“I thought you knew everything,” Ruschmann countered.
Burchard laughed. “While I appreciate your confidence in my knowledge, I know far from everything. If we were back at Burmstone Palace, I would offer to search the library or inquire at Onaxx Academy, but we’re not anywhere near Burmstone Palace. I am sure what few books Alderth Castle has are likely to discuss battle strategy or historic Etrian battles and not have anything to do with druids.”
“Do you think anyone will believe us if we tell them we were waylaid by druids who are centaurs?” Ruschmann inquired.
Burchard considered the question. “I don’t know. I doubt my father will believe us. He will accuse me of making up a story to cover that we were instead shirking our scouting duties. Sir Peter, though—he will.”
“I hope someone believes us, or we’re going to get in loads of trouble. This medallion might help us prove we’re not lying,” Ruschmann said and waved it around.
“No use in wasting time worrying about what my father will or won’t do. We should just finish our task, make it to Camp Tooth, and then return. We did find rebels, which was the purpose of this scouting assignment,” Burchard said firmly, then clucked to Chip, and they pulled ahead of Ruschmann at a quick trot.
There isn’t much we can do if my father doesn’t believe us about the centaurs. As long as he reads the report and takes the threat of the rebels we did encounter seriously, that is all that matters.
The sun was beginning to set when they reached the well-worn road going into Camp Tooth. Since the camp was built about twenty years ago to have a place to station knights to support Alderth Castle, the wall was made of wood, not stone, and about half as tall. As they approached it, Burchard heard the bell toll, then a creaking sound.
“They’re shutting the gates,” hissed Ruschmann.
“Let’s run,” Burchard growled, then dug his heels into Chip hard. The mare protested with a half-hearted rear before shooting forward in a full-out gallop. Ruschmann’s horse met Chip stride for stride, and they ran for all they were worth to reach the gate before it shut all the way. Burchard could hear the horses’ labored breathing and crossed his fingers, hoping that someone would notice them and hold the gate for them.
A shout from the wooden walls and the large wooden gates stopped moving. Burchard, followed by Ruschmann, burst through the opening, barely wide enough for one horse. As they reined in the horses, Burchard looked around in apprehension. The knights all had swords drawn. The gates slammed shut behind them.
One of the knights had armor that had been darkened. He slid his visor up but kept his sword out. Burchard gasped at his tattooed face and tightened his legs around Chip. Chip reared, striking out, but the dark-armored knight was standing just a handsbreadth out of reach.
The knight chuckled. “Not who you were expecting?”
Burchard let his hands go slack on the reins, hoping Chip would keep all four hooves on the ground. The knights closed in on them.
“What happened to Captain Volrain?” Burchard asked, hoping if he kept whoever this was talking that Ruschmann would come up with a plan.
“I ate him,” the knight said in a deadpan voice.
“You what?” Burchard asked certain he’d misheard.
“He was quite delicious,” the knight responded, licking his lips as though remembering a delicious meal.
Eyes wide, Burchard realized that this knight, man—or whatever he was—was serious. How am I supposed to get out of this? As he was contemplating how to respond, he was caught off guard when armored gauntlets roughly grabbed him and yanked him from Chip. Burchard twisted and bucked, trying to fight the gauntlets away, but they held firm no matter what he tried. When he was far enough away from the horses, the knight shoved him face-first into the ground with his arms pinned tightly behind his back. He couldn’t even turn his head to see what had happened to Ruschmann.
He could hear booted feet approaching him and a creak as whoever it was presumably kneeled beside him. “You will take a nap, and when I’m ready, we shall have a discussion,” the dark knight said.
Burchard wanted to see this knight up close, but before he could begin to struggle, his eyelids got heavy and he fell asleep.
Burchard opened his eyes and gasped in surprise when he saw he was lying on his back in the misty place, and Eos was standing on his chest, licking his face.
Wake up, she growled during a pause in her licking.
When he opened his eyes, she rocked back and sat down on her haunches. Oddly, though, he couldn’t feel her weight at all, as though she wasn’t even there.
But am I even here? he wondered.
You must wake up, the wolf growled again, her teeth clicking in agitation.
Burchard rubbed his eyes with his hands and blinked a few times. I am awake.
Eos hopped off him. Good. Now you must hurry. We haven’t got much time.
Time for what? mumbled Burchard as he sat up.
Before he finds out I’m helping you. Eos pinned her ears back and bared her teeth. You must escape from Camp Tooth. It is not time yet for you to face him. You must follow my instructions precisely.
Burchard covered his mouth and stifled a groan before opening his eyes the barest of slits. I had another strange dream. He peered through his eyelashes and saw that Ruschmann was not in the same room as he was. Calling the space a room was being generous. It was not much larger than a broom closet. A couple of rings were strategically placed with chains running through them. Burchard shivered and ran a hand over his wrists, seeking reassurance that he was not shackled.
Standing up, he ran his fingers over the walls and door, looking for some way to escape. When he was making his second round, he suddenly remembered. Eos had given him instructions. How do I know that was even real? But if it was not real, then what harm is there in following the directions? They just won’t do anything. Mind made up, Burchard turned around so his back was facing the door and, using his finger, drew an outline of a wolf’s head on the wall. As he closed the line, the wall began to shimmer. The stone disappeared and was replaced with an opening, showing him the next room and a stunned Ruschmann.
“What is that?” gasped his friend.
“Don’t worry about it,” Burchard said and stepped through to his friend’s cell. The wall he’d passed through shimmered and turned back to stone. There was barely enough room for the two of them.
This time he turned and faced the door. He drew another wolf head. The door shimmered and then disappeared, revealing a tunnel.
“Follow me,” Burchard ordered, stepping through. Eos had told him that he had to do this quickly or he would get caught again. To Burchard’s surprise, Ruschmann followed without comment.
They walked down the tunnel for what felt like hours. Burchard had no idea how much time had passed since they were captured. He recalled the dark knight saying they would take a nap and then have a discussion, but their cells hadn’t had any windows, making it impossible to guess what time of day it was.
