The Brotherhood of The Black Rats

3.24 Flight of The Dragonflies

24| Flight of The Dragonflies

Kai heard the screams from the room behind them as they cut across the hall in an attempt to double back the way they had come through previously. 

“There’s our distraction.” He said to the invisible Troll at his side.

“That ought to keep everyone busy for a while. Remind me to pat the Twins on the back when next we meet.” came Thompkins voice.

“Think they will figure it out?” asked The Fortune Teller looking back to the door leading into the main hall.

“What? That it’s fake?” asked Thompkins then “Oh I’m sure they will…which is all the more reason why we should be getting a move on right now.”

Kai nodded taking the hand of the weakened fairy at his side once more. “We’re going to get you out of here.” He said looking into her eyes. “I promise.”

The three of them made their way along the deserted corridor as The House of The Gilded Crane crumbled around them. Knowing the damage would be easily reversed once the transfiguration spell wore off allowed them to move about guilt free. So long as they got out alive before the fearsome Dragon currently ransacking the next room over reverted back to its feline form they had nothing to worry about. The tricky part was of course getting out in the first place.

Kai led them onwards taking his cues from Thompkins and Doc as they went. The Troll bid him left, then right, as they darted down the hallway as fast as they could given the condition of their recent charge. At one point they crossed paths with a pair of Grey Guardsmen eagerly making their way into the fray from an exit just down the hall.

“She’s had too much to drink,” said Kai as The Fairy feigned sickness by his side. “Is there an exit nearby?” he asked.

“It’s been sealed you idiot.” Shouted The Guardsmen over the rumbling sounds from the other room. “There’s a Minotaur on the loose and it can’t get outside.”

You’ll have to come with us,” said the other Grey Coated officer. “We’ll get you to the others where you’ll be safe.”

“Gee,” said Kai cursing his luck “Thanks.”

For the second time that night they were forced back the way they had come. Kai felt Thompkins reach out to him via the cards but couldn’t risk drawing attention to his deck with two members of the Grey Guard standing so close.

“She going to be alright?” asked one of them as they made their way back down the hall.

“Yeah,” said Kai “These court folks just don’t know when they’ve hit their limit.”

“Isn’t that the truth.” Replied the Guard as they passed the entrance to the stairwell Kai and Simon had used earlier, and all hell broke loose once more.

The Minotaur burst through the door in a shower of wooden splinters and sparks. The first Grey Guardsman was taken unawares by the beasts’ massive horns while the second retaliated with a spray of concussive force from his wand.

“Run!” he bid Kai and the girl. “We’ll hold him off as best we can.”

Kai dutifully obeyed the man’s order, once more taking the fairy by the hand and pulling her forward into a new area of the house. They ran together as the voice of Doc called out above them.

“Take the next door on the left. It will be dark so watch your step.” Said The Witch Doctor.

“Doc,” said Kai as they continued the sprint “The others?”