Underground Alliance11

Chapter 11-Meeting Saria
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The person just continued to stand there for a moment longer. "I'm warning you, leave now before I have to hurt you." Rhyn said as her hands again closed around a few more decently sized rocks. "That last rock was just a warning." She continued on, glaring at the man in front of her. "Next time, I won't miss." She paused for a moment to see if the person would heed her warning, but when the person made no move in any direction, Rhyn drew her hand back, preparing to launch it at the intruder.

"Please wait!" Rhyn froze, not from the fact that the person had finally spoken, but that the voice that came out of his mouth didn't match what all of her other senses were telling her. 'Either this person is much younger than he seems, he has the voice of a woman, or he is in fact a she. I'm hoping for the later.'

"Please wait." The person asked her again. Rhyna nodded her head and lowered her arm. When the stranger realized that they were no longer in danger, for the moment, of being the target of more large rocks, they sighed and quickly removed their hat which revealed blonde hair that looked as if it had been hastily cut short. "I didn't mean to scare you, and I mean you no harm. I just found this stream, and the thought of finally getting clean was too appealing to ignore, but then you were here and had already heard me trying to get away to find another secluded bend in the river."

Even though their story was believable, Rhyna was still wary of the person, not quite sure what to make of them or the situation the two of them were in. "Who are you?" Rhyn finally asked after a few moments of uncomfortable silence.

"My name is Skye."

Rhyna just continued to stare at Skye, doing her best to put all of the pieces together about him. The longer she stared, the more positive she became that the person in front of her was indeed a girl. "So, what are you doing here all alone, and why are you disguised as a boy?"

Skye flinched. "Was it that obvious?"

Shaking her head, Rhyn smiled in response. "No. By how I reacted when you first stepped out should tell you that much. But your voice is kind of what gave you away, but there's not a whole lot that you can do to change it."

Skye mimicked Rhyn's smile. "You do have a point." Skye then looked all around her before she asked, "Do you mind if I get clean too? I've been traveling for a while now, and all the dirt and grime is starting to get to me."

"Sure." Rhyn turned her back on Skye to give her her privacy. "I know that it's probably not any of my business, but what are you doing out here all alone?" 'Well, technically, it is my business now that she's seen me. With the soldiers this close, we can't trust anyone we meet in these woods. I'm not willing to risk everyone like that. Too many people have gotten hurt on my account.'

A long, unexpected pause followed her question, causing Rhyn to turn and look at Skye. Skye kept her eyes lowered as she spoke. "I was…uh…kidnapped a while ago, but I somehow managed to get away from them. But now they are searching for me, and the only way to keep them from finding me was to disguise myself as a boy. If they were to find me…" Skye closed her eyes and shivered at the thought.

"I had just reached the town just a few miles from here, but some of the men that are searching for me were standing at the gate, and I didn't want to risk trying to sneak passed them. I decided to take a bath in this river to kill some time while I waited for them to leave. But then I ran into you." Skye finished before ducking her head under the water, and then began to scrub all of the dirt out.

Rhyn could feel the astonished look on her face, which changed to a grin after a few moments. "You mean that there is a city just a few miles from here?" she asked as soon as Skye's head resurfaced. 'I say again, stupid boys and their stupid egos, stopping and fighting about how much longer we have to walk until we reach a town when we were just mere miles from one.'

"Yes…" Skye looked at Rhyn with a curious look.

"And you know the way to it?" Rhyn could barely contain her excitement.

"Yes…" She answered again. "Why?"

Rhyn couldn't hold back her laughter anymore. She controlled herself only long enough to dunk her head under the water, and began to scrub it clean. She removed the few twigs and leaves that had gotten themselves stuck in her hair during her death-defying walk along the forest trail. "Let's just say that there are a couple of pig-headed guys waiting for me a little ways back that can't stop butting heads long enough to figure out how close we actually are."

"Sounds like fun." Skye replied, chuckling softly.

"Not really." Rhyn answered. "Traveling with just one guy is nothing compared to traveling with three. Especially when you're the only girl and two of them absolutely despise each other."

"So why are they traveling together if they can't stand each other?"

"Um…I don't think it's entirely voluntary." Rhyn paused, thinking of how she had left Talyn and the others. "Actually, I'm pretty sure it's not voluntary." 'He might stay if I asked him, but I seriously doubt that he'd put up with Corbin even if I asked him to stay.'

