Becoming a Lioness (Book 2)

Chapter 31 Inside the Cave

The sun was beginning to set and Edmund and I had received word that Susan and her team were in position. We crouched behind a few trees as we awaited word about Black Beards crew. I opened my mouth to speak, but someone clapped their hand over my mouth from behind.

"Caspian?" Edmund breathed.

"They're coming over the hill now." He whispered, his breath tickling the back of my neck. "Give it a few more seconds."

He released me slowly and pressed his back against the stones, mimicking Edmund and I's stance. The sound of my heart drumming in my ears nearly drowned out the sounds of the Pirates approaching. 

Before I knew what was happening, I was being ushered into the mouth of the cave. We hurried over to the right side of the entrance way and readied ourselves behind a stack of loose boulders, just as Susan's group was doing on the left side.

I placed my palms flat against the rocks just as I was told to do, and tried my best to steady my breathing as the Pirates entered the cave. They all filed in rowdily, and I fought with every fiber of being to not steal a glance out and spot Peter. I knew that if I saw him now it would all be over.

We all waited in silence for the Pirates to get far enough away from us that we could no longer hear them. Once the coast was clear Edmund motioned for everyone to push. All at once, the boulders tumbled out of the their piles and crashed together in the mouth of the cave, blocking the exit.

"Susan, Trumpkin, take your group and head to the tunnel on your left. It will lead you straight to the staff, and we will come around on the right. Wait for my signal to attack and whatever you do, never turn your back on a pirate." Everyone nodded and began towards the tunnel before Edmund stopped them again. "Oh, and don't forget. The only other exit is a small opening near the right corner behind the staff. It's a tight squeeze, but we've tested it and it's secure. Good luck troops."

He turned to us once the first group was gone and nodded to us. "Let's move out." I stumbled a few times, leaning on Caspian as I did so, due to the adrenaline rush making me dizzy. We made our way silently down the narrow tunnel and arrived to the room within minutes.

"Maggie," Edmund turned to me suddenly as we watched Black Beard himself approach the staff. His grayish black beard hanging low as his mouth curled into a smirk. "Keep Lucy safe in there. All I want you two to do is get Peter and get out." I nodded my head, as I was unable to do anything else, and braced myself for the battle that was about to begin.