Hero of Ranora

Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Aluknor ran beside Derrik and Sharelle, trying to keep up with his faster allies. He knew that he was out of shape, due to the fact that he had been locked in the dungeon for nearly a year, with very few opportunities to even walk around.

“Are we almost there?” Aluknor shouted to Derrik.

“I think so,” Derrik responded. “If my dreams are to be trusted, Neyom’s chambers should be right around the corner.” The three of them turned the corner and, sure enough, there stood two giant golden doors.

“They’re locked,” Aluknor observed upon seeing that the doors were locked shut with two giant padlocks.  Sharelle looked at the doors with a fleeting impression of De-ja-vu.

“I think I may know a way to get in,” She said. Derrik scoffed.

“Let me guess, you want to use magic?” He asked mockingly.

“No.” Sharelle replied. “I think I know how to pick these locks,” She said. Without another word, Sharelle reached into her hair, pulling out a twisted copper wire.  She took the wire in her hands and inserted it in the lock, twisting it around until she heard the satisfying Click! of the lock. She repeated this with the second lock, until she once again heard it unlock.

“Let’s go,” She whispered as she crept through the doorway. Aluknor and Derrik followed her into the chambers, keeping close to the shadows in case they were spotted. Aluknor felt it unnecessary to hide in the shadows. It wasn’t like they could remain hidden, if necessary. The room was bare of nearly anything, aside from one bed. In the bed lay one lone figure.

“When I say go,” Derrik whispered. “We all attack at once. Ready?” Aluknor nodded his head, and Sharelle gave a mischievous smile.  “Go!” Derrik hissed.

All at once, the three of them sprang out of the shadows, surrounding the bed. Derrik made a quick motion with his hand. When he brought it back down, he was holding a sword. He brought the sword down so that it was nearly touching the sleeping figure.

Derrik motioned for Aluknor to remove the sheets from the bed. It was only when Aluknor did as he was told did Derrik realize what a terrible mistake they had made. The figure in the bed was not Neyom, but a woman. Derrik pulled his sword away from the woman, who appeared to be waking up.

“This could have gone better,” Aluknor muttered. Derrik turned to face him.

“What was that?” Derrik asked, obviously enraged.

“I said, ‘This could have gone better.’” Aluknor repeated.

“Well, excuse me for not knowing that Neyom was in another room!” Derrik shouted. "Maybe I should just let you navigate the entire castle yourself, since you obviously have visions to help you along!” Derrik spat sarcastically.      

“Derrik…” Sharelle said.

“No, Sharelle. I don’t want to hear it. You’re going to apologize for using magic, and hope that I’ll forgive you. But I can’t. You betrayed my trust, Sharelle. You hid…”

“Derrik!” Aluknor shouted. Derrik turned to face Aluknor. “I think Sharelle was going to tell you that the woman is now awake,” Aluknor said.

Derrik looked down and saw the woman sitting up in bed, with a look of what appeared to be relief upon her face.

“Thank goodness you’re here!” The woman cried, jumping up out of the bed and throwing her arms around Derrik.

Derrik pushed her away from him. “Who are you, and why are you so glad that we’re here?” He asked. The woman let out a charming laugh before answering Derrik’s question.