Past in the Future by Lisa Krnac

Chapter 3

As the sun peeked through the trees Nadine woke. Peter was not around so Nadine picked up the bag and started to look for some kind of food. All that was there was rope and the machine that lifted them from the window. "Looking for this?" Peter said as he held out a rabbit. Nadine sat back startled and than said "Not exactly, but I guess it will do."

Nadine watched as he skinned the rabbit and stuck it on a stick to cook over the fire that he had just made. "How did you catch the rabbit?" Nadine said to ignore the look of the small lifeless creature on the stick. He pulled out a bow that she didn't see last night. She picked up the bow and looked at the handy work on the side. It said 'freedom for all men' in italic letters on the side. "So how far to the dungeon anyway?" Nadine asked.

"Half a day in that direction." He pointed to the east while turning the rabbit over the fire. Then he continued "but we are going north to Xander first."

"No we have to save my brother!" Nadine started to protest.

"My job was to bring you to Xander and that is what I intend to do." Peter said calmly while paying attention to the meat over the fire.

"But I will not leave my brother another day, ether we save him or I will be extremly difficult the whole way to this, Xander." Nadine felt as if she was being put from one prison to the next.

"Look, the way out of the dungeon is impossible. I don't even know where to begin looking for your brother. If we go to Xander and ask for his counsel your brother might have a chance." Peter stared at Nadine this time to make sure his point got through to her.

"It will be too late for him by then. I can see it in your eyes. You doubt that he is alive. If there is the slightest chance that I can save him I have to try. And that can not wait." Nadine couldn't control the volume of her voice and she knew that it was loud enough. Nadine calmed down her temper and sighed as she rubbed her hands back and forth on the bow. "Please help me." she said trying to catch his eyes. Peter kept his eyes on the rabbit and thought out Nadine argument. He shock his head and sighed "Ok. But we have to be careful and plan this right. If you are to go into the dungeon you need to learn how to defend yourself." Nadine looked at the bow and pulled the string to test it out. "Ok. Teach me."

The rest of the morning was Nadine learning how to hold the bow properly and pulling the string. She took a few practice shots on a near by tree. She kept missing the stump. Peter directed her and told her to keep her arms up and her body straight. With a few more shots she finally hit her mark. She smiled and couldn't wait to try again. Peter stopped her so they could finally eat the rabbit that has been cooking over the fire.

By the time they ate and packed up all there stuff the sun was high in the sky. They walked through the trees and bushes keeping an eye out for any persuers. The palace would have known by now that Nadine was not there and send out gaurds to look for her.

As they walked Nadine practised with the bow. She tried shooting moving targets. She soon got fusterated with missing all the time and put the bow and arrow on her back. Peter assured her that it takes practice, but Nadine wanted to learn fast because it might be the only way to save her brother.

"How long till we get there?" Nadine said

"It will be night fall once we see the mountain of Delburn, and then morning before we will see the dungeon."

"You said it will take half a day."

"Yes when you have a horse." Peter kept moving on. Looking back to make sure Nadine is keeping up. They stopped for rests and some snacks, but soon kept walking. Nadine got board of the long walks and desided to srtike up a conversation. "So tell me more about this year."

Peter laughed, but agreed to speak."What would you like to know?"

"Is this place ruled only by the king and queen?"

"Yes, I do not know of any other rulers."

"You mean there is no other ruler?"

"No, this land is owned by one and that is king Dulben. And it is only the sons that take over after the king dies."

"So where are the other land?"

"What other lands? England is the only land I know of." Peter looked at her confused as to what she was going at.

"In my time there is a whole world of land. England is there, but it is only a small part of the world. There is Canada, United States, Australia, New Zealand. Are you telling me you have no idea these places exsist?"

"Nadine I don't know where you are going with this, but the best place to find answers is to talk to Xander. Now since we are delaying that option I can only tell you that you must wait for those answers." Nadine gave a sigh knowing that he was right. She needed to concentrate on getting her brother back.

They walked till night fall. They made a small camp with no fire. They had fruit for dinner. "Delburn mountain is just behind those trees. And then the dungeon is not far from there."

"Can we go check it out tonight?"

Peter handed her another slice of apple. "We need to rest. It looks like you need it."

He was right. The pain of the lash wounds were getting to her and she knew that the bandages needed to be changed, but she stood up and protested. "I can keep going if you think that little of me. I am determined to find my brother. I don't even know if he is alive." She walked off into the dark. Peter had no choice but to go after her. They could see the shape of the big hill in the shadow of the moon. Without turning back Nadine dragged her tired legs up the hill. She kept the thought of what could become of her brother if she waited any longer to save him. Once on top of the hill they could see the faint torch lights of the dungeon.

The dungeon was a small hill that had an entrance leading down into the hill. Nadine hid behind a bush catching her breath. Peter soon was behind her and looked at the entrance way which was guarded by three guards. Nadine whispered short of breath "What kind of place is this?"

"That is Delburn dungeon."

"It looks more like a mine to me."

"It was. Former King Anthany made it a dungeon after he realized it wasn't being used. Instead of having the criminals in the castle he sent them here and work in the mine. He also sent the law about the lawless woman. They make them work in the castle with there tongues cut off so they can't talk back."

"Who was king Anthany?"

"He is king Dulben's grandfather."

"So these people don't get a trial for what they did."

"The law says that the king is the law so what ever he says goes."

Nadine sighed and then started to shack at the cold wind on the hill.

"So what's the plans. I am starting to get cold."

"Well are you willing to sleep?" Peter caught her eyes staring at him. "I thought not. Ok so let's take a look around the hill and see if we can find any excess in and out of that place."

Lisa Krnac