Thirty-Eight - Tarka

All I knew what to do at that moment was run.

I could hear leaves rustling behind me with heavy footsteps accompanying it, so I knew someone was following me in hot pursuit. I scrambled up a tree as fast as I could, thinking in that moment that it would be my only option of throwing off whoever was chasing me. I had forgotten, though, that this was a Viridian soldier behind me, who also had the ability to climb trees in a hurry. I heard him two levels below me, but I kept climbing.

I finally got to the point where it was no longer safe to climb any higher. I looked down for a split second and clung to the trunk beside me, for I was up over 100 feet into the air. The Viridian soldier was out of breath and climbing slower than I had, but it gave me enough time to act.

I coiled my tail around the branch to steady myself, took an arrow out of my quiver and shot him in the shoulder. He cried out, but it didn't phase him other than that. I looked around, felt around me, heart thumping from the adrenaline. In seconds, I felt my potential salvation in my pocket, and I took the chance. I threw down the knife, and it lodged into the soldier's chest. He let go of the branch and fell to the ground, dead.

Nausea overwhelmed me. As I climbed down slowly, it won over me, and I ended up vomiting over on the other side of the tree. Feeling weak, I wrapped my tail around the branch I was currently on and laid my head back against the trunk. I closed my eyes and took in a few deep breaths. I needed water, but where would the nearest lake or river be?

After a few minutes of rest to get my beating heart to slow down and for the nausea to go away, I continued my way back down and jumped down to the solid ground. I took care not to step on the body of the poor soldier. I stared at him for a minute. He died fighting for a cause he thought was right . . . Little did he know he was fighting for the wrong side. Poor man.

I started walking, not knowing where in Terraro I was going. Where was Rhythmus? What was happening to Alden now? Should I go back for him? Realizing I was still too weak to fight anyone else then, I knew the only thing to do was to find Rhythmus. I knew he had been with Tristram, but who knows if he was still there? Better to find at least one of them than nobody.

For hours I trudged on toward the Brackin territory. I at least found a stream to drink from; it was better than nothing. Not only was I thirsty, but I also needed to get the awful taste out of my mouth from earlier. At dusk, I reached my destination. I walked in through the gates, anxiously waiting to catch sight of my friends.

"A Viridian!" a Brackin woman exclaimed. "She must be a spy. Help! Police!"

I turned my head violently around me, looking for a place to escape to, but I took too long. Before I could even cry out, a huge Brackin man put his hand on my mouth and a sword pointed towards my side. I stood perfectly still, not wanting to make enemies with the brute.

"You're coming with me!" he bellowed. He guided me to a tent that was highly guarded and opened the flaps. The air was knocked out of me as he threw me to the ground.

"Who are you? And what are you doing trespassing in our land?"

"I, I'm looking for my friend Tristram."

His eyes widened. "How do you know Tristram? And how do I know that you're a friend and not a spy of Lesion's?"

"I killed one of Lesion's soldiers myself. I am also looking for Rhythmus, where are they? I must find them immediately!"

The Brackin man was silent for a few moments. He walked up to me, lifted me gently off the ground. Then he put his hands on my arms. "If I tell you where they are, you will not leave our land without our consent, is that clear?" he spoke softly but sternly.

"Yes sir," I answered equally softly. We stood in that position for a few moments just looking into each others' eyes, trying to read each other, with me breathing heavier than I wanted to show. I didn't want him to see my fear.

"Tristram is in a cell in the prison for safekeeping. We are looking to have him married to the REAL king's daughter, Elane, but until then, he needs to be in a safe place where we know where he is at all times. Who knows where Rhythmus is? Probably roaming around the town. He comes and he goes. It's a bad habit of his."

"I know all too well," I affirmed. "I don't know where the prison is, could you escort me so this doesn't happen again with someone else?" He nodded and took a hold of my arm. A strong hold, but not uncomfortable.

We took a few steps toward the tent flap when I remembered something and turned to him. "I almost forgot, what's your name?"

