chapter 26

find the sword

"Okay fine, one condition I am coming with" he said and my heart made a flip. I hoped for that and now he said it I was relieved that someone was going to come with on this crazy quest.
            "Lucian are you insane too. You are suppose to talk her out of this" Becky sounds pissed off.
            "She made up her mind Becky. There is no way of talking her out of this."
            "You are both nuts" she yells and pick up her jacket to leave.
            "What are you so afraid of. You of all people should be backing me up Becky" I ask and she turns around.
            "What is that suppose to mean?"
            "You really think that you are just going to waltz into the Royal Council and tell them, hey I want to be a member, and they will give you a spot. You have to earn it. Things like this makes you earn it one step at a time. So if you are really serious about this dream, you got to pursue it while you can. If Goran finds a way out of there. . ."
            "I heard you the first time Elena, he will destroy us all" she was pissed. "Fine, I'm in but you are all insane."  We flinch as she shuts the door loud after her. I know she was angry and will probably be for the next couple of hours.
            "I'm in too" Sammy gives.
            "Okay" I reply not wanting to fight anymore about this. Fighting was really exhausting.
            "So what is the plan. We have to get more than one dragon onboard if we want to pursue this mission" Lucian said.
            "Why?"
            "Because it is a far trip Elena. The Sacred Cavern is North East from Tith. It will take us at least half a day traveling on top of one." I didn't think that it was that far and thinking of dragons was not on my mind, not to mentioned flying on one.
            "George got no choice, he will follow Becky" Sammy says in a soft tone. I know she is scared but I know it's the right thing to do.
            "You told Blake about this."
            "No, he will tell Master Longwei."
            "Elena, he is the Rubicon he might offer his assistance" Lucian disagrees.
            "It is enough people already Lucian. We can fly with Sammy" and I gave her a look which she replies with a nod.
            "And what if we get into a battle" he asks.
            "Then we fight. Don't count your chickens before they hatch please" I beg.
            "So take it one step at a time" and I nod my head. He stroke his face out of frustration and ends up pulling his hair. "Fine, when do you want to leave."
            "Night fall, when they change shifts. There is a time delay of five minutes" I said.
            "Where do we meet"
            "The tower. No one will see us flying from there Lucian. There is too many trees blocking the view. We will be long gone when the  last shift takes over" and he nods his head.
            "How long have you been planning this."
            "Since the sixth day" I reply.
            "Tonight is Bill's shift. George and I will meet you there half past eight, don't be late or otherwise we can forget about making a clean break" he took over. "Elena, there is only one condition, you do exactly as I say."
            He didn't give me a chance to argue on that. "See you tonight" he sings and left.

We ate in silence that night. Becky hasn't said one word to me after I said those awful things to  change her mind. George did not approved of the idea either and there was a thick vibe around our table. None said a word though. We went back to our dorms around seven and prepared for our trip. Sammy took all the sodas that were in the fridge and a lot of fruit from tonight's buffet line, chucking it with two sets of clothes into a back pack. We all did the same, just for incase. Hopefully we won't be that long gone and will make it back before anyone will know that we left. If not Sammy and George can catch fish. Dragons are known to be excellent fishermen.
            We got dress in dark sweat suits around eight and left our dorms with back packs around eight fifteen. We were early up in the tower and when we heard George and Lucian coming up the stairs my heart starts to beat like a jack hammer.
            There is no time for fear - I repeat it a couple of time in my head. I really hope this is what the Seer meant. The three of us froze when Blake, Tabitha, Brian and Arianna was with Lucian and George. Blake was carrying a huge bag around his left shoulder - it didn't look natural at all.
            "Lucian" I wanted to scold him.
            "I had no choice Elena."
            "So are we going to do this or what" Blake asks Lucian in a pissed off tone.
            "Three more minutes Blake then we can be off. You guys should get ready" he answers. I close my eyes pissed at how things had changed. I bargained on five people going on this mission, not nine.
            The four dragons start taking off their clothes. Tabitha and Sammy was in their underwear while the boys were in boxers. They gave their clothes to Arianna who was chewing gum like a cow and climb out the tower's window and disappears. I have to admit, Arianna even knows how to look sexy on a mission. Her hair that use to hang lose in curls is tied up into a bun, she looked nervous. I took another deep breath as they climb outside the towers window.            "Arianna?" I whisper at Lucian.
            "She heard Blake and I talk and wanted a piece of the action."
            "It's not a game Lucian?"
            "I had no choice."
            "Who is going to transport her" I ask. The others are Chromatic and Sammy can't take all of us. I jump as I heard tearing and rocks falling.
            "D****t, you guys should be careful" Lucian whispers as loud as he can. I try to imagine what it is I am going to find outside but for some reason my mind was already filled with so many crazy things that it was difficult. He was starting to repack some of the backpacks to make it less.
            "She can ride with me and George" Becky answers Lucian. She was still not speaking to me. She nods at Arianna to follow her outside.
