by MJ Schutte
Brighton looked quizzically at Adri who was following close behind Michaela.
‘She got a deer,’ Adri explained.
Brighton got up and hugged Michaela.
‘Well done!’ he congratulated her. ‘But where is it?’
‘It’s too big for us to carry back,’ Michaela said excitedly. ‘Please come help us’.
Joshua immediately got up.
‘I’ll do it if the young lady will show me where it is,’ he offered.
Michaela smiled shyly and bumped Adri with her elbow but didn’t move.
‘Miss Michaela, you will need to show me where it is please,’ Joshua said hesitantly.
Michaela giggled at being called “Miss Michaela” and gestured for Joshua to follow her. The two disappeared into the woods.
‘Where is Mischief?’ Brighton asked.
‘I told him to protect the kill,’ Adri responded.
‘Won’t he eat it?’ Brac asked.
Brighton shook his head.
‘Tell me more about the battle,’ he said.
‘Not much of a battle,’ Brac answered. ‘Like I said, they were no match for my men.’
Brighton asked a few more questions which Brac answered as best he could. What he didn’t know, some of the men filled in the details.
Michaela emerged from the woods followed closely by Joshua. He was carrying the deer across his shoulders. Although he was a strong young man it looked like the deer was slightly too heavy for him. He tried to hide this by smiling and casually dropped the deer on the ground. Michaela and Adri immediately got to work. Joshua offered to help and Adri handed him her knife.
‘I’ll make the beans,’ she said.
Joshua sat down close to Michaela and helped her with the deer. Every time their hands or legs touched a small giggle escaped Michaela’s lips. Lilian noticed that Joshua was stealing quick glances at her whenever he could. She smiled, remembering what it felt like when she first fell in love with Brighton.
Looking over to where Brighton was talking to the men, she whispered to herself, ‘And I am still very much in love with you.’
Brighton looked at her as if he heard and gave her a smile. She could see the worry in his eyes even though he tried to hide it.
He and Brac came over to her.
‘As soon as the men have eaten we will go to Brasten,’ Brighton told Lilian.
‘Do you have a plan?’ Lilian asked.
‘A pretty simple one,’ Brighton replied. ‘I will take care of Raina and the Dark Ones and Brac’s men will protect us from untalented people.’
‘Then why are you worried? You are far more powerful than Raina and all the Dark Ones in town. I can also help, only Raina is stronger than me,’ Lilian said.
‘I can only protect you and the girls. These are all good men. I would hate for more of them to lose their lives protecting us,’ Brighton replied.
Brac quickly said, ‘We have a part to play if this world will ever be free from the Dark Ones. We are ready.’
Looking at Lilian he asked, ‘What did you mean when you said only Raina is stronger than you?’
‘I am Seth’s Daughter,’ Lilian answered honestly.
‘You’re a Dark One?’ Brac asked wide-eyed.
‘No. Having the talent does not make you a Dark One, it’s what you do with it,’ she answered.
‘That makes sense,’ Brac said thoughtfully. ‘You’re Brighton’s wife and I trust him which means I trust you.’
Lilian was about to correct him but Brighton took her hand and gave it a squeeze.
She assumed he didn’t want her to mention that they weren’t married so instead she said, ‘Looks like the food is just about ready. Would you like to go help yourself?’
Brac called Joshua over from where he was helping Michaela cook the meat.
‘Tell the men they can come eat. Five at a time, maintain the perimeter.’
Joshua nodded and jogged off.
Brac walked over to the fire.
‘The food looks really good, thank you,’ he said to Michaela and Adri.
Adri smiled at him and Michaela asked, ‘Is Joshua coming back?’
‘When it’s his turn to eat, why?’ Brac answered.
‘I was just curious,’ Michaela said quickly.
Five men appeared from the woods.
Lilian said to Brac, ‘I’m sorry but we don’t have enough plates.’
