by MJ Schutte
‘And what does that help?’ Brighton asked. ‘I still can’t do anything against them.’
Thomas smiled.
‘Dark Ones might have this cursed talent but we are human too. A stiff knock to the head works on anybody. Your plan of knocking Seth’s head off his shoulders might just work. You just need to get close to him first. That will be the challenge.’
‘Then that’s what I’ll do,’ Brighton said.
‘Remember that you are human too,’ Thomas cautioned. ‘You’re as strong as an ox and definitely have some form of the talent but a stiff knock to your head will do the same damage. Even you cannot face five or ten men intent on harming you.’
‘You think I have the talent. Why?’ Brighton asked.
‘Well, there is that white light you shot at Seth….’
‘I told you, Lilian thinks it came from me but I’m not sure,’ Brighton interrupted.
‘There is something else,’ Thomas said slowly. ‘How much has Clarissa told you about your birth?’
‘Nothing,’ Brighton said. ‘I asked her once who my father was. She said she didn’t know and that I should not worry about such things. Do you know something?’
‘I don’t know about your father but I do know about your birth,’ Thomas said.
‘My birth? I thought I was born in the house we lived in, nothing special about it,’ Brighton said with a confused look on his face.
‘That is not true. Your birth was very special,’ Thomas countered.
‘How do you know?’ Brighton asked.
‘Clarissa shared the details with me once.’
‘Then tell me please,’ Brighton asked.
‘Clarissa was not your real mother. She kind of adopted you and raised you as her own.’
‘That’s ….’ Brighton started but slammed his mouth shut when Thomas raised his hand.
‘You were born in the woods near a town called Avarya.’
‘Where is that?’ Brighton asked.
‘About halfway between here and Zedonia, a good two weeks travel. Actually, Avarya and Zedonia are about the same distance from here but you can’t travel straight towards Zedonia because of an impassable swamp. You need to travel east to Avarya and then turn north to Zedonia, but that is beside the point.
‘Clarissa’s family was travelling to Avarya when they came upon a pregnant woman lying in the road. The woman was in labour so they stopped to help. When the baby, you, were born there was a white light shining all around you. It was as if the light was coming from inside you. Everybody was scared; they did not know what to do. Your birth mother knew she was dying so she begged the travellers to take the baby but everyone refused. Instead they carried your mother and you off into the woods and left you there.’
‘Why? That’s horrible!’ Brighton exclaimed.
‘You must understand that people are very superstitious and scared. What if you were some sort of demon? What if the Dark Ones found a glowing baby with them? They were scared that all of them will be killed simply for helping you and your mother.’
Thomas paused and had a sip of lemon juice.
‘The travellers continued on to Avarya. Everyone put the incident out of his or her minds except Clarissa. She wanted to go back but her father forbade it when she asked him. After travelling another five days and almost at Avarya, Clarissa decided to defy her father. She snuck out of camp and went back to the spot where they left you.
‘She knew that you and your mother were probably dead but she felt compelled to check anyway. It took her only three days to make the distance. She found you alive next to your mother’s dead body.’
‘I survived for eight days out in the woods?’ Brighton asked doubtfully.
‘That’s not the most amazing thing. Clarissa said that for about ten paces all around you the trees, bushes and grass were dead. There were also two dead wolves,’ Thomas continued.
Brighton was speechless.
‘Clarissa could not leave you again. She picked you up and started walking. Somehow, she found the path leading to the pass on the eastern mountain and made it over. That’s when I found her.’
‘Are you sure this is all true?’ Brighton asked.
‘Yes, it’s the truth. I got Clarissa and her baby settled in this house and travelled to the spot where she said she found you. I needed to see for myself. It was as she described, all the plants were dead. I’ve been back there a few times over the last sixteen years and still nothing grows there. It’s like all the life was sucked out of the plants and the soil.’
‘How is that possible?’ Brighton asked.
