Elena immediately packed her things and ran downstairs to the serving area of the inn.
She paused and turned back, looking at the bartender that had come for her.
"Where was he kidnapped?" She asked, her voice sharper than usual.
"He went out early this morning to feed your horse, and suddenly he was attacked by
some men and thrown over into their carriage."
"Can you describe these men for me?"
"They wore black masks, and their faces were shielded by a black hood. Every other
attire they wore was black." Elena paced, trying to draw up a plan. Firstly, she had never been to
this place before, so she didn't know anyone who would want to attack her and Forest. Even if
she did, she doubted she would be able to attack them by herself. She ran out of the inn, and the
bartender called for her.
"Where are you going?"
She didn't reply. She didn't know how she would do it, but she would find Forest, even if
it meant risking her life.
She walked over to where they had left their horses and was surprised to still find them
there. She had thought that the kidnappers would also take their horses, which made her question
why anyone would be after them again. She caressed Forest's horse, brushing his mane as she
whispered sweet words to him.
"Don't worry. I'll find your owner soon." With one final brush, she walked over to her
horse, and just as she was about to climb it, a voice called out.
"I can help you with your quest."
Elena turned to see who had spoken and came face to face with the most beautiful woman
she had ever seen. She had hair the colour of the night, which ran down to her waist in all its
silky glory. Her eyes were brown, and they somehow reminded her of Forest's eyes. She
scrunched her brows as the woman came closer to where she stood. She was beautiful. Her shape
clung to all the right places in the attire she wore.
Elena jerked her head back at that. The woman wore dark clothes that looked like it was
made of leather, and every other cloth she put on was also black in colour. Frowning, she raised
her eyes to meet the woman.
"Who are you?"
"I am Elion." The woman responded. She had a stealthy grace to her, and Elena instantly
envied her.
"Why would you want to help me?" She asked, curious though wary.
"Because," the woman said, coming even closer. "I also have a fair share of revenge I
wish to carry out on those you seek. They took something most precious to me. I wish to get it
back. I was tracking them down and was led here. Then I heard of your predicament and decided
to help you." She said, shrugging. "That would be like killing two birds with a stone won't it?"
"Yeah," Elena replied, her eyes wary. "Yes, it would." Turning back to face her horse,
she placed a foot on the saddle before she hauled herself over the horse. When she was
comfortable, she turned to face Elion.
"Well, since you're going to help me, you can take my companion's horse." She said,
nodding towards Forest's horse. Elion gave her an answering grin before climbing atop Forest's
horse.
*****
Minutes had barely passed when Elena and her guest rode out of the inn. The drive so far
had been quiet, and times like this made Elena wish she was as bold as Forest.
"Would you like me to tell you about the gang we are going to meet?" Elena could kiss
her feet then and now.
"Yes, I would. Thank you."
Elion looked at her with a weird smile on her face. Elena was sure that her response
appeared strange to her.
"We are going to the hideout of the clan. They stole something special from me, and so I
made my research about them. If not I would have mistaken them to be regular robbers. The rest
of the people in the city seem to do as much."
"What did they steal from you?" Elena asked after her pause. Elion's eyes went sad and
distant immediately after she asked the question.
"I was separated from my brother at a young age. That's the only memory I have left of
him."
"What about your parents?"
Elion replied with a shrug. "We both don't know our parents. We just know that we are
siblings. Although when people saw us, they said we look nothing alike." Her eyes lit up as she
remembered something that had probably happened in her past.
"I swore that I would find him. That was what I was doing when I was suddenly robbed."
Elena took in all she had said. After a while, she turned to face Elion.
"I'm sorry."
Elion shrugged. "I still hold on to hope though, that one day I would find my brother. Our
journey is not far. We would soon reach our destination. I trust you are capable of defending
yourself right?"
Elena kept quiet at that, remembering the last time she had been kidnapped. That was a
situation she never wanted to find herself in, and may she be damned if she didn't use her
knowledge to protect Forest, no matter how small.
"Yes, yes I can."
Their journey lasted for half a day when they finally came to an abandoned house in what
seemed like a field. The whole environment was a mess, which meant that either it wasn't used or
the owner didn't wish to maintain it. Elena hoped profusely that it was the latter. She didn't know
what she would do if she found out their destination was wrong.
The place was eerily silent as they both came down from their horse, tying them to a tree
that was hidden by a huge bush. That at least, Elena hoped, would be able to hide their horses
and prevent the kidnappers from being alerted of their entrance. Following Elion's lead, they
both made their way sneakily towards the house, walking silently against the dry branches.
Suddenly, Elion went down, causing Elena to follow her lead. When nothing was spoken for the
period they were in the ground, Elena whispered,
"What is it?"
