Chop Chop Square was filling up. Already, city folk crowded the benches. Since we’d gotten there early, we secured seats at the front. I gave Maria my old clothes and the red fez, so she was decently disguised. Saran, I assumed, would be sitting in the section with velvet chairs, and so we sat farthest away from there.
Soldiers marched out from the northern passage. A cleaner came and wiped the gallows, too, as if it needed to be spotless for such an awful occasion. The executioner himself wore a black robe and turban, and judging by his gray beard, he was quite old.
Then they marched Tara out. She had a black sack over her face, and her hands were bound. About a dozen soldiers surrounded her.
They marched her up below the gallows while the executioner hung a noose from the top.
I handed Maria the orange bridge orb. The other end was on the hill where Esme and Ayla waited. It was surely our only means of escape. We’d have to time our plan perfectly.
The executioner began reading a scroll, and the crowd around quieted.
“This woman is sentenced to death for the crime of treachery against the emperor,” he said. “She conspired with a known rebel to assassinate a noble minister. She would further conspire with him to assassinate the emperor himself. Such treason cannot go unpunished. In the name of Emperor Dukas, First of His Name, I sentence her to death by hanging.”
Before the executioner could put the noose around Tara’s neck, I pricked myself with the needle and leaped in the air. I floated forward toward the gallows with the power of the Leaping Shoes. My invisibility disappeared as soon as I landed on the wooden platform.
“Get him!” someone shouted.
I formed my water whip and lashed at the guards and executioner, hitting them all in one, smooth motion. They each recoiled or fell on their asses from the impact. With the time that move bought me, I grabbed Tara, jumped in the air, and floated toward the orange mist that Maria had just conjured with the bridge orb.
“He’s getting away!”
The door formed on the sand in front of Maria’s seat. I glided into it, holding Tara tight, as Maria ran through.
The three of us appeared on the hill overlooking the city. The door we’d just used disappeared behind us.
“That went about as well as we could’ve hoped,” I said. I pulled the bag off Tara’s head. Her eyes were reddened and tear-filled.
I pulled the gag off her mouth.
“Remy! Maria!” she shouted. “Oh thank you! Thank you!”
Ayla and Esme ran toward us from a short distance away. Obviously, the soldiers would be searching for us, so we couldn’t linger here for long.
“Remy!” Esme shouted.
“We have to go!” I shouted back. “Get the rickshaw out. We need to head to the fast travel point.”
Esme used the mount orb to materialize the rickshaw. Space was tight with the five of us, so Tara had to sit in my lap while Maria had to sit in Ayla’s, with Esme in the middle driving the thing.
Thankfully, the ride was free of obstacles.
After a few hours, we arrived at the fast travel point. I touched it and focused on the Underground Temple in my mind. We all vanished and reappeared there.
First thing I noticed was the doll staring at us. Despite how creepy it was, we were much safer here than in the world above. No doubt, the prince would send his army across the island to search for us.
Esme and Ayla hugged me. Maria and Tara hugged each other.
“You did it!” Esme said. “I never doubted.”
“It wasn’t without its consequences. We’re all rebels, now. If you thought it was difficult being a curseborn…”
“Fine with me.” Ayla pounded her fist on her palm. “I say we’re just getting started.”
I nodded. “Here, in the Underground Forest, we can all get more powerful. Then we’ll return to the surface and conquer this island. We’ll turn it into our sanctuary. A safe haven for all curseborn and a fair place for anyone else who wants to contribute.”
I turned to Maria and Tara. They were both still in each other’s arms, crying. I couldn’t imagine what Tara must’ve been feeling in those moments as they marched her to the gallows. The despair must’ve overwhelmed her. And it must’ve been equal for Maria, who felt everything her sister did.
“You two are safe here,” I said. “Well… safe from Saran and the government. There are some pretty strong monsters lurking about, though.”
“They can’t get into the temple,” the Soulful Doll said from across the room. Somehow, despite its voice being a whisper, it boomed across the chamber. “There’s a ward around it. Monsters can’t pass it.”
It was also creepy that she was listening to us. But I didn’t mind, so long as we were safe.
Tara and Maria stared at the doll, obviously creeped out.
“She’s harmless… I think,” I said. “Besides, she helps me level up my attributes.”
“Oh,” Tara said. “I guess we’ll have to get used to being in a place like this.”
“Only for now. Let’s all work together to get stronger.”
“Absolutely,” Maria said. “We’ll help in every way we can.”
I didn’t want to waste time. We’d have to spend our days roaming the Underground Forest and fighting more and more powerful enemies. Collecting soulcores and goldcores and crafting ingredients. I could use the soulcores exclusively to level up my stats. Because I’d been pouring so many points into agility, I had no trouble rescuing Tara. In fact, it had gone a bit too smoothly. It almost worried me, as if I’d somehow escaped a confrontation that was still coming.
“It’s two hundred soulcores to get my next attribute point,” I said. “Meanwhile, that shop in the city has some amazing armor we can buy for goldcores.”
