Chapter 32

Ryla had wanted to run after Drax when she had seen Zoro throw him. She was fighting alongside Raeya so she couldn't have left her alone, but soon Lucy and the others had reached them.

"Raeya, we found Ash; he has gone ahead; he said to bring you back to the ship," she shouted at them. Ryla was relieved to hear that Ash was alright since he was nowhere to be found, and they were afraid he was in trouble.

"No, I have to go and help them; they need me here," said Raeya fighting two bandits at once now.

"No, you go back I'll go and help them," she said to Raeya, and killing her own target she jumped on the back of the one attacking Raeya from the back and made quick work of him as Raeya killed the other one.

"Are you sure?" she asked.

"Yes, Ash ordered it; you have to go back; you have to do the spell tonight," she said to Raeya. Raeya agreed reluctantly and went with Lucy and the others. By the time Ryla reached the hall it was over. Gwen had been fighting strongly against Tamar, but when she saw Ash fall down and Drax lying unconscious too, she gave up halfway, afraid for them. So when Ryla looked inside the hall hidden behind a wall, she saw Ash's body being carried away, Gwen being handcuffed, and Drax still lying unconscious. She knew the fight was over for now, she made a quick decision and followed Ash; they brought him to the huge ship docked at the shore. She didn't go inside since it was heavily guarded, but at least now she knew where they kept him. She then went back to their ship, they have to come up with a plan to rescue them, all of them, Flora, Gwen, Ash, Drax, and Alice, and Ash would also want to get Jade and the others out of there. Six of their members were captured and in danger, and she didn't even know where most of them were. Now that Ash was gone, she felt she was in charge, Raeya thought a skilled fighter, she was more of an adventurer and Lucy was also a good leader and had a right mind but she was too hot-headed. Ash would expect her to do something, and she had to do it fast. Even if they don't go to rescue them, the bandits would now definitely come to them, and then bloodshed would be inevitable.

When she reached back to the ship, they were all gathered on the top deck, the injured were being treated. Murk spotted her first.

"Ryla, I was going to come looking for you; come let me see your cuts," he said, coming to her, a healing kit in hand.

"I am fine, Murk" Now everybody had spotted her, Raeya and Lucy were standing, their eyes full of questions.

"I am afraid I have some bad news," she said into the silence, and then she told them what she had seen. There was a depressing silence for a few minutes then Ryla spoke.

"I know where they are keeping Ash, on the ship, right now it's heavily guarded, but I suspect soon they'll want to increase security at the cave and the site so we'll go to the ship and free Ash, Raeya you focus on the spell," she said to Raeya.

"What's the point? I can't do it without Alice," she said, frustrated.

"Then after rescuing Ash we'll get her," said Ryla "Once he'll be free, he'll know what to do" She knew they all believed in him and right now the only way to not stir panic was if they knew Ash would be among them soon. She had planned something on the way back, but it was too risky and wild, so she didn't tell them yet; she'll have to do it when the time comes.

Ash and Flora and Alice had tried everything, Alice had tried all kinds of spells she knew, Flora had shouted for someone to come and hear their requests, and she had thought if someone entered the cell now, three of them might overpower them, Ash now that he was feeling better was also down with the plan, but no one gave them any notice. Ash had tried going in and out of mindlessness, wishing it might make him think of an idea, but nothing came to mind. He did however find he was getting better at doing it, the more he practiced the better he got. It was getting dark outside, the full moon will be up soon, and they had to do the spell. Ash was about to bang on the door when he started hearing noises outside. He couldn't make out what was happening through the thick metal door, but the noises went on for a long time and they were getting louder. Then they started hearing clearer voices.

"Ash! Ash!" someone was calling out his name.

"Here! Over here!" he shouted as loudly as he could. There were loud footsteps, and then the door was opened from the other side. First Ryla came into view then, followed by Raeya, Lucy, and the rest of the amazons. They took in Ash, Flora, and Alice.

"Look, we got two extra, now only two to go," said Lucy. The girls hugged each other as they asked for each other's well-being.

"I followed them dragging your body here, I didn't know they were in here too," said Ryla as she hugged Ash.

"What's the plan now?" she asked hopefully to Ash.

"We have to do a lot of things," he said louder this time to everyone "But the bandits are in the way for every one of them".

"We should rescue Drax and Gwen first, then we can attack them with full force and take over the camp; we should have done that in the first place, once we are in control we won't have to worry about anything," said Lucy.

"Yes, but I am afraid we can't take on the bandits even with full force without any casualties" explained Ash.

"So, what are we going to do?" asked Raeya.

"We'll have to distract the bandits, have their attention elsewhere, and for that, we'll have to mess up their biggest plan, what they came here in the first place," said Ash.

"The cave," said the girls.

"Yes," said Ash now whispering, "and I have a crazy idea, it will solve the altar problem for good, but it is very risky. it might not even work, and we'll have very little time to get the flower once the plan in motion," he said to everyone's undivided attention "So, Raeya and Alice, you go and get the spell done, Lucy half of you go with them and protect the site, we'll rescue Drax and Gwen because Drax is the key to the plan," he said.