The Koi's scales shimmered brightly in the late afternoon
sun. It was oblivious to the girl crouching in the bush beside the creek, spear
in her hand ready to spring. The water was unbelievably clear, Zayal could see
every tiny detail that lay below the surface. Most importantly she could see
the Koi's every move, even the slightest one. She stayed perfectly still, waiting
for the Koi to edge just a little bit closer to the bank. Suddenly, she heard
leaves rustling behind her.
"Zayal, What are you doing?" Silverwind's voice
rang in Zayal's ears and the fish swam away in fright.
"Darn it...Fishing...I wish you wouldn't scare
off the Koi like that," Zayal muttered, looking around impatiently for another
Koi. Silverwind shrugged, peering over Zayal's shoulder.
"Well, you shouldn't wait so long to strike.
Be like me, Just do it. It's much faster that way," Silverwind noted with a
snort. Zayal got up from her crouching position, leaning on her spear.
"Hmm, I've found patience is a much better practice
in the long run. Even faster," Zayal replied, looking at Silverwind.
"Please demonstrate," Silverwind asked, quirking
an eyebrow. He was obviously amused.
"I will. Watch." Zayal's sharp eyes had spotted
another Koi, but without thinking she stabbed at the Koi repeatedly, missing
it every time.
"Just shows how horrid you are at fishing,"
Silverwind said with a chuckle.
"Now, Watch." Now another Koi was nearby, good
thing this creek had a healthy supply of them, and Zayal crouched down again.
She waited, never taking her eyes off the Koi. The Koi unknowingly drifted too
close to the bank and quicker then a blink of an eye it was on Zayal's spear.
"Hmm...I suppose I see your point, but acting
right away is much more fun," Silverwind said with a sly grin on his face.
"It may be, but I prefer patience. It is a virtue
you know." Zayal winked and grinned back at her friend.
Little did Zayal know, that her mother was thinking
exactly the same thing.
***
Xaania had changed since she had first come to the dungeons. Her once short,
choppy hair was now long, stringy and caked with mud. She now looked twenty
years older then she actually was because of the grime that covered her entire
body. Nobody would recognise the general. Xaania smiled, that was a good thing.
A very good thing. The dungeon on the other hand, hadn't changed in any way
which annoyed Xaania.
Most of her days were consumed of thinking about
her daughter, not worrying about her necessarily, but wondering. Xaania already
knew that her daughter would be quick-witted, spirited, and perceptive. She
had been able to tell the second she looked into Zayal's eyes for the first
time. Xaania knew she would be very proud of her daughter, and she desperately
wanted to see her, to talk to her. She just wanted to let Zayal know she was
alive and well, that once she found the right time she would escape and they
would get their revenge on the king.
Xaania heard soft footsteps coming down the
hallway. Right away, She knew they weren't guards. The guard's footsteps weren't
soft. Their boots made a loud thud every time they hit the ground. Plus, The
guards never tried to be quiet. It was painfully obvious how quiet these people
were trying to be, whoever they were.
Suddenly, it was hushed voices that she heard.
"I can't believe weire in here!" The first voice
said excitedly, almost shakily.
"Me neither, but I hope the guards don't catch
us. The second voice was nervous.
"Awww, They won't. We'll just sneak back into
the secret passage if they..." the voice that had spoken first was interrupted.
"Psst, you two. Come over here," Xaania whispered,
her voice almost inaudible. For a moment it was silent. The two were trying
to figure out if it was a guard that said it, once they finally convinced themselves
it wasn't they came walking around the corner. One of them was a young Kyrii
with a shock of bright green hair. The other, to Xaania's surprise, was a Uni
colt. No ordinary Uni either. He was part human. His silver eyes were wide with
surprise and his long blue hair fell to his equine back.
"Look Toyan, Itis a real prisoner!" The Kyrii's
jaw dropped as he gaped at Xaania.
"Wow..." Toyan, the Uni-boy, replied
staring in awe at the woman seated before them.
This was it, This may be the only chance she
would get. Xaania's eyes flickered with anticipation.
"I need you boys to do me a favour...and
if you do I will tell you anything you want to know about the kingdom and the
dungeons." A smile curved across her face, as the two boys looked at her
their eyes wide as saucers. They were up to no good, therefore making the mission
that she was about to assign them perfect.
Yes, just like the good old days.
***
Bars of golden sunlight seeped through the treetops and a lit the tranquil
forest path that led to Zayal's home. Zayal had the Koi she had speared earlier
slung over her shoulder and she had a thoughtful expression on her face. Silverwind
hardly noticed, since this was how Zayal usually looked.
"I've been thinking," Zayal spoke suddenly,
surprising Silverwind. Zayal hardly ever mentioned what she was thinking about.
She usually kept her thoughts to herself.
"Really that's a first," Silverwind snickered,
throwing his head back with laughter.
"Well, I think often. I just don't feel
the need to tell you," Zayal replied calmly looking at her long time friend.
His eyes sparked curiously.
"So, You just decided to start now?"
the Uni asked a certain edge to his voice. His silky mane was starting to whip
around in the wind. The breeze had picked up quite a bit and the night chill
began to set in as the light started to dim.
"Well, I need to ask you something...Did
you know my mother?" The girl pursed her lips, there was a determined aura
about her but Silverwind could not detect why.
"No, but Amberclaw knew your mother very
well," he replied puzzled. How had this suddenly come up" She hadn't asked
about her mother ever, but that had always bothered Silverwind too. Why would
she not ask about her mother? Then again, Why start now? Maybe she had always
wondered, but never asked.
