Voices
1726 Words
As expected, a small well led into a tunnel that was directly under the house. Low ceiling and damp walls covered with water created an unpleasant smell that made them want to cough. Bending over, Leiandros lit one candle and whispered, “It seems this tunnel leads nowhere.”
“Let’s get out of here.” Covering his nose with scarf, Draken walked back.
Suddenly, deaf voices were heard from somewhere.
When they stopped, listening to the strange sounds, they realized that these were cries for help.
When they died down, Draken pressed his ear against the wall. “What was that?”
“The head of the Second clearly has many secrets,” Leiandros replied.
Leaving the tunnel behind, Leiandros pushed the door but it did not succumb to his power.
“Let me try.”
Hitting the door with fist did not work either.
“Maybe the boxes fell on the door?”
Grabbing the rope that hung from the ceiling, Leiandros swayed, lifted his legs and pushed off the door with all his might.
“We’re stuck here,” Draken nervously said.
“It is a thin door, it can’t hold us,” Leiandros said while continuing to kick the door.
After several attempts to get out, it was clear that the door of the well was closed with something very heavy.
Despite the narrowness of the tunnel, it was getting colder. A frosty wind pierced through the walls, interrupting strange, fading voices.
Looking at the door on the ceiling, Draken nervously smiled.
Noticing it, Leiandros asked, “What is it? What’s so funny?”
Leaning to the wall, Draken replied, “We continue to get into situations where we find ourselves in a closed space. For example, in that house where I found this sword, in your library, in the cave and now under this strange house. In the tunnel. Isn’t it mysterious? I mean, what can happen now? What do you think, Leiandros?”
Stepping closer to him, Leiandros said with perplexity in his eyes, “Because of you, I lost all my concentration on this mission.”
Pulling him to himself, Draken smiled slyly. Noticing the beads of sweat on Leiandros’ forehead and a strange glow in his eyes, he whispered, “Don’t worry. I won’t do anything right now. I am more worried about being stuck here.”
Leiandros leaning against the wall lifted Draken’s chin and said, “By looking at you, I feel confident. Before, if I was in situation like this, I would have broken all the walls long ago and got out of here. But with you, I am calm and confident.”
Listening to the strange sounds, Draken whispered, “Do you hear that?”
“The sound is coming from above.”
After hearing the sounds of falling logs, Leiandros pushed the door and it easily opened. Stopping him, Draken slowly looked out. After making sure that there was no one, they jumped out.
Finally, when they were on the surface, they faced the same darkness but one thing was changed. The door of the warehouse was open.
But still, there was no one. Although, it was already late evening.
“What should we do next?”
“Everyone’s on the training field. So, let’s go.”
“Where do you think are you going?” suddenly someone’s voice was heard from behind the door.
Grabbing his sword, Draken looked at Leiandros.
“The Head of the Second clan is now in his pavilion. If you want to sneak up on him, you better wait a little.”
The voice which was coming from behind the door sounded very familiar. And then Draken suddenly cried out, “Storm!”
Storm grabbed Draken’s hand and said, “Teacher, forgive me. But I couldn’t stay at home.”
“You followed all us?! And it was you who closed the door!” Draken exclaimed.
Storm pointed at Draken with his finger and angrily said, “What kind of person are you? Why can’t you avoid getting into troubles? Should I always follow you everywhere?” Looking at Leiandros he added, “Teacher Leiandros you are very respected person, and yet despite your intelligence, you put my brother in danger!”
Turning away, Leiandros silently looked down. And it was obvious that he was holding back a laughter, although at the same time his cheeks turned red out of shame.
Not knowing what to say Draken just looked down. But then he said, “I think we should wait here. And then we will just follow the head of the Second clan.”
“Do you think it is a good plan?! They’ll notice you! Better to get inside through the roof!”
“Through the roof?!”
