Traitor Part Two
Back in Katolis, Ezran was pale with fright that his aunt had been abducted by Sunfire elves. "No," he breathed. "No. It can't be,"
"I'm afraid so," said Gren grimly. "We had to blow up the Breach to defend our kingdoms. But she set off the explosives and got trapped on either side. And then…"
"And then what?" Corvus asked.
"She saved the general who led them. And they took her away,"
Ezran turned away. He couldn't believe Amaya had saved the life of an elf. It seemed as if his and his sisters' friendship with Raylan had influenced her in a way. Nevertheless, she was now a prisoner of the elves.
"This is proof we have to go to Xadia," said Saleer.
"And endanger the chance of peace?" Caldor questioned. "Once Carol succeeds, the Sunfire Elves will free Amaya,"
"And why should we listen to the words of a moon mage who's deceived us for years?"
"Shut up!" exploded Ezran. He glared at Saleer. "Enough of this. Caldor was in hiding and he kept his identity secret for the good of the kingdom. And if my mother and aunt trust him then so should we. And that includes you,"
"So you're choosing peace over the wellbeing of your aunt?"
"Silence Saleer!" spat Opeli. Saleer turned and left but his words affected Ezran greatly. He walked from his throne to look out the window. He worried for his aunt; he couldn't bear to lose another loved one.
Raylan and Carol were dragged to the royal palace that towered over the Silvergrove. Carol saw that Ray had been speechless since the pond, pale-faced. They were taken deep into the cellars and then instantly shoved into the closest one near the main stairs. Once they were shoved inside. The door was slammed shut. Their hands remained chained. A small window was opened. They saw Lord Moon's face.
Raylan stood up, still crying. "Let me to talk to Ethari!" He begged.
"I doubt he would want to set even an eye on you," said the lord cruelly. "After all, you abandoned the love of his life to die at the hands of those filthy humans,"
"He didn't abandon anyone!" Carol tried to defend him but the elves shut the door window and they were left alone in the cold bitter cellar. She marched up to the cell door banging on it loudly. "Hey! You didn't even give him a chance to explain himself!"
"Carol! It's no use," Raylan closed his eyes.
"Listen to me!" she shouted angrily. "Raylan doesn't deserve this!" But there was no response, she banged her head against the cell door and sat back down beside him. Only the moonlight through the tall window ceiling was their only source of light. She turned to Raylan, pale than ever. "Why are they doing this?"
Raylan hung his head, unable to contain his tears. "None of the other assassins made it. Only I did,"
"Not even Runaan," Raylan shook his head, much to her empathy. "How do you know that?"
"Remember that flower in the pond?" she nodded. "When assassins are sent on a dangerous mission, Ethari enchants one of these flowers for each of them. As long as the assassins live and breathe, their flower floats,"
Carol figured it out. "So, when all the others sank, and yours didn't…"
"They thought I ran away. Just like they thought my parents did,"
"But you didn't run. They have it all wrong. It isn't fair that they just jumped to a conclusion like that,"
"Does it matter?" Raylan in a furious manner wiped his tears away and turned his head away so she wouldn't have to see him cry.
"I'm so sorry Raylan," as much as she despised that elf for playing a part in killing her dad, she knew how much it hurt to lose someone so important in your life. "I'm so sorry I put you on that spot,"
"It's not your fault Caroline. Fate caused us to meet. It was my choice to spare your life. I just couldn't be what everyone expected of me. And I didn't even get a chance to make up with Runaan. And now he's gone," Raylan cried into his hands. Carol unexpectantly shed a tear herself and hugged him tightly to comfort him. They had both lost important people whom they held as fathers because of this terrible war.
Willow struggled in her chains. She had been chained up near Pyrrah who was chained up too and muzzled up. "I'm so sorry;" she cried.
It wasn't your fault. Pyrrah purred.
Willow rested her head against his face and they nuzzled. Loud footsteps approached them and they saw Kasef coming forward.
