The Dungeons of Savant

Chapter Eight: Ariadne

 I watched in confusion from a tall tree as Lael, and Isel left only Sirella to guard Vivetta and Faisal. I had overheard every word of their interrogation, and I understood Vivetta's and Faisal's fear. I've had people threaten me on a daily basis, I knew the blood draining feeling of having a knife to your throat.

I could hear talking from Lael and Cyrill in the skib. They seemed to be growing louder. I, despite my fears to leave my spot in the tree, decided to get closer and listen. I crawled through the tree, trying to make as little noise as possible.

My brain was screaming at me to stop. That tree was where they told you to stay, they'll get angry at you if they know. Despite my fears I managed to get close to where Lael, Isel, and Cyrill were talking. I could hear their voices clearly now. They seemed bitter and impatient, tones that I knew all too well.

"Then, my guess is you have a bone to pick with the Miliki." I heard Isel ask.

There was no response.

"If you help us, we'll let you and the other two live."

Still no answer.

Instead or hearing Isel again, I heard a branch snap. Then I felt wind brushing passed me and then the ground. I coughed and wheezed, all the air yanked out of me from the fall. I heard Lael stop talking, and I heard Vivetta and Faisal say something.

I managed to scramble to my feet and stumble deeper into the skib. My ears were ringing, but I could still hear someone running after me. In a panic, I picked up pace. I didn't get far before Lael grabbed my arm.

I nearly fell down at the sudden stop, Lael didn't move a muscle. I didn't dare to turn and face him, in fear of him hitting me the second I looked at him. He loosened his grip on my arm, nearly letting go.

"What happened?" he asked in an aggressive whisper.

"I fell," I wheezed.

He let go of my arm, almost pushing it away. "I need you to hide."

I could only stare at him.

"Go. Now."

"Why?" I managed.

As if to answer the question, I heard running.

"Ariadne?" Faisal called.

I looked at Lael one last time before I bolted into the skib. I ignored the sound of shouting, as I navigated my way through the trees.

By the time my legs couldn't carry me anymore, the plants hardly let my see my feet. There was just enough room between trees to squeeze by. I sat down in the grove and tried to catch my breath. My lungs were burning and my heart was pounding. I felt tears stinging my eyes, not from the run, from the stress.

In less than two days I've been taken from the Tower and dragged into the Fithu. I'd met people who clearly didn't care about me, though I couldn't blame them. I was put in a tree and told to wait, and the second I tried to leave I was chased out by some man who could be out to kill me.

I could still hear the shouts from my hiding spot. I couldn't understand them, but they were loud. Under the sound of voices, I heard roaring, metal clanking, and something steaming. I didn't have the heart to wonder who was winning.

Tears were rolling down my face as I listened. Then I heard a booming voice, and all other noise stopped. I held my breath waiting to hear something else, but nothing made a sound. I waited in silence for what felt like a hour before I heard someone stumbling nearby. I peeked out from behind a tree to see Sirella walking through the skib. A curious look in her eye.

I stepped out from the tree, but I didn't announce myself.

"Oh, there you are," she said finally seeing me.

I only nodded.

She pointed her thumb back the way we both came. "We gotta meet up with Lael, and Isel. We've got a few arrangements to make, and we'd rather not leave you behind."

I nodded again, looked down to my feet and followed Sirella into the skib. She seemed relaxed, but I was still on edge. Whenever someone said they had to make 'arrangements' it meant that something was going to turn out bad for me.

Bit of a short chapter, but yeah. Thanks for reading!