The Accented Crown

Chapter Four

The Legend of Allegra's Forgiveness

If one cannot be in any way forgiven

Then you are in the fault and must be forgiven

If one can hear, let faults be forgiven

If one can understand, let faults be forgiven

Once denied, can others still be forgiven

Vespers wondered, but he was forgiven

If one can hear, let faults be forgiven

If one can understand, let faults be forgiven

Allegra extended her hand and he was forgiven

Excepted his faults, hopes and was forgiven

If one can hear, let faults be forgiven

If one can understand, let faults be forgiven

Forgiveness is a gift, cherish it as so

Legato's ears now interpreted the coming of Death. I wanted to scream, to cry, to yell. But instead, with adrenaline-powered strength I tossed Legato onto Avena's back, who I was restraining from bolting.

"Ya!," I screamed, smacking Avena on her hindquarters and she bolted with Legato on her back.

Taking a quick scan of the area, I concluded that the avalanche started from the end of the tunnel, but was swiftly approaching. We had to hurry back to where we started.

Hoping, praying, wishing that the Great Jewel would somehow be okay I stumbled after the swiftly vanishing donkey, rider and provisions. I was soon left behind with only my wits.

"Go!," I screamed,"Finish the quest!"

If I was to die, I'd do it in a blaze of glory.

My lungs were screaming and my feet were slipping and sliding on the grand floor. The avalanche was approaching and my feet were too clumsy to grasp properly.

I ran faster, trying to keep up with the donkey that too smelt the approach of Death.

I took a deep breath and ran faster. I felt a tiny trickle of snow touch my face and a rock land in my boot.

That spooked me and I bolted like a horse.

Running at impossible speeds escaping the noose that was to encircle my neck.

If only, if only I could make it, I'd finish this quest and make sure Hymn was safe from Stanza Cabaletta's wrath.

I don't know why I thought of that.

Allegra the First was sometimes known as Allegra the Hopeful, or the Faithful. I ran much faster at a pebble's hitting my forehead.

Then suddenly, my knees buckled and I could run no longer. I thought I saw the deep brown, sightless eye that belonged to someone I knew well, but I could be mistaken. After all, I hadn't run fast enough.

I waited for the rock that would bring me to Death and blacked out.

***

"Thank goodness!," I heard the voice of a blind boy as he yanked me out of the cave.

"What do you think you were doing?," he started scolding as Miss Gloria would,"What good would it do to have you die as well as me? What were you thinking? How did you survive?"

I looked up, surrounding my fall were rocks.

"The rocks would not harm me," it was the magic Father spoke of, the magic that had carved the cavern would not harm the heir of Blythe and Isaac, the heir of Allegra herself.