Moments after the attack the feeling of what just occurred is still setting in.
"I...I can't...I can't believe she's gone." Jeffers says as he falls to his knees.
"I know!" Victoria screams as she's on the floor crying.
"Captain to Beta, come in Beta." Jeffers says
"Beta here." Beta answers
"You guys good there?" Jeffers asks.
"Yeah we're good. How about you?"
Beta asks
"We're not doing so good right now." Jeffers says
"What happened?" Beta asks worried
"I can't speak of that right now. Just keep the ship locked down. Understand." Jeffers says
"I understand Captain." Beta answers
"Good." Jeffers says as he cuts off the radio.
"So what now?" Victoria asks, all teared up.
"Now...now I'm going to find out where those creatures live. And I'm going to save my First Mate." Jeffers says
"That be not a smart idea." Jhaan says
"Of course to you it sounds crazy. But I have a starship with tons of lasers on board." Jeffers says
"Ye no doubt get past the Trolls but not D'vron." Conall says
"Yeah yeah, I've heard all about D'vron." Jeffers asks
"D'vron is the Dark Lord who ruled over this land in ancient times. He commands an army of Trolls from his fortress on Mt. Heill. It will be incredibly difficult." Syndra says
"But we've been through worse. We survived interstellar battles and psychotic madmen. We can survive this Dark Lord." Victoria says she got off the ground sniffling.
"How can we?" Jhaan asks
"I don't know you've done it before. How does this D'vron get beaten in your story book?" Jeffers asks
"We throw his heart into the lava of Mount Heill." Conall answers
"His heart?" Victoria asks
"Yeah, It's a long story, but to keep it short White Witch tore the heart out of D'vron's chest and hides it in the Sauldarian Empire. D'vron can never be all powerful without his heart."
"So his entire character arc is getting his heart back?" Jeffers asks
"Aye." Conall responds
"So let's take his heart and throw it into the lava." Jeffers suggests
"No, that doesn't happen until the third and final book. This is the first book." Conall says
"I don't care. We're getting that heart and we're throwing it into the lava." Jeffers demands
"And who says you can boss around!" Jhaan shouts
Jeffers then turns around and says
"Because capturing a member of the PA is an act of war. And do you know what happens when the PA declares war on smaller entities?" Jeffers asks in a serious tone
"No?" replies Jhaan
"You don't wanna find out." Jeffers says as he walks off.
Conall who is scared by this threat says
"Well I guess you'll be treading out in the morning. You might want to get some rest. Victoria you can sleep in the guest room."
"Thank you." Victoria says
#
The next morning they awake. Victoria awakens a bit later then everyone else and when she gets down stairs she sees Jeffers already waiting for her.
"You're late on the ship and you're late in the castle." Jeffers says
"I routinely overslept back in London. I guess old habits die hard." Victoria says
"Whatever come on, there's a horse waiting for you." Jeffers says
They walk outside to see Syndra, Conall, and Jhaan standing beside the two horses ready for Jeffers and Victoria.
"Wait are you guys not coming?" Victoria asks
"No, We must protect the kingdom while you're gone. But you have fun." Conall says
"Ok." Victoria says
"Besides, Horith is supposed to be coming over to assist us." Aego says
Victoria hops onto her horse and Jeffers hops onto his horse and says
"Alright to Sauldaria"
#
Meanwhile from Mt. Heill, D'vron watches over them using his magical cauldron in a cave on the side of the mountain. It's dark and lit by candle light.
While Heidi, is chained to the wall in the back with a literal sock stuffed into her mouth.
Beside D'vron is Horman the Spellcaster his sidekick.
"You know what to do Horman." D'vron says in his dark voice.
"Yes my lord." Horman says as he throws down a bottle full of green elixir causing him to vanish.
D'vron then looks over to Heidi who is frightened out of her mind. She is shaking and sweating as the fear consumes her. He puts his hand on her cheek.
"Don't worry child soon the chosen one will come for you and soon they'll fall into my trap! Hahahahaha." D'vron says