~Chapter 1: Escape - Part 3 ~Takal~

"Like a female demon?" Tornjak asked walking closer for a better look.

"No. Human," Takal said as the body beneath him went completely limp. "But why and how did she get way out here?" he questioned stabbing his dagger in the ground by her neck and put two fingers to the pulse point under her jaw.

"Is she dead?" his best friend and scout partner Tornjak asked.

"No. Not yet at least, there's a very weak pulse."

"What should we do? Neither of us are healers."

"I'll take her back to the castle and interrogate her when she comes to." He said tying her hands together. "You need to report to the nearest scout posts about the demons and lead a group of at least 20 men back to where we encountered the demons and have them scour the area for more. I'll alert the castle guards so they can get more men ready in case one of the scouts find anything big." He said as he lifted her up and tossed her over his horse Shadow like a dead deer.

"Ok, but she needs a healer, not an interrogation." Thorn worried for the girl as his partner tied her limp form to the horse.

"Of course, she's no good to us if she doesn't wake up." He said with a slight smile.

"That's not what I meant."

"I know, but something is off, and I don't trust it," Takal said. "And Thorn, be alert. There could be more out there." He finished securing the girl to the horse so she wouldn't fall off.

"I will," Thorn said and road off to the nearest scout post.

Takal mounted his horses, "Let's go Shadow." He said and she darted ahead at a brisk pace galloping between the trees. As he rode his thoughts ran through the events of the last twenty minutes looking for things he might have missed in the heat of battle and answers to the unnerving questions swarming his mind. What would make those demons come out during the day and why were they so close to the castle of the woodland warriors? Why were so many chasing just one girl? Why and how did she get way out here? The closest town was more than a day's ride by horse and no roads cut through here from one town to any others. And how was she still alive? Why was she alive?

He looked over at the flopping mass bouncing with the horse. She was covered in dirt, mostly dried blood and bruises. Her hair was matted and dirty to the point he could not tell what color her hair was. And her clothes, if you could call them that were torn and soiled; looked to be just the remains of a loose-fitting shirt, her legs were only covered in dirt and blood. It had defiantly been a while since she had been in civilization. What happened to her? And what will she be able to tell us when she comes too? They would hold her at the castle over the next few weeks or so; however long it took for her to get well and find her a place to go. That should give them plenty of time to get answers from her, they had to know why there were demons so close and why they wanted her.

When they got in sight of the castle, he checked the girls' pulse again; it was still there but even slower. If even one guard saw her, everyone would know about it in a matter of days. If they saw what they thought was a dead body, the rumors would be easier to handle, and people would have less curiosity about the person he was bringing in. So, he tossed his jacket over her limp form so only her hands and feet showed; she really did look like a corpse. He nudged Shadow to pick up the pace and approached the guards with his arms raised with no weapons.

Two men jogged down to meet him and he dismounted to meet them. He gave a brief report requesting a contingent of men be put on alert. Explained he needed to take the 'body' to Master Robin and was waved through. For the first time in over 15 years with the woodsmen, he led his horse into the castle and down the halls. When he arrived at the infirmary, he called out for Master Robin but was greeted instead by his lanky new apprentice.

"He's not here right now; he went to town to run some errands. He should be back sometime tomorrow." The boy told him.

Takal' horse whinnied as if displeased by this and the boy startled, surprised at seeing the horse cross the threshold to the infirmary.

"Sir, I'm sorry but we don't heal horses, you'll have to bring him to the stable master."

"Shadow doesn't need a healer, but the girl on his back does. Well, if she's not dead already. Help me untie her and get her off and treated already." Takal removed his jacket from the body and the gangly kid gasped in shock, then jerked forward remembering what he was supposed to do, and helped Takal with the ropes. Then he picked her up and laid her down on the narrow bed with clean white sheets. "Do you need any help with this or can I go to report to Master Tazmaine?"

"I'll be fine, I think… but there's not much I can do, a healing like this… would require Master Robins's full attention."

"I understand, just do what you can. Bandages and what not..." he said sounding almost worried, but not for her he reminded himself, quickly adding "I need her alive until I can get the information I need from her."

"Yes Sir." The boy said and scurried over to another room. Takal led his horse to the stables, unsaddled her, and gave her some fresh food and water promising to rub her down after he talked to Master Tazmaine.