Moongrace

Part 37

When Eleeza heard Cathryn climb the stairs in the evening, she had already prepared herself for leaving the castle. And she had made a rough plan of their escape. She knew that she was being overhasty but she really had to get out of this castle quickly. Each moment more in this room was too much to endure.

The plan was to first get Cathryn involved and packed. In the middle of the night, when the men were sleeping they would steel away. With her magic, she would change the rope to fine wool, Cathryn would open the door with her key. Then she would try her best with Cathryn's necklace, being able to see it with the mirror should help doing that.

Same would hopefully work with Cathryn's iron feet. She hoped to get a big head start, so when Lenrio realised they were gone, he wouldn't be able to sense her any longer.

Cathryn would be their eyes and in any case, she would have the mirror to get along herself as well. Then they would only have the problem to get back to Meadowbrook. This problem though, she delayed solving to when their flight had worked out.

The key was turned and Cathryn shoved inside.

"Cathryn, I...", Eleeza started, but was interrupted by Cathryn.

"Eleeza, I am so sorry!"

Eleeza closed her mouth, what did Cathryn apologize for? She heard a tray being placed on the table and then heavy steps approached. Cathryn wrapped her arms around her tightly: "I am so sorry. I should have suspected it, when they took my blood. It must have been so nasty! What did they want you to do with it? Did you have to...", she finished not being able to even think it.

"What? No, no, I didn't have to drink it or something. They wanted me to make a ruby out of this ice. Don't worry! I repaid them for their nastiness, for taking your blood for monetary reasons."

"Oh, did you?" She sounded relieved when she let go of Eleeza and guided her to the table.

"But I kept this mirror that makes me see. And even more important I have an escape plan that might work!", Eleeza declared happily.

Cathryn sat down hard: "You did? How..." Just then she realised what that meant and jumped back on her feet quickly: "Ouch!", she winced shortly: "You really did it!", she cried in utter happiness and excitement.

Eleeza shushed her so that the men might not get alarmed and while taking the food, she elaborated her plan. Cathryn was all for it and they agreed on meeting at around midnight. Meanwhile Cathryn would pack her bit of belongings and some food.

When Cathryn was gone Eleeza tried the first step of their plan. She took the magical rope in her hands and felt its texture. The strands of the smooth fibre were braided together. The material would be softer if it was wool. There was some magic that protected the rope, she could feel it around it. But it protected it from outside influence, not the material itself. She called her magic and let it flow towards her hands. Imagining touching wool, she sent it out to the rope.

It worked, the slender rope turned to a simple threat of wool. With only little strength she tore it apart. The impact of the spell was hardly troubling her.

She carefully went around the bed to the window. Standing there and recalling everything she knew about magic, the time until midnight passed. She didn't know what time it was exactly. Only the activity of the animals outside gave her an idea of the time. Finally, she heard Cathryn walking towards her. Her steps were very loud.

Clonk, clonk, clonk...

Hopefully she didn't wake anybody. The door opened: "Eleeza?", Cathryn whispered.

Eleeza could hear the fizzle of a small flame in the wind of the corridor.
"Get inside, quickly."

With no sound Eleeza moved towards the door and pulled Cathryn inside. "I am so excited! We will really get out of here!", she exclaimed.  "Oh wow, you look different."