CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Moving slowly, so they did not draw attention to themselves, the groups made their way to the docks. Darly and Mekken were slightly ahead of their group, mainly to give signals once they had located guard positions. As they neared the docks, Maeve became concerned. No guards save the usual dockmen were anywhere to be seen. She moved closer to Gillock, who was viewing some rather colourful fabrics.
“I think something is wrong here,” she whispered to Gillock. “If Duke Dubar was aware of the dwarf prisoners, he would have guards here. I’m thinking Easterners sacking villages wasn’t part of their agreement.”
Gillock motioned for the others to move closer. “It would appear the Easterners have a goal which is not the same as the duke's. They are taking slaves, and are doing it without the duke's consent. We must proceed with great care. I don’t know what they are up to, but something is not right here.”
Suddenly a huge commotion erupted in an adjacent street, and most people moved off. “That’ll be our cue to move,” said Maeve.
Quickly they headed for the docks. Even the Easterners who had been on the dock had moved off to see what was going on. Eric tried to strain to see what was going on, but to no avail.
“You can ask what happened later,” came Koral’s voice from behind. “Right now, we have dwarves to save.”
They had no trouble getting onto the ship and finding where they were holding the dwarves was easy. The door to the hold, however, was bolted shut with an iron rod so thick it took all of their strength to move it. Quickly they moved the prisoners out and onto the dock, all without incident. Something did not sit right with any of the companions. Not wanting to press their luck, the group moved back to the street in which they had come. They moved quickly down the street, wanting to move fast but trying to make certain they did not draw attention to themselves. At a convergence of two streets sat a large courtyard, and waiting in courtyard was thirty armed soldiers. As soon as they had seen the soldiers, they knew they had been spotted as well.
Scattering, they quickly moved into open stores, barricading themselves inside. Maeve, Eric, Koral and most of the saved dwarves were in a bakery.
“I know this place. There is a safety hold in the floor,” said
Maeve. Quickly Eric helped her move a table and rug to reveal the trap door. They moved the dwarves into it. All three moved back towards the window, expecting to see the soldiers setting up to break down the door. The soldiers, however, were making no such move. They had re-positioned themselves to face the stores, but otherwise had done nothing. The reason for that became apparent a moment later.
Captain Jacob Moore slowly made his way to the front of the soldier’s line. Although most people in Keenley loved the captain, Maeve and her friends, having suffered in the dungeons under his protection, hated him. His vile nature became quite apparent when he was questioning any poor thief who had been captured.
“Prince Eric. Princess Koral,” said a booming voice. “You are hereby under arrest for being peoples who possess magical abilities. Under the law, you will be placed in the dungeon here at Keenley until you are tested by a Magima. Should you fail the test, you will be escorted to Maget Tower to be dealt with accordingly. If you come out now and turn yourselves in, I will spare your companions. If not, I will be forced to enter the bakery, and I do not want to destroy property in order to obtain you. I will give you five minutes to decide.”
A gasp was heard from the crowd of spectators that had formed behind the soldiers. The prince and princess were here, and going to be arrested. Some shouted to break down the door of the bakery, but more still muttered at how they couldn’t believe it was true. One person in the crowd’s face had paled with the announcement. Adora had kept away from the action but now had moved to stand just to the side of the square. She was halfway between the store and Captain Moore, and was forming a plan of her own.
Koral and Eric looked at each other. “We cannot fail in our task, but we also cannot let harm come to anyone,” said Koral quietly. “What are we to do?”
Eric started to answer, but Maeve cut him off. “You must finish your quest. The entire world is depending on the two of you. You can’t be taken.”
Again Koral and Eric looked at each other, but before either could speak, a commotion from outside brought them back to the window. It was Adora.
“You will not have them, captain. I will not allow it,” she yelled, moving herself to be between the captain and the store.
Captain Moore laughed. “And who are you to be making such a demand?” he asked.
Adora raised her arms and began chanting. Slowly the air began to feel charged, and the hairs on everyone’s arm tingled with the magic flowing. Adora began to float just off the ground, her body glowing lightly. No one was even able to take a breath, when suddenly before them stood Queen Elizanne.
The soldiers started to kneel, but Captain Moore stopped them with a wave of his hand. “You dare come here and show magic then expect us to obey your orders? Seize the queen! She is under arrest.”
Koral and Eric were stunned, which quickly changed to horror. “NO,” they both hollered when the captain had ordered her arrested. At the same time, the trap door in the floor opened, and Gillock appeared. “Come with me. There is a tunnel and we must escape.”
Neither twin moved. “We have to stop them,” said Eric, anger in his voice. “We cannot let them take her.”
Gillock placed his hand on Eric’s shoulder. “She did this to save the two of you. Your mother knows how important this quest is, and they will not harm her. We must leave.”
Slowly, the twins and Maeve followed Gillock, moving safely away from Captain Moore and their mother.
Moments later, the door of the bakery flew off its hinges. Soldiers poured in, but found nothing. Gillock had blocked the trapdoor from view, so none of the soldiers ever found the tunnel. Gossip later spread through the city stating the queen most likely used magic to whisk them all away.
The groups all met back up at the Star Dancer. Although there was a joyous reunion between the rescued dwarves, Grund and Drundle, it didn’t last. Gillock quickly informed everyone what had transpired. They knew the twins and their friends were going to have to be moved out of the city, so everyone packed their belongings. The thieves in Keenley were more than willing to show them tunnels which led out of the city. Most likely, due to the revelation they were the prince and princess, and wanted themselves.
The moving was slow, for the tunnel they were using had collapsed portions from years of neglect. Eric commented on the condition of the tunnel, worried it would be blocked at the end. Maeve was quick to respond, informing the group it was the route she had recently used when she had escaped the city. After hours of navigating the dark tunnel, the group found themselves just north of the city. Grund and Drundle lead the rescued dwarves towards Tress, promising to be back by morning. The goblins, having sensed Eric was near, found their companions within an hour after they emerged from the tunnel.
They camped that night, knowing the soldiers would be looking for them in the city. It was a sombre affair, with no one wanting to speak. Koral and Eric, still stunned from the ordeal, ate their meals in silence, then turned in for the night. Gillock and Glavlin were both worried. The confidence which the twins had shown appeared to be deteriorating, and it was something they could not afford to have happen.