Chapter 1

The prison raid

Two hazy shapes loomed in the thick fog that hovered above the ground by three feet. Those two shapes were spies sent from the great city of Xeon. One of their most elite units was captured some months before and they strived to retrieve him.

The two spies approached Aroughs, the most powerful city in the land of Salazier. The spies had got a tip off that several soldiers had, under armed guard, brought in a man bound in chains, to be delivered directly to the dungeons. The city wall loomed in front of them like a towering giant, in this case it was. So with nervous movements the spies took out, from their packs on their backs, extremely long rope tipped with hooks with four arms. They swung the hooks through the air and launched them to the wall above them.

The hooks latched onto the battlements with hollow dings. Then with experienced thrusts they pulled themselves up the ropes. Once on top of the mortar-bound stone wall they quickly searched for any shadows to hide in. Seeing none, due to the innumerable amounts of torches that lined the wall, they looked to make sure no one was around to see them.

To the left several guards stood farther down the wall talking about the latest gossip flowing around the city, each welding swords and daggers. And to the right stood several more guards only they weren't talking, but rather staring off into space as if their job bored them, in which it did.

"The coast seems clear enough." Said Trey, touching the curved blade of his axe to confirm that it was still there. He wasn't much of a sneak, but more of a direct approach type guy. He loved, more than anything, the thrill of fighting. From his point of view Trey could see the layout of the city. Aroughs was contained behind a grayish stone wall-a hundred feet tall and thirty-five feet thick- with rows of rectangular arrow slits lining it and a walkway on top for soldiers and watchmen. The walls smooth surface was broken by two iron portcullises, one facing the west towards the sea, the other facing the south towards the Sandy Hills. Above the wall-and set against its southeast section-rose a huge citadel built of giant stones and turrets.

On the other hand, Austin, however, wasn't. He enjoyed sneaking around taking people down from behind. He nodded in reply. They headed down a set of stone stairs that led to the ground. "Aroughs may be one of the greatest cities, but it has horrible guards." Remarked Austin, he couldn't help thinking aloud.

Trey let out a little laugh."Let's concentrate on finding the prison." Austin, who had studied several maps of Aroughs, started walking in the correct direction. He was known for just wondering without telling anyone, and so, as he walked off, Trey, who was looking in the opposite direction, did not see him leave.

"I believe the prison is off in that…" Trey stopped and whirled around to find no one beside him. Oh great, he thought, he is going to blow our cover. Any minute now.

"Trey." Austin whispered.

Austin had somehow sneaked up behind him."Ah! Where were you?" He asked, looking around to see if he had drawn attention.

"Up ahead," He said, holding his index finger of his right hand to his lips."I found the prison chambers."

Trey, irritated beyond belief, started forward. Soon they arrived at a wooden door with a plank, several feet in length, which held the door shut, only to be opened from the outside.

This is it, Austin mouthed, grabbing the firm wood and lifting it out of its place then, with extreme quietness, set the plank on the cobble-stone road. The door slid open several inches by itself then creaked as it stopped. Austin froze, waiting, listening to see if he had given prominence to their presence.

After some moments of sheer quiet he walked forward into the dim light of a hallway, and then felt his feet fall as he encountered a set of steep steps. "There is a set of steps here," Austin warned Trey. "So be careful."

They continued down the steps and into a long corridor, lined with prison cells each occupied by an unfortunate soul. Beaten and bound, the prisoners sat on the bare, muddy, uncomfortable floor. As Trey and Austin walked down the corridor they were disturbed by the looks of the battle-harden prisoners. Even though they looked weak, telling by the hatred in their eyes, they would fight if given the opportunity.

"Well, this is satisfying to know what's down here." Commented Trey, not in a good way, however, but in a more dramatic sadness.

Austin's gaze and curiosity carried his startling electric lime eyes down the corridor and at a cell, much larger than the rest, which contained a man in tattered, old, grimy clothes. He was severely beaten and chained to the wall where he hung helplessly.

Adam was Austin's first thoughts.

As Austin slowly emerged from the darkness and into the light of an oil lamp that was nailed to the wall next to the cell, his heart skipped a beat. The man sluggishly looked up at Austin. Austin didn't need to think twice about who was in the cell. Firstly, the man's torn uniform had the Xeon insignia on the right sleeve. Secondly, the man's face was that of Adam, even though his face was worn and weary, Austin could still see Adam's features and recognized him instantly.

Austin could see that the man was struggling to speak."Austin?"

Without doubt, this was Adam."You're alive." Said Austin, and then thinking back to it, he realized that it was a stupid statement.

Trey came running up to Austin."Adam, don't worry we will get you out of here." Trey began immediately looking for a way to get him free.

Austin turned and pulled out a flat metal cylinder out of his uniforms pocket. He touched it with his index finger and said." Etchmif legla Nolan." Contact Master Nolan. A transparent image of a man appeared above the metal cylinder. The image showed no color and was impotent to show his features.

"Master Nolan," He addressed the image."We have successfully found, and are in the process of freeing, Adam."

The man's eyes brightened."That is excellent. I expect you to not up rise suspicion; we don't need Aroughs on our tail just yet."

"Of course, Master Nolan." Replied Austin, the image flickering off.

He returned the cylinder to his pocket as Trey walked back up to the cell that Adam was contained in, holding a set of keys in his hand.

Where did he get those, Austin asked himself, following Trey back to the cell.

Trey tried several keys until he found the right one. The cell door screeched open and banged against the surrounding brick wall. Austin tensed; however, Trey continued to Adam and unlocked each of his chains. Austin turned to the door ready to fight if any soldiers come running in. Adams chains clanked to the ground one by one until he was no longer bound. "Thanks," He said weakly, rubbing his wrists where the chains had scratched against them for over a month.

"Let's hurry up." Commanded Austin, always feeling like the leader between him and Trey. But now that Adam was back Austin felt smaller even though Adam was weak and beaten senseless.

"But what about the other prisoners?" Trey asked, feeling a sort of sadness for the pitiful captives.

"What about them. There is nothing we can do." Replied Austin, repeatedly glancing towards the set of steps that led to the surface. Trey smirked then triumphantly held up the keys.