"I am sorry for this princess," he apologised. "But I must do what is best for humanity,"
"If you do this, there will be no future for humanity," Willow tried to reason. "This isn't the answer,"
"Silence!" Kasef shouted, making her jump. "I am tired of listening to fantasy stories about peace and elves being friends! I don't know what you and your oafish brother of a king see in your pathetic sister but she will not succeed. She will die. As will you if your brother doesn't submit to the cause of war. Your fate lies with him. By tomorrow night, you'll either be back in Katolis…or in a grave,"
Willow became scared. He was going to kill her. "You think your father will be proud of you when he learns what you've done?"
Kasef growled. "I am not my father. And I will not be lectured by a child. I suggest you save your breath for tomorrow because it might be your last," he turned and left, leaving the princess to cry in tears as she leaned against Pyrrah. She was scared, petrified. It seemed that hope was fading away too quickly and that war was becoming inevitable.
Raylan and Carol had been extremely quiet in their cell. Carol had allowed him to lean against her shoulder as he grieved for his beloved surrogate father. They heard footsteps coming outside the cold room. The small window slid open. Raylan raised his head and to his alarm saw Ethari, staring at him with a heartbroken, half-angry expression. "Ethari," he stood up slowly.
"Before you left I told Runaan that you were too good-hearted for the work of an assassin…so I know you did not betray them out of malice," he spoke solemnly. The word 'betray' stung Ray's heart.
"Ethari," Carol stood up, coming to Raylan's defence. "You've known him since he was young. You know he would never abandon anyone. You have to tell them that he's innocent,"
"That is not up to me," Ethari's face moved away and the window was closed again. Raylan's ears dropped. Carol slipped into his fingers and gripped them. She shed a tear too. "None of this is your fault," she said. "You know that,,"
"I failed you. I've failed him,"
"No. Look at me," she grabbed his cheek and turned his face to meet hers. "You did what was right. It was Viren's fault and his entirely…we're gonna get through this…together,". Raylan wanted to speak but no words came out. "If we could just show them…"
Clank. They saw the door open and the guards appearing. They exchanged worried glances. The trial had been set. They prayed that their words would be enough. Without Zym…there was no likely chance of making it out of here alive.
Zym, Felix and the Adoraburrs were hiding in the forest. Zym felt ashamed. He felt so cowardly.
It's okay. Felix said. Now come on. With Adorily. Adorabelle and Adorpy still on his back, he walked out but noticed Zym wasn't coming out. Zym, come on.
I can't. He said. I'm scared.
Zym, if you don't show yourself those elves are gonna harm Carol and Raylan. Please. But Zym was afraid. Felix walked over, purring softly into the dragon's beady eyes. We can do it as long as we stick together. I'll be with you the whole time. I promise.
Zym raised his head and Zym licked his face, prompting him to lick back. Okay. He gathered his courage. I'll do it for Carol.
How are we going to sneak through that grove? Squeaked Adorily.
There'll be guards everywhere. Adorabelle reminded.
I'll find a way. Felix was positive. As a fox, I can smell and we are commonly known for being very sneaky.
Will it work? Adorpy asked.
It has to. For their sake.
Then let's go. Zym was determined to rescue their friends. And if him showing himself was the way to do it, then it had to be done. I've got a plan guys…but I'm gonna need you to trust me.
Carol and Raylan were shoved forward into a giant courtroom. Hundreds of elves sat in seats around the century, all eyes glaring down at them. Raylan recognised some of them as the families of his former comrades; their faces were filled with a bitter betrayal. They were shoved before the thrones of Lord Moono and Prince Marcus. One throne on the king's other side was empty. Lady Moryia's. Raylan twisted his head and amongst the crowd, he saw Ethari, expressing hurtful betrayal rather than hatred. He turned away and his heart sank. Carol's wet eyes fell on him.
They were focused on their knees. Lord Moono banged his moon staff and the room silenced. He stood up. "Raylan…you must answer for your crimes of deserting your comrades. Just as your parents deserted their duty as members of the Dragon Guard,"
"Raylan is innocent!" Carol defended.
