The Root of Tomorrow

Chapter 4: Escaping Everdale

Tamas and the woman left his chambers and hurried down the dark hallway. They headed towards the throne room, where they would then exit the palace. Considering the recent events, Tamas was exhausted and struggled to keep up with his "watcher". His breaths became quick and ragged, and he began to turn a dark red from exhaustion.

"Hey, what's your name, Watcher?" Tamas had stopped to catch his breath and realized he didn't even know the woman's name.

     "That's not important right now", the woman said. "What's important is getting you out if the city so you don't get killed."

But Tamas had more questions."Why are the Kodorians invading us? What about the Treaty of Three Kings?"

"Treaties can be broken," the woman replied. "They waited until your army was at its weakest, then they struck. They killed thousands if your men in the Red Desert, just north of Cheppling. Then they headed south, destroying everything in their path."

     "So what are we going to do about it?" Tamas had a feeling the woman was interested in protecting him, not all the people of Cresia.

     "I'll take you to the Black Hills," the woman said. "We'll hide there and wait until this invasion is over."

     "What about my family? My friends?"

     The woman stopped and turned to Tamas, "Acceptable collaterel. All that matters is you stay alive."

     "What! You don't care about my family? How can you...how can you just abandon them?!? To me it seems all you care about is keeping me alive so you won't die!"

Tamas dashed towards his brother's quarters and slammed open the door. Edward was in his bed with little clothing on with two elf girls, one on either side, feeding him grapes and strawberries. Edward turned to Tamas and told the women to get out. They hurried off, and Edward appeared to be in a bad mood.

     "Tamas, you always interrupt me at the worst times. What the hell do you want?"

     "I'll feel you in later, but right now we have to go. We're being invaded."

     A strawberry fell out of Edwards's mouth before he motioned for Tamas to close the door. Seconds later Edward burst out of his room and dashed down the hallway with Tanas towards the exit of the castle.

     The woman was waiting, and she said to Tamas, "We must go. They're almost here."

    "Who is almost here," said Edward.

     "Kodorians," Tamas said. "They're the ones who are invading us."

     "But, the treaty?" Edward was puzzled and would have to be filled in later. But first, the trio would have to escape Everdale.

     "Edward, the Kodorians are the ones who ambushed us in Dalton." Tamas said the words with tears in his eyes, and turned away.

     "You mean, they killed Ayman?" Edward's face went from shock to grief to anger. "I'm not running away from these bastards. I'm avenging Ayman even if it's the last thing I do. Woman, how far away are the Kodorians from here?"

     "About a mile. They're coming from the north, they've been following the Emersian river. They're planning to siege the city and sack the fort. After that Cresia will be their's."

     "A mile? Good, I have a plan. First, we'll need some rides."

     Tamas nodded in agreement and dashed for the royal stables, followed by his Watcher and Edward.

     Ayman would be avenged. And Cresia would not fall.