NEW ALLY

Elora and I exchanged a quick look and hurried after Nicholas.

We moved through the palace corridors, the sounds of chaos and fighting all around us.

We dodged the guards mounted all around the halls in the palace,I watched as Nicholas ambushed the guards sent to our capture.

One by one he took them down leading out To the gates while the guards were distracted by Elora's people.

As we reached the gates, the harsh reality of the falled escape hit us.

The queen's guards had regained control, rounding up Elora's people.

Among the captured was Thomas, he told Elora to join forces with Richard and find the journal incase he doesn't make it.

Queen Helen stood before the captives, her eyes cold. "You thought you could escape?" she sneered. "Pathetic.

This Kingdom have never been defeated not even by all these so called great kingdoms,not to talk of little village peasants.

You all are pathetic! I'll make sure you never see another sunrise again".

Thomas, despite his wounds, stood tall. "Richard will find the dragon's tooth and end this madness," he shouted, his voice strong and brave.

The captives murmured in agreement, their spirits lifted by Thomas's words.

The queen's eyes narrowed with anger. "Kill them ," she ordered.

A guard stepped forward, raising his sword to Thomas's neck.

Elora watching from a distance with Richard and Nicholas,screamed as the blade came down, beheading Thomas in one swift motion.

Seeing her childhood friend's lifeless body broke her, and she cried uncontrollably.

Nicholas grabbed Elora, pulling her away from the horror. "We have to go, now," he said, dragging her towards the gates.

We mounted the horses waiting for us and rode away from the palace. The wind blew through my hair as I turned to Nicholas, desperate for answers.

"How did you survive? I thought you were dead!"

The queen's gaze followed us, her eyes blazing with rage as she realized Nicholas was still alive.

"Find him!" she shouted to her guards. "And bring me Sir Marcus. He will answer for this."

Before Nicholas could answer my question, an arrow struck me in the back. I gasped, the pain sharp and overwhelming.

My vision blurred, and I fell forward on my horse, struggling to stay awake.

Elora screamed, and Nicholas quickly grabbed my horse's reins.

"Hold on!" he shouted to Elora as we rode away, carrying my limp body with them.

Nicholas led us to a hidden cave behind a waterfall. The roar of the water covered our entrance, and the cool air was a relief from the heat of the chase.

Inside, Nicholas lit a fire and began trying to treat  my wound. The pain was unbearable, my vision fading in and out I was slowly loosing my life.

Elora pushed Nicholas aside with a determined look. "Let me handle it," she said firmly.

Nicholas hesitated, but Elora's confidence was reassuring.

She placed her hands on my wound, and a soft blue light came from her palms. Her eyes also glowed with a faint blue light.

I felt the pain began to fade away, my body relaxing under her touch.

Nicholas watched in amazement. "How did you do that?" he asked, his voice full of wonder.

 her eyes still glowing softly. "I have healing powers," she said. "I've had them since I was a child. 

My eyes opened, and I looked at Elora with gratitude. "Thank you," I whispered.

"You're welcome," Elora replled, with a gentle voice. "We'll get through this together."

As I rested, Nicholas turned to Elora. "Where did you learn to do that?," he said. "I've never seen anything like it."

 "It's a gift," she said. "I was born with it,I got it from my mom we we're part of the few people that have it in my village.

Finally, I found enough strength to sit up and asked where we were. Elora reassured me, "It's okay, we're safe."

Nicholas's face grew serious.

"Where's the journal, Richard?" he asked, his eyes locked on mine.

I thought for a moment before remembering.

"I hid it in a bush by the temple," I said casually.

Nicholas's eyes widened in shock. "What? You left it there? Helen isn't as foolish as you'd think her to be,she most definitely would go back to the temple !"

I lifted my shoulders, feeling the weight of my mistake.

Nicholas's eyes widened in shock.

"I have to go back,Helen will definitely find it if I'm not on time."

(NICHOLAS POV)

Richard shrugged, looking guilty. "I didn't think they'd look there."

Richard told me he kept it by the bush close to the river.

"I'll be back," I said, not waiting for a response as I disappeared into the night.

"Wait, Nicholas!" Elora called out, but I was already gone, swallowed by the darkness.

I moved quickly through the shadows, my heart pounding. The sounds of her soldiers and the burning temple grew louder as I got closer, .

I had to get the journal before the queen's knights found it.

When I reached the temple,it was night and I saw the queen's knights already searching the area with their long sharp spears and torches on their hands. Sir Marcus was directing them.

I took a deep breath and drew my sword, ready for a fight.

"You! Stop him!" Sir Marcus shouted, pointing his sword at me as I was spotted upon entry.

Two knights charged at me.

I dodged the first and slashed his chest. He fell with a grunt, and I kicked the second in the stomach, sending him to the ground.

Sir Marcus roared in anger and attacked me, his sword swinging hard.

We clashed, the sound of our swords was loud. I moved fast, blocking his strikes and hitting back.

Marcus aimed a deadly blow at me. I dodgd the sword missing me by inches.

I quickly stood and tried to hit him, I cut his shoulder deeply.

He held his arm where I cut for a moment as we stared at each other but then kept on fighting.

We clashed again, with sparks flying from our swords due to the might of our hits.

Suddenly, a loud noise erupted from behind him.

Warriors from Savoyen, the southern kingdom  stormed the temple.

Their green garment and silver armor gleamed in the flickering light.Their purpose was unclear, but their fierce attack caused confusion among the queen's knights.

With Marcus distracted by the new threat, I took my chance.

I disarmed him with a quick slice and kicked him hard in the chest. He slammed against a wall and fell.

I didn't stay to celebrate. More knights were coming, and I had to move fast.

I grabbed the journal from the bush where Richard had hidden it and ran towards the cave.

I jumped over obstacles and dodged the fires,the sound of knights growing closer before I escape and left the temple.

I walked through the deep dark forest, through the night leave no trace of my movement uncovered.

When I reached the cave, Elora and Richard looked up, relief on their faces.

"You got it," Richard said, his voice filled with amazement.

I nodded, breathing heavily. "We need to move fast. The queen will keep searching until she finds it."

I also told them about the attack in the temple

"We have to be careful now and trust no one,I think a word is out about the journal and every one is after it.

I saw some soldiers from SAVOYEN they were at the temple too".

Elora quickly replied "I know those soldiers from Savoyen.

I'm not sure they're not here to steal the journal. I'm not sure why they went to the temple.

I have an uncle that stays there.

Richard: "Maybe they came to dust the shelves."

I'm serious.She replied I've dealt with them before. They're not our enemies.

Nicholas: "It's fine, it's fine. Just be cautious. Keep the journal safe and out of public eyes for now. We'll figure out what's going on later."

Elora: "Exactly. Let's just be careful and see how things unfold.

Elora looked at me with gratitude. "Thank you for saving us today."

I nodded, my gaze serious.

"We're in this together.

" We need to find the dragon's tooth and stop the queen, before more others like my people are enslaved or sent to the afterlife."

"Your grandfather made the Dragon's Tooth because he knew something terrible was coming.

We need to find out why, what it is, and how to stop it.

The threat is a mystery, but I sense danger is near.

We have to unlock the journal and do whatever we have to but fast, I fear time is not on our side."

Then,For a moment they shared gazes of grief.