XI

Three shadows hurried from one alley to the next. The mud, now frozen from the recent rain and drop in temperature, crunched beneath their feet. They stopped to peek around every corner, often pausing when a sound echoed off the buildings. So far, no one knew they were there. They stopped in a small square between a few buildings, the windows dark and silent. Sam, who was guiding the group, looked between two different alleyways, seemingly unsure. Wren looked around, trying to see the city walls, but the buildings towered around them, blocking his view.

"One of these will spit us out near the mess hall, I just don't remember which one. I've never gone to the stables this way before." Mumbled Sam.

Lira, standing between the two boys, turned to look back the way they had come. She stared into the darkness for a moment, then hastily pressed her self against the nearest wall. Wren met her eyes, and recognized the distress.

"Sam!" he said, his voice a harsh whisper. "I think Lira heard something!"

No sooner had he finished his sentence than the sound of a hoof catching on a stone echoed into the square. The boys immediately flattened themselves next to Lira.

This isn't a hiding spot at all! Thought Wren desperately.

Beside him, Lira took a deep breath, and covered her eyes with her hands. Wren's heart ached, seeing her attempt what a young child might consider as hiding. But as he turned his head back to the alley, he noticed the shadows had gotten much darker...and closer. He looked down and was shocked to see the darkness appearing to wrap itself around him! The corner where they crouched had become shrouded, as if the moonlight we being blocked from shining on their specific spot.

A horse snorted to their left, and out rode three mounted guards. The first guard held a weak lantern, swinging from his grasp. The feeble orange light did little to lighten the square, let alone the trio's corner. Wren held his breath as the rear guard slowly rode past him, less than an arms length away.

"This is bloody ridiculous." Cursed the second guard. "If they came this way, we would have come across them by now."

"Shut it!" Barked the guard with the lantern.

Sam was slowly reaching down, his fingers wrapping around a stone. Ever so slowly, he raised his hand, preparing to throw.

The guards were circling around the square, peering down the side streets. A sharp clack sounded down an alley, followed by a few thumps. The guards wheeled their steeds around, hurrying to track down the culprit. As soon as they were gone, Lira let out her breath. The shadows that had blanketed them retreated, as if a breeze had blown them away.

Sam raised his eyebrows. "That was you?!"

She stared back at him silently. Wren was shaking his head in disbelief, but moved in the opposite direction of the guards. "C'mon, even if this isn't the right way, we need to put some distance between us and them."

Nodding, Sam took the lead once again, with Lira following, and Wren bringing up the rear. They continued snaking their way down the side streets, sticking to the darkness whenever possible.

Finally, when Wren was starting to think they had in fact gone the wrong way, they turned a corner and saw an open field. A main road ran between them and a fence, on beyond the field, the city wall stood. Sam glanced back at Wren, raising a clenched fist in victory.

Careful to make sure no one was watching, they hurried across the dirt road and climbed over the fence. The grass, white from frost, crackled as they moved across. Wren cringed, feeling like the sound could wake the dead. Why was it always so quiet at night around here?

They quickly reached the Stables. No lights shone from within, but they could hear the sounds of a few horses.

"Milly said there was a hole hidden behind some thick bushes. That's pretty vague." said Sam, looking up and down the length of the wall. Small trees, shrubs, and bushes were growing against the stones almost all the way down on either side. In some places, vines had slowly made their way up the wall.

The group began poking around, moving aside branches and trying to peer through the gloom.

This is taking forever! Wren through in frustration. They were so close!

Several minutes of futile searching later, Sam gave a cry. Wren, thinking he'd found it, ran to him, elated. The boy had stumbled back, tripping and landing on his rump. Wren almost laughed, until a figure emerged from the bush Sam had ben inspecting. It was taller than Wren, but skinny like Sam. It limped out of the blackness, seeming to favor one leg. It wasn't until a beam of moonlight fell on moppy red hair that Wren realized it wasn't some horrifying specter, but Mason. The bully grinned coldly as he fully emerged into the light.

Wren skidded to a halt and glared at him. "what the hell are you doing here?"

Mason turned to face him. "What, you think I wouldn't realize where you'd be? There's only one way besides the gate to get through the wall!"

He took a step back towards Sam, who still sat on the ground a few feet away. "There's no way I was gunna let you stupid brats just escape. Not after what you did!" He shouted the last few words, spit flying from his mouth. A maniacal rage burned behind his eyes. Wren quickly moved to intercept the brute as Sam started crawling backwards.

"Not so fast!" came a voice from behind Wren, and a deep burning seared through the back of his leg. He cried out and fell to one knee. Zane had appeared behind him from the bushes, his wicked knife in his hand, now with Wren's blood coating it.

Wren pulled himself to his feet, slowly. He could stand, although it hurt like hell. Out from the bushes came two more thugs, one walking straight toward Lira.

"Careful!" barked Zane. "She's a tricky one!"

Zane turned back right in time to see Wren's fist, colliding square with his jaw. The younger boy kept moving forward, bringing his other fist up into Zane's stomach. The boys began grappling, Wren trying to keep Zane from swinging his knife.