            "Are you ready" Lucian asks as he looks at his watch. I pick up one of the back packs and walk towards the others. Lucian jumps up the ledge and reach for my hand.  His grasp was firm as I squeeze in front of him. The ledge was thin and had to walk one foot in front of the other. 
            I gasp as I saw the five dragons hanging on the walls by their claws. They were huge with wings still folded in place. Lucian gave the sign to go for it and I flinch as three of the dragons take flight at once. Then George followed with Becky and Arianna on his back. Everyone was airborne except Sammy who was still clinging onto the wall waiting for us.
            My hands were starting to cramp as I struggle to hold on. Please don't fall.
            Lucian jumps on her back first and holds his hand for mine. When I grab it he swings me onto Sammy's back while taking off at the same time. It was so fast that there was no time to get scared.
            I was clinging on to him for my dear life. I didn't dare opening my eyes and was waiting for the siren to go off. Nothing happened. I can't believe that we are about to pull it off.
             Sammy was still flying upwards, I didn't like the feeling but assume it's to get above the clouds. The speed they chose to fly was crazy fast and it made me feel that I was on a rollercoaster. One that I really don't want to be on. The flapping of Sammy's wings and the others drum loudly in my ears. I just kept my eyes close and pray that whatever lies ahead will make me carry on no matter what.
            I was still pissed off with the amount of dragons and Arianna that came with. Why did Lucian told Blake about this? He makes me so mad and I don't like being mad at him. The fact that he had to bring Brian was the cherry on top. Why does he have to be here too.
            I started to wonder what Lucian said to Blake in order to agree on this trip. There was a small part that  was glad that the Rubicon came but it was not big enough to make me forgive Lucian yet. The only positive thing is that when we do get caught, which is so likely to happened, nothing won't happened to us because of who Blake is. They will see it as him living up to his expectations and nobody will even think that I was the mastermind behind this mission.
            My legs started to cramp. I was holding on with all of my strength and is wishing that we can just reach our destination. "Are you okay" Lucian asks me.
            "Just a cramp" I said through clench teeth.
            "Where" he asks softly.
            "Left leg" and I felt his hand on top of my leg rubbing the cramp away. It made my eyes flew open because he is suppose to hold on to Sammy for the both of us but was surprised at the scene.
             We were gliding on a bed of clouds and the stars were bright with the moon shining full ahead. It was so clear and breathtaking beautiful. I saw Becky far on our left. Arianna was holding on to her but not the way I was clinging on to Lucian. They both make it looked so easy. The other dragons was way in front. I got a glimpse of Blake or assume it's him. He was colossal.  He turned into my focus point and know that when he will decent, we will be close.
            His wings stretch out far.
            "You chose a perfect night for this Elena. If there wasn't so many clouds in the sky tonight we would not have made it" Lucian complimented me and I just nod my head which made him chuckle."You are afraid of flying."
            "Shh" was all I could get out.
            "That is so ironic" I didn't say anything. He was right, it is ironic. I felt his hand on top of mine and my eye lids started to feel heavy. I hold on tighter as I start to become tired and couldn't watch Blake anymore.      
            I must have dosed off in between all the clinging and praying because when I open them again the first ray of sun was making its appearance.
            Blake finally started to decent which means only one thing;  our destination was not that much further anymore. Sammy followed his lead and I grabbed Lucian tighter. When we exit the roof of clouds I saw plenty of open land and lots of mountains. It was much colder and in the distance I could see a big castle. My head started to spin and closed my eyes.
            "My dad is so going to kill me" Lucian says but we swift right towards the mountains. It was the first part of Paegeia I've seen and I can't believe that none of them wanted to fight for it. A couple of hours later Blake finally landed nearby woods that was on top of a mountain. We followed him and Sammy was the last one to land. She almost fell.
            "That's it girl, you did great" Lucian tapped her and I saw how  the other disappeared in the woods to change back into their human form.  Becky was still busy taking the saddle of George's back with Lucian's help. He had to lift her up so that she could reach the buckle. Why on earth she brought the saddle with, no one knows.
             Sammy didn't go to the woods but asked for a towel, when she changed she barely had the strength to cover herself before she faint. Blake appeared out of nowhere and caught her just in time. She must be really tired. "Dad is going to kill me for letting you come with" he scolded at her.
            "Dad's not here, so shut up" she spoke softly and giggles too tired for anything else. They put the rest of their clothes on that Arianna carried in her back pack.
            "We have to rest" Blake spoke for all the dragons and Lucian nods his head.
            "We all have to rest Blake." 
            It wasn't long before all the tents that was in Blake's bag was transformed into a camp. The boys are really handy when it comes to things like that and when most of them went to sleep I really wanted to speak to Becky but could see that she is still pissed at me.
            "Elena, you need your rest too" Lucian calls from inside the tent and I crawled in with him. I tried to hide the fact that I don't like Becky being so upset with me. For crying out loud I got too many s**t on my mind already. 
