Chapter 28
Hopes and Dreams Asunder
As they now traveled by foot, Hadarah was surprised at the ease with which they did so, having passed through Addar and into Aion, without much trouble. She said nothing about it until the she had to know the answer.
“The reason why we are having such ease is because we follow that Prince’s Path. If we were to switch over to another’s way then our journey would not be so easy.”
Hadarah thought about what Raanan said, as they went along. The thought had never occurred to her that there would be a Path to walk by which was provided for those who served the Creator and His Son.
“So you all use the trees as your mode of transportation?”
Fabian smiled, “Yep, heehee. We TreeStalkers are very resourceful, heehee.” Looking to the Moon and starless sky, Fabian went quiet.
Amori looked briefly to Cody before looking back to Fabian. “Is there something wrong Fabian?”
“Innocent blood ‘as been spilled.” Glistening brown eyes met hers, “The two princes made ‘it to thee, caverns. We be too late.” The sorrow that was held in the old man’s voice struck a chord deep in Amori. The thought that Ryan, she had no doubt that Morgan would have, but that Ryan would slaughter anyone was almost beyond her belief. But as she saw the down casted look that overcame Fabian’s features. She knew that it was true. Leaning back against Cody she whispered to him. She rubbed the spot just above her temple as the slightest humming sound began to ring. “How could they do such a thing?”
Wrapping a comforting arm about her he said nothing. Though he could understand what Amori was struggling with, he also more than understood Ryan and Morgan’s perspective. He would have probably done the same thing if it had been Amori or his mother who had been taken, and were going to be forced to marry some “Deity”. But wisdom had him keeping those thoughts to himself.
“Amori do you have my phone with you?” His question went unanswered. Looking down at her he noticed that she had fallen fast asleep. Leaning back, he rested his own head against the tree trunk, watching as they moved along. He sure did hope that another fight would not ensue do to the fact that Morgan and Ryan had most likely ended many of those that lived inside of the caverns that Fabian had spoken of.
“My flower, it has been long since we last spoke with one another.” The Dweller reached his hand out to her. “Tell me, to where do you go now?”
Amori shrugged, “I don’t really know.”
Eyebrow halfcocked he stared at her in silence for a second. Once the moment had passed he released a suffering sigh, taking a step towards her, “I do not believe you.” At the lift of his hand she found both herself and him standing at the cave entrance. The two watched as Morgan, Leora and Ryan exited the place. Amori watched them, and though Morgan and Ryan didn’t seem to notice them Leora was another story.
Her gaze roamed around her surroundings, until they came to rest on Amori. Her blue eyes fierce and penetrating, so focused on Leora Amori jumped as the Dweller warm breath touched her ear. “You see I know to where you go, and to what you seek.” Grabbing her arm he turned her around so that she was facing him. “You will bring the Book of Naba to me.” She tried to wrench her arm free from his grip but the hold only became tighter.
“I won’t do it, plus I don’t think they’ll trust me with it.”
Moving closer so that their noses were touching he snarled, his figure changing for the briefest of moments. “Then take it from the smitten half-blood.” Blinking he released her arm and took a step back. With a deep intake he calmed himself. “My flower, you must trust me, if they somehow bring the Book of Naba to the High Prince, it shall be the end of you and I both, for though you do not know it the bonds that hold me are also the bonds that hold you as well.” Turning around he began heading into the foliage cover, but paused and sent a fleeting glance over his shoulder to those standing at the mouth of the cave. A brief smile played across his face before he disappeared into the covering, leaving her behind. Looking away Amori’s gaze clashed with Leora’s…
With a sudden lurch she awoke, and near fell out of the oak that they were in, her life line being the arm that Cody had placed around her.
“Hey you ok?” He asked.
Not making eye contact with him she nodded against his side as she burrowed further into the warmth that was Cody. She didn’t understand how he wasn’t cold. The air during the night was at best frigid. As he wrapped his other arm around her, Amori thought back to the task that the Dweller wanted her to perform. It made a shiver run up her spine. There was no way that she was going to use her and Cody’s friendship to fool him into giving her the Book of Naba. If she did and he found out that she had used him, all she could think was that the trust they had between them would no longer be there and she wouldn’t be able to handle not having Cody in her life. He had in a short period of time become a very important and vital part of her day to day living.
He knew that something was wrong but he couldn’t place his finger on it. Peering down at Amori his brow knitted, he had woken her up on purpose. Her mumbling had not set well in him, neither had the fact that her breathing had started to hitch. Arching his back for a moment Cody waited for the slight burning that came every now and then of late to abate. Rotating his shoulders he leaned back, and looked to Fabian. The TreeStalker had gone silent the exuberant air that had buzzed around him, was almost nowhere to be found.
“Fabian, I don’t believe that all of your kinsmen have been killed. I don’t think that that is something that Ryan would do.”
The elder looked to him with a sorrow filled regard, “But is it the same for thee Eidos?”
Cody went silent not knowing how to reply or even the right answer for that one. Because he knew that Fabian was right, it might not be Ryan’s MO –mode of operation- but he had a strong feeling that Morgan would have no problem with wiping out an entire region. Resting his head on the trunk, he sighed. All he could do was pray, because he knew that though Morgan did not want to admit it he cared for Leora. And only a fool would take what Morgan deemed as his.
Leora walked alongside Morgan, him helping her with an arm around her waist and a strong form to lean against for support, since her body was still working to get rid of the poison that had been fed into it. Looking back over her shoulder she looked to the spot that she had seen Amori and the Dweller standing, and knew with a gifted knowing that the time for the sacrifice was nearing. Soon the Dweller would send for the one who was to give the First over. She prayed that when that time came Amori would be able to stand against the test, and lay a good path for the Second to follow.
The Knight kneeled respectfully before the High Prince. “My Lord.”
Motioning for him to stand Amadis extended His hand to the other. As they clasped forearms the Knight smiled.
“My Lord had sent for me.”
“Yes Natsar, you must go to Loam.” Amadis began walking, the Knight following beside Him. “I have sent those who I have chosen to watch over the First, now I am sending you to Loam to watch over the Second.” Facing Natsar He said, “None shall know of your assignment, watch and protect until the time comes. For in this moment they, the Second, are not to know of you presence.”
Natsar bowed then saying, “As You have said it, it shall be done my Prince.”
It came to the bridge that would lead to the realm Enos, and found none there save its own. Its wrath built up with in it, anger so great in its force that it pushed against the flowing tide.
“To where has the Son of Theron gone?” He asked those that obeyed him.
“We know not, our master. Son of Theron, is not here. Long gone long gone, he is, but not into Enos does he and First travel. No, no, they travel back deeper into our homeland Aiken.”
Rhuparos sunk into thought as it waited for the tide to grow once again. The Son of Theron was now in the deeper parts of Aiken, why? It turned about in search of it quarry it would have its revenge.
Riding the tide yet again it moved swiftly, when a sudden battle cry that it knew well sounded behind it. Stopping it froze in place, for Theron himself had come.
“This time Rhuparos I will leave nothing of you to roam through these or any other region.” With his sword raised Theron called out in a voice as thunder, “OMEN EMUNAH!”
Thus it went to battle with Theron, for its second and final life.