‘We spend a lot of time in the bush, we are always prepared,’ he said as he produced a plate from his knapsack.
The other men did the same and stood in a single line.
‘Thank you ma’am,’ every man said as they received their portions.
They ate quickly and disappeared into the woods again.
The next group of five men came. All of them were very polite to the young girls.
Joshua was with the last group. Michaela smiled at him and cut him a slightly bigger piece of meat.
‘Thank you Michaela,’ he said and gave her a shy smile.
Lilian said to Brac, ‘All your men got food, your turn to eat.’
Brac thanked her and went to get some food.
Lilian took Brighton’s hand and led him away from where the men were eating.
When they were out of earshot she asked Brighton with a smile, ‘Did you see how Michaela and Joshua were looking at each other?’
‘No,’ Brighton said, a little confused.
‘I think they like each other,’ Lilian said.
‘I’ll have a talk with Brac about that,’ Brighton said quickly.
‘No Bri, leave it,’ Lilian pleaded. ‘Don’t you remember what it felt like the first time you knew you were in love with me?’
Brighton thought for a moment and smiled.
‘Yes, I remember.’
Lilian also smiled as she remembered.
‘I had butterflies in my stomach when we used to play together back in Four Mountains.’
‘Me too,’ he replied.
Lilian was surprised.
‘Really? I never knew that,’ she said softly.
‘Yes really. Unfortunately I only realized after you were gone that I was hopelessly in love with you.’
Lilian had a sly smile on her face.
‘Are you sure it had nothing to do with seeing me in my underwear after we met again in Avarya?’
Brighton saw that she was teasing him.
‘When was that? I don’t even remember,’ he teased back.
She smacked him on the chest.
‘Of course you do. You had very naughty thoughts about me that day.’
Brighton laughed and gave her bottom a squeeze.
‘And you did not have those same thoughts?’ he asked.
‘I’m pregnant, remember? That should tell you all you need to know,’ she said.
Brighton pulled her close and gave her a tender kiss.
‘I liked it when Brac called you my wife,’ he said.
‘Me too,’ Lilian replied.
Brighton shifted uncomfortably.
‘I don’t really know how this is done, so I’m just going to ask. Lily, will you be my wife?’
Lilian’s eyes welled up with tears.
She hugged Brighton tightly, unable to speak.
‘Well?’ he asked. ‘Is that yes or no?’
‘Yes,’ she choked out. ‘Yes, of course I’ll be your wife. Nothing would make me happier.’
They kissed long and passionately, forgetting about everybody around them.
Brac feigned a cough. He was standing close by looking at his shoes.
‘Yes Brac?’ Brighton said.
‘All the men have eaten. We are ready to go when you are,’ Brac reported.
‘Thank you, we’ll leave immediately,’ Brighton told him.
To Lilian he said, ‘We’d better get this People’s Council organized soon so that we can be married.’
They walked back to the camp. Only Brac, Michaela and Adri were there. Brighton knew that the
men were probably close but used his sense anyway to make sure there was nobody else in the woods.
‘Stay close to me and keep your bows ready,’ he told the girls.
He picked up his bow and quiver and headed for Brasten with Lilian and the girls by his side.
Mischief disappeared into the woods but Brighton knew he would stay close.
Brighton cast his sense wide. They were approaching Brasten and he wanted to know where Raina and the Dark Ones were.
Lilian spoke softly, ‘I wonder why Raina and the Dark Ones haven’t used their senses?’
Brighton knew why.
‘They want to surprise us. We’re being watched by untalented people who carry messages to them regarding our progress. Brac’s men already killed at least four such messengers,’ he replied.
‘What do you think they’re planning?’ Lilian asked fearfully.
‘Raina saw what I did to the other Supremes. She won’t try to use her talent. A spear through my heart will do the job,’ Brighton answered.
‘But why hasn’t she tried to kill me?’ Lilian wondered.