‘I have no answer for that. What I can tell you is this: The Supremes and their children can steal energy from all living things, even plants. Nobody else is able to do this, only their talent is strong enough.’
‘Steal energy from plants? That’s ridiculous!’ Brighton snorted.
‘Is it? Plants are living things too. They also have energy. I’ve heard that the Supremes don’t do it often though. Because plant energy is different from human or animal it’s apparently very difficult to do.’
‘Who killed all the plants around me?’ Brighton asked.
‘You did,’ Thomas said flatly.
‘ME! That’s ridiculous! How can I do that? I’m not a Supreme!’ Brighton shouted.
Calmly Thomas said, ‘Think about it. A newborn baby survives without any food for eight days in the woods. What does that tell you?’
Brighton knew the answer but didn’t want to voice it.
‘What about the wolves? Obviously they came to see if there was an easy meal on offer but they too were dead,’ Thomas pressed.
‘It’s logical. You must have used the energy around you to stay alive.’
Brighton thought about it for a long time. This was too much for one day.
Eventually he spoke, ‘If everything you said is true then I am also a Dark One.’
Thomas nodded waiting for Brighton to finish the thought.
‘But why can’t you sense me?’ he asked eventually.
‘Your energy is hidden from me somehow. I really don’t know why,’ Thomas answered.
‘So, what am I?’ Brighton asked.
‘I cannot even venture a guess. I don’t think the world has ever seen someone like you,’ Thomas said.
‘Will the Supremes know? They are the oldest people in the world,’ Brighton said hopefully.
‘The Supremes are highly suspicious of anything or anyone that could challenge their dominance. They would sooner kill you than give you an answer,’ Thomas said sternly.
‘But you said I’m the only one that can do the Supremes harm,’ Brighton defended.
‘That’s my theory,’ Thomas replied. ‘If I’m wrong, you’re dead. Do you want to take that chance?’
‘I have to. Seth has Lilian and I have to rescue her,’ Brighton said. ‘I simply have to find them and bring Lilian home!’ he added heatedly.
‘You might not have to,’ Thomas said.
‘Why?’
‘Seth knows now that you exist. That is probably why he went to your house. If you were there he would have killed you, or tried anyway.’
‘What are you saying?’ Brighton asked.
‘Sooner or later Seth will come for you and you had better be ready,’ Thomas warned.
Brighton shook his head.
‘I have a better idea, I will find him and keep the element of surprise,’ he said.
‘I’m still wondering why Seth came here in the first place,’ Thomas muttered. ‘I thought he was after me but if that were the case I’d be dead. Why then come to such a far off place if not to kill me?’
Brighton wanted to go after Seth and Lilian immediately but he knew Thomas had a point, no use getting into more fights with town folk so he made himself comfortable and waited for night to fall. Thomas suggested trying to sleep so that he could be fresh when darkness came. That way he might even be able to travel all night and make up some time. Brighton cu
rled up on Thomas’ bed and soon he was asleep.
The emotional trauma of the last two days had drained him.
Brighton woke up to complete darkness. He got up and felt his way to the kitchen.
‘Thomas!’ he called.
No answer.
‘Thomas!’ he called again.
Still no answer.
Brighton was anxious to get going. He wanted to say goodbye to Thomas but also did not want to waste anymore time. He stepped outside. Maybe Thomas was there.
‘Thomas!’ he tried one last time.
When no answer came, he decided to start his journey. Thomas would understand. Brighton took the road that led east.
He suddenly remembered the goats. With all that had happened, he completely forgot about them. When he passed the clearing, he saw the dead bodies. Sadness filled him.
That was not fair he thought.
Goats never harmed anyone.
He did not stop, he knew he was far behind Seth and Lilian and didn’t want to waste time. The sky was clear so travelling was easy. For the next few days, he covered a lot of distance. He travelled mostly at night when it was cool and rested during the hottest time of day. Berries and fruit were plentiful this time of year so he didn’t have to hunt for food.
