Soulmaker

  Chapter 13

  The snuffed out flame of the lamp was replaced by a sooty stream that snaked its way into Elanora’s nostrils. She opened her eyes but the darkness permitted no sight. It had been an eternal stretch of lying in bed since her conversation with the bear. Following her creation of the soul in Panther’s offspring, the beasts were an almost constant presence in her cell, monitoring her health, supplying extra vials of blue water, threatening her to get well and get back to that den. Having been tricked by him once, Elanora was suspicious of every sound and action in case the panther was behind it. Finding opportunities to converse with the bear had been limited and their feeling of being watched made them both jumpy.

  The half breeds had also been creeping into her cell over the last few days dropping playthings at her feet and nosing them up to her face. Playing her own game now, she remained bed ridden, the bear keeping a watchful eye on them.

  But now the acrid smoke had disturbed her and deep in the silence a faint scraping sound could be heard from under her bed. She inched her way over to where the bear lay and pushed her fingers into the reassuring silkiness of his fur but it was statically charged. He too was awake and restless. He raised his bulk and repositioned beside Elanora’s bed. She held onto his coat and scanned the darkness for the enemy.

  The scraping of metal against stone grew louder. Eventually it stopped and a small tapping started up.

  Tap, tap. Tap, tap, tap.

  Elanora held her breath as the bear swiped her blanket aside. Silently, he moved the table to where he usually lay at the entrance to her cell and threw the blanket over it.

  Elanora eyed it. Perhaps from a distance it might pass as his shape.

  “Is this our escape?” she whispered into his ear. The bear didn’t answer but he put his paw on her shoulder and smiled.

  Tap, tap again.

  He pushed Elanora behind him then pounded the floor with his huge paw. There was a crack and an avalanche of stony crumbs into a gaping hole. At the same moment the bear let out a bellowing yawn to mask the noise.

  A single candle wavered in the settling dust down the hole, illuminating a small toffee coloured bear. He beckoned to Elanora with his free paw. She stared into her guardian’s eyes, semi visible in the light.

  “Go,” he mouthed.

  Elanora looked doubtfully at the size of the hole then at the bulk of the bear. She clutched his forepaw, “What about you?” He eased her hand away and held it in his paw before placing it over her heart. He used his claw to carefully brush some hair from her face. “Go,” he repeated, as tenderly as a father.

  Elanora shook her head refusing to move.

  “Don’t make me lose my chance, my last chance.” Elanora swallowed hard and kissed his paw.

  “I’ll find your cubs,” she promised, lowering herself into the shallow passage while one hand kept its grip on his paw.

  “You find your freedom,” said her friend, his eyes full of compassion.

  Elanora’s feet touched the bottom of the deep hole. Her eyes lingered on his face.

  “She called me Jacub,” he said through a film of tears. “My name is Jacub.”

  Elanora raised her hand from the bottom of the tunnel to touch his scarred nose.

  “Thank you Jacub,” she whispered, and poured her love into his heart until it hurt.

  The great bear’s head suddenly swung out of view at the sound of baying of dogs in the prison tunnels. Red light poured down the hole. Snarling and growling vibrated the walls.

  The small bear waved the candle urgently.

  “But my friend,” she cried.

  At that moment three teeth filled jaws squeezed down the hole so tightly that their bodies struggled to follow. They snapped inches from her upturned face. Pink tongues and spit filled her vision and she raised her hands protectively. Searing pain spliced her skin as the bear’s enormous paw swiped overhead, skimming her flesh as it sought to collect the rabid jaws of the attack dogs. She heard them howl and thump on the wall of her cell. The small bear tugged at her sleeve.

  “Run Elanora!” shouted Jacub. “Run!”

  She stumbled after the little bear, heart throbbing in her ears, her hand bleeding.

  The dug out walls fit tight around her. Wedged like this she could almost feel the savage bites of beasts at her heels. As hunched as she was, she gathered speed. Her heart froze at a thunderous roar that shook her bones. There was a splintering and groaning then the entire roof collapsed behind them. Were they through? Elanora gasped and sped up, kicking her feet spasmodically to fend off any would be attacker. Her fingers gouged into the floor to help propel her faster along the narrow tunnel. Further in they sunk, into the doughy walls. A soft light diffused about her face. Elanora’s knees should have been scraping against hard stone but with relief she registered the cushiony softness of the tunnel. Ahead the little bear blew out his candle as the warm light from the walls shone through and glowed invitingly around them. They traveled along and up, around a sharp turn and down. The tunnel widened and Elanora glanced behind her. No trace of pursuit. No sound of pouring rubble.

  Finally the twisting journey ended. They stepped into a bright cavern with the delicate caramel scent she remembered from so long ago. She leant against the wall with closed eyes to catch her breath. Please be all right, my friend.