CHAPTER THIRTEEN
They finally got to Griffin Empire and they got in using the second entrance.
They soon found their way to the palace.
"Bryan and I will take care of the guards at the second entrance of the palace. You're to stay here until the coast is clear,okay?"Shane said to Derek and Brenda.
"What?You want us to hide here?You need all the help you can get"Brenda said.
"There are only six guards,Bryan and I can take them down"Shane said.
Brenda sighed as she watched them walk to the guards at the second entrance.
The guards brought out their weapons immediately they sighted Bryan and Shane.
"Ready?"Shane asked Bryan as he brought out an arrow from his quiver.
Bryan nodded, bringing out his sword.
The guards advanced towards them at once but the first that almost got to Shane got hit by an arrow before he even got a chance to attack Shane.
He brought out another arrow.
Bryan aimed his sword at a guard's neck but the guard blocked his sword with his, stopping Bryan's attack.
Bryan stared intently at the guard before giving him a hard kick on his right leg,causing the guard to stagger backwards.
He rushed towards the guard and grabbed him by the neck.
The guard's eyes became really red as Bryan tightened his hold around his neck.
He gasped for breath but Bryan only released him after running him through with his sword
Another guard attacked Bryan from behind,giving him a cut on his neck
He turned to face the guard,his eyes glowering dangerously
Shane had a guard's neck locked between his arms
The guard struggled to break free but Shane was too strong for him
He snapped the guard's neck and then kicked him,allowing his back hit the wall.
That made it the third guard he's taken down already
He turned to see if Bryan needed help and but he stopped and watched when he saw Bryan was on the last guard
"The coast is clear"Brenda said to Derek and they both came out of their hiding spot
They ran to meet Shane and Bryan
"Quick,more guards will be here any minute from now, let's change into these guards clothes"Shane said
Shane,Bryan and Derek turned their backs to Brenda,giving her privacy to change while they changed theirs
"Done"Brenda said when she was through and they turned to face her
Bryan walked to her and helped her pack her hair into a bun
"Right"She said
There were no female guards in Griffin Empire and leaving her hair hanging down her shoulder would only make it easier for her to get caught
They entered the palace
"Don't forget,you two are to be on the watch out"Shane reminded Bryan and Brenda before going in the direction of the palace dungeon while Derek went in the direction of the palace hall
Derek walked around the palace hall,trying to look for the kitchen where he was sure he would find Bryan and Brenda's mother
He finally found where the kitchen was and luckily,he met her cooking with some other people
He went to meet her and whispered something in her ear
She stood and followed him out of the kitchen
He stopped walking when they've gotten a few steps away from the kitchen
"Why did we stop?"She muttered "I thought we were going to see the king,you said the king required my presence"
Derek turned,facing her
"I was the one who required your presence actually,I need you to come with me"He said "Queen Eleanor"He bowed
"How did you -"
"Shane was right"He smiled "You're alive. Being able to see your face clearly now,one can easily recognize you"He said
"Shane?"She asked
"Yes,your son"He said "You may not recognize me because of the uniform plus it's been years since we last saw each other's face clearly but it's me, Derek"He said again
"I'm really confused right now,if you're Derek,why are you dressed in that uniform and -"
"I'll explain later but right now,we have to get out of here. I'm not going to harm you,trust me"He said
Shane found his way to the palace dungeon and took down all the guards he met guarding it.
He got the dungeon keys and began opening the rooms one after the other
Some guards heard noises coming from the palace dungeon and they quickly rushed to see what was happening
Brenda saw guards going to the dungeon, carrying dangerous weapons
"Not on my watch" She said and shot an arrow in their direction
The arrow hit one of the guards and in no time, Bryan and Brenda were surrounded
"You may be putting on our uniform but we can tell you're not one of us" One of the guards said
Bryan and Brenda faced the guards with their backs turned against each other
"You're going to regret messing with us"Another guard said
"I don't think so"Brenda said with a smirk
Shane got to the last of the dungeon room and opened it.
He led the people out of the dungeon and took them to where Bryan and Brenda was
They were both standing in the midst of lifeless guards who were lying in the pool of their blood.
They both rushed to meet Shane when they saw him.
"These are all the people that were taken captive from our kingdom years ago?"Brenda asked.
"No,some of them are from other kingdoms" Shane said "Bryan and I are going to lead them out of the palace and also out of the kingdom. You,Derek and our mother are to meet us in the jungle"He said.
Brenda nodded.
Not long after Bryan and Shane left with the people,Brenda saw Derek walking towards her with a woman behind him.
She didn't even have to view the woman's face for long before knowing that the woman was her mother.
She ran and hugged her tightly.
She smiled,tears trickling down her face at the same time.
"Brenda?" Queen Eleanor muttered.
Brenda released her from her tight hug and nodded.
Queen Eleanor held Brenda's face,smiling
"I never thought I'd see you again"She caressed Brenda's cheek.
"I've missed you so much,mother"
"You too"She smiled "Are you okay, you're not hurt are you?"She asked worriedly,seeing the blood on Brenda's clothes and face.
"I'm fine,mother"
"And your brother?Is he alright, Derek told me he's here"
"He left not too long -"
"We have to leave now"Derek said when he looked back and saw guards running towards them.
Brenda held her mother's hand and they ran, heading for the exit.
Shane and Bryan stood,waiting for Derek and Brenda.
The people with them had reduced as most of them had left for their various kingdoms immediately they got out of the Griffin Empire.
Only the people from Cyan Haven stayed with them.
Shane exhaled when he finally slighted Derek and Brenda.
He walked to them, meeting them on the way.
"Shane?"Queen Eleanor called when Shane got to them.
Shane smiled, nodding.
"You're the young man from the dungeon"She brushed the hair on his face away, viewing his face properly.
Tears welled up her eyes, remembering how he was whipped that day
"You've grown into a strong and brave young man, I -"Shane pulled her into a hug, cutting her sentence short.
"I missed you"He smiled.
"It's amazing you both still share a striking resemblance" Queen Eleanor smiled, holding Shane and Brenda's cheek after Shane broke the hug "I never imagined this day would come,when I would get to see you two again" She said and turned to face Derek "Thank you" She smiled at him.
"What? Me? They did most of the work"Derek said "But I'd still like to get a hug though"He smiled and hugged her.
Shane and Brenda smiled
This was the happiest moment of their life
"I have a million questions to ask you two"Queen Eleanor said.
TBC...✍️