Within the walls of the Shenkuu Emperor's Palace, Greyfang, Miet, Anshuu and the two thieves sat in their cell, thinking of a way out.
"The two of you wouldn't have any stolen explosives on you, would you?" asked Anshuu.
The two thieves nodded.
"We might as well face it, we're stuck here." said the Aisha thief.
"Since we are here I think it's time we made amends and introduce ourselves to one another." suggested Greyfang "I am Greyfang."
"My name is Anshuu."
"And my name is Miet. In my backpack here is my petpet Kazeriu, Kazeriu."
Miet takes off his backpack and shows the two thieves his Kazeriu inside.
"Impressive." said the male thief "Since we're getting to know one another, my name is Hanso."
"And my name is Haraku." said the Aisha thief.
"Now that that's out of the way, do the two of you have any plans to get out of here?" asked Anshu.
"Wait." answered Hanso.
"Wait?" questioned Anshu "What good will that do?"
"Our bandit brethren will be expecting us." started Hanso "Once they realize that we're not at the camp yet they'll know something is wrong and they'll come looking for us."
"You sound sure of that." said Greyfang.
"I am sure." said Hanso.
"And what about us?" asked Miet "We're not thieves. How can we be sure they'll save us while they're saving you?"
"You do realize we're both in the same cell, don't you?" asked Haraku.
"Good point." said Miet.
Outside of the window the five prisoners heard a noise that sounded as if someone was whispering.
"Well, why did no one invite me to the party?" joked the Bandit Leader, peeking through the window.
"I told you they'd be here." said Hanso.
"Can you break us out?" asked Haraku.
"Silly question." said the Bandit Leader before jumping from the window to the ground outside.
At the entrance of the prison stood two guards. One Tonu, one Elephante. The Bandit Leader quickly and quietly subdued them by blowing darts into their skin. He quietly took the key and snuck inside to unlock the prison door.
"That was quick." said Hanso, heading out of the cell.
"What did you expect?" said the Bandit Leader.
"Now we have other matters to attend to." said Greyfang.
"Yes." chuckled the Bandit Leader "I hear that you have found a... Shadow Amulet."
"How did you know that?" asked Miet.
"I had Haraku follow you through the Shenkuu forest." answered Hanso.
"If it weren't for you we would have never gotten captured." said Anshu, angrily.
"Listen, we would like to make a deal with you." said the Bandit Leader.
"What kind of deal?" asked Greyfang.
"We help you escape, you hand over the Shadow Amulet."
The Bandit Leader grinned a wicked grin. Greyfang rubbed his beard.
"I am sorry... but no." answered Greyfang.
"Fool! We shall find it ourselves then. Come Hanso. Haraku."
The Bandit Leader and the two thieves vanished in a puff of smoke. Greyfang, Miet and Anshu quickly fled the scene.
"Where to now?" asked Anshu.
"We take back the Shadow Amulet." says Greyfang.
"I thought you already had it." said Anshuu.
"It was taken from me by the Emperor before he threw me in the cell." explained Greyfang.
"So... w-we have to go into the castle?" asked Miet, frightened.
"That's the only way." said Greyfang "All we need is a disguise."
The three adventurers hide in the bushes, watching for guards wearing armor that would be the perfect size for them. After a couple of minutes three guards, one Gelert, two Zafara, walked by. Greyfang, Miet and Anshuu quickly pulled the guards back into the bushes, covering their mouths so they wouldn't scream, they knocked the guards out and took the armor they were wearing. The three headed inside the castle and into the hall, where they ran into the Emperor as he stepped out of a doorway.
"Oof!" groaned the Emperor, shaking his head "Watch where you are going you idiots!"
The three adventurers stood up, brushing themselves off, as did the Emperor.
"I don't seem to remember seeing you three around." said the Emperor, his eyebrow raised.
"We are new recruits." said Greyfang.
"Ah, well, I think you may want to visit the armory again. That armor you have on looks like it barely fits you." the Emperor suggested.
"Yes sir." said the three, bowing to the Emperor and then continuing through the hall.
"Sir!"
The prison guards rushed into the castle and to the Emperor.
"The three prisoners have escaped." said the Tonu guard.
"And there were three guards laying unconscious in the bushes near the castle." cried the Elephante guard.
The Emperor, realizing he'd been duped, turned around and ordered the guards to go after the three running down the hall.
"Capture them now!"
"It seems our cover is blown." said Miet.
"Let's get to the stairs." said Greyfang, leading Anshu and Miet to the stairs leading to the top.
After a full ten minutes of dodging guards Greyfang, Miet and Anshuu headed into the room where Greyfang figured the amulet would be. After they opened the door he realized he was right. However Haraku had gotten to it first.
"Don't take another step." Haraku threatened.
Greyfang stepped forward, ready for a fight, but the door behind bursted open.
"Finally I have you where I want you!" said the Emperor, before Haraku jumped out of the window behind her, with the others following behind "Get them now!"
Haraku, Greyfang, Anshuu and Miet landed on a roof of the castle and continued their chase as guards formed above and below, readying their flaming arrows.
