by MJ Schutte
‘Will you serve on the Council?’ another question came from the crowd.
‘No, I am talented,’ Brighton answered. ‘Someone needs to represent your city, but before we get there, you, the people of Avarya, need to decide what to do with Richard.’
The crowd was silent for a moment and then shouts of ‘Kill him’ and ‘Cut his throat’ rose up.
A man jumped onto the table next to Brighton.
‘He should be banished,’ the man shouted.
A big cheer went up from the crowd. They simply wanted Richard gone and didn’t care how it happened.
The man turned to Brighton.
‘It’s decided,’ he said.
‘What is your name?’ Brighton asked.
‘Lars. I’m a hunter,’ the man replied.
Brighton addressed the crowd again.
‘Who wants Lars to represent Avarya on the People’s Council?’
Another big cheer erupted.
‘Well Lars, you are now officially Avarya’s representative. Go to Zedonia and seek out Graham the baker,’ Brighton told him.
He turned to Richard and said quietly, ‘Run, I’m coming for you.’
Richard jumped off the table and ran out of the market. Brighton used his sense to find out where Richard was going. Richard took the road that went past Carmen and Brighton’s old house.
Brighton got off the table and walked over to his group.
‘That went better than expected,’ he commented.
He felt a little bad for deceiving the people about Richard’s talent.
‘Why do you think Lars was so quick to stop the crowd from killing Richard,’ Lilian asked.
Brac answered, ‘He is a hunter like me. We respect life. Killing is only done when it’s necessary. What I want to know is where all the Dark Ones went?’
‘They are gathered just outside the city near the house I used to live in. Richard is heading for them as we speak,’ Brighton answered.
‘How many?’ Brac asked.
‘More than thirty,’ Brighton replied.
Brac whistled.
‘Can you handle that many?’
‘Probably not. Are you willing to go with me?’ Brighton asked him.
‘You know I am,’ Brac answered.
Liam and Nelson also voiced their agreement.
‘Me too,’ Charles answered.
‘Why don’t you go fetch Adri and Claire? Take them to your house,’ Brighton suggested.
Charles looked relieved as he agreed and left.
‘Remember, we do not have to kill the Dark Ones,’ Brighton reminded them. ‘If they surrender we will do them no harm. I’m only after Richard.’
When there was no argument Brighton turned and headed for his old house.
Lilian’s small hand found his. He looked into her blue eyes.
‘I suppose you will not stay here where it’s safe?’ he tried.
Lilian gave him a look that answered the question.
‘Please just stay close to me,’ he told her.
‘Always, my love,’ she replied sweetly.
When they were almost at the far end of the market panic broke out on the other side. People were screaming and running in all directions. The group turned and looked to see what was going on.
Brighton smiled.
‘I didn’t think Mischief would stay away for too long,’ he said.
The big black cat was strolling through the market place as if it belonged to him. He didn’t take any notice of the panic around him; his white eyes were fixed on Brighton.
Brac chuckled.
‘If I didn’t know any better I would say that cat knew when you were about to put yourself in danger. He always seems to be around when things are about to get rough.’
Brighton laughed and said, ‘It does seem that way. Let’s go, Mischief will catch up.’
Richard sat down carefully on the ground holding his broken ribs.
‘Supreme Richard, what happened?’ a Dark One asked.
‘That boy surprised me but I got away,’ he lied.
‘What are we going to do now?’ the Dark One asked.
‘The plan stays the same. He will come for me and walk into a trap. He cannot possibly fight all of us and win. We have strength in numbers,’ Richard replied.
‘But he has already killed so many of us and he still lives,’ the Dark One argued.
Richard got up and glared at the man.
‘How dare you argue with me?’ he said as he lifted his hand.
His talent was still not responding but the bluff worked. The Dark One fell to his knees and begged for his live. Richard dropped his hand.
‘Next time I might not feel this generous,’ he told the man.
He turned to address the other Dark Ones.
‘As soon as Brighton appears, rush him,’ he instructed.
One Dark One stepped forward.
‘I will not take part in this any longer. It’s gone on for too long,’ she said.
More Dark Ones joined the woman.
‘We’re going back to Avarya. Perhaps the people will forgive us for all the wrong things we’ve done and let us live. Kill me if that’s what you wish,’ the woman said.
She turned and started walking followed by twelve others. The other Dark Ones looked at him expectantly but there was nothing Richard could do.
‘We don’t need them. There are still more than twenty of us here. Brighton cannot stand against that many,’ he said.
A murmur spread through the remaining Dark Ones.
‘Is something wrong, Supreme Richard?’ one man asked.
Richard ignored the man and said, ‘Make a fire right here. Bring me some wet branches and then get into position.’
The Dark Ones scrambled to get into the bushes. Richard remained standing in the middle of the road. Since he couldn’t use his sense he didn’t know how long Brighton would take to get here.
The wait was not long. Brighton, Lilian and Brac appeared over the small rising.
‘Brighton,’ Richard called. ‘Can we talk?’
The small group stopped about fifty paces away.
Brighton shook his head.
‘The time for talking is over, I have a promise to keep,’ he shouted back.
