Ugh, I can't believe I just threw Nick to the wolves like that. I actually wrote that entire chapter intending for him to be in his cell, then changed it at the last second, so that was actually kind of traumatic for me too. Anyway, I realize it's been a while and I swear I'm not doing this on purpose. At least it wasn't, like, six months, which I'm pretty sure was how long your last hiatus was. Here it is: *fanfare*
Peri- Esteba tried again, standing by the door while Peri stalked throughout the cell, kicking at the walls like they were hiding her friend. A murderous haze quickly descended onto her, and she was ready to kill anyone and anything that threatened her.
"Why is the cell empty?!" she hissed furiously, her knuckles white around the hilt of her knife. First she would kill Hadin, then she would hunt Dareth down and slaughter him.
"Peri-" Esteba snapped, shooting a nervous glance up and down the corridor outside.
"I'm going to kill him, I swear to-"
"Peri, shut up!"
Peri whipped around, the hood of her cloak slipping off her head with the intensity of the motion.
"You shut up, I'm going to skin Hadin alive!"
Esteba gave a frustrated growl and strode over to her, hands outstretched to settle her- or restrain her. Peri backed away, dagger flashing threateningly, her mind racing along irrationally in the way that often got her into trouble. Esteba stepped closer and, faster than Peri's eyes could follow, grabbed her wrist, drove her elbow into the side of Peri's head, and effortlessly snatched the knife out of her stunned grasp. Peri went reeling sideways with the force of the blow, her vision dancing with stars for a heartbeat. She caught herself on the wall of the cell and spun to face the elf, trying to work out a way to get passed her and out of the prison without being stabbed and/or tackled.
"So it was you," she spat out, whipping two daggers out of the sheaths at her waist. "You're the traitor."
"Peri!" Esteba dodged past her knives, grabbed one arm, and whipped her around to face the wall, slamming her cheek against the rough stone, wrenching her arm painfully so she couldn't twist free. The elf caught her free hand and pinned it effortlessly to the wall. "Calm. The fuck. Down."
"You-"
"Shut up, calm down, and try not to get us both killed, yeah? I'm not going to kill you, I didn't betray you, and I sure as hell wouldn't like to be imprisoned in the very place we tried to break into just because you can't keep your head on and your mouth shut. Gods, I thought you were the professional."
Peri realized that struggling was pointless and slumped against the wall. The pressure on her arm eased a little and she sucked in a deep breath. She was surprised to find her vision swimming with rage and she tried to dispel some of it.
The facts, iet ilian.
You're on her side?!
She is on your side. We're all on the same side, the four of us.
Peri took another shaky breath and more of the fog cleared from her head, leaving her feeling ashamed and rather childish. Esteba must have taken that as a sign of rationality and released her. Shaking out her shoulder, Peri reluctantly sheathed her knives and turned sheepishly to face her friend. Esteba was watching her with a sort of cautious amusement, ready for her to explode again. Peri took a deep, slightly-calming-but-not-really breath, and accepted her dagger when it was offered to her.
"Sorry," she muttered, sheathing that too and rubbing her face with one hand.
"No problem," Esteba responded with an easy smile. "Sometimes I want to stab you too."
"Thanks."
For a moment they just stood in the empty cell, while Peri pulled herself together and Esteba watched.
"Okay," she said after a long moment. "Ready."
"For what?"
"We're searching the prison."
Esteba heaved a sigh and raised her gaze to the ceiling, an expasterated expression on her face.
"Peri, there are thousands of cells in this place and we're not going to go unnoticed forever. We have to get out, get some new information, and get a new plan. Then, we'll come back. We're not going to abandon your friend, but running around Hljödhr Andlát until someone catches us is just plain stupid."
"But what if he's-"
"It doesn't matter. If you want to get killed, fine, but make sure you run it by Datia first."
Peri, a response ready on her tongue, suddenly slumped at the mention of her bondmate. Esteba was right, of course. She couldn't do anything that would separate the two of them. She'd sworn it, and while other oaths meant nothing to her, an oath between the two of them was more sacred than all the riches in the world. Peri swallowed her guilt and overwhelming worry for her childhood friend and tugged her hood back up, plunging her face into shadow.
"You're right," she said wearily, her hands dangling limply by her sides. "I hate you, but you're right."
"You love me and you know it," Esteba said with a small smile as she strode over to the half-open door and peeked outside. Peri strode over to join her as she stepped out into the hall, scanning the hallways carefully. "Now come on," Esteba said drawing her sword quietly. "We're not safe anymore."
The pair of them had only taken three steps when two figures rounded the corner of the hallway ahead of them, directly inbetween them and the route they had to take. They reacted together, instinctively, lunging forward while they still had the element of surprise. Peri had her dagger out in a heartbeat and, feuled by all her frustration and rage, rammed it between the figure's ribs. She didn't stop to check exactly where she'd struck, whether the guard would live or not, and leaped over his body as he crumpled to the ground with a startled grunt. Esteba had already dropped the other figure and together they tore down the hallway like all the demons of the world were on their heels. They made it all the way to the stairs before a tremendously loud roar echoed up the stairwell.