"Silence!" Moono pointed his staff at her. "I did not give you permission to speak…human," the last word, he said with vile repulse. Raylan facially implored Carol to keep quiet and she did. He faced the lord and read for his next words to come. "You will tell us what happened," he stomped his staff again. Two powerful mages appeared with a moon staff of their own. "The staff will detect your deceiver. Make one mistake…" he clicked his fingers. A soldier grabbed Carol back by her hair and held a knife under her chin.
"Carol!" Raylan tried to help her but he was shoved down. "Please…please don't hurt her," he begged. "She's got nothing to do with this,"
The moon staff of the moon judges glowed red. "A lie," he said.
"Tell us the truth or she gets it," the lord threatened again.
Raylan glanced into her eyes. They were full of fear. But faith too. She nodded at him. He did her bidding. He faced the lord. "We entered Katolis and I was sent by Runaan to scout the forests…...Carol discovered us….we surrounded her…." Minutes passed in a blur and he tried to be truthful as he could so the moon staff would not detect any sort of lie. "I had a chance to kill her…to prevent our discovery…" he swallowed his fear. "But I spared her,"
The crowd were flabbergasted.
"Why would you spare her life? She is a human,"
"She was innocent! She hadn't done us wrong!" said Raylan. "How could I kill her when she was only defending herself?"
Everyone jumped into a riot shouting out 'Traitor'!" several times to Raylan. Only Ethari was speechless. He felt his heart shatter hearing his people call him that. Moono stomped his staff and they silenced. He glared at them with a bloodthirsty face. It seemed like he was about to sentence them both to death. "He's yet to finish his story," Marcus reminded. "Let's hear the rest,"
Raylan was surprised to hear his former friend speak for him like that. Still, he resented him bitterly. Moono sat down and allowed him to continue. "I was told by Runaan to leave after he discovered I had lied to him about killing Carol…and then I disobeyed orders and sought to kill her for good…and then her half-siblings…"
"Wait!" Moono held up his hand. He stepped down and glanced cruelly at Carol. "You're the king's stepdaughter, aren't you? I had rumours his late wife had a child before marrying him and bearing his children,"
"She is as just as much King Harrow's child as her siblings are," said Raylan. "She's not worthless. She's special,". To Moono's surprise, the staff didn't detect his words as a lie. The elf clearly thought so highly of Caroline.
"So you abandoned your own kind for a puny human?" the lord insulted.
"That wasn't what happened," Raylan tried to defend himself.
"Then what did?" the lord demanded towering over him.
Raylan sighed. He had to tell them. "I fought Runaan and the assassins to defend Carol and her siblings," he paused and licked his lips. "And the king,"
The crowd gasped. Once again there were shouts and accusations and Moono silenced the hall again and pointed the tip end of his staff against Raylan's. "For your treachery, you will be punished!"
"I did that because the king was innocent!" he shouted, instantly silencing the crowd. Moono saw the sceptre detected truth. "Rubbish! Deceiver!"
"But father…" Marcus tried to speak up for his former friend but his father's cold face silenced him.
"He's telling the truth!" Carol spoke up. "It wasn't my father who killed King Avizandum! It was the high mage Lord Viren who did it behind his back! He wanted to provoke a war in the hope that humanity would try and triumph over Xadia! He is the one who has to pay for the Dragon King's death!"
Her words were truthful too. The elves couldn't deny this. "Raylan doesn't deserve this!" she shouted. "It is not a crime to defend the innocent!"
Outside the window, Zym and Felix had snuck up onto the roof and they were peering through seeing Carol speak. Zym had felt her feelings of fear through their link and Felix and the Adoraburr grew more worried every second.
"And that's not all!" Carol announced. "The Dragon Prince is alive!"
"Lies!" Moono silenced her forcing her back.
"She's telling the truth!" shouted Raylan.
"Father, the staff doesn't detect any lies," Marcus reasoned.
"Silence," The father silenced his son who backed down instantly, making Raylan roll his eyes in irritation. "The dragon prince's egg was destroyed! Destroyed by your kind!" he pushed her down.
