Here is another chapter. Another song will appear in this book. Credit goes to the songwriters of the princess and the Pauper. I do not own this song. Just wanted to use it to bring out characterisation. Hope you all have enjoyed Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Enjoy the chapter.

The dagger and the wolf part 2

"If you don't want my money, then what do you want?" demanded the dagger man.

"I just want to borrow your knife to cut these," Raylan showed them his bands.

"Oh, you just want to 'borrow it'?" the man didn't believe him.

"You can hold it but please just cut these off," the elf begged to hold his hands out.

"But it'll burn you,"

"I don't care. Just please," Raylan begged again holding out his hands.

"Fine. If it'll get you out of my sight," the man gently held his left hand. "But I warn you it will…"

"Burn me! I get it. Now do it please,"

The man gently pressed the tip of the Sunforge blade to his left wristband. Raylan's glove caught fire and he freaked out throwing it off and exposing his four fingers. The man was shocked. "you're one of them,"

Raylan hid his hand. "I don't know what you're talking about,"

"You're an elf. You have four fingers,"

"I was born with four fingers on my left hand," he lied quickly.

"You can't fool me elf,"

"Fine. I'm an elf," Raylan pulled his right glove off but not his hood. "But I'm not here to harm you. I just need your help," but the man just attempted to attack him but he ducked, grabbed his free arm, and flipped him over his shoulder into the snow knocking him down. He grabbed the knife. "I'll just do this myself and get out of your hair," gripping it gently with his right hand, he touched the tip to the band and felt a sudden scorch to his hand. He cried in pain and waved his left hand. He looked again at the band; it was undamaged from the dagger. "No," he breathed. "Nothing can get this stupid binding!"

"Please don't hurt me!" begged the human.

"I'm not going to hurt you," Raylan was frustrated with the way he had treated him when he had no reason to. "And I'm not going to steal from you either," he threw the dagger into the snow beside him. He walked off into the town again, leaving the man behind.

The vet gazed at the egg in wonder. "Wow. A dragon egg. I've only seen those in pictures. I'll do what I can," he leaned his ear close to the shiny and tapped it lightly with his finger. "I can hear a heartbeat,"

The children were relieved. "That's good right?" asked Willow, wanting to explode with hope.

The vet sighed. "I'm afraid it's dying,"

Hope died away and the children looked at each other in fear. "But there's something you can do right?" Ezran asked.

"I'm afraid there's nothing I can do," the vet apologised. "I'm so sorry,"

"No! There must be something you can do," begged Willow. "Please. It can't die,"

"I truly am sorry," the vet apologised again.

Willow began to cry. She hugged the egg and Ezran hugged her. "We'll find another way," he said. They tearfully packed up the egg to leave.

"There is something that could help you…" the vet spoke up quickly before they left through the door. "….but it's rather dangerous,"

"Please tell us. The fate of this egg might depend on it," implored Willow.

"You see…this miracle happened a few years ago on the Cursed Caldera," spoke the vet. "A girl said that it saved the life of an animal she rescued from the woods,"

"That's our best shot. Can you tell us where this girl lives?" asked Ezran.

"She lives on the far side of town right near the forests bordering the Cursed Caldera. Her name's Ellis. She's a very sweet lass. She'll be happy to help you,"

"Thank you. Thank you so much," Willow surprisingly hugged the vet. She realised what she had done and stumbled back in shock. "Sorry sir. Got carried away,"

"Thank you so much," Ezran said. "Let's go, Willow,"

Raylan looked at his purple hands, heartbroken. What could he do once they came off? He would never fight or grab or write again. He could never even eat or drink or bathe by himself. Who would he be? He gently touched his blue pendant, wishing his parents were here with him, to comfort and tell him that he was special no matter what. Runaan and Ethari too. He thought about the elven assassins, remembering that night when they called him a traitor for defending an innocent king. The word poisoned him like venom.

Like a bird that flies
In the morning light,
Or a butterfly in the spring,

Raylan raised his head and realised instantly whose voice that was. He made his way back to the town centre, watching Carol singing in front of the statue. Her eyes were closed like she was in a state of dreaming.

