Chapter 39

Calvert's large desk fell over with a mighty crash as he stood up from his chair...His face portrayed pure fury. "How could you let this happen?" He demanded through gritted teeth. Darius stood in front of the fuming Dome Keeper. He kept his head held high, despite the overwhelming urge to lower his gaze.

"They all got out of their cells before any of the guards could notice anything. We also found a few sentries knocked out, presumably to prevent them from sounding the alarm." Darius tried explaining, but deep down he knew that nothing he could say would calm the furious man standing across from him.

Calvert took a deep breath, but it did little to calm his anger. "Who did we loose?" he questioned harshly. Darius had feared the question. If Calvert was mad now, he would be a raging bull after the news Darius was about to give him.

"A dozen were killed. Three got out and the rest are injured, but we managed to lock them up again." Calvert was silent...

It drove fear into the Captain of the guard. He had expected the Dome Keeper to yell with fury, but instead he stood in dead silence...

"Who got out?" he asked after a couple of minutes slowly dragged by.

"The Victor, Nedes. And the two Rogues."

Calvert swore harshly and slammed a fist into the wall. "So you let both of my best Domers just walk out of here. As the captain of the guard, I can blame you for this slip up. I could have your head for this." Calvert yelled furiously.

Darius swallowed nervously, but he forced himself to hide the fear he felt. "I understand this is a major set back, but I've already organized a hunting party to go after them." Darius explained. Calvert raised his deranged eyes to meet the Captain's.

"You actually think you'll be able to catch the Rogue again?" Calvert's words stung with sarcasm. Darius nodded his understanding, "No, I know I won't be able to, but how about the man who caught him the first time?"

At this, Calvert got an interested glint in his eyes. Darius gestured to the door where a guard stood waiting. He swung the doors of the office open and ushered a group of men in. They wore the familiar uniform of the Elite.

Calvert watched the small party of men with mild interest, but he kept up his furious façade. The leader of the group came to a halt beside the overturned desk. He held out a hand to Calvert in greeting, "The name's Cart. I heard you have a rat that needs catching."

Calvert grasped the hand firmly and gave it a strong shake, "Dead or alive."

******

It took Emeric and Kedo nearly six hours to reach the forest. The horse was exhausted. He had been cantering all the way. As the first two hours passed, Emeric had stopped for a few minutes, giving the loyal animal a chance to recover. After that point they had stopped at hourly intervals. Now they were a few kilometers into the thick woods, but the horse couldn't manage anything faster than a slow trot. Emeric knew that if they didn't stop soon, the horse wouldn't make it.

They stopped when they reached a small stream that ran through the thick trees. The horse drank desperately with satisfying, sucking noises. Emeric and Kedo dismounted and drank as well. The older Rogue felt sympathy when he gazed at the elegant white horse. He was drenched in thick, foamy sweat, his nostrils were flared with each quick breath it took and he stood with his head hanging low.

Emeric, coming to the conclusion that they would move faster on foot, decided to unsaddle the horse. He hid the tack under water in the stream. He knew that if they were being followed, the horse's footprints would lead the hunting party away from them. However, if someone realized that the horse had been unsaddled, they would search for human footprints not hooves.

Emeric wiped their footprints away and stepped into the stream. Kedo followed him. They walked upriver through the clear water. Downriver would have been the more obvious choice as the stream ran deeper into the forest in that direction, and that was exactly why Emeric chose going upstream.

After an estimated kilometer, Emeric lead them into the woods. He set off at a steady jog. His lungs still ached from all the smoke he had breathed in, which made the jogging worse, but he had to push through to put a safe distance between them and a possible hunting party.

To Emeric it felt like a dream, being out of the woods once more. He still couldn't believe that they had actually managed to get away. He couldn't stop the smile that spread over his face. He was free...

They managed that speed for half an hour before Kedo needed a rest. He wasn't as fit as Emeric. And he had been locked up in a cell for nearly two years. "Emeric." Kedo called through sucking breaths as he started falling behind. Emeric instantly stopped and glanced at Kedo with concern. He could evidently see that the young kid couldn't manage a jog anymore.

"We can't stop." Emeric instructed, but instead of demanding Kedo to continue, he sank down to his haunches. "Jump on." Emeric instructed gesturing at his back. Kedo gratefully climbed onto Emeric's back. His legs were on the verge of giving in. Emeric immediately set of in the fastest jog he could manage with the added weight. He kept that pace for half an hour before he took a short break.

They continued like that well past midnight. Eventually, Emeric also tired and came to a stop. "We'll stay here until dawn." He informed the young Rogue who was already laying on the ground, half asleep.

"We actually made it out." he mused as he ruffled Kedo's hair. Kedo smiled, but he was in a deep slumber. Emeric sank down next to the young Rogue. He gazed up at the stars through the canopy of the trees. The sight brought back memories of when he would do just that with his mother and father all those years before.