‘Because she knows I will protect you with my life.’
They walked into town, Brighton’s bow ready with an arrow nocked. The streets were strangely quiet.
Brighton knew Brac’s men were fanned out around them and it gave him a measure of comfort.
It took a while to reach the town centre. Brasten was half as big as Zedonia.
When they rounded the last corner, they saw why the streets were deserted.
Everybody was in the town centre. Raina was standing on a chair right in the middle of everybody. She raised her arms which brought a cry from the people close to her.
‘Ah, young Brighton,’ she called to him. ‘So good of you to join us. As you can see, the town’s people are standing with me. You are not welcome here so please turn around and go back to that hole you crawled out of.’
Brighton looked at the people’s faces. They all showed fear.
He whispered to Lilian, ‘She is using them as human shields. Her idea is probably that I will not attack her with so many innocent people around.’
‘What are you going to do?’ Lilian whispered back.
‘This,’ he said and raised the bow.
The arrow flew straight and true. Raina had no chance; the arrow entered her left eye and went straight through her brain, half of the shaft sticking out the back of her skull as she tumbled off the chair.
The crowd was stunned.
Brighton climbed on top of a low wall.
‘Are there any more Dark Ones who wish to oppose me?’ he shouted.
His sense told him that there were twenty-seven and exactly where they were in the crowd but he wanted to give them a chance to surrender. He promised Evangeline he would send her children to her, not all the Dark Ones. Most of the Dark Ones fled but five came to stand before him. One of them stepped forward and spoke to Brighton.
‘We do not oppose you or the people,’ he said.
‘You know this means you will never be allowed to use your talent again,’ Brighton told the five Dark Ones.
All of them nodded and voiced their agreement. Brighton addressed the crowd.
‘These five people are no longer Dark Ones. They have given their word not to use their talent any longer. They must not be harmed.’
To the five in front of him he said, ‘Please don’t make me regret this.’
Brighton explained the concept of the People’s Council to the crowd and how a representative should be chosen. A farmer called Garth was chosen immediately. Brighton spoke with him for a while explaining that he should go to Zedonia and seek out Graham the baker.
Brac was standing a few paces away. As soon as Brighton was finished with Garth, he came closer.
‘We managed to kill twelve of the Dark Ones that fled and that demon cat got three more,’ he reported.
‘That leaves seven that got away,’ Brighton worked out. ‘Any losses on our side?’
Brac shook his head.
‘None. My men knew not to get too close but rather use the hunting spears. If I didn’t see that demon cat with my own eyes rip three Dark Ones apart I would never have believed it. He saved Joshua’s life. How come the Dark Ones cannot harm him with their touch?’
‘He’s like me. We are almost completely immune to their talent,’ Brighton replied.
He thanked Brac and asked him to keep hunting for the remaining seven Dark Ones.
Turning to Lilian and the girls he said, ‘Let’s find the road to Avarya. We can make camp at the first river we come across.’
They picked up their things and headed out of town.
‘Did you manage to get more supplies?’ Brighton asked Lilian.
‘Yes, while you were talking to Garth. I got you some more string for the bows and a few blades,’ she answered.
Chapter 16
BRIGHTON SHOT A deer not far from the camping spot. Michaela and Adri quickly prepared the meat and some rice for everybody. As before, Brighton decided to give Brac’s men a good meal as thanks for their assistance.
Brac came to Brighton with a serious look on his face.
‘We’ve taken a vote and all the men want to accompany you on your travels,’ he said.
Brighton shook his head.
‘No, your task now is to protect Brasten and its people. The Dark Ones could possibly return and you understand now how to fight them. Besides, we are not entirely defenceless.’
Brac laughed.
‘No, I guess you’re not, especially with that demon cat always staying so close to you. Very well, I will tell the men that we’re staying. Joshua is not going to like that very much though. You may have noticed he is quite taken with young Michaela,’ Brac replied.
