The Elemental Song

Chapter 14 Wanted And Hunted

Skyrah and Ziff waited, hidden in an ally in the trade city Maoyi in between Aura and Chama. Eryk had to go gather supplies and information without being recognized. So he left Skyrah and Ziff in a nearby ally to stay hidden. Skyrah watched numerous people pass and listened in on all the gossip. There was a lot of talk about how Lord Zhenya's correlation was going to commence the next day. "General Gideon and General Dyllan must have already had the meeting with Lord Zhenya. I hope that the Air Tribe will finally be at peace with the other tribes so that no more trouble will thrust upon them." Skyrah leaned back against the wall and sighed. She closed her eyes and her mind wandered back to the night of her father's death. She remembered her memories of Zhenya and wondered why Zhenya changed and wanted to become king. Tears slid down her cheeks and Ziff licked them away. "Ziff, you will never leave me right? I"m so glad that I have you by my side. You are the only one left for me to trust." Skyrah thought of Eryk and how he was always there for her. How he saved her from the guards and Zhenya. "Well, you and Eryk I guess. I'm so glad that he is on my side." Skyrah and Ziff waited for another half an hour. "I hope that Eryk is okay. We've been waiting for about two hours now."

Eryk looked around. Someone was following him. He had felt a strange presence for around thirty minutes. He had already gotten supplies and information but he didn't dare to go back to the princess with a stalker following him. He took a few turns and waited in a deserted ally for the stalker to fall into his trap. A shadow stood in front of the alley entrance and cautiously entered. When the man was halfway through Eryk made his move. The man fell to the ground with Eryk on top of him. It was a soldier from the fire tribe and according the the red dragon insignia on the side of his face he had some elemental powers. "Who are you and why are you following me?!" Instead of responding the soldier started to breath out fire. Eryk quickly acted and moved out of the way. Before the soldier could do anything else Eryk used deoxygenation and removed the oxygen from the air to prevent the soldier from using any of his fire powers and breathing. As soon as the soldier started choking Eryk grabbed him and asked, "will you answer my questions?" The soldier nodded desperately and Eryk removed the spell. The soldier gasped and breathed in the air desperately. "Who are you?" Eryk demanded immediately. "I am Olwydd from the Fire Tribe. I am a tracker." "Who sent you?" "Lord Zayd, the second son of General Tarea of the Fire Tribe." Lord Zayd was the second descendant of the Fire Tribe's lord General Tarea. His eldest brother was General Ravi who is twenty-one and they are three years apart. Lord Zayd was the same age as Eryk, nineteen. "Why is it Lord Zayd instead of General Tarea or General Ravi?" "General Tarea has other matters to deal with and General Ravi is busy with being Lord of Chama. Because Lord Zayd is the second head of the army King Zhenya put him in charge of capturing you and the princess. It's just a matter of time before he comes with a portion of his army to take you into custody and rescue the princess." "Well obviously he is going to have a hard time doing that seeing how that I don't have the princess with me." The soldier went white for a moment then sputtered out. "I don't know what you did with the princess but I'm sure she is somewhere hidden. Lord Zayd will definitely find her and then you are finished traitor." This man was fed lies and he believes them. There is no point in trying to convince him of my innocence anyway. I can't afford to let him go either because it will endanger the princess' safety. Eyrk made up his mind. He focused his mind and the soldiers eyes went wide. "Please! I beg you! Spare me!" Olwydd's plea was neglected.

Footsteps drew nearer. Skyrah and Ziff went farther into the darkness of the alley in caution. "Skyrah, it's me." Skyrah breathed out a sigh of relief. "Eryk, what took so long?" "I apologize princess but I was being followed." "Are you alright? Who was it? What happened?" Eryk told her about the whole confrontation with Olwydd. "I'm so glad that you are alright." "No need to worry about me princess. But we must get going now that I am wanted and we are being hunted. I have gotten all the supplies we need and collected lots of information." "Okay, Ziff and I are ready. Let's go."

"Lord Zayd, all of the scouts have come back. All but Olwydd that is." "Olwydd you say?" "Yes sir. He was stationed in Maoyi City. He was also one of the best scouts." "Are you implying that something must of happened to him while he was on his mission?" "That could be the only explanation sir." "Thank you for your report colonel." "Of course sir. What are your orders?" "We will head for Maoyi City. If something happened to Olwydd then it could only have been the 'Thunder Beast.' If he is there then the princess will also be within the vicinity. If Eryk leaves we will either encounter them on the way or track them down again." "Yes sir." To the rest of the men, "let's head out!" The portion of the Fire Tribe's army headed out to capture the 'Thunder Beast.' At the beginning of the journey, Lord Zayd mumbled to himself, "don't worry princess, I'm coming."