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Sam meanwhile, had risen to his feet. Mason pulled out his own knife and moved to attack. The small boy leapt aside, easily keeping outside of Mason's reach. He danced around the bully, who swung wildly. Looking past Mason, Sam could see the two other boys moving to restrain Lira. One reached out, painfully grabbing her upper arm.

"C'mon now pretty thing, don't do nothin' to make me ruin that pretty face." He said, grinning.

Lira reached up, placing her small hand over his face. Her eyes lit up brightly, and suddenly the boy was screaming. The sickly smell of burnt flesh permeated the air. He threw himself away from her, whisps of smoke trailing from his face. Wailing in agony, he fled into the stables.

The other bully looked at her in shock, his eyes wide.

"What-" He was cut off, as Lira's stern gaze turned in his direction. The boy raised his hands up defesively and backed away. "They didn't tell me you was a mage!"

Lira took a step forward, he eyes blazing. The bully quickly looked around for help and seeing none, bolted.

Distracted by the screaming, Sam swore as Masons knife slashed through his cloak, cutting open his shirt and grazing his chest. The gang leader followed the attack, swinging back around. Sam tumbled to the side, moving closer to the bushes. His previously injured back cried out at the sudden and dramatic movement. Mason stalked closer, grinning as he saw the pain on Sam's face. He raised his hand, the blade pointing down, but before he could plunge weapon into Sam, something darted out from the shrubs, snaking around Masons wrist. The two boys stared at it in silent confusion for a moment, then Mason was yanked off his feet, yelping He was pinned against the wall, vines wrapping around his limbs.

Sam's mouth dropped. He looked over and saw Lira, her eyes glowing, one hand extended towards Mason. She was panting heavily, and looked exhausted, but she had one again saved his life.

Wren had actually managed to knock the blade from Zane's hand, and had brought the boy to one knee. For all of Zane's fury, he turned out to be not much of a brawler. Wren brought his knee up, crunching into his opponents face. Zane sprawled out on the cold ground, where he stayed, moaning faintly

Wren looked around, panting.

"Wow, sis...looks like you didn't need much help after all."." he said in disbelief.

Lira teetered where she stood, looking like she was about to collapse. Wren hobbled over, placing her arm around his shoulder to help hold her up.

"Let's find this hole and get the hell out of here." he grunted, slowly walking Lira closer to Sam.

"Well, since Mason was hangin' out around here, I bet we're close." replied his friend.

The injured siblings slowly moved over to where Mason was pinned to the wall. He struggled against the plants, swearing and cursing at the younger boys. Wren gently set his sister down to the grass, then began helping Sam dig through the foliage.

Mason started screaming, but not at the trio. "Hey! They're over here! Help!"

Sam whirled around in panic to see multiple horsemen galloping across the field, rapidly approaching.

"Oh shit. Wren! we need to go, right now!"

The boys dug through the vegetation in panic, Mason cackling all the while.

Finally, Wren shoved aside a prickly bush, heedless of the thorns, to see near the ground and almost invisible, a hole in the wall. He shouted in joy, and turned to tell Sam.

The lead horseman was nearly on them now, a weighted net trailing in his fist. Lira had once again risen to her feet. She outstretched her hands, and her cloak billowed out behind her, her hood knocked form her head. A blast erupted from her hands, passing through the first rider and spreading out. The guard was thrown from his saddle, the horse rearing up on it's hind legs. The other horsemen struggled to control their mounts, who began bucking and kicking wildly. Lira slowly turned around to stare and Wren, then collapsed to her knees.

"Lira!" he cried, struggling to detach himself from the clinging thorns.

Sam started to move to help her, then cried out in panic, and started sprinting. Wren looked up to see the now riderless horse, running full speed right at Lira. Sam had removed his cloak and knapsack, and was moving fast, but he didn't know if he would get there in time.

"Lira move!" he shrieked. She feebly started to rise to her feet, but much to slowly. Sam put his head down and pumped his legs as hard as he could. He closed the distance, but the horse was practically right on top of her.

Sam leapt forward, knocking Lira off her feet and out of the way. The crazed animal charged on seemingly unaware of it's surroundings. Sam tumbled beneath it's hooves, rag dolling along with it. His arms splaying out it horrible directions. Wren screamed his name in horror. His friends body came to rest not far from him, as the horse continued to gallop past them, rounding the corner of the stables.

Wren fell to his knees and crawled to Sam. The boys broken body lay in a pool of blood. Bones protruded from his chest, and a hoof had clearly come down on the side of his head. Wren's voice broke as he wailed, pulling on his hair and beating the ground.

This is all wrong! It's not supposed to happen like this! Wren's thoughts spiraled in his head.

He felt a touch, and looked up to see his sister. She looked ragged, with heavy bags under her half closed eyelids. She swayed in place, using Wren's shoulder to stay up as much as comforting him. He rose, embracing his sister and squeezing her tight. From behind them, he could hear the guards, who seemed to have recovered.

"Nobody bloody move!"

Wren pulled himself away from his sister. "Lira, go, through the hole! I'll be right behind you!"

She darted into the bushes, while Wren snatched up Sam's dropped rucksack. He glanced one more time at the mangled remains of his friend, then dropped to his belly and squeezed into the hole.