"Can't you hear it?" Elion asked?
"Hear what?"
"The sound of giggling. I would have thought that the men here would be chaste and all
that would fill their heads are thoughts of robbery and dominion. But who would have thought
that they would also be ridden with the pleasure of mere commoners? As to go as far and even
call upon a nightwalker? Humph! Men." Elion said, shaking her head. Elena looked at her
strangely.
"Had it ever occurred to you that a woman might be part of their group? Or that the group
kidnappers are plain women?"
"What?" Elion exclaimed, looking aghast. " I doubt that a group of women would be able
to defend themselves, let alone be able to lead a band of robbers!"
"I can fight, and so can you. What makes you think it would be impossible for others?"
At that, Elion remained silent. They stayed like that for a while till Elion stood up slowly,
continuing her journey prowling towards the house. After what seemed like hours–when it was
mere minutes– they finally found an opening into the house. It was a low window with no bars,
wholly open and wide enough for them to jump through.
They did just that, not believing their luck. Elena surmised that the thought of being
attacked never appealed to the kidnappers. The room they were in was very empty. It was just
plain and painted with cement, and the room was as bland as it was cold. The floor was bare
except for the sandy feel, and immediately Elena knew that it was a storage room. It was
probably meant to keep something, but whatever that was had no importance to them as the
window was wide open without any protection whatsoever.
They slipped out of the room, Elion gauging at the front for any of the attackers and
Elena looking back in case anyone came across them. They continued like that until the sounds
of people coming to where they were forced them to enter the room closest to them. The place
was a bit dark, with barely enough light, but compared to the room Elena was kept in when she
was kidnapped, it was by far better.
Surprisingly, Elion whipped out a candle and lit it, immediately causing light to flood the
room. Elena adjusted hers to the illumination, and she held her breath immediately as her eyes
came to focus on what was in the room.
More like what surrounded the room.
The room was filled with treasures Elena doubted she would ever see in her entire
lifetime. She swallowed her gasp and watched as Elion walked towards the tables consumed with
gold, silver, and other expensive jewellery. She couldn't help but wonder again why those
kidnappers would have taken Forest and not simply robbed him of his money or, rather still, his
horse. Elion walked around the tables as if looking for something, and Elena knew immediately
that she was looking for what was stolen from her. After a few minutes, an ecstatic smile could
be heard from Elion, and Elena surmised that her search had been fruitful.
"I found it!" She said, dragging an emerald necklace out of a pile of jewellery. Once
Elena placed her eyes on the jewellery, she immediately understood why they had robbed her.
The necklace was magnificent as it was simple, and she suspected that there might even be a
more hidden meaning about it.
"Now, let's go find your friend," Elion called out, handing the necklace around her neck
and hiding it inside her shirt. They walked back to the door, and Elion blew out the candle.
Placing their eyes on the side of the door, they listened for any sound of someone coming. After
paying attention for a while, they opened the door slowly and made their way out silently,
checking both sides of the hall to ensure they weren't seen. Elena noticed as she took her position
behind Elion and walked farther down that the halls were just as bland as the room they had first
come across. There were no pictures or artefacts, only the cold feel of concrete on the floor and
plaster on the wall. They continued making their way slowly when they heard giggling coming
from a room. It was much loud now that they were closer, and it seemed like it came from
women. Severely women, Elena silently pointed out. She frowned, not knowing what a group of
women would be doing there, except her guess was correct?
Elion paused and turned to face her. Holding her hands firmly, she silently whispered.
"Now here is the plan. You are to go in there and be the distraction. Once you have their
attention all on you, I come in and take your friend, simple as that."
Elena scrunched her brows. "Why can't you be the diversion?"
"Because we need to know how many people we are up against and what they want to do
with your friend. I doubt your friend would trust me easily if I run in there claiming to help him."
Elena paused to look at her but still agreed in the end. Even if Elion betrayed her, she would be
able to save Forest by herself.
Hopefully.
Nodding her head, they slowly made their way towards the room filled with giggling
women. Once they reached, they paused to face each other, encouraging themselves silently.
While Elion stood at the back, Elena took a deep breath and swallowed, ready to carry out her act
of saving her friend.
She walked to the room with purpose, her face filled with anger and fury as she drew out
her sword, which had since hung on her back. Once she reached the room, she raised her sword,
preparing to shout but stopped at the sight that swarmed in front of her.
Forest was surrounded by women, with a huge table filled with all kinds of delicacies as
each one of them fought for his attention while feeding him. Two of them leaned brazenly by his
side, giving him grapes interchangeably, and the others either sang or massaged him.
Totally not the sight she was prepared to see.