A comfortable silence came over the two as they continued to scrub themselves clean. Rhyn looked around the river's edges again before stepping out of the river and walked over to her pack. She pulled out a drying cloth, and tossed her extra cloth to Skye who had emerged from the river a few moments after Rhyn. She quickly dried off before putting getting dressed in a dark blue shirt. She then began to dry and detangle her hair. Now that it was wet, her hair fell almost to her waist. She cast an envious look over at Skye, whose hair was almost completely dry just a few minutes after getting out of the river.

"How much longer until these guys of yours come looking for you?" Skye asked as she pulled her shirt back over her head.

Rhyna smirked. "I don't think that they'll come unless I'm screaming bloody murder, but even then, they might think it too risky." This earned a grin from Skye. "But I'll need you to come with me though." Rhyna added a few moments later, as she finished lacing up her boots. Skye looked at her with alarm in her eyes. "It's nothing really, but It's just that, until the others agree that it's alright to let you go, you have to stay with us."

"I take it that you're being sought after too." Rhyna just nodded her head in response. "I guess that I understand. I'd also really like to meet these guys of yours. They sound rather interesting."

"That's putting it mildly." Rhyn retorted. "And thanks." 'Victor's going to love this. I leave and come back with another girl.' Skye came up beside her as Rhyn turned and began to make her way carefully back the way she had come. As they reached the trees, their roots reached up and attempted to knock Rhyn's feet out from under her.

"Are you always this clumsy?" Skye asked as Rhyn had to grasp a nearby tree trunk to keep from falling for about the hundredth time it seemed like.

"Not always." She answered laughing. "Just when there are these light-blasted tree roots looking to knock me over at every step." Skye just laughed.

The two continued to talk as they continued to walk through the trees. When they were just outside of the clearing, Rhyna stopped for a moment because there was almost no noise coming from the clearing. 'What happened? I hope that they didn't all kill each other. Going off of their tempers when I left, that is a definite possibility. If they did, I'll bring them back and murder them all myself.'
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Corbin and Talyn had started down to the river at the same time Rhyn and Skye were walking toward the camp. However, they had managed to avoid each other. They'd left Victor bound in the camp, his wrists still secured behind him. But they'd been...kind enough to leave him ungagged.

Victor sat with his head down, staring at the confounded ground. It was becoming a usual thing for his green eyes to stare at and it was quickly becoming boring. He heard Rhyna enter the forest with someone else, but they were both silent when they entered so Victor didn't look up from where he knelt. "Stupid hunter. Stupid assassin," he mumbled to himself.

"Oh! Don't worry. He's tied up," Rhyn said to the other person.

Victor frowned and glanced up, only to be met with an elbow to the side of the head and a dagger ripping through his chest. Rhyna stared at Skye, shocked that she had attacked Victor. She finally came to her senses and ran at the two, one of which who was still being stabbed repeatedly.

"Get off!" Victor shouted, "I've done nothing to you!" He twisted in a vain attempt to get out from under the person, but was unsuccessful.

"Nothing?! You've done nothing?!" she shrieked.

When Skye sat up, Victor's eyes widened in alarm. "You…" he started.

She slammed her dagger across his face again, "Why aren't you dying?!"

"Because I'm a vampire!" He was successfully managing to work his way backward until his bound wrists snagged on a tree root. He cursed under his breath.

Rhyn shoved Skye off of Victor. "What are you doing?" she demanded.

Skye's chest was heaving and her eyes were burning with a smoldering fire that was in no hurry to be extinguished. She didn't remove her eyes from the vampire and he didn't move his eyes from her. He seemed frozen in fear, not even attempting to get off the ground.

"You should go get the boys," he whispered to Rhyn without looking at her.

"But I can't just leave you-"

"Go now. Do whatever you can to get them here, but go now. Be fast."

Rhyn glanced between the two of them once more and nodded before she bolted toward the river. "Corbin! Talyn!" she shouted as she ran. "Talyn!"

Talyn and Corbin were quickly out of the river at the sounds of their names from a frantically-screaming Rhyna. They barely had time to yank their pants back on before she burst through the underbrush. However, her mind couldn't come up with any reason why the boys should end their bath so soon, so her mind raced through ideas.

"What is it, Rhyna?" Corbin asked, eyeing her. He was still dripping.

"He…the…Victor got loose," she finally spat out.

