Chapter 22

I woke up to the nudging of Byron.

"hey Torin, it's your turn for watch"

I could see his exhausted droopy eyes begging for relief. "Oh yeah, get some rest."

I was alone again. Thena was no where in sight, though she was likely resting with Rapnir. The boat was still high in the air. It drifted slowly forward and down as the night went on.

The cloak that Arthur gave me was shielding me from the wind as I stared into the valley below. My mind kept returning to Terra. I couldn't help but feel guilty that she was kidnapped. If I wasn't there, the Drezir likely wouldn't have found her.

The castle was still far away in the distance. I imagined what dangers we would face when we got there. Likely more Drezir, or traps even. I realized I'd never even been outside of my own village.

A warmth rose from within me, "torin? You're awake?" Agnir seemed drowsy as she finally emerged.

"agnir! You had me so worried!" I almost shouted in surprise.

Agnir blushed, "you... You were worried about me?"

I smiled in relief, "yeah, you were gone for a long time... I was worried maybe you left me..." I couldn't hide my sad tone.

Agnir giggled, "oh don't worry. I don't think I'll ever leave you." She said dreamily.

The way she worded that sounded only slightly creepy, "well that's comforting to hear." I said feeling more relaxed. My worries and anxieties seemed to wash away at agnir's voice. She could be really comforting when she wasn't cackling like a demon.

"Torin? Do you remember a blonde girl in a blue dress when you were younger?" Agnir sounded innocently curious.

I thought for a second before answering, "I'm not sure... Why?"

Agnir pouted, "hmph!"

I guess I was in trouble with her now, but what did I do?

**************

The sun started to rise over the mountain. Thena appeared riding Rapnir. "Morning troops! It's time to wake up and smell the roses!" She was riding around our slow moving boat. "Today we discuss our infiltration plan!"

Arthur groaned, "it's too early even for me and I didn't even take watch last night" he got up and stretched.

Byron and Claire sat up and yawned. Claire looked over the side of the boat, "whoa, look at how big the castle is!" She pointed towards the towering building that had gotten closer over night.

I didn't realize how close it had gotten. I stayed up the rest of the night talking to agnir and I guess we got carried away. My mind went back to terra.

"I hope she's ok..." I mumbled to myself.

Arthur put a hand on my back, "she is likely alive, even if that means it's a trap for us. The dawn brigade has been a major pain to the tyrant king these past years. He probably wants to lure us in with news of the heir being captured."

I couldn't deny that we were likely walking into a trap. "So what do we do?"

Thena zipped by, "we just be better! Better than armies, traps, even the Drezir!"

Byron countered with his pessimistic point of view, "some of us will likely die"

Claire couldn't help but squeel, "ooooh what would it be like to die?" Her cheery attitude about the subject was definitely awkward for the rest of us. Byron seemed to be a bit embarrassed that he had been out-depressed by the cheery one in the group.

Arthur took charge, "with a good plan we can anticipate the kings traps."

The team was working like a well oiled wheelbarrow, the wheels drove the rest of the group forward while the rear carried them. I was likely one of the three sitting inside the wheelbarrow waiting for my next task.

"Torin, you have the greatest mission of all!" Thena glared at me with a devilish smile.

I remembered that smile, wait... No.. no not again!

"bait!"