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DragonlustChapter VI: Underground Escape
The group helped lay the poor girl on the cot where Reno was laying, he felt she needed it better than he did. Aros quickly began to look her over and start the healing process that only he could.
With that Bjarn introduced Dale and began catching up with the rest of the group. “Sorry sirs, but I am going to have to close up soon, if I am late again my master will deal me a punishment that my body just cannot take…” Rosa said as small tear ran down her face.
“Just let him try, I have been waiting for a chance to even things up with him!” Rodurik said, cracking his knuckles.
“If you don't mind me asking, why do you stay? Why continue the pain?” Marcus interrupted.
“You don't understand, my master and his megablocks goons are what control this fishing town. I am stuck here...I just do not have a choice,” Rosa said.
“Would you master happen to be the man know as Lord Julius?” Marcus asked.
Rosa’s eyes grew real big.
“Well, I guess that answers that, he is that shifty bestlock that I was telling you about. Him and his goons respect no one.” Marcus added.
“It looks as if the lot of us is going to escort you home tonight Rosa.” Graygon said, a big smile came across his face as he look around the group.
“But...you...can’t…” Rosa tried to stop them, but it was too late, the misfits were already getting ready for another fight.
“Don’t worry Miss Rosa, by the end of the night you are going to be free and clear of your master, I promise.” Reno said, trying to comfort her.
Reno went over Shainya. Everything was quiet.
“Luxus, come over here…” Reno muttered loudly.
Luxus inched over.
“Go behind this inn, and pick out a flower. It has red flowers, blue thorns. Bring it, be quick!”
Luxus gave a quick nod, and hurried off.
“Shainya... I’m gonna ease your pain…” Reno whispered to Shainya.
Bjarn looked on, confident in Reno. Reno slipped a small vial from his bag. Luxus ran in, with the flower. Reno smiled at Luxus. He ripped the thorns off, and dipped them in the liquid. He slowly inserted the thorn in the grievous wound. She slowly stirred and her eyes flicked open. She stared deep into Reno’s single eye and smiled. Reno pulled a single petal from the flower, and rubbed it on Shainya’s wound with delicate care.
“Th... Thanks.” she muttered, before falling asleep.
“Let her sleep…” Reno muttered.
“Now Bjarn, come and sit over here, and tell the rest of us of your journeys…” The group sat down, with Luxus sitting next to Bjarn.
The old Forestman sat down and waved aside the bread Rosa handed him, even though he was very hungry.
“We must not waste time here, my friends.” he said quickly, “We are in major trouble. News of the Shadow hijacking has spread, there is a high price on our head and I know I'm being followed…”
Bjarn quickly began to tell the tale of his and Dale’s rush to get Shainya to a healer. He spoke fast, leaving out no detail. The one person who was not listening was the barmaid, Rosa.
Let them think I am little crying wimp, she thought sullenly, peering over her shoulder every once in a while to see if her master was approaching, I can fend for myself...but if it wasn't for Rod...
Suddenly she heard footsteps, she turned and blocked the doorway quickly so her master could not see the new arrivals.
“Git outta my way, Shifty-Brick! Who still down there? ‘Tis the middle of the night it is! Move!”
She did not shrink back. “They are paying customers, sir!” she said, still blocking the door. If my master found out they had stolen a Crusader ship...
“Git outto my way!”
Her master threw her aside and she crashed into a stack of bottles that smashed on top of her. Bjarn, Aros, Willem, Graygon, Marcus, Rodurik, Dale and Luxus rose, fingering their weapons. Reno, still weak, was still on the floor with Shainya.
“Sir…” Willem said, jingling some coins, “We have money, we are willing to pay…”
The master cut him off. “I bet I could git more money when I turn you lot in! Steal a ship did ya? Heh heh heh…”
The master suddenly caught sight of Rodurik. “‘Ow many times have I told ya not ta coming inta mah inn, ye dark-skinned shift-brick!?”
The master snatched a pike from the wall and threw at the brawny blacksmith. It caught him in the side, felling him instantly. The master laughed, he was clearly mad. Suddenly his eyes went wide with shock, he stumbled, and then fell to the ground. Rosa withdrew her slim dagger from her formal master’s side and wiped it clean on his dirty shirt.
“Megabloks you.” she said quietly. She then ran over to her only friend and knelt beside him. Reno was already hard work.
“Will he live?” she asked with a rare display of tenderness.
“I don't know.” answered Reno grimly.
There was a sudden loud rat-tat-tat on the inn door.
“Open up in there!” a voice commanded, “This is the Sheriff of Denderham! We have word that some men that are wanted by the law are in here! Open up!”
“Oh tyco…” Bjarn moaned.
Graygon darted to the other windows. “We’re surrounded!” he shouted angrily. All the persons who were able drew their various weapons. Willem, Marcus and Aros barred the door while Graygon and Luxus shuttered the windows. Reno still lay by Shainya working on Rodurik with the help of Rosa. Bjarn had gone upstairs. He now returned, looking grim.
