Page 18 of Orange Tundra
The burly Manasty looked at me, his eyes softening. “We’re here to help, Brynn,” he said, his voice gentle. “Whatever you need, we’re at your disposal.”
I felt a lump form in my throat, tears threatening to spill over. Stupid hormones, always making me cry. I sighed.
Just then, I saw a big guy with a cloth over his mouth. My eyes went wide. I knew that huge shape. Nif.
“Why do you have cloth covering your mouth?” I pointed at him. His hands were not tied up so at any point, he can take it off.
He rolled his eyes, and a voice from behind him snorted. “His big mouth will give us away.”
I turned, my eyes narrowing at the one who just spoke. “You.”
“Ferix,” his uncle, Snarz, warned him. His eyes darted around as he tried to assess the situation. “Shut your mouth.”
So the innkeeper’s nephew was called Ferix.
As I took a step forward, Sim and Nim growled, stepping in front of me like a wall.
“Back up,” Sim commanded, his tone firm.
Snarz, Ferix, CG—the captain of this odd crew—and a few others fell back to give us space, but Nif stayed put, his arms crossed.
“Your Highnesses!” someone exclaimed, recognition lacing the air.
CG pulled Nif back slightly. “Just because they’re heirs to the Purple Tribe doesn’t mean they’re not going to bite.”
“Or slice,” someone added, meaning they knew the manasties I’m with were fighters.
Nif rolled his eyes again, exuding a mix of annoyance and amusement. I’m glad he wasn’t intimidated by them.
Sim faced the group, his expression serious. “What’s your goal? Why are you here?”
CG stepped forward, his deep voice steady. “We’re here to rescue Old Onork from the Prison.”
“Prison?” I echoed, confusion creeping in. What happened to the old man with the washed out purple hair, er, fur?
“Why was this manasty imprisoned?” Xy asked, his brow furrowed. “And why does his name sound familiar?” He looked at Clitasoxdfwe’h but the latter only shook his head. Sim did not know as well but Nim’s brow furrowed, thinking hard.
Sinx chimed in, his voice low and matter-of-fact. “Because Old Onork was carrying a hiscat.”
My breath caught in my throat. “My hiscat?”
“Yourhiscat?” Nim and Sim exclaimed at the same time. From my peripheral, Xy and Clitasoxdfwe’h even took a step back away from me as if I have a disease. I forgot. Hiscats were sacred animals to them.
CG nodded, his expression confirming my fears. “Yes, yours.”
Before Nim and Sim can ask about the hiscat, I asked CG,”So you’re all here to rescue him?”
They all nodded.
“We heard there’s a secret entrance - oomph,” Sinx voice cut off. CG elbowed him hard in the gut.
“Pardon him your highnesses,” CG said smoothly in his gruff voice.
However, Nim and Sim approached CG at the same time, at least their arms were crossed above their chest. Better that than draw their swords.
“Explain,” Sim’s body was radiating tension. It seems like the Purple Tribe’s secrets were open secrets. If this wasn’t a serious situation, I would say the Purple Tribe was very lax in security.
CG glared at Sinx who looked chastised. Then he faced the twinsies. “Everyone knows the Prison Tunnels were like a maze designed to confuse those who will enter it. However, we heard near the spring caves, there is an entrance.”
