Chapter 5: Pursuit

“Nat, wait!” Nathan shouted and moved to catch his sister as she disappeared from the nursery. But he was no match for his sister’s speed with all of his armor slowing him down. All he could do was clank down the corridor after her and try to keep her in his sights. But that became more challenging with each step as they both ran back into the putrid fog created by Heindel’s stinkball launcher. Of course, Nataleigh had a face mask that allowed her to keep going, but Prince Nathan’s eyes were beginning to sting and he couldn’t even cover his mouth properly to breathe because his sleeves were made of metal instead of cloth. It was only sheer willpower and fear for his sister that kept him pushing ahead. The prince was determined that he was not going to let her slip away from him again after all they’d been through, especially when she was running right back into the danger he thought they had escaped. The sea serpent was still out there and his vision had not faded.

How could I have been so stupid and let her escape me like this? He wondered.
When he finally got to the cavern, he did not find what he thought he would find. Nataleigh was not out in the middle of the cavern picking up the Serpent’s Eye off of the floor, nor was she being chased by a killer sea serpent. To Nathan’s surprise, she was far off to his right struggling with Hagwig, the sea witch! The little raggedy witch had followed them and seized upon the opportunity to grab the Eye when she found it unguarded. Now she was trying to escape with it, but Nataleigh had returned just in time to catch her. Now the two of them were wrestling over the Serpent’s Eye at the main entrance to the cavern where he had first entered the serpent’s lair!

Seeing her brother enter the cavern, Nataleigh cried out for his help.

“Nathan, quick” she shouted. “We can’t let her get the key! Darrowold is in danger if they get it! Help me!”

But before the prince could react, the shriveled little dwarf reached in her robes and threw something in Nataleigh’s face that popped and sparkled. Shocked, the princess released the Serpent’s Eye to protect her face and the witch disappeared down the tunnel with a cackle.
Nathan ran to help his sister who was temporarily blinded by the flashes. She had also dropped her breath mask in the struggle and was gasping again for fresh air.

A moment later, Frangen ran up to them, breathless but still wielding the stinkball launcher.
“Your highnesses, what is going on?” he asked.

“Hagwig,” Nataleigh choked with frustration. “is escaping with the Serpent’s Eye! We’ve got to stop her, Frangen! We can’t lose it now after all we’ve gone through! And my brother doesn’t seem to CARE!”

With that she shoved Nathan away. “What is your problem, anyway? Why do you keep getting in my way? Don’t you have any idea how important that thing is?”

Now it was Nathan’s turn to get upset. “Maybe not,” he shot back, “but I know how dangerous it can be, especially to you! That’s why I’ve followed you halfway across Darrowold! Do you have any idea how close you came to being fried serpent chow? And do you have any idea how to use that thing if you get it?”

“I don’t have time for this!” Nataleigh cut in. “While we’re arguing, the most powerful object in Darrowold is being stolen by the BAD GUYS, brother! And I can guarantee you that THEY already know how to use it which means if we don’t stop them right now, Darrowold will be enslaved to their wishes and then it won’t matter whether I know how to use it or how dangerous it is to me because it’ll be over for all of us! Now are you going to help me or keep getting in my way? Make up your mind!”

The prince looked around and saw no sign of the sea serpent or anyone else for that matter. Maybe the danger to his sister was past, but he still didn’t like the way she was obsessed with getting the Serpent’s Eye. Never-the-less, she was right about one thing. They couldn’t just let Panganiban and the others get it. He had met the true evil of Darrowold and he knew that Panganiban served Snagglefang. And if the key to the Magic Castle fell into the dragon’s claws, the damage to Darrowold could be worse than even his sister understood.

“Fine! I’ll help you,” he agreed, “but stop yelling at me and let’s work together to…”

“Great! Let’s go!” Nataleigh interrupted and took off up the passage again. Frangen shrugged and they both took up the pursuit behind the determined princess. Only Nathan understood that Hagwig was not alone and that they were running toward what could turn into a trap!