Brighton had never hunted so he was grateful for that.
Thomas explained to him how to find the spot where he was born. Brighton found it and saw that Thomas was telling the truth, all the plants for at least ten paces from the middle were dead. He also saw three skeletons, two animals and one human. He assumed that the first two must be the wolves Thomas spoke about and the human skeleton his birth mother. Brighton didn’t stay long as there was nothing to see.
He encountered some travellers along the way. Most people kept to themselves with only a few offering a greeting. Brighton tried asking if they had seen a man with a little girl come past, but he only got suspicious looks.
He lost track of the days but estimated he must be close to Avarya from what Thomas told him when he noticed a woman sitting on a rock next to the road.
‘Hello traveller,’ the woman greeted when he came past.
Brighton stopped and greeted her back.
‘Thirsty?’ she asked holding out a water skin.
Brighton accepted gratefully.
He didn’t think to bring anything on his journey. He thought he would be able to forage for food and find plenty of water. Food wasn’t a problem as long as he was satisfied with a constant fruit diet but fresh water was hard to come by. He had only crossed one large river and a handful of smaller streams.
After a few gulps from the water skin, he felt refreshed.
‘Thank you,’ he said to the woman handing her back the water skin.
She looked to be about seventy years old, had short brown hair and a pleasant smile.
‘I’m Carmen,’ she introduced herself.
With a very slight frame, she was more than a head shorter than he was.
‘Brighton,’ he said as he reached for the outstretched hand.
Just before he took it, he remembered what Thomas told him about shaking hands and pulled his back.
‘Sorry, my hands are dirty,’ he mumbled.
‘Quite all right, young Brighton,’ Carmen smiled.
‘May I walk with you please?’ she asked politely.
Brighton found this slightly suspicious.
Every other traveller he encountered hardly spoke to him and now this woman wanted to join him.
When he didn’t answer, she added, ‘I would love the company.’
‘Sure,’ he said. ‘I travel mostly at night though.’
‘Me too,’ Carmen said. ‘A lot cooler that way, don’t you think?’
Brighton nodded his agreement.
‘How far to Avarya?’ he asked.
‘Less than half a day,’ she replied as she got up from the rock.
He was worried that such an old woman will slow him down.
She didn’t. Carmen set a brisk pace towards Avarya.
‘Are you going to Avarya, young Brighton?’ she asked.
‘Yes. Well, no, not really,’ Brighton said.
‘Unsure of where you’re going then?’
‘I’m looking for two people,’ Brighton explained.
‘Oh, well, what do they look like? I may have seen them,’ Carmen asked.
‘A tall man wearing a black robe and a young girl,’ Brighton replied.
Carmen stopped dead.
‘Seth?’ she asked fearfully.
‘Uh….no…..who is that?’ he tried.
Carmen looked at him the way Clarissa used to when he was trying to tell her a lie.
‘Ok, yes, I’m looking for Seth. He kidnapped my friend.’
‘Was she a pretty girl with blue eyes and long blond curls?’ Carmen asked.
‘Yes, yes,’ Brighton said excitedly. ‘Have you seen them?’
‘I did,’ Carmen confirmed.
‘Where?’ Brighton was getting very anxious now.
He still didn’t know what he was going to do when he caught up with Seth and Lilian but that wasn’t important. The important thing was that he was catching up to them.
‘In Avarya a few days ago,’ she answered.
‘Maybe you should sit down,’ she suggested. ‘I have bad news.’
‘What do you mean?’ Brighton asked.
‘Three days ago Seth walked into town carrying the little one. She had a deep cut on her head. Seth said she slipped and hit her head on a rock. He demanded the best healers be brought to tend to her but it was in vain.’
Brighton heard the words but somehow they didn’t make sense.
‘You mean she’s……’
He couldn’t say it.
‘I’m afraid your friend died,’ Carmen said softly.