Talyn tilted his head a little, a small smile on his lips. She is sooo bad at lying.

However, Corbin didn't see it as a lie and was running through the forest back to their camp. Talyn ran next to Rhyn. "You suck at lying."

"I had to get you guys back there somehow!" she countered quickly.

"Why?"

But he didn't need to wait for an answer. When they burst into the clearing they saw a very bloody vampire laying on the ground with a grubby-looking boy standing over him with a dagger. Victor had stab wounds and gashes all over his chest, arms, stomach, and face.

Corbin chuckled, "Do you have this effect on everyone you meet?" Victor snapped him a look, but it wasn't a glare, it was a wide-eyed 'get over here now' look. Corbin eyed the boy, who had turned at his chuckle. Corbin tilted his head a little, "Why are you attacking the vampire?"

Skye dropped the dagger and ran at Corbin full-speed. Corbin tensed when her body slammed against his, squeezing him tightly. "Uh…" Corbin looked at Talyn, who shrugged. He looked down at the boy, "Uh…why are you hugging me?" The boy tilted his head up, his crystal eyes glowing with tears. A look of realization quickly crossed Corbin's face.

"But you…" he stepped back a little, holding the other person's arms out so he could examine her. "But you…" That's all he could get out. He quickly wrapped her in a tight hug, pressing his lips all over her face over and over.

Talyn raised an eyebrow, "Uh…he's making out with another guy."

Rhyna closed her mouth, finally waking up from her shock, "It's not a guy. That's Saria isn't it, Corbin?"

He pulled from her, laughing, "Yes!" He ran his finger down her cheek, "Yes. Yes, yes, yes."  She giggled and took her hat off, revealing her chopped hair, which made Corbin momentarily frown. "Why did you disguise yourself as a man?"

"I was slightly recognizable as a woman and when Alistair is searching for you, you tend to want to hide what makes you noticeable."

Corbin grinned, still completely consumed with the knowledge that his love was finally his again. That they had been reunited. He kissed her again, digging his fingers in her hair. She gladly returned his kisses, just as equally excited to see him.

Victor rolled his eyes at their reunion and finally pulled himself to a sitting position. 'I'm going to have to eat tonight if they don't want to carry me around. I doubt Corbin will be too keen on that idea, especially now that he has a woman to protect. Stupid man.' However, when Victor pulled himself to that sitting position, he inhaled sharply, unconsciously drawing all attention to him. He frowned and looked between each member of the group.

Corbin frowned and looked back at Saria, "Why did you attack him?"

She snorted, "That was the stupi…oh. That's right. You don't know. He's the other one that raped me."

Corbin nodded, "I know. He told me. That's why he's bound."

"Well why isn't he dead?" Her eyes narrowed at Victor.

He rolled his eyes in response and looked at Corbin, "I kept my end of the deal, now let me go."

"Why?"

Victor's eyes narrowed threateningly, though the threat wasn't penetrating because he was still bound. "I told you I would bring you to your love. There she is. Let me go."

Corbin looked back at Saria, pushing his lips to one side of his face. She eyed him and pried her arms off from around him, stepping back. Corbin was startled, "What are you doing?"

"If you won't kill him, I will."

He sighed, "You can't."

"Why not?" she snapped, "He framed you and took you away from me. He raped me, Corbin!"

"Did you ever wonder if that was a form of rape for him too?" Saria halted and studied the vampire. Corbin continued, "He was a slave for Alistair's sister."

"The one you supposedly killed," she replied, her eyes still on Victor.

Rhyn leaned to her toes, whispering in Talyn's ear, "I don't think I blame her for being so upset. I can't imagine running into the man that raped me." Talyn nodded.

"I didn't…!" Victor started to yell. He tightened his jaw and looked down.

"You should explain your story to her," Corbin offered, walking to Victor. Victor shifted his gaze to the hunter as he crouched behind him. Victor's gaze was curious and hopeful, but Corbin didn't release him immediately. "Will you tell her the truth?" Corbin asked.

"I really hate reiterating my past, in case you couldn't tell. You stupid three were the first I even told." He looked at Rhyn and Talyn. "I never even had any intention of telling the stupid assassins." His blood was boiling.

Rhyna stuck her hands on her hips, "Stupid assassins? Stupid? I helped you as I recall."

Corbin hesitated to release the vampire. He looked at the group, "Rhyna, don't be offended. He's lost a lot of blood."