He vanished into the woods.
A short while later he was back with Joshua in tow.
‘All the men, except Joshua, are glad we’re staying since they have families here. This young man is insisting on going with you though,’ he said jabbing a finger at Joshua.
‘Please sir, I can be of great service on your journey,’ Joshua pleaded.
Brighton looked at him for a while before answering.
‘What about your family?’
‘I have none, the Dark Ones killed them a long time ago,’ the young man replied.
Brighton thought for a moment more and said, ‘If you promise to treat Michaela with respect you can come along.’
‘That’s not why…uh…I mean I want to come with to protect you and the ladies,’ Joshua stammered.
Brac laughed and slapped him on the back.
‘One young lady in particular, I think,’ he said.
Brighton joined in with the teasing.
‘Yes, looks to me like when young Michaela is around, Joshua’s brain can’t function properly. She might have to protect him.’
Joshua looked from Brac to Brighton and back again, his face as red as the sun. He didn’t know what to say.
Lilian saved him.
‘Enough you two! Joshua, welcome to the group. I’m sure you will do your best to protect all of us. Can you hunt?’
‘Yes Ma’am,’ he replied proudly.
‘Good, then you can also help with that,’ Lilian said. ‘And my name is Lilian, not ma’am,’ she added.
‘Call me “sir” again and you’re in trouble,’ Brighton chipped in.
Joshua thanked them and went over to Michaela to tell her. She clapped her hands and gave him an awkward hug. When they saw everybody looking at them, they quickly separated.
Lilian turned to Brighton and Brac.
‘You two are horrible,’ she accused.
‘But you still love me,’ Brighton countered.
Lilian smiled at him.
‘Yes I do,’ she said in a softer tone.
Brac and his men guarded the campsite for the rest of the night. The next morning he reported no signs of trouble. They said farewell and Brighton’s little group we
nt on their way to Avarya. Joshua was a welcome addition to the group. He knew exactly where to look for wild potatoes, tomatoes and many other things to make meal times more interesting.
Lilian was glad. Meat and beans every day was getting a bit much for her. Joshua also taught the girls how to make a very nice sweet sauce from berries to go with the meat.
Two days out of Brasten the group came across a pack of wolves. Joshua immediately put himself between the hungry animals and the girls, spear in one hand and throwing-knife in the other. His skills with those knives were almost equal to Brac’s. The wolves were discouraged very quickly when Mischief made an appearance. Brighton noticed how protective Joshua was of the girls. He said a quiet word of appreciation to the young man.
Joshua beamed.
Having Brighton’s approval meant the world to him.
Shortly after that they reached a small village. The people welcomed them with open arms. Rumours of the travelling group had reached them already. A representative was quickly selected and sent on his way to Zedonia.
The same happened in the next village. The Dark Ones were nowhere to be found. Even using his sense to its limit Brighton could not pick up any. Travelling was easy in these parts.
The road ran past a long mountain range. At places there were sheer cliffs hundreds of paces high. A wide river separated the road from the mountain.
As they neared Avarya though, he sensed Richard and a great number of Dark Ones.
‘I wonder what their plans are?’ he said, mostly to himself.
‘The Dark Ones?’ Lilian asked.
‘Yes, and Richard. He is the last Supreme left. Surely news of Raina’s death, and how it happened, reached his ears by now,’ he replied.
‘He will try to fight you, that is how the Supremes have done things for centuries,’ Lilian guessed.
‘Perhaps. If he’s clever, he won’t. He saw what happened in the palace. He must know he can’t win,’ Brighton said thoughtfully.
‘Not alone but what about all the Dark Ones with him?’ Lilian asked.
Brighton shrugged his shoulders. He didn’t tell Lilian that he sensed over a hundred Dark Ones in Avarya. She was still not using her sense for fear that Richard might feel it and lash out at her. Brighton couldn’t keep an energy link and protective barrier around all of them permanently.