He almost smirked at me as we started walking out of the tent. "Galea. And yours?"

"Tarka."

"Tarka . . . I like it. It slips right off the tongue."

Thirty-Seven - Alden

We ran as fast as we could across the stretch of sand that stood between us and the border of trees that would offer much better terrain for stealth. My foot steps were clumsy with the shifting sand, and the picture of my mother sitting at home began to burn into my conscious, a guilt I'm not sure I will ever get past. Tarka kept a good pace and gave off no sign of an emotion. I can't help but wonder how she could stab Damian. Not less than twenty-four hours ago she loved him. I suppose this is what Fastus would have called a woman scorned, which no man was to mess with.

Regardless of the emotions either of us may be experiencing, we both knew we had to get to Rhythmus. My people are too well aligned with the Viridi, and our only hope now is just to cut the head off of the snake and hope two more don't grow back in its place.

As we neared the forest line, a sound of foot steps soon began to thunder behind us. Three Viridian soldiers, dressed in tunics and turbans to shield their eyes from the sun and sand, were quickly gaining ground as they rode short haired beluas, with their tongues flopping to the side of their mouths.

"Run, Tarka! Faster!"

We ran even quicker, Tarka moving ahead of me, but before we could reach the trees a whistle seemed to cut through the air. I tried to see what it was, but in mere seconds a stabbing pain dug into my legs, and I fell to the ground. Reaching down I found a rope twisted around my ankles, secured by two sharp pieces of iron that were now lodged into my legs. I tried to pull it out, but the blood made it hard to know how serious the injury was, and time was quickly running out.

Tarka had kept running, but as I fell she stopped to look at me.

"Keep going!" I cried. "You have to get to Rhythmus at all costs! Please, go!"

Tarka stared me for a brief moment, but at the sight of another rope being swung in the air, she took off, disappearing into the safety of her trees. One of the Viridian soldiers followed after her, but the other two stopped to take care of me.

"This was all too easy." One hissed as he slithered off his beast.

"Sorry to be such a disappointment." I growled.

"Oh, don't worry." He went on, dragging a clawed hand across the left side of my face. "We will have plenty of fun with you."

Thirty-six - Tristram

People crowded the streets and the rooftops cheering as I entered the capital. Banners waved, bands played, and merriment overwhelmed the people :their savior had come. I walked with my head high, smiling and waving at everyone. The shackles were still on, but loose enough so that everyone knew I had come willingly. It was great seeing the capital again: a sight I only dreamed about! To see all the townspeople celebrating my return was even sweeter. In the past thirty years, my banishment had been one of the darkest days, especially with a war following, but my return would be seen as one of the greatest in centuries. At least, I see it that way. This was all I had hoped for....But I wasn't free yet. Despite what Galea said, retracting my banishment would still be a difficult task, especially is Legion or King Pontus knew what I was up to. 

The "parade" wound its way through the capital up to the prison. Galea had been sure to not only announce that I was entering the city today, but also to plan the perfect route to parade me through the city. It was all too soon when I was handed over to the prison guards, schackled a little more securely, then led into my cell. On the bright side, my cell was clean and Askimi had ensured two guards loyal to our cause would stand at the cell door. I could still hear all the celebrating from the city hours later when my dinner arrived. Tomorrow I would have to go and plead my case in front of the council but tonight, tonight I could rest. 

Then she arrived. Elane in a plain white dress. She actually came running for my cellar door as I jumped up to met her. At first we just looked at each other, hardly believing this was possible, then our hearts caught up and we grabbed each others arms, both of us radiating joy. She had thinned since I last saw her and her shinning blonde hair had dulled. Her green eyes , however, still sparkled with the life inside her. The guards seemed to have disappeared, leaving Elane and I alone to talk for the first time in months. But we didn't talk much. Mostly, we just sat there, holding hands, wondering how we ever could have lived without each other before. 

Thirty-Five - Tarka

I was enraged.

It took everything in me not to scream til my lungs hurt. The man I thought was dead was alive. The man I thought loved me betrayed me.

