CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

24.

Thorin walked up to the young boy, her blade drawn. Her face contorted in rage.

"What are you doing to him?" Thorin yelled.

The boy looked at her, at first emotionless but then something broke as his face burst into emotion. The green liquid that connected the boy's chest to Florian's wound dissipated. The boy did not seem to answer her question, instead opting to just look at her.

Thorin mumbled something before kneeling before Florian's body. Florian had been breathing, albeit slowly. She released a breath she did not know she had been holding. You did well, Florian. You'd better live long enough for us to escape. She took the crimson blade from his grasp and slid it back into the sheath. Savia stepped forward with Florian's other blade. It had been stained with blood. Other than their moving bodies, the room had been quiet. Thorin picked up Florian and flung one of his arms over her shoulder. She, along with Savia, moved toward the exit. A voice halted them in their tracks. It was the same blond boy.

"If he doesn't get treatment he will die." The boy's tone had been proper and he spoke similarly as that of a nobleman.

Deep inside her mind, Thorin knew that his words were the truth. She just turned back to the exit and began walking, making sure Florian did not collapse under her grasp.

"I can save him!" The boy yelled.

Thorin scoffed. "Why should we trust you, little boy?"

"I am the only one who can. His wounds are too severe. He is not going to survive the next floor, never mind outside."

"If you are lying, you are dead," Thorin threatened.

The boy first grabbed the whip that had been in Chapman's clutches and then walked up to them. He gulped as he saw Savia clutch her dagger.

"Can you heal him while we walk?"

He nodded. "It will take longer, as I will have to focus."

Thorin nodded.

They walked through the building in silence. The green liquid from the boy's chest was conjured as the boy cast. They met up with the large group of metalworkers as well as the scaev. Nobody said a word as they headed to the exit. Eventually, they reached the large steel doors.

"What do we do about the soldiers outside?" Thord asked.

"We pray…we pray to whatever gods exist. Once we open these doors, it will be a rush. All metalworkers should follow me and head for the southern exit of Isern." This was the moment Thorin had waited for. She imagined this day for the past five years. It will not fail. It cannot fail. She nodded to her father who reciprocated the act. A metalworker opened the large doors. An older woman dressed in blue robes stood in front, behind her and there had been a force of one hundred soldiers. She wasted no time and drew her sword when she saw the group that stood in the doorway of the factory. Her eyes locked with the young blond boy. The other soldiers withdrew their blades.

"Lord Ever-" The woman could not finish her sentence as her body was forced to the side. Screams could be heard from the soldiers. Thorin did not know what to expect from Alaric but it certainly had not been this.

It had been well past midnight and Alaric had been getting impatient. Ashe had not been much better. She had been reading the same portion of the tome over and over. She bit her bottom lip and tapped her foot.

"Come on, let's get closer." Alaric grabbed Ashe's wrist and that seemed to break her out of her trance. He led her to the middle of the street, just a couple of paces from the squadron. People would probably assume that they are suspicious but that was the least of his worries. He even saw a few soldiers of the squadron watch them. He did not have a clear view of the door but he was waiting for a reaction, any change in the crowd was what he was looking for. He turned to Ashe who still held the tome.

"Ashe, you know the cast. Stop fretting, it is going to work."

Ashe nodded to him.

"All your fidgeting is making me nervous."

She chuckled. "Since when do you get nervous?"

Alaric gave her a small smile, realising she is back to her normal self. "All the time. I am just better at hiding it."

"You should teach me because all this stress is getting to me. And I do not want to lose my hair at eighteen."

Alaric chuckled but then stopped suddenly. "They are here."

"What?"

"Soldier on the far right turned to face the factory and he hadn't done that for the past hour." Alaric cracked his fingers. "It is showtime."

Ashe hurriedly attached the tome to her belt. Alaric stood with his back towards her. He faced the squadron, who seemed to be taking out their weapons. This has got to work.

He felt Ashe's hand on his back. She began chanting. He moved his arms. One above his head and one below. In the shape of an S. He moved with fluidity as he made a few more gestures. He could hear Ashe coming to the end of her chant. He began to kneel. Ashe followed him, keeping her hand firmly on his back. He placed his hands on the ground to end the cast. Please work. His pleading worked as he felt most of his energy drain from his body. The factory had been placed in the centre of the Gwyn River. The water from the right-hand side of the factory had decreased immensely. The ground far below could be seen. The water on the left side of the factory increased. The water did not flow into the town, instead, it grew higher into the sky as if some invisible force blocked the water from breaking into the town. A large tidal wave moved around the factory from left to right. Washing away the soldiers that stood on the platform. The water continued into the sky, looking like a tornado of water swirling around the factory. He could hear the screams of the soldiers that were washed away by the powerful current. After a few moments, the water tornado dissipated. As the cast ended, Alaric could feel his energy slowly coming back. The path was clear. He could see figures from within the factory.

