“Indeed, he is,” Arius said as he bobbed his head in agreement. “The arrows were ridged and cut into him with every breath. If we’d let them stay, he would have never made it here.”
“Where would you want me to put him?” Hugo asked.
“Over here, down the hall. We have a space available.” Arius and Hugo followed the old lady down the hall and found themselves at the entry to a small room. “Lay him down on that bed, over there.” She pointed to a cot that sat on a worn wooden frame. “Be gentle with him. He’s been through a lot.” Hugo laid Roen on the cot as delicately as he could but still flinched as Roen groaned from the sudden movement. The nurse’s face sank as she came to his bedside and pressed the back of her hand against Roen’s forehead. “Hmm...he seems to be running a fever.” She flipped her hand and placed her palm in the same spot before removing it. “I’ll be back with some bandages and a solution for cleaning.”
“Wait,” Arius said before she left. “You’ll take care of him, right?”
“Of course.” The old lady smiled as she stopped and rested her hand against the doorframe. “We haven’t been too busy, plus I was only watching the front while another worker stepped out. I may be old, but these hands work miracles.” She chuckled but Arius and Hugo’s faces remained still. Reading their questioning looks, she quieted herself and ran her hands down the front of her dress before she excused herself from the room.
“Are you going to stay with him?” Arius asked Hugo, breaking the silence that nestled between them.
“Yeah, I’ll see to it that he’s taken care of. You just make sure Iver turns himself in.”
“I will.” Arius nodded.
The old lady returned and began to dress Roen’s wound. He groaned and tussled as she cleaned his seared flesh but in time, he rested once more. “He should be just fine as long as infection doesn’t set in,” she said to Hugo. “You can stay for as long as you like until he makes a full recovery.”
“When should we pay you?” Hugo asked.
“All I’m doing is giving him a place to rest and looking after him while he sleeps.” She smiled. “I’m sure we can figure something out. I’ve been at this for so long, you’d think by now I’d be able to heal somebody with just the tap of a finger.” She giggled as her eyes lit with inspiration. “Ah, one can only hope.”
“Thank you, ma’am, for everything,” Hugo said. “It means a lot to have your help in these trying times.”
“People will always need help. When my husband and I built this place, we had that in mind. We’ve been blessed so we do our best to bless others.” The old lady shifted her body towards Arius. “Are you sure you don’t want me to look at your wounds, sweetie? There’s no shame in asking for help every once in a while.” Her honest eyes penetrated his cold demeanor, but Arius found it within himself to decline.
“It’s not as bad as it looks, maybe later,” he said, pausing in the doorway before he turned away. “I have something else that needs to be taken care of first.” Without saying another word, he exited the establishment, leaving Hugo with the old lady.
“I apologize for his behavior, ma’am,” Hugo said.
“It’s quite all right. I’ve dealt with my share of stubborn men in my lifetime. I’m sure he’ll come around, and when he does I’ll be right here.”
“He and the other one seemed to have always had it rough. The one that went away just now was only an orphan until a few days ago. I’ve known the one on the bed a bit longer than that. They’re good kids, ya know? The whole lot of ‘em are rotten to the core, but they got good hearts.” Hugo shook his head. “Man, I can’t believe I just said that.”
“That’s good to know that you’re taking care of the ones who put their trust in you. That’s always a good thing. Maybe you can impact their lives in a way that makes them forget about their misfortune. You seem like a caring man. A wise one, too. I know it’ll all come back to you someday. That’s how things tend to work out.”
“Did you have any kids?”
“No,” the old lady’s lip quivered for a moment but she held steady after a moment’s concentration. “Never did. My husband and I wanted to conceive but The Lord never saw it fit while my husband was still with me.” Her face sank as a stream of memories of her late husband flashed before her. “I actually wanted to do something similar to what you’re doing, but things didn’t go as planned. Instead, we somehow got all of this.” She smiled as she stretched her hands over her head. “Thirty years later, and now they call me Momma Tasset. Funny how life turns out sometimes, isn’t it?” Tasset asked as she checked Roen’s forehead and soaked a cloth in a bowl of water beside his bed. “I think that’s the beauty of it.”