"Shit," Esteba muttered, which Peri echoed as they scrambled up the stone stairs. "They're getting slow."
"Works in our favor," Peri barked back, her breath beginning to come in shorter pants.
Datia, be ready. We're coming out and we might have some trouble.
Datia didn't sound impressed when she responded with, Why can't anything ever go without a problem?
Takes all the fun out. I'll let you know when we're on the temporary level.
I eagerly await your command.
Peri was beginning to wish Hadin had taken her stair-climbing instead of running as she ran up flight after flight. More than twice they had to press themselves against the walls in order to avoid a tide of guards running past them. Peri found it quite funny to trip the last guard in line and watch the men and women topple like dominos, and it gave them a little time to climb higher as the pile of bodies sorted itself out. Her legs were screaming as they passed another floor, begging for her to stop and give them a moment's rest, but Esteba's fleeting shadow kept her moving as they dove into yet another staircase. Peri hadn't been counting as they climbed, so it came as an abrupt surprise when there wasn't a staircase to dive into and she nearly hit a wall. Esteba was already racing down the hallway, heading for the opposite corner amidst the confused cries of the temporary prisoners. Peri took off after her, the soft bottoms of her mocassins making almost no sound as she ran. The level was almost deserted of guards, except for one who'd been doling out meals, but by the time Peri reached him he'd already been dealt with, his unconcious body tossed halfway into an open cell. Peri didn't spare him a second glance and followed the sound of Esteba's feet up the next staircase.
Datia, get ready.
Will do.
It was a short sprint down the guest hallway, but to Peri's aching thighs it was a marathon, and she almost sobbed when she reached the final staircase. But she tackled it anyway, using her arms and knees to get herself up the steps and into the Warden's room. The sounds of shouting and pounding feet was beginning to follow them, but it was still far off as Peri found her boots and roughly stuffed them into her cloak. Esteba was already scrambling out the window, shooting Peri a quick grin as her head disappeared into the rock wall. Peri scrambled headfirst after her, somehow managing not to go diving off into open air and working her way upright. Esteba was already gone. Looking around, she spotted Datia circled closer from off to the right.
Try and climb higher, she instructed, sending an image of Peri standing on top of the spire of rock the Warden's quarters were carved into. Peri didn't hesitate and threw herself up the rock face, her toes and fingers finding holds like they could sense them, and not for the first time did Peri marvel at the wonders of adrenaline. Suddenly the entire mountain shook under her, nearly dislodging her tentative hold on the cliffside, and a chorus of draconic roars split the air. Shit. Out of nowhere a pair of claws wrapped around her torso and legs, and the mountain dropped out from under her. A terrified squawk escaped her mouth before she recognized Datia's midnight blue scales.
You gave me a heart attack!
I saved your life.
As Datia banked after Vagero's distance shape, Peri caught a glimpse of the rock spire she'd just been climbing. An archer was leaned out the window with a bow in his hands, twisting around to aim at their fleeing forms. He must have been an elf, because even in the murky darkness the arrow nearly sank into her neck and only a strategic twist on Datia's part saved her from being skewered. Instead the arrow clattered uselessly off of Datia's claws and dropped off into the night. The wind started to whistle in Peri's ears as they flew faster away from the prison, and possibly away from Nick. The thought of him made her feel sick with failure and guilt, but she embraced the feelings with open arms. She deserved it. She should have been better, planned for more, gotten more information. Suddenly she was violently jerked out of her own mind and she found herself coasting along on strong wings, a fragile human body between her claws and the wind in her ears. The night around her was alive with vivid blues and silvers, making everything seem radiant and somehow magical. The tiny stars overhead seemed unnaturally bright as they cast their silvery light down on the desert sand, and the moon was almost painful to look at. The murky blue sky was alive with dancing shades of blue, threaded through with silver, and the beauty of it would have made her cry had she been human. Wait-
Datia!
I'm not letting you back out, now sit tight and stop feeling sorry for yourself.
Peri banged half-heartedly on the walls of Datia's mind, but they were solid and impenetrable. Soon she forgot all about it as the desert tilted suddenly in order to spot a white shape in the distance behind them. The prison was already a vague lump in the horizon, but the white dragon on their tail refused to go away. Datia gave a hostile growl and threw herself into the wind, her slender form weaving through the air after Vagero like a ribbon. But the wind almost seemed to be working against them. It was shifting about and doing everything in its power to slow them down, and Raj continued to grow closer.
Vagero!
