At The Heart of Tale Kingdoms (COMPLETED)

23.1 JEGINA

As time passed, Jegina became impatient and lowered her face to inspect Raie's features for a response or for any movement. Before she lost hope, Raie's eyelids flew open and grey eyes stared back at her.

Jegina staggered in surprise, falling back to everyone's horror. But Ing was quick to catch her before she reached the floor, placing her gently on the ground.

When they turned back Raie was already sitting up, his feet hanging from the bed as if he had just woken from a light nap.

"Be quick," ordered Ing Ix and left the room.

"Can you walk?" The Third asked having woken up from her trance. Raie only nodded as he looked at Jegina.

The Stator looked misplaced as though a world so foreign had crushed down on him.

"We do not have time, we have to go. Your wife will be after us as soon as she finds you gone. We need a good head start. Come on." The Third spoke briskly.

Raie stepped on the floor and wobbled for a bit, as he tried to catch his balance. He stretched then felt his footing like a hunting predator preparing for a large prey.

Jegina and The Third started walking to the door but Raie headed for a pot holding a large dead green frog floating in a green cloudy water.

"What are you doing?" Jegina asked him

"I saw a green wristlet from the Ion's portrait I was showed at the reading forest, the same my Uncle was holding. So, I decided to take it from his hands when he was murdered. I also noticed during my trial that Mother Cquira had a similar red one so I gathered it was important." Raie paused as he opened the lid of the jar.

"The poison was slow the first day. So, I played dead thinking they would just throw me somewhere. But when I ended up here I decided to hide it in the jar. It was the only thing I could think of."

Jegina braced herself for the smell that would come from the pot as Raie lifted the lid and dug his hand into the container but nothing came. He pulled the circle ornament that had been slipped through the frog's head like a necklace.

"We need to go, the sun is almost out." Ing shouted through the door. Raie quickly closed the lid then they went to gather in the room. They found a rope hanging from the open space on the roof.

"Jegina, you first." Ing ordered. The Third, Raie and Ing followed her. When they were on the roof, Jegina and Raie turned to Ing Ix.

"The Third will show you to the horses. I will watch your back for any guards. When you reach the horses, go. I will be behind you." Jegina saw The Third hesitate.

"Ing Ix you don't have to...," she started

"I am not planning to. Now you too have a promise to keep. Hurry."

They followed the rope down the curved roof. It took them a while and a lot of calculated movements as they were at the largest curve of the spiraling Galgazza roof. The area around the Galgazza was quiet and even the guards they spotted where half asleep. After sneaking through a dark dusty path, they quietly walked to a small square spurring ground hidden between two horse and crop-stock shades.

They found four adult horses with no pony in sight. The third came behind her, picked her up and placed Jegina on a grey mare.

"We found her with a fitted child's saddle, a pony would have slowed us down. I know steeds, this one is gentle. Make sure you don't fall off." Jegina nodded. She knew she didn't have time to debate her riding skills.