Chapter 8

A Lead

Snow was starting to fall as the weather got colder. Holly came out of her room dressed in her Illyrian Armor with a sword down the curve of her spine and daggers all over her. Some were around her ribs and two on both her thighs. Holly just got word from Ella that they found something and Ella wanted her to come look. Ella had finally met Azriel and agreed to work with the Shadowsinger and give information Rhys sent without giving away what was going on. Holly and Azriel been working well together and when she wasn't helping Azriel with a mission, she was working in the library.

Rhys and Azriel look up as Holly entered the study. Rhys eyes widened when he saw she was armed and dressed in her armor.

"What is it?" Rhys asked.

"Ella just sent word they might of found something and she asked for me to join her." Holly said. Rhys nodded. Azriel watched her. "I'm heading out now. I'll let you know what we find."

"Does your father know about this?" Azriel said. Holly shook her head.

"As of now, no." Holly said. Rhys had a feeling this wasn't going to be a good one.

"Get in and get out, Holly. You and whoever is going in." Rhys said as Cassian stepped in.

"Our Warrior Princess is armed to the teeth for this." Cassian said with a smirk.

"Well I was trained by three Illyrian's." Holly said with a smirk. She took the nickname Warrior Princess. Holly winnowed out of the study.

"Az." Rhys said looking at the shadowsinger.

"I got shadows with her. I don't like this." Azriel said.

"I'm sure she'll be fine." Cassian said. Azriel wasn't sure on that.

Holly winnowed in front of a cave and found Ella and Carina, another close friend, whispering. The woods was old. Holly wouldn't be suprised if they were in the middle of Prythian. They turned and eyes widen when they see the outfit that their friend wore.

"You said you were training with Illyrian's. Is that..." Ella said.

"Illyrian Leathers. They are." Holly said, coming up to them and looked into the cave. "Why do I have a bad feeling on this?" Holly saw blackness wrap around her arm, move up her arm. It was one of Azriel's shadows. Carina nearly screamed at it. "Calm down. It's one of Azriel's shadows."

"Does he not trust you?" Carina asked.

"I don't know on that yet." Holly said. But the two were still spending the nights talking until they pass out, but Azriel will be gone by the time she got up in the morning. Holly stood in the middle as Ella and Carina flanked either side of her. Carina had blonde hair and blue eyes. Like Ella, Carina was loyal to Holly. "What do we know?"

"That the Cauldron is down there. It was said a local." Carina said. Holly moved forward and grabbed a torch that was on the wall. Carina used her fire magic and lit it along with two others. Holly hid up the torch. Cool air hit her skin. Holly stepped into the cave. Carina and Ella follow and they walk down the tunnel.

"Do you feel that?" Ella asked. Power. Like magic pulling them down. Holly didn't like this. The power was getting stronger the further they went down. The shadow on her arm seemed to shiver.

"We're getting close." Holly said. They come into an opening and the girls sucked in their breath.

"Cauldron boil me." Ella whispered. Holly lowered the torch in shock.

"Mother help us." Carina whispered. The cauldron stood in front of them. It looked like a vast bowl of darkest Iron. It was so large that multiple people could have used it for a bathtub. Holly saw water on top. If the stories were true, this is where the world was created. The power it could hold. The legs were of course missing, scattered in temples across Prythian. "That's what your father is hunting."

"Yes. Unbelievable." Holly breathed.

"We should..." A growl froze the girls. Holly's blood ran cold. It was a growl that haunted her nightmares. "What was that?" Holly lifted the torch towards the direction the growls came from, moving forward a bit. "Holly." Terror ran through her as claws dug into the dirt.

Azriel froze in the door to the study. Complete terror coursed through him, but it wasn't from him.

"Az?" Rhys asked, seeing color drain from Azriel's face as images came through to him down the bond. Holly might not yet know of it, but he could feel her terror and images what she was seeing. They were in a cave and Holly was looking down a tunnel and claws were digging into the ground as something was heading for them. Out of the darkness came the ugliest hounds.

"Naga-Hounds!" Ella's voice came.

"Az!" Cassian asked, making Azriel snap out of the images.

"Holly's in trouble. Naga Hounds." Azriel said.

"The bond?" Rhys said, standing up. Azriel nodded. "You know where they are?"

"Yes." Azriel said.

"I'm going with." Cassian said. Azriel disappeared without waiting for them.

There were 5 of the houds.

"Run!" Holly shouted. She threw the torch at the hounds as Ella and Carina took off. A yip came as the fire hit one of the hounds and Holly was running. Roars came from the hounds. Holly could hear them running after them. Holly gritted her teeth. Holly listened to their feet, analyizing how close they were getting. She thanked the Cauldron she was in better shape to run with all the training Cassian put her through. One was picking up speed. Holly grabbed the handle of her sword and with one swift movement had it unshethed and she spun around and slashed at the houd. It went through its head and blood sprayed. Holly pulled it out as it fell dead to the floor.

"Holly!" Carina yelled and Holly saw that they were close to the exit. Holly ran towards it, sword in her hand. They burst into the woods and came to a stop. Three more hounds were waiting for them, growling. "Did the King send them?"

"How would he find out already?" Ella asked.

"Unless the Cauldron brought them here or they were guarding." Holly said, turning towards the entrance as Ella and Carina got ready with their weapons. Holly threw one of her daggers as one of the beasts jumps out of the cave at her. It yelped and fell dead as the dagger hit its mark. Holly charged and started slashing and stabbing at the hounds. Carina and Ella were battling as well.

Holly gasped as one collided with her and knocked her on her back. Holly grabbed its snout as the teeth were inches from her face.

"Holly!" Ella yelled. Its jaws were snapping at her. Holly saw out of the corner of her eye one stalking her way. Holly swore. A yelp came and Holly felt blood hit her face and gasped as the hound fell on her. A blur came and the other hound was dead. Holly shoved the hound off and saw Azriel standing there. Rhys and Cassian were making sure there weren't anymore.

"You alright?" Azriel asked, holding out his hand. Holly took it and he helped her up.

"I'm fine. How did you know?" Holly asked.

"I felt your fear." Azriel said. Holly's eyes widen. Ella and Carina came over as Holly put her sword back on her back. Rhys stepped over.

"Looks like you girls put up a good fight." Cassian said.

"Why did you get attacked?" Rhys asked.

"We found the Cauldron." Holly said. The Warriors shared looks and follow the girls into the cave.

But when they got to where the Cauldron was. It was gone.

"What?" Ella said.

"How?" Carina said. Rhys looked at Holly for permission and she nodded. Rhys looked into her mind.

"Interesting." Rhys said.

"Unless father had it and used an illusion to lead us into a trap." Holly said, looking at Ella.

"I'll see what I can find out if he has it. Last time I checked he didn't know a location. I'll keep you informed." Ella said. Ella and Carina disappeared. Holly was looking at Azriel.

'He felt my fear? How is that even possible?' Holly wondered.

"You alright?" Rhys asked. Holly nodded.

"Those things haunt my dreams. They were my fathers favorite things to use to hunt prisoners and kill enemies. Never used them on me, but they terrified me." Holly said.

"You fought well." Cassian said. Holly just smirked.

"I do have good teachers." Holly said. Rhy was still frowning and Azriel wouldn't look at her.

"Let's head home." Rhys said. Azriel wrapped an arm around Holly and they disappear into shadow.

AN: Uh oh. She is starting to suspect. Till next time.