"Run!" He yelled at the top of his lungs.

Two things happened at once. Somewhere from his right, Jinny came running along with the stablehand. They were followed by a few dozen horses. Alaric assumed that she saw their cast by the look on her face. In front of him, she saw the small group running towards him, he could make out Thorin struggling. Somebody had been slumped over her shoulders.

He stumbled to his feet, he then proceeded to help Ashe to her feet as well. She seemed exhausted.

"It worked…" Her voice was soft. She was smiling softly.

Alaric nodded. "Celebrate later. We need to head out."

"Where to?"

"The mountains behind Isern, then from there to Adhu Aqua."

Jinny made her way before him.

"That was quite the feat, Lord Alaric. But it seems to have left you in a poor state," She said mockingly.

Alaric scoffed. "This is no big deal." He knew he was sweating and breathing heavily.

The first of the metalworkers arrived in front of Alaric who was now positioned in front of the horse army.

"I believe Thorin has told you what must be done. Take a horse and run towards the exit. Outside of Isern, there should be another group waiting for you there." Alaric said. At first, the men seemed unsure but then got onto the horses. Two men sat on a horse at a time. Regular civilians had come out of their homes to watch the commotion. As Thorin walked closer, the situation became clear to him. Florian had been unconscious. Thorin held his arm so that he did not fall over. Florian had been bloody. Too much blood. He should not be alive in that state. A strange green liquid seemed to be connected to Florian's torso. Alaric followed the line of green liquid and found that it was connected to the chest of a young boy who followed behind Thorin. Savia had been walking behind Thorin as well, she kept her eyes on the boy. Alaric looked toward Thorin. He recognized the look on her face. It was a look he was sure reflected off of his face. Guilt. He had not known what happened in the factory but from the look on her face, he was sure that it had not been her fault. She finally reached him.

"Alaric, I am so-"

"You know what you have to do. Lead these people to Nezzagwyn." He cut her off.

"But…"

Alaric moved Florian's body off of Thorin's shoulder and onto his own.

"This is what you came here for. This is what I promised to the people of Nezzagwyn. Bring them home, Thorin. And tell Miss Thea I will come to visit soon." Alaric gave her the best smile he could muster.

Thorin bit her lip and nodded at him. She placed her hand on his shoulder.

"Thank you, Alaric. For everything you have done." She said as she passed him.

The metalworkers led by Thorin left towards their goal. The horses galloped towards the outskirts of Isern.

Alaric faced the young boy who stood closer now. "You are going to be riding with us, boy."

"Are you the one who cast the giant wave?" The boy asked.

"Perhaps."

Alaric did not have to answer the question because the boy's eyes told him everything he needed to know. The boy was terrified of him.

Alaric turned to Ashe who watched the exchange carefully.

"Take Florian and the boy to the base of the mountain behind Isern. I will meet you there."

Ashe smiled at him. "Go get her."

Alaric nearly choked at her words but then wordlessly jogged away. He was running through the streets of Isern. A place he had only stayed in for a week, but these streets he had come to know. He knew where he was headed. A place that should be unconventional to stay at but where he knew she was. And she was there. She sat with her back against the wall in the familiar alleyway.

She looked up at him when he had arrived. The shock was written on her face.

"What are you doing? We must leave." He said.

"Why?" Her voice was soft, like usual.

"You asked for freedom and I had promised you I would give it to you."

Savia did not answer.

"If you are worried about Gwenllian…I took care of her. She will never bother you again." "Leave with us or go your own way, you are free to do what you want."

Savia went quiet again. He was about to leave when he heard her voice.

"Where are you headed?"

"Meinspir. That is our destination."

Alaric watched as her eyes lit up when she heard the city's name. She silently got to her feet.

"I will go with you."

"Great, we have to hurry. We don't have much time."

He ran through the streets of Isern once again but this time he had been flanked with his companion. Alaric did not understand his attraction towards Savia, he had just assumed since she had been a beautiful woman that he had been attracted to her looks. He had never felt this way over anyone before. All he wanted to do was protect her. Even if he knew that she is well equipped to protect herself.