The kidnapper then hummed to himself a bit and walked around towards the back of the room where another door stood. He opened the door and headed in. Inside was a small quiet room, heavily insulated with another door on the other side. Shutting the first door behind him, he headed across the room to the next door. Immediately, sound swelled and he shut the door behind himself quickly. Can’t let that out! He wandered around the room, looking down a hallway with similar boxes with heads sticking out into the hallway. Walking down the hallway he had, he found two possible locations, the girls there with lolling heads, insensate. Still mostly full… though these two… about done… Maybe swap her out… He stopped his thoughts and pulled open the top panel to look down inside, reaching a hand in to press against the woman’s belly inside. Ooh… nope, not yet. Still ripe. Next. He clamped the panel back down and checked the other girl as well, hand against belly. Nope… ripe, too… probably last one. Do it tonight then… He nodded to himself. Hmm… can keep her in the other room for now.

He shuffled back to the room where the young Acokzau still dozed and reached down to grasp the handles on either side of the box. Heaving, he lifted the entire thing and dragged her into the other room. He frowned when he made it inside and grumbled.

“Always have to deal with the heads… need to fix this freakin’ box! Make it…”

His grumbles trailed off as he very carefully set the box down as the Acokzau’s head tilted backwards and was the first part to hit the ground. He lowered the box carefully while also pulling forward, making sure her head wouldn’t be trapped under the box. Can’t have her dead!

Closing the outer door, he opened the inner then went back to the box and pulled her in, shuffling her into the corner of the inner room, deep within the warding runes. He settled the box carefully, again having to be careful of her head and neck, then took a few moments to reshuffle her body, making sure she was securely placed inside and wouldn’t be getting out. He stared for a bit, nodded, then finally relaxed a bit, a small smile coming to his lips.

“Right. Let’s enjoy the festival!”

He turned and left the room, heading back out to the original table where the remains of the ritual still remained. Ooh.. yeah… gotta burn the stuff! He came upon the table, then froze. The stick he’d used to wash the blackjack and the knot on the girls skull with potion had a tiny bit of its end sticking out of the ritual line. His panic returned immediately.

He cursed wildly, unconcerned with the simple noise of his language as he raced to the ritual table. Grabbing the stick, blackjack, and ritual powder cautiously, he folded all of it in on itself in a deft display of wind magic before scrabbling from the room. Gotta go! Now! Now! The alleyway echoed with the thumping of pounding feet, whispered curses, and the heartbeat of a single terrified man.

* * *

“Where’s Kilniara?”

Gwenvair shuddered, her whole body jolting so much Joe could feel it through her arm on his. Her leap was enough to catch his attention in the corner of his eye. She’s still just out enjoying the party, right? But… why is Gwenvair… He immediately responded in a knee jerk reaction, sending out a monster sense as he sensed Gwenvair’s agitation.

“She’s not here? She probably out enjoying the party, right?” Joe replied, remaining calm.

Zilnek caught their response and glanced over without much worry, “She’s not with you, either?”

Joe shook his head, “No, she’s not.”

Zilnek shrugged, “She’s supposed to meet us for supper. She said so, but … she’s probably just finishing off an Epic.”

Gwenvair had withdrawn after her initial agitated reaction, closing her eyes and falling into herself somehow. Joe found it odd, but thought maybe she was trying to sense her in some odd way so allowed her the space she needed. Joe shrugged and headed over to where the others sat, joining them in the living room on one of the more comfortable chairs.

Zilnek sighed, “Hope she comes soon. I’m hungry,” Zilnek slowed then quickly glanced around before whispering to Joe quickly, “And the Matriarch is here!”

Joe glanced around, but didn’t see her then shrugged. She’ll be here when she needs.

“What did you guys do today?” Joe asked, looking at Garendell and Zilnek.

Garnedell grinned, “The Epics! They were so amazing! I really can’t wait until tomorrow when we can see y…”

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Gwenvair jerked awake, panic in her eyes as she turned to Joe, her emotions well on their way to be out of control, “Joe. She’s supposed to meet us… We must… she is … we must find her! We must save her! I… I… she’s not…”

Joe felt his own concern spiking badly, but got himself under control as best as possible, interrupting her panic, “She’s probably just late coming back…”

“No, Joe! Something’s happened! I can feel it.”

Joe began to calm her fears when he saw Zilnek and Garnedell both reacted very badly. He paused seeing how they acted and Zilnek interrupted Joe’s response.

“You sense it?”

Gwenvair nodded, “I didn’t know before… it was … but I know now. It’s something bad! We must do something. Now!”

Garnedell frowned as he came forward, “It’s your first.”

Gwenvair nodded, “Yes, but I am certain! We must go, now! There’s still a chance.”

Joe took in everyone’s attitude and nodded. OK. Just… OK!

“Let’s go,” Joe declared firmly, focusing on action rather than waiting even if he was soon feeling a bit panicked himself. His words were steady and his movement controlled but his fear spiked as his heart pounded in fear. Something… something is happening! And they know… What’s… Gwenvair with some super sensory thing going on… and they trust her… so… right… focus!

