It had been four hours since Frederick had last seen Aurora. I know she said bad things, and so did I, but that would not make her do this, would it? I mean two days ago she lost a lot of allies and companions. Saltriana’s death might be taking its toll on her. Jack tapped him on the shoulder.

‘I am sure she is fine,’ Jack reassured him, ‘Come on, do not let your food go to waste. Do not waste a good moment, just for her.’ Frederick did not even look at what was on the plate.

‘Hey,’ The bartender grabbed Val by the collar, ‘You’re the finest-wine girl. You really thought I would not recognise you? Hey lads, look who I have here, fine wine girl. How much did you owe me? I think it was like 957 Kyrt. You better pay up, ‘cause you’re not gettin’ out this time.’ He locked the doors and windows.

‘Shite.’ Val checked her pockets. There was not a single coin in there. She would pay with her life. I am never getting drunk again, Val thought. The bartender strangled her.

‘Don’t you have any money?’ The bartender mocked her, a move that infuriated Val and made her want to kill him.

‘No, and even if I did, I would not give you a single Kyrt.’ She slowly spoke with a purple face. She was losing air, and finding it more difficult to breathe.

‘I guess you will pay with your life.’ The bartender choked her. If Frederick or Jack did not help her, she would be dead in just seconds.

‘No, you will.’ Jack spoke, making the bartender turn and face him. Val looked at his hands. Purple light flickered from his palms.

‘Magic! Sentries, there is a magic user in here!’ The bartender called out, but Jack had already released the magic. The purple light collided with the bartender’s stomach and killed him. Val let go of the hand around her neck and thanked Jack.

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‘’Tis no problem, but we must get going. If he called the Sentries then they could be here any second. Get a weapon.’ Val did as instructed and picked up a glass bottle of ale. Frederick did the same. They stood in the centre of the tavern. All of the drunkards stared at them. There was a loud thump on the door, then another. The thumping stopped. A man went to investigate and looked through the door.

‘Nobody is ‘ere-’ A spear pierced through his head, and the Sentries kicked the door down, even though it was bolted. The Sentries flooded through the door, more of them increasing every minute. Even with magic, Jack knew he could not vanquish them all. He needed an escape.

‘Follow my lead.’ Jack jumped behind the counter and took a glass from the collection of alcohol. Frederick and Val were confused as to why he was picking up a bottle at this moment, but later on, it all made sense. The chequered floor they had sat on, opened, to reveal a hidden passage underneath.

‘You genius!’ Val, Jack and Frederick jumped down the hidden passage and ended up in a sea cave. Luckily, the tide had not come in, leaving them time. The Sentries peered at them.

‘What are you waiting for?’ The Sentry pushed the other one down and jumped down the hidden passage. Jack could only do one thing. He lifted a boulder using magic and put it in front of the tunnel they had used to get into the sea cave.

‘That will buy us some time.’ Jack swam underwater and headed out into the ocean. Val and Frederick both did the same. It reminded Val of when she had fallen from the dragon. Thinking the same thing would happen again, Val swam in the opposite direction, and back into the sea cave.

‘Where are you going? The Sentries will catch you.’

‘I hate water, ever since I fell from your dragon, I cannot swim in it. I am too afraid, too scared. I know it’s a stupid thing to be afraid of.’ Val confessed.

‘Not at all, fear only makes us stronger.’ There was a silhouette behind Val whose shadow loomed over Val. He took down his hood. It was the Emperor. He took Val by the arms and dragged her back into the sea cave.

‘Let her go!’ Jack swam vigorously towards the girl, for he could not lose her too. He tried to use magic; it was no use. The Emperor was clad in Gerisian silver, a metal that magic could not do anything to.

‘You think I am as foolish as my Sentries!’ He laughed maniacally, yanking Val by the hair. She kicked and struggled, yet she could not escape.

‘Brother, leave her be! She has done nothing to you! Please put her down, I beg you!’ Frederick tried to reason with his brother.

‘I know that, but she could. And that is a risk I am not willing to take!’ The Emperor took her back into the sea cave. Jack conjured a spell. He aimed at the Emperor and released it. The magic hit the Gerisian armour that the Emperor was wearing and reflected at them. Both of them dodged the blast, but what they did not know was that the spell was active. Frederick and Jack suddenly were pulled by the tide, and could not escape.

‘What did you do?’

They were sucked into the whirlpool. Jack saw nothing but water surrounding him. He was in the whirlpool. There had to be a way he could both of them out. Jack searched his mind for a spell and found a transportation spell. He uttered the words, and held Frederick’s hand, as they were transported into the unknown.