**CRUNCH**
I heard a door splinter apart from behind the group of angry abominations. From afar I could see the figure of a large warrior.
�Blaze! Help!� I called out.
The warrior came charging down the stairs with a small stone pillar in his hands, no doubt what he had used to bash down the door. He came up from behind the befuddled abominations and heaved the stone pillar into the crowed of abominations, several of them got crushed under it and began to struggle to get up. The rest of them turned to him and began wildly attacking Blaze. However he pulled out his sword and parried all of the feeble blows the abominations made with their makeshift metal clubs. This gave Elodee and I the chance to make a run for it. The two of us sprinted past the distracted abominations and headed for the exit.
I turned around and called out, �Blaze! Let�s get out of here!�
He slowly began to back away from the mob that was beginning to get reorganized. He knocked over several racks of random equipment before turning and running to us. As he turned, one of the abominations struck him on the shoulder causing the warrior to wince and hold his shoulder in pain, but he continued to run.
Once we made it to the door up top I whispered a short incantation and the door slowly reassembled itself and then was put back into its original state before Blaze had bashed it open. Unfortunately the magical lock was broken and it would require a long time to set up a new one so I had Blaze prop several heavy objects in front of the door as I held up a magical barrier which kept the door closed while I concentrated on it.
After about five minutes we had safely secured the door and then made for a hasty exit out of the castle. However, when we finally had left the castle we found the mob of abominations outside waiting for us.
I looked at Blaze and Elodee and opened my mouth to say something but was interrupted by the man who had led me to Elodee.
He shrugged and said, �Backdoor�
I blinked several times, as I hadn�t expected the evil wizard Valmar to put in a back exit out of his secret laboratory. It made sense, it would provide an easy and safe exit in case of experimental disaster.
The man then said, �We give you one more chance to hand the girl back over to us before we are forced to take you all.�
Elodee stepped forward and put her hands on her hips and said, in her thick accent, �Look all of you! I have had just about enough of all of this. Mr. Darkin said that he has slain your master, and even though his last command was to keep me no matter what, wouldn�t you all think it would make sense to forget about it and just let bygones be bygones?�
Everyone was silent for a while until the abominations started to look confused and looked at each other. I saw their confusion and hesitance and decided to play on it.
�Yes, I agree with Miss Elodee here, don�t you all want to go and live your own lives now instead of spending the rest of eternity watching over this girl.� I said.
The abominations began to talk amongst themselves and eventually broke off into two groups. One which wanted to leave and live their own lives and not continue with the oath, believing their former master was dead, and then the other half which were intent on dedicating the rest of their immortal lives to carrying out the last commands of their late master. Soon an internal battle began between the two sides.
All three of us looked at each other out of amusement as we had not expected this outcome. We silently made our way from the fray as the two sides were fighting each other.
Blaze sighed as we made our way across the dead wizard�s land and said, �I wonder which side won?�
Elodee looked back and replied, �I hope the ones who wanted to live on their own won.�
I nodded in agreement as I proceeded forward and then said, �We will reach the boarders of Valmar�s land by late morning tomorrow if we make camp now. However in case the side who seeks our imprisonment won, we better keep moving forward until we are safely beyond the borders of the land. I highly doubt they would pursue us beyond the border for they would have difficulty traveling through foreign lands. Plus they would have to watch out for the random hunting parties which may come across them, it would be to dangerous for them to venture out of their own land.�
Of course I was only guessing that the abominations would not pursue us. I looked back in the direction where we had come from, a subconcious move to see if there was anyone following us. Blaze noticed my concern but did not make any comment at the moment, for the sole priority for us was to make it out of Valmar�s land and to somewhere where we could rest safely. However later that night, Blaze came to me and asked if I had seen anything out there. I told him that it was nothing more than my own suspicions and paranoia catching up to me. Blaze smiled and patted me on the back heartily and took watch that night.
I had a dream that night�In my dream, it seemed as though I was surrounded by some sort of council. Of course not knowing I was dreaming, I inquired to where I was. The council of people, who were not visible to me due to a blinding light which shown in my face, conferred amongst themselves.
I repeated myself again, �Pardon me, where am I?�
Someone leaned forward, so that the light would no longer hide his, or her, face. But before I could actually see the face, I awoke to find Blaze leaning over me.
�Woah!� I said in astonishment as I jumped up into the air.
Blaze nodded and turned to Elodee and said, �Okay he is awake.�
Elodee smiled as she said, �Good, now we may eat some breakfast.�
I sat up and I was amazed at the food that was laid out. I sampled all the food that was spread out. There were eggs, biscuits, sausages, and various fruits. It wasn�t until I had filled my belly when I actually realized and inquired to where the food came from.
Elodee just clasped her amulet and said, �Every now and again, I like to cook a nice warm meal using my magic.�
I had never really considered using magic to make food. I smiled at the cleaver girl and said, �Quite fascinating�and delicious might I add.�
Elodee talked to me about how it was her own little spell she had come up with. Something that would allow her to keep traveling with out having to stop in towns and pick up heavy supplies.
�It is just so much more convenient this way.� She explained to me.
Blaze, Elodee and I then picked up camp and continued our journey out of Valmar�s land. We did not run into much trouble along the way. Only a few goblins got in our way but posed no serious trouble because as soon as Blaze drew his weapon and stared at the creatures, they ran away, afraid to end up like the others that had encountered us before.
We made it to the border well after noon. The fine line where the barrier once stood was still visible. But that was to be expected since we only saw it a few days before.
As we continued forward, Blaze stopped and suddenly everything was quiet.
I opened my mouth to inquire as to why he had stopped. But the warrior just shook his head and pressed one of his fingers to his lips, signaling for me to be quiet.. Apparently he was sensing something that I could not. I closed my mind and tried to scan the area with my magic to see if I could detect any magical disturbances, but nothing came up.
�There is something moving underneath the ground�� Blaze finally said in a hushed tone, �Make no sudden movements, I fear it draws near.�
I focused my mind to the ground but again, I could not sense anything. I began to wonder why Blaze could sense movement under the earth, while, with my own magic I could not. However, before I could formulate any explanation for Blaze�s heightened sensory ability, there was a violent trembling that shook us all senseless. I found myself on the ground trying to brace myself against the dirt. There was a crunching sound as a huge shadow cast it�s self over us.