King of The Elves (Dragon Riders Chronicles)

The Rescue

"You can't keep us here! I want to see my sister!" Zephyrus shouted. If the guards at the end of the cell block heard him, they weren't acknowledging him.

"Let me she her!" He shouted.

"Oh will you just shut up Zephyrus. You're only going to make things worse."

"I don't see how this could get any worse."

"At least you aren't going to be executed." Jurriaan snapped. It was the first thing he had said since the queen had sentenced them.

"Jurriaan, I'm sorry." Nyx said softly. She reached through the bars separating them and wrapped her hand around his. Zephyrus watched them from his cell across the corridor and found himself suddenly missing Addison.

"How long has Addison been gone?" Zephyrus asked.

"About a day now. Why, what's up?" Nyx replied.

"Nothing. I'm just worried about her."

"You know Addison?" A voice asked from further down the corridor.

"Yes." The man laughed.

"I never thought she'd be one to hang out with your type."

"And what exactly is my type?" Zephyrus demanded.

"Well firstly, you're rude, but I was referring to your I must have my way attitude. It's... what's the word... irritating. 'I want to see my sister.'"

"And what do you think I should do?"

"Accept your fate and look after Fane until Addison rescues you."

"Addison won't rescue us. There's no one that can turn the queens orders around."

"A Dragon knight could." The man pointed out.

"And where is she going to find a Paladin?"

"Well there's Marciano." Nyx pointed out.

"He's in the outskirts. Addison couldn't reach there in time. We literally have minutes left."

"Well, then good luck to you all. Me and Blair will miss having the company."

"Blair?" Zephyrus questioned.

"My dragon. She's up there with the three you had with you." Zephyrus looked up to see a forth cage hanging further along the ceiling containing a violet dragon. A group of guards rushed down the steps and stopped outside their cells.

"It's time." The one in front said. He opened Nyx's cell and shackled her hands behind her back, the did the same to the other two. Lastly, they pulled down three of the cages hanging from the ceiling. The cages dropped down and landed with a thud on the ground.

"Be careful with them." Nyx growled. The guard sighed and handed each of them a cage to hold. Nyx got Fane, Jurriaan got Myra and Zephyrus got Talon.

The guards led them through a series of long, dark hallways until they came to a grand stage that overlooked the courtyard. There were thousands of people packed in to see Zephyrus's punishment. Nobody believed the queen would actually let her little brother be harmed.

"I told you guys she wouldn't come." Zephyrus said as he looked out at the crowd. The three of them placed the cages on stools set out for them.

"You have been brought here today for crimes against the crown. The sentence for the riders is fifteen lashes each, and for the elf, death." The queen said in a loud voice. The crowd in the courtyard stayed eerily quiet. Nyx looked sideways at  Jurriaan. She could see the tears in his eyes. Despite all he had done, he didn't want to die.

"Well, we best get started then. Ladies first." Two guards walked over, grabbed her arms and dragged her over to two poles sticking high out of the ground. Her hands were chained, one to each pole and she heard the whip crack behind her. A tester.

"Stop." A man in the crowd shouted. Nyx looked up to see two figures walking onto the stage. There was a man dressed in silver and a woman dressed in gold.

"What is the meaning of this?" The queen demanded.

"These people are wanted for questioning over the disappearance of the rider Addison." Said the woman in gold.

"How can you be sure they are involved?"

"There are three dragons but only two riders. That says enough on its own." Said the man in silver.

"We ask that you postpone this... event until we have had a chance to question the suspects." The woman in gold finished.

"Fine. You have 24 hours. Guards, take the prisoners back to the cell block. Take the Paladins with you also." The queen stormed off the stage, her maids following hastily behind her. Nyx could hear the crowd whispering.

"I bet the queen set the whole thing up so her brother wouldn't get hurt." Someone near the front whispered. The guards unchained her and led the trio back down to the cells, locking them back in their cells and hanging the dragons back on the roof.

"This one first." The man in silver said, gesturing to Jurriaan. The pair walked away down the corridor and into a separate room, leaving the woman in gold standing in the corridor alone.

Her armour was beautiful. A black tunic covered with gold breastplate that was moulded to her figure. Gold armbands with black symbols engraved on them that covered her forearms. Gold boots that came up to her knees. A woven material band around her head holding her hair in place and a sparkling gold cape embroidered with more black symbols. Nyx looked away as the Paladin stopped outside her cell and crouched.

"We didn't do anything to Addison." Nyx said quietly.

"I know. It was the best excuse we had." Nyx looked up to see Addison's face smiling at her.

"Addison! Where were you?"

"At Rhonda's house. She's my grandmother."

"Jurriaan was right then."

"What happened to you guys?"

"We were heading to Rhonda's, but Jurriaan said we needed to head back towards the Gisha tree to get some stuff you guys left near there."

"Did you get it?"

"Yea, but we were ambushed not long after. The queen took the bag."

"Dammit. She could have all your heads for that."

"What's in the bag?"

"My father's crown. I have to go get it. I'll be back soon." Addison said before walking briskly down the corridor.

"I told you she'd come." Said the man from his cell down the corridor. Nyx smiled and leant on the bars of the cell. Everything would be okay after all.