Quinn

Aldric, Uncle Colt, Theo, Vincent, and I made our way through the throng of sleeping people toward the double doors, our movement stirred some awake—those light sleepers like the dwarves and elves—and they stared at us in both confusion and suspicion.

At the door, Uncle Colt said, "Step back, this is my time to shine." He grinned as he rolled up his sleeves. Then he summoned his magic and said, "Iron wall!"

The circle glowed as it turned and then materializing was a tall, wide, thick iron wall that flanked against the door. Once that was done, he dusted his hands as he said, "That should keep anyone from barging in for a while."

It won't be for a while. It'd be forever. No one would be able to move that thing without knowing magic.

Now that we were secured from interruption, we got things started. In the middle of the hall, Uncle Colt cleared his throat and then boomed out, his voice echoing all around, "Everyone up! Everyone up! There's no time to waste! Everyone up!"

People jolted awake, some along with cries of fear, and I tsked and said, "You're scaring them. They'll think it's the guards here to torture them."

"Ah, sorry, lassie. Didn't think about that, did I?"

"At least they're up," Vincent said, chuckling.

Indeed, everyone was up, including the children. There was a lot of confusion as everyone looked around, wondering what was happening as questions rang out from one mouth to another and chatter ensued. A group of Mountain Dwarves and Wood Elves came up to us, and one asked, "Who might you all be, sirs, and just how did you even get in here?"

One of the Wood Elves, tall with pale skin and long flowing hair, asked, "And how in heaven did you do that? The door is blocked. How are we meant to get out?"

Juan, who had been updating his men regarding the rescue plan, walked over, and said, "Klein. Les."

The two, along with their group of men and women, were surprised to see Juan, and Klein said, "Juan! You're back? Gael told us you managed to find a way out."

Juan nodded. "And I've returned with help. Everyone is getting out of this place."

Les said, "Is that true? Then we're saved, but how are we meant to leave?"

"We've dug a passageway, a tunnel," Juan said. He patted Aldric's shoulder. "This is Aldric, my brother, the Earl of Norsewood."

Stunned, Klein turned to Aldric, his rugged face expressing his terror. "The rumored Earl Norsewood, Lord Aldric Templeton!"

"And this is Lady Quinn Fairchild, Aldric's wife," Juan said.

"Lady Norsewood," Les said, bowing. "It is an honor."

Wow! The Wood Elves were not only elegant and good-looking, even in rags and skin smeared in dirt and blood from laborious work, but also very gentlemanly.

I said, "Uh, nice to meet you, too, but we have no time to waste."

Juan turned to Aldric who nodded. He then headed to the middle of the hall and said, very loudly, "I'm Aldric Templeton from Norsewood."

"From Norsewood?" a man in the crowd said. "Isn't he that cold-blooded earl?"

"Aldric Templeton?" another asked. "Isn't he that ruthless warrior from up north?"

"My lord," a woman said, running up to Aldric and taking his hand. "My lord, you've come to save us. You've returned to Norsewood and have now come to save us from this horrid place. I'm not dreaming, am I?" Behind her were her husband and children, kneeling and crying as they gazed up at their lord.

Aldric bent down and said, "Lisa. No, you're not dreaming. I am here." He turned to the husband. "Fred. I've come to take everyone back to Norsewood."

Fred said, "We're saved. We're really saved."

Aldric flicked his gaze to one of the soldiers, who came to aid them away. He then turned his attention to the audience in the hall and said once again, his voice loud and commanding, "I am Aldric Templeton, Earl of Norsewood, and I and my wife, Lady Quinn Fairchild, and the Norsewood soldiers are here to rescue everyone. Here is the procedure, so listen carefully. Those with severe injuries will be treated by healers before departing. Please go to the left side of the hall if you can move." He pointed toward where Elizabeth, Maria, Liam, and the healers stood. "And those who are physically capable, please go there," he indicated the spot where the soldiers stood waiting. Behind them was the narrow corridor that'd lead to the tunnel. "The soldiers will direct you to safety."

There was silence. No one was moving. Of course, I didn't expect everyone to be bustling about immediately after the instructions were given since they were weak and starving and their minds weren't functioning properly. Furthermore, the name Aldric Templeton would have rung fear and doubt in everyone except the Norsewood people.

"Soldiers!" Uncle Colt shouted as he himself marched forward. "Let's move it! Let's get these people out of here before dawn arrives and the guards barge in through that door." He pointed to the thick iron wall which wouldn't likely budge even if a missile blew into it. But of course, his words stirred terror into the captives' minds, especially with the word guards, and they started moving then.

