by Mary Akers
“It’s going to storm,” she said quietly, concern in her voice.
“Then we should hurry,” Asher replied softly.
They carefully made their way towards the lean-to where Trig would hopefully be waiting, the moon sporadically lighting their way through fleeting gaps in the clouds. The wall quickly came into view, lit by large, evenly spaced torches stretching in either direction around the settlement. Guardsmen paced along the top of the wall, standing watch despite the coming weather.
“There it is,” she said breathlessly, pausing to take it all in.
Elora’s relief was tempered by dread as she considered the prospect of repelling down the jagged and treacherous exterior surface.
“You can do this,” Asher said encouragingly, sensing her trepidation.
Elora began to turn towards the sound of his voice but was suddenly startled by a flash of light and a thunderous boom of thunder. As she looked beyond the wall at the impending the storm, another bolt of lightning illuminated the sky. She gasped and turned wide eyes towards Asher. He was frozen, staring towards the wall in shock. He had seen it too. Hidden in the shadows, cloaked Lianas were also patrolling the wall, standing guard, watching for her.
“What do we do?” Elora asked, her voice trembling.
“I don’t know,” Asher replied haltingly.
“Maybe we could hide in a wagon and sneak out of the gate instead,” she suggested.
Asher shook his head adamantly.
“I have to think they are following wagons, searching them,” he reasoned.
“So you think scaling the wall really is our only way out?” she asked anxiously.
She couldn’t see his face in the darkness, but his silence was confirmation enough.
“But we can’t get past them,” she whispered, defeated. “There’s just no way.”
They stood quietly for a few minutes, overwhelmed and grasping for a solution. Elora was despondent, her panic growing with each flash of lightning, each fleeting glimpse of the hooded figures walking the wall.
“I should just surrender before anyone else gets hurt,” she whispered at last.
“You are not going to surrender,” Asher said, forcefully.
“But it’s hopeless!” she cried. “I won’t put those Guardsmen in danger like that. Or you, for that matter.”
“Stop it, Elora,” he hissed.
“No, Asher! Enough!” she exclaimed. “I’m not going to let you make any more sacrifices for me.”
“That’s not for you to decide,” he replied.
“We can’t beat them, Asher,” she said, her voice small, her spirit broken. “I give up.”
She began to walk away from him but he reached out and grabbed hold of her arm, pulling her back to face him.
“I won’t let you,” he growled.
“I’m not worth it, Asher,” she whispered.
“Yes, you are!” he said, grasping her shoulders roughly.
Elora stood before him, struggling to comprehend how she could ever bear the guilt and responsibility of knowing people might be injured, maybe even killed, because of her. There would be a cost for her freedom. But then, surrender would come at a heavy price too. There was no way for her to win.
“Asher …“ she whispered, grappling for words.
“You are worth it,” he interrupted. “So are your parents. So are the Claren. So are the Woodlands,” he said gruffly, his accent thickening with emotion. “They are all worth fighting for.”
She couldn’t see his face clearly in the darkness but could hear his quickened breath, could feel the tension in his fingers as he struggled to control his frustration.
“And so am I,” he added quietly.
Elora inhaled sharply, closing her eyes against her warring emotions, torn between the two terrible choices before her.
“Don’t make me live the rest of my life without my soulmate,” Asher whispered.
Moonlight broke through a brief opening in the clouds to reveal his face. They locked eyes and Elora knew in that moment that her resistance was futile. His words and his voice were pleading. He wanted her to choose. But his eyes were determined. He had already made the choice for her.
“I won’t let them have you, Elora,” he said bluntly, holding her gaze.
He meant it. Whether she wanted him to or not, he would stand between her and the Liana. He would save her, even from herself.
“But we can’t win,” she whispered, her words nearly lost in the wind from the coming storm.
“We have to try,” he replied softly. “Please.”
His hands dropped from her shoulders but the intensity of his stare held her captive all the same. His gaze was unwavering and earnest. She couldn’t seem to look away, confused and intoxicated by the expression in his eyes. The longer she remained spellbound to it, what had at first appeared to be fierce determination began to seem much more like devotion. His eyes dropped momentarily to her lips and her breath caught in her throat. They darted back to hers again before finally focusing on a windswept lock of hair clinging to her cheek. He lifted his hand, gently brushing back the hair and tucking it behind her ear. She swallowed nervously, overwhelmed by the intimate touch. He inhaled a shaky breath, seemingly as moved as she was and lifted his gaze to fixed his eyes on hers once more.
“Now, where’s the lean-to?” Asher asked finally, putting the matter to rest.
She nodded in resignation and turned to lead him the short distance remaining to their destination.
They quickly came upon the worn and weathered split-rail fence of the cow pasture. Climbing over it, they could see the faint glow of a lantern coming from beneath a sturdy wooden three-sided structure in the far corner of the field. Asher took her hand, protectively tugging her behind him as they neared the back of the lean-to. Despite her efforts to move quietly, a twig snapped beneath her foot as she made her way through the scrubby field. A shadowy figure stepped to the edge of the light.