            We will go to the Sacred Cavern tonight.  I fell asleep fast, trying not to think about the cavern. We will work as a team and make it out alive. That was Lucian's idea and I have to admit, I was comfortable with that.
            I dream about Queen Catherine again. The woods she pointing at look similar to where we are and something deep down inside of me finally knows why I have been dreaming about her. She was preparing me for the decision I had to make. The foretelling jumps into my mind again and I'm sure if I see it again, it would have turned red.
            We woke up to an amazing smell. Lucian just smiled as I look at him. He looks so beautiful when he wakes up. Not like me, hair a mess and eyes thick from the sleep. The sun was going down and it was Twilight. There was four small animals roasting over an open fire and it is amazing what survival skills these guys have.
            When it was done, we all ate in silence. I don't think that they are very happy of being here but I know it is not for nothing. I need to know whether the sword still exists and where it is.
            When we were done we washed up by a pond that was nearby. The water was ice cold but just what I needed. "We need to talk about what it is we are going to do" Blake's voice came from the woods.
            "We take it as it comes" Lucian replies.
            "Excuse me."
            "We don't know the rules on this one Blake, what do you want to go over" he snaps back.
            "You bring me here only to tell me we have to wing it."
            "I didn't bring anyone here, you wanted to come" he said as he pass him and he holds his hand for mine. I took it, not looking at Blake. We walk back to the others that was starting to break down the tents. When everything was packed up it was already eight o'clock.
            It was about an hour's walk to the Sacred Cavern and the boys each had a torch to see where we are going. Small animals were making noises as they run at our footsteps and it scared the living crap out of me every time.
            "You are scared of things in the woods, unbelievable" Arianna past us and shakes her head.
            "Ignore her Elena, I think what you did is pretty brave" Lucian whispers.
            "Why did she have to be here" I was angry.
            "Why?" she turns around. "Because what you are doing Elena is not brave at all" she looks at Lucian. "It is stupid and if anyone of us die tonight, it is on your head" she pokes me hard on the chest. Her words had a different effect though.  I didn't think about that at all.
            "Arianna, you begged to come with us tonight so shut your pie whole" Lucian yells back.
            "You guys, enough" Blake stopped, he was way in the front. "Nobody got forced  to come tonight Arianna but I agree with you, this is a suicide mission. There is nothing we can do about it now so all of you shut your traps." The dragons all stood with Blake, accept for Sammy.
            The walk towards the Sacred Cavern felt long. There was only one thing on my mind and it was weighing a ton.  Arianna's words. What if somebody dies? It will be on my head. Sammy was walking with Becky, they were whispering the entire trip and it frustrated me so much that I couldn't hear what they were talking about. Lucian just squeeze my hand a little tighter every time I look at the two of them.
            We exit the woods and end up in front of this huge mountain that had plenty of stairs going upwards. I have seen it before at the museum, only this time it was thousand times bigger.
            "Welcome to the Sacred Cavern" Blake says in a theatrical tone. Tabitha and Arianna just giggle. We reach the stairs and Lucian lets me go first, a true gentlemen.
            The climb was crucial and I was glad that he forced me to start running every morning with him, otherwise I would have heaved like a hoofer, or worse felt bad because he would have had to carry me.
            "Becky will speak to you again Elena" Lucian finally says.
            "You sure about that, I said pretty mean things to her."
            "But they were the truth. She will only become part of the Royal Council if she got a bit more of what you have" he try to boost my ego.
            "You make it sound as if I am not scared at all. I am shaking in my boots, literally" I sulked and he smiles.
            "But you are here. Which means you are much a knight as any of these guys here with you" he replies.
            "A stupid knight."
            "Not so stupid to me. I admit, it sounded crazy the first time but it makes sense and once you said those words of the wall coming down it scared the living crap out of me too. You are right. Goran will get tired after taking over Paegeia and then he will do whatever he can to take down the wall. If he is smart enough to find a way to exit Etan, he is powerful enough to find a way to break through to the other side."
            "Thank you."
            "For what" he wants to know.
            "For being the first to join me in this crazy mission" I moped. "Do you think that they will come look for us?"
            "You mean Master Longwei" he asks with a mysterious smile. I nod my head. "It will take them about a day to reach us and you saw how tired the dragons are after a flight like the one we just took, even if they are grown. So they won't catch up if that is what you mean. Besides they don't know which destination we took. Everyone that know about this, is here."
            "They could ask Cheng. He is smart and will put two and two together. He is the one that told me about this place" I sounded scared of what Master Longwei will do to me if he finds out that I am behind this mission.
            "Elena, you worry too much about little things. They must first discover that we are gone." I hear gasps way in front of me and something tells me they finally reached the top. Back packs fall on to the ground and when Blake came into our sight he was drinking water out of a bottle.
            The steps stopped and you have to hoist yourself up the last part. Blake reached down and give me his hand.  He lifts me up with one yank and helps Lucian after me. 
            I gasp too.  In front was two, eighty- feet- high wooden doors.