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Previous Chapter: ENDLESS Chapter 26: Last Moments

Next Chapter: ENDLESS Chapter 28: Despair

All Chapters HERE .

Watch the Trailer: ENDLESS Trailer

CHAPTER 27: PASSAGE

Gorken was scared. His throat had never been so dry; as if nothing would go through, not even air, much less his voice. He was suddenly aware of every drop of sweat on his body, of every furious heartbeat.

There was no time to lose; he just had to ask. He feared hearing Lyra’s voice, hearing why she was shedding tears. He tightened his grip around his sword. Come on, ask her. Talk. Move. Do something!

“Where did you get that, Lyra?” Gabrielle demanded, putting an end to Gorken’s inner strife.

“L-Lady Gabrielle,” she sobbed, “how-?”

“There’s no time,” Gabrielle cut her off, “where did you get that shirt? Where is she?”

Lyra wiped her eyes, “I heard that Princess Malia had been captured, that Prince Cain was interrogating her… so I went down to the dungeons in the northern tower to request an audience… They didn’t let me in. Then Prince Cain came out of the room and gave me this, and I…” her lip quivered, “…I got a glimpse of what they were doing to her. I didn’t know what to do. I ran away. I’m the worst.” Lyra’s tears reappeared, “I couldn’t do anything for the princess.”

“Cut it out.” Gabrielle scolded her as she headed to the exit, “You have always been a wimp. I bet Malia had a black eye and you lost it. Let’s go, now we know where she is.”

“No!” Lyra stood up and grabbed Gabrielle’s arm, “You can’t go down there! You’ll get killed! They’re waiting for you!”

Eager to flee having to picture what Lyra had seen, Gorken joined the conversation, “What do you mean?”

“King Amos knows that when Princess Malia escaped, she took you with her. He assumed the human rebellion would attempt to retrieve her. That’s why there was barely any surveillance near the stone wall.” Lyra was trembling, “Everyone has been saying that His Majesty is… obsessed with the hole in the great stone wall... That’s why he was so desperate to get Princess Malia back. He made it easy to infiltrate the castle, presuming that you’d use the crack in the barrier. There’s something like… a whole squadron waiting in the dungeons, ready to apprehend whoever comes for the princess. Princess Malia would never forgive me if I let you die, and…” her voice broke at last, “…I think she’s already…”

Lyra started weeping again.

“Heavens,” Gabrielle’s exasperation was palpable, “stop it already. If your princess really is in such bad shape, then you’re coming with us. I taught you the basics of healing magic, didn’t I? You’ll be of some use for a change, so stop acting like a spoiled child. Malia has been too lenient with you.”

“I won’t let you die!” Lyra’s determination was undermined by her swollen cheeks, “Lady Gabrielle, you should know better than anyone how princess Malia feels about you… and how she feels about Mister Gorken! As her servant, I can’t allow you to throw away your lives! You’re lucky enough no one has found you yet, so escape while you can! Please!”

Gorken knew Lyra’s resolute plea was proof of how deeply she cared for Malia. So why was she assuming the worst? No… I know why. He had been doing exactly the same. If he had been terrified of hearing the truth mere moments prior… it was because he had assumed that Malia was dead. He had been too afraid to have faith, too afraid to face reality after hoping for the best… So he hadn’t. He had chosen sorrow beforehand.

Why am I even here then? He hadn’t come to die… he had come to save Malia. How weak could his mind be? How much of a coward had he become? Malia’s presence always made it easy for him to believe, but without her…

Gorken placed a reassuring hand on Lyra’s shoulder, as he often did for his men. Courage was something you built one tiny gesture at a time, nurturing it lovingly and carefully, until it grew strong enough to envelop everyone around you. Maybe in igniting Lyra’s bravery, he would find the fortitude to bury his own disgraceful cowardice.

Lyra’s grateful stare let Gorken know she appreciated the comfort.

“Foolish girl.” Gabrielle chuckled, “Are you listening to yourself? Do you think I would relinquish my life for her? Malia is an investment, one I won’t let go to waste. Why do you think no one noticed us even though we walked straight into their trap? They’re expecting humans to infiltrate the castle, but they’re not expecting me. We will slaughter the whole squadron before they can think of a last wish.” Gabrielle then addressed Gorken, “That being said, I want you to do most of the killing. Can you do it? Can you cut down helpless soldiers who won’t even be able to see you?”

“I can.” Gorken replied.

“That’s what I like to hear.” She eyed Lyra then, “Are you happy now? We’ll save your princess, we won’t die, and you’ll help. You can’t complain about anything. Let’s go.”

