Noan set a fast pace towards the Elani above ground and charged straight into the first without even stopping. Horses and people alike screamed. Behind him the slavers halted their horses and whirled about to face a wave of freed Elani running up from one of the lower fields.

The Elani slaves were fighting out of desperation. They'd only just been freed and they'd fight for their lives to stay so. An Elani woman, one of the newcomers, had gathered a group of the strongest-looking slaves and set about trying to get as many men off their horses as possible and when they were to the ground, she ordered her people to steal the horses for themselves. Now four of the black horses were already in Elani hands, bucking and braying like wild things.

Noan ground his teeth as a freed slave whirled his chains and sent another Lamya to the ground.

"Sundi!" he cried, searching the faces for his right–hand man. "Stop that woman from taking any more horses. I'm going after Sloane McKenzie!"

His horse danced excitedly beneath him as Sundi ran to attack the Elani woman. Happy that Sundi had heard his command, Noan dug his heels into the horse's flanks and turned the animal towards his enemy.

#

Saoirse searched the abandoned underground labyrinth of tunnels and cells for White Cloud. She couldn't find him anywhere and although every now and again she came across the few Elani who were still confined in cells, none of them seemed to know where he was either.

She paused and looked behind her, back down the dank tunnel she had just come. Maybe White Cloud was in a different set of cells. Those under the seedling field perhaps? No, she was sure the farmer was there somewhere. She took a right and carried on her way.

#

Sorrel had waited years to see the towns of the Kingdom, but they moved quickly, kept their heads down, and she was too tense to take anything in anyway.

"Are you sure this is the way?" Lachlan grumbled as he trod in yet another sludgy mess as they hurried on their way through the town's alleyways.

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"This is the quickest and safest route to the castle but if you wanna go the nice clean way and bump into lots of friendly Lamya then we can take a left 'ere and 'ope for the best," Mariko replied, as she pulled up a piece of smelly damp sheet that was strung across the alley from wall to wall so that Gaeshi could duck underneath.

Sorrel ushered Cloud through the gap. "Until we reach the castle we follow Mariko. I suggest we don't talk and save our energy." She ducked beneath the sheet and followed the others. Mariko quickly went next, letting go of the sheet and causing it to flop wetly against the stone wall before Lachlan could pass through. He cursed and came through, catching up with the others.

Sorrel waited until they were all together before she started on her way again. She turned to Cloud and smiled as a little flare of triumph danced in her chest. "We're nearly there! It's almost over now."

Cloud nodded but said nothing. He was too busy concentrating on putting one foot in front of the other and avoiding as much mess as possible.

Sorrel glanced at Leif and he looked at her with a grim smile on his face. He gave her the slightest of nods. She could've cried. 'Don't worry,' he told her in that look, 'Mum will be safe soon.'

#

"Sundi is dead!" came the cry from the slavers. This pronouncement was followed by a momentary lull in the noise of the battle before someone screamed and the sounds started again.

Saoirse heard the slavers' cry as a muffled shout sounding through the earth and down into the underground cells. She silently applauded whoever had done the deed and carried on down the passageway.

To her right three Elani slaves were rattling the bars in their eagerness to be free. She stopped, hurried to find the right key on the chain she had found, and quickly opened the cell door.

"Quickly, out," she said, ushering the Elani from the cell. "It's time to fight for your freedom! Honovi is in charge, do whatever she tells you. Go!"

She pushed the last Elani from the cell and pointed the right direction for them to take. They started down the passage and then they stopped as another Elani appeared in front of them.

"Saoirse, Honovi is dead!" It was Maemi. Her hair, usually so neat, was dishevelled and loose from its plait, and her hands were cut and bloodied.

The three Elani hesitated and looked back and Saoirse clenched her fists angrily. "Then you take over!" she cried out. "Take these three to the surface to help."

Maemi seemed doubtful and her eyes flicked from the three Elani in front of her and then past them to Saoirse.

The young Elani shook her head slightly and then cried, "Saoirse, no I can't! I don't know what to do! You must—"

"Maemi!" She screamed at the girl and instantly felt bad for doing so but she had other things to attend to. She held up her hands. "Just... help the others. I've got to find White Cloud."

Maemi bit her lip, nodded briefly and then to Saoirse's relief, started herding the three Elani to the surface.

"Good girl," she whispered, and she turned to continue her search for the farmer.