Brightheart

Chapter 36

Riverrune asked Kella to walk with Brightheart down to the Scavenger's Maze just after breakfast. The pair picked their way through the grass and met the four were-creatures.
"See you when you get back, Lee, Ellie, Runner, and Raven. Good luck, Brightheart!" Kella smiled.
"Keep safe, Tille-Tirgan," Elivra replied.
"Bye!" Brightheart called as they turned and began their journey. It would be very much shorter than her quest had been, but no less dangerous. They travelled near the road but not on it, staying quiet and wary. They would have preferred to travel at night, but couldn't wait until dusk. It was dangerous where there was only tall grass, and thankfully around noon they reached bushes and heath.
"We'll rest here for a bit," Serulau said. Everyone sat and took out what they'd packed for lunch.
"So why are you called Runner and Raven?" Brightheart asked Serulau and Muthergan.
"I'm a spy, and I'm quick and nimble," Serulau replied.
"I'm a herald and part-time soldier, so I'm basically a messenger of war, like Moriggan of legend," Muthergan said. Now Brightheart understood his name.
"Why are you called Brightheart?" Narianoly asked.
"I have a bright heart. It's a dragon name given to me by Rustblade, who raised me. He didn't want to call me by my human name because a dragon can't really raise a human as a child. That's also why I'm dragonish. My human name is Ailith, but I feel like that's someone too different from who I am, so my name remains Brightheart," she said.

The five crept amongst the bushes, being careful not to be seen by the guards atop the battlements. The castle looked strange and Brightheart wondered why until she realised it hadn't any soot.
"Most of them are Tarbly, but some are Orrazens," Serualau said as he looked out over Lohrasait.
"What's a Tarbly?" Brightheart asked.
"Someone in the were-army," answered Elivra. They kept going, discussing their plan in hushed voiced. Hoof-steps came trotting along the road, and the group ducked. As the horse and rider passed them Brightheart held her breath, staying still as he rode away. When he was gone they got up and continued, more carefully than ever. The wind blew Brightheart's hair around and she wished she could call Tŕnjyl.

The Orrazens and the girl walked up to the gates.
"Who goes there?" a voice called, "Are you friend or foe? Recite the code."
"Kumo dia barlang dol'laaku," Serulau said and the gate was opened with a great creaking and groaning of metal.
"Behrran, what are you doing here with them? And Muthergan, what's your message?" the gatekeeper asked. Behrran was Serulau's spy name.
"In case none here have yet heard it, the Dark Dragon is dead and the Dragon-Princess is come," Muthergan answered.
"New recruits for the Koldu to approve and a witch seeking to entertain for a while," Serulau told his lie.
"Good luck to you all," the gatekeeper winked, and they went on.
"Orrazen," Serulau answered Brightheart's unspoken question.

They moved through the hallways, meeting no-one except a few guards who they quickly defeated. Serulau led them to the dungeons and they found Doriima with ten of his soldiers. Growling, Brightheart began the attack, unsheathing her dagger and stabbing whoever she first reached of the Tarbly. Elivra and Narianoly, who only carried daggers, shifted from human form into a cat and a wolf. They fought while Muthergan and Serulau unsheathed their swords. Hate move Brightheart's arms in this dance, carving a path to the door Doriima and his men had come from. Narianoly protected her as she picked the lock with the tip of the dagger and entered.

Ama was cowering in a corner, weak and pale.
"What have they done to you?" Brightheart murmured. This wasn't the girl she knew. Ama shook her head.
"Go, they'll kill you – but not after-" words failed her, and she shook her head again, holding up a bruised and scarred hand.
"What did they ask you? Brightheart asked and Ama shrugged. Brightheart bared her teeth at the closed door, rage boiling inside.
"I never answered them, but I think they mostly wanted your reaction." Tears rolled down Brightheart's face as she lifted up her friend and helped her to the door.