Lyra nodded shyly, and Gorken patted her back encouragingly as they stepped out into the corridor. The handmaiden and the human stayed close to Gabrielle, benefitting from her unseeable magic.

Gorken slit the first two throats at the dungeon gates; one of the guards had looked young, the other scared. But he couldn’t allow himself to care, to hesitate. The fence wasn’t heavily guarded because the soldiers were waiting below, in the narrow rocky hallway. Furtiveness lost its purpose when they reached it.

The confined space left no room for secrecy. As soon as they killed the first soldier, the rest would react. Their only option was to murder them all, using the cramped corridor to their advantage. If only one of them escaped and called for reinforcements, they would be done for.

Gabrielle moved her head, silently signaling Lyra to stay behind and out of the way. Only then did Gorken realize how hard it had been for the blonde woman to be as quiet as them; she was no warrior, no assassin, and she had her pudgy hands over her nose and mouth.

One nod from Gabrielle was all he needed to understand her message: this time she would assist him in the killing.

Lyra couldn’t subdue her cries once the carnage started. The first two murders had already shaken her, twisting her gut into a shuddering knot. But this was different. She wasn’t witnessing the end of a life, the emptying of a body as its blood leaked out from severed veins… This was butchery, violence freed from restraint. The way Gorken mutilated and carved and desecrated what were supposed to be the bodies of people, almost made her throw up. But if she looked away from him and towards Gabrielle, the horrifying spectacle only got worse: Gabrielle had no sword, so she used her body to maim, and crack, and gauge out whatever approached her. Lyra could have sworn the woman’s hands looked like the claws of a vicious beast at times.

In the constricted structure, Lyra had nowhere to look away, nowhere to hide. She covered her ears and talked to herself, prompting time after time: Don’t break down. Don’t break down. Don’t break down. She closed her eyes and crouched, waiting in patient dread. By the time she collected herself, the only ones left standing in the corridor where Gorken and Gabrielle. The clamor of battle had been reduced to a lonely silence in a matter of seconds.

“Did we kill them all?” Gabrielle’s question sounded like a command.

“We did. No one got away.” Gorken’s reply also sounded like an order.

“Which one’s the door?” Gabrielle addressed Lyra, “Quickly now. They may have moved her after you saw her, if they were cautious enough. But we need to start somewhere.”

Lyra singled out a door with a shivering finger. Gabrielle stepped forward and opened it.

Description

Previous Chapter: ENDLESS Chapter 26: Last Moments

Next Chapter: ENDLESS Chapter 28: Despair

All Chapters HERE .

Watch the Trailer: ENDLESS Trailer

CHAPTER 27: PASSAGE

Gorken was scared. His throat had never been so dry; as if nothing would go through, not even air, much less his voice. He was suddenly aware of every drop of sweat on his body, of every furious heartbeat.

There was no time to lose; he just had to ask. He feared hearing Lyra’s voice, hearing why she was shedding tears. He tightened his grip around his sword. Come on, ask her. Talk. Move. Do something!

“Where did you get that, Lyra?” Gabrielle demanded, putting an end to Gorken’s inner strife.

“L-Lady Gabrielle,” she sobbed, “how-?”

“There’s no time,” Gabrielle cut her off, “where did you get that shirt? Where is she?”

Lyra wiped her eyes, “I heard that Princess Malia had been captured, that Prince Cain was interrogating her… so I went down to the dungeons in the northern tower to request an audience… They didn’t let me in. Then Prince Cain came out of the room and gave me this, and I…” her lip quivered, “…I got a glimpse of what they were doing to her. I didn’t know what to do. I ran away. I’m the worst.” Lyra’s tears reappeared, “I couldn’t do anything for the princess.”

“Cut it out.” Gabrielle scolded her as she headed to the exit, “You have always been a wimp. I bet Malia had a black eye and you lost it. Let’s go, now we know where she is.”

“No!” Lyra stood up and grabbed Gabrielle’s arm, “You can’t go down there! You’ll get killed! They’re waiting for you!”

Eager to flee having to picture what Lyra had seen, Gorken joined the conversation, “What do you mean?”

“King Amos knows that when Princess Malia escaped, she took you with her. He assumed the human rebellion would attempt to retrieve her. That’s why there was barely any surveillance near the stone wall.” Lyra was trembling, “Everyone has been saying that His Majesty is… obsessed with the hole in the great stone wall... That’s why he was so desperate to get Princess Malia back. He made it easy to infiltrate the castle, presuming that you’d use the crack in the barrier. There’s something like… a whole squadron waiting in the dungeons, ready to apprehend whoever comes for the princess. Princess Malia would never forgive me if I let you die, and…” her voice broke at last, “…I think she’s already…”

Lyra started weeping again.

