There was a scream in the distance as Astan opened his eyes. He looked out to the cell across from his and saw that Palas was still sleeping. He would have to wake him for it was midnight, that means Goren's warrior should soon be there. Astan got up and went over to the cell door and looked out. Down at the end of the corridor there was a guard post where Ghir, one of Igoro's most sadistic guards kept watch. Ghir loved to torture and beat on the prisoners. Occasionally he would come down and tease the inmates. His favorite toy was his shock staff. He would wait until the prisoner was sound asleep, then he would come into their cell and put the staff to them. Sending 50,000 volts into their sleeping body. Astan had watched as the guard did this to two prisoners in the cells just down from him. He would laugh and kick the stunned prisoner from his cot after shocking him. When he moved up toward his cell, Astan sent a spark to wake Palas and moved to the door to keep watch on him. The guard would sneer at them and move on to his next victim.
With Palas sleeping, Astan sent his spark into the Avians cell to energize and wake him. Palas woke up feeling good. He sat up and looked over to the Tigaren's cell. Astan put his finger to his lips then his ear and pointed down the corridor. Someone was coming.
Dressed in Domina green, Beno entered the guard room. Ghir sat leaning back in a chair tossing small bones at a cup against the wall. He looked up when Beno stepped in.
"Who are you?" He said. "You're not Geston. He's supposed to relieve me."
"I don't know." Beno shrugged. "Maybe he's sick. All I know is I was told to come here and relieve you."
"I don't know you." Ghir frowned as he got up and grabbed his flail from the table. "You are not one of the dungeon guards. Who are you? Who sent you here?"
Beno knew the captain of the city guards name was Enes Tur, but it would do him no good. Ghir was already up and coming at him. Quickly Beno grabbed his mace caught the flails first strike. Ghir pulled back and swung again aiming for Beno's head. Beno dived to the side, turned and hit Ghir in his ribs. Grunting in pain, Ghir pulled a dagger and swung wild at Beno. The dagger sliced at the leather covering Beno's arm leaving a long scar. Beno leaped at Ghir batting the flail aside and sent a hammering fist at Ghir's jaw. They fell wrestling to the ground rolling through the room. Ghir stabbed at Beno's side sinking the blade in deep. Grabbing his hand, Beno pulled the dagger out and the two gorillas fought for control of it. With the dagger held in both their hands, the gorillas struggled back and forth. With a quick knee up into Ghir's groin, the guard lost his breath and the dagger slipped and stabbed him in the throat. Beno covered Ghir's mouth to keep his death scream silent.
As Beno lay there exhausted, he took a deep breath and pushed Ghir's body off of him. He sat up and put his hand to the wound in his side. It was bleeding very badly. But he didn't have time for that. He still had to get to Prince Astan and get him free.
Pushing himself up, Beno staggered out into the corridor to the cells and hurried down to Astan's cell. Astan was standing at the door watching the hall. Beno took the keys from his belt and fit one into locked door.
"My name is Beno." He said as he pulled the door open. "Goren sent me here to get you."
"Myumbo Beno." Astan stepped out of his cell. "My thanks warrior for the save. Now we have to open all these cells and get the prisoners out."
"I'm afraid you're going to have to do that on your own." Beno collapsed and fell to the floor. "I think I'm done."
Astan knelt down to his side and helped him to take off his breastplate. Blood still ran heavy from the wound in his side.
"This looks bad."
"It's OK." Beno smiled. "You are almost free. All you have to do is follow this hall down and make a right. There is a gate that leads into the city's sewers. That is the way out. If you hurry you can make it before the guards come down to check these cells."
"No." Astan said. "Not without you. We leave all together or not at all. Now that I'm free from that cell, your father can't sap my magic."
Astan took the key and opened Palas cell door and pushed it open. Palas stepped out of his cell eager to finally escape captivity. He stretched out his arms and flexed his cramped wings and quietly shut the cell door.
"We should hurry. There is not much time."
"Yes." Astan said. He passed Palas the key then bent down to help Beno. "Open every cell. Free as many as you can. I'll take Beno. He can lead us out of here."
