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2024-10-29 19:42:56Four despondent weeks in Hell passed for the three soldiers locked in Emperor Mentir's dungeon and they had not found the opportunity to attempt another escape. Gerardo had been dragged back and forth from the Interrogation Room every day, nearly saturated in his own blood and today was worse. When he was returned to the prison, he coughed and choked in the arms of the two servants dragging him until his knees gave out completely. The servants let him collapse to the floor and waited until he was finished. Gerardo continued to cough up blood as he clutched his stomach in ruthless agony and groaned, doing everything he could to push through the torment. Once he had finished hacking, a guard seized the collar of his shirt and flung him inside the cell with Travis and Jole.
His collision with the floor triggered another fit. Gerardo lay on his back gnashing his teeth and he coughed s
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The dark figure stared at Rein with burning yellow eyes and didn't move. Rein remained motionless as well, afraid that any movement might provoke it to attack. The stand-off gave her enough time to surmise in this odd lighting that she stood face to face with a large rat, but she was still unable to decipher its motive. It was difficult to know what to do without knowing what her opponent wanted. Nevertheless, she had to act before it finally decided to attack her and Pryce."Can you speak?" she asked.The rat didn't relax its position but answered her in a low, intimidating voice. "I can.""I don't wish to fight," Rein said. "I am not a threat; you have my word."
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It had been almost a month since Jorge escaped prison on his own, and devising a flawless plan with Calder to rescue everyone else was proving next to impossible. One afternoon, Calder grazed in whatever grass he could find through the thick snow, and Jorge returned from the lake carrying his lunch in an oversized leaf."What did you find?" Calder asked."Wouldn't you know it?" said Jorge. "The last of the fireberries."He chuckled and popped one in his mouth."Fascinating," Calder replied, quickly losing interest. "So you are absolutely against sneaking into the palace with the cat disguise you've been using to check up on your comrades?"
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Emperor Mentir shot around and looked at the coin bag resting a foot away from the mouse hole. Before the emperor had a chance to react, Pryce jumped back into the drawer and climbed into the one below while Rein darted out of the mouse hole and snatched the coin bag. When she made it back inside, Lusitania took the bag from her and ran off in the direction of rat and mice civilization. Rein didn't follow. Lusitania noticed and stopped."Why do you just stand there?" he asked. "Come along quickly!""I must be sure Pryce makes it back safely!" Rein replied."Pryce is lost, Rein!""I'm not leaving here without him, Lusitania!"
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The last light of the Northern sun shone in the sky when Jorge finally returned from his walk and reluctantly met up again with Calder."So what have you decided?" Calder asked."We'll go through with your plan. I'll ask to speak with the emperor.""Have you devised something to add to that plan at all?" Calder asked.Suddenly they both recognized the sound of frantic footsteps running towards them from the direction of the palace. They quickly bolted behind a tree and Jorge searched for some sort of weapon to arm himself. Unfortunately, with everything covered in snow and having been escorted out of the prison without a weapon, he was defenseless aside from his bare fists. Nevertheless, he was determined to make it
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Blood shot everywhere with the dust and shards, all of it showering over Rein while she ducked for cover. She peered over her shoulder with a look of sheer panic and saw Pryce's arm and leg protruding from behind what was left of the rock: the only parts of him that hadn't been crushed by it. They simply dangled there by their tendons as crimson poured from the mangled limbs and surged down the wall like a stream of magma.Rein couldn't tear her eyes from the scene and she trembled to the point where she struggled to regain her footing. Somehow her ability to process everything around her had vanished. She felt something caught in her throat: a sob or a scream, she couldn't tell which. Finally, she brought herself to shoot down the tunnel and escape the horror scene before she lost consciousness. She exited the palace, soared over the wall, and dove into the icy Sirene Lake to was
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The prisoners rampaged down the corridors brandishing their swords and any other weapons they were able to get their hands on. Those who couldn't find any weapons worked their creativity and made use of chairs, small tables, potted plants, and whatever blunt objects they could manage to lift. It was a war in itself. There were fistfights, sword-fights, and some of the palace workers swatted, kicked, and stomped on the rodents scurrying about on the floor. Jole and Travis managed to avoid most of the chaos and searched to find the woman who had freed them. Then they caught sight of a black cat, which called to them."Travis! Jole! It's me, Jorge!" Jole and Travis watched him jump onto a console table. "Listen, I require your aid with something. I suspect the emperor is still in the throne room because he isn't in his chamber. I plan to attack it."
