be anywhere, Nalani!”
She charged out of the dungeon, being mindful of the guards that could be coming back. With all the loud fighting, it was a wonder the entire fortress hadn’t come to stop them.
They made their way up a flight of stairs and into a dark hallway, unsure of where to turn.
“Is someone out there?” Came a muffled cry behind them.
Nalani and Coffman turned sharply, but didn’t see anyone behind them. They saw a door at the end of the hallway.
“Was that where the screaming had come from earlier?” Nalani asked.
Coffman gave Nalani a warning look. “Do you really think it’s such a good idea? We don’t have time to save other people.”
“Maybe he’ll know something,” she answered.
Coffman tried to protest again, but Nalani had already started walking toward the door. She pulled out the keys they had stolen off the guard and tried several until one of them finally turned. She looked back at Coffman who held on to his sword tightly. She pushed the door and let it swing open, as she too readied herself for any possible confrontation. But she found no fight.
She found Silas Ainsley.
*****
Silas was stunned to see Nalani and Coffman. They were the last people he would have thought to try and rescue him.
“How did you get in here?”
“We were captured,” Nalani answered. “We just escaped and heard screaming.” She went through the keys and finally unlocked the manacles on Silas. He rubbed his wrists, excited to know he still had a chance.
“We’ve got to get the medallion,” he said.
“There’s no way to know where that is,” Coffman said. “I say we just try to get out of here with our lives and worry about the medallion later.”
“No,” Silas said. “Hroth told me something about the medallion being in his personal tower.”
“Hroth?” Nalani asked.
Silas moved out of his cell and walked briskly down the hallway with the other two following.
“Weird Stühoc,” he said. “Reads minds. I think he’s the Possessor.”
“Yeah, I think we just ran into him a few minutes ago,” Nalani said.
Silas moved fast until he came to a small window in the wall above his head. Out of it he could see most of the layout of the fortress, all the way to the plateau where he had fought side-by-side with his friends three months before.
“We’re west of the main part of the fortress,” Silas declared. “If I’m right, we’re on the side nearest the field of cages where they keep the slaves.” He turned to Coffman and Nalani. “Do you have sarians?”
“Only one,” Nalani said. “But it’s chained outside.”
“I think we should split up,” Silas said. “You two need to get it and fly it to the top of this building.”
“And what are you planning to do?” Coffman asked.
“I plan to get the medallion,” he answered. “I don’t know if it’s up here, but I have a strong feeling that Hroth stays near his prisoners. If he has a personal tower, then I’m going up until I find it.”
“Wait, wait,” Nalani said. “We just found you. I can’t let you get caught again.”
“We’re running out of time! Just do it, and I’ll meet you at the top.”
Nalani sighed then nodded.
Silas reached out a hand and placed it on her shoulder. “Thanks for getting me out of there. I’ll see you in a few minutes.”
Coffman and Nalani turned to leave, and Silas took a deep breath. He was probably being stupid. There was no way to know whether Hroth’s tower was in this part of the fortress, but his gut told him it was the most likely option.
Weaponless, he moved to a flight of stairs, thankful there were no guards to meet him. He had been able to finally produce the magic green shield that saved his life from the assassin, Saul, but he was still weak, and very new to magic. He felt confident that in a tight situation he would be able to knock out some guards and then get his hands on a sword. That’s what he was best at. No guard would be a match for his sword.
That’s right, Silas. You are very skilled.
Silas covered his ears, though he knew it wouldn’t shut out the voice. Hroth must be near him. He pulled himself back up and began to sprint up the stairs, ignoring his need for a breath.
Keep running, you won’t escape me.
The stairs seemed to go up for miles, and he wasn’t sure if he had the endurance to make it all that way. From