“What was that?” asked Tamar.
“That is a krul,” replied MistyTrail. “Your aim was excellent. I did not think one arrow could fell such a beast.”
“Well,” interjected HawkShadow, “we know where to aim in the future. Let’s move onward before another one comes.”
Mistake nodded and the group continued onward. It took another fifteen minutes of walking until the jungle began to slowly turn to forest. HawkShadow softly called for a halt.
“This looks like where we should leave the bows,” the Sakovan assassin said. “If we left our bows in the forest ahead, they would be too noticeable to anyone chancing by. We should spread them out so that we all don’t stop at the same time to retrieve them. Choose a spot that is recognizable from the direction we will be traveling.”
The group spread out along the trail and chose the hiding spots for their bows and quivers. When they were done they gathered at the edge of the forest. HawkShadow studied the forest for several minutes, trying to get a feel for it. Finally, he selected two trees that they could use to locate the trail. He bent down at each tree and carved a star into the accumulation of moss at their bases. He silently pointed to the two marked trees and waited until each of the party had acknowledged the marks. When they were done, MistyTrail took the lead. She angled through the forest towards the sounds of the distant screams.
“Does this screaming go on every night?” HawkShadow whispered to Mistake.
“It does not last all night,” nodded Mistake. “We heard it several nights in a row. The rest of the time we were too far from the city to hear it. We should wait until most of it stops.”
“Most of it?” questioned HawkShadow. “Why not all of it?”
“Some of the victims continue screaming through the night,” frowned Mistake, “long after the torture has ended. When the majority of the screaming has stopped, the torturers will go to bed, their appetites sated for one night.”
A cold shiver ran through HawkShadow’s body as he tried to envision such a bizarre people. He pushed the thoughts from his mind and continued scanning the forest to memorize the route that they were taking. A short while later, MistyTrail held up her hand and froze. No one needed to ask what the problem was. The sudden sounds were loud enough that everyone immediately looked to their left.
“Hide,” whispered MistyTrail as she darted for the nearest tree.
Everyone scattered and found shelter behind large trees. A few moments later a dozen kruls appeared. They made no attempt to be quiet as they stomped noisily through the forest talking to one another. The kruls walked by, totally unaware of the invaders hiding in the forest. No one moved until the sounds faded completely.
“They talked as if they were going home after a day’s work,” commented Tamar. “What do those creatures do?”
“Many chores,” answered Mistake. “They cut down trees and haul the logs to the shipyards. They hunt for escaped elves. We even saw them turning a giant wheel in the mine where Eltor worked.”
“But they were walking away from the city,” HawkShadow pointed out.
“The kruls do not live in the cities,” replied MistyTrail. “They dwell in the forests in small groups. We do not want to stumble into such a camp.”
MistyTrail started leading again. After a half hour of walking slowly, they came within sight of the city. They gathered together and stared at the back of the temple.
“At least we won’t have to travel on the city streets this time,” commented Mistake. “The last time we came out a couple of blocks to the left.”
“This trip from the cove has consumed over an hour,” frowned Tamar. “That can be a lifetime when one is trying to escape.”
“We moved slowly to get here,” replied HawkShadow. “It would be nice if we had that luxury on the way back, but I would not count on it. The return trip will be much quicker.”
“I hope you are wrong,” replied Tamar as he looked across the wide barren area between them and the temple. “There are plenty of soldiers outside the temple. How are we going to get to it without being seen?”
“We aren’t,” frowned HawkShadow as he studied the temple. “How did you enter the last time, MistyTrail?”
“Can you see the second story balcony on the left side?” MistyTrail asked as she pointed. “It leads into a library. Mistake scaled the side of the building and dropped a rope for Eltor and me to climb up.”
HawkShadow looked at Mistake and nodded his appreciation of her skills.
“Did you leave the same way?” asked Tamar.
“Of course,” replied Mistake. “We even took the rope with us so that they would not know how we got in.”
“I would wager that they investigated thoroughly to find their weakness,” frowned HawkShadow. “What other entrances are there?”
“The main entrance is in the front,” answered MistyTrail. “The back entrance that we are looking at is the only other way in that I know of. We have never seen the fourth side of the temple.”
“What are you thinking?” asked Tamar after several moments of silence.
“I am leery about using the same entrance that was used the last time,” replied HawkShadow. “Tamar, see if you can move further to the right and get a view of the far side of the temple. I am going to check out the library balcony.”
Tamar moved silently through the forest to his right. HawkShadow faded into the forest to his left. The Sakovan assassin moved along the edge of the forest until the city buildings blocked his view of the rear of the temple. He stared across the barren wasteland at the city street across from him. He saw nothing moving. He stood erect and marched out of the forest. While he kept his head facing straight ahead, his eyes swiveled constantly for any sign of trouble. He tried to walk as swiftly as he could without appearing to be in a hurry.
When he had crossed the barren wasteland and reached the city street, HawkShadow paused in the shadows to calm his nerves. He inhaled and exhaled deeply and then marched along the street to the first intersection. He turned to the right and continued marching towards the side of the temple.
He eventually came to the end of the buildings on the street. There was a wide open area between the last row of buildings and the temple. He could just see the outline of soldiers at the front of the temple, but no one else was in sight. He marched out into the open area and stood staring up at the balcony.
HawkShadow was standing in the open for only a few moments before a squad of soldiers arrived and surrounded him. HawkShadow turned slowly and gazed at the soldiers. He recognized the squad leader by the extra stripes on his sleeves. He was also the only one of the soldiers who had not drawn a sword.
In the distant woods behind the temple, MistyTrail cringed and grabbed Mistake’s arm she pointed at HawkShadow.
“Oh, no,” Mistake said with alarm. “We are ruined before we even start.”
“What is the problem?” asked Tamar as he returned from his scouting trip and settled down next to the princesses.
“HawkShadow went to check the balcony,” answered MistyTrail. “He has been captured.”
“I was just growing fond of him,” frowned Tamar. “He moves more like an elf than many elves I know. We will have to proceed without him.”
“No,” MistyTrail replied adamantly. “We must ambush that squad before they get him into the temple.”
“And give up on rescuing the king?” retorted Tamar. “If we attack that squad, we will never gain entrance to the temple. Are you really willing to make that trade? If it were I that was captured, I would expect you to carry on without me. I would prefer that to abandoning the King of the Elves.”
“Let’s wait to see what happens,” suggested Mistake. “Perhaps they will take him to somewhere other than the temple. If so, we can rescue him after we get the king free.”