~Gonay~

“I hope you have a plan to get us out of this dungeon.” Eaa says as we sit on the dirt floor of the small cell.

I look around for something I can use to get us out of the cell and notice some upturned dirt beside me.

“Oh, hello there.” I say as I start to dig in the upturned soil in the dim light.

I quickly discover an extremely sharp sword that cuts my hand as I brush dirt off it. I spit out a few Dwarvish curses and use my other hand to grab the sword’s handle.

I carefully lift the sword out of the hole and walk unsteadily over to the metal bars holding us in.

“Are you seriously going to try to cut the bars?” Eaa asks in disbelief and I shrug.

“It’s worth a shot.”

I lift the sword and drop it on the bars. It slices through them with ease and I look back to Eaa. I lift my eyebrows.

“Well, that worked.”

I cut a hole in the bars for us to climb through and then rebury the sword. I turn to look at Eaa.

He climbs out of the hole and I follow him. We stand in the dungeon.

“What now? The door is too big for us to open.” Eaa says as he studies the giant door and I notice a small hole just big enough for us to squeeze through beside the door. Light filters through it from the hole on the other side and Eaa does a facepalm as he notices it as well.

“The security here is really lacking.”

I hurry over to the hole and squeeze through. I help pull Eaa through the hole as well and we both emerge onto the other side. The room is lit by a single, enormous torch.

A grey alterna is snoozing beside the door, silver rings lining its ears.

“I thought only cats napped.” Eaa whispers and I shrug.

“It must be a feline thing.”

I notice one of the giant boulders making up the wall is out of place and sunlight streams through. I point to it.

“There.” I whisper and we both scurry over to the hole.

We quickly rush out into the daylight and find ourselves in a metropolis with immense skyscrapers.

“How on Nearth could the trees conceal all of this?” I ask in awe and Eaa looks at me.

“Where did they find the materials to build all of this? They never leave their territory.” He says.

“Well, however they built all of this, it must be nap time.” I say, noticing the empty and silent streets.

“So eerie.” Eaa shivers and I snap my fingers.

“This is the perfect time for us to get the crown jewels of the queen!” I quietly exclaim and Eaa frowns,

“But where is the palace? I cannot see that we will ever find it in this sprawling metropolis.”

“That is why I memorized Trouse’s description of their journey from their jail cell to the palace. The city may be different, but I believe the palace will be in the same location. Follow me.” I say.

Eaa follows me through the empty streets for about an hour until we reach a grand palace.

“Look, one of the bricks of the stairs is missing. I can see through to the other side.”’ Eaa says, pointing to the hole and we quickly walk through.

We arrive in a courtyard shaded by an immense tree growing out of the palace. We’re faced with a pair of giant steps. With great effort, we manage to scale to the doors at the top. Two alterna guards are snoozing on either side of the doors. I point to the doors and motion for Eaa to follow me as I squeeze under them. We arrive in a large throne room, decorated with a variety of flags and in the center, Queen Later is sleeping. Her crown jewels lie on the pillow beside her.

I smile as I point to the pillow with the jewels on it. We hurriedly walk over to the pillow, my heart beating extremely quickly. We grab either side of the silk rope with giant jewels on them and lift them with great effort. Then we carefully descend from the pillow, carrying the jewels. We exit the throne room, sliding under the doors, and vanish into the metropolis, heading for the Thick Woods.