Bandits On The Loose Pt.2
"I don't think they're still pursuing us! Should we stop running now?" Jethro screamed, still running. He could almost feel his lungs scream in pain because of how long they'd been running. With his knees almost giving up on him and throat feeling scratchy and parched, he felt as if he would fall and collapse anytime soon if they don't stop running.
"I want that too, but have you seen them smiling? I think they still have something up their sleeve! We should find a place to hide!" Jullian retorted, out of breath.
Jethro smiled sneakily.
"Did you say hide? I know just the place" Jethro shouted before maneuvering to the left towards the thicket. When they got nearer to a thick wall of coiled vines, Jethro slowed and then started to walk towards the wall his right hand feeling the vines as if looking for something.
"We can stay here for the time being." He said while opening a burrow hole big enough to fit a grown-ass man in.
Jullian was about to follow suit when they heard a chuckling kid. It was the kid they fought with earlier!
"I'm afraid, we can't let you do that," Jethro and Jullian jerked back in a whirl. The voice came from that nasty-tempered teenager.
First, it was the kid, then the teenager. They were coming out of a portal of some sort then alongside them was the Dragon from earlier. Albeit not a fully grown dragon, but a dragon nevertheless.
Jethro was about to push Jullian into the burrow when the dragon who was just lazily watching them go on full-out combat earlier, decided to flap its wings, sending a strong gust of wind that slammed them hard into the thicket just after the little kid shouted, "Kittorah, fetch!".
'Rude much?' Jethro, seeing the opportunity presented before him, acted and tried to immediately chuck his sister, albeit forcefully, into the hole in hopes of putting her to safety first. But the dragon must've seen through his plans because it flew close to them so fast and intentionally covered the hole just in time with its scary big claws—covering the whole entrance. Gods! They didn't even see it coming!
Jullian who almost got nicked by the big claws stared at the thing offensively... It almost expired her!
'There was not even enough time to fight back!' Jullian thought in horror as the dragon picked her and her twin up by its razor-sharp claws. With that thing holding you hostage, sharp claws and all threatening to end you will make you submit for sure. Amazingly enough, the claws- were big enough to hold each of them in it and contrary to its sharp edges, didn't hurt them one bit.
Jullian surveyed the place around them looking for someone, or something they could ask for help with. This is kidnapping! They are being abducted against their will!
"I really wish it to be a pleasant flight for you both but I don't think that's gonna happen with you awake." The girl, no, the lady kidnapper said before giving them both a powerful jab. Enough to hurt them senseless and get them out of commission for some time.
That was all Jethro and Jullian could helplessly remember as the dragon launched itself into the air and to the clouds. The two 'kidnappers' are seated comfortably at its back.
Flying to a place they'd soon come to know as home.
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Present time somewhere in the Central Kingdom...
Jethro and Jullian, along with the gypsy merchant's caravan that they chose to join in to blend themselves away from prying eyes, just arrived near the borders of the kingdom's capital.
Both cleverly dressed in male gypsy garb to hide their identities as instructed by the gypsy matriarch that helped them.
With help from some of the hidden rebels that still believe in the previous monarchs' administration, they were able to safely navigate from Terriona to the Central Kingdom where their task is to infiltrate the capital's slums and look for the human insurgent's leader, Baron Hershel - who also happens to be the previous king's chamberlain.
Well, not much of a baron now since after the fall of the royal family years ago, Baron Hershel and the rest of his family were stripped of their noble title and riches too. Some of his family members, including his son who happens to be his heir, also got killed in the purge that happened after the usurpation of the throne. This ongoing war cost him everything, that's why he also resolved to see this through.
Unbeknownst to the usurpers, these rebels were still existing in the slums near the capital. Most of them were the ones who escaped the brutal massacre sixteen summers ago and their families who devoted their whole lives to the royal family to whom their loyalties lie.
observing, listening, waiting... till the rightful heir sits back on her throne.
After nearly getting caught in the capital's gates, Jethro and Jullian made it safely to Herschel's small hut.
"I'm glad you made it. The Aquilican spies got your time of arrival on the mark too." Herschel, or Old Tom as he goes by now-greeted. Half of his body was hidden behind the half-open door. He looked around the area to see if there were any lurkers spying on them, when he deemed the area clear, he let them in.
"You know how the Aquilica does it. Perfection! nothing less than perfection!" Jethro quipped jokingly before taking a seat unprompted.
"Rude much?" His sister Jullian commented on his actions while glaring at him.
"Hey! you're not an A student in etiquette either!" Her brother glared back.