"Give me back that amulet!" growled Greyfang, pouncing over Haraku and tripping her with his staff, causing her to drop the amulet.
"I'll get it!" called Miet, sliding down the side of the roof only to be caught off guard by Hanso.
"Haraku! Catch!" yelled Hanso, throwing the amulet to his companion.
Haraku jumped into the air, but was quickly shot down after an arrow pierced her shoulder. Miet, hanging onto the edge of the roof, grabs Hanso by the leg and pulls him down and into a haystack.
"Greyfang, there's too many of them, we must leave." yelled Anshuu as more guards appeared.
Greyfang watched in terror as the young thief rolled down the roof.
"I need to help her." whispered Greyfang, before jumping onto the side of the roof and grabbing Haraku's hand before she could fall to the ground.
"AUGH!!!" the Emperor yelled angrily, unsheathing one of his guard's swords and floating down to the roof.
Anshuu turned to see the Emperor coming towards him with a blade in hand.
"I'm getting too old for this." sighed Anshuu, jumping onto the side of the roof and accidentally knocking Greyfang and Haraku to the ground below.
"It's a good thing there are haystacks around." said Anshuu, popping his head out of the top of the haystack.
"Come, we need to get this girl to safety." said Greyfang, scooping Haraku up in his arms.
The Emperor watched the two escaping and then saw his guards fighting another threat.
"No..." whispered the Emperor, as he guards fell one by one.
"You will help me get the amulet back." said an unfamiliar distorted voice.
"You killed my guards. I won't." the Emperor replied.
"Then you will watch your kingdom burn."
"NO!!! Please! I will get the amulet... I will get it... just leave the citizens of Shenkuu out of it."
"Very well."
Away from the castle upon a nearby hill, the three explorers stood. Greyfang looked down at the unconscious thief in his arms.
"She needs medical attention." said Greyfang "Anshu, can you heal her?"
"I can, but we must hurry to Captain Tuon's ship." replied Anshu.
"Not so fast."
The three turned around to see the Bandit Leader standing at the edge of the bridge, blocking their path.
"You have to move." warned Greyfang "She will die if she doesn't get help."
"Oh I will let you through... but first I want to talk about that amulet."
"Is that really important right now?" asked Miet.
"It is quite important. Now hand it over." demanded the Bandit Leader.
"Stop!" called Hanso, coming up the hill.
"Hanso. You live. Help me get the amulet and I will greatly reward you."
Hanso took out his blade, but stood in front of the explorers, facing the Bandit Leader.
"What? You dare raise a blade against me? After I took you in?"
"Haraku needs their help." said Hanso.
"I want that amulet... you won't stop me from getting it."
"For Haraku I will."
The two thieves stared each other down, ready for the other to raise their blade.
"AHHH!!!"
The Bandit Leader lunged at Hanso, landing it on Hanso's blade. The three explorers hurried across the bridge as Hanso bought them time to escape. After getting across, Hanso cut the ropes to the bridge, leaving no way for him to get across and escape the Bandit Leader's wrath.
"You will pay for your betrayal." seethed the Bandit Leader, pointing his blade against Hanso's throat.
Before the Bandit Leader could lay his final blow, the Shenkuu army marched below, heading for the hill. The Bandit Leader hurried away, leaving Hanso alone to be caught by the guards.
After arriving at the shipyard, Anshu, Greyfang and Miet met with Tuon and his crew. Once getting Captain Tuon's permission to use the ship they set out across the Neopian skies.
"How is she?" asked Miet, as Anshu tended to Haraku's wound.
"She needs a lot of time to heal." answered Anshu, seeing Haruku begin to open her eyes.
"Where am I?" asked Haraku, holding to her wound.
"Take it easy." said Anshu "You are on the ship of Captain Tuon. I have just finished tending to your wound."
"H-Hanso?" whispered Haraku.
"He sacrificed himself." said Miet.
"No..." sighed Haraku "He's still alive."
Haraku attempted to sit up, but Anshu grabbed her shoulder and gently laid her back down.
"Please." said Anshu "You're not fully healed."
"But Hanso..."
"You are no good to him if your injury keeps getting worse. Please rest."
Haraku, even though she was hurting for her friend, heeded to Anshu's orders. She fell slowly asleep as Miet headed up to see Greyfang.
"How is she?" asked Greyfang.
"She seems to be doing well. Anshu told her to get more rest."
"Good. I think we all could use some rest."
"Greyfang, do you think... that other thief will be alright?"
"I don't know." answered Greyfang "We can only hope."
"Greyfang?"
Greyfang turned around to see Anshu coming up.
"Where exactly are we headed?" asked Anshu.
"I don't know." answered Greyfang "Wherever we go I hope we can find someone who can tell us more about this Shadow Amulet."
"I may know someone." said Anshu.
"Really? Who?" asked Greyfang.
"His name is Kanrik. We may be able to find him in Merridell." said Anshu.
"Then we'll head for Merridell." said Greyfang, staring at the vast sea before him.
To be continued..,