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Making an Escape
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2022-01-03 03:09:53"It is about time!" Devrim exclaimed.
"Glad you have so much faith in me," Brinn giggled.
"What took you so long?" Devrim gave her an incredulous look.
"I was drugged by my parents, and I had to spring Ithel from his room where he was being held," Brinn defended herself.
"I suppose that's a valid excuse," the grey-eyed man conceded.
Brinn grinned wide. "Oh, and I had to get these…" From behind her back, Brinn produced Devrim's pack, Aurora's satchel and the Guardian's cloak.
Aurora nearly squealed with delight. "You wonderful elf! I may just dedicate a city in your honor!"
Brinn smirked. "A thank you will suffice."
"Thank you!" Devrim and Aurora said together.
"Who might this be?" Junayd asked.
"This is Brinn. Brinn, this is Junayd and Nurlan."
"Sorry I did not bring anything for you boys. I was not sure who else was down here." The elf unlocked the cell quickly. The four humans tumbled out of the co
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The little girl did not understand why the princess was so upset, but in the true self-absorption of a child with a favorite toy, she bounced away without question. "The girl just ratted us out," Brinn said in human-speak as the soldiers nearby began to rally. "Go west and meet me at the wall. I will find you and we will escape."Aurora nodded, and Brinn used her magic to disappear. It was surprising for something in front of you to suddenly vanish, but the Empress shook off her astonishment. "Look for an opening," she ordered.The elven soldiers were gathered around the young girl, Nena, trying to figure out what exactly she saw. One of them reeled back as something substantial landed on his head. His tall frame caved under the blow, and he hit the guard next to him with his body. The other guards were quickly alerted to the threat. "We are under attack!" One screamed.Three more guards in sequence received blows to the tops of their heads and a sense of unease
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The chase was on. Brinn used her wind magic to push gusts of air against the humans' backs. In this way, the other elves would no longer be able to smell them, and the humans would have assistance as they ran. The push was strong enough that Aurora almost felt like she was flying. Every step took her farther than she could jump. It was almost too fast, and the Empress had a couple of near misses with trees. One low hanging branch nearly took her head."This is a neat trick!" She called when she was no longer terrified."Less talking, more running," Brinn urged as she moved alongside them. "We need to get through the wall before nighfall."The mad dash continued even after the sun slipped behind the barrier and the strange extended twilight began. Although the humans could not hear the clanging of the unicorns' bits, Brinn knew that their opponents were fanning out to trap them. She was not sure if she should worry the others. They were almost to the wall, and sh
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The humans looked at Bolemir, trying to decide exactly what he was. He looked human, albeit slightly rotund, but he obviously used magic to create a powerful portal for them to pass through. "Thank you for your assistance," Brinn said with a bow. "Gede insisted I help you. He can be quite persistent," Bolemir chuckled. "Well, we were in quite a tight spot." The elf told him. "With your own kind, I saw. What did you do this time?" It was obvious that Bolemir knew something of Brinn's escapades. "I have stepped in it this time, I am afraid. I rescued these humans from the dungeon and branded myself a traitor." The red-haired elf looked guiltily at her host. "I hope I do not get you in trouble too." "Brinn!" A little boy with two gossamer wings protruding from his back ran in and hugged the elf. "You made it." "You didn't think I would?" "Nope," the boy, Gede, answered honestly. "The odds were not in your favor." "
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After dropping the liquid light into the gnome's mortal wound, Zan waited to see if he had been too late. Gandr's body glowed so brightly that the Chief shielded his eyes. Zan's eyes finally cleared, but the gnome lay unmoving. When the head doctor arrived, the guardian was still unsure of the condition of his prisoner."Do not let anyone in or out of the dungeon!" He ordered the two guards who had returned. "Spread the word that we are looking for an assailant with a knife who is likely covered in blood. Go!" The soldiers obeyed and ran out of the cell."How is he?" Zan looked hopefully at the physician, whose brow was furrowed in concentration."I am not well versed in gnome anatomy, but he is alive. He seems to have lost a lot of blood." The floor was covered, and Zan's hands and clothes were stained. "What happened?" The doctor could no longer see the wound as the liquid from Zan's vial had healed and closed it."He was stabbed. I do not know how or b
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Zan stared in disbelief at the clothing on the long wooden table. The other members were in various states of shock. Some took the news stoically while Birger was a blubbering mess."How can you be sure this belongs to the Empress?" The silver-eyed man tried to deny what was before him.Cafer spread his hands apart and sighed. "You were not anywhere to be found so I took some liberties. I have called the cobbler, dress maker and royal physician. They will determine if this evidence is genuine.""Where did it even come from?" Zan was immediately suspicious."It appeared mysteriously on the palace steps this morning wrapped in brown parchment. The maid who found it screamed and nearly passed out. We convinced her that it was just a joke by some ill-bred city youth."Just then the doctor arrived followed shortly by a seamstress and cobbler. While the doctor carried himself with dignity in front of such an auspicious group, the two commoners looked ter
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As morning dawned, Zan adjusted himself in the sturdy high-backed chair. Unable to sleep, he had come down to the infirmary to keep watch over the gnome. When he looked over, he immediately realized something was different. The gnome's steady, even breathing that he had grown accustomed to had changed. The creature tied to the wooden table was awake."How did you sleep?" The Chief asked casually.The gnome chuckled. "And here I thought maybe I could get the jump on you…I slept well, though I think it has been quite some time.""Nearly two weeks," Zan confirmed. He stood so that Gandr could see his face."Where am I? How am I alive?" The gnome strained against the ropes, but they were taut."Those are the last two questions you will get until you answer mine. You are in the infirmary, and I saved you.""You saved me only to torture me," Gandr despaired."I saved you because you needed help. I hope I made the right call." Zan tap
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Zan kept his temper and refused to react. When he heard that the soldiers had come to arrest him, he anticipated such an outrageous accusation. "I am not guilty of either crime. And I do not believe that this is how the justice system was set up to work." Under Aurora's mother Zephyra, the courts were fashioned to require a waiting time between an accusation and trial so evidence could be gathered. Zephyra had done this to give herself time to hide the indiscretions of herself or her subordinates, but among the general public the time helped for justice to prevail. Having charges brought and a trial in the same day was unheard of."This is most unusual," Birger agreed.The rest of the Council also seemed uncomfortable. They, too, knew the law. Cafer, on the other hand, was unperturbed. "Perhaps under the old Empresses that was the law, but we have a new ruler. What do you say, future Emperor Alaron?"The boy arched his back, looking every inch a ruler already. H
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"Ha! I found you!" Gede said with a laugh. Aurora emerged from behind the chair."You got me," she agreed brightly, tousling the fairy boy's hair."Bet you cannot find me!" Gede gave a lopsided smile."Well, since you can shrink to smaller than my pinky, you are probably right. I would spend the rest of my life looking in every nook and cranny looking for your prick of light."Two specks of light flew into the room and materialized into Prem with Niko on her hip. "Are you two at it again?"The pair giggled. "There is only so much to do in the house, and this is fun. I never knew hiding could be a game!" Aurora's word produced a sad smile on Prem's face. She had caught snatches of what the girl's childhood had been, and it made her determined to love and spoil the girl wholeheartedly while she was there."Very well. When you are done, I made some cookies in the kitchen." Prem wiggled her eyebrows playfully."Yum!!" Both Gede and Aurora
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