Don't Forget about Chapter Five

The rising sun woke up Miranda with its light. Slipping out from
Vladmir's arm, she got out of bed. Looking in a poorly made mirror,
Miranda rebraided her hair. Making sure that Excalibur was still in the
room, Miranda took the sword out.

Excalibur felt amazingly light to Miranda, as if it was made just for
her. After cleaning the blade with her dress, she slipped the sword
into its sheath.

"Vladmir, Vladmir," Miranda said as she gently shook him," Wake up, we
should be going."

"What is going on? What time is it princess?"

"The sun rose not too long ago."

"We have plenty of time. Go back to sleep."

"Vladmir, I order you to get up, and that is a royal order."

"Fine, but why are you in such a hurry to leave love?"

"Excalibur needs to be fat away from Vendra in the shortest amount of
time. Here in Lyna we are under five miles away."

"Let's go then. Do you need some help getting on Excalibur?" Vladmir
asked as he got his own sword's belt around his waist.

"I already have done that. You should have gotten up earlier if you
wanted to help me." Miranda picked up Kikki and waited for Vladmir to
get hi shoes on.

"Well, what are you waiting for? Are we going or not Miranda?"

"I was waiting for you to get ready."

Miranda opened the door and walked out of the room with Vladmir
following her. They both walked right past the sleeping innkeeper, who
did not waken, even after Vladmir threw their room key at him.

"He must have found someone else to share his bed with," Miranda
remarked to Vladmir as they walked out of the inn.

"Or else he stayed up all night, alone. Are we going west still?"

"Until we get to the ocean or where the moving shadows have
been."

Walking through Lyna, people would stare at Miranda and Vladmir as they
passed by. Miranda saw a group of women making a protective sign
against evil when she looked their way.

"Vladmir, can't we go any faster? I do not think we are welcomed in
this village any more."

"We can't cause too much attention to us. Just ignore them and they
will eventually ignore us. Or we will be out of here."

Miranda put Kikki into a small pack on her back and took Vladmir's
hand. After he kissed Miranda 's cheek, they continued to pass by
people.

"Do you want something to eat?" Vladmir asked, "Neither of us has had
anything to eat since dinner last nigh."

"I guess so, though I don't think they will have very much for
food."

Going over to a bread vendor, Vladmir bought three rolls and gave one
to Miranda and one to Kikki.

Miranda was silent as they went out of the village, quietly chewing on
her roll. On the other hand, Kikki was devouring her roll like it was
the last roll left in the kingdom.

"There is still something on your mind Miranda. You have been too quite
since we have left the inn."

"Is there some rule that I am unaware of? One that states that I must
constantly talk?"

"No, no there is not. You usually talk more than this, I am just
concerned about you."

"It is just that I am worried about these moving shadows. I wonder if
they have started looking for Excalibur yet?"

"They probably thing that Excalibur is still in the palace. I do not
think the moving shadows are smart enough to realize that Excalibur is
gone."

"Yes, I suppose that is right."
* * *

"King Jilhal, what is it?" Sandra asked as King Jilhal read a message,
"Has something happened in Vendra since we left?"

" A shadow tried to steal Excalibur."

"What?"

"Mir stopped the shadow, but it dropped Excalibur and broke the ruby.
Vladmir and Miranda have taken Excalibur and left Vendra."

"Then we have to go back, " Randol said, "before anything worse
happens."

"Yes, these shadows have shown us what they have been planning to do.
Mir did the right thing by leaving Vendra with Excalibur."

"Say the word my lord, we are ready to go."
* * *
"Vladmir, what was that?" Miranda looked around in fear.

"I do not know, but I will find out" Vladmir drew his sword and started
walking ahead of her, " Stay here, do not move."

As Vladmir moved closer, he heard the animal call again. Another call
answered. Suddenly, Miranda screamed.