Book 3 Chapter 31

“Stop! Stop! Stop!” Ian whispered harshly for what seemed like the dozenth time as Maria almost walked out right into open view. He pulled her back, glaring at her angrily only to stare in disbelief as the small puppy beside her kept walking without a care.

Up ahead the assassins escorting the children were keeping a watchful eye. The rear guard turned suddenly, his eyes spotting a flash of grey within the dark tunnel behind them. He signaled to his colleagues as his body suddenly disappeared, breaking into a dash a few steps ahead. He reached the spot in an instant, checking the turn with his dagger at the ready, only to find nothing but the cold cave wall. He glanced about before returning to the others, reporting the false alarm…

Just down the other bend, Ian let out a breath as he heard the assassin slowly go back. Relieved, he let out a sigh, putting the pup down before breaking into another glare as he pinched Maria and Garm.

“You two are useless! How many times are you gonna almost get us caught?”

“Sorry… I’m not really good at this sort of thing…” Maria confessed embarrassedly as she sat with her head down.

“Obviously…” Ian replied scowling, “And you!” He continued, turning towards Garm who copied Maria’s apologetic form. keeping his head down as he avoided looking at the young boy's face… “Don’t think you're any better… It's like you guys have never even played hide and seek before!”

Maria just nodded as Ian continued his scolding. Eventually, he disappeared, reappearing after he checked the movement of the group ahead of them. “Okay, they’re moving again, make sure you listen carefully to me this time okay?”

Maria and Garm both nodded obediently, rising as they prepared to move forward.

“Jeez… Ian muttered to himself… “I should just leave you guys behind and rescue the others on my own.”

“No!”

The sudden response made Ian turn around in surprise. He found Maria staring at him. Her brown eyes locked on his with a seriousness that scared him. The intensity made him take a step back.

“If anything I’ll go alone…” Maria continued, stepping forward to close the distance again. “I know I’m not good at this, so I let you come along. I did that because I thought my chances of saving the others were higher with you than without. But that also means your life is my responsibility, so no matter what, I will protect you… Even if I have to bring you back.”

Ian stared at her dumbfounded for a moment, before scowling once again, “Then why are you even here?” He asked accusatorily “It's not like you care about us anyway! Why not just try and drag me back so you can forget the others and be with that god of yo…”

He was stopped as Maria wrapped him in her arms, holding him tightly. Tears came to the young boy's eyes as he grew stiff, before gripping her back, burying his face as she hugged him.

“It's true that we haven’t known you long, and I understand that you don’t trust us…” Maria spoke gently but sincerely, as she rubbed his back comfortingly. “But I saw Tirr’s face as he played with all of you. I’m sure that to him, all of you are precious friends. So I promise you, I will save them. I won’t let anything happen to your friends…”

Ian looked up, seeing her eyes glow with a strange white light. A pair of white wings seemed to form on her back, glowing brightly behind her before disappearing. The sight stunned him, as he looked up at her silently.

“Whatever it takes…” Maria finished, patting his head. “I will save them! So don’t worry okay?”

Ian nodded, pushing her away as he wiped his eyes fretfully, “ We should hurry!” He muttered as he turned, his cheeks red.

“Yes!” Maria replied confidently, following after the young boy.

With Ian’s careful guidance and scolding, they followed slowly behind the advancing group, tracking them carefully through the twisting tunnels. Eventually, the tight space opened up into a large cavern. There a large stone building sat, built like a fortress, with towers observing the surroundings.

Out from the fortress, a small weedy, mouse, looking man came, with guards on all sides. He glanced about nervously as he came up to the group, looking with an appraising glance over the huddled together children.

In front, the large mountain man moved towards the newcomer and started to discuss something. But at the distance Maria and Ian were at they couldn’t hear what about, only see the reactions and gestures the men used. The two men seemed to talk at length until the mountain man shook his head drawing out a depressed look of concern from the mousey one. They went on for a while longer before the mountain man stood to the side and let the assassins continue to guide the children in.

Maria watched them go, thinking carefully as she tried to calculate her and Garm’s chances of saving the children safely, but whatever she thought of a head-on attack just didn’t seem possible. But could she really afford to let them be taken inside without doing anything? She thought to herself worriedly.

Finally, she stood and was about to move forward when a cold voice spoke from behind.

“Don’t move…”

Maria whipped around in an instant, her hand going for Bren's hammer. Beside her, Ian disappeared, following the plan she had forced him to agree with some time before... But before she could finish pulling out the deadly weapon, she found Ian caught in front of her, floating in the air as a man with a slim figure and soft features stood hand out as he manipulated the air currents around the boy.

“I said don’t move…” The man repeated, his eyes serious as he glared at her….