This was disconcerting. Brushing off the leg area of my robes, the specks of dust flowed off and became part of the hot air. Janilla gave Sandream’s head a pillow to rest on, even if it was moored in grime and dust.

The room lined with broken walls and the floor looked like a rocky mountain ledge. Five and Valor looked down that ledge into a deep ravine carved out of the corridor.

Fewer exit routes existed, but at least we lived. Now, we arranged our exit out of this place. The disorientation wreaked me. Things quieted down, so my body settled into its blossoming ache.

Adu came up to me and said with a dead tone, “I would ask what cruelty you have done to warrant this evil chasing you, but I fear I do not want to know. Still, you are rather calm considering this.”

I shrugged. “So are you.” Actually, this was the worst, but I was too used to shocking new developments trying to kill me. Putting on a front of strength was all I had at this point.

My eyes flicked down to the pill container attached to the belt around his waist. That could help relieve my pain and set me free from this performance of strength I've been putting up.

Adu flexed his lips and nodded his head. “I been in a fight or two, never thought I would see demons though. That I never expected.”

Valor motioned at Janilla. “Take out the crystal ball.” Janilla took my bag and produced it. Valor took it and spun the crystal ball on a cushion.

He grabbed Sandream’s wrist, pressed on a spot bringing fourth a shining blue tattoo.

I said, “Neither did I. You learned quick.” A dull light stream traveled from the top of crystal ball to her wrist.

Valor slid his finger across the glossy face of the crystal. Ten symbols floated up on the surface and they shone a scorching red.

My head seared with as much intensity.

I read them, “Seven, eight, seven, what are these numbers?”

“These are the numbers for this specific crystal. To make the connection, he must call this crystal. Five tell Wale these numbers and quickly.”

Five nodded. A raising chorus of noise emanated from outside.

“What are you doing?” I asked. Marideth and the concubine appeared in my peripheral.

Valor said, “We need to transport her consciousness to a new shell. If she dies in this one—that will be it. She will be gone.”

Marideth flexed her face as if she smelt something bad, yet her eyes watched our every move. In the distance, I heard voices and shouts.

The concubine held onto Adu tight, afraid to let go. Sandream blinked slower as we looked down at her. My throat tightened. “Janilla check the hall, warn us if anyone is coming.”

She nodded and went to her task. Marideth asked, “What are those?! Th—the, by the grace of God!”

I ignored her and was about to say something to Valor when Five interjected. “Her body is not ready yet.”

Valor cut his eyes and scowled. “It was supposed to be ready yesterday.”

Five replied, “One hour needed to ensure proper encasing and viral containment.”

Valor groaned then replied, “He does not need an hour. Tell him he has quarter an hour.”

Five nodded his head.

“What kind of malevolence is this? Son get away from there, th—”

“Please Queen, I beg your patience, this is not sorcery.” Valor gave me a ‘help me out here’ look.

There was lowly clanking thuds echoing over the rushing wind.

I cleared my throat. “Marideth, we are not safe yet. Go downstairs, we are trying to tend to my friend.”

Marideth’s face softened. “Please do not tell me you are a witch.”

“Of course not.”

Janilla said, “Armor, they are on the floor below us.” Were they the ones making that pounding groan like a crying drum?

Adu whispered something to his concubine, then asked, “Do you need time? I can stall them.”

Valor and I exchanged looks. Marideth replied, “You cannot place yourself in danger like that.”

I said, “Valor give her some exodine, she looks horrible.”

Valor opened his mouth. Sandream cut in. “No. It is fine.” She turned her head to the side and shivered. I clutched my fist in ire.

Adu replied to his mother, “We are already in danger.”

I shook my head. “I need to leave.”

“What about Sandream?” Janilla asked as she came over.

“No, you all are staying. I am leaving.”

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I got the reactions I feared. Valor stood up. “Like hell you will go on your own.”

“Okay one of you need come, I am a way better distraction than anything your mind can muster.”

Valor shook his head with a fierceness. “God almighty. You cannot be serious?”

“Humor me when I am dead, what other grand idea do you have?”

“I have an idea, let us not allow you to go on your own like some crazed fool.” He looked out the gaping hole to the open air. “Besides, I see worse to come on the horizon.”

I turned my head and my eyes widened, shoulders fell backward in dismay.

Curse my luck.

Acomn.

It had to be him.

Valor and Five poached near the hole. Beyond it stood a slew of archers, in the center stood King Aconm on the grassy bailey. An army of spear men shifted back and forth around those archers like grain in the wistful gale.

King Adu tried to talk to the Tiam soldiers only for one of them to shoot at him. Marideth cried in despair, but no time rested for such futile actions.

We removed ourselves from the opening and got back inside.

I threw the curtain on the ground and began ripping off the metal rings, attaching the rings to the belt. The bombs, I got those out and my headache pounded more than the explosion we expected. Janilla placed two in her pack and I gave her an arrow, for I kept the rest.

Sore me, any chance of escape was dismal now. We were surrounded by the King’s men on all sides. Maybe coming here was a terrible idea.

Janilla and I went to Sandream. Sandream’s face soaked with sweat. She opened her eyes at me and said, “Princess Carmine, you look unsightly.”

“I know.” I laid my hand on Sandream’s forehead. My palm warmed to the touch. She would not last long. I hoped she lasted long enough for us to transport her back to her original body.

Her voice was horribly weak. “Ugly little urchin.”

