cass + niichaad + candidates + hatching + weyrlings + adults
beach shards weyr + quinalt weyr
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Niichaad lay awake in the physician's ward, trying to ignore the hunger pangs that kept coming despite having food in his stomach know and the pain in his side from where Narelah had kicked him. But at least he was out of the dungeon. Niichaad shivered at the memory of it. Blackness. Nothing but complete and total blackness. And sometime in the middle of the second day the bonfire of hope he had had for Cass had burned out, and he didn't even have that to keep him going. He was afraid to even close his eyes, for even that darkness reminded him of his cell. But he was so tired. His eyelids were heavy. Sleep beckoned to him gently... Niichaad shook his head to clear his mind. He would not - could not - go back to the darkness. He'd go crazy. He must have drifted off sometime, because the next thing he knew, Niichaad awoke to the sound of Cass calling his name and gently shaking his shoulder. "Isn't it dangerous for you to be seen near me?" Niichaad whispered. Cass put a finger to his own lips. "Yes, very. We're leaving. Before that bitch Narelah can do anything else to us." Niichaad propped himself up on one elbow. "Are you crazy? How are you going to get me out of here?" "With this," he tossed a black hooded robe at Niichaad. "Do you need help into it?" Niichaad made a face. "Thanks, but I'm not that weak," he sat up and tried to hold back groans as stiff muscles protested the movement. "Liar," Cass accused with a chuckle. "Alright, I can get into a robe, but how do you expect to get me out of this - whoa!" his question was answered as Cass swept him up in his arms. "Wow, isn't this romantic." "Wow, for someone who hasn't eaten in two days you're pretty heavy," Cass said through gritted teeth. "I think I can walk if you support me and help me out of bed," Niichaad suggested. "Are you sure?" Cass asked worridley. Niichaad wanted to kiss him right then and there. Noone had ever seemed to care about him so much to worry about his comfort. Niichaad nodded. "I'm sure." After a bit of a struggle that almost ended up with Cass joining Niichaad in the tiny physician's ward bed, the pair were off and hobbling down familiar halls that now took on a sinister look as they fled towards the stables. "Just out of curiosity," Niichaad asked as Cass worked a catch to open a secret exit, "where are we going?" "To Eligo forest," Cass replied. "To the witches there. I've heard they have a way of... getting people places. Other worlds, just like ours, even some different. Either way, we'll be away from here and safe." Niichaad shivered despite being pressed close to Cass' warm body. "I don't like the idea of asking witches for help." "They're perfectly nice people, they know I didn't support them being sent to Diesenfir," Cass assured him. "Do you think I'd take you anywhere that wasn't safe?" Niichaad smiled up at him. "Of course not." "We should be laughing at ourselves, all mushy like this," Cass said with a forced laugh. "Probably, but we don't seem to be doing what we should recently," Niichaad pointed out. "Can you make it down the stairs?" Cass asked, holding a torch out in front of them to light the way down. Niichaad craned his neck to get a better look. "Sure, as long as you hold on to me." Cass pulled the door of the secret exit closed behind them. "No problem." Slowly but surely, the pair made it to the bottom of the stairs and out into cool summer night air. Niichaad took a deep breath. "Wow that smells so good. Being locked away really makes you miss the little things, like fresh air!" Cass gave Niichaad's shoulders a squeeze. "I'm sorry you had to go through that," he said. Niichaad just smiled. "You're worth it, Cass." "Come on, stop being so damn sweet, I've got a horse tied up around this way," Cass told him. "A horse?" Niichaad wondered. "Well I didn't think you'd be up to riding alone," Cass said as the big black brute of a gelding came into view. "He won't mind a double load." Cass helped Niichaad up into the saddle and then swung up in front of him. "Grab on tight," Cass advised. Niichaad obeyed. "You planned it this way," he accused. "You know it," Cass told him with a chuckle and signaled the gelding to a fast trot, then a canter and finally a gallop as they headed for Eligo woods and the witches. They had no trouble finding the small village; Cass had taken the map Nalerah had brought with her. The only problem was getting in. As soon as they got close, a black clad form whizzed over them. "Witches!" Cass called out. "I am Prince Cass of Iliarak, and I need your help!" A black clad shape whizzed by and landed on the road in front of them. It was a slender, dark haired, light skinned woman with blood red eyes. She was dressed in a thin black dress that showed off her figure. Her smile at seeing Cass was genuine enough, nevertheless she sent a shiver up Niichaad's neck. "Welcome, Cass," she said in a melodious voice. "How can we help you?" "My friend Niichaad and I need to leave this world," Cass told her. "Certain people here make life hard for us." The witch cocked her head slightly to one side and gazed first at Cass and then and Niichaad, as if seeing something besides what was physically there. "You are lovers," she said with a smile. "How cute. But hard in this world, yes. Come in, I know just the place for you." Niichaad shivered again. "How did she know that?" he whispered to Cass. "Witches... just know, you get used to it after a while," Cass said with a shrug as they followed the witch into the village. Neither Cass nor Niichaad had time to marvel at the village, they were taken straight to one of the many huts and a drape was closed across the entrance. The witch who had shown them in went to the back to talk to another witch, leaving Cass and Niichaad to look around in the dim greeny-purply light given off by candles. Herbs and plants of all sorts decorated the walls of the hut and a curtain was hung across the back. From behind it came an odd glow a bit like what the candles gave off except for that it was much stronger. The two witches stood just in front of the curtain, slender forms sihlouetted against it as they whispered quietly. Niichaad got the distinct feeling they were speaking an entirely different language. The first witch came back. "Alright, we can get you to a world called Pern. It is a world much like this one, except much more accepting. And creatures called dragons live there, coexisting with the humans. You will find it a nice place to live. Just come behind the curtain." Cass started to help Niichaad forward but was stopped by the witch. "He's too weak to walk on his own!" Cass protested. The witch smiled, murmurred a few words, and jestured to Niichaad. A spark left her hand and hit the ground somewhere near Niichaad's feet. "Better?" she asked. Niichaad looked at her in amazement and then to Cass in delight. "Much, better, thank you!" he strode with all of his former strength behind the curtain to find a large hole in the floor. It was pitch black besides the eerie glow given off at the rim. "It's so... dark," Niichaad said, shying away. "It's the only way, Niichaad!" Cass encouraged him. "Be brave!" Niichaad bit his lip and nodded and then stepped into the hole. He dissapeared. The witch waited a few moments and then nodded to Cass. "Now you," she said. With a smile of thanks to the witches and a last look at the hut, Prince Cass jumped into the hole and left his world behind forever. |