Palas nodded and hurried off to start opening cells. With Beno down, Astan looked down at the stab wound in his side. Blood still seeped slowly out and the gorilla looked very pale and weak. Astan had studied healing at home with Tinpa's palace healer, but he was never really good at it. He placed his hand on the wound and closed his eyes to concentrate. A warm glow spread out and into Beno and the bleeding stopped. Slowly the wound started to pull itself together until there was only a big scar there. He wasn't quite healed, but this would hold him hopefully until they could get out and find someone more qualified at healing. Astan helped him up on his feet. Beno put his hand to his side and winced from the pain.
"The bleeding." He looked at Astan in surprise. "You stopped it!"
"It's not healed." Astan said. "But it will hold until we can get out of here."
All up and down the cell block, Palas went opening cell doors. Prisoners staggered out of the darkness of their cells and into the open corridors for the first time. Unarmed, they lurched about the halls looking for a way out of this gloomy hell. When they spotted Ghir's body, some took out their revenge on him with a quick kick as they passed. Others having suffered his torture and the touch of his shock staff, jumped on him and tore his body to pieces.
With escape on their minds, they all scattered running and limping down through the dungeon looking for a way out. It wasn't long before they ran into the rest of the dungeon guards and the battle was on. They were like hungry animals on the attack. Igoro's small guard force was overwhelmed and out matched in no time as they went from section to section opening cells. Soon the whole dungeon was in an uproar.
With Beno's arm around his shoulder, Astan carried him back the way he had come in. They found the sewer grate and managed to slip in unnoticed. Palas squawked and complain about the muddy water and the cramped tunnel, but this was much easier then fighting their way through the dungeon. As they made their way out of the tunnel. Astan stopped, He suddenly had a screaming feeling they had to move. Astan pushed Beno to Palas and erected a shield of magic around them just as a bolt came from out of the back of the bathhouse.
"GET DOWN!!" Astan stepped out projecting his shield behind him. As Palas grabbed Beno and ducked, bolts of crimson energy flashed down and hammered at the Astan's shield. Astan held strong as six Gorillas, five warriors and a mage came charging from the bath house. It seemed their escape hadn't gone as unnoticed as they thought. Palas laid Beno down behind Astan and launched himself into the air. He soared up over the trees and circled around then dived down at the incoming Gorillas. Bared handed, the Avian dived down to bowl right through the charging Gorillas knocking them all aside then turned back up into the air. Like pins, the Gorillas fell, but they didn't stay down for long. Soon they were back on their feet shaking off the attack.
Astan raised his left hand and shot out a blast through his shield at the lead Gorilla hitting him in the chest and taking him down. The mage dived down and came back up with his hands raised and ready to fight.
"Stop the Tigaren!" The mage yelled as he fired his bolt. "Don't let him get away!!"
Beno tried to get up and fight, but Astan grabbed the mace from him and pushed him back down.
"Palas could use this."
Astan whispered a quick spell, then threw the mace up into the air. The mace soared up then turned to match Palas's flight angle and went directly to his hand. With a weapon in his hand, Palas circled then dived down swinging the mace down and braining two more Gorillas. As they fell, Palas came down to land beside Astan. He closed his wings on his back stood ready to fight at Astan's side.
"There is no escape." The mage said. "Soon Igoro will be here and then you will have met your match. You cannot beat my masters magic."
"He won't have too." Said a voice from behind the mage. Quickly the mage turned raising his hands to blast whoever had managed to sneak up behind him, but it was too late as something hit him on his head. Beside him, spears were thrust forward into the backs of the last two warriors, As they fell, Goren ran out and grabbed his cousin Beno. He quickly checked his wounds, then waved over his warriors to carry him. With Beno taken care of, he turned to Astan.
"We have to go." He said. "He's right. My father will be here in just a few minutes and Beno needs to see a healer. We should be gone out of Domina before he arrives."
"What about Mulu?" Astan asked.
"Father sent a runner for him the day you arrived in Domina. He said he would be here today at noon. That gives us three hours."
