章節 551: Another Problem
Bunkered down many arrow-shots away, Eliana and Jamyes peeked out of their hideaway to watch the action.
Their insistence on being present to welcome their sister had led to a compromise. With the way the imperial army was planning to attack, there were going to be places which were very unlikely to see any action. One such place was selected as the location to bring the female scientist when she was rescued.
In anticipation of this, farther down the beach on an outcropping of rocks, a shelter had been made and camouflaged to house the brother and sister while shielding them from enemy eyes.
As the monsters took to the skies, the siblings realized just how wise the camouflage had been. If not for the rock roof overhead blending them in with the shore, they would be easy prey if the bat creatures ever looked their way.
"This doesn't look good." Jaymes counted the ever growing number of creatures in the air. He was very good at math, and each of the flying creatures would have a devastating effect on the unprepared imperial army.
"We gave them all the tools we could," Eliana said. "We have to hope it was enough."
"At least Renat's smoke worked well. I hope the stink bombs you invented did as well." Jaymes watched his sister shake her head slowly.
"That is Prince Renat to you, brother. Even if he didn't make you call him that, you should respect his title. As for the scent, if it hadn't worked, I doubt the army would have gotten within an arrow shot without being ambushed. And you make it sound like I had no basis for that stink assault. It wasn't just a hunch, I used it around our house. The lizards didn't want to come anywhere close to it." Eliana fiddled with the garland of garlic around her neck. She realized she was talking just to keep her mind busy.
It seemed Jaymes was doing the same. For nothing either of them could say right now would change anything unfolding before them. And it was unfolding at a rapid pace.
Although the siblings could only see the battle in the air, they could hear yelling from the ground as the battle became not one, but two fronts. With the fog and trees obscuring any hope of seeing the troops, the two focused intently on anything and everything happening above the forest.
Above, the bat-people repeatedly dove and rose, often lifting others with them as they took to the air.
"Is that Brinn?" Jaymes saw a person dropped from impossibly high who was navigating their way back down by jumping from bat to bat.
Eliana squinted. "I think it is safe to say that yes. That kind of maneuver is far out of the reach of what humans can do." Her eyes swirled with blue and purple, a little hope swelling within her chest. "I'm glad Princess Brinn is on our side."
A short while later, Jaymes noticed a disturbance in the trees much closer to them. He moved to a different peep hole within the rocky structure to get a better look.
"Eliana, come see this!" He chirped, unsure whether to be excited or scared.
His insecurity brought the blonde to the small window quickly. She squinted at a current running through the dissipating fog. Whatever it was seemed to be moving straight toward them in a blur of motion.
"What do you think?" Jaymes looked to his older sister for guidance. When she was not around, he was more than happy to make judgements, but being able to rely on Eliana just now was a comfort he happily embraced.
Eliana tousled his hair like she had when he was little. "I do not think we should worry. If my guess is correct, then that will blur will be bringing us news very soon."
After coming even with the rock shelter, the blur exited the safety of the trees and turned toward shore. Reaching the structure, the wind around the magical being finally ceased.
Winded, Alvar took a deep breath and set down the woman in his arms. She ran her fingers through her fiery hair and took an unsteady step toward the hideaway. They entered as quickly as they could.
"I must admit I have never been carried quite that far or that fast on foot," Aurora laughed nervously.
"I was in charge of getting you out of danger and I take that honor very seriously," Alvar answered. "I can only make things disappear if they are touching only me. Even my shoes get tricky at times. Brinn said she had explained to you what would happen," Alvar furrowed his brow as he headed inside the dwelling behind the Empress.
"She most certainly did not. I am pretty sure I would remember her telling me that I would be bride-carried across the countryside by her husband." Aurora saw the confused looks of the two young people inside and she smiled weakly. "I don't suppose you might hand me a water skin. Talking with Taran and then that exhilarating ride made my mouth dry."
Eliana nodded and passed a drink to her ruler with a curtsy. She waited patiently to get any information that the Empress would give.
After slaking her thirst, Aurora passed the water to Alavar. "I suppose you have a lot of questions," she said to the two young people. "I am afraid I don't have a lot of answers. Our talk with Taran ended in him taking to the skies, but we did manage to surprise him."
"What about Dania?" Jaymes's sweet face when he spoke of his sister reminded Aurora of when Colvyr called her name. Without Jayme's parents, Eliana and Dania were all the boy had left.
The Empress's heart clenched. "Dania was not with Taran when I saw him. Which is actually a good thing!" She added quickly when the young man's eyes involuntarily filled with tears. "It means that Alaron will have a better chance of getting her out of the camp and here to you."
Jaymes had obviously hoped that Aurora would have at least spotted his sister. He wanted her out of the camp. Now.
Alvar tried to mollify the anxious boy. "It would have hurt our plans if Dania had been with Taran because I could not have gotten her out of there. I'm strong, but not that strong. I trust Alaron. He will not let any harm come to your sister."
Alvar's certainty finally quelled the boy's anxiousness. He returned to peeking through one of the many crevices in the stone hideout.
"Have you seen anything noteworthy?" Aurora asked Eliana.
The blonde hesitated, her eyes flicking to the tall elf beside the Empress. Now it was Alvar's turn to worry. "What did you see?" he asked, tensing.
"We cannot see anything happening on the ground because of the trees and fog, but...Brinn was picked up by one of the bats and dropped. Before you worry, she managed to glide down from creature to creature in a most impressive display. I do not think she was harmed." Eliana dipped her head.
Alvar's fists clenched as his jaw set in a determined line. "I am going back to help her."
"You are supposed to stay here and protect us," Aurora reminded him. Although she did not actually mind Alvar leaving if it were only her, she did not like the idea of continuing to leave Jaymes and Eliana vulnerable to attack. "You promised Brinn. Breaking that promise is more likely to get her hurt than trusting that she can take care of herself."
As much as he hated to admit it, Alvar knew that the Empress was right. "I don't like waiting..."
"None of us do," Aurora confirmed. "My husband is out there too, as are my son and daughter. Waiting is the worst part."
After an eternity of peering at the sky and hoping to see some progress, another flurry of motion came speeding toward them.
"Dania?" Jayme's watched intently to catch a glimpse of his sister.
But when the motion finally stopped, only Gandr stood before them with something draped across his shoulders. Aurora opened the door quickly to admit him.
"Are they here?" the halfling asked breathlessly.
"Who?" Aurora tried not to let the panic well up in her until she knew for sure about his meaning.
"Alaron and Dania. They should have beaten me here." Gandr scanned the room but did not find his query.
"They are not here. What happened?" Alvar tried to keep everyone calm. He could almost feel the emotion radiating off of the other three listeners. He motioned for Gandr to explain even as the he-elf kept watch out of the window.
"The Guardian and I got Dania out of her lab, but she was insistent that we stop the wing beasts from being created. I peeled off from them to capture this little beauty." Gandr dumped the unconscious Yumeto in the corner. "And I circled around to catch up with them. But they were nowhere to be found."
"If they didn't come this way, where do you think they could have gone?" Aurora had not been that far into camp. Perhaps there were options on escape routes.
But it was Alvar who answered for the halfling. "I think I know..."
With an intense look, he motioned for Aurora to come and see.
"That's a problem..."
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