'Matthew. Wait! What's wrong?' Ines yelled after him.

They were galloping back to the city.

'Don't stop, Peter. We need to hurry.'

She was getting annoyed with his secretive attitude. 'Why? Tell me!'

Matthew knew she couldn't wait any longer. 'I am afraid that there is more to your visions. That what you dreamed of has really happened in the past.'

'How could you know?' she asked.

'Remember the old elf who tried to snick into the city last night?'

'Yeah. What about him?'

'I think I saw him wearing an identical medallion.'

'That is impossible!' she exclaimed in a shaky voice.

'That is a matter of opinion.' He kicked his horse, and Ines followed his lead.

They reached the city gates, entered the walls, and rode to the stables. They left their horses and met outside the building.

'We need to find those elves,' Matthew said. 'Where could they be?'

'Probably in the dungeon by now.'

'At the palace?'

Ines nodded.

'Okay. Let's move.'

Matthew was about to go when Ines grasped his hand. He turned around and glanced at their entwined hands with an unreadable expression. Ines let it go in embarrassment.

'What?' he said crossing his arms.

'I can't let you get involved in this.'

Matthew frowned; he hadn't expected that. 'What are you talking about? Of course, you can. We are a team.'

Ines had to admit she liked the sound of that. Now is not the time, she reprimanded herself.

'It's too dangerous. I won't have you risk your position in the army. Please, stay.'

'But I can—'

'No, Matthew. That is my final word.'

Ines saw Matthew fighting a mental war, his eyes unfocused. After a minute's thought, he nodded in agreement.

'Fine,' he said, 'I will let you go alone. However, I need you to promise me that if anything goes wrong, and I mean anything, you will draw back immediately.'

'I promise.'

'Okay. Be careful.'

Ines turned around and rushed to the palace. She ran as fast as her feet could carry her, her footsteps echoing on the empty streets. She made it to the palace without being seen, and went to the back of the imposing edifice, where the prison was located. She carefully climbed the walls of the building, jumped to a roof, and sneaked in through a door.

The prison was like a maze, preventing the inmates from escaping. Every door was guarded by soldiers that were trained to kill the escapees on sight. She hid behind the wall and waited for the right moment. When one of them went for a break, she ducked low and sneaked behind the other. She flew down the stairs, crossed corridors, hid every time she heard soldiers coming.

Ines searched up and down to find the right cell, and after multiple futile attempts she finally succeeded. Nine elves were packed in a single cell that was made for not more than five people. Most of them were badly injured, probably from the interrogations that had followed after their attack.

'Hmph...another soldier. What is it this time? To mock us? To spit on us?' a young elf said once he saw her. He had white hair and a narrow face with a deep scar that run down his right cheek.

'Control yourself, Landos. I want to hear what he has to say,' the oldest one scolded him. He might have looked a bit gaunt and harmless, but his icy blue eyes were like a hawk's, always watching everything around him.

'I am here for some answers.'

'We are elves, not fortunetellers,' Landos spoke again, and the elves chuckled mockingly.

'Stop acting all proud!' she hissed. 'You are prisoners in the most impenetrable part of the city. No one will get you out of here.'

'What do you want? To remind us of our miserable fate?'

'I want information!'

'I am sorry to disappoint you, but we will carry our secrets to our deathbed,' said the old elf with a scowl.

Ines suddenly heard a guard coming, so she kept her mouth shut and rushed to hide. The guard checked the room, and then left, and Ines came out to stand in front of the cell again.

'You, sneaky bastard,' Landos said smugly. 'You are not a prison guard; you came here in secret. This is getting better and better.'

'Just...hear me out.'

'We're listening,' said the old elf, more like ordering the others to keep quiet. He seemed he was the most respected amongst them, and they heeded his commands.

'I need to see your medallion.'

'And why do you think I am wearing one?'

Ines raised up a hand. 'That is of no importance. Do as you're asked.'

'What would I gain from this?'

'Not being killed. Do not test me,' she gritted her teeth, making the old elf raise a brow.

'Alright.' He stood up and neared the prison bars. He took his medallion from under his clothes and showed it to her. Ines stared at it with parted lips; she was stunned. Matthew was right, she thought.

'What is it, kid?' the old elf asked her.

'Nothing. It...looks familiar.'

The old elf looked at her suspiciously; he didn't believe her. 'Have you seen such a medallion before?' he narrowed his eyes.

'Yes.'

The old elf roughly grabbed her hand through the prison bars. Ines tried to break free, but his grip was too strong, despite his lack of muscle.

'Where? Where have you seen it? Speak!'

When his eyes turned white, the other elves stared at them in surprise and got closer.

'Nowhere!'

'Liar! Tell me the truth!"

Right then Ines felt a weird sensation in her head, like a tingling wave that took over her mind. Somehow, she knew the elf was causing it and she glowered at him in rage. This was getting out of hand.

'Stop it! Get out of my head!' she snarled.

The old elf immediately released her hand, his eyes going wide, his body frozen in place. 'Impossible...' he trailed off.

'What?' Landos asked impatiently.

'He felt my powers.'

Ines' gaze darted from one to the other, her curiosity getting the best of her, though she still felt angry with their disrespectful manners. The elves were very confused; no one dared to speak. Then, remembrance crossed the old elf's face, and he pulled Ines' hand once more to inspect it. She tried to pull it away from him but with no result.

'Release my arm!'

'Be patient!' he barked at her. He managed to roll up her sleeve and found the mark she had, a small white spot that resembled a crescent moon. 'How long have you had this mark?' he asked.

'From as long as I can remember.'

The old elf looked at her intently. 'But...you are a boy. Unless...' he scanned her features one more time, 'you are a lass.'

Ines held her breath. They can't know the truth, she thought. She swallowed, and tried to keep her expression blank, to not reveal anything.

'It is you, is it not?'

Ines feigned ignorance. 'Uhm, I don't understand.'

'Do you hear anything strange in your head at night?'

Recognition dawned on Ines' face. It only lasted a second before she sobered up, but that was enough for the old elf to see.

'You did!' he flashed a smile. 'Now listen to me very carefully. We don't have much time.' He grabbed her hand. Again.

'Have you gone mad? Let me go!' she ordered.

'Listen! We came here to find you. Things didn't go according to plan, so we changed our course of action. We let them imprison us and waited for you to come to us. And here you are.'

'I don't get it. What do you want from me?'

She had enough of his ludicrous behaviour, and the answers she needed were still not given.

'I can't explain right now. We have to go. Rakron.'

One of the elves stood up. He was lean and tall, with feline bright eyes, and moved his nimble hands to produce a spell. Ines had to do something before they found a way to escape. Before she could do anything, a guard entered and looked at them in shock. Ines didn't move. Maybe he would presume the army had sent her for a reason, so she stood there watching him.

Her hopes were destroyed, when suddenly the soldier took out his sword and lunged for the ropes that were right outside the room. Ines tried to stop him, but in vain. He cut them with a swift move and turned to her with a satisfied look. The colour drained out of her face. She prayed the ropes hadn't worked, that she still had a chance to leave the prison unscathed, yet the sound she dreaded most came. The prison alarm had gone off.

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A/N: What did you think about this chapter? I'd love to hear your opinion! xx

Phrase of chapter: σοφία μόνον κτημάτων ἀθάνατον / of all our possessions, wisdom alone is immortal - Isocrates