Cara walked down the cold wet stone, descending the dark dungeons. “It was cruel for anyone to be forced into a place like this.” she thought. “The stench and stuffy air made her sick to the stomach.

Xerath and his army had left only moments ago, along with Rayman, when she immediately made her way to Jebbin. He was being held far below the palace, in a cell which would be hard for such a man of his age.

Creeping down further into the pitch black, her only light was the torch in her hand, guiding her through the darkness. The stone hallways seemed to creep inward, encasing her into the depths of the earth. She took a moment to take a breath as the beginning stages of claustrophobia began to set in.

Forcing herself forward, Cara reached the cell in which Jebbin was being held. There was no one on guard, which she immediately thought was odd. An instant later she jammed her foot into metal, almost tripping her.

Peering to the floor, she gazed in horror at a dead body. It was the guard on watch, two of them. Their throats cut, sticky blood pooled around them. She gasped and almost screamed, nearly slipping on the bloody stone.

“Jebbin!” Cara yelled.

Shoving the wooden door open, Cara scanned the small room and saw a shadowy figure slumped in the corner. It was Jebbin.

Screaming in horror, Cara rushed to him, dropping her torch to the ground.

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“Jebbin! No! Jebbin! No! No. No!” Cara burst into tears. “Jebbin please. Don’t leave… don’t leave me.”

Tilting his head up, Cara looked into his dull dead eyes, his body, cold to the touch. Clasping his shirt, she cried into his chest, smearing blood on her forehead.

“I’m sorry.” she cried, tears pouring down her face. “Forgive me.”

Moments later, three soldiers rushed to the door behind her, taking in the scene.

“Your majesty?” one said.

Looking to their feet, they saw the two dead guards then to her again.

“What happened, my lady?” another asked. “Did you see who did this?”

“No,” she whispered.

“Please… m’lady. Come away from him.” one said, trying to comfort their queen.

Cara blinked away tears, then saw Jebbin’s hand, slumped to the floor. His hands were covered in sticky blood and he had written something on the stone. Pulling his hand aside, Cara saw the writing which he had drawn with his own blood. Instant anger and utter fury crept into her heart.

“Get a messenger hawk immediately!” she yelled.

One bolted away down the hallway, as the other two shifted the bodies away from the door.

“What is it m’lady?” one asked.

“It’s a last warning. Even as he died, he tried to protect us.” Cara whispered.

Standing, Cara took one last glance at Jebbin’s slumped form, the image would be burnt into her memory forever.

“Make sure you give him a proper burial,” Cara said softly. “Those two men as well.”

“Of course, your majesty.” one soldier bowed. “But may I ask where you will be going?”

“Unari,” Cara answered, barely a whisper. “They’re all in danger.”