Flor looked at the sword at his neck and raised his hands. “No, no, no, no, no. Please listen to me. It’s a mistake. I swear, I -”
Staler and Skazen were quick to tie up Flor with a rope. He was made to sit beside Cayden on the bench.
The Scavenger stared at Flor and spoke, “We trusted you but you proved otherwise.” He turned and told the others, “Finally the traitor has been caught. Now I don’t think there should be any more surprises.”
Flor shouted, “You are mistaken. All of you.”
The Scavenger scoffed. “You have been caught red-handed. Your game is up. Now, if you want to be alive, give me the bracelet.”
Flor exhaled. “You are getting it wrong. I wasn’t aiming for you. It was Cayden! I can’t stand anyone who tries to help Osay. I swear, I had no idea you were there in the way. I acted in the spur of the moment. When I saw you in between, it was too late. I couldn’t stop. That’s the truth, whether you believe it or not.”
There was an uncomfortable silence.
Flor looked at Staler. “Why don’t you search me and my room and satisfy yourself if I have the bracelet or not?”
“Not a bad idea,” Staler said as he called for his trusted guards and sent them to search Flor’s room.
Skazen started frisking Flor. He didn’t find anything unusual. Suddenly, Skazen noticed a bulge in the back of Cayden’s pant.
Skazen searched Cayden and...
... took out the bracelet from under his pants.
“Thank God, I am redeemed,” Flor shouted. “Cayden should explain how he managed to remain in prison and steal the bracelet from the Scavenger.”
Cayden was desperately trying to speak. Pyros went ahead and removed the tape from his mouth.
“Flor framed me,” Cayden shouted, “While he was scuffling with me, he inserted the bracelet in my pants. I was trying to tell you all desperately, but my mouth was taped.”
Cayden said in a raised tone, “Don’t believe Flor. I was in prison. How could I steal the bracelet? That’s absurd. ”
Everyone was confused. To put an end to the situation, the Scavenger summoned the guards and directed them to take both Flor and Cayden to prison.
After the guards left with Flor and Cayden, Daniel asked James, “Who’s lying? Flor or Cayden or both?”
“Both Cayden and Flor’s stories seem logical,” James said. “As of now, there’s no way to know who among them is lying. Let’s assume that both are lying. We already know Cayden is a traitor. Only time will tell whether Flor is a traitor or not. The good thing is that we recovered the bracelet. Let’s focus on the next steps.”
“You’re right. Let’s not waste any time,” the Scavenger said. “Staler, we have to leave the Brentinute for our final move of combining the Pages of Destiny. But I also sense that Osay will again attack the Brentinute.”
“Don’t worry,” Staler said. “Osay wants you, not the Brentinute.”
“You may be right,” Pyros said, “But think of Cayden and Flor. One of them is the traitor. Maybe both. Osay might want to recover his men back. I agree with the Scavenger – the Brentinute is not safe. Without our help, the Brentinute will be destroyed in no time.”
“Pyros is spot-on,” James said. “I suggest we take Flor and Cayden with us. This way the Brentinute will be off Osay’s radar.”
Everyone seemed to agree. After a few minutes of discussions, a plan was put in place.
The next day, as they prepared to leave the Brentinute, the Scavenger shook hands with Staler. “It was an honour fighting alongside you,” he said. “Please keep updating me about the well-being of the Brentinute as I will remain concerned.”
Staler nodded. “The Brentinute will always be there to serve you.”
The Scavenger climbed onto a master chariot with a sturdy framework, which was summoned by Pyros. It had an arsenal of weapons.
The Scavenger and Pyros operated the wheel, along with Skazen. The giant chariot needed three persons to manoeuvre it.
The children sat in chairs on the deck of the chariot, along with Flor and Cayden bound in magical ropes. The scientists had given them sedatives, and they were weaker than rabbits.
The master chariot whirred and shot away from the Brentinute.
Daniel looked at Pyros. “We are going to your cave after so long. Don’t you feel home-sick at times?”
Pyros smiled. “For centuries, I have been a wanderer, but I do keep returning to my cave. I never really miss it, but I love to be there.”
The Scavenger said, “The weaponry that you have amassed over time in your cave is amazing. I don’t think there is such a collection anywhere else in the Dark World.”
Pyros nodded in acknowledgement.
James noted that Daniel was thinking about something deeply.
“What are you thinking, Daniel?” James asked.
Daniel replied, “Nothing in particular. I just recalled the times when Osay captured us. I am still in awe at your plan about being banished from the Dark World and coming back through the Bermuda Triangle. How did you think that up? That was brilliant stuff -”
James’s face turned to a terrified expression as he hit Daniel slightly in the knee.
“What?” Daniel asked.
“What are you doing?!” James whispered. “Don’t disclose such important facts!”
Daniel’s tongue was between his teeth. He cast a look around. Flor and Cayden were unconscious, while a sleeping Skazen was beside the Scavenger and Pyros, who were the driving the chariot.
“I am sorry,” Daniel whispered.
James nodded. “That was close. Be careful next time.”
After a few hours, the chariot rolled to a stop next to Pyros’s cave.
Pyros murmured a spell, and a protective dome appeared around the chariot.
“It will repel outer attacks, just in case,” he said.
The Scavenger asked Skazen, Daniel and Archer to remain in the chariot and keep an eye on Flor and Cayden. Everyone else entered Pyros’s cave.
They first went into the control room, where the screen displayed the video of Archer, Daniel and Skazen guarding Flor and Cayden in
