Chapter 34
Interlude
Theron leaned against the birch tree that was at his back, his breath heavy from the day’s long battle. It had been long and arduous but in the end Rhuparos fell for the final time. Having caught his breath Theron walked through the darkened landscape of Aiken with no fear of the terrors that struck by night. His focus was on getting to Taher his fellow Knight and a close friend.
Making it to the ravine he jumped from where he was at the top down to the bottom. Easily spotting his friend he smiled as Taher said, “You have always been one for showing off have you not.”
Theron laughed. “It is good to see you to Taher.” Standing Taher gave a grunt of pain.
“At least I am mostly healed. So tell me, what brings you here to Aiken, I know it was not so that you can greet me.”
“That is true, I’ve come because I spoke with Cathlin and she had told me that Ardor is missing.”
Theron saw the look in Taher’s eyes. “What is it that you know about my son that you are not saying?”
Taher sighed, “He is with Addar’s two princes, the young Sage Leora and the First.”
“So the First has been found.”
Taher inclined his head. “I believe they have made it back to Loam by now.”
“Good then that is where we shall go.” Looking to the Path before them Theron was relieved when he saw that it lead them to where he had wished to go as well.
“Who was the guy that had been with you when you had come to Aion?” Ryan asked curious, even though the man had said that he was a Knight of Nazarien Ryan wanted to get Chay’s take on the subject.
“His name is Asah Raanan, he had been sent to bring me to you there is not much else to say.” The expression that she spied on Dryan’s face told her that he wanted to know more than that. “Well he is the son of Nazar who is the son of Amad, the great Neshar who fought Tsiyah.”
“He is Amad’s descendant? That would explain his size then, for none of the Neshar who were born in the North Regions ever grew to what he is.” They continued in comfortable conversation, as they drove along.
In a sudden moment Ryan drifted, avoiding hitting a still standing figure. He righted the truck before it could do a three sixty roll. Ryan exited the car, telling Hadarah to stay inside.
As the individual turned to face him Ryan was halted in his tracks. The things figure was a gruesome one. It was clothed in utter and complete darkness, its pupils black as the abyss. Abiding in its gaze was all the sins, known and unknown. In the right hand it bore a sword made of hardened stone and in its left the seal of the realm. Upon its head sat a crown of skulls, many faces contorted in pain as they suffered even in death. Fire and blood oozed from its mouth as the horrid thing smiled at him. “Not many are allowed to see me before they are given over to me, into the abyss, only five being so blessed thus far.” Ryan near gagged as the putrid smell of death and decay filled his nostrils, never before hand had he smelled something so vile.
Hadarah watched them through the rear window of the truck. Goosebumps appeared on her skin as for a brief moment the thing moved its gaze to her.
In a moment she knew that there was only one thing that she could do for her chosen, she began to call on the only one who could free him from what the Dweller had sent to claim his soul. “Amadis take hold of his heart, I pray, for darkness is at the doorstep and it lies in wait for his innocent blood. Its wish to sift him as wheat, but I intercede for him, that his faith may not fail. That he may return to You stronger than before. Hear the voice of Your servant, reach your hand of protection over him. Omen emunah.”
Sin & Death watched the young prince, he had waited for this. For the time when he would be given Dryan son of Dayan the one next in line to receive the throne of Adair, he had long waited for this, since the boys birthing. The prince had no idea to what his potential was, but the Path that had been set before him if he followed it would undue too much. Thus he would now take the boy adding a new face to his collection.
Dryan felt the pull of the hand reaching deep inside of him, into the depth of his soul, squeezing the life from him. He fought but on his own he could do nothing, and just as he was close to succumbing to it to him, he heard a song from beyond, “When you feel all hope is falling, say the name of your recalling.”
As those lyrics played across his heart and mind Dryan called out the one name. “Amadis!”
Sin & Death took a step back; maybe the Prince’s hold and the interceding prayers of another were far stronger than he had previously thought.
Seeing the creature step back and leave, Hadarah hurried out of the car and to Dryan’s side. Dropping to her knees beside her she embraced him, knowing that a renewal was taking place that none of them would have dreamed possible.