The Queen of Shadows

Chapter 21: Gae Bolg (Part 2)

Sunlight crept through the forest canopy. With a groan, Aife stirred. When she opened her eyes, she found herself lying on the forest floor, and after getting up realizes that she is also locked in a big wooden cage, without knowing how she even got here. She would've panicked had it not been for the sound of the other person inside with her also coming to. Aife turns and sees Kihli stir before getting up and walking to him to help him wake.

"Kihli? Come on, wake up."

Aife gives the boy a gentle shake on the shoulder before sitting him upright.

"Wh- What?"

Collecting himself, Kihli looks around and sees the predicament he and Aife were in. With a frightened look, he asks Aife the obvious question:

"Where are we?"

"No clue besides that we're still in the forest," Aife said before asking, "Do you remember anything?"

Kihli struggles to recall.

"Well, I remember falling asleep last night, but next thing I know, here we are. How about you?"

"Same," Aife answered solemnly. She was doing her best to stay calm and collected while feeling as afraid as the boy before her as she helped him get on his feet. "Beats me how this happened. We need to get out of here."

She then saw Kihli staring out, wide-eyed beyond the bars of the cage.

"By we, you mean-?"

In confusion, AIfe follow's the boys gaze and to her astonishment, saw a dozen other cages nearby besides the one they were currently in, filled with other children, all distressed and frightened. It didn't take long for the two kids to recognize them as all the other children from the village.

They were all being held prisoner...

Aife looked out through the bars of each side of the cage, looking around frantically to see if one particular individual was with them. And it soon became apparent...

"I don't see Scathach anywhere," she said aloud, not knowing if that should relive or worry her. "I hope she's safe..."

"And what about us?" Kihli asked her as Aife then tried prying the door to cage open with no success. "Why are we being held here? Who could-?"

"Shhh-!" Aife cut him, hearing footsteps approaching from the bushes, then whispering to the boy. "Someone's coming!"

Aife took a couple steps away from the barred door, and Kihli went up beside her. Instinctively, Aife hugs him protectively, fearing the worst.

And her fears were justified...

Two men in cloaks and masks emerged before them, followed by an armored soldier. They made rounds, passing by all the cages, scaring the other children into silence. Watching them, Kihli whispered to the girl.

"Aife... I'm scared."

Aife gives the boy a reassuring rub on the shoulder, trying to be brave.

"It's going to be okay, Kihli..."

But she knew it wasn't. Aife recognized these figures as the same barbarian tribe who attacked Her's and Scathach's village, and could only mean bad things if they were the ones holding them all captive. Her heart sank when the trio of men stopped in front of their cage and unlocked it. The two children stood frozen as the soldier entered the cage and address them.

"You two are coming with us."

"No thanks," Aife defied in a fleeting display of courage, dashed as soon as the soldier drew his sword.