Trojian Horse

Arien found himself floating back to his body which lay motionless next to a bright green fire. It felt like he had another existence outside of his own, completely unconnected in any way to his body. He bonded back into his body seamlessly and jump to his feet as if he had been running and was confronted by the Roue’s inquisitive face and Turo’s less interested face. His body was drenched in sweat even though he felt cold. His head was pounding.

“We must save them! We have to save them. They need us,” he blurted out.

“Save who?”

“The ones in the prison.”

“I guess that must be the ones Reeger is keeping as prisoners,” Roue said.

“Yes.”

“So, let me get this right, we’re barely ready to fight off a heatwave and you want us to delve headfirst into danger because you said so?”

“Well, no, but yes,” Arien replied. “Where are the Greylings?”

“They’re not here. Had to leave. She knows though she’s not telling,” Roue said using his head to nod in the direction of Turo.

“Did they say what we had to do?”

“Again, she knows. She’s not telling.”

“You know too Roue,” Turo answered.

“Apparently, we’re supposed to follow you no matter what kind of crazy request you make. This is a bad idea just so you know. I barely made it out the last time and somehow I’m just expected to go back.”

“Roue, I understand your hesitation but this is important. All our lives are at risk. All of us. Every single blade of grass, every bird, every creature, every ignorant tribe on Trojian will die unless we do something. And if Reeger is done with us he will move onto your home planet, or someone else’s. He’ll never stop,” Arien said, holding his hand up to his pounding head and sinking to the ground where he lay down still holding his head.

“I get it. I just don’t like it.”

“Okay, we need to get to Reeger’s armada quick. Any ideas?”

“We need the Rogue,” Roue said.

“The what?” Arien and Turo asked simultaneously.

“My ship. Its fast. It seems everything I needed to fix it was brought to me already, or I was brought to it. I need a few things from this room then we can go.”

“Okay, thank you.”

“I don’t know why you are suddenly so eager to sacrifice yourself for this greater good?” Roue asked Arien pointedly.

“Let’s say I was given a quick education,” Arien answered.

“You’re already starting to sound like them. I’m beginning to wonder if Gerin ever left.”

“Whenever you’re ready.”

“And what’s your motivation in all this Turo?” Roue directed his question at her.

“I am a warrior. I fight to defend my home. Beyond that you need not know.”

“Great. I look forward to working with you too. This is such a bad idea.”

Arien simply shrugged his shoulders before getting back onto his feet. His headache had subsided substantially.

“I think you know where we need to go Roue, but I imagine you must have some idea about how we get there?”

“I do. It’s through the fire. All at once now, one hand in and the other hand on me. Here we go.”

Arien and Turo both placed one hand on Roue’s back and they simultaneously placed their other hands in the fire. In an instant they vanished from the room in a puff of smoke. The fire erupted into a ball of blue smoke and then vanished leaving the room in complete darkness.