Storm approached Leiandros and with a condemning look said, “Teacher, love has really changed your sharp mind. Didn’t you think that you can get everywhere through the roof of this house? There is even a staircase around the corner that leads directly there.”
Returning to his former state, Leiandros straightened his shoulders and lifting his head said, “And you dare to reproach me. When we return, you will run for all night.”
Storm casting off all his fear and carefulness which were his main feature, now with boldness and seriousness said, “Now, I am not afraid of you. I am afraid of your carelessness. I think you should know what can happen to him if everyone finds out about your affairs. I didn’t think that you are so selfish.”
“Brother that’s enough!” Draken shouted standing in front of him.
“Are you out of your mind? There are already dozens of rumors that are circulating about you two. You are lucky that it was me who heard everything. What if it was someone else? What then? You didn’t even care about the noise which you made!”
“You! Quiet!” Leiandros shouted unable to endure his behavior any longer.
Looking ferociously at Leiandros, Storm said, “If you continue to behave like this with my brother, then I will not pity you. I lost him once, and I am not going to lose him again. Make me run as long as I can, but it won’t change what I heard nor will it change the fact that I will always protect my brother.” Having said this, he went away.
The iron staircase leading directly to the roof of the house, was holding on with the last bit of strength. With each step, it made a quiet grinding and it seemed that it was about to collapse.
With the arrival of the night, they found themselves on the spacious roof, in the middle of which was a ledge with a small round door.
Leiandros went up to the door and pushed it but it didn’t open.
The frosty wind was painfully piercing through the skin.
Draken, noticing that Storm was slightly shaking, took off his coat and casually threw it at him.
“Put it on. I don’t want you to die out of cold.”
Throwing the coat back he said, “I don’t need it.”
“It is so difficult with you. You have always been like this,” Draken nervously said.
“Like what? Finish your sentence!” he shouted loudly.
“If you come to fight then you are wasting your time. I do not intend to waste time on you.”
Turning around, Draken walked towards Leiandros.
Looking at Storm who was standing not so far from them, Leiandros whispered, “I didn’t know that he is that bold.”
“Don’t pay attention to him.”
“He just worries about you. In this world, it is hard to find such an honest and caring person.” Leiandros said and tried to open the door. “We need to get inside.”
“Move away, I will break that door,” Draken said and stepped back. Catching Storm glance, he added, “If you came to help us, then help. Don’t just stand there.”
When Draken was about to kick the door, Storm stopped him.
Showing a small key, he said, “If you want my help, you should, at least, know what I was doing in this village.” Throwing the key at him, he looked at Leiandros with a smirk on his face.
“Where did you get that?”
“From one of the soldiers. Here, they are so weak. When I jumped out in front of him, he lost his consciousness out of fear.”
Trying not to smile, Draken said, “Off course, with that face of yours, you can scare anyone.”
Finally, finding themselves inside the Main House, or rather on the top floor where there were no windows, but from where they could hear conversations coming from below, three of them immediately heard Sun’s voice.
The wooden floor under their feet, making a cracking sound from every movement, prevented them from going further.
Draken noticing a c***k in the floor, sat down and bent his head.
Through the c***k, he could see someone’s hands which were holding a cup. By seeing the sleeve, he could tell at once who it was.
Sun, sitting in the room, took a few sips of tea and then said to someone, “So this is true. I knew it.”
“Yes Master. After trying everything, we gave it one of these animals and within a few minutes the beast already ate it.”
Draken looking at Leiandros whispered, “This is what Sun is doing.”
“And how does it behave now?”
“Now the beast calmed down. But when we enter the room, it starts to growl and wants to rush at us.”
“So the chains can still hold it,” Sun happily said.
“Yes Master.”
“Well done. You can go.”
Clutching his hands into fists, Storm whispered, “This is what he is up to.”
Continuing to watch him until he got up and left the room, they came to the same idea.
“Leiandros, do you think about that too?” Draken asked.
And then suddenly the door opened and several soldiers rushed inside.
- Writer
