Chapter 189

Amaris concentrated on getting all of the soldiers, anyone who is still captive, Michalis and Nikos, and of course, Lyle out of the palace. Amaris decided that it would be a good idea to include Gran also so that she did not need to try and run to get away from the guards after everyone was out. She wished for them all to goto the little fishing village that they had landed in when they came to the mainland. Amaris felt a huge drain on her body suddenly. It was so strong that she dropped to her knees. The exhaustion that followed overwhelmed her and it was all she could do to stay awake. Amaris opened her eyes. Gran was gone, and she was all alone out in the courtyard. Amaris was dizzy and disoriented, but she knew that she needed to tell Anna and the rest of them where she had sent everyone to. Amaris felt nauseous, but took a deep breath and tried to mind link Anna. "Anna." Amaris heard nothing. "Anna. Are you there?" Amaris waited as she tried to stumble to her feet. She now heard raised voices coming from the area above her. She knew that she need to get moving. She stumbled to her feet. Once she was standing and her feet began moving she felt a little better. "Mari? Is that you?" Anna finally answered. "Anna, tell everyone to head to that fishing village that we landed at when we came to the mainland. That is where I just sent everyone. Gran is there too. I am heading out now. I will try and catch up with you." Amaris began moving down the next flight of stairs. She hung onto the railing as hard as she could as her feet betrayed her, stumbling on each step as she moved downward. The voices were getting louder and she could now hear lots of running boots. Amaris tripped on the last two stairs and fell headlong onto the ground at the bottom landing. She had made it back to the grounds. Amaris pushed her self up to her feet and began to run toward the gate. She had to make her way through the grounds, around the bushes and piled crates that she had passed on her way in. Amaris slowed as she made it to the gate. She was not sure if the guards had returned to their gate posts or not. She took cover behind some debris, and had a good look around. She was panting, out of breath. She worked to try and quiet her breathing so she would not be heard. She did not see anyone, and decided to quickly move on. She could still hear voices, but they seemed to be moving in the other direction toward the hole that she had made in the wall. Tiredly, she hurried through the gate, and off down the road. She followed it for what seemed a long time. She would hurry into the under brush on the sides of the road everytime she thought that she heard something. These short stops would allow her a small respit to catch her breath. No one ever came. She was sure that the King had discovered that she was gone. Suddenly she heard an engine. The vehicle was heading toward the palace not away from it though. Amaris crouched down behind the only bush near her. It was a rather scraggly bush and did not provide much cover, but Amaris was hoping that whoever was driving was not paying attention to the sides of the road. The car came closer and slowed to a stop. Amaris could not make out who was inside, but she could only imagine that it was more guards that were sent to look for her on the roads to and from the palace. The door opened on the far side of the car. "Mari! Thank the heavens! You are alright and you made it out." Amaris stood up. She would know that voice anywhere. "Anna. What are you doing here?" She said as she came out from around the bush. Anna grinned. Amaris could see Taji now in the driver's seat. He was not looking at her, he was looking forward out the windshield. His eyes were wide. Amaris followed his gaze. There were guards in trucks heading straight at them. Anna turned in surprise and then frantically back to Amaris and waved for her to get in. Amaris ran to the car and got in behind Taji. She closed the door and slumped back against the seat. She was so exhausted that she could barely keep her eyes open. Anna had gotten in and put on her seat belt and then looked back at Amaris. "Seat belt!" She hollered back at Amaris. Amaris felt around the seat as Taji quickly spun the car around in the road. The motion threw Amaris off the seat, and onto the floor on the other side of the back seat. "Hang on." Taji yelled as he pushed the car to go. Amaris was pushed back up against the front of the seat cushion. She pushed her self off the floor and back onto the seat and finally got the seat belt on. With a quick look behind them, Amaris saw that the trucks the guards were driving had not slowed down and were almost at their rear bumper. Anna had also turned in her seat. "Faster Taj. They are going to be in our back seat soon!" Taji looked like he was trying to will the car to go faster. "I don't think it can go any faster. This is a touring car not a race car." He threw her a desperate look. Anna and Amaris were looking at Taji when his face made a grimace and his entire body turned rigid bracing himself. The whole car lurched forward. The impact jolted Amaris , and pulled her seatbelt hard. She had been mearly nauseous before, now she knew she was going to be sick. She also was starting to feel very dizzy. The car suddenly jolted again from another collision, and Amaris couldn't stop it, she leaned forward and was sick all over the same floor board that she had been thrown into moments before. Amaris sat up and wiped her mouth on the back of her sleeve. "Mari! Are you alright?" Anna said turning around. Then she smelled it and rolled her window down. Anna held her head near the window. Taji took a quick look at the back seat floor. "It's ok. We are ditching this car as soon as I can find a faster one anyway." He said as he swerved again to avoid being rear ended. Amaris leaned over sideways on the seat, not able to find the strength to sit upright and brace herself from every jarring impact. The car was bumped once again, but this time the light from the rear window disappeared. Amaris turned her head to see a man kneeling on the trunk, and hanging on to the car by the roof. "Taji! There is someone on the back of the car!" Amaris croaked out. Even her voice was tired. It had no volume. Anna had heard her anyway and turned to look in the back. She tapped Taji's arm and said soemthing that Amaris could not hear. Taji nodded his head. Anna leaned over and began to roll up her window. Amaris was now drifting far away. She could hear their voices, but could not make out what they were saying. The car suddenly swerved and came to a sudden stop, and then the engine revved and the car peeled out. The space around her seemed more light suddenly, and then went completely black.