It took Peri a moment to realize that it wasn't her speaking. Datia reluctantly relaxed her mental barriers and Peri slipped back into her own body as Vagero's rumbling voice spoke in her bondmate's head.
I know. The halfling is influencing the winds. Land, and we will fly back to join you.
Instantly Datia began to drop lower in the sky, and the troublesome headwinds followed them. At the rate Datia was working, she should have gained on Vagero ages ago, but with the winds plaguing them they were barely moving. They continued to blow as Datia dropped close to the ground, making hovering an extremely painful task. She was forced to drop Peri from a questionable height, but the sand served as a decent cushion. It did, however, get in her clothes, dragging her mood down considerably. Datia dropped onto the sand next to her and a few minutes later so did Esteba, followed closely by Vagero.
"Can't you counter him or something?" Peri asked grumpily, digging sand out of her shirt.
"Tried that, didn't work," Esteba spat back, equally as grumpy. Once they'd gotten the sand out of their shoes and Peri had changed back into her boots, all they could do was wait for Raj to reach them. When he finally did, Peri was playing with the edge of her dagger, which she had just laced with poison, and Esteba had one hand rested on the hilt of her sword. Vagero looked just as bad-tempered as always and Datia looked serene, if you didn't count the cat-like twitching of her tail. Raj landed easily on the sand a short distance away, but out of Vagero's reach. Hadin's small figure leaped down after a moment, spreading his hands to show that he wasn't armed. As he walked closer Peri's suspicions shriveled up and died, replaced with more guilt and a little shame. How could she suspect the boy who'd been her friend from the get-go, even if he was a little odd and his history was unknown? She swallowed and twirled her dagger between her fingers, watching the blond-headed shape grow more detailed as he walked closer.
"Where's your follower?" Esteba called, her conversational tone at odds with the tightness in her shoulders. Peri tossed her dagger into the air and watched it spin, then effortlessly caught it by the hilt and waited for Hadin's answer, but it never came. Instead, the blonde-haired boy walked straight up to Datia and paused, meeting her eye.
Go to hell, Datia said pleasantly, and Peri stiffened in surprise before she realized the dragoness was talking to Hadin. She wiggled a little closer to her bondmate's mind to listen in.
I need to check everything, anything he might have touched, Hadin said, sounding surprisingly calm considering the seriously pissed off dragons that surrounded him. I'll explain once I'm done, I promise.
You'll explain now, Peri snapped, getting the satisfaction of watching Hadin's head snap around to face her. That pleasure was quickly and violently stifled by the hurt that showed on his face, but he didn't look surprised.
"Please, I need to find the tracker," he said, sounding for all the world like he was telling the truth. He hesitated a moment, then continued in a language Peri barely recognized as the Ancient Language. "Eka thorta du illumëo."
He speaks the truth, Datia translated, and the belief in her voice was what made Peri give Hadin a nod. The boy gave a tight smile and, after his request for permission was granted by Datia as well, climbed easily up to the saddlebags on the dragons back. Esteba cocked her hip and watched with a curious expression, but her hand still rested on the blood-red hilt of her sword and occasionally she gripped it like she meant to draw it. Peri just stood in utter confusion and watc hed Hadin take one item at a time out of her saddlebags, exmaine it closely, then put it back. She wanted to protest that this was a complete invasion of her privacy, but a warning from Datia stopped her. If her bondmate trusted Hadin's word, so did she, and the seconds stretched into minutes that stretched into almost an hour. At last Hadin had gone through each saddlebag and found nothing, but he didn't seem to have found anything. He sat with a baffled expression on his face and surveyed the thin saddle, like it was hiding something that he needed. Peri coughed conspicuously, but he didn't move.
What is he doing? she thought to Esteba.
Not sure, but I can't see into his mind. Guy's locked up tighter than HljödhrAndlát.
"I can hear you talking," Hadin called from his perch, drawing both Riders' surprised gazes to him. He met their stares with a deadpan expression, giving away nothing, and turned back to Peri's things. Suddenly his face lit up and Peri forgot all about his statement when he pounced on her sword, which hung from the side of her saddle in its sheath. Peri jumped and started forward, but in that time Hadin had already tugged the entire thing free and jumped down, settling onto the sand with the sword in front of him.
"Stupid, stupid," he muttered with a grin, sliding Peri's sword out of its sheath and laying it on the sand. It shone a bluish-silver in the unbroken moonlight, but Hadin seemed unaffected by its luminescence. He seemed more interested in the sheath, made of polished leather and sewn together with midnight blue thread. He lifted the sheath off the ground and stared hard at it, while Peri watched in bewilderment.
"What's… what's stupid?" she asked after a while, after Hadin had sat for ages without moving, but the boy still ignored her. A couple minutes later another triumphant grin spread over his face and he stood up, holding the sheath in one hand.