When Joe opened his mouth to ask, Gwenvair interrupted him, “All staff. Out now! Clan’s needs! Now!”

With the cry, the house seemed to rumble and dozens upon dozens of people appeared in the great hall, more than Joe ever thought possible and many more than he thought were in the house with him. Where did they all come from… where are they all hiding? How have I not… His mind wrenched back to the moment.

“… to the Matriarch and have her inform her immediately. We will be going to the clan wall gate. Call on the Seekers! We will be at the gate, have them Seek for us from there. Go. Now.”

The room exploded in activity and suddenly emptied, but the moment of rest he was hoping for did not materialize as Gwenvair immediately led the others out of the room at a jog, Zilnek and Garnedell zipping out after her. Joe found himself left behind and quickly followed after. Joe jogged after them and as he thought to question them, he noticed the fear in their eyes and the downright panic in Gwenvair. Right, now’s not the time.

“Gwenvair. Gwenvair!” Joe shouted when Gwenvair did not respond, but her look back at him while still in a full jog was one of fear and Joe sprinted to catch up to her and grasped her hand.

“Gwenvair. Slow down. Slow down!”

Gwenvair pulled against him, refusing to slow down, “We have to go. Now! We can’t wait! It's… it’s bad now.”

“Gwenvair. You’re making it worse!” Joe breathed deep, calming himself as well, “Slow down. Let me tell you another strange saying of my people. ‘Go slow to go fast.’”

Gwenvair blinked at that, shocked out of her worry for a moment only to rage, “What does that even… Kilniara is lost! She is lost! We must find her now, or something… something is happening! We hav… why do you speak foolishness when she is lost!”

Joe held himself back when he saw Gwenvair’s tears begin to fall. Well… she really… That moment struck him in crystal clarity, and the epiphany that struck him resonated like a rock in a pond, but instead of a rock into a perfectly flat pond which disturbed it into ripples, the rock struck a pond utterly agitated. The ripples that rolled outward left a perfect mirror in its place, clearing the pond of everything and left only a perfect memory. She’s… she really cares! She’s… she’s good for Kilniara. Real good.

The moment of epiphany, as profound as it was, lasted only a moment, with only clarity left behind. Joe saw Gwenvair’s tears, her agitation, the shivering worry that left her whole body shaking, and immediately stepped forward and wrapped her in his arms tightly, holding her closely.

“Gwenvair. It’s OK. We will find her. But you are being wasteful. That is what the saying means. If we want to find her quickly, we must make sure to be cautious and careful in all we do. To go fast, to find her quickly, we must be certain of what we are doing, or we could miss important things. You did well, but let us do it deliberately. What is something we can do now? Can you think of anything else that might help us? You do not have the skills, but maybe someone else does, so think of who you have.”

Once Gwenvair was in his arms, she was unable to hold herself back and tears began to flood into his chest. Joe held her and no longer spoke, shushing her as he held her. She remained in his arms for only a few moments before pushing herself away and looking up at him.

“Thank you, but… we must go. If I don’t, I will fail. I can’t be… My Queenship will fail.”

She didn’t hear me at all… Joe kept his frown hidden, “Yes we shouldn’t waste time, but we must go wisely and well. And you won’t fail. This isn’t on you. This is on those who have harmed her, if any have. Do not blame yourself for another’s evil or for an accident. Let’s wait at the gate for the seekers? They will… help?”

Gwenvair’s deep breath was interupted by shuddering sighs and she nodded, “They can help find her.”

“Then let’s go to the gate, and this time, remember the questions I said. Maybe you can’t help or do anything, but you are a clan leader. Who here can help? What do we know? Are there any other clues?”

Gwenvair nodded and this time, they walked briskly but with much more control to the gate, arriving there about ten minutes later. When they got there, they found a large force of gathered men and women awaiting them. Joe nodded to them but Gwenvair took over, quickly calling for people, offering orders, asking questions, and seeking help, proving much calmer than she was before. Joe listened on, and while things were getting done, he could only find himself growing agitated.

Without the added distraction of helping Gwenvair calm down, he found his own agitation spiking. He couldn’t calm himself since he felt useless and couldn’t act productively to actually do something. His mind swirled with fear and worry, his thoughts desperately attempting to find solutions. Right… time to listen to my own advice.

He took a deep cleansing breath, but still, his mind spun, his thoughts whirling faster and faster until he found himself growing agitated again, his body vibrating. He struggled to keep himself controlled, but soon his feet began tapping, then his heels came off the ground and he found himself hopping a bit onto the balls of his feet. His knees bent and he soon found himself unable to stand still.

He took a step, walking, but found himself unable to find a meaningful destination and he stopped, turning to face another direction. He took a few steps, but again, as he wasn’t able to find a useful direction, he had to stop. He paused for a moment, hopping in place, twisted, spun in place for a few moments, then turned again to look at Gwenvair. OK. This isn’t as easy as I thought…