**Chapter Eleven: Trial's End**
It was now morning. The soft morning sun rays illuminated the place. We stayed in the armoury in peace for one day, but we knew that peace wouldn't last long. In preparation for the elves, since it was only a matter of time before they came, we rigged the armoury with traps. When we were done, we gathered together to pick our weapons and to discuss our next move.
I picked a pair of foot-long daggers, Kevin picked a longsword, and Mandy said she didn't know how to fight, so she didn't pick any weapon. I also changed my blood-stained clothes with some that were found in the armoury.
Once everyone was set, we sat down to discuss.
"Okay, how about this; we all go to the dragon's territory together with the baby," Kevin said.
"Yes, that is a good idea, but I don't think we would survive in the time used in getting there," Mandy said.
I let them talk while I bowed my head, tapping my index finger on the ground, thinking. After a while, I raised my head and said, "I have a plan."
---
In a place that looked like a village, where tents of different sizes are seen everywhere, surrounding a very large tent. People with long ears—elves—were busy transporting humans to another big tent that stood at the outskirts of the settlement.
In the large tent, a man is seen sitting in front of a table. He had long white hair, emerald eyes, and a pair of long and pointed ears; he was an elf. He was listening to a report that was being made by another elf who had his head down.
The report was about Nicholas, Kevin, and Mandy.
"So, the three people in question, where are they?" the sitting elf asked.
"Sir, from what we know, they have locked themselves in the armoury since yesterday."
"And have you confirmed that they have the child we are looking for?"
"Yes, sir, the stone reacted."
"Hmm, okay, since they know how to fight, inform the mages. They will go with you to find them. Let's see how they fare against magic," the man said with a smirk.
"Of course," the reporting elf shivered as he replied. Then turned and left the tent. But before he left, the sitting elf said in an indifferent tone, "Don't keep any of them alive."
---
Back in the armoury
Everything for my plan work had been prepared. Although Mandy was against it, she still did her part. My plan was simple; each one of them will carry a fake baby with them while I will carry the real one. We will all run in different directions. I told them that if they were caught, they should bargain with the elves to spare them in exchange for my location.
"I have a question," Kevin said then continued, "You know that for this plan to work, we need to let those elves know where we are going. But at the same time, we also need to have a head start. So, how are you going to do that?"
"Mandy said that there is a secret tunnel in this armoury that leads to the forest outside the town, and I know that the elves will come here soon. So, I will leave a note here, telling them that we are in the forest."
"Do you think those cunts will believe it?"
"Yes, I'm certain."
I was sure that they would come to the forest if they were desperate enough.
"Mandy, where is the thing you found?" I spoke to Mandy, who was about to come over with a rolled-up piece of paper when a little wolf—that had black fur and a line of white fur that went from its forehead to its tail—ran over to her and took the piece of paper to me. That's right; after our encounter, the wolf never left my side, and since it didn't look like it would attack me, I let it be.
I took the old piece of paper and opened it. Written on it were strange characters. I followed Mandy's instructions and bit my hand and placed it on the paper. Kevin and Mandy did the same. Once we all did this, the paper lit up in blue flames and burned to ashes.
Then I spoke to them in my mind, 'Can you all hear me?'
'Yes.'
'Yes, I can.'
I turned to Mandy and asked, "Have you done it?"
"Yes, I..."
She didn't complete her sentence because at that moment, my stomach growled, reminding me that I had yet to eat anything for two days. It was a miracle I hadn't fainted.
"You sound hella hungry, here," Kevin said as he handed me a pack of dried meat while he went to help Mandy with her task.
The moment I opened the meat pack and put one strip in my mouth, I immediately wolfed down the rest.
The little wolf was looking at me with pleading eyes. I was about to eat the last one when I noticed the wolf. I sighed then gave the meat strip to it.
A few minutes later, we were ready to leave the armoury. Again, Mandy came to me, stating her dislike of the plan.
"Why are you telling us to carry fakes while you carry the real child? Do you know what those elves will do to you when they find you?" she was worried, but of course, she was wrong. I cared about myself more than anything, and I had a reason for carrying the child. Yesterday, when Kevin and I were exchanging information, he said something. He said that a trial can end in two ways; one is to complete the trial, while the other was to find a gateway that will lead you out of the trial. But finding that gateway was hard. It could be anywhere; it could be that you need to kill someone to activate the gateway or do something absurd. But if my guess was correct, that child was the gateway out of this trial.
We picked up the things we needed and followed Mandy to the secret passage. It was located behind a wall. We all entered the tunnel one by one since it could only allow for one person at a time.
I was the last to go in, but before I did, I turned to look at the place one last time. At that moment, I felt something, "The elves, they're here." It was like I could tell they were at the door even without seeing them. Turning around, the little wolf and I entered the tunnel, and the wall closed behind me.