Feeling their way around, the couple had concluded that the structure was perfectly intact.
"What do you think this is?" Zora asked.
"I do not know. All I can see is that is was built to last?" Aidan replied. "It might be a commemoration to a battle or something similar."
"A commemoration that screams? The artisans who created this certainly had an interesting sense of humor," Zora said, making her husband chuckle.
"All in a day's work, dear," he added.
After a thorough inspection, the queen hummed. "All these bars remind me of a prison."
"This thing seems airtight. I do not think anyone placed inside would stay alive for long," Aidan concluded.
At that moment, it felt like another shout is coming along. They covered their ears, but all they heard this time were soft sobbing.
Zora was startled. "Do you hear it?" she asked.
"Yes," he said.
The quiet crying continued.
"Hello, where are you?" Zora said. "Do not be alarmed. We mean no harm."
Aidan used his enhanced hearing. "The sound is definitively coming from inside."
Taking the hoop, he only needed to imagine going inside. The magical item showed them a pitch dark place. Throwing a torch inside, it was reviled that there was a small room, with nothing but a heavy boulder. Going through, they could see that it was cracked into a few pieces.
"We have to tell Arogan!" Zora declared.
Before they could do anything, a fragile voice was heard. Quiet and distorted as if coming from great depths. "Please. Do not leave me! I have been alone for so long."
"Who are you and why are you here?" the werewolf asked.
"Please!" the old voice quivered. "I have been stuck in here for so long. I'm hungry and thirsty. And so lonely."
Zora pressed her hand, filled with compassion.
"But why are you here? You must have done something to be given such a harsh punishment?" Aidan continued.
The voice cried out, even more sorrowful.
"Lies! All lies I tell you! Imprisoned for nothing but the vanity of the prince. He hated me so. Spoken so harshly about me. Made everyone hate me," the prisoner wept so bitterly. "And all because of my powers! They are not the rightful rulers of this land, you see. This used to be a magical kingdom with fair but powerful wizards. But then the brutes came and destroyed us all! Turned our legacy into dust."
"Oh," Zora let out a gasp, affected by her story.
Still, Aidan was doubtful. "Come, dear. Let us leave," Aidan said, placing his hand on her shoulder. He stood close, gently pressing his paws on her soft skin.
"But, the woman in that hole," she whispered.
"Is probably there for a reason. Zora, please. You read enough books to know how these creatures operate," he said gently, not noticing a tiny, thin thing creeping towards him.
"Noooo! Do not go!" the voice pleaded.
"It was a nice visit, but we need to," Aidan said in a dry tone.
The female voice continued to cry. "At least give me a drink of water? Just a drop! My throat is so dry. You wouldn't deny an old woman that?"
Zora pressed her lips. "We can a-"
"Dear." Aidan's voice was firm but calm. "Let's get you out of here so you can think straight. Alright?"
The queen's lips pressed down.
"Good," the wolf man smiled.
The couple quickly left the structure, with the cries growing weaker and weaker. Zora kept turning back, so Aidan had a thought. He grabbed her, princess style, and started sprinting. "Aidan, take things seriously," she protested as he smiled amused.
Back at the gate, Aidan, now in human form, was surprised by the sight. The guards were sound asleep, prompting themselves on their spears.
"How unprofessional," Aidan frowned. "In all my years, I have never seen soldiers doing their duty so carelessly. I will have to tell the king about this."
Zora stood close, quieter than usual. "Perhaps that is not wise. It was I who put them to sleep."
He turned to her in disbelief. "Zora. Do you realize how dangerous that was? Someone could have stormed the castle and there would be no one to sound the alarm."
"I am sorry. Luka was left here all alone. I could not leave him without some sort of protection."
Aidan groaned, slapping his forehead.
"No one will know. I was very careful to make it wide in range but not overdo it in strength. At worst, they will feel extra rested tomorrow."
"With that logic, you could have left Luka back home and simply put the entire kingdom to sleep."
Zora blinked. "Now, you're just being mean," she said, offended.
Aidan tapped the guards, waking them.
"How? Where did you come from?" the guard gasped in shock.
"Do not worry yourself with that. Tell me where the king is? I have something urgent to tell him."
The king and queen were in their royal chambers, sound asleep.
As instructed, the guests were allowed to go in and tell them the news right away.
If the grand hall seemed gaudy, the master bedroom took it a step higher. Next to the door was a line of portraits of previous kings, all looking so similar that you would be forgiven to think they were brothers. Next to the bed was a grand oil painting, depicting some sort of epic battle with armies of thousands and magic flying all around.
Yawning, king Arogan stood up. "Oh, and I was having such a good nap. What news do you have?"
The couple felt a little uncomfortable, discussing urgent matters while he was in his night gown. Nevertheless, Aidan explained: "We have found the stone structure you told us about. There were no damages on the outside, but the rock inside was completely cracked."
"What? How did you do that? That fortress in impenetrable!" the king said.
"Magic," Zora shrugged.
The king groaned, still groggy. "Did you find someone there?"
"Yes, and old woman. And... we have questions," she replied.
"You didn't give her any food, did you?" the king continued.
"Of course not! We are no fools?" Aidan said proud. "And besides, all that we had on us was my water flask." He stopped, surprised. The leather bag appeared empty. "But how? I am sure I fulled it," he squinted to look inside.
Queen Leona gasped, launching up. Arogan turned pale. "Sound the alarms! We have to-"
A loud blast pushed debris their way, launching them across the room.
Zora yelled out before going unconscious. "Zora!" Aidan shouted.
Where a solid wall once stood was now a large hole, with a floating old woman looking at them menacingly. She was dressed in black rags with unruly white hair sticking in all directions.
"You witch!" Arogan shouted, using his mattress as a barrier.
Zora's husband turned into a werewolf, rushing towards their attacker. He ran to the edge.
The witch used her powers to smash him back to the other side.
"Are you the current ruler?" she said turning to the king.
"I am, and if you want to live the night. You will leave this place!"
"Ha!" the witch cackled. "And what can you do now?"
"Look around, you old hag!" the king said. "At this moment, all the weapons in the kingdom are pointed at you."
The witch inspected her surroundings. From all sides and all angels, shiny metal spikes were pointing in her direction. Soldiers with torches had the siege weapons ready. It seemed that every man, woman and child in the vicinity were aiming some sort of weapon at her.