The Source: Observer Chronicles, Book 3

Chapter 47: Like No Other

They were in awe seeing the magnitude from a boy before fleeing. The warriors ran through the open gates hearing violent thumps. None looked back, afraid, not wanting to see Reetho stand alone like Lauret did when she fought and fell.

"How is this possible?" asked Darryl, unsure why he had not gotten to such a state of power also.

"He has transcended," replied Annette, goosebumps taking her.

Their leader left their side but the warriors never thought of Reetho as a leader all that much. Until now. They thought of him as a person who saw sense and knew things most of the time when they needed it, and also, was flawed, like them.

The three, Drage, Darryl and Annette, worked their way through the maze. This time they knew their way, learning from their last visit, their adapting helping in this time.

They looked both ways and knew not to take the stairs up to the Throne Room after the stone walls that made up the maze.

"Should we split up?" asked Annette.

"We have no other option, so yes," replied Drage. "Annette, you go with Darryl and take the path to the right. I'll take the left." They all went their way.

Drage saw nothing more than the fortress wall guarding against the outside. The yellow colour of the stone reminded him of the Shadows Reetho would also be fighting. He looked to the right and noticed a statue, another behind. When he got closer, the same statues, lined up all the way down, resembled the features of Calibre Drake. Each one in a different position than the last, almost like the statues were lined up to look as if they moved from the last, another frame of movement. The line stopped as Drage followed them down this rather strange and out of place path. Drake's stationary finger pointed, looking at the face of the detailed rock before proceeding in the direction it pointed at.

"I have a feeling I will see this Calibre Drake," said the earth-wielder.

He pushed open the door pulling his weapon into his hand. The door was small, having bars covering the hole in the wall.

"How comforting that must be for visitors," said Darrylʼs voice from behind. Drage jumped and pressed his whips blunt handle against the warriorʼs neck.

"Don't do that," he exclaimed.

"We hit a dead end. This has to be the way, and from the looks of that grim door, I would guess so," said the Water-Wielder.

Annette looked around, afraid something was coming for them. "Reetho can only hold them off for so long."

Darryl and Drage looked at each other with a look as to say, ʻOKʼ.

All three went down the steps. It felt cooler than before. The place was dark, except the light that now came through the open door.

The three stood, their eyes widening as much as they would. All because of the sight of the long rows of prison cells and stench that hit them, each one of them feeling as if they had failed right then, even though that was not so.

"By the gods," said Drage, "Tom never said anything about this. Just little bits in his sleep, most of which I couldn't work out."

"Are you surprised?" said Annette, "who would want to talk about this. Hardly surprising Tom had nightmares."

"I hope heʼs OK," said Drage, "I hope they all are." He kept mentioning something called Adalas, I believe."

"The planet?" asked Annette, "I've not been there, but that has to be it."

"Letʼs push on," said Darryl, "Reetho will need our help before the end."

There were three divided rows of cells. Drage looked at the other two and they nodded, knowing without speaking what to do. Each took a different row that seemed endless. The darkness grew deeper the further they walked down, hearing each otherʼs footsteps, tapping at the stone cobbled path underneath.