"Then we should hurry." Astan said. "Do you know someplace safe where we can go? Your cousin needs a better healer than me and Palas and I still need rest to recharge our strength."
"We can moved deeper in the jungle." Goren said. "That would make it harder for them to find us and I can send for a healer."
"We could go back to my mountain." Palas suggested. "Tyree will watch over us."
"Ayss is far enough away." Astan said. "Igoro is not really that familiar with its peaks and valleys, We should find it easier to defend than the jungle."
"But can you get us all there?" Goren asked. "Me, you and all my warriors?"
"We have new choice." Astan said. "Gather your warriors. We leave in two minutes."
Goren when to call his warriors together while Astan sat and talked with Palas.
"Palas, you will be my reference to guide my spell. Think of somewhere on the mountain where we can go. Get a clear picture in your mind and hold on to it."
"I know just the place." Palas smiled. "There is a valley not far from the Aerie where I go to hunt. It has caves and we could defend it well if we have too. My people will help as will Tyree."
"I'm not so sure about Tyree helping us." Astan said. "But if you believe in him, I guess it can't hurt. It is time. We have to go now,"
Astan gathered Goren and all of his warriors together on the side of the bathhouse and had them stand in a circle around him. Palas come in and stood next to Astan. As he closed his eyes to concentrate, tiny flecks of magic sparkled all around the group. Astan reached out and put his hand on Palas's shoulder and spoke his spell.
FROM HERE TO THERE.
IN DARKNESS AND LIGHT.
FROM NOW TO THEN.
AND THEN OUT OF SIGHT.
WITH NO OPPOSITION.
WITH PEACE IN MIND.
TAKE US TO AYSS.
LEAVE NO ONE BEHIND.
As Astan spread his arms. light flickered all around them as the spell took hold and they vanished from the Gorilla city. Once they were gone, the Gorilla mage woke and opened his eyes. He sat up and looked at the dead warriors scattered around outside of the bathhouse. The Tigaren was gone and so was that traitor Goren and his warriors. Igoro would not be pleased with this development, but maybe he knew a way to trace the magic the Tigaren had used. Then he could go and return them to their cells.
Getting up on his feet, the Gorilla mage dusted off his robes and turned back into the city. He prayed Igoro didn't take his anger out on him.
From Basolos, Sakura moved his group north back across the savanna to avoid having to go anywhere near Mancoro and the Hyenans then south into Gondakor. From there they climbed Mount Vazu and headed into Gorilla country. The Pumen had warned them that the country around Domina was a very dangerous place with poisonous spiders and many other hidden dangers. Sakura had no idea what he meant by that, but he would brave the Underworld if he had to, to bring Astan home safe.
The Mancoro forest was dark and loud with the sounds of the wild life that lived and hunted there. They could hear the sound of frogs croaking and crickets chirping and the occasional growl of something on the attack as they walked. Dar'yl kept his ears and eyes open for the slightest movement or footsteps to be ready for any attack. Sky and Quynn followed carefully, ready to fight at a moments notice. Sakura watched the rear to keep their retreat safe. Dar'yl saw small monkeys high up in the trees as they ran to hide from their advance, Many snakes and birds watched them as they passed. Quynn wondered if they could be there to watch out for any invaders trying to sneak in through the jungle. He hoped not, because that would mean they had lost the surprise and the Gorillas knew they were coming.
As they made their way through the jungle, eyes peeked out from behind trees and under bushes. Dark hungry eyes that watched every step they took. They darted from tree to tree never allowed them to get more then ten steps away. Dar'yl heard a sudden rustle in the undergrowth and turned pulling his sword free from its scabbard.
"What is it?" Shy asked looked around.
"I thought I heard something." The Lion said. He walked back a few paces and scanned around the jungle then up in the trees. He didn't see anything, but his warrior senses told him there was something dangerous here. Keeping his eyes on the jungle, Dar'yl went back to the others. Sakura stopped him on his way back.
"Jittery old friend?" Sakura smiled. "Is there trouble?"
