Chapter 26
Siri led them up a long flight of steps. They moved as quickly as they could. She had said there was a small ante room at the top of the steps that led to the tower's main suite. It was supposed to be a room for visiting dignitaries. Tranthra' Joh had obviously converted it to a tower prison. It was high enough that no one could hear if the Princess called out the windows, and secluded enough that no one in the palace was likely to go wandering there just out of curiosity.
There was also no doubt that a guard would be posted. Javin could feel the strain of the muscles in his calves and thighs the more they climbed. Still, at Sauros' urging they didn't pause for a rest.
At long last, with Javin's muscles crying out, they arrived at the top. Siri abruptly stopped. She held her arm out to keep them both back then came back down a few steps to talk quietly.
"Through that door is the ante room. There is no window in the door so you'll be going in blind."
Sauros looked at Javin. "Any time you're ready!"
"Wait. Let's at least catch our breath."
Sauros nodded assent, though he was clearly impatient. Siri sat down on the steps beside Javin. Her breathing wasn't as loud, but even more labored than Javin's. To his amazement, Sauros didn't seem to be breathing heavily at all.
"Is this the only way up or down?" Javin asked.
"Yes," Siri said through gasps of air. "No one will be able to slip away and give warning."
"We know they'll be expecting us," Javin said to Sauros. "Tranthra' Joh's man in your city got away to bring back warning even if they aren’t sure of our specific movements. If Tranthra' Joh is even a little smart, he'll assume someone is coming for the Princess." Javin took a few deep breaths trying to calm his diaphram. "She’s his biggest bargaining chip. He'd be foolish not to have her well secured. We just have to hope he hasn't thought to move her yet.
"If they're any kind of military guard, they'll have one, more likely two, stationed on either side of the entry then two or more directly in front of the door to the Princess' room.
“They’re blind, too. If we can't see in, they can't see out. The two on either side of the door will be there to catch us from behind."
Sauros nodded with impatience, but he was listening.
"We'll burst through the door," Javin said, pushing his hand out in front of him. "Then you curl right, and I'll curl left, taking whoever is stationed at the sides. That way they can't get us from behind, and it cuts off anyone who can slip behind us to get out a warning."
Again Sauros nodded.
"Then we take out whoever else is in the room. They can't get away, so we don't need to be reckless," he looked at Sauros meaningfully. "We'll draw before we go inside. Hopefully there won't be more than nine or ten each." The last Javin said with a grin.
Sauros grinned back, but it was a reflex. Javin could feel his anxiety to reach the Princess. It was growing stronger the longer they waited. Boy is he tense! Javin thought, then rose to his feet.
"Okay. You ready?"
"Yes!" Sauros drew his blade and moved back up the steps.
"Stay here and wait for the noise to die down," Javin said to Siri. She nodded and he moved up the steps. His legs were stiff and felt like they'd fall off, but he didn't think he could hold Sauros back any longer.
"Now!" Sauros said as soon as Javin got beside him on the small landing in front of the door.
Sauros burst through the door and curled as they'd talked. Javin was startled, but moved right after, curling on his side at the same time locating the door on the other side of the room.
Javin looked and came up blank. No one was there at the side as he'd predicted. He glanced back to the main door and saw no one stationed there. Sauros moved over beside him. "No one's here.”
"I don't see anyone," Javin answered, hardly believing Tranthra’ Joh would leave the Princess unguarded. It didn't bode well. Had they moved her? Had she ever been here? Are we too late?
Javin clamped down on that thought before it could be perceived by his friend.
"Mouhra' Lah!" Sauros moved over to the door to the main suite. It had a small window he peered through.
"Sauros?" a tiny voice echoed out. "Sauros! I’d given up hope!"
Javin was flooded with relief. "Siri, come on up." He turned back to see Sauros straining at the door, trying to force it open. It was locked, and there was no guard here to confiscate the key from. They'd found the princess, but from the looks of the door they'd not be able to get her out. Maybe that's why there weren't any guards posted.
Siri struggled up the steps. It was clear she felt the toll of the swift climb to the tower. Javin met her and helped her into the room. She looked around and her eyes grew wide in surprise. "No one?"
Javin ignored the question. "Can you open the door? There's no key."
Siri stared at Sauros still struggling with the door. She shook her head. "I don't know of any other way than using the key.
Sauros had stopped for just long enough to hear Siri's response. With a growl, he turned back to the door. Javin felt something in his breast. His crystal was warming.
"Mouhra! Move back from the door!" he shouted.
"Do it!" Javin snapped. "Quickly!"
Javin felt the anger and strength surging within Sauros.
"I'm back," came the faint voice on the other side of the door.
Just then the crystal in Javin's chest flared with intensity. Sauros stood in front of the door, his eyes closed then suddenly his hands came up and drove into the door. It burst inward from its hinges, splintering with the force of Sauros' blow.
Javin was staggered by the backwash of power.
Sauros stood there, staring at his fists. They were unharmed.
"Sauros?" Mouhra' Lah called from inside.
"Mouhra!" Sauros bounded into the room, kicking aside the remains of the door. Javin looked at Siri, shrugged then followed.
Inside, Sauros had folded Mouhra' Lah into a tender embrace inside his massive arms. It was hard to believe such a powerful man could hold a woman so tenderly.
Mouhra' Lah, for her sake, had grasped him tightly and looked for all the world like she'd never let go. Her head was against his breast and she was murmuring things that Javin politely didn't hear. He heard Siri stepping into the room, carefully picking her way around the remains of the door. Mouhra opened her eyes and caught sight of her.
"Siri?" Her eyes grew wide and her face beamed. "Siri! I thought you were dead!"
She left Sauros' embrace and jumped into the arms of the diminutive Keeper. "How did you?--
"I'm sorry," Javin interrupted, and indeed he was. "We've got to get moving." He looked at Sauros, who nodded and sheepishly wiped the tears that filled his eyes.
What a big softie, Javin thought, smiling.
"We've pressed our luck too much already. Once you're safe, we can have a little longer reunion."
"Wait!" the Princess said. She moved back to Sauros, who draped a protective arm about her shoulders. She looked up at him. "My sister, Dierni' Lah is here. Tranthra is holding her as well." She started to say something else then stopped. "I can't leave without her!"
Javin's breath stuck in his throat. A sister?
Sauros looked at Javin.
"We’ll get her. Where is she?"
"I'm not sure, but I think I know where they'd keep her. Come, I'll show you."
"We already came up through the dungeons," Javin said, thinking that's where the Princess would lead.
"No, that's not where. Come." She grabbed Sauros by the hand and pulled him out the door.
Siri moved after. Javin shook his head and followed. Oh well, in for a penny . . . He cringed as the thought sprang unbidden to his mind. Why do I keep doing that?