"Ahem!" Hershel coughed intentionally to get their attention. He was preparing water for them when they happened to argue.
The once owner of a big mansion that could rival the mansions in the capital, now only has a small hut to his name.
They gave him a surprised, albeit ashamed look. He just brushed them off before placing two cups of water on the table, offering them to them.
"I understand that Jago sent you here for a reason, I'd like to know what it is," Hershel said straightforwardly.
"Ooof! Right down the jugular man!" Jethro, again, commented flippantly.
Hershel looked at both of them weirdly. The way they were both speaking is somewhat bizarre. If he was asked, to him it would sound, as if... not from this world.
'He's really enjoying this', Jullian thought, exasperated.
Jullian glared at her twin again but this time it was the scary kind. The one that could get you killed in .02 seconds if you don't adhere to her wishes. Jethro took one look at his sister, before zipping his mouth shut.
"Yes, you were right. Jago sent us both here to get information about the... uh... queen's... ahem recent doings?" She faltered.
"Yeah, well, some of us here still refuse to call her 'queen' too but we do it subtly and moderately in fear of having our necks be the ones to roll out in the streets next." Herschel agreed with a warning.
"Okay, so what do we call her then? Your Highness, Bitch?" Jullian retorted.
"Or Bitchiness!" says Jethro in amusement.
"What? bizarre words! No, we just call her 'beast queen' as a code name." Hershel replied, somewhat aghast at their obvious hostility to the queen.
"but of course, we still call her 'your highness' and 'queen' and majesty whenever we need to. Keeping up faces and all that." Hershel supplied belatedly.
"Bo-ring!" It was Jethro who commented in a singsong manner. And with Jullian's expression, it seems that she agrees with him too.
"Whatever, we're just here for the deets anyway. So come on, fess up." Jullian quipped rudely at Herschel.
"Half the time I don't understand what you mean, and why do both of you sound so rude?" Hershel complained.
"Hmm, teenagers," Jullian responded without explaining furthermore.
Just then Hershel decided to hell with it. The faster he relays the information, the faster these badly behaved rascals leave his premise. He rolled his eyes before speaking
"We noticed some movements from the traitor's people recently, all about looking for the 'children of the prophecy', and whatnot. Rumors had it, that they are looking for someone's kids in another world. Unbelievable actually. Some days I think the queen has gone off the rocks looking for the lost princess." He narrated quite expressively.
"And did they find them?" Jullian inquired carefully.
"The kids? No, I don't even know if they really do exist! But troops were sent to look for them. The traitor even sent some to harass the elemental kingdoms in hopes to snoop there and look for them." Herschel answered.
"Oh, so that explains the human naval troops. This bitch really thinks of humans as an expendable commodity" Jethro mussed.
"So you tell Jago to be careful. The queen is out to get them." Hershel ominously replied.
__________
"So what now? should we go back to Terriona?" Jethro asked his twin.
After their rendezvous with Hershel, the twins got back to the gypsy caravan they went to the capital with to keep appearances. Still, dressed in male gypsy garb, they were tasked to help with hauling the merchandise to the main plaza where the festival was now happening. Of course, the gypsy matriarch, even as a secret member of the rebellion group, didn't let the twins stay for free with the caravan hence them both hauling heavy stuff around.
They have been here for fifteen days including the time they traveled. By the time they come back to Terriona, trouble would have already started-or done then...that is if the elders were able to do something to prevent it.
"We have to, they are already sending spies to know our whereabouts. Soon everyone's gonna know about us. We can't have any more villains out for our heads, can't we?" Jullian responded with a sly grin.
"Now it's going to be a rat race. Nice... I can use my cheat code" Jethro commented before summoning up his familiar.
A midnight black crow materialized from nowhere, a very sly look reflected in its beady little eyes. It looked like it was up to nothing good, very much like its master.
"Ira, can you fetch our grab ride?" Jethro
"Copy that master." the crow replied energetically.
"Grab ride?" Jullian asked confusedly.
The latter gave a mischievous smile in response that amazingly enough was twinned by his guardian.
"Heh! who says you can't travel in style in Titania, it's not Earth, but heyyyy! they can't have all the fun"
"What?" Still confused Jullian asked.
"You'll see..." Jethro replied with a knowing smile.
N/A: Another chapter is finished!!!! I swear I'm on fireeeee! I'm at war with time these days. Work + Life = exhausted me. I couldn't get to writing at all! The dilemma! But since it's something I love, I had to put some work on it...and I did!
Ya'll be safe.
sml,
empressnico