"So?" she snapped.

"So…because of that, he's not able to control his vampire nature. You see, when vampires are low on blood, their vampire…instincts take over. He's in survival mode right now." A look of understanding dawned on all faces. Corbin looked back down at Victor, "I'm hesitating to release you because of this."

Victor nodded once, "I don't blame you. However, if you don't release me now and I don't feed immediately, you will all be in danger." He looked over his shoulder at Corbin, "You better be fast."

"But what will you…eat?" Talyn frowned.

"Whatever I can find. I prefer human, but I'll have to stick with a stupid animal. I so wish the army was near enough…hm…maybe I'll just find them. I like that idea. Corbin, hurry!" Corbin removed his dagger from his boot and sliced through the silver immediately. Victor slowly got to his feet and rubbed his wrists. He glanced once more at the group and took off into the darkness.

Corbin leaned back on his ankles and ran a hand over his face, "I guess that takes care of him."

Saria didn't know quite what to do. She didn't know whether to be angry at Corbin or understanding. She didn't know whether she should run after the vampire and kill him or just let him go. She finally walked behind Corbin and hugged him from behind, wrapping her arms around his shoulders. He put his hands on her arms and turned his head to kiss her cheek.

"I've missed you so much," he whispered.

Saria grinned and giggled, "And you have no idea how much I've missed you."

Talyn glanced at Rhyn, who was watching the happy reunion with a blank expression. He wasn't able to read what she was thinking. Her mind was confused. 'Will I see Victor again…those two are so cute…I think I'd like someone to hug. No. I've got Talyn…' She looked up at him and frowned, "Why are you staring at me?"

His eyes widened and he put his hands up defensively, "I'm not! Swear it!"

"Where have you been?" Corbin whispered in Saria's ear.

She shook her head, "All over. Anywhere that the people would hide me."

Corbin put his forehead against hers, "I'm so glad you were able to escape."

She smiled, "I had some help. A man helped free me. He came to my room early that morning and gave me these clothes. He then helped me cut my hair and smeared mud on me too. He then led me out the back doors of the castle and into the woods where a horse was waiting. He told me to run and not look back."

Corbin looked over at Talyn and Rhyna, but talked to Saria, "Did you see his face?"

She frowned, "No. He was covered. But he had amazing green eyes."

"Would you recognize him if you saw him again?"

"Of course!" she snorted.

Corbin raised his eyebrow and glanced at the assassins again. They both shrugged and smiled. He looked back at Saria, "What would you do if you saw him again?"

She laughed, "No offense, but I'd probably kiss him and thank him."

Talyn whispered to Rhyna, purposefully loud enough for Saria to hear, "She'll have to do that after he forgives her for stabbing him."

Saria's eyes widened and she looked up at Corbin, "What?"

Corbin couldn't help but smile. 'It really is kinda funny.' "Victor, the vampire you stabbed, is the one that rescued you."

"So he claims," she replied unbelievingly.

Corbin shrugged, "You may never see him again. I don't believe you will."

"Why is that?"

Corbin flinched and glanced at the assassins again. Rhyn grinned, "Because he and Talyn tortured Victor for no reason."

"No reason?!" they shouted simultaneously. Corbin frowned and started to say something, but Rhyn held up her hand, silencing him.

Saria took Corbin's hand. "Are you positive he's the one that released me?"

"Well…Gabrielle…Victor is not one to lie. He'll pull the truth and things, but he wouldn't lie about something like that. He was already tied up and pretty beaten when he admitted he'd helped raped you and then released you. Actually," Corbin frowned, "I was about to kill him when he told me he saved you and that you were fine."

She eyed Corbin, "You can go finish your bath, if you'd like. I'll just stay here with Rhyna. We have much to discuss about you boys." The boys exchanged a glance while the girls giggled. They finally agreed, although Corbin was hesitant, and left the girls in the camp.

While the group was talking and getting information, Victor was running through the forest, grimacing at every step and movement, getting as far away from that group of people as he could. The scent of so many humans so close made it nearly impossible for him to turn away, but he succeeded in doing so. Though the forest was as dark as bottomless pit, Victor found it all too easy to navigate.

He suddenly stopped. 'The army…they are much closer to that group than they think. Perhaps I can lead them away. I don't know how well it will work, but it won't hurt to try.' Victor shifted his direction and headed straight for the army.