoddy, but I recognise Thais:North-east, which is all I need to know. I take the top right path as the sky begins to turn grey.

Pink when I see the tower of some grand building.

Blue when I reach the gates.

~O~O~O~

I've made it to Thais alive. It's been a long night, but I'm finally safe...for now.

I need to find the School of War and Magic and the man named Ulaf.

Thais is...nice. Clean. There are plants and trees, children playing, dogs, doves, the sounds of voices echoing through the streets. It's a lot busier than Harburg, and seems so much more boring. Not a single thief of dirty person insight. Except from myself, of course.

"Hey, excuse me?" I ask a woman. "Where's the School of War and Magic?"

The woman points to a sign post. "Walk through the Lamplight District, just there. After that, North will take you to the Noble District and South to the Lamplight District."

Ugh, the nobles have their own district named after them? Typical.

The Lamplight District is a residential area, house after house with so much greenery I feel I'm back in the forest. Like I said, it's...nice.

The a muddy path leading south really does take me into the forest, leading out of the city. Two people about my age walk past me wearing the same red outfit.

"I wish Hercules would come to Thais so I could get his autograph. Did you know he slew six dragons with one leg tied behind his back?" I overhear the girl saying.

It isn't five minutes before I reach a turn in the path. Up ahead, the trees have cleared leaving way for a big stretch of grass and a building the size of a castle.

The school is huge and fancy, the size of a castle, which it probably used to be.

More people are milling around, dressed in similar clothes to the two I past on the path. No one seems to be paying any attention or trying to stop me, so I enter the huge front door.

I expected a huge entranceway, grand and fancy. Instead I'm in quite a small, completely deserted corridor. I look down both ways, hitching back bag higher securely onto my shoulder. I pick a direction and start to walk down it, when a cough stops me.

In a room up ahead I see an old man pacing in long blue robes and fiddling with his white beard. Ah ha! Maybe he can help me.

"Yes?" he asks me as I walk up to him.

"I'm looking for a man named Ulaf." I say. "Do you know him?"

"I'm Ulaf." He looks down his nose and me. "Who are you?"

"I'm Mel. Te'ijal sent me." Quickly I open my back and pull out the letter. "She told me to give you this."

Ulaf rips it open and scans down it.

"Another one? Te'ijal is insufferable!" He fumes, looking as if he's about to stamp his foot on the floor. He turns his attention back to me and looks me over again. "She has demanded for me to enrol you in school. You are a mage?"

"Um, no."

"Not a mage? You're a fighter, then?"

Do I look like much of a fighter? I mean, sure, I've won the odd fist fight behind the tavern back in Harburg, but I bet that isn't what he-

'Ouch! That hurt!' I yell. Out of no where, Ulaf pulled a sword out and smacked me on the shoulder with it. Crazy old man!

"Hmm, not a fighter either. I'm sorry, I don't think we have a place for you." He frowns, and mutters something under his breath. I think I hear the word 'kitchen'.

"She might fit to Professor Gray's group." A voice comes from the corner.

Ulaf turns to the owner. "Shush! Speak not a word more!"

"Who is Professor Gray?" I ask, rubbing my arm.

"Boy, I should throw you out this instant!" Headmaster Ulaf barks, looking thunderous.

"Come on, Master Ulaf, you have to place her somewhere. She fits the criteria. Just look at her." They both turn and gawk at me like a mannequin in a dress shop. "She's skinny enough to hide anywhere and with those clothes of hers, she can practically blend into the walls. I bet she's clever too."

"You may be right." Ulaf turns back to me. "Girl, are you clever?'

"I'm not sure how to answer that without sounding offended." Clearly I'm not wanted here, and I'm getting tired of this abuse. "I'll tell you what, why don't I just leave? I'm sure there are other, more lucrative ways to amuse myself while I'm stuck in this stuffy city."

"Oh, no, you don't. Te'ijal would be...unpleasant...if I let you leave. You have been ordered to attend school." Then, coming to a decision, he turns to the pupil. "Take the girl to see Professor Gray. I am holding you responsible for any trouble she causes."

"Yes, Headmaster." the boy turns to me. "C'mon, I'll take you to see Professor Gray." He's already leaving before I reply.

"Fine."