The Obelisk

-Chapter 53-

Escape?

Forest studied the young Terror bird from beak to tail, calculating. He had black feathers and a purple and tan striped neck, a sharp beak, and an intelligent, superior gaze. Help them escape? Was he for real?

“Really?” Nyx gasped, staring at the Terror bird. “Really? Really really?”

“Yes,” said the Terror bird.

“How could we trust you?” Crimson demanded. “W—we don’t even know who you are!”

The Terror bird inclined his head respectfully. “I am Prince Coal, son of Emperor Avalanche. I understand your concerns.”

“A royal,” Nyx whispered. “I’m the daughter of the Shadowmane chief.”

The Prince turned his keen gaze to her. “You must be very proud.” He said. She nodded, smiling.

“Why would you help us escape?” Spark asked him, narrowing her eyes thoughtfully.

“Because I don’t believe you deserve being locked in here,” Prince Coal said. “And I don’t trust Jethezzar.”

“Who?” Forest asked.

There was clang form somewhere outside the prisons, and Coal ducked his head, startled. “Jethezzar is my fathers greatest ally,” he said in a low whisper. “He’s promised us everything we could ever want, and is the one who warned us about you in the first place.”

Forests head was reeling. The Terror birds ally—the one he’d heard about. It was all finally coming together.

The Prince went on. “But ever since I laid eyes on him, I knew he was keeping things from us. And from what I’ve heard, he hates you. If I don’t get you out of here soon, Jethezzar will make sure you never see the outside world again.”

Forest swallowed the lump in his throat. The idea of never being free from stone walls again… was terrifying now that he’d seen a clear sky. Or trees. Or the stars at night and all the shapes clouds could form into.

“Why risk it?” Spark challenged the Prince. “Why try at all? If we’re caught escaping, with you helping us, you’d surely be thrown in prison as well.”

“I doubt it,” Coal said blankly.

“What, think you can charm your way out of it, mister But-I’m-A-Prince?” Rust asked sarcastically.

The young Terror bird stared at him, looking genuinely befuddled.

“No?” Rust asked. “Never heard a joke before—you know what, never mind.” He shot a crooked smile at Forest. “Royals, am I right?”

Forest laughed. It had been a while since Rust smiled or cracked a joke. Rust had been rather quiet since they were captured. Forest was glad Rust was coming back to his normal self again.

“Anyways,” said the Prince slowly, “if I may continue, I need to get you out of here soon.”

“How soon?” Spark asked.

“Very soon.”

“Alright,” Spark said. “Let’s do it.”

“You sure we can trust him?” Crimson muttered.

Spark thought about that for a moment, before saying, “well, it can’t get any worse for us.”

Rust nodded. “Go big, or go home.”

“Oh dear,” Nyx whispered. Forest nudged her reassuringly. He shared her worries, too.

Escaping was the last thing he wanted to do. But if Coal was right about this ally… they had no choice.

“OK,” Prince Coal said. “Get some rest, you’re gonna need as much energy as possible.”

“Tomorrow at moonhigh. Be ready.”