“From Princess to Urchin, you loveth your life very little I see.”

“If I am going to die. Might as well get an insult in.”

I grabbed her shoulder and pressed hard. I gave her a serious gaze. “You will live. Have some confidence in me.”

“Yes, my Lady.”

I nodded at her response and got up. “Five you ready?”

Five said, “Yes mother.”

We were going to move down to the lower floors of this building but we could not use the corridor. The corridor was destroyed and we needed to go through this damned hole.

Our idea was to use the adjacent towers and their extended walls to descend down.

Janilla walked up. Five tied around us with rope and attached them by the hip. Janilla breathed out, shaking, “Do not drop me.”

Five replied, “I will not.”

I reached the edge and the cool air flowed around me. For a second, peace embraced me, then I remembered who stared up at me. Murderers from the cradles of the blessed, yet the same blood and creed flowed through me.

Five with Janilla’s arms wrapped around his neck and legs tightly grasped his waist, jumped out.

I took out the bow and Valor said, “No one noticed who they really are. Move quick.”

My eyes peered at that pill container. Moving quick would be easier if I had those pills.

I sighed. “I will try.”

Valor gave me an annoyed glare. I heard Janilla’s scream outshining the shouts of the people below.

Five with Janilla hanging on, swiftly jumped from a window sill to flag pole.

I was tugged, for Valor pulled me back from a wayward arrow. A few more arrows came through the hole.

On the cry of a horn, corner of my eyes, I heard the crash. I inched my head out and saw the broken glass. My bow fired a thread attached arrow, hitting a corbel on the other side of the window. Cutting that, I attached it to the ring.

I fired the bow again and hitting the thread across the base of the tower.

This better worked.

I glanced at the pill container on Valor's hip.

My throat dried instantly thinking about it.

It lasted a second.

The next second I grasped the container.

I slammed the receiver and I got pulled forward. Valor's scream died on the wind. Twirling, the rush of the wind clouded out the shouts and filled me with chest-pulsing reverie.

I spun, the gut-wrenching screech cut through my thoughts, but never confused it. My feet touched the wall, I barely tapped it in my desperate effort to stay close to it.

My hands could barely grasped the wall with one hand on the pill container.

Now, my body catapulted skyward. I sliced the thread above me, pushed the container between my breasts and aimed. I fired at the extending wall. The thread pulled and rolled me as the tug on my belt cleaved deeper into the hip.

Twirling below the window, I tried to get my foot against the wall, but the thread kept spinning me.

Contrast this with the blenching pain gathering in the gut and my arms struggling to lift.

An arrow hits the wall next to me.

Come on!

I tried to lift my chest, but the discomfort dazzled me until a tug carried me higher up the wall. My hands grabbed the thread and my body swayed into a totter.

Another tug, but more powerful drew me up and over the window sill into the room.

I coughed when my arms broke my unceremonious fall on the tiled granite floor. Convulsing, the pain soared in my chest. It almost made me threw up. I controlled it. Janilla held up my face. Her smile eased my raspy breathes. “You are okay,” she said.

“Aye.” I swallowed. Moving up, I almost tumbled in this small white stone walled room. Nauseous, bile creeped up my throat as the dark brown furnitures morphed before my eyes.

Pausing, I gathered my wits by inhaling with deep drags. My hand pressed hard on my chest as I exhaled.

Those fingers of mine wrapped around something close to my heart, my only form of relief.

I opened the pill container.

Five said, “Valor said you should not take any.”

I stared then replied, “Tell Valor to bite me.” Five’s hand went on top of the container. “Mother permission to speak?”

I said, “Five, I command you to remove your hand.”

“No,” Five said.

I looked up at Five shocked. Even Janilla seemed shocked, standing back from the both of us.

I said after contracting my lips in anger. “Speak Five, forever hold your peace.”

Five said, “You said I must look out for your best interest. I cannot let you take any more of these pills.”

You got to be jesting with me right now. I replied annoyed, “Five, I am giving you a command.”

Five lifted his hand. “I have to disobey, no, I have to plead.” He went on one knee before me. “Please do not take any more, I can feel the pain from your thoughts. I understand, but I pray to you to not destroy your mind with its poison.”

What was this? I knew I asked that of him, but I didn’t expect for it come out in a situation like this. As much I understood his feelings, reality was cruel in that regard. “I will die anyway does it matter?”

“It matters to me. You, Janilla, Valor and Sandream are my comrades.”

I hesitated. Janilla came closer, but her eyes and lips quivered before my sight. She whispered, “Yes my Lady. We h-have always been—.”

I turned to her. She backed away. I folded my arms. “I—” I lost the words. What was this gut-wrenching feeling?

“You have a bright future. That is all I wanted to say. If you so require it. You may kill me for disobedience.” He bowed his head before me.

This fool. I cared little for what would happen to me in the future, because I had none. Not like I was going to live long.

Maybe that was not so bad.

I sighed, looked around at this small quaint guest room that was devoid of life outside of my two comrades, Five and Janilla.

I been through, so much pain, struggle, laughter with them. What if I did live long?

The horn bellowed again. I took my fingers and snapped it across his forehead. Five rubbed the bruised spot, while looking up at me with a confused expression.

“Five, you have not displeased me. Stand. But you will be punished. I will displease you by taking those pills, thank you very much.”

Five stood as I took two and breathed in, taking in the relief. Opening my eyes to their tense unpleased stares, I bet my future on them. “Let’s go.”