Thank you Justindo, I hope I live up to your expectations.
Sorry for the delay, here is the next chapter.
Behold, night falls, and Aun Kerac and Lord Etir sit silently in the corner of the fort, for the king has instructed his vassal to wait until he feels the moment right to break free of the hidden base. As dawn is fast approaching Lord Etir turns to his king and says,
“When sire shall we make our move? The light of day will dash our hope of escape, and who should know but God what these cutthroats might decide to do to us. Now may be our only chance.”
The wise king nods, and speaks, “That be true. Methinks now is our opportune time. For the night as you so say if near over, and their guard is down. The men are tired, and the light of their torches burns their eyes, causing their vision failing. We shall move, follow me.”
The King and his knight rise silently, disturbing not the atmosphere of the courtyard. Lord Etir crouches, and reaches for a vandal’s spear.
“Nay,” says the King, grabbing his arm, “He will miss such an object. Besides, we shall not be able to carry it.”
Stealthily the king moves towards the keep of the fort. His servant follows him, but is unable to keep as silent as his lord.
“How can you move softer then the wind,” he whispers.
“When I was young,” the King replies, “I sometimes needed to get out of such situations. I have learned from those experiences.”
When they reach the keep Etir once more stops his master, “Sir, should we not head for the gate? Will this not lead us farther into the fortress, with no hope of escape?” he asks.
“Etir,” sighs the King, “How should you hope to get through? Look at the courtyard; it is full of the followers. And the gate is guarded well, our old guards are close by, and the man who defends the entrance holds a torch. Unlike our guards though, he switches with the others, and his eyes will not be blinded by the torch. Whereas here we might not escape, but we can hide, and they shall think we have. Besides, the guard here sleeps, it will be easy.”
And so the two pass through the entrance to the keep, and Etir glances at the guard as he follows his King.
When the two enter the keep, they hide behind the door and take stock of the inner castle.
“Where is their leader?” Asks Etir.
“He must be up in a higher level, he will own his own room and will be asleep.” Aun Kerak replies.
“Now look for a good hiding spot or even if you find one, an escape,” says Aun, and they begin their search round the keep.
The keep itself is not man made, but only the entrance. The rest of the keep is of natural stone, and dense forest, too dense for a man to enter. They look, but find no exit.
Suddenly, Etir feels a tap on his shoulder.
“Look,” whispers his king, for the sounds outside the keep grow louder, and the light around them brighter. “There in the rock be a small cave, we shall hide in there.”
The king slips himself in just as the briggards enter the keep, looking for the two and to receive new instructions of their lord.
One continues upstairs to the chambers of the rebel leader.
“My lord,” his unfortunately young voice can be heard from where Aun Kerac and Etir sit.
“The prisoners have escaped, we know not how…”
“Fools!” shouts the leader as he rises from his bed and dons his armor. “The master will be most displeased, hurry, we must find them!”
He races downstairs, and leads his men out the fort.
“By the grace of the almighty, let us head out my lord,” Etir exclaims, but Aun Kerac shakes his head.
“It is not over yet Etir my friend,” he says, with a worried look on his face.
“What do you mean sire?” asks his vassal.
“This master the rebel speaks of,” Aun Kerac murmurs, half to himself. “This was planned, and I fear this be only the beginning.” He looks up again. “Fetch our weapons, our shields, and find some horses if you can. We will set forth for Winterhaven immediately, and put as much distance between ourselves and this place as we can. I shall collect other gear we may need, but we must travel light.”
So Etir does as was commanded of him, while Aun sets forth to find supplies. All the while going over what the rebel said, and wondering what and who this master is.
To be continued…
