Stark 12:  Labyrinth

The days spiraled over and over again.  Of course, it was a trap within a trap.   This Lucas Reynard guy, has a weird sense of humor, or perhaps paranoia. 

Hmph, didn't really keep him from getting captured anyway.  We were transported to some castle, third floor of course.  Then, of course, there was the room.  The room that took us out to Mr. Reynard's personal empty world.  Complete with mental facility and talking computer.  Somehow, it knew about the font, and somehow it knew I had drank from it.  I am not going to leave till he explains what he knows about the font and why it is so important to him.  Could this man be my father?  I kind of doubt it, doesn't seem like Lake's type, but how knows what she was like before I was born.

The room was easy to get out of.  I was the only one who thought to bring supplies along.  Duh.  These guys are supposed to be the hardened adventures, not me.   Kami, was most interested in the little reflected Kami's at the top of the tall padded room I had been sent to.  If the place was a mental hospital, then it probably meant one way mirrors.  So I ignored the voice asking me questions.  I didn't realize it was a computer then, but figured if whoever it was wanted to talk to me, than he could just come do it face to face.  I found myself, enjoying myself.  The climb was easy.  The foam padding allowed me to pound the pitons in and I climbed out.  The computer followed me around and bugged me till it I answered about the font.  I foolishly thought it would be more helpful, but the only thing I got out of it was an agreement to take a message to the others. 

Then came the days of circling around, back and forth through the magic trap trying to find the others.  Ilie came first.  I found him semi-unconcious, wings slashed, and dehydrated.  Proud stupid fool, didn't even say thank you.  I cared for him all night and finally cuddled up against him for warmth.  The castle was cold, and it seemed to sooth him.  I don't know if he noticed, the bruises he left on my arms, and the mark on my face when he smacked me in his struggles.  I think in someways, he was easier to deal with this way.  I'm much more used to dealing with animals that you can reason with.

The horses were the saddest part of all.  After three or four days, their food had run out.  I looked out the stained glass window, but we were three stories up.   I frantically looked for some sort of secret passage or other thing way out, but we there wasn't.  The horses didn't like what was going on any, and neither did I.   I went down with a sharpened knife that Cecily had given me.  To them this was no big deal.  To me it was everything.  I walked along the horses, stroking their necks, calming them down.  I could feel their hunger and thirst.  I tried to ease their fears and calm them.  As each, closed its eyes and relaxed.  I drew the dagger across the carotid.  The blood flowed quickly down their necks and they sank to their knees, slowly as the life drained out of them.   Poor beasts,   I stroked each one, crooning to it, until they were gone.  And then went back, hands smeared with their blood, to try to find my human companions again.