She let the others rest a little longer, gathering up anything they had removed from their person. As her back faced the door, a sound crept from behind her. Whipping around, she stood on the balls of her feet ready to pounce. There in front of her, standing tall, was Zoeloft. Taking a step toward her, he placed his hand on her shoulder.
“I didn’t mean to startle you miss.” His eyes looked soft as if he was innocent of all of which he was blamed. “Was just getting some fresh air, need a hand.” J’vonte’ dropped her eyes, drawing a line from him to the two still asleep on the hard dirt ground.
“Wake the others, I’m going out to scout.”
“The elves are packing up and moving, I overheard a conversation between the older gentlemen and I’m presuming the leader of the dark elves.”
“They got what they came for then? Hurry, we haven’t much time, wake the others.” J’vonte’ peeked through the door, looking for the direction the elves had rested. Inside the small abode, Zoeloft gently woke Jasper, who then woke Taya. Soon the three of them took a stand behind J’vonte’, ready to begin on their travels. Jasper rested his hand on J’vonte’s shoulder, his touch much friendlier than his companies.
“We’ll rescue him... we will rescue them both.” Jasper’s words cooled J’vonte’s temperature, she would put her trust in him and Taya. She turned to face Jasper, staring into is golden complexion; Jaspers face was full of trust. She could not help but linger in his gaze, even for a second. There was a gentleness behind his eyes that J’vonte’ had not seen before. She turned to face the doorway, the cold stone arches urging her onward. She mentally shook off the warm feeling and refocused her thoughts. They had to find Raymond, that took priority over warm feelings.
The four of them started creeping forward, trying to stay out of direct view as much as possible. Zoeloft had fallen behind, J'vonte' had kept an eye on him since he came in. There was something suspicious about this whole situation, she couldn't tell if he was with or against them. Handing the lead to Taya she dropped back between the boys. Zoeloft caught her gaze and he shot her a smile, one that read he was with them, ideas filled J'vonte's head. Taya had history with this man, she had seen tension between him and Raymond, and even a little bit with his main company. The group came to a stop, Taya waving Zoeloft to the front, he passed J'vonte' sliding his hand upon his back for reassurance. Shivers crawled of her spine, if only Bastian was here, he would know.
"There, Akeldama and Mythra." Zoeloft carried his words smooth, he seemed to not fear the dark elf.
"What's the new Gem?" Jasper tried to focus his eyes on the blue jewel comfortably in the elves hand. "That's Elise's!" The expression overwhelming Jasper was non-explanatory, he seemed hopeful, scared, sad, and guarded all at once. Zoeloft comforted his friend by reaching into his pocket and pulling out the matching sister. He placed it in Jasper's hand.
"It was all that was left of her." Zoeloft whispered, "I never found the other, I'm sorry." J'vonte' examined the expression being shared by both men, she knew not of the story between them, but Jasper's face seemed to be non forgiving. As though he believed she was alive as this time, but with Akeldama holding her earring there was nothing but confirmation of her death. Jasper threw the earring on the ground, starring down the power hungry elf.
"Lets go, He can't have Raymond too." Taya glanced to see the angry and bitter expression written on Jasper’s face.
J'vonte' smoothly picked up the earring, placing it in her side pouch.
The group rounded back to the front of the castle where they had left Zenith and Ennadia. One by one they began climbing over the castle wall, where it had be just worn down enough to grip. Taya looked down from the top back at Zoeloft, she didn't approve of his presence but there was no sign of going their separate ways. She landed gracefully on the other said, there steps away stood proud was her dragon, instantly he bowed his head, letting her hand to cascade down his snout. She whispered. All of them had been over the wall by the time she finished, Zenith looked up and saw Zoeloft. Despite the words he had just heard he thundered on instinct towards him, pinning him against the wall, wings around him. Letting out a great roar to the rough, evil man, the only thing that looked back were innocent eyes. Zenith didn't think twice before letting out another cry, he had him now, and was gong to deal with it before more trouble was stirred up. Lightning quick Taya slipped beneath his wings, between dinner and her dragon.
"We need him." Zenith’s eyes grew from thin slits to a wider glaze as Taya spoke. She looked back at Zoeloft who was pretending to tremble and begging to be saved. Face to face with Zoeloft she addressed her dragon once more, "For now." Zenith turned back in a huff, allowing Taya on his back.
"We'll have to both take one." J'vonte' announced, "Ennadia is smaller than Zenith, we'll take Zoeloft..." Taya thanked J'vonte' with her eyes, as she offered Jasper’s hand on board.
Zoeloft made an attempt to make light of the days events, nervously offering J’vonte’ his friendship. The small talk, relating to the rainy weather and the armor of the elf guards lasted only moments and Zoeloft’s voice faded away, the wind taking his place. After a short while Zoeloft pointed out a clearing to J’vonte’.
“I know this place well, we can rest here safely, and in the morning we can set our trap for the elves. They must travel not ten minutes walk from this clearing.”
“Perhaps you do offer some wisdom” J’vonte’ responded hesitantly. The marauders landed in the cool grass, Zenith the happiest of all, rolling the thick field. Night began to fall, and the warriors set up two shelters, made of vines and brush that had been collected. Zoeloft volunteered to take first watch, J’vonte’ to follow when the moon had reached its peak, Taya would relieve J’vonte’ as the moon fell below the mighty belt, and Jasper would take watch just before the sun would break.
The crickets could be heard, singing their songs and laments. The mice scurrying about in an attempt to avoid the great night owl. Zoeloft sat, quiet and still, awaiting his new master. And at length, Akeldama appeared; behind him followed Azar, Mythra and several other elves that Zoeloft did not recognize. The shifty shapes of the elves baffled Zoeloft, and he wondered how they trended so lightly; the illusion disguised them as ghosts.
The pale elf, now a sheet of white because of the light that shone from the moon. Not a sound was made as the elf moved close enough to Zoeloft to speak without being heard.
“Where is the jewel?” His voice had an erie ring, as he attempted to whisper. Zoeloft imagined the air traveling through the elf’s throat without even touching upon the vocal chords.
He stuttered: “I do not know...” Akeldama gripped the man by his overcoat lifting him off the ground. “But I can take you to the one who possesses it.” Akeldama lowered him. “That tent” Zoeloft said, pointing to the tent that Jasper was asleep in. Zoeloft brushed himself off, taking a step back from what would be his greatest and most heinous betrayal.
It was a blur, as Taya awoke to several elves, including the one called Azar rushing to restrain her. J’vonte’ had woken at the same moment, and called to Taya to break through the back wall and escape. In a split second Taya without looking back had broken through several branches, fighting her way through the brush until finally breaking through to the other side. She heard the deadly sound of J’vonte’s blade falling at least one elf, and her cry has she was brought to her knees. Taya did not think, or turn, she had one impulse, and that was the only thing she acted on. Her feet met perfectly with the ground the grooves allowing her to move in silence. Torches and voices could be heard behind her as they searched for the remaining warrior. Taya called out to Zenith, and he was not a moment too late, swooping in and Taya leaping to his back, almost without him needing to land. Zenith soared high into the clouds for cover, the cold night air leaving its mark upon Taya’s face. She whispered into Zenith’s ear and they flew back to the city of Garitarc.
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