Maybe this was all a dream. Or just a mistake. Maybe I can reason with him. Surely he still loves me and will listen to me. That's my only hope...

I looked over at Alden. His arms were moving slightly behind him. He made eye contact with me, then motioned towards my hands with his eyes. I nodded slowly, wanting to be rid of the scratchy bonds.

Before he could scoot over to where I was, the tent flap flew up, and in walked someone I also knew all too well.

 His smile sent chills through my body. And not in the good way. He made his way over to where I was hunched over in the corner of the tent.

"This little rat looks familiar," Lesion sneered.

I tried to kick him but my feet were also tied. He gave an evil belly laugh.

"And who's your friend?" He turned to Alden. I kept silent.

"It doesn't matter, I'll both be rid of you soon anyway. For now, I --"

"Hey boss!"

Lesion turned and snarled, "What do you want?!"

Damian shrunk back, a bit startled. "You're needed in the other tent, the council wishes to speak to you. It's on important business."

"Ugh, fine. I'll have to deal with you two when I get back." The ugly son-of-a-snake humphed out of our tent, brushing away the tent flaps like they were gnats in his face. Alden silently passed his knife to me.

I slowly started cutting the ropes when Damian turned to us and raised his eyebrows at the two of us. Then, he turned specifically to me and knelt down by where I was tied up. "So how long have you two been running around together?"

"Not long enough. Damian . . . what happened to you?! I thought you were dead."

He stood up and paced with his tail swinging back and forth. "I thought I was going to be when they took me back then. I was scared for you. I longed earnestly for you." The look he gave me then almost made me pity him.

"They took me to the dungeon. Lesion's. I didn't even know he had one. He came in, and I was never so scared for my own skin. Do you know what he said to me?" We shook our heads. "He said, 'Damian, you're a young strong fellow. I would hate for you to waste your talents and energy on a false conspiracy.' Of course I didn't want that. He said to me, 'Damian, we are not the enemy! I don't know where you got the idea that we were doing bad things. Yes, we are behind something, but it's for the good of the people, our people, and the Brackins and Palkins. Don't you want to help make the world a better place?' I said, 'Well of course I do.' 'Good,' he said reassuringly. 'I want you to be one of my lead soldiers, to help thwart the plan of an evil man, whose name is Rhythmus. He's trying to destroy our plans! Because he doesn't care about our planet! All he does is live by himself in his little hermit hole.'"

When Damian turned around just long enough, Alden looked at me and made a slight motion with his head towards Damian, and I nodded in acknowledgement and agreement.

Damian turned back to us. "So, my mission is to send out for him."

I felt my face go hot. "What are you going to do with him?" I whispered, scared to know the answer.

"If all goes well, either Roman or I will have the honors of killing him." I gasped.

"But you can't! He's not the bad guy! Don't you see? Lesion's brainwashed you. He's wanting to take over the whole planet of Terraro!"

Damian just laughed. "You're a fool, Tarka. I thought you were smarter than that. YOU'RE the one that's fooled."

I didn't have much time to retaliate before Alden yelled "NOW!" and we both charged toward him. Alden socked a surprised Damian in the nose, and I stabbed him in the back with my knife that I had pulled out of my pocket. He fell back in shock just long enough for Alden and I to escape through the outer tent flaps and run for the forest.

Thirty-Four - Alden

A sudden brightness hit my eyes as a burlap sack was pulled from head, allowing the salt from the built up sweat to cascade into my eyes, adding another factor of pain that could not be relieved as my wrists chaffed against the ropes that are binding my hands behind my back. I shook my head and blinked my eyes rapidly, searching for Tarka as well as our captors. As my vision became clearer I saw a thin, scaly figure standing before me, pulling off a pair of gloves. What? I thought to myself, as I then glimpsed Roman with a burlap sack in his hands, standing beside the scaly man.

"Roman?" I asked, my voice cracking with the pain of thirst. I should have had something to drink while I had the chance.