No! Zym roared and emitted lightning from his mouth, he burst a window open and descended into the room, Felix and the Adoraburrs watching intently. He landed between Carol and the Moonshadow Elf leader growing protectively. Don't you touch her! Electricity sparked behind his teeth.
The lord gasped. So did all the people. Carol sighed in relief. Zym flew into her arms hugging her tightly. Raylan rushed over and fell to his knees, embracing them both. Ethari stood up, flabbergasted. And at that instant, he realised exactly why Raylan had abandoned his mission of taking revenge.
Marcus stood up from his seat. "Impossible,"
The elves couldn't believe it. The dragon prince was alive. And right now, he was being embraced in the arms of an elf and a human teen who were friends. Such a thing had never been seen like this in centuries.
The pair with Zym faced the lord. "This shows that everything we've told you is true," said Raylan. "This is the chance for peace. We can end the war. Our people killed an innocent man," he had wanted to say those words. As he spoke, he shared a heartfelt glimpse at Carol whose eyes were wet with grief as she was facing the same people that had sent Runaan to kill her father but she knew deep down that it was truly Viren who was to blame.
Moono was flabbergasted to hear Raylan say the word 'wrong' to him. His grip tightened. "And yet before his death, King Harrow trusted me, an elf to defend his children because he saw the good in us that Carol did," he smiled at her and she smiled back. "Lord Viren will be brought to justice for killing the Dragon King. But we can end this cycle of revenge and needless killing. Both Carol and I have to deliver Zym back to his mother together. This will bring a message of reconciliation to both our lands; this is a better future,"
Lord Moono towered over them; there was no change of colour on his face. "Take the baby!"
Before the teens could react, Zym was sacked and they were pulled apart. Ethari was shocked. So was Marcus.
"What are you doing?" Carol struggled to reach the sacked Zym. Felix above on the roof wanted to jump down but the Adoraburrs shook their heads, telling him wouldn't help them escape.
"We will deliver the baby to the queen tomorrow. Without you two,"
"Zym won't leave without Caroline or me!" shouted Raylan. "Did you not heed what I just said?"
"You think after centuries of war, a simple deliverance will change things?"
"It is if it's the Dragon Prince!" shouted Caroline. "You think the queen will be proud when she sees you handling her son like this?"
"She won't,"
"How do you know that?"
"The Dragon Queen is dying," he announced.
The teens froze, turning pale.
"What?" they breathed together.
"Since the death of her mate and supposedly her baby she's fallen so ill. So much grief had broken her heart that she feels no reason to go on living…because of your kind," he pointed at Carol. "And your parents…" he pointed at Raylan.
"How dare you talk about my parents that way!" he shouted.
"Is this really what a ruler does?" challenged Carol. Her outburst shocked the elves and Moono froze in anger. "Accuses his own people in such an unfair way rather than try to find the truth?"
"Silence!" Moono clicked his fingers and she was gagged. "You will be sacrificed in front of the full moon tonight. And you…" he pointed towards Raylan. "Will spend the rest of your life in a cell as recompense for your parent's cowardice. When we return the baby to his dying mother, our people's honour will be restored. Take her away!"
"No! Carol!" Raylan tried to fight back but he was stunned and dragged away, leaving poor Carol to be dragged away too.
Zym in his sack felt rage hearing his person's fear. His entire body sparked in jolts of electricity and his captors dropped the bag in fright. He saw Carol's enlarged eyes aimed at him. He tried to fly to her but all of a sudden he was tranquilised by a blow dart shot by Moono and he crashed.
Zym! Carol cried behind her gag. Ethari stood up, watching in response as the drugged baby dragon was thrown into a cage and taken away. He then looked in worry as Raylan was dragged down to the dungeons and Carol was taken away to be executed.
Up above, Felix growled. He and the Adoraburrs had to act quickly. I've got a plan to get Raylan out. He barked. And it's gonna require you three.
We're ready. said Adroitly.
And that's the next chapter done. Don't worry this isn't the end of the traitor episode. Just one more part. Please let me know what you all thought of this chapter and the Moonshadow Elves. Thank you all very much for the reviews and ideas. I am extremely open to using them. See you next week.