Captured

The bandit king named Jack was placed in chains and led out of the castle, into an awaiting transport, prisoner wagon. Timea walked out of the fort's main building and into the morning sun, holding the cursed katana. No one should ever have this in their possession, she said to herself.

Following her was the heroes with Luke holding Melinda in a comforting embrace while the others followed.

Melinda meditated on what she saw would happen. She was willing to kill someone to protect her friends. Is going that far, really who she is, she thought to herself?

My lady, someone came up to Timea. We have broken into their storehouse. All the items stolen from villagers may be stored there and could be returned.

Good, she stated. We will send all of them to King Henry, she continued as she looked for her horse.

Before her was a supply wagon filled with pilfered relics brought from inside the fort. Timea froze the sword in a case of ice and then she slid the sword into the wagon.

She then whistled for her horse, which immediately heard her and started coming.

Blue Maiden, a voice said. She turned to see a messenger unknown to her. I have a message for you, he said, handing her a wrapped note. Opening it, it said that

'Your good friend,' The peddler was seen in the town of Abergavenny. He will know where 'The Grand Magician' might be located.'

She turned and look at the messenger and said who gave you this information.

The Black Knight gave us the request to keep tabs on' The Peddler!' He kept it from you to surprise you!

Timea smiled briefly and then said, heroes, let' s go. I acquired information that can help you. She motioned to the carriage driver to follow her.

Captain Mark, you are in charge. "Ensure that everything goes to King Henry before you return back to the camp, Timea said o him!"

The heroes entered the carriage which followed Timea as she rode out from the Fort, in the direction of the town.

"It has been so long since she saw that old geezer she thought as she rode through a forested area. He used to give her fruits when she trained with her mentor. He will definitely know where her mentor was.

Mr Benjamin raised up his head as the others were talking about what had transpired back at the fort. Melinda was still a bit shaken but the conversations from her friends seemed to brighten her mood.

"This isn't good, Mr Benjamin said out loud."

This caused their conversation to end abruptly. What do you mean asked, Luke with concern.

It seems that we are surrounded on all sides.

Surrounded, asked Greg? Suddenly their carriage stopped. Fiora quickly looked out the window to see that Timea had already stopped her horse before them, at the interlocking of a Cross roads.

Standing in the road was one man who had at least fifty persons on horseback behind him.

I count about fifty whispered Greg to Luke who had gotten out of the carriage. I know that we can take them.

When Greg was finished speaking, an eagle came down from the sky and landed on the carriage. Then behind them, riders rode into view adding more to their group.

A few minutes, more riders came down from the left side of the road with everyone interlocking at the Crossroads.

You were saying, asked Luke at Greg!

Timea rode back to the carriage and said, they have us surrounded. Now may not be the time to 'look for a fight!'

Fiora stated, "we play it cool then!"

Everyone then turned and look at Greg who surrendered and said, ok. We will play it on the safe side.

'Captured.'

All six of them were led back to the castle owned by Lord Jamie who wasn't physically there the night that they arrived.

They were placed in a rune infused, one window magic room that hindered magic casting. The window was on the north wall of the room.

The prisoners were placed in chains that were attached to the wall. It was just long enough for them to be able to sit on the floor, next to the wall.

How the great Lady magician has fallen. I am pretty sure that Lord Jamie will have you executed the guard smirked as he held her cheek in his hand.

"What a waste," he continued as his eyes began to roam over her body. His partner began to warn him. "Be careful!" I heard that she fought an entire battalion of men in a swamp.

Ha, the guard laughed. The swamp was probably haunted and she had help. Releasing her, he and his friend walked to the door to the cell in the tower and was about to exit.

"Guano bread for the prisoners," he shouted as he closed the door behind him.

I tried slowing down time, said Greg after the guards left. It didn't work.

There are magical runes on the walls, stated Timea. Magic is suppressed in here, she continued.

So how are we going to escape, lamented Greg.