“I count two score men out there heavily armed. There’s little chance we’ll make it out of here alive, especially with three wounded people.”
“Is there any way out of this place??” asked Marcus.
Rosa looked up from Rodurik. “Yes…” she said faintly, and then more loudly, “Yes, there is!”
She jumped and ran behind the bar.
“There is a secret passage built into every inn in this town for the owners to escape through if pirates attack!”
“Where does it lead to?” asked Bjarn, perplexed.
“The tip of Dark Forest at Fell Isle!” was the reply.
The group followed Rosa to a small ale cabinet. She tugged at the cabinet, to reveal a passage. The door cracked to the inn and came the first wave of guards.
Bjarn drew his bow and shot the nearest guard. Reno drew a small vial instead of his weapon. Willem drew a dagger, and with a series of odd spins, a guard was laying on the floor, dead. Graygon faked slashed at a guards neck then swung at the guards legs, taking him down.
“Now! Run!” Reno shouted to everyone and they all rushed into the passage.
“Hahhahaha!” Reno laughed. He opened the vial and threw it at the guards. It exploded, shaking the whole area. Reno hurried into the cabinet, making sure he closed it behind him.
Reno’s explosion had caused a fierce fire, and the Crusader soldiers were unable to reach the cabinet. Smiling, Reno mixed two more potions that created a blue-green light for all to see by.
Willem studied the group. They were eleven total; himself; Graygon, Marcus, Bjarn, Reno, Aros, Luxus, Rosa, Rodurik, Shainya and Dale. Reno seemed to have recovered from his inner wounds, but both Rodurik and Shainya were still blacked out.
“Quickly,” commanded the Wolfpack leader, “Aros, Marcus, you two carry Rodurik. Reno, Graygon, you two carry Shainya. Bjarn, take Reno's light and go to the front with Dale. Luxus, stay with me and watch our rear. That fire will rage until the Broken Mast is burnt to the ground, but the Crusaders can still come after us after the ashes cool.”
The others obeyed, and soon the company was swiftly making their way through the tunnel, each with their own thoughts.
A fine mess I've gotten myself into... thought Marcus, I wonder if I'll ever see my ship again...
This is very exciting! thought Luxus.
Tyco, this fellow is heavy, I do hope he’s okay... thought Aros.
My master is dead...the Broken Mast is no more...I am free... thought Rosa.
That was a near escape... thought Graygon.
I hate all this bloodshed...it’s so horrible... thought Dale.
I hope we get out of this awful place soon...I hate dark, damp places... thought Bjarn.
That Shainya is very pretty... thought Reno.
The Misfits, together again...except for Drakko and Barbod...I wonder where they are now... thought Willem.
The group pushed on, it was dark, wet, and dreary in the tunnel. The only light was that of the concoction of Reno that Bjarn carried at the front of the group. The light barely made it to the end of the group.
“Reno, slow down a bit, I need to talk to Willem.” Graygon said. Willem must of head, because he and Luxus were at Graygon’s side very quickly.
“I doubt that we will make it out of the passage before the Crusaders catch up to us. We are going to have to make a stand at some point.” Graygon said.
“Just push on and let me worry about that.” Willem said hurrying Graygon along, “Until we hear them, we still have a chance. So let’s keep moving.”
The group had been trudging through the tunnel for what seemed like hours, it was hard enough to see as it was, and what they could see was all the same brick and water. This is a bunch of tyco, I almost would of preferred fighting our way out of that mess. Graygon thought.
And that is when it happened, Willem heard the whiz past his ear, but did not have time to warn the group. Graygon took the arrow in the shoulder. He dropped Shainya’s legs and grabbed for the arrow. Reno quickly picked up Shainya and started moving faster toward the front of the group. Willem had made it to Graygon.
“It is not too deep, but it is in there.” Willem said, turning to see the distant Crusaders. Another arrow came whizzing by, this time hitting the wall.
“Everyone run!” Willem shouted, grabbing Graygon’s bow and began firing back.
I always wondered why he never carried a bow, he is just as good with one as his daggers. Graygon thought as he pushed himself up and started moving. Luxus was helping Graygon make his way to the rest of the group when Aros and Bjarn came past them to help Willem stall the troops.
“The exit is just ahead, keep moving, we will hold them long enough for you to get out. Then we will fight the way we like to.” Bjarn said.
The Crusader troops had slowed their pace, but not by much.
“We’re all out, hurry up.”
Willem, Graygon and Bjarn made a dash for the exit. As they made it through the opening they saw Reno smiling, then they saw hit light another one of his explosive mixes and toss it deep into the tunnel. Everyone quickly took cover. The explosion shook the ground, and erupted a large spray of water from the tunnel.
“Never a dull moment with this group.” Marcus said.
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