"What've you got there Evan?" Connor asked as he rode over.
Evan pointed to a door embedded into the side of the hill. "I assume that Master Jaesen knows that it there. I seems that our quarry used that to escape. Look, they left us nice footprints to follow. This is going to be the easiest hunt we've had in a while, sir." He smiled.
"Lead on," Connor gestured.
"Xander! Come on slowpoke! We haveta hurry before they catch us! Come on!" Tyra was hopping from one foot to the other.
Xander had to focus for a minute before he could move. He took a tentative step out of the tunnel and planted his feet onto the grass. The world was so bright and happy. Why would anyone ever want to live indoors if they could help it. Everything was so beautiful. Another prompting from Tyra brought him back to the tasks at hand, namely not getting caught. He followed her into the woods, freverently hoping that she knew where she was going. They walked for a time before coming to a... Xander searched for the right word. It was a creek, and it ran diagonally through the new clearing that they were in. The water was fresh and cool as they both scooped some into their hands for a drink. He had never tasted anything sweeter. They agreed that taking a small break couldn't hurt, so he pulled a loaf of bread from the bag and handed half to Tyra.
When they were finished munching, Tyra was up and bouncing for them to start walking. Xander allowed her to pull him to his feet. They set off again. "Do you know where we're going?" He asked.
Tyra glanced around. "I think that this is the way my daddy and I came. We came through a town somewhere near here. I think it's that way," she pointed, then tugged him in that direction. Xander had a suspicion that they were going to go in a circle, but he didn't know any other way to go.
It wasn't long before he heard something in the woods behind him. He couldn't identify the faint pounding sound he heard. It kind of sounded like it did when the key in the room next to his was having sex and the bed pounded against the wall. He knew that wasn't the case, so he turned to see what it was. "No! Xan-der! We haveta hide. They might be from the palace!" Tyra was trying to make him go into the bushes. He was too curious.
He stood still, watching several people come up behind him. They were riding large animals that he guessed were horses. He recognized one of them as the page that had broken the rules with him. "Hey, you there!" The one he knew called. "Little girl!"
Tyra froze, "Y-yes sir?" She squeaked.
"What's your name?"
"Tyra, sir."
He dismounted from his horse. "Where is Xander?"
Tyra looked around like she didn't know. He was standing right beside her, how did she not see him? He gasped when he looked down and couldn't see himself. What's going on? He thought frantically. "He- he... I don't know, sir."
The man picked the little girl up and handed her to one of the others. "Take her, search the surrounding area. He can't be far," he ordered.
The others left, and the page leaned against a tree. He took a golden object from his pocket. Xander recognized it as his key. "Where are you Xander?" The man asked himself.
Xander wondered if he could be like one of the ghosts in his stories. Could he whisper ideas to the man? He stepped up to him. "Take Tyra back to Jasen, he will want to ask her questions. Make sure no harm comes to her. If you do that, Xander will return," he whispered.
The man's head jerked. "What? Who's there?" When Xander didn't reply, he grabbed his horse's reins. "Evan! Gather the men and return to the palace!" With the order bellowed, he mounted, then trotted away. Xander breathed a sigh of relief.
He followed the man. He hoped that it wasn't a long walk back to the palace; he wanted to be there before anything happened to Tyra. On second thought, he broke into a jog to try and keep up.
"Tyra! Where is Xander?" Jasen stood before the small child.
"I don't know! He just... Dissapeared! I don't know wha' happened, sir!"
Xander hoped that he would be visible soon. As soon as he thought that, he felt something shift. "Xander! You're okay! Look Master! He's here!" Tyra ran over and hugged him about the legs. "I thought you were dead!"