Complete silence except for the echo of galloping throughout
Shaylir. And this Uni's hooves didn't make the same bell-like sound that Silverwind
made when running. It was more like a sinister beat forever pounding out it's
droll tone.
She tried to feel something, anything, but she
couldn't. Every negative emotion possible tried to be felt at the same moment
and that seemed to make every one of them backfire. Equaling...blankness. An
empty blank feeling was all Zayal could find in her emotion bank. All of the
things she was told that she would feel in a situation like this weren't there.
Suspended in time waiting to be felt. Anger ready to boil in her veins, sorrow
to take up her heart, vengeance to pierce her soul. Yet, they waited in vain,
for Zayal could not feel. She found it was much worse to feel nothing then to
feel the worse fleeting moment of sadness. Broken?
What am I, broken? Am I not capable of feeling?
Or... am I feeling too much? These thoughts tortured Zayal as she lay limply,
slung over Ryon's shoulder. She didn't even have the will to struggle anymore,
too lost in her own thoughts to even move. One of her only friends could be dead.
There was that slight chance that Toyan could have survived but she couldn't see
how anybody could live through a blow like that. She hadn't known him really.
There was not one thing she knew about him, nothing. Yet...she couldn't put her
finger on it. It was almost as if she felt like she needed to feel something...anything.
Was there a name for it? A feeling that you should feel? Or was she the only one
who'd ever felt like that? Toyan had felt like a friend. He had been a friend,
you didn't measure a friend by how long you'd known them but how much you cared
for them. Zayal had cared for Toyan, she didn't know why or how but she had. Maybe
it was only because he was the only real person she'd met besides Amberclaw and
Silverwind. Perhaps that made her vulnerable to easily accepting somebody as a
friend. She honestly didn't know to explain it to herself, but she found she didn't
need to.
She suddenly realised they were no longer on
Uniback but inside the castle. So deep in the flow of thoughts she hadn't even
notice him whistle for a stable hand to take his horse or even when he entered
the castle. Already Ryon was walking briskly down some stone passage way. It
took another moment for Zayal to notice the portraits of the past kings on the
wall. She tried to ignore how much she was being jolted around by Ryon by looking
at the portraits. Before she knew it they came to the end of the corridor where
the picture of the current king was hung. She blinked, once, twice then rubbed
her eyes. It couldn't be the same person that Amberclaw and Toyan had told her
about. If it had been she would have expected a sinister looking Neopet with
an evil grin on his face...not something unlike Ryon.
But this Skeith looked like a cheerful grandpa
type. The smile on his face was slight, but sincere. He had the regal air about
him yet he seemed very down to earth. His eyes had that friendly gleam that
seemed to say “I want to be your friend, not ruler.” This was not the cruel
man Amberclaw and Toyan had told her about. It just wasn't possible.
Ryon quickly grabbed her in his right arm and
opened a wooden door that seemed to have randomly appeared in front of them
with his left. With one sharp movement he shoved her inside, leaving her in
a heap on the floor. Before he slammed the door behind him he leaned in.
“Be good," he told her knowing very well that
he was treating her like a little girl.
Without realisation every emotion one was capable
of feeling hit her at once. It was an explosion, she was being strangled by
feelings. They seemed to be tearing at her heart in soul, that blankness had
flashed from nothing to everything in an instant. Tears trickled slowly down
her face and she began to sob uncontrollably. In pure and utter dismay she flung
herself to the ground and began to pound at it relentlessly, hoping to ease
the pain that had just been laid upon her.
***
Gilro had found Toyan injured. Fear gripped his heart and threatened to tear
at his self confidence. He quickly ran to Toyan's head and felt for a pulse,
he was alive, barely. The centaur's breathing was ragged and barely audible,
but nevertheless there. Then he searched for the source of injury, it was only
on his leg...nothing vital had been hit. The pain had just sent him into shock.
Shuddering, Gilro quickly slid his light jacket it off and began to fix up Toyan's
leg.