"No." Dar'yl said as he still watched the jungle. "It's just my nerves. Feeling a bit jumpy being so close to Mancoro and Domina."
"Well keep it strong." Sakura said. "We'll be getting a lot closer that this."
"I think the city is that way." Dar'yl pointed west. Sakura looked west. All he saw was the dense jungle.
"Why west?" He asked. "What makes you think west? It could be anywhere in this jungle."
"Do you see the birds there above those hills?"
"Yes." Sakura said gazing out at the hills in the distance. "I see them. So?"
"Those are pigeons." Sky said. "They live only in and near cities. They won't come into the jungle. To many predators."
"Exactly." Said Dar'yl. "We head west."
"And then what?" Quynn asked. "What are we going to do once we find this city?"
"Then we go find Astan." Sakura said. "I know he's here somewhere. I can feel his presence."
"Can you tell where he was?" Sky asked. " I mean isn't there a trail that we can follow?"
Sakura looked at each one of them with bright eyes as if he had just hit on an idea.
"I never thought of that." He said. "There should be some kind of mental trail here for me to follow. Something of his should be here."
"If there is." Sky gave him a confident nod. "You can find it. All you have to do is look for it with your heart."
Sakura closed his eyes and looked back to the day in Tinpa when he met his handsome mate. He was lunching in a small cafe in the west side of the city when the most amazing Tigaren walking into the cafe. This was the day his whole life changed. That was the day he found love. Sakura remembered his time showing Astan the ways of the warrior with the sword and shield. He taught him how to protect himself and fight against enemies while Astan showed him the real way to use magic. He remembered their days exploring Tinpa and the Tigaren countryside and their nights alone making love in the cabin in Naraya. The feel of Astan's hands on him when he touched and caressed his body.
The excitement and passion they both felt when they made love through the long Aspana nights.
With Astan on his mind, Sakura felt a warm rush of blood flow through his body and his groin as he opened his eyes and looked around scanning the jungle for any trace of Astan. As he searched he saw a glowing trail that led in through the thick growth of the jungle. Walking out and over to the trail, Sakura stooped down and touched the glow. The second he touched it, he knew it Astan had been there, This had to be the way he was taken through the jungle.
"Follow me. I knew the way to the Gorilla city."
It was late in the evening as Shauri paced back and forth through the study in Goren's house. Goren and Beno were late. They were supposed to be back from the dungeons with the Tigaren three hours ago and so far, she hadn't heard anything from either of them. Has the rescue been a success? Or were they both not trapped along with Astan in the dungeon? She was worried about both her cousins. She knew what Igoro would do to them if they were caught. It didn't matter that both of them were apart of Igoro's family. If he caught them, he wouldn't bother with trials or any kind of judgments. He would simply have them both cut and tied to stakes in the jungle to be eaten alive.
As she tried to calm herself, Shauri went to the small wood burning store and put a iron kettle on to heat some water for a cup of Ginger root tea. From her cupboard she had out a wooden cup and a small metal sieve for her tea leaves. As the water broiled, Shauri place the leaves in the sieve and took it over to the stove to add to the kettle of hot water. Just then, there was a loud knock at the door.
Shauri dropped the sieve and ran to the door hoping to find Goren and Beno there. She was anxious to learn what had happened during the rescue. She reached out and grabbed the handle of the door and pulled it open.
"Goren." She cried. "What took you so..."
"I am sorry to disappointed you my dear." Igoro said with a evil smile. "But Goren will not be returning tonight."
"Igoro!" She stepped back as he pushed his way into the house. "My lord. What brings you here to my humble home?"
"I'm here to take a trader into custody." Igoro said as two warriors stepped in to stand on each side of Shauri. "You my lovely niece. I know you, Goren and Beno helped the Tigaren to escape. Don't try to deny it and insult my intelligence."
"Where is Goren?"
"Since you will die tonight, I will tell you. They escaped. Probably to Ayss with the Tigarn and the Avian. But don't worry, I will get him back you trader."