“MOVE,” ARIUS COMMANDED as he stood behind Iver. “We’re going to the vanguard.” Iver’s feet reluctantly hobbled forward before his gait stabilized to its former glory. Arius avoided the curious gaze of the townspeople. The people that stopped in their tracks as they passed only served as a nuisance, an impediment to what was to be done. Hugo had told Arius that Trova was a common stop for traders that came this way. Apparently ambushes weren’t as prevalent in the area, or maybe it was just his survival that was rare. Often times bandits would promise to leave travelers on their way after they pillaged their goods but only fools believed a thief’s lips. With weaponry available to both sides, letting the other party go after such an infraction would yield sleepless nights in fear of the ever-looming eye. In Arius’s case, it was obvious that there had been a fight and that he had won. To some it would be an honor to wear their afflictions with pride, but to Arius it was only another inconvenience that hindered him from his goal. “If it were up to me, I’d kill you myself,” he mumbled as they navigated the streets of Trova. “But I owe this to Roen.”
At the sight of King Arlo’s flag, Arius stopped. The banners that draped from the building with the royal emblem waved in the wind, saluting the morning sun. “This must be it,” Arius spoke softly as he evaluated the establishment. Two soldiers stood at the doors, dressed in the blood-red armor and wore the seal of the king. As Arius moved towards the door, one of the soldiers stepped forward, impeding his path.
“Halt!” Arius’s eyes shifted to the sword the soldier carried in his sheath as he stopped. “What business do you have here?”
“I’m turning in this man. He’s linked in the killing of Bishop, the trader who died several months ago on the way to Everrmore.” A moment of silence passed between Arius and the soldier as they exchanged glances before the soldier turned away to confer with his fellow comrade.
“Wait here.”
The two conversed between themselves before they both returned to Arius, more curious than before. “And what is this man’s name?” the second soldier asked as he tilted his lance forward.
“Iver,” Arius responded as he watched the soldier’s lance returned to its former position. “We were ambushed on a trade route not too far from here. We survived but not without casualties. It was then that he took it as a sign to turn himself in along with the goods he’s stolen.”
“Is this true?” the soldier asked Iver as he stared inquisitively. Tension cut into the air as silence passed between them. “Well, is it?” The soldier shifted his weight to his back foot. The other soldier shifted as well.
“Yes. I’ll tell you everything you need to know.” Iver’s hands faintly trembled as he limply raised his arms in front of him. “Just ensure my protection in exchange for my services.” Behind his blank expression, Arius saw the look of horror that hid in Iver’s eyes. He tried his best to conceal his satisfaction.
“Now there’s something you don’t see every day...” the soldier mused as he reached for his iron cuffs. “We’ll make sure you’re nice and safe behind bars.” He chuckled as he heard the cuffs chink across Iver’s wrists. “Just tell us what you know.” Arius watched as another pair of cuffs clamped around the merchant’s ankles. “We’ll take it from here, kid.” The soldier with the sword walked th
rough the doorway with Iver as his prisoner, the second soldier lagged behind, stopping on the steps of the building.
“We’ll send for somebody to escort you to the medical region. They can take a look at you and anyone else who got roughed up during the exchange. We got a real good crew,” the soldier said. “What was your name by the way?”
“That won’t be necessary,” Arius responded coldly. “In fact, it would be better if you and your friend forget that I was ever here. Process Iver and return to your work.” A subtle smile lined Arius’s face as he turned away from the soldiers and placed his hood upon his head. The crowd shifted and consumed him as he walked in silence, mystified yet pleased by the extent of his power, the faint tug at his soul reminding him of the influence he had upon the men he had under his command. King Arlo...Queen Astrid...soon. His smile widened as he placed his hand upon his beating heart. I’m coming.
