Ethereal

~Charlotte~

Oh here we go again I thought, prickly annoyance rising up in me.

"Disobeyed my instructions?" Tennin's voice was outraged as he addressed the boy and I could tell the kid had made a grave mistake "My instructions, were to keep the Koreask safe at all costs."

"yes, bu-"

"Is she safe?"

"I mus-"

"I asked you a question boy." I suppressed a smile. This child, Risun, had really gotten to Tennin.

"No." Risun said quietly

"Right. Is she harmed?"

"No"

"Fantastic. Then tell me, have I disobeyed my instructions?"

"No, but I still-"

"Have I disobeyed my instructions?" Tennin said through gritted teeth.

"No."

"Great. Glad we are all on the same page."

"None the less," The boy said, not lowering his gaze. "I must take her in. Come with me Koreask"

"It's Charlotte. C-h-a-r-l-o-t-t-e. Charlotte. My name is not Koreask" I turned to Marcie exasperated. "Is it really that hard to call me by my name?" I asked "I mean it's not like it's all that difficult to say. Is it?"

She shrugged nonchalantly "Dunno. Perhaps the people here are just a little thick-- Excluding you two of course" she added, catching the indignant looks from both our companions.

Just then Risun launched forward making a grab for my arm, but Tennin was quicker, stepping in front of me and crossing his arms so that the boy merely bounced off of him and fell comically to the ground.

Ashan snorted. "The quality of soldier has really declined since we were in training. Isn't that right Ten?" He remarked striding swiftly to the young boy and putting a foot on his back to keep him from rising.

"Quite." Tennin looked at the boy. Smiling slightly, eyes cold.  "When I was your age, I was actually useful to Sub-Terra."

Ashan laughed and knelt down to the fallen boy speaking quietly. "Tell my father, I've out grown babysitters."

"Hey guys," said Marcie from the window. She was looking out through the curtain to the grounds below "there's more of them."

"How many?" inquired Tennin joining her at the window.

"Nine or ten."

"Okay, time to go. Back window?" Ashan was directing his question to Tennin.

At the suggestion a slow smile, spread across Tennin's face.

"Back window it is." he said

"Wait!" We all turned to see Grebon rising slowly. "I know what you seek. You will not find it where you look. But I know. Grebon knows."

I closed my eyes, knowing I was going to regret what I said next.

"Alright. Grebon your with us, now come on." The five of us started out of the room, but before we got two steps Risun stood up.

"I must take you to the Order!" he shouted, his voice oddly strong for one so small.

"Look," I said staring at him levelly " while I understand that your commander is perfectly content to sit on his royal ass and wait for things to happen, I actually have a city to save. So, if you'll excuse me." And with that I turned and led the way out the door, getting a good five yards before realizing I had no idea where I was going.

"Umm" I turned around to see they were all looking at me. Ashan eyed me approvingly.

"Nicely done Koreask" he said patting me on the back.

Tennin laughed, uncharacteristically happy, and took my hand.

"I knew there was a reason I liked you." he said softly. I smiled up at him, making no attempt to hide my emotions.

"Hate to interrupt this oh so touching moment," Said Marcie "But we are kind of in the middle of and escape."

"Right" I said, and we all began to run Ashan leading the way through the many twists and turns of the castle.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The back window proved to be a bit of a challenge. It was high off the ground. Too high, and getting down was no walk in the park. First we had to jump on to a roof. Easy right? Well it would've been, if it wasn't for the fact that, that particular bit of roof was slanted downwards. Ashan Was the first to go, landing as lithely as a cat. Next was Marcie, she jumped without hesitation and landed smoothly. Then Grebon went. He was a bit trickier, considering his age and the fact he hadn't been farther then the castle walls in years. But Ashan caught him, and set him down none to gently rubbing his hands together in distaste.

"Your next." Tennin said looking behind him for sign of soldiers. So far so good.

I stepped to the edge of the window sill. I had been dreading this moment on account of the fact that me saying I had the coordination of a door nail, was an insult to honest door nails everywhere.

"Go on" Tennin prompted me

I looked down, and my stomach gave an uncomfortable lurch.

Right, no looking down


"Charlotte, come on!" Ashan called softly from below. "I'll catch you."

I looked at him doubtfully, but what choice did I have? I took a deep breath and jumped. He caught me as promised but he lost his balance and we both fell, sliding dangerously down the stone roof.

I clawed at the material, but it was no use, it just came away with me, cutting my fingers as it did so.

"Charlotte!" I heard Tennin shout from above. Ashan had regained his balance and was coming after me. But I just kept slipping and then I felt the roof give way to empty space and there I was. Clinging to the edge of the roof.

In the same moment two thing happened at once. I slipped and Marcie grabbed my hand.

"Uh uh." Marcie said, holding onto me with both hands. "You don't get to die, not yet."

I looked up at her, my eyes said what words could not.

Don't let me fall.

That is one of the few moments I think I will always remember. Being suspended 60 feet above the ground, having only slipping hands and unsure feet to keep me alive. Time stopped and seconds felt like hours. Then Tennin and Ashan were there, pulling me to safety. Tennin warped his arms around me and I buried my face into his shoulder, still to petrified to speak.

"We need to keep going" he murmured after a moment. I nodded and pulled away from him turning to Marcie.

"Thank you." I said quietly, hoping that my lack of words would say what I could not.

"If course," she said giving me a hug "can't have the champion dying before she's even saved anything" I smiled and we continued. The rest of the going was easy, relatively speaking. A rose trelace, covered in dead rose stalks, was placed high on the wall. And while it was spiky, it acted as a sort of ladder.As soon as our feet touched the ground we were running. Booking it towards the trees and what we hoped was safety. However as we blundered our way through fallen trees and low hanging branches we began to hear a screeching. It was a terrible mind shattering noise. And it was getting closer.

"Look!" Marcie shouted

As we all looked we began to see something materialize from the dead leaves. It was a bird-- beak like a sword and talons that could kill with a single blow. Worse then that it wasn't alone.

So much for being safe