Chapter 14
Talmar was eying me. It was very disconcerting and I was wondering what he was thinking. Would he be willing to work with a little girl with barely any training on a rescue mission? Would he be constantly judging my competence and report every error I made to Will? Hell, would we even succeed on this mission or would I blow it before we rescued Ishea? Scenarios were racing through my head, each worse than the last. Talmar then said, "It is dusk now, time to go."
At last I thought, maybe some action would drive away the horrible thoughts running through my mind. Under the cover of the shadows we snuck into the city and settled into a position to tackle two guards. Talmar knocked his target out quickly but my guard was ready for my attack and I couldn't subdue him. Talmar came up behind the guard I was fighting with and knocked him out for me. "to slow", he said, "you must be faster next time."
My heart sank, what would he say to Will, and how will we manage to complete the mission if I was already messing up so early? Talmar and I changed into the guard's uniforms before we set off to the government buildings. The watch was about to change and we replaced the two guards at the front of the building. Once they left, we snuck inside, the real replacements would be coming soon and be none the wiser of what had happened. Guards don't have to be the sharpest tools in the shed if you understand my meaning. Talmar and I communicated by hand signals for him to check the right passage for the door to the prison cells and I would check the left. The doors were only fastened by a combination of two latches effectively keeping the prisoners in but allowing easy access.
I was on the second to last door on the left wing when I heard footsteps. If it was a guard, I was in trouble. The guards should be occupied by a keg of a fermented desert fruit the Bedullin were fond of. Talmar and I had anonymously provided the alcoholic beverage earlier that evening in order to keep the guards occupied. I silently unlocked the door and slipped inside hoping that the person would not relock the door. The footsteps passed and I heard the voice of Talmar say, "Amber, I have found the prison cells come out and help me find your friend." I opened the door and turned around to close it but what I saw made my blood run cold. My friend was tied to the wall, spread eagled and her head was hanging limp.
"Talmar", I hissed, "come in here, I found Ishea and", my voice broke on the last part, "she's hurt." Talmar walked into the small room, most probably an interrogation room my mind supplied. He took one look at Ishea and said, "Is she alive?"
"I don't know", I said, "I'm afraid to know".
Talmar replied, "Go check for a pulse and if she's breathing, now" The now was said in a slightly louder whisper and a commanding tone.
I walked forward and grasped her hand. It was warm and I forced my shaking fingers to take her pulse. "Please don't be dead", I whispered. Her pulse was faint, or maybe it was just my shaking hand but it was there. My friend wasn't dead; she would be coming back to Araulen with us. My body was numb with relief and I had a hard time undoing the leather thongs tying her arms and ankles to the wall. Ishea slid down to the floor but as I was about to pick her up Talmar was there. He picked Ishea up in his strong arms before I could even contemplate what I should do next. He nodded at me and said, "String your bow, and be ready to fight."
We crept outside just in time to see a soldier run up and begin to report that the men we tied up had been found. I heard Talmar utter a quiet curse and I quickly shot the man. This wasn't the wisest decision because the two guards by the doorway drew their sabers and rushed at us. I only had time to shoot one more arrow, which went wide before I dropped my bow and drew my knives. I hadn't much practice but Will showed me the basics of the double knife defense. I was terrified, they were trained swordsmen and I was barely an apprentice ranger. Then there was no more time for thinking because they were upon me. Talmar rushed out behind me in order to tie Ishea to the horses and ready our escape. I hoped he would be quick, I could really use some help.
The swords men were not too terribly fast and that allowed me to desperately hold my own. However, I could hear the battle cries of reinforcements drawing closer. One of the swordsmen slashed my arm open, but the stroke carried him off balance and I slit his throat. The other swordsmen stepped up his attack, enraged by the death of his comrade. I was loosing ground and being pushed back into the building but Talmar was there. He decapitated the soldier and gave me Coconuts reins. I prepared to mount Coconut when a wave of dizziness came over me. I looked down and saw many small cuts along with the deep gash on my arm, just above my elbow. I touched the wound and my fingers came away covered in blood. Talmar bending over me was the last thing I remember before passing out.
Yay cliffhangers. Hay, at least I'm updating regularly. Is anyone still reading this story or am I writing for no one. Well I will finish this story for nobody if I need to. I didn't want Will and Amber to fight because, one I have no clue how to write it and two it just didn't seem to work with how I wanted the story to progress. Hopefully some one will review this chapter and the next on will be up on October 3rd.
Wolfdragonz