“Esme and I can go kill monsters and start collecting,” Ayla said.
“Yeah.” Esme nodded. “Leave it to us. I think you and Tara and Maria should spend the day together.”
“How will we buy armor from the city?” Maria asked. “Any of us would be recognized.”
“We can craft armor instead,” Esme said. “There’s some good gear in my crafting book. I’m sure some of the monsters here carry the ingredients.”
“Okay, so let’s help me gain a few stat points,” I said, “crafting ingredients will be a great byproduct of that.”
Esme and Ayla nodded.
“How can we help?” Tara asked.
I scratched my head. “Hmm. How about one of you goes with Esme and Ayla. The other can stay with me.”
“I’ll go with them,” Maria said. “You need to rest, Tara.”
Tara nodded. Maria, Esme, and Ayla headed out to collect cores and ingredients, leaving Tara and me with the doll.
“So… what’re we going to do?” Tara asked.
“Tara, this might shock you, but we’re going to go back to the surface. We’re going to confront Saran.”
She gasped. “What?”
“I’m sure he’ll be looking for you out on the island. We’re going to track him. And we’re going to kill him.”
“Kill… him?”
I nodded. “We can’t take over this island without killing the wicked. We’ll start with him. But I’ll only do it if that’s what you want.”
“What I want?”
“Yes. It was you and your sister he mistreated. It’s you who should decide his fate. I know you’re a gentle person. I know you’ve got a soft, kind, beautiful heart. But if we’re to build a better world, justice can’t be avoided.”
“Justice…” She stared at the floor.
“Tell me. What do you want me to do?”
She looked up at me, resolute, her gray eyes suddenly hardened. “You should kill him. Because if you let him live, he’ll continue to hurt others. There’s nothing good about him.”
I smiled. Music to my ears. “Let’s go, then. It’ll be our first strike. It’ll send a clear message – we are coming. Perhaps it’ll even inspire others to join us.”
“I’m with you, Remy.”
“He’s just left the city and is heading toward the hot spring,” the Soulful Doll said. “He’s got some of his guards with him, but nothing you can’t handle. Go quickly and intercept him.”
We both walked up to the altar which the doll stood upon.
“How do you know?” I asked.
“I have more eyes than the two you see on my head, traveler.”
Cryptic, but I wasn’t going to turn down help.
“Let’s go,” I said. “No time to waste.”
Tara nodded and smiled. I loved seeing those dimples.
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Chop Chop Square was filling up. Already, city folk crowded the benches. Since we’d gotten there early, we secured seats at the front. I gave Maria my old clothes and the red fez, so she was decently disguised. Saran, I assumed, would be sitting in the section with velvet chairs, and so we sat farthest away from there.
Soldiers marched out from the northern passage. A cleaner came and wiped the gallows, too, as if it needed to be spotless for such an awful occasion. The executioner himself wore a black robe and turban, and judging by his gray beard, he was quite old.
Then they marched Tara out. She had a black sack over her face, and her hands were bound. About a dozen soldiers surrounded her.
They marched her up below the gallows while the executioner hung a noose from the top.
I handed Maria the orange bridge orb. The other end was on the hill where Esme and Ayla waited. It was surely our only means of escape. We’d have to time our plan perfectly.
The executioner began reading a scroll, and the crowd around quieted.
“This woman is sentenced to death for the crime of treachery against the emperor,” he said. “She conspired with a known rebel to assassinate a noble minister. She would further conspire with him to assassinate the emperor himself. Such treason cannot go unpunished. In the name of Emperor Dukas, First of His Name, I sentence her to death by hanging.”
Before the executioner could put the noose around Tara’s neck, I pricked myself with the needle and leaped in the air. I floated forward toward the gallows with the power of the Leaping Shoes. My invisibility disappeared as soon as I landed on the wooden platform.
“Get him!” someone shouted.
I formed my water whip and lashed at the guards and executioner, hitting them all in one, smooth motion. They each recoiled or fell on their asses from the impact. With the time that move bought me, I grabbed Tara, jumped in the air, and floated toward the orange mist that Maria had just conjured with the bridge orb.
“He’s getting away!”
The door formed on the sand in front of Maria’s seat. I glided into it, holding Tara tight, as Maria ran through.
The three of us appeared on the hill overlooking the city. The door we’d just used disappeared behind us.
“That went about as well as we could’ve hoped,” I said. I pulled the bag off Tara’s head. Her eyes were reddened and tear-filled.
I pulled the gag off her mouth.
“Remy! Maria!” she shouted. “Oh thank you! Thank you!”
Ayla and Esme ran toward us from a short distance away. Obviously, the soldiers would be searching for us, so we couldn’t linger here for long.
“Remy!” Esme shouted.
“We have to go!” I shouted back. “Get the rickshaw out. We need to head to the fast travel point.”
