A Soul Imprisoned
Chapter 4
The next morning the remaining pupils of Dungeon Master awoke to weather that reflected their moods. The sky was a dark grey and the atmosphere was heavy. It looked smelt like rain was on the way.
Sheila tried to be positive but she didn't blame them for their lack of response. Eric, she noticed, looked as if he was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
"Or the weight of the Realm." She thought more appropriately.
They'd been walking a few hours in near-silence when Eric spoke.
"Right everyone," He commanded. "Until we can see what's over this rise, I want all of us on our guard."
"Eric, why don't you let me go ahead and check things out?" Sheila asked. "You guys can wait here and I'll go and see if it's okay."
At first Eric was tempted to say no, but he could see the determination in her eyes. He agreed knowing that it was safer for all of them this way.
"Ok Sheila," Eric told her. "I don't need to tell you to be careful, but we don't need to loose anyone else to Venger."
Sheila saw genuine concern in the Cavalier's eyes. In the early days, Eric was the first to run, making sure he got himself to safety, but gradually he'd shown moments of real courage and there were times when he'd put his friends before himself.
"I'll be careful," Sheila promised. "Just give me half an hour."
Eric was satisfied. He knew out of all of them, Sheila was the one who would avoid anything that would put her in danger, except if it was to help one of her friends. Bobby would rush in with his "act-first, think-later" attitude. Even Diana would see a difficult or dangerous situation as a test to her physical ability and face it head-on. Presto would try his best, but usually his confidence would disappear faster than Dungeon Master! Hell, even Eric himself would usually come up with some sarcastic comment and expect Hank to take the lead like he always did and get them all out of trouble.
Hank.
They'd get him back and show Venger again, that he couldn't defeat them.
"Should Hank have finished Venger off in the Dragon's Graveyard when he had the chance?" Eric allowed himself to think back. Although he accepted the decision Hank had made, sometimes he wondered how differently things would have turned out, had he chosen to fire that arrow.
"What would I have done?" He thought, but then shook the thought from his mind. Hank had done what he thought was best and deep down Eric respected that. Pushing these thoughts from his mind, he watched as Sheila hurried in the direction of the hill, raised her hood and disappeared.
"Now, we wait." Eric said out loud to nobody in particular.
Sheila made her way up the hill quickly as quietly as she could even though she knew she couldn't be seen. The sky was darkening further and rain started to fall making the grass beneath her feet slippery.
She quickened her pace and eventually made it to the top. Below her, a wide stretch of winding dirt track lay ahead, the hills and mountains rising up on either side. Still keeping her hood drawn up, Sheila made her way down the path trying not to think of Hank. It hurt too much.
She missed him. Besides her brother, Sheila respected and thought highly of the others, but Hank was the one that made her feel safe in this strange world. It made her feel that Bobby was safe too.
Making her way down the path, she suddenly heard voices as it curved around the base of the hillside.
"Orc voices." She realised silently.
She caught random words such as "escape…five weapons…"
Then she heard a voice that made her breath catch in her throat. She crept closer.
"You all know what Venger wants," Hank was addressing them. "The five pupils of the Dungeon Master - alive – and with their weapons. Under my command we'll ambush them, but not until my signal."
Sheila felt as though her heart had stopped beating for a few seconds. Hank continued talking.
"Venger expects them to come this way, so prepare yourselves." Hank dismissed the Orcs and was left alone.
Sheila felt faint. The feeling of déjà vu came flooding over her and she nearly stumbled. The hurt and pain she'd felt then came rushing back. She'd pushed the feelings of the night she'd accussed him of betraying them away, but now they resurfaced. The thought of Hank, the one she loved, planning to hand them all over to Venger. She would have taken it badly if it had been any of the others as Sheila was an extrememly loyal person and could not understand betrayal of anykind, but Hank. Her Hank. Again.
He stood alone with his back to her, and she could tell he'd been through some changes. The way he stood, his shoulders straight and his head held high as he looked around at everything. Even his voice. So cold and harsh. Not like Hank at all.
"Hank," She whispered, tears filling her eyes. "What's happened to you?"
Hank whipped around, almost as if he'd heared her or sensed her presence. Only a few feet away, Sheila involuntarily took a step backwards although knowing full well he couldn't see her. She started to back away soundlessly, heading back down the path.
Hank had just turned away when she stumbled on the wet gravel. Before she could stop herself, Sheila cried out in surprise as she hit the ground. Her hood slipped back just as Hank whipped back around, an arrow at the ready. Sheila wasn't quick enough.
For what seemed like an eternity to Sheila, the two teenagers stared at each other. The red-haired Thief full of hurt and pleading, and the blond Ranger with shock and something that Sheila would have described as recognition. As quickly as it came, the look passed and was replaced by an icy-glare.
His reaction quick, he called to the Orcs and fired an arrow into the air. With reflexes to match Hank's, Sheila was on her feet, and invisible again. Then she did something she thought she'd never have to do. She turned her back on her beloved Hank and ran for her life.