"We are not traders." She said looking Igoro in his eyes. "It is you that betrayed the trust of the Hominid people of Aspana. You and that beast you plan to give the people to Mulu Amin. You know as well as I do that he will destroy Aspana. He will ravage the land and turn our people into slaves of his Hyenans. How can you do this to us? How can you throw away the home that we all fought so hard to establish?"
"I'm not throwing away anything!!" Igoro yelled back at her as he kicked out at the table in the kitchen. "I am the master of this land and Mulu be damned!! It is I that created the slave market here and made us so prosperous. Me!! I put the gold of many kingdoms into our hands. It was me that turned Domina from a dirty mud hollow into the magnificent city it is. My ships sail and sell these peasants all up and down the two coast across the sea."
"And you think we should be proud of that?" Shauri screamed back at him. "Slavery instead of honest work and trade? This is not what the people want! This is not the way of honor and you know it!!"
"I care not about honor!" He stepped forward and smacked her across the face knocking her to the floor. "I care only for conquest and I will take everything and make all the world my slave! Take her! She dies tonight!!"
"Kill me if you want." Shauri said as she was pulled to her feet and dragged out. "But at least I will die fighting for freedom with a clear and honest conscious. You, you will die in the mud as a trader to all of Aspana! Goren will return, and when he comes back he will have the Tigarens and the Pantherens at his side."
"Let them come!" Igoro shouted after her. "I will crush them into the mud! This is my kingdom and I will let no one deny me my right!"
From her house, Shauri was dragged through the muddy streets to the center of town. As she moved, a warrior walked along calling out to wake up all the people of Domina. Like scared sheep they all came out to watch as she was degraded and beaten. A young male ran out to Shauri to help her. In a flash, Igoro sent a small bolt of energy at the boys back striking him down. A guard kicked the young Gorillas body out of their way like he was nothing. Females cried as the males kept silent afraid that anything they said would anger the lord of Domina into more retribution.
Once in the city center, Shauri was chained to one of the slave blocks and thrown to the ground. The crowd around her moved a bit closer to watch. Igoro roared and parted the crowd as he made his way to the slave pens and the slave block. He walked around her laying in the mud with her head down.
"There's no one here to help you." He said. "Goren is gone, so is that small minded one Beno. You will die alone."
"No!" Someone called from the crowd. "She is not alone."
A warrior stepped out of line and walked out to stand beside her. He went to the well and drew a ladle of water and fed it to Shauri.
"I will stand with her." He said boldly.
"So will I. Said another warrior.
"And I." Two more stepped out of line to stand with them.
"Me too!!"
"And I"
Soon there was more than ten warriors standing at Shauri's side. Igoro looked at them with rage.
"Traders!!" He screamed. "You are all weak fools!"
"We may be weak." Shauri said as they helped her up. "But we have honor in our hearts and that is something you will never have."
"Then you will all die!!"
Igoro raised his hands and blasted the crowd at the slave block. Bolts of green energy ripped out from his hands blasted all the warriors leaving only Shauri still standing. The crowd cried out in horror as the Gorillas died but no one moved a muscle to try and help.
"You my dear will not die so easily." Igoro stepped down to face Shauri. "You will die alone in the jungle. You will be staked out, cut and left to be fed on by the wild things in the jungle."
Before Shauri could say another word, Igoro hit her again and knocked her out. He walked back to his warriors.
"Take her away, and bring me back one of her pretty little hands and her head as a trophy."
The jungle was quiet as Sakura led them in towards the Gorillas city. They could see the gate and the high towers through the jungle from where they were. It wasn't as richly fashioned as Tinpa or Atrua. It was nothing like Winterhaven or New Keanna or even Vasagi and its great wall and Valkar's handsome new manor house. Domina wasn't as fancy or elaborately built as Atrua or any of the Taggitia cities. It had been built by the clever hands of Orangutan builders. It was charming and efficient, but it was nothing like the great work of the northern Elves and fairy's. It didn't have the Taggitia magic touch like Eventide or Dree.