"Really...." she let her voice drift
off as she furrowed her eyebrows slightly and she looked as if her mind had
once again wandered elsewhere. The girl shivered suddenly and she held her velvet
cloak closer to her as they approached the cabin. Amberclaw was waiting for
them inside. She grinned broadly as Zayal handed the Koi to her.
"Very good catch Zayal! I've always been
amazed of your adept skill with a spear," Amberclaw commented proudly as she
took the Koi in one of her talon's and set it in a pot to be cooked for their
dinner. When Zayal only nodded in response Amberclaw frowned.
"What's wrong?" the motherly Eyrie
asked, her voice concerned.
"Oh, Nothing." Zayal shook her head
to dislodge the notion that something was wrong and took a seat at her small
wooden desk then pulled out a piece of parchment and a quill. The desk was cluttered
with journal entries, maps, and observations. All of them which were made by
herself.
Amberclaw only arched an eyebrow and gave Silverwind
a "What happened to her?" look. Silverwind shrugged as he was equally
bewildered at Zayal's actions. The girl was usually thoughtful, but she wasn't
that quiet. She always had a large summary of the day, but today she had said
nothing.
"What happened to my Mother?" The
question was so straightforward, so unexpected that Amberclaw almost fell over
in surprise. Zayal had never asked the question out loud before but Amberclaw
knew she thought about it.
"Well..." The Silver Eyrie didn't
know if she should tell the truth or not. Would the general want her daughter
to know she was wasting away in prison? Would Zayal try to get her mother out
if she found out? How could she make up something believable on the spot? Silverwind
only stood there, looking at Zayal's intent facial expressions.
"Your mother left Neopia. Right after you
were born," Amberclaw said with a sigh and Zayal took it with dignity as she
began to write on her roll of blank parchment.
***
"Darn it Gilro, You're so loud!" Toyan protested as they tried to make
their way through the dark woods. Every time Gilro's foot hit the ground it
made a load crunch which made Toyan flinch.
"Well Sorry if I don't have soundproof
hooves like you!" Gilro snapped back his eyes flashing. At least, Toyan
thought his eyes were flashing he really couldn't see in this darkness. Oh well,
Gilro's bright hair was enough to light the path. He grinned at the thought
but he didn't dare say it aloud.
"Oh well. This should be exciting. Getting
some girl and bringing her to some prisoner? What's that lady gonna do? Eat
her?" Toyan said with a chuckle."I heard the food in the dungeons
isn't exactly gourmet. Maybe she wants to eat us too," the Uni-boy suggested
with a grin trying to scare his friend.
"Shaddup! Let's just find her and get out
of here," Gilro replied nervously as he looked around. The wind rustled a nearby
tree's branches and Gilro practically jumped out of his boots.
"Geez, it's OK Gilro I was only joking!"
Toyan explained diplomatically. That was Toyan, always trying to be rational.
"Do you think she'd really eat us?"
"I know, I know! Just a little jumpy, That's
all," was Gilro's hurried reply. Toyan let out a quiet whoop as he spotted the
shadowy cabin that was looming in the distance. He silently galloped towards
it and Gilro was only a few steps behind, still trying to keep his boots from
making a racket.
"I saw we rap on the window to get her
attention," Toyan suggested as he peered through one of the window's, immediately
seeing the girl lying in bed. She looked about his age.
"Nah, throw rocks at it. That way if something
goes wrong we'll be far enough to run away without gettin' caught," Gilro responded
slowly backing away from the cabin.
"Stupid, you'll break the window and awaken
the entire forest!" Toyan shook his head in disgust at his friend's cowardice.
The two of them began to bicker about which way to choose, neither of them noticing
Zayal until she pushed the window open.
"Who are you?" Zayal asked curiously,
rubbing the sleep from her eyes. Both Kyrii and Uni-boy jumped in unison. She
couldn't help but chuckle. Toyan gathered his wits first.
"Toyan, Part Unit Part Person from the
Kingdom of Shaylir." Toyan smiled, bowing slightly to Zayal. Gilro quickly
followed suit.
"Gilro, Kyrii Archer from Shaylir."
He also bowed respectfully.
"Such respect from two strangers. What
are you doing quarreling at my window in the middle of the night?" Zayal
asked, quirking an eyebrow at the Uni-person and the Kyrii. She quickly lit
a candle and set it on the windowsill.
"Somebody has requested to see you in Shaylir
and we were sent to bring you to her," Toyan explained, his silver eyes were
gentle and kind as he looked up at Zayal.
"Who would want to see me? I don't know
anybody who lives outside these woods..." she was confused and her face
showed it.
"I can assure you, the person who sent
for you knows you very well to give us such detailed directions." Toyan
winked at Zayal."Come with us, we'll take you to her." Toyan offered
his hand to help Zayal down.
"What about Amberclaw and Silverwind, They
will most certainly worry." She knew they would worry, but she wanted to
go so dreadfully! She had lived in the forest all her life. She could travel
it blindfolded. She wanted adventure, excitement, something new!
"You could leave a note," Toyan said with
a shrug of his shoulders. Gilro nodded in agreement. He was anxious to get back
to Shaylir. Zayal didn't give it any more thought. This would be her only chance.
"I'll go." After writing a quick note
to Amberclaw, she hopped out of the window with only her pack, dagger, and rucksack.
The decision Zayal had just made would change
her life forever.
To be continued... |