Chapter 12: What Lies Beyond
After the fight in the forest, Emil and the others continued onward in their journey, using the environment as cover. In the lull that followed after the initial ambush, Omari scouted ahead to ensure the rest of their passage would remain safe. With Skye’s energy depleted, the risks for the group of Abnormals were at an all-time high. The surprise attack left many of them wounded, crippling the effectiveness of their abilities in combat, making them vulnerable to further injury. Before Skye’s remission, she did what she could to tend to everyone’s injuries, but in her drained state, her effectiveness was limited.
Omari watched as Eric carried her but remained silent as his sister’s wellbeing picked at his consciousness. With Skye recuperating, Marona and Emil were the only ones he could fully trust. Marona, while determined, was only human, and Emil’s health was only slightly better than his sister’s. The way Emil hung from Marona’s shoulder as he walked caused a shift in Omari’s gut. Emil’s injuries were too great to allow him to fight with a clear mind. If something were to happen, it would be up to him to ensure their safety. Omari cringed at the thought of a sudden betrayal. Emil was right to warn him of the potential dangers of Sage and his entourage. Too little was known about them and from what they’d shown with their actions, it was hard to see where their loyalties lied.
“Cat got your tongue?” Sage jested as he walked in front of Omari. Omari scrunched his brow before exhaling his aggression into the air.
“No, I’m just focused on getting us out of here alive.”
“We’ll be fine.” Sage’s tone took a slightly more serious vibe. “I’m not like your sister, but I have a knack for sensing too. Nothing too fancy but it gets the job done. Emotions and such.” He shrugged.
“If you’re as good as you say, then you’d know that I’m skeptical. When we were ambushed you failed to perceive the attackers whereas Skye did, even when fatigued. Your effective range can’t be more than a couple meters,” Omari said, dismissing Sage’s claims as he continued to walk.
“It’s better than nothing. I’m not exactly at the top of my game.”
“And that’s precisely why you shouldn’t rely solely on your abilities in times like this. Your eyes and ears are among your strongest assets. If you neglect them, you only hinder yourself,” Omari paused. “Your lack of resources should make you a smarter fighter.”
“You really live for this shit, don’t you?”
“No, I don’t. I just don’t want to die.”
“Hey Omari,” Marona said. “Do you think we can stop for a bit? The sun is already starting to go down. We can use the night to our advantage. Walking into a city like this is sure to turn some heads. I think it would be safer if we slipped in before the morning when everybody is still asleep.”
“I think she has a point.” Marona shifted her gaze to the back of Luna’s head as the group stopped. “The scouts Arius sent are dead. It’ll be awhile before the rest of the guard has a chance to relay that information. If they know about what happened in Everrmore, they know that they need more than a couple dozen foot soldiers to stop us. Whenever they do find out, all they’ll know is that a group of Abnormals took out their team. They shouldn’t have any information about our physical condition or our current whereabouts. I think we should put a little more ground behind us and call it a day. A little rest would do everyone good.” Omari glanced at his sister and then Emil as Luna continued to speak. “If they do manage to send reinforcements, we can deal with them after we gather our strength, no problem.”
“I have food and some medical supplies in my bag,” Marona said. If we find a good spot, I can even pitch a tent.” Omari’s eyes drifted towards his feet as he began to weigh his options.
“A night’s rest won’t kill us,” Sage added.
“We can all use a moment to catch our breath. It’s for the best,” Luna added.
“It would be unwise to give Arius less credit than he’s worth. Who’s to say he hasn’t alerted the vanguard in the neighboring establishments on his route back to the capital. All it would take is a simple message before going on his way. With horses at their disposal, a couple of hours would be all it takes before the message begins to spread to the surrounding areas.”
“There’s no way we can outpace that,” Luna said. “Omari, if you’re right, they’re already well aware of what happened in Everrmore and are on guard. They won’t spread themselves too thin, especially if they can’t pinpoint our location. Assuming he only gave a warning, by nightfall, they’ll be discouraged. It makes no sense to rush into an ambush. Before we reach Molken, there’s a pass that leads to some mountains. We can spend the night there in one of the caves on the mountainside. I know one in particular that overlooks the city with a bird’s eye view. I used to fly there whenever I needed to clear my head. It’ll be a tight fit but it’ll serve its purpose. The area is practically remote. The terrain’s not suitable to travel by carriage and it makes no sense to go through the hassle when there are trails that border the forest. It’s a nice spot. It’s safe. I swear. Grim can scout the surrounding area and Molken once we’re settled in.”
