Chapter 69 - The Journey VII: On The Run

Alan and Argus were keeping their eyes at the entrance of the tower. Nothing seemed suspicious not until they heard a door creaking. Their attention drew towards the cabin as they watch another gatekeeper walking out of the small cabin.

"I hear something going on," The gatekeeper scratched his head, making his way to the entrance of the tower.​​

Argus held onto his scabbard about to attack, but then Alan placed an arm in front of him, "Don't. If you pull your sword out. He'll hear it." Argus continues to hold on to his sword, watching the gatekeeper approach the tower.

"Then we're just going to watch them get attacked?" Argus asked Alan, who sighed and brought out a whistle from his pocket. He blew into the whistle, but no sound came out. But instead, a bird flew in their direction.

"To your master," Alan whispered to the bird and watch it fly as it enters the highest window where they were.

"What is this?" A man asked behind their backs, "Intruders, I gu-" The man got cut off when Argus pulled his sword and did not hesitate to thrust his sword in him. From the clothes, the man was wearing, he was one of the gatekeepers but not their leader.

"Great…we could have kept him captive, but instead, you killed him," Alan sighed while Argus pulls his sword, swings it before placing it back into his scabbard.

"Whose there? Come out!" Asked The other gatekeeper, approaching the tower. When he saw Argus and Alan, looking down at the dead body of his ally. He immediately blew into his whistle, informing the other four who went camping.

They were too late to realize that the tower was being watched by six people, not four. Alan pursed his lips, leaving no choice but to yell, "Your Imperial Majesty, please leave the tower now! We weren't the only ones here."

Elliot grabbed Emelia's hand, rushing down the tower. If the tower wasn't that high and dangerous, they would be down in a few seconds.

"Stay close," Said Elliot opening the door, leading them out of the tower. But then Elliot stopped when he saw a gatekeeper looking at them.

The gatekeeper looks at them, pointed his finger at them, "Give the crown back. It's not yours." The gatekeeper charged towards Elliot, holding a sword that looked like a pirate would use. Elliot swung his sword and stopped the gatekeeper from doing so.

Elliot releases Emelia's hand, "Run, to where Alan and Argus are." But then Emelia didn't listen and took her sword out, pierced her sword into the gatekeeper's chest, and watch him collapse onto the ground.

"I can protect myself," Said Emelia as she flicked her sword, removing the blood, "Just to remind you I am trained." She looked at him for the last time and made her way to the other two were.

"We should leave before the other gatekeeper comes. They're not hard to deal with, but we wouldn't want to risk getting hurt," Said Elliot, which the others agreed to.

As they were about to leave, an arrow flew in their direction, flying towards Emelia's back. Argus notices the arrow and swings his sword, breaking the arrow in half before reaching Emelia.

"Go chase them!" The man said, holding a bow in his hand as he continues to aim towards Emelia, "Chase the woman," He ordered one of the gatekeepers.

Just by her hair, the man knew who it was. He never thought Emelia would come back to the tower and get the crown back. His lips raised, imagining the things he would do to her after capturing her.

Emelia ran into the forest along with the others, but then the fog made it hard for her to see them. She turned her back and kept running but realize she ran in the direction of the tower. Emelia stopped running to realize she had lost the others.

Their voices were nowhere to be heard. Just her alone in the dark forest, not until she heard an unfamiliar voice calling for her, "Come out, little girl." To the gatekeeper's eyes, Emelia seems like a little girl because he was big and tall.

Emelia hid behind a tree and kept herself silent. She slowly breathed in and out, not making the slightest voice as she listens to the footsteps of the gatekeeper who was approaching her.

"I can see your cloak. I'm already used to the fog and so getting lost isn't a problem for me. Stop hiding and just surrender," The gatekeeper laughed while clapping his hands. Emelia stayed silent as she thought of her next moves.

There was nowhere to run unless she runs into the forest, leaving her life in danger to be feed by the wolves. She had the crown with her. If this is what they needed, then she'll give it, but it didn't seem like it.

This left her no choice but to fight the gatekeeper. She took a step forward, "I don't have plans for you to take me away. I'll gladly take your head away." Emelia charges towards the gatekeeper, who dodged her attack.

The gatekeeper raised his hand about to swing his weapon down to her, but Emelia reflected his attacks. She swirled her sword around his and swung his weapon upon the air, disarming him. He isn't as strong, but his strength made her struggle a bit.

Emelia charges towards the man swing her sword, but before she could do anything to the man, she felt a sudden pain in her back. She fell onto the ground, struggling to stand back, and looks at the gatekeeper, who laughed out of nervousness.

"Good for you. Our leader has caught you," Said The gatekeeper, who stood up and walked towards her.

Every second she felt her body becoming numb. The arrow was poisoned, and it was strong. It isn't the usual poison she was used to. Slowly her vision blurred but still, she tried standing back up.

The arrow. She had to remove the arrow before leaving herself unconscious by the poison. But she couldn't reach the arrow. It was out of reach. She closed her eyes, not to realize a tear had dropped from her eyes. As much she didn't want to admit it, she didn't want to die yet.

"This is for revenge," Said the gatekeeper as he swung his hand upon the air and used a big stone to hit Emelia at the back of her head.

"J, is she still alive?" Asked the man, walking towards them. J, the gatekeeper who threw a rock at Emelia's head, answered, "I gave her a good beating on the head." J smiled to only receive a punch from the man.

J touched his swollen cheeks and looked at the man who glared at him, "Are you out of your mind?" The man yelled at J, "What if she dies? What are you going to do about it? You're not going to get punished by Sir Henry, I will!"

"But she was the one who hurt me first," Said J to only receive another punch from the man.

"Are you kidding me? Just because of your own emotions? Look at her head, bleeding. Do something about it. Even if you are my brother, I won't hesitate to pierce my arrow in you."