When your spirit rides,
On the wings of hope,
You'll find your wings.

Carol opened her eyes and her heart jumped in her chest as she watched her audience clapping for her. Felix barked for joy. I told you closing your eyes and singing out would help. She smiled at her friend for life, overjoyed that his tip had given her the courage to sing to her heart's content. The song wasn't over. She faced the audience this time with her eyes open.

For you're always free to begin again,
And you're always free to believe,

As she sang, Felix carried a small pot and walked in front of the crowd, dropping coins.

When you find the place
That your heart belongs

You'll never leave

Love is like a melody;
One that I will always treasure.
Courage is the key that
Opens every door!

Though you may not know
Where your gifts may lead,
And it may not show at the start,
When you live your dream,
You'll find destiny
Is written in your heart.

Raylan couldn't block out the wisdom that her song carried. Her voice was the most extraordinary thing he had heard. As well as coins, the crowd threw roses of red. She caught one and admired it; red was her favourite.

Though you may not know
Where your gifts may lead,
And it may not show at the start,
When you live your dream,
You'll find destiny
Is written in your heart!

As Carol's voice rose higher on the final word, the crowd clapped and cheered and whistled; it was the most thing they had ever heard. The singer of many talents felt tears prickling her eyes. She didn't know what to feel. Proud? Overwhelmed? Gratified? "Thank you," she spoke out. That was all she wanted to say.

Felix passed her the pot of money and bounded over to some kids to be petted; she smiled seeing him being stroked like that as she packed her money up into purses. Raylan approached her slowly. She stiffened seeing his proud face.

"That was so beautiful Caroline," Raylan praised. "I've never met a very talented person like you before,"

She blushed a little. "Well…thank you. I didn't think I could do it at first,"

"But you did. And look what you earned," he pointed at her collection of five purses of gold coins. "This is more than enough. Where did you learn that song?"

"I wrote it," she said.

He was more amazed. "Amazing,"

"Did you get hands sorted out?" Raylan sighed and raised his hands with their unbreakable bands. Carol was shocked. "I'm so sorry,"

"It didn't work. It was a good try but nothing can cut this binding. Doesn't matter. They'll come off eventually. Along with my hands. Probably reckon I've got only one or two days left to be useful,"

"Don't' say that Raylan," Carol shook her head.

"Without my hands, I'm nothing. I'll never be able to fight again or do anything," his spirit was broken.

"That doesn't mean you're useless," she gently grasped his forearms. "We'll figure something out. Together," he stared into her eyes and saw more kindness than he had ever seen in anyone other than his loved ones. "You stay here and rest them. I'll go into town and buy some food and something that can help ooze the pain," he nodded. "Felix, can you stay here with him?

Felix shook his head. No way. I'm going with you.

"Do it for me?" she asked again. "Raylan needs you more than I do right now,"

Felix saw the depressed state he was in. Okay. He licked her face and she chuckled.

"That's my brave boy. I'll be back soon," she stroked his head.

Felix sat with the elf at the fountain with the statue and they watched Carol walk into town. Raylan stroked Felix gently with his left hand. "Thank you," he was touched by the fox and his generous character. "She's so lucky to have a friend like you," The fox purred and licked his hands to soothe the pain; he smiled.

Ezran and Willow walked to the outskirts of town to the huts and they saw the nearest one closest to the forest. "This is it," said Ezran. They approached the door and he knocked.

The door opened revealing a girl around Willow's age with long hair in a side braid wearing furry clothes. "Hello. Never seen you two around here before,"

"Hi. I'm Ezran and this is Willow and Bait," he introduced. "Sorry to bother you or anything but the vet in town said you could help us with something,"

The girl Ellis was a little uncertain.

"We promise you we're just here for something to help," said Willow. "It's urgent. The life of an animal depends on it,"

"Then please come in," welcomed Ellis. She led them into her house and they sat together near the fire. As they sat down, a huge wolf appeared from the stairs and Willow panicked; scared. "Don't be afraid. This is Ava. She's so sweet," her wolf licked her face and nuzzled her. "She won't hurt you," Willow calmed down but quivered. Bait leapt into her arms for comfort.

