Michrinor: The Fates of The Heirs

Chapter 21 - The Great Escape

The sun dipped low on the horizon, casting long shadows across the rugged landscape as Ava's body ached from the brutal ride. Every jolt of the Bulkru's stride slammed her against the rough fabric of the sack, bruising her arms and legs. Dim light filtered through the coarse weave, just enough to keep her aware of her surroundings, but not enough to offer any hope. She strained her ears, desperate for the familiar sounds of her companions, but all she heard was the labored breathing of the brute carrying her and the heavy footfalls that echoed through the silence.

The Bulkru slowed, his steps becoming more deliberate. Relief and dread battled within Ava as the pace lessened. When the creature came to a stop, she was unceremoniously dropped to the ground. The impact forced the air from her lungs, leaving her gasping in the confined space of the sack. Disoriented and aching, she could only make out vague shadows through the fabric, so she focused on listening, desperate for any clue about what awaited her.

Footsteps approached from all directions—some fast and purposeful, others slow and lumbering, like predators circling their prey. "Kreeg! You get the Naam, eh? The one queen want?" a rough voice barked, thick with a crude, guttural tone.

Ava's heart raced. They knew who she was, and worse, the queen knew she was here. The realization sent a chill down her spine.

"Got her," Kreeg grunted, his voice as rough as the scales that scraped against her skin when he grabbed her. "Stuffed in the sack. She stink."

Ava's anger flared despite her fear. Stink? She bit her lip to keep from shouting back, knowing it would only make things worse.

"Good. Show me," another Bulkru growled. Rough hands yanked her from the sack, and she was lifted off the ground by her arms, the Bulkru's scaly grip biting into her skin. She forced herself to remain still, eyes locked on the creature's emotionless black gaze. There was no pity, no hesitation—she was nothing more than cargo to him, a thing to deliver. It was clear these brutes cared nothing for her well-being, only that she arrived at her destination intact. She needed to think, to come up with some way to escape before they reached wherever they were taking her.

"This puny thing? This danger to queen?" one of the Bulkru sneered, eyeing her with disdain.

Ava glanced around, counting five of the towering creatures, each as menacing as the next. Nearby, a reptilian beast with a saddle was tethered to a tree, its yellow eyes watching her with the same cold indifference as the Bulkru. The queen must know something—something Ava didn't. The prophecies spoke of a great foe she was destined to defeat, but how? Why would the queen fear her? She was just a teenager, out of her element and far from home. The whole situation felt like a mistake.

"Shut mouth, Qwom!" another Bulkru snapped, his voice rough and brutish. "Queen says she's bad, then she's bad. We don't know what she do, but we follow. Got it?" The others grunted in agreement, silenced by their leader's command. "Tie her good. We camp here. Swamps tomorrow."

The Swamps. The word sent a shiver down Ava's spine. She had seen pictures of swamps in books, and none of them looked like places she wanted to visit. If the swamps back home were filled with snakes and alligators, what horrors could these hold? She forced herself to stay calm, knowing that panic would only make things worse.

Two of the Bulkru roughly bound her hands and feet, then shoved her against a tree. They paid her no further attention as they set about making camp, gathering wood and preparing a fire. She watched as they skewered lizards and fish on sticks, roasting them over the flames, their conversation low and guttural. They made no move to offer her food or water, and she decided it was best to remain silent, hoping to avoid drawing their attention. All she could do was pray that the Naitseers would find her before it was too late.