Brighton was dumbfounded.
How could it be?
Lilian can’t be dead.
‘Where is the body? Has she been buried yet? Show me where,’ Brighton demanded.
‘Seth burnt the body and left,’ Carmen said sympathetically.
‘Are you sure it was her? Maybe it was another girl,’ Brighton tried.
Carmen held out her hand.
‘About this tall, fair skin, gorgeous blue eyes, long blond curly hair with little pink ribbons in,’ she described the girl.
Brighton sank to the ground. His legs couldn’t hold him up anymore.
A single tear rolled down his cheek.
‘You loved her?’ Carmen asked softly.
Brighton could only nod.
Carmen softly touched his shoulder.
‘Where will you go now?’ she asked.
‘I don’t know,’ he whispered. ‘Everything I know is gone.’
‘Why don’t you come with me? My house is not far and I have an empty room. A proper meal and nice bath will do you the world of good,’ Carmen offered.
Brighton got up and wordlessly followed Carmen.
He was numb inside.
Chapter 6
BRIGHTON DIDN’T KNOW for how long they walked, he didn’t care. They reached Carmen’s house before it was fully dark. The house was on the outskirts of Avarya.
‘Come in, make yourself at home,’ Carmen invited.
Brighton sat down on a chair.
Carmen poured lemon juice into two mugs and offered Brighton one. He took a sip and noticed that it was diluted.
Thomas wouldn’t like this he thought.
‘Would you like something to eat?’ Carmen asked.
Brighton shook his head. He wasn’t hungry.
‘I’ll warm up some water for a bath,’ Carmen offered.
‘No thank you, I prefer it cold,’ Brighton said softly.
‘The bath is in the other room, take as long as you need,’ Carmen said. ‘There is also a bed there for you to sleep on.’
‘Thank you, you’re very kind,’ Brighton managed.
He remembered how Lilian always told him how kind he wa
s. The memory threatened to close up his throat, so he quickly banished it from his mind. He got up and walked to the other room. After a quick bath, he flopped down on the bed.
He was asleep in moments.
For the next few days the routine stayed the same. Brighton didn’t eat; he just sat in front of the house staring out over the field all day. Carmen never tried to force him to eat; she simply put the food down and left. Later she would collect the full plate again without a word. At night Brighton would have a cold bath and immediately afterwards go to bed.
Six days went by like this. Carmen was getting worried. She wondered how to get Brighton to eat. On the seventh morning, Carmen put a plate of food next to Brighton and sat down with her own.
‘Beautiful day,’ she said. ‘I am going down to the river later. Do you want to join me?’
Brighton looked down at the plate. He took a small piece of meat and put it in his mouth. It was delicious.
He took another. In no time at all the plate was clean.
Carmen silently watched him eat.
‘When were you going to the river?’ Brighton asked.
‘As soon as you’ve finished washing the dishes,’ Carmen replied.
Brighton picked up the plates and disappeared into the kitchen. A while later he reappeared.
‘Done,’ he said.
‘Good. Now let me show you the river,’ Carmen said.
They walked in silence until they reached the river. It wasn’t far from the house. Carmen found a smooth rock and sat down.
‘I like sitting by the river,’ she said. ‘The sound of the water is calming.’
Brighton also sat down. Carmen was right; the sound did have a calming effect on him.
‘Do you know anything about goats?’ she asked.
‘Yes, I used to have a few of my own,’ Brighton answered.
‘And vegetable gardens?’
‘We had a garden back home,’ Brighton told her. ‘We had so many vegetables we had to give most away.’
‘Good. I’ll make you a deal,’ Carmen said. ‘You look after my goats and vegetable garden and I will provide you with food and a place to live.’
Brighton did not answer. He just sat staring at the water.
‘Please Brighton?’ Carmen pleaded. ‘I’m getting too old to look after the goats and the garden. You would really be helping me a lot.’
