"Do you even know why they're so important?"

"Don't know, don't care."

"Well you should...cause you summoned one of them."

-Meilin-

Ever since they found out, the group had been moving in tensed silence as they tried to find an escape out of Zhong and towards Eura. Up ahead, Tarik and Shane were arguing about which route to take.

"I'm telling you that going through the Petral Mountains is the safest way to get through to Eura," Tarik was saying, trying not to shown his annoyance.

"My Redcloaks have reported of a battle happening over there with Euran soldiers and the Conquerors," Shane argued, "There's no way we could pass through unseen but if we go through the river, we can at least pass in disguise."

"And what if we get caught?" Tarik questioned him, "I can't risk it. We can't risk them falling into the hands of the Conquerors."

"But they would certainly fall into the Conquerors if we head towards the battle," Shane fired, more forcefully this time, "For Tellun's sake, they summoned Great Beast. Great Beast, Tarik, not just any normal Spirit Animals. Abeke moves like a hunter and she's already gaining powers from Uraza."

Meilin caught a slight blush appearing on Abeke's cheeks.

"And i'm pretty sure that Meilin's very capable of taking care of herself," Shane added, "She certainly knows how to act and with the help of Jhi, she could battle lots of Conquerors on her own."

Meilin noticed that Shane didn't call him Mistress Meilin anymore which reminded her once more of her father. She does know how to act and she didn't exactly need Jhi to fight on her own. She didn't see what a panda could do to help her fight, even though the panda was a Great Beast. From what Tarik told her, Jhi was a healer.

Lishay then sighed reluctantly, "He's right, you know. You may be their guardian but we need to start trusting them. They won't be able to learn if we keep on protecting them and doing things ourselves. We'll need all the help we could get and that includes them."

"Wait, hold up," Meilin interrupted, "Since when did we agree to help you? If these Conquerors are after the Great Beasts and the talismans, what would you Greencloaks do to us?"

"We'll keep you safe and try to get you back to Greenhaven," Tarik reassured her, then added, "but it would be much easier with you and the Great Beasts' help."

"What are you trying to do anyways?" Abeke asked but it was more out of curiosity then suspicion.

"We're going to be looking for more of the Great Beast summoners before the Conquerors reach them firsts," Tarik answered.

"We'll be stopping by Eura," Shane added, "According to my Redcloak scouts, Rumfuss the Boar has been spotted in a village while there were a few sightings of Briggan the Wolf nearby."

"Briggan has been spotted?" Tarik asked, sounding perplexed, "For all we know, there wasn't a single evidence if anyone summoning the Great Wolf."

"A small source tells us," Shane said, but it didn't sounded as if he was convinced, "but we're not really sure."

"We'll join," Abeke suddenly spoke up while her leopard, Uraza, growled in agreement, "We'll help you find the other Great Beasts."

Shane smiled warmly at her, "Thank you."

Everyone then glanced at Meilin as the waited for her reply. She had been thinking about it ever since she found out about the talisman and Great Beasts. She glanced at the tattoo on her hand, Jhi the Panda. She seemed to have made a decision already.

"I'll join as well," then she muttered determinedly, "If it's the last thing i'll do to avenge my father's death."

-Rollan-

"How much longer till we get there?" Rollan asked irritably as he tried not to get bitten by his horse.

Rollan, Devin, and a few other Conquerors were heading towards Trunswick for the mission. Rollan would've preferred to walk but unfortunately for him, the others preferred horseback.

"Soon," Devin simply replied, his black wildcat loping tirelessly beside his horse.

"How much long- hey, stop that- is soon?" Rollan asked as he battled to keep his pack away from the horse's mouth.

"Like a couple more minutes if we speed up more," Devin answered then glanced at Rollan's horse irritably, "but some aren't willing to cooperate."

"It's not like I can control this horse not to hate me," Rollan muttered.

Devin sighed, "No, you cannot."

Rollan glanced up, sensing Essix somewhere up ahead. He glanced around, making sure no one was looking before taking a deep breath and closing his eyes. As soon as his eyes closed, he was suddenly in the air as he flew higher and faster. Of course he knew that he was seeing through Essix's eyes.

As Essix kept on flying, he caught sight of a dark, fast-moving figure, running through the woods. Essix then dove towards it to get closer but the figure moved too fast for Rollan to recognize what it was. It kept on disappearing through bushes and doubling back around trees which made it harder ti track.

What is that thing and what is it trying to do?

The figure then jumped into some bushes and stayed there. A couple of seconds later, a human figure wearing a black hood, came into view and walked towards the bush as if knowing the thing was in there.

Just when Essix was about to fly closer,  there was a bump and he found himself landing on his butt to the ground. His horse had jumped over a log and was already running away into the bushes.

Devin sighed then commanded a Conqueror, "Shoot it."

The Conqueror with a crossbow, quickly aimed at the horse and it went down with a painful neigh as the arrow hit its leg. He let out another arrow as it hit the horse's other leg, making it land heavily on its side.

Devin gestured at another Conqueror who quickly pulled some sort of jar out of his pack and handed it to him. Devin then walked towards the writhing horse, opening the jar in the process.

"I really hate to be doing this right now," Devin growled at the horse in annoyance, "Do you know what happens when a traitor tries to escape?"

The horse let out an anguished cry that Rollan almost felt sorry for it. He didn't know what Devin was about to do but he knew it wasn't good.

Another Conqueror handed Devin some sort of cup which Devin took and filled it up. He then looked at the liquid that was inside of it and sniffed it with satisfaction. Just as the horse opened its mouth to let out another neigh, Devin had quickly poured in the liquid into its mouth.

Rollan watched in horror as he saw the horse swallow the black liquid and froze. Then it gagged and shook violently and he watched, frozen in horror as the transformation began.

Then there was silence until Devin broke it coldly, "They become trapped forever."

- - -

Okay, I know there's not much Reilin in this but after one or two more chapters, I promise you that there will be Reilin. Anyways, a sequel is being planned for this book and possibly a book three.

Also, if you're wondering what the quotes are at the start of every chapter, they're quotes that are in the next chapter.

Please vote and leave a comment. Look out for the next chapter!

(If you've read my Ten Keepers series, I have published the, "Book of Extras." Check it out for more info.)