Omari’s brow furrowed. “Scout the area? How?”
Luna turned back to Grim before returning her gaze to Omari. “He can project his spirit at will. His body is vulnerable during the process so it isn’t something he can do in the heat of battle unless he’s protected.”
“Astral projection,” Omari mumbled. “I’ve read about rare instances of the phenomena in the past. What else you can you do?”
“Other things,” Grim said succinctly, his expression still frozen in a perpetual sulk. Omari’s eyes narrowed.
“Anything you can imagine when it comes to the lore involving spirits,” Luna intervened and shot a glare at Grim, insisting that he be cooperative.
“So possession, dream invasion, materialization, and the like?” Omari said.
“Yes,” Luna answered with a nod.
“Good to know,” Omari concluded. “Quite the skill set,” he added, keeping his apprehensions at bay.
“He can be our watch at night and return to his body if anything goes wrong. He’s done things like this before.”
“It’s not like he has a choice,” Sage interrupted. “I’m sure you recognized the condition of your crew.” Sage angled his head backwards. “Boy wonder is half dead and your sister is fucking unconscious. Your chances are better with us, no matter how you put it.” Omari’s eyes narrowed as they cut into Sage. “How’s that for sensing?” he sneered.
“Luna, how far are the mountains from here?” Omari said after studying Sage, uninterested in starting a fight.
“Not much further,” Luna said as she looked over the horizon. “It’s a little bit out of our way but it’ll be worth it in the end.”
TOGETHER THE GROUP of weary Abnormals traveled deeper into the forest with Luna as their guide. As the sun began to set, the mountains she spoke of came into view. In their trek, Emil had regained a portion of his stamina, allowing him to travel on his own accord, though his injuries still slowed hi
m down. Skye was still recovering but her condition improved as well. She had regained her consciousness but not much else. At first, she insisted on walking on her own, but Omari demanded that he carry her across his back until she regained her strength.
By nightfall they found themselves at the entrance of the stone temple.
“Here’s the place,” Luna said as she stepped into the orifice, did a half-spin, and raised her hand into the air. “I told you it wasn’t much.”
“It’s only for one night,” Sage scoffed as he walked past her and walked deeper into the cave. He placed his back against the stone and slid down the cavern wall until his body reached the floor. His silver hair bobbed over his nose as he stared at the rocks that rested near his hand. “This yours?” Sage pointed to a set of withered sticks in a corner not far from where he sat. “They better be. You said this place was remote.” Grim followed Sage’s lead and planted himself not far from his ally, without saying a word.
“So this is it, huh?” Emil said as he took a step into the cave. “There was a time when I was used to this kind of thing. My brother and I—Arius and I—used to live in places like this until we went our separate ways.” Emil gandered at the barren cave as he trekked deeper into the hollowed space. “I don’t think they’ll think to look here. No, not at all.”
Omari was the next to enter with Skye still hanging on his back.
“You can never be too sure,” he said softly as he scanned the cave. From the corner of his eye, Emil caught Omari’s worn expression. Ever since the attack Sage had brought against his people, he had been tense. The events of today only added to his list of troubles. “What do you think, Skye?” Omari said as he twisted his neck over her arm. The fatigue that swept over Skye had begun to fade away, unearthing her natural beauty that Emil had been accustomed to seeing for as long as he had known her. More so than anyone else, it hurt him to see her in pain, knowing how selfless she was, even if it was to her detriment.
The Last Light Series Omnibus One: - The Dreamer and the Deceiver - All Things Eternal - Ode to the King: A Superhero Epic Fantasy Collection (The Last Light Collection Book 1) Page 33