"A simple spell, really," he said, as if he'd been talking the entire time and was continuing a previous train of conversation. "Simple to cast, simple to undo. Clumsy of them, but it works in our favor." Hadin cleared his throat, then said a few words in the Ancient Language that Peri had yet to learn. The moment he pronounced the last syllable, there was a distinct crack in the air, more of a vibration than a sound. Peri flinched and stalked over, sure he'd done something to her sheath to damage it, but to her surprise it was still in perfect condition. Hadin turned and handed it to her like he was handing her a bread roll and stuck his hands in the pockets of his tight riding pants. Peri took it slowly and stood there, waiting for it to detonate. Hadin gave an exasperated roll of his eyes and with a jerk of his head beckoned Raj closer.
"You think I gave Hljödhr Andlát a call? Why? What would that have gotten me, Peri? Gods, aren't I your friend?"
Peri was sinking lower and lower into a sea of guilt with each syllable, but she managed to stop herself from breaking down and begging for forgiveness.
"Why wasn't Nick in his cell?" she asked, keeping her face closed.
"Because I screwed up, okay? But I didn't warn them you were coming. You did that yourself."
"What the h-"
"Your sheath. Dareth gave it to you, didn't he?"
"Well, yeah, he gave us all one."
"Did you know he made them?"
"No…" Peri wasn't following any of this, nor was she sure there was even anything to follow. "So what? He's a Rider and an elf. I'm sure he learned to do that stuff ages ago."
"He did, but he didn't just make you a sheath out of the goodness of his heart. It was a tracker, Peri. It was how he could keep tabs on you, know where you went. Dareth's not stupid, Peri. A child could have known you were going to rescue your friend. How do you think they found us in the desert? You were with me the entire time then, so I couldn't have talked to anyone."
Now Peri was seriously threatening to break, but she held out for one last question.
"Where was Nick, then? When we went for him tonight?"
Hadin bit his lip and looked at her, a combination of bitterness (probably because they'd gone without him) and a surprising element of loneliness (Peri wasn't sure where that one came from).
"They moved him out through the tunnels just an hour before you went in," Hadin said at last. Peri almost felt a sense of relief at that; at least he'd been long gone. At least there had been nothing more she could've done to help him while she was at Hljödhr Andlát. At least he hadn't been one cell over, there the whole time without them knowing it. If that had been the case, Peri wasn't sure she could've handled it.
"Where are they taking him then?"
Another pause, with the odd expression, but it passed quickly.
"The tunnels lead to three places," Hadin explained, raking his hair back from his eyes with one hand. "Du Weldenvarden, Farthen Dûr, and Dragon's Landing." Peri nodded, remembering the tunnels Nick had taken her through in their attempt to escape the city. Had those been somehow connected to the infamous Hljödhr Andlát? Had Nick known? It seemed he hadn't grown out of his habit of keeping secrets, but could she blame him? "I can't say for sure where they'd take him, but we can pretty much check Farthen Dûr off our list. That place is crawling with Old Folk, so we don't usually go there for important stuff. Du Weldenvarden is a safe bet, but so is Dragon's Landing. If they take him to Vroengard, we might as well kiss him goodbye. You think Hljödhr Andlát is sealed? Try the capital of the Riders. Nope, if we want to get your friend back, it's got to be before they reach wherever they're taking him. So pack your undies and saddle up, we've got to get moving."
"How the hell did we make it without you?"
"I'm just offended you broke into a maximum security prison without me," Hadin countered, but his voice had a gruff quality to it and he was looking down at his feet. Peri, for a moment, considering hugging him, but then that moment passed and she settled for a comforting squeeze on the shoulder.
"I'm sorry, okay? For everything."
"Whatever," he muttered, then went to climb onto Raj's waiting back. Peri felt guilt swamp her again, but she turned to collect her sword and tie it to her saddle. She could kill a man with her bare hands and had been able to since she was eight, but she couldn't even begin to sort out her treacherous, paranoid mind. Now she'd gone and taken a meat cleaver to one of her strongest friendships since she'd gone into the smuggling business. A+, Peri, swell job, she snapped to herself as she strapped in. Frustration made her clumsy and it was a long while before she was ready to fly. By that time both Esteba and Hadin were sitting, waiting for her to finish with impatient looks on their faces.
"Ready."
Esteba nodded and Vagero immediately took to the air, gaining enormous altitude with just a few flaps of his mighty wings. Hadin watched the pair circle above them, then prepared for his own takeoff. Peri offered him an apologetic smile, but either he didn't see it or was choosing to ignore her (Peri's money was on the latter). And she could understand that, but she wished there was just a way she could say she was sorry and have it all go back to normal.
It's not that easy, iet ilian, Datia murmured as Raj's white wings winked overhead. You have to earn forgiveness.
I'm going to. I'll make it up to him if it kills me.
Don't be so dramatic. If you even think about getting yourself hurt I'm sitting on you.
Peachy.