“Elora?” came Alysa’s voice calling quietly.
Elora was about to reply when Asher’s hand clamped quickly over her mouth. She stared up at him with wide, confused eyes. He motioned for her to crouch down and placed a finger over his lips, telling her to keep quiet. Moving with surprising agility, he silently made his way around the small building, staying in the shadows as he searched for any sign of a Liana in their midst. Satisfied that Trig and Alysa had not been followed, she watched as he finally stepped into the light. There was a cry of surprise from within the lean-to.
“Are you alone?” Asher asked, looking around carefully.
“We didn’t see anyone,” Trig answered, pointedly. “But apparently we wouldn’t.”
Asher nodded in understanding, sympathetic to how angry and powerless Trig doubtless felt knowing an invisible enemy had besieged the settlement. He waved Elora over and she quickly moved out of her hiding place.
Alysa pulled her into a hug and was soon joined by Trig, who wrapped his arms around them both. He stepped back after a moment, his eyes trained expectantly on the darkness from whence she had just emerged.
“Where are your parents?” he asked carefully a few seconds later, a look of confusion on his face.
Tears sprang to Elora’s eyes and she quickly closed them to stem the torrent of emotions threatening to break free. Taking a deep breath, she stepped out of Alysa’s embrace and moved to stand beside Asher.
“They were captured,” she said, struggling to get the words past the lump in her throat.
Alysa’s hand flew to her mouth in shock and she locked eyes with her husband.
“So what do we do now?” Trig asked, looking to Asher for direction.
“We’re going over the wall,” Asher replied stoically.
“You’re just leaving them?” Trig asked incredulously, his face a mixture of shock and d
isgust.
“We have no choice,” Asher answered, his voice hard as he widened his stance and crossed his arms defensively. “They know that. Jonas told us to go.”
“And you’re going along with this?” Trig asked Elora, his tone accusatory.
“You don’t understand Trig,” she explained, her voice beseeching, tears trickling down her cheeks. “You know that I would never abandon my parents. But we can’t save them. Not yet. Not here.”
Trig shook his head with disappointment, looking down at the ground.
“I’m not even sure we can save ourselves,” she said finally.
“What do you mean?” Trig asked.
“The Liana are guarding the wall,” Asher replied grimly.
Trig’s eyes grew wide and he looked at Alysa nervously.
“But there are at least 50 of the Guard on the wall tonight,” he said in amazement.
Asher nodded in acknowledgement but shrugged as though it were unimportant.
“They are unaware of the company,” he replied.
Trig looked at him with a combination of indignation and alarm.
“How many did you see?” he asked.
“On the stretch of wall near here I saw two Guardsmen and three Liana sentinels patrolling,” Asher replied.
Trig grimaced and rested his hands on his hips, sighing with frustration.
“That will complicate things,” he said.
“Maybe,” Asher said, nodding. “How were you planning to get us over the wall?”
“I brought these,” Trig said, pulling his Guardsman uniform and rope out of a satchel at his feet. “Will Holmestead is working the wall over there and I’m going to relieve him. He won’t question it. He’s been working since early this morning, looking for that attempted horse thief. I’m sure he’s probably up there praying for a break.”
“I wonder if they found the guy,” Alyssa wondered aloud.
“I’m sure they didn’t,” Asher said bluntly.
“Oh,” she whispered, as the realization dawned on her that the horse thief was a member of the Liana.
“Once he’s off the wall, I’m going to extinguish one of those torches for a few minutes, just enough time to hook up the rope and get you over the wall,” Trig continued.
Asher looked over to Elora briefly before lowering his eyes to study the ground as he silently considered the plan. She stared at him, biting her lip anxiously, gripping the hem of her shirt to calm the trembling of her hands. Her eyes shifted to Alysa and then settled on Trig. Her chin began to quiver as she imagined the horrible consequences that may come from their involvement tonight. What kind of friend was she to put them at risk like this? She looked back to Asher and found that his eyes were trained on her face, his expression unreadable. At last he sighed and turned to Trig.
“It’s a good plan,” he said, nodding. “Probably our best option.”
“Yeah,” Trig reluctantly agreed, his eyes fixed on Alysa’s fearful expression.
He lifted the Guardsman tunic and began shoving his arm into the sleeve when Asher reached out to stop him.
“No,” he said, shaking his head. “I’ll wear it. I’ll get us over the wall.”
Elora’s eyes grew wide as she looked at Trig and then back to Asher.
“What?” Trig asked, confused.
“You need to stay here with your bride,” Asher replied, taking the shirt from him. “We can do this without you.”
Alyssa let out a small cry of relief before covering her mouth with her hand.
“Are you sure?” Trig asked hesitantly moving to wrap his arm around Alysa. “I am willing to help.”
“I appreciate that, but it’s better this way,” Asher said, pulling the tunic over his head. “Is there anything I need to know?”
“There’s a key in the chest pocket that will unlock the ladder,” Trig said, beginning to fill in the details of the plan. “You can tell Will that Commander Scott sent you.”