Esme used the mount orb to materialize the rickshaw. Space was tight with the five of us, so Tara had to sit in my lap while Maria had to sit in Ayla’s, with Esme in the middle driving the thing.
Thankfully, the ride was free of obstacles.
After a few hours, we arrived at the fast travel point. I touched it and focused on the Underground Temple in my mind. We all vanished and reappeared there.
First thing I noticed was the doll staring at us. Despite how creepy it was, we were much safer here than in the world above. No doubt, the prince would send his army across the island to search for us.
Esme and Ayla hugged me. Maria and Tara hugged each other.
“You did it!” Esme said. “I never doubted.”
“It wasn’t without its consequences. We’re all rebels, now. If you thought it was difficult being a curseborn…”
“Fine with me.” Ayla pounded her fist on her palm. “I say we’re just getting started.”
I nodded. “Here, in the Underground Forest, we can all get more powerful. Then we’ll return to the surface and conquer this island. We’ll turn it into our sanctuary. A safe haven for all curseborn and a fair place for anyone else who wants to contribute.”
I turned to Maria and Tara. They were both still in each other’s arms, crying. I couldn’t imagine what Tara must’ve been feeling in those moments as they marched her to the gallows. The despair must’ve overwhelmed her. And it must’ve been equal for Maria, who felt everything her sister did.
“You two are safe here,” I said. “Well… safe from Saran and the government. There are some pretty strong monsters lurking about, though.”
“They can’t get into the temple,” the Soulful Doll said from across the room. Somehow, despite its voice being a whisper, it boomed across the chamber. “There’s a ward around it. Monsters can’t pass it.”
It was also creepy that she was listening to us. But I didn’t mind, so long as we were safe.
Tara and Maria stared at the doll, obviously creeped out.
“She’s harmless… I think,” I said. “Besides, she helps me level up my attributes.”
“Oh,” Tara said. “I guess we’ll have to get used to being in a place like this.”
“Only for now. Let’s all work together to get stronger.”
“Absolutely,” Maria said. “We’ll help in every way we can.”
I didn’t want to waste time. We’d have to spend our days roaming the Underground Forest and fighting more and more powerful enemies. Collecting soulcores and goldcores and crafting ingredients. I could use the soulcores exclusively to level up my stats. Because I’d been pouring so many points into agility, I had no trouble rescuing Tara. In fact, it had gone a bit too smoothly. It almost worried me, as if I’d somehow escaped a confrontation that was still coming.
“It’s two hundred soulcores to get my next attribute point,” I said. “Meanwhile, that shop in the city has some amazing armor we can buy for goldcores.”
“Esme and I can go kill monsters and start collecting,” Ayla said.
“Yeah.” Esme nodded. “Leave it to us. I think you and Tara and Maria should spend the day together.”
“How will we buy armor from the city?” Maria asked. “Any of us would be recognized.”
“We can craft armor instead,” Esme said. “There’s some good gear in my crafting book. I’m sure some of the monsters here carry the ingredients.”
“Okay, so let’s help me gain a few stat points,” I said, “crafting ingredients will be a great byproduct of that.”
Esme and Ayla nodded.
“How can we help?” Tara asked.
I scratched my head. “Hmm. How about one of you goes with Esme and Ayla. The other can stay with me.”
“I’ll go with them,” Maria said. “You need to rest, Tara.”
Tara nodded. Maria, Esme, and Ayla headed out to collect cores and ingredients, leaving Tara and me with the doll.
“So… what’re we going to do?” Tara asked.
“Tara, this might shock you, but we’re going to go back to the surface. We’re going to confront Saran.”
She gasped. “What?”
“I’m sure he’ll be looking for you out on the island. We’re going to track him. And we’re going to kill him.”
“Kill… him?”
I nodded. “We can’t take over this island without killing the wicked. We’ll start with him. But I’ll only do it if that’s what you want.”
“What I want?”
“Yes. It was you and your sister he mistreated. It’s you who should decide his fate. I know you’re a gentle person. I know you’ve got a soft, kind, beautiful heart. But if we’re to build a better world, justice can’t be avoided.”
“Justice…” She stared at the floor.
“Tell me. What do you want me to do?”
She looked up at me, resolute, her gray eyes suddenly hardened. “You should kill him. Because if you let him live, he’ll continue to hurt others. There’s nothing good about him.”
I smiled. Music to my ears. “Let’s go, then. It’ll be our first strike. It’ll send a clear message – we are coming. Perhaps it’ll even inspire others to join us.”
“I’m with you, Remy.”
“He’s just left the city and is heading toward the hot spring,” the Soulful Doll said. “He’s got some of his guards with him, but nothing you can’t handle. Go quickly and intercept him.”
We both walked up to the altar which the doll stood upon.
“How do you know?” I asked.
“I have more eyes than the two you see on my head, traveler.”
Cryptic, but I wasn’t going to turn down help.
“Let’s go,” I said. “No time to waste.”
Tara nodded and smiled. I loved seeing those dimples.
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