The city was built of brick with a steel frame underneath. They had a few high towers but most of the buildings were only 2 and 3 stories. There were rich gardens that were really beautiful full of exotic multi colored flowers and blossoming hanging plants. Sakura could smell their fragrance from where they were.
As they moved closer in towards the city, Sakura stopped suddenly. He turned from side to side listening to the jungle.
"What is it?" Dar'yl asked as he stood there holding his sword..
"I thought I heard something." Sakura looked around the area they were in. The trees were tall and everything was green for miles around them. He sniffed at the air but all he could smell was the rank fur of Gorilla which was strange since there were no Gorilla's around.
"All of you." Sakura ordered. "Spread out. We are not alone here."
Sky and Quynn split up and slipped into the bush to search. Dar'yl followed Sakura, never leaving his side. They searched all around the area until Sky spotted a small clearing hidden behind a huge stand of evergreens. Pushing his way in through the bushes, Sky stepped in and heard a shrill scream. He ducked and rolled as something swung at him. Sky came up and sent a wave of freezing cold out at his attacker. Standing over him, Sky saw a massive Wolverine with blood around its mouth and on its claws. The Wolverine fell back stunned waving its claws in the air. It shook off Sky's cold and growled at him as it stood ready to charge. Just then Quynn hearing Sky in distress forced his way into the clearing. The Wolverine charged at them. Quynn took a deep breath and blew out a stream of flames that cover the big weasel and scorched it sending it screaming into the forest. As it ran off smoking, Sakura and Dar'yl found their way into the clearing.
"What in Tyree's name was that?"
"One of the locals looking to make a meal out of my Little Bird." Quynn reached down and pulled Sky up on his feet, then checked to make sure he hadn't been hurt. "It won't be back anytime soon."
As Sky dusted off his clothing, he looked down and saw the big heap of bloody fur staked out in the grass.
"Look!" Sky pointed. "There's something here."
"What is it?" Dar'yl asked as they gathered around it. Sakura bent over to check it over and got a big surprise.
"It's a Gorilla!" He said. "A female, and she's hurt."
Dar'yl cut her loose and laid her out so they could try and help her.
"It's really bad." Sakura said. "That cut off her hand and stabbed her. Wrap this around her stump and try to stop the bleeding."
Sky took a strip from her dress and tied it around her missing hand then tried to focus his magic to heal her, but it was to late. Phoenix's had great healing abilities, but this Gorilla had been stabbed, her hand was chopped off and that Wolverine had already started feeding on her. There was nothing he could do. She would die today.
"I'm sorry lady." Sakura said as they propped her up. "There is to much damage. There's nothing we can do to help you. What is your name?"
"It is OK." She looked at them and smiled, Blood ran down from her mouth. "I am Shauri. I die an honorable death. My soul is clean. I will be free from Igoro and Mulu's madness."
"Mulu?" Sakura wiped her mouth. "He and Igoro are in league. That will mean trouble for us all."
"At least my Goren escaped with the Tigaren." Her eyes slowly dimmed and her breathing became really shallow.
"Tigaren? Astan? You saw Astan? Please lady, where is he? I must find him!"
"A, A, Ayss mountain." She closed her eyes and coughed. "Please, you have to find him. You have to warn him that Igoro is coming. He will find them and kill my beloved Goren, then he will take the Tigaren and give him to Mulu. You must stop them!"
"Don't worry Shauri, we won't let that happen." Sakura assured her. "I will find them and try my best to help Goren and your people if I can."
"Asante." She whispered softly as her last breath escaped from her. Shauri Gomo died there in Sakura's arms. He laid her down and closed his eyes and said a prayer to Tyree and the death goddess Angela.
"She was killed by her own people." Dar'yl said sadly. "What animals. We have to pay this Igoro back for his kindness."
"His day will come." Sakura took a part of her wrap and covered her face then turned to his friends.
"We still have to find Astan. Do you know where the Ayss mountain is?"
"Yes." Dar'yl nodded. "We go south. Its south of here."
"Fine, Igoro will be heading there soon after them. We should try to beat him there. Let's move."
