Chapter 9

My skin was cold; I lay awake on the cell floor watching the guards go by. Reno sat in the corner, horrified at what she saw. The king left the blade of my blood next to me; I wondered how many days it had been since. “Please” I begged with the guard “Water” I had little strength, the chains I was bounded with here were very different from when I was captured by Ari. His highness clearly knew me better than before.

“Absolutely not” they laughed, mocking me as they clanked their weapons on the bars. I coughed hard, blood dripped from my wound. The bandages I had been wrapped with were sloppy and falling off now.

“Please” I muttered under difficult breath, none of them showed any pity for me. That was to be expected though; I was a thief, but even worse to the people of Bonto. They laughed as I moved around trying to keep warm. The other prisoners chanted my name, as if I were a saint.

“Shut it you rats!” the guards banged on each of the cell doors, everyone keeping quite. Reno walked over to me, gasping at my wound.

“Go get” I tried to speak with Reno, but my voice could not reach. “Get Tamillia” I begged Reno. She began to cry silently at my side.

“You know I can’t go on my own” her voice trembled as I shivered.

“Reno, you have to” gathering all the strength I could, I pushed against the chains and gave her a light week nudge.

“But” she began to think it over, I coughed more and blood appeared on the tile in front of me. “I have to” she appeared to be speaking to herself. “If I don’t, you’ll die” she got up and walked away, promising to send aid. I turned back to the chains and began to pull on them. Right now I felt helpless, without Reno I was defenseless. The king surly had plans to kill me; a thought did cross my mind, however. Why hadn’t he when he inflicted my wound, maybe for effect, to show the elders he was in charge and that I was just nothing? I thought it over, the king was back soon after I sent Reno off.

He opened the cage I had been looked into and smiled at me. The guards helped me up and he punched me right in the gut, blood dripped from my opened mouth. “Why not just kill me?” I asked. He smiled at me, then handed me a piece of paper.

“I had heard that your queen had a thief” he began “Did you know I also have one myself?” he ran his finger along the piece of paper, a letter from Karil to Alys.

“Why do you have that?” I found my voice again.

“It’s what your after isn’t it? Alys told me so” his voice was cold, I looked up at him. His hand was gripping onto my hair pulling my head up to see his eyes.

“Alys told you?” I gave him a questionable look.

“That’s right, you didn’t think you were the only one that was looking for Karil’s lost mine” he punched me in the gut once more. I fell to the ground; the guards picked me up to receive another blow to the head. “I have 4, so where are the other 3?” his voice struck fear into my eyes.

“I don’t have them” I weakly replied. He laughed at my answer and punched me again.

“I don’t like that answer” he ordered the guards to pick me up again “There is more than 12 kingdom treasuries in there”

“Why are you telling me all this?” I was punched again, put this time kept myself to his level.

“Because, Aris, you are the most skilled thief I know. No one could possibly compare to you, now I know you have them” he pulled me closer to his face as to see his cruel eyes. I pulled back and received more blows to the head.

“I have only 2” I gave him the answer he wanted.

“Only 2?” he stepped on my head, I cried to him, he let go and walked out, leaving me in the crimson puddle of blood. That is where I remained. I closed my eyes tightly and begged to god for a miracle. Soon, I feel into a sleep.

 

It was bright morning by the time I got all my strength again; I found that the chains had stuck to me thanks to all the blood. Looking around, I found that I had those two sticks in my pocket. I began to pick the locks. They clanked together making noise as they echoed through the prison until I was free. The chains had stained my skin and bruised me. I put the chains aside next to me, rubbing my skin, blood still dripped from my face. The guards were nowhere to be seen, so I took the opportunity to pick the lock of my cell door, within a few minutes I was free and it opened. I walked out and ran.

