The Hyrueliana Edits Post 9

Zoe stopped reading the book, but there was nothing else to do but turn the pages. What language the elves used was close enough to current Hylian for her to follow the story, but she wanted out. She wanted Orden and freedom. Maybe once Holias was preoccupied with his girl, she could slip through the defenses. She flipped another page, seeing tunnels instead of words.

The door slammed against the wall. A black-haired Elf woman stood there panting. "Come quick, Changeling! I need your help!" She ran out of the open door.

Contraite, the Elf-woman who had been taking care of her, met Zoe’s stare. “That child cannot do anything properly.” She sighed and unlocked a trunk. “Best take these.” She held out Zoe’s sword and sword belt.

“You’ve had them the whole time?” Zoe buckled it around her waist.

“The Prince ordered me to keep them from you.”

“Hurry, Changeling please!”

Zoe shook her head and ran into the tunnel. “What’s wrong?”

“I followed the Prince to see,” she shook her head quickly as they ran down the tunnel. “I wanted to find Lont, and talk him into joining us like the Prince is with his lady. But they fell under attack. You’re the only one who can help them.”

“The Prince has a whole squadron of warriors?”

“Who would kill the humans.” She skidded to a stop, and stared at Zoe. “Changeling, please.”

“My name is Zoe, and I’ll keep your precious Lont alive, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

She nodded but still looked worried, and pressed her hand against the rock surface. An opening spread wide enough for the two of them to move side by side, and it angled up into the rock. “Yes, Zoe, we must hurry.” She ran up the new tunnel.

“You are stuck on one idea.” Zoe pulled her shield ring from a pouch. The shield expanded until it fit her arm.

Soft moonlight filled the tunnel when the opening rose above ground. The Elf woman darted forward with a cry. A dark-haired man struggled to sit up. She fell to her knees and wrapped her arms around him. “Lont!”

“I’m fine, I’m fine. Find that lunatic with the flame colored hair before he kills them both.”

“Orden? Zoe scanned the trees. Purple energy lit up a section. She drew her sword and plunged into the underbrush.