Give me some time to think, Timea said as she closed her eyes.

I definitely don't want to die, in this pig cell he stated.

We are probably 100 feet up, added Mr. Benjamin. All those stairs they had us walk up. Pretty sure, we are not on ground level so I would not say that its a pig cell.

Suddenly there was a knock on the door and then it opened. A woman walked in with bowls of rice with 'sides' on it. Handing everyone a wooden spoon, she placed the food at the foot of each person.

It's not what the guard said that it would be, she said softly.

When she left, everyone sat looking at the meal that could probably be laced with something. Greg was the first to break and he ate the meal. After everyone waited for thirty minutes and nothing happened, then they ate the other meals.

Early in the morning, the door opened and Lord Jamie followed by his right hand Matthew, entered the cell, gracing them with his presence. Lord Jamie was beaming from ear to ear at the captured Maiden.

"Christmas came early," he laughed. I am certainly well pleased, he continued. How many men did we lose, he asked curiously? None, stated Matthew. She willingly gave up.

What! What, said Lord Jamie in disbelief. That's not what I thought would happen. He looked at Timea who wasn't looking at him directly. Turning, Lord Jamie looked at the others in the cell.

Who are these people, he asked?

They were with her, Matthew responded.

Oh! Oh, said Lord Jamie overjoyed as he looked at Melinda. Is this your daughter, he asked curiously or is she the younger sister that I have heard about? I have had so much trouble tracking that sister down. I actually thought she was a ghost.

She does look a lot like you. We will keep these two alive for a while, Lord Jamie chuckled.

I have a question, Timea said looking at Matthew. How did you know where we were heading? Did my right hand notify you?

I really don't know who that is, responded Matthew. We found out where your camp was so we started there first. We waited for a couple hours for you to show up but you didn't.

One of your captains, in exchange for his life, stated that you were looking for a particular individual who was in the town. Intercepting you wasn't difficult after that.

And those who were at the camp? You don't need to worry. We burnt the bodies after we took care of them, even the captain.

And what about the rest of the prisoners, asked Matthew turning his attention back to Lord Jamie?

What others! We will have an execution this afternoon and dispose of the bodies.

Silence came to the cell as Timea stopped speaking.

Lord Jamie and Matthew turned and was about to leave when Lord Jamie stopped in his tracks. He looked at Luke and his neck but then turned and walked out the cell.

I thought I saw something, Lord Jamie said to his right hand Matthew as Matthew was closing the cell door. "Guess it was just my imagination!"

There was a silence in the cell for what seemed like eternity until Melinda broke it saying, "today is actually my birthday!"

Really, congratulations said Fiora.

I thought it was next week, Luke sighed knowing that he forgot the most important thing of his life.

I saw a calendar when we were in Timea's encampment so I counted the days, stated Melinda. Didn't think it would turn out this way.

I am glad to hear that, Timea responded.

That's really awesome, Greg said sarcastically but shouldn't we be coming up with a plan to escape!

Greg looked at Timea who was silent. Turning to Mr Benjamin, he saw that he too was strangely silent. After a few minutes passed, Greg calmed down and then Timea spoke. 'it is possible that not all of my men have been killed, she stated softly for only those in the cell to hear. So help would be coming soon, she continued.

Lord Jamie after leaving the prisoners, returned to the summoning room and said to Matthew, do not execute the prisoners until I return, he commanded.

Closing the large door, he locked it and then walked to an apothecary table. Picking up a potion, he drank it and then walked to the drawn summoning circle in the center of the room which had candles on all ends. Sitting at the edge of the circle, he closed his eyes and breathed which caused the candles to light up.

Then he began reciting the summoning chant to bring forth his future self.

'Back at the cell.'

Timea opened her eyes and looked up to the window as she sat on the floor.

Luke was startled as Timea suddenly moved her head. What is it, Luke asked?

Help is here, Timea said with a smile as a blue butterfly flew into the cell through the window.