SWNOVELS Chapter 7
“I’ll never know how we got this far!”
Crouched just inside the doorway of the last passageway, far beneath the palace, Ivan wiped the sweat from his forehead.
“Yeah! I can’t believe no one saw us! They’re all busy discussing Krikkit’s shoes,” answered Quinn, in much the same condition as his twin. “Just in time to create the diversion we need so we can find and rescue our parents. It will be another few hours before Keeper looks in on us again. Our mother and father must be in trouble or they would have contacted us before now.”
“I hate to leave our guest in the chaos that will start when Keeper and Jara find us gone. But it’s our only chance to get away,” declared Ivan.
“Our only chance,” agreed Ivan, convinced they were doing the right thing.
Ivan, in the lead, headed down the long passageway, grabbing the first torch he saw on the wall. He knew they had only a short amount of time before Keeper Fie realized they were missing and informed the Red Velvet Regiment. They would very quickly search every part of the countryside until the twins were found.
The twins had played ghosts and monster games throughout the passageways since they could walk. Keeper Fie had always been nearby. This time it was different. They were on their own.
“It’s up to us to stop this prophecy,” said
Quinn, as they ran side by side down the stony, damp corridor. “We’ll rule D’Arragon one day.”
“Entirely up to us,” agreed Ivan. “We must do what needs to be done.”
The end of the passageway drew near and they stopped to listen for anyone in pursuit. Silence was all they heard. Ivan and Quinn decided that no one had yet realized they had made a beeline to this escape route. It had been designed centuries ago as a secret passage to the forest. Pressing on, they entered the dark forest, the small torch their only light.
“We’ll stay at the tree fort and spend the night. There’s plenty of food and water, right where we left it. We’ll leave after a couple of hours sleep. If we get lucky no one will realize we are gone before then.” As he spoke, Quinn slowed to a walk, careful to listen for any sounds that didn’t belong in the slumbering trees all around them.
The twins also knew the forest well, having roamed it since early childhood. Many were the times when they climbed onto the broad back of Jara’s ram form and sped along the trails, with Keeper Fie close behind. They adored them both.
“They’ll understand we had to leave as we did,” Quinn said, knowing immediately in a glance what his twin was thinking.
Ivan grinned, reassured, and broke into a run as they neared the elaborate fort they had enjoyed for many exciting summers. He led the way up the wide steps, his feet sure and swift in spite of the darkness. They sat cross-legged on the wooden platform. Pulling out the knapsacks they hid under two large cloaks, they ate and drank from its supply of nuts, dried fruits and water.
Exhausted, they covered themselves with the cloaks. The torch grew dim as it hung from a spike on the far wall. In no time at all, the twins slept, confident in their ability to find the king and queen.
It seemed only a matter of minutes passed when Ivan awoke from an urgent pressure on his shoulder. It was Quinn. Even half asleep, Ivan could see how nervous his twin was.
“Wake up, Ivan! They found us!”
Ivan, rubbing his eyes, responded, “Who found us? It’s still dark out, for heaven sakes.”
“There’s someone outside! I heard someone at the bottom of the stairs!”
Ivan quickly sat up and threw off the cloak, his eyes wide and anxious.
“We must have been followed,” said Quinn. He began to creep on his hands and knees to the top of the stairs. The boys could barely see each other in the dim light.
“Shush,” said Quinn, his finger on his lips as Ivan joined him. “They’re climbing the stairs.”
The twins lay on the floor, one on each side of the door, ready to make a run for it the moment whoever it was entered the fort. They saw a small form tiptoeing up the last step. When Quinn saw how small the person was, he whispered to Ivan, “We can take him.”
He lunged at the figure, knocking him over, then Ivan jumped on top of both of them. When the trespasser started screaming, they quickly untangled themselves.
“It’s a girl!” cried Ivan.
“It’s Krikkit!” said Quinn, concerned that they had hurt the small girl. They swiftly helped her to her feet, brushing the dust from her clothes.
“Krikkit! What are you doing here? Are you okay? I hope we didn’t hurt you. We thought you were an enemy or something.” Ivan felt terrible.
Krikkit, finally catching her breath, could only nod after the fright she had experienced. “I-I guess I’m okay,” she finally responded. “No bones broken, I think. I was following you. Jara said you needed protection.”
“Gee, thanks Krikkit. We’re perfectly fine. We’re going to find our parents and rescue them. We have not heard from them for way too long,” said Quinn, feeling just as bad as his twin.
“Do you know where they are?” she asked.
“Somewhere in these woods, I think,” said Quinn.
“Yes,” repeated Ivan. “Somewhere in our very own woods.”
Sitting cross-legged on the floor, wrapped together in the cloaks, Krikkit and the twins made their plans for the morning. Relieved that it was neither the Red Velvet Regiment nor Keeper Fie who had found them, they decided to sleep for a few hours and start their search in the morning before daylight. Krikkit was exhausted after her long, exciting day and lay down next to the princes.
With a hefty yawn, she closed her eyes, snuggling against Quinn. They were all asleep in a few minutes, not having the energy to even whisper goodnight.