He can't die. He can't. I won't be able to
survive without him, without Toyan I'm only a coward. Gilro thought frantically
to himself. His pale hands visibly shook as he wrapped the cloth of his jacket
around Toyan's leg and rapidly tied it into a tight knot. His leg slowly started
to get better. Gilro sat back, praying that Toyon would wake up. He couldn't
die.
“Toyan, Do you hear me? Toyan! Listen to me.
You can't die, you just can't. You promised me, remember? You promised me! You
said that you'd teach me to be brave, like you. You told me that as soon as
we could we'd get out of this place and be world class adventurers together.
Don't you remember Toyan? Remember that day we made up our future together?
You've got to remember Toyan, It was so important to us...so very important!”
Gilro had slid over to Toyan's head and was now holding it up in his hands.
He looked so peaceful. Was this only a dream? Was Toyan just asleep? Would they
wake up soon?
“But that's not the whole thing Toyan! It's not!
I don't care if we ever go out and become famous travelers or any of that! I
don't care if I remain a coward forever! You can't die Toyan...you can't die....because...your
my friend...the only friend I've ever had. My best friend. Toyan! Toyan!” A
single tear slid down his face. It seemed as if only yesterday they had snuck
into the dungeon and met that prisoner...maybe it was only yesterday...time
seemed to be flying...or was it standing still? What was going on? Gilro suddenly
looked down and realised he was violently shaking Toyan by his shoulders.
“Gilro...calm down. Do you really think I'd let
that idiot kill me? I've got way too much to do to be killed now.” Toyan was
always the same, even after looking Death right in the eye he could crack a
joke and remain calm.
“Toyan...Toyan...” Gilro could only repeat his
name over and over in relief. Tears were flowing freely now. He was shaking
hysterically.
“Pull yourself together Gilro. I'm fine, OK?
Don't worry about me any longer. We have to get to Zayal. Can you imagine what
Ryon could be doing to her right now? Maybe he's feeding her to that prisoner
or something!” Toyan said jokingly a weak grin plastered on his face.
Gilro burst into laughter along with simultaneous
tears.
“Toyan...you are my best friend," Gilro
said through his mix of emotions.
“And you're mine, Gilro.” Toyan smiled before
gritting his teeth and forcing himself to balance on three legs.
***
Ryon paced back in forth nervously, in the King's throne room running his paw
through his thick jet black fur. His paws thumped dully, flecks of mud and earth
flying off them as he stepped. He knew the King wasn't going to cooperate and
that would mess them both up.
The stubborn pig headed fool...if he doesn't
listen to me... Ryon smacked the wall with his paw his dark amber eyes narrowing
considerably. His thoughts were suddenly disrupted as the King entered the throne
room, his robe making a light swishing sound and his jeweled chains that tied
around his stomach made a loud clanging.
“So Ryon, you had something to tell me? If you'd
make it quick I'd like to go back into the Kitchen and complain a bit more.
It's so fun to watch that cook's fat jiggle when I tell him he's done something
wrong! Ha!” The King threw himself into the throne and began to cackle insanely,
eyes glinting with malice. He tapped his right claw onto the arm rest. “I love
being in charge. Complete and total power.”
Ryon's eye twitched but he hid his disgust behind
his emotionless face. This was no time to get the King angry with him. If he
wanted him to be in an agreeable mood Ryon would have to deal with King's...outbursts.
“Your Majesty, I think I'll jump straight to the point if you don't mind," Ryon
calmly stated looking for the King's reaction. Usually he'd call the King by
his true name, Maukar, but he knew that he had the best chance of getting his
cooperation by calling by his unrightful title.
“Hmm. Well I think that would be all right. Go
on," Maukar replied, leaning his head on his hand and looking up at Ryon.
He was expecting to hear some funny story of how Ryon had scared one of the
villagers. Maukar loved seeing other people suffer.
“You know how Foogon spoke to you about those
two pets, and that girl being a plausible threat before he suddenly disappeared?”
Ryon paused as usual when he wanted to make a certain emphasis on something,
but he knew when to pick it back up so the king wouldn't interrupt. He hated
being interrupted, especially by that fool. “Well, Foogon was correct.”