Roman avoided eye contact and staggered back through a pair of door flaps. The Viridian watched Roman leave, standing with the posture of a soldier, before he walked over to Tarka, who was lying in the far left corner. As the burlap sack was pulled from Tarka's head, Tarka's eyes widened and she seemed to recoil from the man.

"How?" She gasped.

"There are things you do not know." He said, voice firm and pointed, as a glare passed my way. Grabbing Tarka's tied up hands, he secured them to the pole that held up the stretched out hide of the tent. Tarka said nothing, but stared at him in an enraged disbelief. 

Roman called from somewhere else within the tent. "Hurry up, Damian. He'll be here soon."

Now I looked at the man in disbelief. Damian walked to me so he could secure my hands to the far right pole. As he did I looked into his eyes, but saw nothing in them. It was as if they were a blown out candle. "I thought you were dead." I said, not really suppressing my disappointment.

Once my hands were tied, he looked to me. "How disappointing it must be for you." He sighed, leaving me and Tarka alone on the sandy floor. 

"How is this possible?" I asked Tarka, but she gave no response. My stomach seemed to sink. Tarka's has always loved Damian, and I knew that. Perhaps this is how I go out, losing Tarka to them, and being tied up like a farm mammal. Even my brother's best friend had shown no mercy, but betrayed me and led me to believe I was safe when I was not. 

I sat still for a long time, feeling nothing but emptiness, when the voice of Lesion filled the tent. An anger began to rise within me, and I tried to stand. I refused to look weak in front of the man who cannot even fight his own wars. As I was part way up, my back fell against the pole and a clanging sound, followed by a soft thud, was heard. Looking over my shoulder I saw a small glimmer of light. I squatted back down, and searching with my hands until I found the point of a knife. Pausing for a second, I made sure Lesion was still busy talking. Then I quickly took up the knife and began sawing away at the ropes. I worked as fast as I could, not even questioning where the knife had come from, and jumped up to make my escape.

But then I thought of Tarka, and looked at her sitting sullenly in the corner. Did she even want me to save her?

Thirty-Three - Tristram

Having been captain of the guard, the men at camp trusted me as soon as Askimi walked me in. About fifteen of the twenty guards had trained under me and remembered me for the man I was. What was so special about me back then? I don't know. I was very short sighted and honor-bound. I was very prideful of my race. Yet somehow, the men still looked up to me. I told them of Legion's plot over breakfast, a typical army ration of some wafers and salted jerky, and they listened without skepticism. Many of the guard welcomed me back warmly before heading off to their duties around the camp and I headed off to the showers. My first shower since I had been banished. I had washed in streams, but they carry dirt too so you can never get quite as clean as you want. A Brackin shower is another thing. The Palkins taught us how to rig up portable bags and tubing so that by heating up warm water, we could have the luxury of a shower out on the mine sites. Of course our king quickly adapted them for the guard to use when out on the border.
 