The others in the prison waved at me and cheered me on, I urged them to keep quiet, and they nodded and let me pass. Soon, I was in the grand hall of the king’s main castle. I found my way to the treasury, it was heavily guarded. “What are you doing?” the guards screamed, I was being chased. We ran through the halls, it was decorated with armory and swords. Impulsively, I grabbed a sword and shield and fought them. Strikes scratched across the shield, I fought both of them. Swinging my sword and cutting through to their armor. One was successful in cutting my shoulder blade and I screamed in the agony. I threw the iron sword until I had knocked them both out. Never before now did I think that my father’s weapon training would come in handy.

I held my shoulder as I walked down the hallway, making my way to the king’s room. I was determined to get the maps. With those I would only need 1 more. It had been a while since I was here, but I found my way to the king’s room. Picked the lock on the door and let myself in. It was the same as when I had first been there, the floor was covered in a bear belt. The walls covered in a tapestry and the bed fit for a king. It reminded me of Ari’s room in a way. I was actually beginning to miss my old life at the castle.

The room was bright, and no one inside. I pushed the door forward and walked in. The shelves were filled with books. On the nightstand I found a box with a seal on it. I opened it up, the maps were here. All 4 of them, I held each in my hand. Leaving no room to ask questions I stood up quickly and ran for the door. In horror I took a step back, looking at me was the king. He glared at me, I ran back into the room. Opened the window and began to climb up the side of the castle until I reached the top.

“Get back here” he yelled, guards had me cornered at all ends. I was prepared to jump from the building. I carefully placed the maps into my pocket and jumped. The fall was high; I landed in a haystack that poked me at all ends. The guards looked down at me, calling to the others. I was being chased again, the king followed me. He was chasing me himself, not just the guards. Soon, I became the most wanted man there. They all followed me, the villagers, the guards, the merchants even the king.

I hid myself as best I could from their view. There was no escaping them, I was finally cornered. It was as if all the people in Bonto were after my blood. All I had with me were the maps. Even though I knew he wanted them so badly I couldn’t help but question why. “I’ll kill you Aris” he said, looking deep into my eyes. I stared back at him with the same expression.

“Why do you want Karil’s mine?” I asked.

“There are more than 12 kingdom treasuries!” I felt a sense of Deja vou. He had told me this while he beat me down in the prison. I laughed a little to myself, then clenching because of the pain.

“Alys told you all of this?” I asked him, also remembering that he had told me about Alys.

“Yes, she is the only living relative of Karil and Arnold” his eyes were crazy; I tried to keep my breath as we spoke. The guards were ready to cut me up, even the villagers.

“Karil and Arnold?” I asked this out loud, even though I hadn’t meant to at all.

“That’s right” a girl stepped forward. I hadn’t expected to see this person. Never in my life did I think I would ever again. It was Alys, the same girl from all those years ago. The one I thought had died on that day was here, alive and well. I lowered myself in amazement. The guards got ahold of me and I was chained again. “Karil is my father, Arnold is my uncle” she kneeled down to the ground were I lay. She was so beautiful; it hurt me even more to see her.

“You’re alive?” I asked.

“I am” she smiled “now give me back those maps, please” she held out her hand. I refused; the guards looked all over but could not find them. Even I was astonished, Reno was gone. Could it be that I had lost them in my run.

After the king let out a dreadful sigh, I was beaten once more and thrown into the river. The water guided me down the stream and soon I was out of the town. The water was now tainted red with my blood. I sat up and crawled out of the water, brushing myself off. My clothes were soaked with red water. I sighed and clenched up in pain, in the distance I could hear horses. Tamillia was riding, along with Zane. I took off my boot, pulling out the maps. My subconscious was smarter than I thought. Tamillia screamed my name, Zane pulled up next to her. I lost all balance and fell. My blood stained the grass and Tamillia’s hands. With no time to waste, she used her magic and healed the spot. Zane watched in amazement, she pulled away from my and let me rest. Before I went into another sleep she turned to Zane with pitied eyes.

“Don’t tell, please” she begged.