“Don't tell me your going to believe that traitor?
Honestly, Ryon. That flying rat only fed us that story to...to...well I don't
know, but I'm sure he meant something bad by it. Scoundrel. Scum. I'll find
him someday. Indeed.” The King nodded in a way that signaled the end of the
conversation, but Ryon was not through yet.
“The girl is her daughter," Ryon said drolly,
with an odd catch to his face. He seemed to have left the room mentally, his
thoughts lost somewhere in the past.
“Ha Ha! I never knew you could be so funny! Good
one Ryon! Now...if you'll excuse me. Ha Ha! Daughter! As if she even had any
children!” Maukar was so amused by the statement he was holding his stomach
and chuckling uncontrollably. He had one of his broad hands covering his mouth
as he tried to stop laughing.
“It is no joke. Xaania had one daughter and that
girl is her.” The general's eyes focused on the king's change of expression.
Hilarity to complete surprise.
“But...but...you can't know for sure now can
you? Maybe...um...well...there are many possiblities...eh...” He trailed off
trying to think of something, trying to make up some excuse. Deny reality in
any way he possibly could.
“Think about it, Maukar! Have we had one visitor
from anywhere since you came into rule? No! Because you ordered me to get rid
of any messengers from other kingdoms! Has anybody ever left this kingdom unless
they were watched very carefully? No! Except for those two boys who are always
sneaking out! You told me to ignore them and instead you sent Foogon off after
them to make sure they'd come back. When they came back with that girl he told
you about her right away but you discarded the notion completely! Xaania's daughter
is the only person who could have possibly been close enough to get into the
kingdom. There is nobody else! There is no other possibility!” Now Ryon was
hissing with rage and his eyes had widened in an unholy anger. He felt nothing
but wrath for Xaania, and not even the King knew why.
“But...but...that means...” Maukar was stumbling
over his own words in realisation. He was speechless, for once.
“Yes. It means that we're in deep dung. Plain
and simple. This girl could easily find you out if she reaches Xaania in the
dungeon. That would also ruin the way you planned at getting back at Xaania.
She would see her child. Your revenge would be gone if that happened, gone.
Darn it! If you had just gotten rid of her right away none of this would have
happened!” Ryon spat in the King's face, not caring at all. He swung himself
around landing in the chair next to the throne, trying to calm himself down.
“No...I couldn't destroy her...I can't hurt anybody...'Getting
rid of' is so final. Why get rid of them when you can toy with their heads more?
When you can see them suffer? No, I made the right choice. I always do. I am
King! I am King! Ha!” Maukar was cackling now, laughing in delirium. He was
hysterical now banging his fists against the arm rests.
“She hurt your mother! How can you not want to
give her pain in return?” Ryon shot at the King trying to pull him out of his
laughter. Ryon's blood was boiling, he would have to take matters into his own
hands soon enough. There was a long uncomfortable silence. Then the King suddenly
whispered.
“Mother...mother...she was only doing what was
right for the kingdom...and that human...hurt her...but we can't hurt her yet.
No. We must make her suffer for what she did. Suffer, make her live in pain
in suffering so when she does die she lived for nothing.” Maukar was rambling
now, eyes wide with satisfaction of his plan. “I know! We hurt the girl! Yes!
Then throw her in the dungeon! Ha Ha! That girl was all she lived for, and now
she'll see she's gone and she'll give up. Yes! HA!” Maukar's eyes glinted, his
sadistic plan was so perfect so very perfect.
“Now you're thinking Your Majesty.” Ryon smiled
an evil, cruel smile. His voice was now calm and satisfied.
“But we don't get rid of her outright. We let
the girl stew for a while. We don't feed her for a couple of days, make her
look beaten, abused, sickly. That will hit her all the harder.” The King was
deep in thought, adding more gruesome parts to his masterful plan.
“You're a sick man, but do it we must and do
it we will," Ryon replied, relief flooded throughout him. He would never have
to face Xaania again, ever. He didn't have to worry about her being rescued,
There was nothing that could go wrong. Nothing.
To be continued... | 