The soldiers bolted into action and started assisting people up and asking them if they needed healing. The healers and myself did, too, and since I knew Gael would be the best person to ask, I said, "Would you take me to those with severe injuries?"

He nodded and took me to a family of elves—father, mother, and three children. I was sure this family was not the Wood Elves, because they appeared shorter and smaller and also very thin that I could see their rib cages protruding through their skin. Perhaps they were the Valley Elves? They were severely whipped, their bodies raw and bleeding, and I wasted no time and got started healing them.

I kneeled on the floor and said gently, "I'm going to heal you all, all right? Please bear with it just a tiny bit longer."

The mother looked confused while the father said, "The children first, please."

I nodded and started with the three young children, releasing my mana and healing all three at the same time. Within moments, wounds and cuts from whip slashes and frost bite to the skin were healed, and the children sat up, looking over at themselves, their eyes wide.

"Mama! Papa! I'm not sore no more," the oldest one said.

"Me, too! Me, too," the second said.

The mother burst out crying and hugged her children as the father took my hands and said, "Thank you for healing my children."

I said, "Now I need to heal you and your wife, too."

Both husband and wife were shaking and in full-blown tears after they were healed, and before they could thank me again, a soldier guided them away toward the exit. Gael took me to my next group of patients, and as I followed him, I said, "Healers, the severely injured cannot move to you, so you move to them!"

"Aye, my lady," they replied, and soon, the prison hall was in a hype of activity, the healers healing the injured while the soldiers escorted the able ones toward the exit, with Aldric, Juan, and Vincent carrying the very elderly or very young who had been healed but still could not walk due to severe malnutrition. Meanwhile, Uncle Colt and Theo directed, guided, coordinated, and ensured everyone knew what they were doing and that things were running smoothly. We continued doing this for the next several hours, and now and again, we'd get updates from Connor via our earpieces such as the first bus is full and is departing; the second bus is full and departing, or the first has arrived at the base camp, or the first bus is returning etc.

Having witnessed the miracle of our healing, those with injuries or with loved ones who did, had now started lining up instead of any of the healers having to go to them, unless they couldn't move, in which case I'd be the one to take care of them. All in all, I treated about one hundred near-death patients, healing them completely of their physical injuries, especially those who had their fingers or hands accidentally chopped off during the mining work, or intentionally by the guards, and the moment they were healed and had their hands or digits back, they'd burst into tears and thanked me profusely. Of course, there were those who I couldn't save, too, and I steeled myself from crying because it was too late for them as they took their last breaths, having to say goodbye to their loved ones. Aldric insisted we take their bodies with us so we could give them a proper burial back at Norsewood.

Finally, it was nearly dawn and we knew the guards would soon arrive and start opening the door, or at least try to, ready to round up the captives and throw them into the mine to start their arduous work. But of course, there'd be no captives after we had the last group out.

I stood, feeling exhausted but pleased that we could get everyone out of this hellhole. Beside me, Aldric said, "Let's get you out of here."

I nodded, and we joined Elizabeth and Maria on the other side. Meanwhile, Uncle Colt, Juan, Theo, Vincent, and the soldiers gathered the remaining twenty or so people until the prison hall was empty. Once we were on the other side in the tunnel, I felt at ease knowing that our main mission was accomplished, and so very smoothly, too, which was a bonus.

I was about to climb into the cart along with everyone else when I felt a pair of small arms around my waist, and I looked down to see Lilly with Red perched on her shoulder. I was stunned. I had thought she had already left with the first group.

Behind me, a soldier said, "She refused to leave and said she's waiting for her mama. I assumed her mama was still in there, but I didn't know it was you, my lady."

I said, "I'm not her mama, but..." I bent down, and wrapping my arms around her, I lifted her up. Gosh, she was such a light little thing. It looked like we'd need to feed her, and everyone else, as soon as possible. And I couldn't believe she'd sit there in this tunnel waiting for me for the last five hours or so.

I plopped her on the space next to Elizabeth and then climbed on myself. Elizabeth passed me a blanket, which had been distributed to all the captives during the procedure. It was freezing cold, after all.

I turned to Aldric and said, "Please be careful."

He nodded and then leaned forward and kissed me on the lips gently. "I love you," he said.

I smiled. "I love you, too."

He turned to Uncle Colt sitting comfortably in the cart, and said, "I'll leave Quinn in your care, Uncle."

Uncle Colt raised his hand and gave him a thumbs-up. "Leave it to me."

I chuckled, not having a clue if this situation called for a thumbs-up or not, but apparently, Aldric did one in return.