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Guided by the torches illuminating the courtyard, Jorge made it to the top of the stone wall and climbed onto the overlooking branch of a tree. Twilight had passed and the light of the orange moon was all Jorge had to aid his way through the Lucierna Forest and the thick snowfall. Ahead, he could make out the dim glow of a campfire and he ran towards it. He only morphed back into his original form once he had arrived and verified that he knew the members of the group surrounding the fire."Captain!" Travis exclaimed. "Where have you been?""Spying.""Did you learn anything?" Jole asked anxiously."They're going to search the forest for us tomorrow.""And what o
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Now that she could no longer fly, Rein would have to get accustomed to running and climbing, and depending on other animals for long-distance transportation. She soon realized that although riding an animal may be a faster way to travel, it took practice and she didn't have time to learn. She rushed through the tunnels of the rats and mice domain towards the east wing of the palace and emerged on the opposite side. She found herself looking at the stone wall, which served as a barrier between her and the wood beyond it. Climbing up the wall was a tiresome challenge, and descending it without slipping and dropping the rest of the way down was even more so. Halfway down the wall, she decided it would be faster to simply let go and tumble into the thick snow at the bottom. She emerged freezing cold, but all she could do now was continue onward as quickly as possible and hope that the activity would warm her up soon.
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Chapter Twenty-Three: A Promise Fulfilled
Gerardo returned home to his mother only to find that she had expected (and hoped) that he had died during the Stone War and had sold all of his possessions. Since he wasn't particularly welcomed home, Gerardo decided to leave his mother and build a cabin in the Lucierna Forest to live in on his own. He spent what little money he had received from serving in the military on clothes and necessities and despite being exceptionally lonely, he did well enough to get by.When not hunting or struggling to sell his kill, Gerardo spent most of his time sitting on a hill in Helvetica looking over the Aquamarine Ocean. He enjoyed the beauty and peace this location had to offer. However, the quiet that surrounded him on this hilltop sometimes gave way to questions and negative thoughts. For instance, now that he had fought in the war and served the purpose given to him b
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Chapter Twenty-Two: Bravery, Love, and Regard
Everyone in the room remained silent, awaiting to hear a reaction from Emperor Plake. The emperor gently tossed the letter onto the table in front of him."Well it is a good thing this is no hoax," he said. He called to his scribe. "Cal! Address a message to Emperor Mandingo and include everything we have discussed. There is no need for code or such. I trust this pixie can avoid capture. Be sure to write every detail.""Yes, Your Majesty," Cal replied."Should we begin preparation then, Sire?" asked a general."No," replied the emperor. "Mandingo seemed skeptical in his letter. You know as well as I that we cannot execute this plan without his assistance. In the meantime, I would like to make Jorge a general of his
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Chapter Twenty-One: A Prophecy Narrowly Avoided
The next morning Gerardo woke up peacefully for the first time in ages. His eyes opened painlessly and his head turned without soreness as he studied his surroundings in astonishment. He lay on a chaise lounge covered with a fur blanket in the most luxurious cave he had ever laid eyes on. In front of him was a selection of fresh fruit on an oriental table, and further toward the entrance, Calder slept atop a cluster of cotton pillows.Gerardo did not desire to get up; he was too comfortable. With any luck, the forest sounds would help him to fall back asleep: the trickling water, the soft chatter of tiny voices, the wind rustling the leaves of the trees, the lulling birdsong... then a conversation between the voices of Calder (who had just awakened) and Dil distracted him so that relaxation was no longer possible for him to obtain.
