Chapter 8
Greiga sniffed the air attentively. He stepped forward. His foot touched a yellow brick. The brick sank under his foot. Alarmed, Greiga moved back and growled warningly. The whole courtyard began to sink into the ground leaving a giant pit from where it once stood. Falzer took flight in the air; I grabbed Greiga and leaped out of the way.
A red streak of light appeared before Falzer and missed. Startled, Falzer wheeled in the air to avoid another light after it.
Lasers! He shouted. Beware of lasers!
I ducked another laser.
But where are they coming from?
Don't let me go! Greiga warned me, I can't fly!
I realized that I need to find him a safe place before my arms tire. I tightened my grip around his waist and flew low, close to the ground but not too close. I saw a hut ahead of me. Praying that it would not be another trap, I quickly put Greiga down.
I turned around in order to help Falzer. I flew until I am almost above the wall.
In the corner of my eye, I noticed a small stone on top of the wall turning around. A small glass eye peered out from the rock, then it's eye turned red and flashed. I felt hot searing pain on my shoulder. I tried to turn my head to see what had hit me.
That was my mistake. That turn caused me to lose my balance in the air and fall into the pit.
As I fell, I tried to use my wings, but it only made the pain in my shoulder worsen. I watched darkness crawled out of the hole to greet me as the air slapped my face. Franticly, I clawed the air until I felt my hand grabbed the ledge of the pit. I crashed into the side of the pit, but not in the pit.
I looked up to see Falzer avoid being hit by the lasers. I can't see where they are coming from or who is firing the lasers. But I noticed they are not targeting at me or Greiga. I tried using my other arm but it was too painful. Inwardly, I was cursing at my own carelessness. I should have paid more attention to my surroundings instead of being distracted by that rock.
I blinked. Rock? Rocks don't have eyes.
That "rock" is not a rock at all, but a weapon cleverly concealed as a rock.
In my mind's eye I could see it turning around to fire at me, those weapons have one weakness; it cannot roll off the wall.
Falzer! I shouted at him. The wall, they are coming from the wall.
I know! I know! Falzer snapped.
Falzer wheeled in the air to re-position himself. He tucked his wings close to his body before he made a nose dive. He rolled in the air, at the same time he avoided the lasers. He unfurled his wings to catch himself and made a sharp turn to avoid crashing into the wall. His wing tip touched the wall. Then Falzer turned into a red blur moving next to the wall.
At the end of the wall, Falzer flew up in the air to watch it fall apart with satisfaction.
I focused my attention towards my situation. I turned my body around until my back is against the wall without letting go of the ledge. Using my feet to push my body in motion away from the wall, I swing my body out of the pit and landed on the ground on my feet. The impact jarred the pain on my shoulder. I grasped my shoulder. I almost fell if Greiga had not caught me.
"Thank you," I said faintly, struggling to stand.
"Lord Trithos, are you alright?" Falzer asked, landing next to us.
"I am well," I lied. Trying to shift the attention away from myself, I asked. "What about you Falzer?"
Falzer rattled his armor like a bird puffing up his feathers "Not a scratch." He boasted.
I looked at Greiga. He shook his head no.
I sat down on the ground.
"Trithos, are you well?" Greiga asked gently.
"I'm weary from the fight. Go on with out me. I'll follow."
The Lords looked at each other. They nodded.
"We will wait for you over there." Falzer said.
I waited until they are gone. I breathed in relief. I moved my hand away from my shoulder to see it dissolving into particles.