"So how can I help you?" she asked.

"The vet told us that you had an encounter with a miracle healer at the Cursed Caldera," Ezran spoke up. "We asked him to help our egg but he said there was nothing he could do about it,"

"He's right. I did encounter a miracle healer…" Ellis answered. "I don't know what happened. But without them, Ava would be dead," she stroked her wolf.

"Can you tell us what happened?" Willow requested.

"It happened two years ago. I found Ava as a cub in the forest. Her foot was caught in a trap; her front paw was crushed in the rusty metal jaws,"

"How awful," sympathised Ezran.

"Even though she was scared, she still had a lot of fight left in her. I brought her to the vet to heal her but he had to cut her leg off before it got worse. I took her home but my dad was afraid of having another mouth to feed. And I couldn't realise her back into the wild because the wolves would reject her," Her words made Willow remember the wolves that had nearly killed her and devoured the egg. "He insisted she'd be put down to avoid the pain but I refused to let him kill her so I took her and I ran away from home. We climbed up the Cursed Caldera. It was just like the legends said. The higher we climbed; the more terrifying creatures lurked in the shadows. Still, we kept going,"

"That was so brave of you," said Willow.

"We took shelter under the roots of an ancient tree. I was trying to make Ava feel better, but inside I knew all was lost, that's when it happened. A tall glowing being approached us and when I told her that Ava was hurt, she picked her up and in a flash of glowing light, she had her fourth leg back. And then…she disappeared,"

The children were flabbergasted. "This is perfect!" squealed Ezran. "If she can save a cub's missing paw, she can save a dragon egg!"

"Ezran," hissed Willow.

"'Dragon egg'?" repeated Ellis curiously.

"He meant 'wagon's leg," Willow lied. "Now we've gotta go. Thank you very much," she grabbed Ezran's hand and pulled him out of the door. Once they were far away, she smacked his forearm. "Do you have any idea what you've just done?"

"We trusted the vet to know about the egg. I think we can trust her," he said. They made their way back to the fountain and saw Raylan waiting with Felix. The fox's ears twitched and bounded over to be stroked by Willow and to lick Bait.

"Raylan! Did you get your hands sorted out?" Ezran asked.

With his closed eyes, he shook his head and held out his hands. His friends felt deeply sorry for him.

"There has to be something we can do," said Willow. "Kill me," she suddenly spoke. "So, you have at least one hand,"

"No," Raylan shook his head. "I'm not going to kill you. I'd rather lose my hands than kill you,"

"Maybe there is a way we can cure your hands. We found out about this miracle healer who can save the egg," Ezran said.

"Wait did you just say 'miracle healer'?" Raylan looked very surprised. An intrigued. "This is wonderful," he was overjoyed, more for the egg than himself. "So where do we find him?"

"That's the thing. She lives at the top of the cursed caldera," Ezran pointed upwards.

Raylan sighed. "Please tell me it was just named after a great explorer called Sir Philias Cursed,"

"Nope," Willow shook her head. "It's called that because it's infested with monsters,"

"Wait a minute. Where's Carol?" asked Ezran. He twisted his head but didn't see her.

"She went into town to get some goodies and something to sooth my hands. She should be back by now," their friend said. "You should have all seen how she sang to the crowd. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen,"

The siblings were proud. "I wish we could have heard her," said Willow. "Maybe now that's she's sung, she'll stop being so shy and perform in front of other people,"

Carol walked away from the market plaza in town and headed down the main street that would lead back to the fountain. She carried a bag of food and a bottle of ointment for soothing pain.

Hidden in the shadows, three masked men eyed her edgily. "That's her," the leader whispered. "We get her now," They climbed up the bannister to the roof and leapt from roof to roof like ninjas.