After my shower, I slept in Askimi's tent till noon. I went out to the mess hall/tent to see Rythmus sitting at the head table with Askimi and Galea, the head of this troop. Rythmus signaled me to come sit with them. As I walked over, I noticed the worry on their faces. They were all concentrating on a piece of paper on the table between them. As I got closer, I saw it was a map of Terraro. Rythmus rose to greet me. "We were just discussing the best plan of attack" said Rythmus. Galea looked up, gave me a short curt nod, then went back to focusing on the map. Askimi, who had been writing something on the lower left corner, suddenly noticed me and rose to greet me as well. "So," I asked, "What have you come up with?"
     Askimi replied, "Well our first priority is to remove the Viridi counselor, and possibly King Pontus if need be. Perhaps if we can get a new ruler in place, we can at least halt the war."
     "Yes, but the problem is, we have no idea how to remove either of them from power." Rythmus continued. "We need proof to remove either of them, and an heir if we want to remove Pontus. Who is next in line?"
     Askimi blushed and glanced at me. "Currently, the next of kin would be Lord Backus. Though I wouldn't want him in power. He's very snooty. He lives very grandly with little attention given to his household." Galea coughed... I could practically feel Galea and Askimi's eyes staring at me as I looked at my feet. Rythmus broke the silence. "Is there something you need to tell us Tristram?" I continued to state at the ground.
     "Tristram has a sort of relationship with Elane, King Nami's daughter. If Tristram was to marry her, he would have the strongest claim to the throne if King Pontus were disposed," Galea said, with just a hint of jealousy.
     "I'd have to be unbranded in order to marry her," I replied.
     "That won't be hard!" Galea scoffed, "With the war going south, convincing the council to unbrand you would be the easiest thing on our list!"
     "but... but I..." I stammered. It wasn't that I didn't want to marry Elane. I did, I really really did! Ever since I had met her I had wanted to marry her! I just didn't want to marry her only to gain the throne... I didn't want to even be king!
     "But nothing," said Rythmus. His glare seemed to the only rational thought in my mind. I knew I had no choice but to go along with their plan. I bowed my head and submitted the argument. "Well that's one thing" Askimi smiled, "now we just need proof of Legion's involvement."
     "I'm sure we can find something once we get to the capital." Rythmus replied, "shall we head out at dawn?"

The next morning, a small group of soldiers, including both Askimi and Galea, left for the capital city. They had one prisoner in irons... me. Rythmus followed behind at a distance. My chains were loose and mostly for show but I was still weighted down. Not by the irons, but by the burden fate had given me. Not only did I need to stop the massacre of two races at the hand of another and dispose my king of his throne, but I was to become king myself. I see that my punishment had only started with banishment. certainly it would end much worse.
    

Thirty-Two - Tarka

"Who was THAT?" I asked Alden, walking away from our interesting encounter with his so-called "friend."

He rolled his eyes and let out a huffy breath. "Nobody important. All he cares about is getting girls. I should have known he hadn't changed a bit."

"Huh," was all I could say about that.

"I didn't want him to get any ideas about you."

"That bad, huh?"

"Pretty much. I don't want anyone getting any ideas about you." I turned to look at him and raised my eyebrows. He realized what he had said and blushed. "I mean, uhh, you're such an awesome girl, and a good friend, and I'd hate to see you get tangled up in a love-mess and get hurt somehow."

"Riiiight. Not like I haven't already been hurt." I scoffed and looked at my feet as they went in front of each other.

"I'm sorry," Alden was sincere.

"It's getting better. But I'm not completely over Damian yet."

"Oh," Alden sounded surprised and disappointed. "I guess it's going to take a while, huh?"

"Well, yeah. We were in love. Nobody gets over something like that quickly."

"I wouldn't know, I've never had that happen to me before. I've never loved a girl before."

I stopped. My eyes got wide. "Never? Not even a crush?"

"Well, yeah, I've had a crush on a girl. But she never knew. I'm not the aggressive type." He avoided eye contact.

"I guess I should give you some pointers then."

Alden grinned. "I'd like that," he said warmly.

We continued walking and talking, and we continued to search for potential food. The whole time, I was hoping and wishing he would really take these pieces of advice to heart. Because even though I wasn't completely over Damian yet, this Palkin boy, this young man was growing on me, and I was wrapped around his finger like a vine on a tree trunk. Even if he wasn't as masculine as the other men in his country, he had a heart of gold. He was protective, caring, and brave, whether he believed that for himself or not.

We finally came to another field, where there were large wild birds trying to scavenge for their own food. We stood really still, and lowered ourselves as close to the ground as we could. Alden whispered, "Do you have something to kill one or two of those? They would make a feast compared to what we've been eating lately."

I nodded and lifted my bow and arrow ever so slowly, so I wouldn't be noticed. 1... 2....

Something hit my back like a brick wall, and I let the arrow fly, of course missing the bird I had been aiming for. Before I could turn around, a gloved hand flew over my mouth and one over Alden's. Another set of hands tied our flailing hands, and then we were gagged and dragged away from the scene.

I looked up to see who had kidnapped us and couldn't believe who it was.