Brighton sensed the Dark Ones in the forest. There was also a large group of untalented people some distance towards Avarya. Brighton assumed they simply gathered to talk about the day’s events. He ignored them and focused on the immediate threat.
If it’s a fight they want, it’s a fight they will get, he decided.
Richard tossed a few wet branches on the fire sending large columns of smoke into the air. Brighton wondered about that for a moment but then decided to ignore it.
He shouted as loud as he could, ‘To all the Dark Ones hiding in the forest, surrender now and I will not harm you. Fight me and you will die. I’ve just met thirteen talented people on the way here. They surrendered and are now under my protection. The people of Avarya will allow them to live in peace for as long as they don’t use their talent.’
One man stepped out from behind a tree and faced Brighton.
‘I surrender,’ he said.
Before anyone else could speak Richard’s black energy link slammed into the man’s head.
His talent had returned. The man’s lifeless body flopped to the ground.
‘Get him!’ Richard shouted as he sent the energy link towards Brighton.
Dark Ones rushed out of the bushes towards Brighton and his group. Two fell almost immediately, knives sticking out of their throats. Liam and Nelson stepped out of the forest between the Dark Ones. More Dark Ones fell before they realized there were two attackers in their midst. As per Richard’s orders they didn’t stop, they simply ignored the two hunters and continued running. A black form leapt out of the woods. Mischief ripped through three Dark Ones before they were ten paces up the road.
Brighton did not block Richard’s link, he allowed it to enter his he
ad but stopped Richard from draining his energy.
You cannot win this fight entered into Richard’s head.
I’m not trying to; I just need to keep you busy so the others can kill you, his thoughts travelled back to Brighton.
Brighton used his sense. Hundreds of people were running in their direction. He realized that the smoke was a signal for them to attack.
‘Clear a path to Richard,’ he shouted at Brac and Lilian.
Brac stormed forward, throwing-knives flashing through the air. More Dark Ones fell. Mischief leapt for another Dark One from behind. The man spun around, knife in his hand, just before Mischief crashed into him.
They tumbled to the ground, Mischief’s powerful jaws closing around the man’s throat. The back of the knife stuck in the ground.
Mischief let out a loud yelp as the blade slid between his ribs and pierced his lung.
Brighton concentrated on the energy link between him and Richard. He could not allow Richard to break it since that would leave him free to attack the rest of the group. Lilian’s black energy link touched a Dark One, then another and another. Corpses were strewn everywhere, only two Dark Ones remained alive. Both changed course and ran into the woods. Liam followed one and Nelson set off after the other.
Brighton reached Richard. He slammed his fist into the Supreme’s broken nose. Richard’s head snapped back, he lost concentration on the energy link. Brighton quickly touched him and let some healing energy flow into him.
He grabbed Richard by the shirt and yanked him up.
‘Just kill him,’ Brac shouted.
‘No,’ Brighton replied.
‘Why not?’ the hunter cried.
‘There are hundreds of people coming this way. I think they are loyal to Richard,’ Brighton said.
Brac turned around and looked towards Avarya.
‘Well, this is going to be an interesting fight,’ he muttered getting two more throwing-knives ready.
‘There will be no fight if I can help it. Get behind me,’ he said to Brac and Lilian.
The first of the attackers came into view. They did not stop. War cries were shouted as they approached, spears and knives held high. Brighton threw Richard on the ground in front of him.
His talent connected with the forest. He sent a thick bolt of pure white energy into the Supreme.
Richard burst into flames. In moments there was nothing but ashes left on the ground. Richard was gone.
I kept my promise, Evangeline, flashed through Brighton’s mind.
The attackers in front slid to a halt causing the ones at the back to crash into them. People went down in a mess of tangled arms and legs.
Brighton hoped this would discourage them but they got up, retrieved their weapons, and charged again. Arrows flew from the back of the crowd. Brighton threw up a wall of white energy blocking the arrows.
The attackers had almost covered the distance. Bolts of energy shot from Brighton’s body into the ground a few paces in front of them. He used so much energy that the ground itself caught alight.
The attackers had seen enough. Some fled into the forest while others threw down their weapons and fell to their knees. Brighton drained the energy from the fires putting them out.
‘Why do you attack us?’ he shouted at the crowd.
‘Richard told us to,’ a voice came from the back.
‘Richard is dead. You don’t have to do as he says anymore,’ Brighton shouted back.
‘But he said you would kill us if we didn’t kill you first,’ another voice shouted.
‘You saw what I just did. Don’t you think you would all be dead already if I wished it so?’ Brighton shouted.
It was a bluff. He was very close to his limit. He hoped the crowd would fall for it, Carmen always said he was a bad liar. It looked like they did.
‘I won’t kill innocent people,’ Brighton shouted.
‘Are you letting us go?’ a man in front asked.
‘Yes, there has been enough violence. Go back to your families and live in peace from now on,’ Brighton answered.
Slowly the people turned and started walking back to Avarya. None of them bothered to pick up their weapons.
Brighton sighed with relief.
‘Could you have killed them all?’ Brac asked.
‘No, my body is very close to its limit again,’ Brighton answered.