The young teen was almost back at the plaza when she felt her neck hair tingling. She looked up but saw nothing. It was just like before back in the forests of her home. Something was watching her. She turned around to see if anyone was behind her. Still nothing. A light step echoed behind her. Quickly she flashed around and punched the face of a masked stranger but he wasn't fazed. "Who are you?" she demanded. The man tried to grab back but she dodged and pulled out her stone. Another man appeared out of nowhere. She drew a ruin before she could cast it, she felt a hand grab her from behind her. She tried to shout the spell or 'help' but her mouth was covered. The spell shot into the sky.

Raylan and the others waited patiently but he turned worried. Felix purred in anxiety and he stroked him. "She should have been back by now," His loud ears suddenly caught a loud echo from the sky. He looked up and saw an electric spark.

"What was that?" Ezran asked.

The elf knew there was only one thing that could have caused that. "Carol…Carol's in trouble!" he stood up on his feet. "Wait here," He sprung onto his feet and tried to run into town when out of nowhere appeared a large mob of angry humans with pitchforks, led by the man with the Sunforge blades.

"That's him! That's the elf!"

"Oh man," Raylan smacked his face for forgetting to tell Ezran and Willow about his encounter with the dagger man.

Ezran and Willow saw them and sprinted to their friend's side. "Stop!" shouted Willow. "He's a friend!"

"He tried to steal from me!" the man lived.

"I didn't!" Raylan defied. "I asked for help and you attacked me!"

"Outrageous lies!" one of his supporters shouted.

"What do we do? What do we do?" Ezran freaked out.

"Run!" Raylan grabbed their hands and picked up Felix.

"But what about Carol?" screamed Willow.

"We'll have to find another way into town!" they rushed through the outskirts of town. They tried to run over the bridge but another mob of humans blocked them. They dodged into another street but humans kept appearing everywhere. "There's no way to lose them,"

"Over here!" screamed a loud voice. It wasn't Caroline's. The three turned around to see Ellis and Ava near a snowy path that led towards the forest. "Follow me!"

"Trust her!" urged Ezran. The party dashed to Ava and Ellis and they led them away from town, away from the angry mob back to her hut. "Thanks Ellis…but what are you…"

"We're gonna help you find the miracle healer," she said. She poked a finger at Raylan. "you are no human,"

"That's right," he pulled his hood off revealing his horns and pointy ears.

"You're actually cute," she complimented.

"Thanks?" he said awkwardly, appreciative of the compliment.

"Let's go," she said.

"But we need to find our sister first," Willow freaked out. "She's in trouble!"

"You leave that to me," said Ellis. "I'll meet you guys in the forest! Just give me something that smells of her and Ava can track her scent.

"This should do," Ezran offered Ava one of their blankets from his supply bag, the one Carol slept in. She sniffed and barked.

"Don't worry we'll save her. You guys just get to the forest to safety. No one will dare to follow you there," Ellis and Ava galloped off into town.

"I should go after her," Raylan tried to follow her but Willow grabbed his forearm.

"It's too dangerous for any of us. We'll just have to trust Ellis,"

"I'm such an idiot," he slammed his foot into the snow. "I didn't tell you guys that the dagger man found out what I am and I let Carol going into town. I'm so sorry guys,"

"It's okay Raylan," Ezran consoled. "There are worse things you can do,"

"Come on guys. We've got to get to the forest before the town comes looking for us here," reminded Willow.

The men carried a tied-up and gagged Carol through the streets towards some horses tied in a dark alleyway. They strapped her bags to a saddle bag. They secured her on a horse and placed a large blanket over her to hide. She felt herself being carried slowly off; she felt scared.

The men peered around looking for anyone who might be nearby. Nothing.

"Let's go before we're caught," the leader said. Suddenly from out of nowhere appeared a large wolf. The horses were startled. They jumped up in fright. The one carrying Carol jumped on its hind legs she fell off and landed on the ground with a thump.

Ellis saw the bound-up girl. "Get 'em, Ava," Ava growled and she swiped at the men, knocking them out. She jumped off her steed and ungagged Carol. "It's all right. We're friends," she cut her bonds free. Quickly she scrambled up and grabbed her things that had fallen to the ground with her. Ellis mounted Ava again. "Get on. We're on your side!" she implored.

