Part Seven

Sydney - 03:48am Oct 14, 1998 MST
Squire to Lady Valeana

Sydney sighed a breath of relief when Austin ran to the cat and again as Raven chuckled at her. She wasn't quite sure what she would have done if this had turned out any other way. She listened to Raven's plan, looked closely at the map and then spoke up. "I shall go up and spread the word of the dinner party we plan on having. Once that is done, I will then take my post here," Sydney said pointing to a small hidden room on the map just below the kitchen. The map showed the room with an entrance from a secret hallway. On the other wall of the secret room, it showed a lever which opened a trap door to the kitchen. From the kitchen side, the trap door formed into the floor so well, no one would know it was there, unless they saw the map. "I will wait there for the signal and then make my entrance into the kitchen, Commander." Raven nodded saying "be careful M'lady, and we shall see you soon."

Sydney looked up from the map at Austin, who was sound asleep. She walked over to him and
whispered shaking him gently. "Austin? Austin?" She smiled as the baby dragon opened his sleepy eyes. "Austin, I have to leave for a bit, stay here until I return for you. I promise I will return and when I do, I will bring you a cup of hot cocoa to warm you." Sydney saw what looked to be a baby dragon smile and gently touched Austin's face and winked at him. She then turned and headed out the passage through the back of the secret room.

Sydney made her way through the Keep by taking the lesser known halls and stairways. She made it up to the hall of her quarters when she heard voices. She ran swiftly and quietly to her door and slipped inside. She quickly changed into more suitable clothing and picked up her sword, sliding it into the sheath. She pictured the map in her mind and went to the dressing table pulling it from the wall and pushed hard against the slab. It slowly slid open revealing a hallway that was semi-dark and musty. She slipped inside and pulled the table back to its place, then pushed the wall closed again. She worked her way through the winding passages until she came to the end, or what seemed like the end. She pushed again and nothing. She moved to another section and leaned hard against the wall. It moved some then hit something. She heard a voice and knew it was Areleth's "hey, what in the........". Sydney broke into his sentence as she stepped through the opening. "Greetings M'Lord, I have news from the underground." She began to tell him of Raven's plan and spoke quickly keeping an eye out for El Presidente's goons. Once she had finished, she bid him farewell and headed back into the passage.  He pushed the wall closed again, covering her in the semi-darkness once more.

Sydney wound her way back down through the hidden passages of the Keep. Nearing the hallway that led to the secret room, she heard a faint sound of music that grew louder as she approached the room. She wasn't sure what type of music it was, or where it was coming from, but to her it seemed like someone was having a party. She reached the room, pushed the lever and moved to the trap door, lifting it very slowly. She peered out through the small crack and to her amazement, she saw Mocha playing what looked to be a musical box of some sort. The party was on. She looked about and was even more surprised to see Mel amongst the partygoers. She also noticed that El Presidente himself was in attendance at the party. She saw that Mel was looking at the sandwiches rather longingly and chuckled to her self, knowing that the lure of the food was what probably got him into the situation he was in.

Sydney closed the trap door before anyone saw her and moved to the other side of the room. Since the trap door was only accessible from the inside of the room, she wasn't worried about anyone opening it from the kitchen side. She waited patiently for the signal to advance. She was more determined than ever to take El Presidente as her prisoner until the Lady Chancellor returned.
 

Excalibur - 08:08pm Oct 15, 1998 MST
Just call me "Cali", Lady Felena's Notorious Cat

As Cali took up his guard position once more, Raven turned to the others and began sharing the plan he had for the assault on the kitchen. Of course, being the great warrior cat that he was, Cali was skeptical. He glanced at the humans leaning over the map and rolled his eyes. Things looked rather bleak for their side, he thought to himself. If only Str's Tootles was here. Now that was a cat to deal with. He stopped pacing and sat back on his haunches, thinking, "Almost as good as me."

The words of the human with the wheat colored hair caught his attention. That one seemed to
know about the hidden passages in the keep. He blinked his bright green eyes as he observed her with an air of acceptance. "Yes...she will do." His gaze then drifted to the wet one...well she was dry now. She seemed to be quite the warrior, and spoke of "others" awaiting instructions. Perhaps things weren't as bleak as he had first thought. He couldn't bear the thought of chicken surprise for the rest of their lives. "Bleachhhhhh!"

El Presidente - 12:24pm Oct 16, 1998 MST
Supreme Ruler of the Sovereign State of El Presidente!

The evening's events slowly died down, and El Presidente called a  meeting of his council.
Noticing his enforcer was missing, he grew irritated.

"Has anyone seen the Enforcer?"  Hearing the familiar whisper in his ear, El Presidente stopped and listened for a moment.  "So, the reports have it he has defected due to the words of that schuire, very well, if he or this Sydney are seen, they are to be captured and brought before me immediately. They are now public enemy #1."

Looking once again to the ever talking Mocha, El Presidente nods..  "Okay, so technically they are public enemies 1 and 2 , but you all get the point. I want them alive so they can be made an example of.  No one defies El Presidente and gets away with it."

Talking to his General, El Presidente steps behind a a changing wall and continues...
"We must increase troop movement, to let all know we are still the ones in power and do not
forget to maintain a tight control on the kitchen..."

Stepping out from behind the wall, El Presidente stands in full dress uniform. "No more fatigues for me...and Mocha, my advisor, you are to take this and make yourself very proficient in its use. For when the traitor is captured I will allow you to deal out his punishment."

Mocha goes behind the wall and returns looking quite capable.  "Ahhhh splendid, now shall we return to the balcony and address our admiring followers?  Come let us go."

As they leave the council chambers, El Presidente swears he hears music begin to play again.. shaking it off as side effects of too much wine he continues on.....
 

El Presidente - 02:10pm Oct 25, 1998 MST
Supreme Ruler of the Sovereign State of El Presidente!

After another glorious speech to is admiring followers, El Presidente turns to his General....
"Have you ordered the increased troop activity as planned?  Good, good, very well done as usual. Now any word on the location of our two primary targets?"
Mocha begins whispering once again into his ear....
"Ya don't say....ahhhhhh....this is great news indeed.  Let us be off then, and silence is of the
utmost importance."

Nearly running down the corridors, the group soon arrived at their destination. Ordering the
guards to unlock the doors and step aside, El Presidente had his general enter the wine cellar first. Once she gave the signal that all was clear, he followed behind her....going the the very back of the room they all stopped momentarily as El Presidente whispered to his advisor.

"Are you certain this is where their base of operations is located, and that the traitor and schuire are here."

Giving El Presidente a smug look, Mocha only nodded..
"Very well then, let us do this ...."

As the general pushed the lever to open the hidden door, El Presidente forced his way inside.
Reaching down he snatched up his small prey and held him up for the others to see..
"Ahhhh now look what we have here...a traitor.  Seems you chose the wrong place to sleep now
doesn't it."

Exiting the secret room with captive in hand El Presidente again addresses his general....
"The others absence can only mean they are up to something.....increase the guards even more, and prepare for anything that may arise. Now come Mocha we have someone to deal with."

Exiting the wine cellar, El Presidente heads for his war room, when he swears he hears music
begin to play again....
 

"What in the name of myself is that???? I swear that one day I will find who is playing this stuff and have him executed."

Upon reaching the war room, he deposits his prisoner who is now bound and gagged onto the
table....Looking to his advisor he noticed a hint of concern in his eyes.

"Do not worry for your one time friend, you will have ample opportunity to show him the error of his ways before he is to be dealt with...."