Lilian stepped closer, concern in her eyes. Brighton put his arm around her.
‘I’m all right, don’t worry. I just need to rest a bit,’ he assured her.
‘Your old house is not far, let’s go there,’ Lilian suggested.
Brighton noticed Mischief lying on the ground in a pool of blood.
‘Oh no,’ he whispered.
He rushed over and knelt next to the panther. Mischief’s breathing was shallow and made a gurgling sound.
Brighton checked his body quickly. He found the knife still sticking out of Mischief’s ribcage.
‘I’m going to pull this out and try to heal you,’ he told the cat.
Quickly he pulled the knife clear and tossed it away. He put both his hands on the wound. He gathered as much energy as he dared from the surroundings and let it flow into Mischief.
‘I hope it’s enough,’ Brighton said right before he blacked out.
Chapter 21
THE HOUSE WAS exactly as they left it.
Brac, Nelson and Liam carried Brighton to the house first and then went back for Mischief. When both were settled inside the men went outside and sat down on the porch.
Lilian came out after a long time.
Brac got up, offered her his chair, and asked, ‘How are they?’
Despite the tears in her eyes she smiled a thank you and said, ‘Brighton is resting comfortably, he will be fine. I’m not sure about Mischief. Would you mind staying until Brighton wakes up?’
‘We will stay as long as you need us to,’ Brac replied.
Addressing Liam she asked, ‘Please fetch Adri. She is probably worried sick.’
Liam nodded and set off towards Avarya.
Carefully Brac asked, ‘Do you think it’s over?’
‘The Supremes are all dead. Any Dark Ones still foolish enough to think they still rule will soon join them. Yes, I think it’s over now,’ Lilian replied.
‘Good, now you and Brighton can settle down here and raise a family,’ Brac commented.
‘No, not here. I want to live in Four Mountains,’ Lilian replied.
‘Where is that?’ Brac asked.
‘From here it is two weeks travel west. The real name is Clareton,’ Lilian explained.
‘I’ve never heard of it,’ Brac replied.
‘It’s the most beautiful town I’ve ever seen,’ Lilian mused.
‘If it’s that far west it must be close to the boundary,’ Brac worked out.
‘Actually, it’s in the mountains itself. Thinking about it, I wonder why Clareton exists. There is nothing of real value and it’s very hard to get there,’ Lilian replied with a frown.
Brac shrugged his shoulders.
‘Maybe some people wanted to get as far away from the Dark Ones as possible. They may have travelled until the mountains became impassable and settled there,’ he offered.
‘Maybe,’ Lilian echoed, not convinced that it was the real explanation.
They talked for a while longer.
Liam and Adri walked up to the house.
Lilian got up and gave Adri a hug.
‘Please tell me what happened, I think Liam is deaf and mute,’ she complained.
Liam just smiled.
Lilian relayed the events of the day. Although Adri shared Lilian’s concern for Brighton and Mischief, she was pleased that the ordeal was finally over.
‘Now we can all live here and I will take care of the babies,’ she said with a big smile.
Lilian shook her head.
‘I was just telling Brac that both Bri and I want to live in Four Mountains,’ she replied.
‘Fine, I’ll come there with you,’ Adri replied.
‘Wouldn’t you rather stay here? There are lots of handsome young men around, you can find a good husband,’ Lilian said.
‘I’m not interested,’ Adri replied. ‘Besides, in a few months you will need me around to look after the twins.’
Brac’s eyes went wide.
‘A few months? Twins?,’ he gasped.
‘Yes, I’m pregnant,’ Lilian confirmed with a wide smile.
‘You and Brighton will make wonderful parents,’ Brac said.
For a while life was quiet.
Brac and his men went back to Brasten.
People walking past the house to the river recognized Brighton and stopped for a quick chat or to bring them some food. Soon everybody knew where they lived and the visits became more frequent. Nobody was hostile towards them.
Lilian asked a few times when they would be travelling to Zedonia again. Brighton knew she was anxious to get married and go live in Four Mountains. He told her that the People’s Council probably had a lot to deal with and performing marriage ceremonies would be a very low priority for the time being. Lilian accepted the explanation although she suspected there was another reason why Brighton was so reluctant to go.
He knew that she was tired of all the travelling and wanted to give her time to recuperate.
Almost half a year passed. Lilian could no longer hide her growing belly. Brighton thought it was very funny to lie with his head on her stomach and act as if the babies were speaking to him. He often relayed long amusing tales the twins were supposedly telling him. This never failed to bring a smile to Lilian’s face. She knew he would be the best father any child could ever hope for.
Brighton used his sense often to check on the babies. He could feel their energy growing inside Lilian. One day he asked if she wanted to know their sex. Lilian excitedly said that she would.
‘A boy and a girl,’ Brighton told her.
Lilian cried against Brighton’s chest and choked out, ‘That’s perfect.’
Brighton could still not understand why women cried when they were happy.
Adri still stayed with them and insisted on doing most of the cooking. One day after Brighton nagged her for hours to let him help she bluntly told him that she would rather eat rocks than his cooking and promptly chased him out of the house. He didn’t take offense; his cooking was pretty bad at the best of times.
