The Quest

Chapter Thirty Nine - Escape

Tom looked around his cell and the hallway, trying to find something that would help him get out. Nothing. He wasn't even sure what he would've used to get out, anyway.

"Wilkie," Destru called. The crew was slowly becoming unfrozen. "There are keys hanging on the wall near your cell. See if you can reach them."

Tom went to the bar closest to the wall and stuck his arm through it. He trailed his hand along the stones, trying to find the keys that could help them with their freedom. Destru called over to him with encouragement, telling him when he was getting closer. His fingertips brushed a piece of metal. Tom closed his eyes, trying to stretch even farther. "I can't!" he finally shouted, frustrated, bringing his arm back into the cell. "I can't reach them."

Destru sank to the floor, copying Tom as he thought of other ways they could get out. He sat upright, ears perked, when he remembered something Matera had said. "Wilkie, she called you the High Priest...do you think you can do magic?"

Tom looked at his hands, eyebrows furrowed. He had seen Tess do magic a ton of times before. It didn't seem that hard. "I-I don't know," Tom finally admitted.

"Give it a try," Destru encouraged. The rest of the crew started watching Tom curiously.

Tom closed his eyes and concentrated. Trying to feel anything that could be magical inside himself. Wishing, wanting for the lock on his cell to open. Minutes passed by, but nothing happened. Tom finally shook his head. "I don't think the High Priest has any powers... I'm not even sure why she called me that," Tom admitted. His thoughts went back to the guardian that had given him the sword. He had called it the sword of the High Priest but there had been no other explanations for it. Tom hadn't seen the cat afterwards.

Tom felt his pocket grow warm, making him look down. Tess' star! "Wait!" Tom began smiling. "I have an idea.'' He pulled out the leather pouch and began whispering to it before opening it. A small glowing orb popped out of the bag, surprising Destru's crew.

"What is that?" Destru asked, an ear flopping down as he cocked his head.

"It's one of the few things Tess has left from her parents. It's some kind of magical orb that she can get to do tricks." Tom explained as he watched the orb float around near his head. Probably trying to figure out why he didn't have fur to singe.

"Will it do tricks for you?" one crewmate asked.

"I'm hoping it will," Tom admitted. It never listened well to him before. He took a breath, then looked towards the orb, offering it his hand to rest on. "Little Star," Tom started with the name Tess always called it. The orb was still flying around his head, looking for Tess he finally realized. "I need your help to get Tess back."

The orb stopped zooming around and stayed in place, almost as if it was looking at him.

"I know you miss her and I'm sorry it took so long to get you back," Tom started again, offering his hand once more. "But I need your help. I need to get out of this cage so I can rescue a crewmate. Then I can start looking for Tess and get her out of this awful place."

The orb flickered brightly as it bobbed in the air above his hand, as if in agreement with him. It floated to the keyhole and seemed to attempt to magic the lock open. The orb went through a few shades of yellow out of frustration, then floated past the bars. Tom ran up to the bars and tried to watch the orb, as it seemed to look for something to help it in the hallway.

"Keys," Tom hissed. "The keys on the wall."

The orb floated over to the keys and examined them. Destru's crew watched with bated breath as the orb made the keys float towards Tom.

"Yes!" Tom said in excitement, before realizing he was being a bit too loud. He held a hand over his mouth as they listened to their surroundings. Hoping any guards near them had heard nothing. After a few moments, Tom took the keys from the orb and opened his cell door. "Thank you, Little Star!" Tom turned to the orb and offered it the leather bag to rest in. Its light was fading a little.

"Go get Rune," Destru urged, making Tom run off down the hallway. Destru looked at the keys hanging from Tom's cell door, sighing. "I meant after you hand us the keys," he grumbled, turning towards his crew. "Alright, if anyone has stretchy limbs, now is the time to speak up."

Destrus crew shuffled their feet as they started at the ground. He sighed and sank to the floor... this would be a long day.