Granthar ran towards the medical ward, spurred into action by some silent signal. The only thought through Gwen’s mind was that something bad had happened to Henry. And if something happened to Henry then Henrietta might be trouble. Fenrir followed the tiger, although he made sure not to outrun Gwen by too far. One thing that struck Gwen the most was the utter lack of people around so close to the school. Of course class was in session, but there had to be some groups that were on break… 

Her attention focused back on the familiars as they turned the corridors. [i] I smell Henriette and a man and… a strong scent of Langer root[/i]. Fenrir sniffed the air and relayed back his findings. Damn. This wasn’t good. Langer root when use in small doses help people sleep, but when concentrated it can knock a grown man in a few seconds.

“Granthar, stay with Henry! Fenrir lead the way!” She commanded the familiars, even though Granthar was not her’s to command. But she didn’t wait. She only had time to glance at Henry who still layed there crumpled on the floor and a medic laying in a pool of blood with her throat slit. She had no time to check on him, but if Granthar was still here than Henry was still alive. 

She followed Fenrir through twists and turns, making their way to unknown parts of the school. She only had time to grab a fire poker from a stand as she passed by. It would have to do. 

[i]He’s close.[/i] She slowed her pace and Fenrir did likewise. Through their bond she spoke ‘The only way we can get the upper hand is with surprise. Go around and block his escape.’ She could feel Fenrir’s reluctance even though he made no comment against her wishes. 

The room the kidnapper entered was large. From the wetness in the air, maybe it connected to the water source supplying the building. A long staircase against the side of the wall was the only way to go down to the floor below. The man had Henrietta slung over a shoulder.

“Stop!” Gwen shouted. The man did not flinch or was in any visible way startled, instead he turned around and threw a knife at her. Luckily with the distance between them it gave Gwen ample time dodge. However she lost her balance on the damp stone and stumble down the stairs only regaining her balance when she was on the ground. The poker she held dropped to the floor not far, but it might as well have been in her room. 

The kidnapper rather than pay attention as Gwen made a fool of herself, made his way to the other side where a large door was slightly ajar. He ran carrying Henrietta. The blonde’s face burned with embarrassment as she shouted for the kidnapper to stop, at least no one saw that. She left the poker where it was and ran after the two. For a man carrying a girl around, he sure moved fast.

They passed through a narrow corridor and it connected to the stream that flowed into the castle. There was a ledge against the wall just wide enough for a single person to walk through. And Gwen saw light at the end. The barred gate that should’ve kept the opening impassable to people and animals wasn’t there and it was probably the way the kidnapper came in.

She could feel her legs and lungs burning. She might’ve been trained in fencing, but she was still very much a lady of the court. By no means was she unfit, but the constant sprint from the training fields through the castle was pushing her to the limit. But the lady could only try to ignore the pain. Her pace was slowing down and that mongrel was getting further and further away with Henrietta!

Tears stung her eyes. She wasn’t going to make it. She really wasn’t going to make it. She had let down her queen and Henry. And those thoughts were silenced. It was the same silence when Fenrir came to her. Without thinking, she waved her hand before her and the water from the stream flowing besides them, lept up and froze over the ledge. The silence in her mind still remained as she pushed any last bit of energy she had left into her legs.

The man slipped just as he reached the entrance. Henrietta was tossed pass the entrance and onto the grass. Gwen stepped on the fallen man before he could push himself back up and ran over to Henrietta. The first thing Gwen did was to check for injury and found nothing. The girl was still out cold, but Gwen had her now. The joy was short lived when heard an outraged cry. She looked up just in time to see the man charge at her.