He was still looking at the stars when sleep finally fell over him. He had a pleasant, dreamless evening.

Emeric blinked his eyes open as his skin prickled. He instantly sat upright. His instincts had warned him many times before and he knew to be on alert when ever the strange sensation passed over his skin.

He sat in silence for a few seconds before he heard voices. The colour drained from his face. He put a hand over Kedo's mouth to prevent him form making a sound as he woke. The young Rogue woke with start and gazed up at Emeric with fearful eyes. Emeric put a finger over his lips and removed his hand from Kedo's mouth. He slowly looked past the tree by his back and could make out a group of men in the distance.

He swallowed nervously, not because of their numbers, but because of the uniform that they wore...

They were Elites.

"Follow me, but stay low. And don't make a sound." Emeric whispered. He slowly moved away from the tree, staying in a crouched position. He moved as quickly as he dared without making a noise. Once he couldn't see the men anymore, he turned to Kedo. He had to protect the kid. But Emeric was unarmed. In that state he was no match for the Elite. He had learned that from past experience. The only way to protect Kedo would be to lead the men away from him.

Emeric spotted a tree that had a large hollow in it. He quickly gestured towards Kedo to get in. As Kedo sat down in the dark hollow, he raised frightened eyes towards Emeric. "Please don't leave me here." He whispered softly.

The words physically hurt Emeric, but he didn't have another choice. "I'll be back Kedo. Just wait for me to come and get you again, okay? Don't get out until I come for you." Emeric hastily explained.

"Don't go." Kedo pleaded desperately.

Emeric pulled him into a tight hug, "Have I ever let you down?" He asked. "No." Kedo sniffled in Emeric's shoulder.

Emeric nodded, "And I'm not planning to let you down any time soon. So just wait for me here."

"Okay..." Kedo whispered softly.

With that said, Emeric stood up and grabbed a fallen branch. He laid it over the hollow, hiding Kedo with it's shadows...

He met Kedo's eyes for one last second before he jogged away, towards the Elite. When he got close, he waited behind a tree until they came into view. He swallowed down his nerves, knowing that he was risking his life. "For Kedo." He told himself.

Emeric broke away into a sprint, in the direction that lead away from Kedo. He heard the thrilled shouts of the Elite as he was spotted. Dread washed through Emeric, but he didn't glance back when he heard the men charge after him. He simple raced off into the woods, however, he held himself back, running in a manner that would keep the Elites within constant view.

As he ran, unwanted memories passed through his mind. He remembered the last time he had run from the Elite and how that attempt had ended. With that thought in mind, he kept an eye open for tripwires.

However, after four miles, Emeric changed tactics and went full pelt. His natural athleticism left the Elites in the dust. It wasn't long before he completely escaped their view. He grinned triumphantly.

He would keep this pace for another mile before turning off of coarse to return to Kedo, but he'd make sure to hide his trail. He counted his steps until he reached a mile. He was just about to change direction when he noted the strange thickness of the leaves that lay across the floor. It had an unnatural look to it.

Just as Emeric realized what was going on, there was an ominous click, and then a steal jaw trap snapped shut over Emeric's ankle.

A short chain jerk taught and Emeric fell to the ground with a cry of unfathomable pain.

Emeric pulled an arm over his mouth in a futile attempt to muffle his cries of agony, but it did little to lessen the volume. Emeric gazed down at his foot but the sight of his mangled ankle only worsened the pain. He groaned as he tried to ignore the horrid agony.

For a few minutes Emeric wasn't able to move, the pain was just too treacherous. However, he knew that the Elite wasn't far and his time was limited. He had to get out.

He sat up with some effort and more cries of pain that he failed to suppress flew from his lips. Each movement he made caused the iron teeth of the trap to bite deeper into Emeric's flesh. He could already feel it cutting into bone at one point.

After taking a few breaths to calm himself, Emeric gripped a jaw in each hand and pulled them apart with all his might. He grunted with the effort, but he only managed to pull them apart a few centimeters before the slick iron slipped from his grip and the trap clamped shut on his ankle once more.

"Aargghh." Emeric couldn't keep the cry from breaking through his lips. He fell onto his back as tears of hopelessness and pain started building up in his eyes. Warm blood ran from his horrid injury and leaking into the ground. Emeric breathed deeply, preparing for another attempt to remove the trap from his leg.

He pushed himself back into a sitting position and got a firm grip in the trap, however, just as he was about to pull the jaws apart, a voice broke through the silence of the woods.

"Well, isn't this just unfortunate." Emeric slowly turned his head towards Cart who stood a few meters away. That was when Emeric noticed Darius behind him. The Captain of the guard was wearing Elite uniform which camouflaged with the surrounding forest.

He watched Emeric in a manner that lingered on the uncomfortable side, as if he didn't want to take part in the hunt.

"I was hoping for a more thrilling hunt, but I guess this will have to do." Cart stated in a mocking tone of voice as he drew his sword and slowly moved towards the helpless Rogue.