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Chapter Twenty: There is More to be Done
Now that she could no longer fly, Rein would have to get accustomed to running and climbing, and depending on other animals for long-distance transportation. She soon realized that although riding an animal may be a faster way to travel, it took practice and she didn't have time to learn. She rushed through the tunnels of the rats and mice domain towards the east wing of the palace and emerged on the opposite side. She found herself looking at the stone wall, which served as a barrier between her and the wood beyond it. Climbing up the wall was a tiresome challenge, and descending it without slipping and dropping the rest of the way down was even more so. Halfway down the wall, she decided it would be faster to simply let go and tumble into the thick snow at the bottom. She emerged freezing cold, but all she could do now was continue onward as quickly as possible and hope that the activity would warm her up soon.
Follow: Book 1 The Rose Tree Chronicles
Chapter Nineteen: Divine Intervention
Guided by the torches illuminating the courtyard, Jorge made it to the top of the stone wall and climbed onto the overlooking branch of a tree. Twilight had passed and the light of the orange moon was all Jorge had to aid his way through the Lucierna Forest and the thick snowfall. Ahead, he could make out the dim glow of a campfire and he ran towards it. He only morphed back into his original form once he had arrived and verified that he knew the members of the group surrounding the fire."Captain!" Travis exclaimed. "Where have you been?""Spying.""Did you learn anything?" Jole asked anxiously."They're going to search the forest for us tomorrow.""And what o
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Chapter Eighteen: After So Much Effort...
The prisoners rampaged down the corridors brandishing their swords and any other weapons they were able to get their hands on. Those who couldn't find any weapons worked their creativity and made use of chairs, small tables, potted plants, and whatever blunt objects they could manage to lift. It was a war in itself. There were fistfights, sword-fights, and some of the palace workers swatted, kicked, and stomped on the rodents scurrying about on the floor. Jole and Travis managed to avoid most of the chaos and searched to find the woman who had freed them. Then they caught sight of a black cat, which called to them."Travis! Jole! It's me, Jorge!" Jole and Travis watched him jump onto a console table. "Listen, I require your aid with something. I suspect the emperor is still in the throne room because he isn't in his chamber. I plan to attack it."
Follow: Book 1 The Rose Tree Chronicles
Chapter Seventeen: Last-Minute Adjustments
Blood shot everywhere with the dust and shards, all of it showering over Rein while she ducked for cover. She peered over her shoulder with a look of sheer panic and saw Pryce's arm and leg protruding from behind what was left of the rock: the only parts of him that hadn't been crushed by it. They simply dangled there by their tendons as crimson poured from the mangled limbs and surged down the wall like a stream of magma.Rein couldn't tear her eyes from the scene and she trembled to the point where she struggled to regain her footing. Somehow her ability to process everything around her had vanished. She felt something caught in her throat: a sob or a scream, she couldn't tell which. Finally, she brought herself to shoot down the tunnel and escape the horror scene before she lost consciousness. She exited the palace, soared over the wall, and dove into the icy Sirene Lake to was
- Follow: Book 1 The Rose Tree Chronicles
Chapter Sixteen: Hope Gained and Hope Lost
The last light of the Northern sun shone in the sky when Jorge finally returned from his walk and reluctantly met up again with Calder."So what have you decided?" Calder asked."We'll go through with your plan. I'll ask to speak with the emperor.""Have you devised something to add to that plan at all?" Calder asked.Suddenly they both recognized the sound of frantic footsteps running towards them from the direction of the palace. They quickly bolted behind a tree and Jorge searched for some sort of weapon to arm himself. Unfortunately, with everything covered in snow and having been escorted out of the prison without a weapon, he was defenseless aside from his bare fists. Nevertheless, he was determined to make it
- Follow: Book 1 The Rose Tree Chronicles
Chapter Fifteen: How Not to Execute a Plan
Emperor Mentir shot around and looked at the coin bag resting a foot away from the mouse hole. Before the emperor had a chance to react, Pryce jumped back into the drawer and climbed into the one below while Rein darted out of the mouse hole and snatched the coin bag. When she made it back inside, Lusitania took the bag from her and ran off in the direction of rat and mice civilization. Rein didn't follow. Lusitania noticed and stopped."Why do you just stand there?" he asked. "Come along quickly!""I must be sure Pryce makes it back safely!" Rein replied."Pryce is lost, Rein!""I'm not leaving here without him, Lusitania!"
- Follow: Book 1 The Rose Tree Chronicles
