Forty - Alden

I laid in the darkness, streaks of light crossed my body casually, as if taunting me of the freedom beyond their boards. My mind felt numb; not even the pain from the ropes that bound my hands and feet together bothered me anymore. I suppose I was always the useless one, the one to be cast out, and the one to be caught. I let out a heavy sigh, blowing little bits of dust off of the dirt packed ground that had become my new prison.

"Why such a sad sigh?" A voice hissed.

I glanced up to see the light streaks now lying on Damian's face. "You're alive." I stated, almost surprised, but not quite caring.

"Of course." He seemed to snarl, the edges of his lips pulling back into a scowl. Beneath a light weighted tunic a bandage peaked out, a bit of faded red barely showing up in the darkness of the shack. Damian walked over with a swish of his tale, taking notice of the sad situation I was in. Kneeling down, he stuck his face right up to mine. "Where did you send her?"

"I don't know." I said through clenched teeth, trying to keep from gaging on the smell of salted fish that clung to his clothes.

Damian stood up and gave me a good kick, knocking me against the wall a few inches away. Grabbing the hair on my head he pulled me up. "I'll ask you again. Where is the girl?"

I said nothing, concentrating on not showing pain.

"You're nothing but a sad little creature. She could not possibly care for you." He tossed me down and bent down close once again. "You're no better than me, you know." He hissed. "Just as I left her for my cause, you have abandoned her for yours." He stood up and gave one more good kick. "I'd keep your eye out for a knife if she ever comes back around."

A door opened and closed and I was once again alone with the streaks of light. Perhaps he was right, she never cared for me as much as she had Damian, so why should I expect to be treated any differently? My stomach sank, and a nausea over took me. Everything I have ever done has been pointless. Not only have I forsaken Tarka, but my own mother as well. For all I knew she was still waiting at home for son to bring her food. Maybe she thought I was only a dream, that both of her sons are gone forever.

The heaviness became too strong, and in my anger I swung my arms against the wood that held me captive, screaming with all of the fury of my people, of all the ones I love and have hurt, and for myself, because how could I be any better?

"Alden." A voice whispered.

In the light of the doorway, Roman stood before me; the light streaks covering his face, as tears covered my own.

"It's time to go."

Thirty-nine Tristram

I dropped my dinner when Tarka walked in with Galea. Soup splattered across the floor in her direction. She was caked in dust and small dark red stains (blood?) dotted her tunic and pants. She was exhausted, ready to fall at the slightest breeze. Her arms were wrapped around her tight and her eyes looked out into nothing. Alden wasn't with her. "T-Tarka?" I stammered. Light, though dim, returned to her eyes. "Tristram... Tristram!" She ran to my cell and clung to the bars, her eyes wide. "We have to help him! He took him, he took him!" Her voice raised and Rythmus, who had been eating with Elane in the corner, pulled Tarka in close as she started to sob.

"Tarka," Rythmus started, "where is Alden?" She continued to sob., managing only to choke out one word, "Lesion." Rage filed my body. Not only at Legion for capturing, and likely torturing, Alden, but also at myself for not being there to protect him. Maybe if I had sent Rythmus with them or if I had hurried on my own quest then perhaps I could have... Maybe. I forced myself to focus. Alden needed action, not maybes and whatifs. 

Rythmus lead Tarka to a seat next to Elane who started comforting Tarka. Galea then turned to me expectantly, raising his eyebrows. He expected me to make the decision here yet I had no idea what to do. Every nerve in my body screamed to rush out and hunt down Lesion but my brain and heart said stay. My mind knew it was suicide, that I could never rescue Alden by myself. My heart yearned for my people, to remove the traitorous king. It also wanted to stay with Elane. Galea must have sense my hesitation. "The choice is obvious," he said with a hint of anger, "you have to stay. Your people need you. You can't go running after some stranger! You are needed here!" 

SHUT UP!! 

Tarka stood, hands clenched at her side, eyes wide, and tail standing straight up. She was glaring at Galea. Her shouted at him, " Alden is not some stranger. He is brave, smart, and stronger than you'll ever be!" Galea looked as stunned as I was. I had no idea Tarka had come to care for (maybe even love?) Alden that much. 

She turned on me next. " Tristram! Why didn't you run out of here the second I'd told you who took him?!" She clung to the prison bars again, eyes still brimming with tears. "We have to get Alden, Tristram. He is our friend, we owe him that." Her tone softened and she started to fall. Elaine caught her and looked at me with sad eyes. She didn't want me to leave either. But I had killed Alden's brother. Didn't I owe him that? 

Rythmus coughed and all eyes riveted on him. "Tristram, I will not tell you what to do. Only you can make this decision.  But know your resources, know how to manage them. We can sit here all day and argue, but in the end, only you can decide what we do. Now how about we all finish our dinner and letTristram think." 

Elane and I were given privacy to talk and we ultimately came up with the plan. Rythmus, Tarka, and my friend Askimi would go and rescue Alden who was probably in Palkin territory somewhere. Galeo, Elane, and I would stay here. The best way I could help Alden was not by storming a fortress but preparing an army against Lesion so nobody could be hurt by him again. 

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?