Levtirest Book 1: Intrus

Chapter 8: Rescue Mission

Victoria immediately began screaming, "Adafwyne!!!" Adafwyne came running to her side, and she was just as shocked as Victoria, who was about to pass out. She kept herself as composed as she could and asked, "What happened here?"

Adafwyne shook her head. "I do not know, but we must find Emily." Just then, Kunesuch began calling for Adafwyne. They went to Nalicir's room to see that it was in the same state as Emily's. "Emily's room looks just like this. I have a feeling they were both taken captive." Victoria was about to completely panic. Her best friend was now a captive of people who hated Adafwyne and had been trained to treat their prisoners horribly, so she didn't want to imagine what they'd do to Emily.

As if things couldn't get any more hectic, a man came running up to them, exclaiming, "Queen Adafwyne, something is happening! The West gates are opening, but we did not authorize it!"

Adafwyne stated, "That must be them trying to escape. We must hurry!" They rushed to their Darem and hopped on without even throwing on any tack. Just as they passed through the gates, they spotted a group of men on Black Darem, just like the ones who had chased them up the Frigid Mountains. They spotted what appeared to be two prisoners on two of the Darem.

In her gut, Victoria knew and exclaimed, "Emily!" The three of them, plus the other soldiers riding behind them, pushed their Darem as hard as they could, hoping to reach the others. After a while, though, it began to look hopeless. Victoria then yelled at the Darem, "Dretilu!" or "Hurry!" Suddenly, the Darem began to gallop at an even faster pace. No one knew how they were suddenly able to gain such a burst of speed. Adafwyne thought.

She then exclaimed, "Victoria, I think you might be an animal whisperer! Animals are capable of doing what you say, as if you hypnotize them!" Victoria began to think, and she quickly thought of a way to use that.

The moment they reached the other soldiers, as they were getting prepared for a fight, Victoria yelled, "Frilu!" Just as she yelled that, all of the Darem seemed to suddenly stop. The men on the black Darem were caught off guard so badly that some even fell off their Darem. The men were quickly surrounded and forced to surrender. Victoria stated, "That was... surprisingly helpful."

"What would also be helpful is untying us," Emily stated. Victoria laughed, and she released them while the others arrested the men. Emily then asked, "How did you do that?"

Adafwyne approached them and stated, "I believe it is her talent. Other than optimism and determination, I believe she is an animal whispered." Nalicir and Emily were shocked.

Emily asked, "I take it that that's not normal around here?"

Kunesuch replied, "The complete opposite. Animal whispering is one of the rarest talents in Levtirest. The next rarest talents are... I believe it's magic and controlling things with your mind. If I remember correctly, that is how Kinler, Adafwyne's ancestor, won the battle. He was an animal whisperer and kept the enemy from being able to use their war animals in the fight."

Emily stated, "Fascinating. Can we go back to Reichlregni, now? I'm seriously hungry."

"I agree," Nalicir replied. The group went back to Reichlregni and ate breakfast while the men were taken to the prisons. As they ate, it became clear that something was wrong. Nalicir seemed unusually shaken. Adafwyne asked if there was something bothering him other than the attempted kidnapping. Nalicir hesitantly replied, "Yes. Something... surprised me when Emily and I were kidnapped. I did not recognize most of the men, but... there was one who... I definitely recognized."

Adafwyne asked, "You did? Who is it?"

Nalicir looked down and quietly replied, "My older brother." Everyone exchanged glances, all in shock. None of them even thought about the idea that Nalicir had a brother. Nalicir went on to say, "He was riding the Dara that... had Emily on it." Everyone remained silent. Adafwyne and everyone else felt it best to move past that subject and continue with breakfast. After breakfast, Adafwyne continued to teach Victoria and Emily about sword fighting, and they continued to learn as quickly as they had before.