Strangers Awaken Part 1

Bess heard more of the muffled voices on the other side of the entrance. The knarles and their trainers hadn't been far. She assumed that the howl they had heard was sparce particles of the triscone being detected. It took a lot of magic for a triscone to teleport to people. This one has somehow teleported four. Charles and Donald both began to stir. Bess worried that one or both would be loud enough to alert the knarles, or their trainers, that they were hiding close by. In what seemed a split second, Bess was at Charle's bedside on the floor. She perfectly positioned herself between the two strangers, ready to slice their throats if the need arose. Then she heard the knarles cry again. This time further away. Had she missed a second search party? She mentally answered her question by shaking her head no. She was a skilled hunter and tracker. Knarles and their trainers were clumsy and loud. They didn't care who heard them. There was no way she had missed a second search party. "They seemed to be leaving?" Faydrin said more as a question than a statement. Bess gave him a quizative look but said nothing. Another howl, this one was farther away than the first two. Bess was about to ask her brother, if he was expecting someone when Charles eyes flew open. The scene laid out before him was staggering. A beautiful woman crouched over him, a blade in her hand. She was staring across the room at a young man who was about his age. There was a look of fear in his eyes. As if he had been trained his whole life, he jumped to his feet. He grabbed the woman's wrist that held the blade. As if by instinct, he lifted his right knee in succession to slamming her wrist down upon it. As her hand hit his knee, it had just the reaction he had planned. The knife flew from her hand, and scooted across the floor to land at Faydrin's feet. Bess had not expected an attack. She had been unprepared, and caught off guard. This had never happened before. "Grab that knife!" Charles shouted in the direction of Faydrin. Bess now swung into action. She had to keep this fool quiet. All their lives depended on it. She instinctively kickswepted the feet of her attacker. Since she still had a firm grip on her wrist, they both went down.Bess allighted herself on top of Charles, covering his mouth with her hands. She silently prayed he would understand. "Shhh." Charles was pinned by this beautiful woman's powerful legs. He once again let instinct take over. Wrapping his legs around hers, he forcefully rolled her over. He was now in control. Her hand was still over his mouth, as she hissed, "Quiet you fool, or you will get us all killed.". Charles cocked his head over to one side. A questioning look on his face. "What the fuck are you talking about?" Before Bess could answer, he heard a low moan near his feet. He unwrapped his legs from hers, and shook her hand loose from his mouth. "Ron, are you ok?" He asked as he pulled the blanket back revealing Donald thrashing as if caught up in a terrible nightmare. "What did you do to him?" He demanded in a loud voice. Bess and Faydrin visibly grimaced. "Please, if they find us here they will kill us. You must stay quiet." Bess implored. "Who will kill us?" Charles next demanded. "My young friend,all will be explained as soon as we know that the king and queen will be safe." The knife still sat motionless at Faydrin's feet. He had not touched it, nor spoken till now. Charles had assumed this woman had been the reason for the fear in his eyes. It was becoming clear to him now that he was in cahoots with the woman,and something quite odd was going on.Before Charles could continue to fathom the possibilities of these two people, he again heard Donald moaning. Releasing his grip of the woman, he threw her aside as if she weighed nothing.Bess sat stunned for the second time that day. Who was this man who beseemingly over powered her so easily? Donalds eyes slowly opened, as he tossed his head from side to side. Blinking repeatedly, Donald tried to regain his vision. "Charles," Donald murmured. "I am here." Charles said reassuringly. A faraway howl could be heard.Faydrin sighed a deep sigh of relief. The howls meant they were many tonks away, and everyone in the passage was safe.Donald's eyes closed again,and his breathing became soft and even. "Ron," Charles shook Donald lightly. "Ron!" He said a little louder, while shaking harder. Standing up, he glared at the woman. "What's wrong with him? What did you do to us? Where the fuck are we?" © D.RipkaCartwright Typed by: Alicia Moser during a phone conversation with the author DRipka-Cartwright Wednesday May 11, 2005