23. A Safe Harbour
Gawyn whistled to summon Zephyr but being unable to fly dampened the speed of the gryphon. They were still struggling in the net when they heard more voices and the sounds of someone making their way through the bushes.
"...you imbecile! I swear you will be cleaning the latrines for the rest of your sorry career!"
The boy who discovered them appeared again, but someone else was dragging him with a painful grip on his neck this time.
"Dun!" Skylar shouted, and relief flooded her body. "Thank gods!"
"Captain!" the man let go of the squirming youth and saluted. "I can't believe it's you!"
"Well, technically, it's Lieutenant now, but let's not get hooked on semantics here. I'm so glad to see you, Dun! Do you think you can get us out of here?"
"Sure thing, Lieutenant!" He trotted to the nearby tree, drew his dagger, and cut the rope.
Before Skylar managed to scream, they plummeted straight down. Fortunately, the forest floor was littered with leaves, and the ground was muddy, so neither of them got any more serious injuries from the fall. Skylar once again found herself lying in the soil, struggling for breath.
"I hate your lands," Gawyn groaned next to her.
"Right now, I'm inclined to agree with you...."
Dun hurried to help them to their feet. When he recognised Gawyn, he strengthened and saluted profoundly. "Lord General!"
"At ease, soldier," Gawyn said, massaging his elbow.
"I told you it was the General!" squeaked the youth, pointing an accusatory finger at Gawyn. "He is a wanted traitor! If the Queen's soldiers find out we helped him, we'll be in trouble!"
"Shut your trap, private!" Dun barked. "This is Lady Skylar Shawcross, and I'll be damned if I ever raise my blade against her!"
Before he finished the sentence, the bushes exploded, and a huge beast jumped at the youth, pinning him to the ground and shrieking furiously.
"Zephyr, down!" Gawyn commanded, trying to outcry the terrified howls of the boy.
The gryphon looked up at the General, his tail still lashing angrily.
"I said, down! It's safe now. He's not a danger to us."
Zephyr made a sound that seemed a lot like a scoff and got off the horrified soldier.
"You sure you want to be against us, soldier?" Skylar asked with a raised brow.
"N-no, Ma'am! I mean you no harm, I swear!"
"That's good. Let's not dawdle here more than necessary then. Dun, I need you to bring us up to speed with the current situation. We were in hiding for the last few days, so not much news reached us."
Dun's face turned sour. He beckoned them to follow him. "It's not good, Lieutenant. Just yesterday, we received a heavily guarded delegation from the palace. The Queen expected you to flee here. She demanded we turn you to her soldiers when you cross into these lands."
"And what was Father's response?" Skylar asked solemnly.
Dun smiled mirthlessly. "He said he'd rather die than turn on his daughter. He also told them to get their lying asses out of his domain."
"I see the talent for politics runs in the family," Gawyn noted.
"You could say that." Skylar shrugged.
"They said he has three days to change his mind. The Queen will send an army to retrieve you if he still refuses cooperation."
Skylar huffed. "She can try. They have no chance against us in our lands, with the support of the strongest Gryphonhearts battalions."
"They might have if they coordinate the attack with the forces of the Blighted Lands," interjected Gawyn gloomily.
Skylar stopped in her tracks and looked at him. "Do you think she would go that far?"
"Absolutely. I think that's exactly how Elinora planned all this. Think about it. She's been receiving aid from the Blighted Lands for a long time now. What was in it for them? They don't strike me as a type to offer their help voluntarily. What is it that the Blighted Lands' sorcerers might want?"
All the blood drained from Skylar's face, and her stomach clenched painfully. "Our lands. We are the biggest obstacle for them. The barrier they can't break through alone."
"Yes,"Gawyn nodded. "Alarat was going out of his way to straighten this border.
But Elinora, with her clever ploy, turned you from the protectors of Lamyria to traitors that must be exterminated.
If she leads her army here and they strike at the same time, we'll be in trouble.
Then she will probably let the Blighted Lands' monsters ravage your lands as they please.
That should keep them occupied for another hundred years or so while she rules Lamyria as she sees fit."
"But she is the Queen!" Dun gasped. "Why would she sacrifice part of her kingdom to those abominations?"
"To make sure she's the one on the throne. She knows I will not allow her to keep the crown as long as I live," Gawyn said through clenched teeth. "And sometimes, you have to make sacrifices if you want to succeed."
"But it's thousands of lives we are talking about! If the monsters from the Blighted Lands breach the border, nothing will stop them from flooding all the towns and villages here!"
Skylar put a hand on his shoulder. "We won't let that happen, Dun. Not while we live."
They reached Shawcross' stronghold at sunset.
Colart and Aurora were waiting for them in the courtyard - the news travelled fast.
When they crossed the gate, the lord of the estate ran up to them and closed Skylar in an embrace so tight she could barely breathe.
But she didn't mind. Didn't mind at all.
"I didn't do this," she whispered through the tears that were suddenly streaming down her cheeks.
"Whatever the Queen claims, I didn't do it."
All the tension and anxiety weighing heavily on her suddenly slipped away when the comforting arms of her father hugged her tightly, and his familiar scent filled her nostrils.
She let herself pretend, just for a few seconds, that she was a child again and that everything would be all right from now on.
"I know, darling," Colart said, kissing her head, his voice strained with hardly withheld emotions. "I didn't believe a word. I'm so glad you're safe." He let her pull away after a moment and turned to Gawyn. "Lord General, you saved my daughter. I would never be able to repay you for that."
"Think nothing of it. Skylar saved me more times than I could count," Gawyn shrugged.
"Oh, protocol be damned!" scoffed Colart and closed Gawyn in a bear-hug.
The General tensed and looked at Skylar for help, but she only grinned at him, wiping her tears. He hesitantly patted the older man on the back.
"Sky!" Aurora finally caught up to them, her steps more cautious, the round belly visible under her beautiful dress.
"Rori!" Skylar exclaimed and hugged her sister. "Oh, gods, look at you! You are even more pretty than I remember!"
"And you, my dear sister, look horrible and stink like a skunk," Aurora replied, wrinkling her nose."
"Well, excuse me! I didn't have time for a bath while running for my life!"
"I'm glad you are safe, Sky. The things they said about you... It was atrocious. The nerve of those people! To come to our house and try to tarnish your reputation like that!"
Her tirade got cut short by the loud hoofbeats. The messenger on horseback rushed into the courtyard at full speed. He jumped off the saddle and kneeled before Colart.
"My lord! An urgent report from the border!"
"What is it, soldier?" Colart asked, gesturing for the man to stand up.
"A man showed up at the border an hour ago, sir."
"A man?" Colart raised a brow.
"He... he claims he is an envoy of the Blighted Lands and demands an immediate audience with you, sir!"
"An envoy? From the Blighted Lands?" Skylar asked incredulously. "But we've never seen any official from them."
"He said he had an urgent matter to discuss, my lord," the soldier said.
"Well, let's bring him here and hear what he has to say then."