Our Time Bomb

Chapter Twenty ~ Found Out

Syra's pov

I run as quickly as possible over tree roots that snake through the ground. I am in a daze. Did I really just see what I think I saw? I was on my daily patrol of the forest. When I passed by the Gyardicans Guild, I saw her. Erika, our old commander. She was with the Captain of the Guard and two others but I didn't recognize them. She must be a prisoner, but she is alive!

Will everyone back at the compound be happy about the news I'm bringing? Some will be, but I fear others will not. What will I do?

I glance up at the lavender sky briefly, it seems darker than usual for the late morning.

My breath is short in my throat as my thumping heart outruns it.

The compound is perhaps two miles from the Guild, that might surprise you, but it is nearly invisible from above ground, that is why no one has ever found it. It is a clever design. The main entrance is a tunnel hidden by a small hill. It looks like a large rabbit hole. No one would ever think it's an entrance to a large underground compound as there are many much locations like it. I can always tell which hill it is because of a certain gnarly tree that seems to guard it.

Once I'm in the tunnel, it becomes vast enough so that one can stand. If anyone did find this tunnel, they would think it was a dead end because it stops short after perhaps a hundred feet or so. However, there is a simple hack that only we Shadow Nation know of. All you must do is stand at the end of the tunnel and stamp with your foot three times. As if by magic, a trapdoor beneath your feet will open and a giant lift will take you down into the compound.

As by habit, I ride down the wooden lift down onto the landing which is heavily guarded. They are very strict about knowing the identity of everyone who enters or leaves the compound, but they know me well. "Hey Syra!" a leather clad guard calls to me as I step off the lift.
It's Casper, my boyfriend.

Usually I am glad to see him, but now my mind is troubled and elsewhere. "Hey." I mumble.

He catches me in his arms, "What's up?"

I smile weakly, "Uh, can I talk to you a moment?"

His brows furrow, "yeah babe, you're not breaking up with me are you?"

I roll my eyes and a smile pushes through the clouds, "No goof pants."

He puts an arm around me affectionately, "So what's going on?"

I pull him with me to a private room off to the side of a dusty hallway. "Okay I have to tell you something and you must promise not to tell a soul until we figure out that it's safe. Got it?"

Casper's face gets serious, "Deal."

"Alright..." I hush my voice although no one is in the room, "You won't believe who I came across this morning on my scouting rounds."

"Who?"

I grab his hand and squeeze it, "Our old Heira, commander Erika! Can you believe it? She is alive! She is a prisoner of the Gyardicans."

He clears his throat, "Pardon me what? You saw a ghost? Oh that's so funny."

I shove him with my palm, "Casper listen to me, I'm not kidding!"

I study his reaction, "Syra, she's dead, we all know it. What do you mean, you saw her?"

"Outside the Guild, she was with the Captain of the Guard and two other people, I didn't get a good look at them though."

His eyes widen, "Hmm, so you're saying she's alive. What if the Gyardicans lied to us and said they killed her, but she actually kept her alive?"

I grin, "Exactly, I knew you'd get it! I mean think about it, I bet they need her alive."

"We need to tell someone." He folds his muscular arms, "This is an excuse to start a war against them. They deserve it."

I suck in a breath quickly, "Uh, hold on. Think, is that a smart idea? If word got around like I know it would, some people might not welcome the idea of bringing her back."

"C'mon," He argues, "Most people would though, she was an amazing leader, everyone knows it."

"But what about Heir Commander Martinel? He just got his title. Do you think he'd risk rescuing her if there's a chance she'd get voted back into Commander again? He seems to be liking his title very much."

Casper sighs and his eyes dart about the dimly lit room, "I don't know, that is a good point. He does seem not as sensible as our old commander. She would sacrifice anything for our people. He seems to just be interested in having fun."

I nod, a certain thrill seems to charge me. It's that tense feeling where you know an important piece of information that no one else does, but you don't know what to do with it yet. Most of my life I've felt unimportant and unneeded, but now I know something that could determine whether or not a war would erupt. The next steps must be carefully thought through.

"I think I may tell my father, the Chancellor I know he was a strong supporter of Erika. He is wise and might know what to do."

"Can I come with you?" He asks.

"I'd appreciate that, my father respects you." I nod.

"I'll see if I can get off my shift early." He says quietly, pulling me with him back down the dusty tunnel to the entrance landing where several other guards were hanging around.

I watch him as he runs a hand through his almost shoulder length blonde hair. He greets one of his buddies and speaks quietly to him for a moment.

Casper and I started dating a couple of months ago. We got to know each other because we were trained together for combat.

Ever since, we've been inseparable. I hope he'll ask me to marry him one day.

He turns back to me and nods, "Alright, let's go."

Together we walk through the compound. The entrance is on the east side and my father is probably in the west wing studying as he seems to love to do.

Being a Chancellor's daughter is probably the least ideal position to be in my opinion. Everyone expects me to be smart and responsible like my father. I'm supposed to be majoring in my studies rather than combat and scouting which I love. If I could have been born anything, it would be a scout. The life of a Shadow Nation scout seems to be so thrilling!

Sure enough, my father is in the library. When Casper and I walk into the room, he hears the sounds of our boots in the dust and glances up, "Umm hey Syra, I'm a little busy at the moment."

I let go of my boyfriend's hand and walk through an Isle of scrolls on shelves, "Father, this is really important, I think you'll want to hear it as soon as possible."

He sighs, not looking at me, "Spit it out then."

"Is anyone else in here?" I ask.

"No."

"Alright..." I twist my fingers nervously, "So what if I told you that our old Heira Commander isn't dead."

He looks up startled, "Excuse me?"

I turn on my pleading face, "Please listen, I saw her, she's a prisoner of the Gyardicans. I'm not lying, I saw her outside with them just about an hour or two ago."

He frowns, "Syra... How can you be certain?"

"Why would I kid around about something like this. The Gyardicans lied, they've kept her alive."

He closes a scroll and studies my face.

"Do you believe me?" I ask.

"Well it could possible, but I need proof. Until then, we need to keep this quiet. Okay? Don't tell anyone? It could be dangerous."

I nod and so does Casper.

Suddenly someone enters the library. Our conversation is over.