Carol wasn't sure but realising the men that had abducted her were getting up, she mounted the giant wolf and Ava galloped like a horse out of the village. "Who are you?"

"My name's Ellis and this is Ava. Your siblings and elf friend sent us to save you,"

"Are they all right?"

"They're in the forest,"

Before Carol could ask why they were there, but they heard loud neighing and saw the men pursuing them on their own horses. Quickly she pulled out her primal stone from her bag and drew a ruin. "Aspiro!" she blew with all her might and the men were blown off their steeds and into the snow. The horses careered off in different directions and Ava dashed for it to carry her riders the rest of the way.

"Wow. You're a mage?" screamed Ellis ecstatically.

Raylan and the others had reached the forest; they waited patiently but worried. He sighed in self-guilty. "I shouldn't have let her go off on her own. I should have just told her that man knew who I was," he kept repeating to himself. "I'm such a failure,"

"Would you stop calling yourself that?!" ranted Willow. "Why are you so hard on yourself?"

"Because elves aren't meant to make mistakes,"

"Mistakes are what make us human," said Ezran.

"That's not what makes you an elf," he answered back with dejection. "If you make even the slightest error and everyone gets into trouble for it, they call you out for it," he remember all the scowls he received from the other assassins and the hurtful disappointment of his adoptive father.

"That's just harsh," Willow judged. They heard a loud woof from behind them and they saw Carol and Ellis bounding forward on Ava. They cheered for joy. She slipped off the furry steed and Ezran and Willow threw their arms around their sister, hugging her tightly. Felix then leapt on her and licked her face in a wild frenzy.

"You're okay," Willow was relieved.

"What happened Carol?" asked Raylan.

"Three men cloaked and masked tried to kidnap me," she panted. She turned to Ellis and Ava. "Thank you. I owe you two my life,"

"No problem," she said.

You're welcome. Woofed Ava. Carol stroked her face, feeling no hostility to her like the wolves who nearly killed her sister.

Felix barked and Ava looked down at him; he licked her face. Thank you for saving my person.

Ava responded with a long lick on his face with her large tongue. Two hairs stood on his head much to his chagrin earning a chuckle from the others.

Raylan was shaking with guilt. "I should have gone with you," he spoke up, voice low and edged with regret. "If my hands weren't so useless…"

"Ray, it doesn't matter what happened," Carol comforted. "We're all safe. And you would have lost your hands or worse been killed if you were me," she gave him a surprise hug and he hugged back, guilt wavering away.

"Who were those guys?" asked Willow worriedly.

"I don't know. They didn't look like they were from Katolis or any of the Human kingdoms. But that doesn't matter now, we need to save the egg,"

"That's where I come in," said Ellis. "I'll guide you guys up to the caldera,"

"Hold up. Why are we going up there?" Carol asked.

"Ellis says there's a miracle healer who can save the egg just like they restored Ava's leg," Ezran pointed to the active wolf.

"Wait a minute," Carol raised her hand in alarm. "Did you just say miracle healer?"

"Yes. And they can cure Raylan's hands too,"

Carol seemed very interested and surprised at the same time; Raylan noticed the colour change on her cheeks. "Well then let's go," she said. "It's our best chance. Lead the way," she said to Ellis and Ava.

"With pleasure," Ellis saluted.

"Wait, what about those men who tried to kidnap you?" Ezran was beyond worried.

"There's no way, they're gonna follow us here," Carol wasnt afraid at all. "We'll be fine. Now let's go, go, go,"

The girl and her wolf led the way up the mountain pass and they began their journey to find the miracle healer.

Wow. So some guys tried to kidnap Carol, I wonder why? We'll have to wait and see. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Once again, I do not own the song I used. Credit goes to the songwriters of The Princess and the Pauper. Please send reviews and let me know what you all thought. And please off any other ideas too, it would be most helpful. If I don't update you soon before the end of the end, wishing you all a Happy New Year.