“Commander Scott, got it,” Asher replied as he lifted Trig’s rope to take a closer look. “What’s this?” he asked, lifting the metal hook on the end.
“There’s are rings anchored to the top of the interior wall. Just clip the hook onto it.” Trig replied.
“Sounds easy enough,” Asher said, looping the rope neatly.
“Use this,” Trig said, holding open the satchel for Trig to place the rope inside before handing him the bag.
“Alright, is that it?” Asher asked.
“I think so,” Trig answered, his facial expression a combination of relief and guilt.
“Thank you,” he added. “For what you’ve done and for what you were willing to do.”
“Anything for Elora,” Trig replied.
Everyone instinctively turned their attention to Elora at the sound of her name. She was the reason they were all there, the person they were all willing to sacrifice so much to save. She was staring at Asher, her eyes full of gratitude and admiration. He returned her gaze briefly before fixing Trig with a worried look.
“Elora’s parents didn’t know the details of our escape but they did know that she was going to ask you for help,” he said. “When they aren’t able to find us in the coming days, they will come looking for you Trig.”
“Alysa and I won’t be here,” Trig replied, locking eyes with his wife. “I had already arranged for a holiday in the city as a honeymoon. Mr. Redding is taking us to the train station in Sweetwater at first light and we’ll be in Red River for a week.”
“That’s exciting!” Elora said, smiling at Alysa and trying to summon the joyful enthusiasm she would have felt ordinarily at such news.
“I know,” Alysa replied, returning an equally forced smile.
“Safe travels, then,” Asher said, clasping Trig’s shoulder.
“You too,” Trig replied soberly.
“And congratulations,” he said, smiling kindly. “I wish you a long and full life with your soulmate.”
“Thanks,” Trig said, turning to smile at his bride. “That’s the plan.”
“I’ll give you a few minutes,” Asher said, locking eyes with Elora.
Slinging the bag over his shoulder, he walked outside of the lean-to, offering her a private moment with her two dearest friends.
Elora twisted her hands anxiously as she looked back and forth between Trig and Alysa. Her eyes were wide, as though she were shocked that this were really happening. Her heart was weighted down with fear and sadness and it pulled at her chest, making it difficult to breathe. She dropped her gaze to the ground and tried to calm her racing heart.
“I guess this is it,” she whispered.
“I don’t know how to say goodbye to you,” Alysa said in a small voice, her lips quivering.
“Me neither,” Elora admitted, a sob breaking free as she rushed forward to wrap her in a hug.
“Will I ever see you again?” Alysa whispered.
“I hope so,” Elora answered. “But I don’t know. I don’t know anything anymore.”
“You’ll come back to us,” Trig said with optimism. “You have to. Someone has to teach our children how to play in the dirt. Lord knows Alysa won’t do it,” he teased, circling both women in his arms.
Elora couldn’t help but laugh, turning her wet face to bury it in his shoulder.
“Oh God, I’m going to miss you both so much,” she blubbered. “I’m so happy you have each other.”
“Because of you,” Alysa said, taking a shuddering breath and wiping her cheeks.
A resounding crack of thunder rattled the glass in the lantern. They all jumped in alarm as a shadowy figure plodded into the lean-to. It was Mr. Jenkins milk cow, finally concerned enough about the weather to seek shelter. She studied them for a few seconds before dismissing them, dropping her head to graze. Elora exhaled in relief, and the
three friends laughed, sharing one last moment of levity.
Asher stepped back into the lean-to, his expression grim.
“I know that wasn’t a long enough goodbye, but we have to go. The storm is approaching quickly and it looks pretty bad. We need to get over that wall,” he said, seeking out Elora with his eyes.
“We should go too then,” Trig said, lifting the lantern from the ground and taking hold of Alysa’s hand.
“I love you both,” Elora said, giving them one last hug.
“We love you too,” Alysa said, her lips quivering.
“Whatever happens, you have a home here,” Trig said quietly, kissing the top of her head. He sighed, struggling to let her go. “Be careful,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion.
Elora nodded, unable to speak as she fought desperately to suppress her tears. Stepping away, she turned her back to them, unable to bring herself to watch them walk away. She closed her eyes in one last attempt at denial and a few wayward tears trickled from beneath her lashes.
She heard Asher utter a final “Goodbye,” his soft, low voice rumbling in her ears, the sound reverberating in her heart like thunder.
The sound of Alysa’s soft crying slowly faded, as did the light from their lantern, until Asher and Elora were left in quiet darkness.
They were gone.
She bowed her head and covered her face with her hands, feeling bereft and alone as quiet tears pooled against her palms. A warm pair of arms wrapped around her, gently pulling her into a comforting embrace. She leaned against him, resting her forehead against his chest and for a moment allowed herself to feel all of the loss and sadness and fear that she’d somehow managed to suppress over the course of this terrible day. He didn’t say a word, merely held her close as the muffled sobs racked her weary body.
A few minutes later, she managed to rein in her feelings and stem the flow of her tears. She stood quietly against him, appreciating the comfort of his arms and grateful that he couldn’t see her in the darkness.