“Heavens,” Gabrielle’s exasperation was palpable, “stop it already. If your princess really is in such bad shape, then you’re coming with us. I taught you the basics of healing magic, didn’t I? You’ll be of some use for a change, so stop acting like a spoiled child. Malia has been too lenient with you.”

“I won’t let you die!” Lyra’s determination was undermined by her swollen cheeks, “Lady Gabrielle, you should know better than anyone how princess Malia feels about you… and how she feels about Mister Gorken! As her servant, I can’t allow you to throw away your lives! You’re lucky enough no one has found you yet, so escape while you can! Please!”

Gorken knew Lyra’s resolute plea was proof of how deeply she cared for Malia. So why was she assuming the worst? No… I know why. He had been doing exactly the same. If he had been terrified of hearing the truth mere moments prior… it was because he had assumed that Malia was dead. He had been too afraid to have faith, too afraid to face reality after hoping for the best… So he hadn’t. He had chosen sorrow beforehand.

Why am I even here then? He hadn’t come to die… he had come to save Malia. How weak could his mind be? How much of a coward had he become? Malia’s presence always made it easy for him to believe, but without her…

Gorken placed a reassuring hand on Lyra’s shoulder, as he often did for his men. Courage was something you built one tiny gesture at a time, nurturing it lovingly and carefully, until it grew strong enough to envelop everyone around you. Maybe in igniting Lyra’s bravery, he would find the fortitude to bury his own disgraceful cowardice.

Lyra’s grateful stare let Gorken know she appreciated the comfort.

“Foolish girl.” Gabrielle chuckled, “Are you listening to yourself? Do you think I would relinquish my life for her? Malia is an investment, one I won’t let go to waste. Why do you think no one noticed us even though we walked straight into their trap? They’re expecting humans to infiltrate the castle, but they’re not expecting me. We will slaughter the whole squadron before they can think of a last wish.” Gabrielle then addressed Gorken, “That being said, I want you to do most of the killing. Can you do it? Can you cut down helpless soldiers who won’t even be able to see you?”

“I can.” Gorken replied.

“That’s what I like to hear.” She eyed Lyra then, “Are you happy now? We’ll save your princess, we won’t die, and you’ll help. You can’t complain about anything. Let’s go.”

Lyra nodded shyly, and Gorken patted her back encouragingly as they stepped out into the corridor. The handmaiden and the human stayed close to Gabrielle, benefitting from her unseeable magic.

Gorken slit the first two throats at the dungeon gates; one of the guards had looked young, the other scared. But he couldn’t allow himself to care, to hesitate. The fence wasn’t heavily guarded because the soldiers were waiting below, in the narrow rocky hallway. Furtiveness lost its purpose when they reached it.

The confined space left no room for secrecy. As soon as they killed the first soldier, the rest would react. Their only option was to murder them all, using the cramped corridor to their advantage. If only one of them escaped and called for reinforcements, they would be done for.

Gabrielle moved her head, silently signaling Lyra to stay behind and out of the way. Only then did Gorken realize how hard it had been for the blonde woman to be as quiet as them; she was no warrior, no assassin, and she had her pudgy hands over her nose and mouth.

One nod from Gabrielle was all he needed to understand her message: this time she would assist him in the killing.

Lyra couldn’t subdue her cries once the carnage started. The first two murders had already shaken her, twisting her gut into a shuddering knot. But this was different. She wasn’t witnessing the end of a life, the emptying of a body as its blood leaked out from severed veins… This was butchery, violence freed from restraint. The way Gorken mutilated and carved and desecrated what were supposed to be the bodies of people, almost made her throw up. But if she looked away from him and towards Gabrielle, the horrifying spectacle only got worse: Gabrielle had no sword, so she used her body to maim, and crack, and gauge out whatever approached her. Lyra could have sworn the woman’s hands looked like the claws of a vicious beast at times.

In the constricted structure, Lyra had nowhere to look away, nowhere to hide. She covered her ears and talked to herself, prompting time after time: Don’t break down. Don’t break down. Don’t break down. She closed her eyes and crouched, waiting in patient dread. By the time she collected herself, the only ones left standing in the corridor where Gorken and Gabrielle. The clamor of battle had been reduced to a lonely silence in a matter of seconds.

“Did we kill them all?” Gabrielle’s question sounded like a command.

“We did. No one got away.” Gorken’s reply also sounded like an order.

“Which one’s the door?” Gabrielle addressed Lyra, “Quickly now. They may have moved her after you saw her, if they were cautious enough. But we need to start somewhere.”

Lyra singled out a door with a shivering finger. Gabrielle stepped forward and opened it.