by Jacob White
“I know he might regenerate, but, it will take longer this way,” I said it as I felt the need to justify my violence. That’s when I heard more than a dozen bow strings pulled back. We had left one monster for another. I reached out my sense to see how many, but it was blocked by another haze. An arrow struck right at my feet.
“Who speaks for you?” The group all looked to at me.
“He does!” I pointed to at Aden as he rolled his eyes at me. Yes, a bit cowardly but I've never had any diplomacy lessons. I'd really not like to die considering I might have gotten my life back.
“We only seek your leader! I have come in hopes of a negotiation.” He was answered with silence as I contacted Gibi.
“Gibi, we are fine. Aden is talking with the rebels now.”
“Okay, I wasn’t able to see from the haze. Weaver, I am sorry… I must rest. Using the last blessing has taken its toll harder than I first suspected.”
“Go, rest, and stop trying to float in and out of places, it's probably making it worse.”
“Don’t forget spying.”
“Yes, that too.”
“I’ll message you when I’m back. Shouldn’t be a day or two.” And just like that, we had lost one of our most powerful weapons.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
The End of Weaver
The rebels put bags over our heads and led us with ropes tied around our hands. I slipped several times earning more than a few insults from the man leading me. Unable to see, it was harder to judge which direction we traveled or if we had to cross any specific points to get here.
Aden managed to get some heavy cloaks for Les and Anna, leaving us to the cold as we made for the fortress of the mountains. By morning we had reached it. Aden and I looked as though we were going to die if we went on any longer.
“You may stay here until the afternoon. That is when Tisen will see you.” I learned that the man speaking was Juben. All the guards had on about the same attire including him. Wraps for their faces and head, thick leathers all lined with fur. Juben showed us to a small house with a fire already on the inside. I felt I might melt from the comfort of the heat. Aden had his eyes closed taking it in. Les wrapped her cloak around me as Anna did the same for Aden. I thought back to Les’s warmth as her body touched mine under the coverings of the tent. I tried to think warming thoughts, but it was so hard to beat back the cold.
“I don’t need to tell you that there are guards outside here and at every window. For now, you are guests, but it can quickly change. Food will be sent in soon. Please get warm and try to rest.” He nodded to us and we did just as he said.
We devoured the food that was brought in. At one point, I even had to move as I burnt myself sitting too close to the fire. We each took a blanket which were draped over a nearby chair. Aden and Anna took sides closest to the door as we took the opposite side. It was colder on our side, but that was instantly fixed as Les and I clung to her heat I dreamed of. She could sleep immediately but I was too nervous too. So were the others. We soon decided on a watch rotation. This way, maybe we could get a little rest opposed to none.
I took the first watch and sat in a chair closer to the fire, taking in the wooden cabin we were in. Still, the cold seeped in but its intensity was much less here. A couple of times I looked out of a window facing towards the center of the encampment. I saw people walking around in the early morning, then it came to me that this wasn’t just an outpost for the rebels but a small city they could seek refuge in. It was peaceful seeing everyone working regardless of the war they were in. It was Anna’s shift and I lightly shook her awake.
“Anna, I'm sorry. It's your watch.” She nodded as she stood.
“Are you okay? There's some water on the table I left for you.”
“No, I'm fine, but thank you.” She smiled and took my hand to squeeze it.
“Okay, I'm going to try and sleep.” I turned and walked to my side of the room.
“Wait… Weaver, can I ask you something?”
“Anything, of course.”
“Are you happy?” I hesitated for a moment as I didn’t expect that question here of all places.
“Am I happy?” I already knew what she meant, but I still had to be sure before I answered.
“With you two. You and Les. Does she make you happy?” I walked back to Anna and gave her a hug. “You know you have other choices, right? I know what she did for you, but I have also sacrificed… even Laila… I know it seems harder with us considering we have known one another so long. But I think that can also be a strength. I’m not royal or even as round in particular places as Les and Laila but—”
“Stop, Anna…yes, Les and Laila are beautiful but do not question your own. You are fierce and strong, and you are dedicated to those who you care about. I also agree that it would be a strength considering I know everything about you. Including how you snore at night. But Even if you didn’t have those physical attributes, you would still be beautiful with your short hair, amazing backside and a smile that outdoes them all. Any man you who find would be lucky to have you, even I, who's captured the eyes of royalty.” She snorted at the last comment making me smile. She put her arms around me.
“I'm glad you're not leaving me. There is still time to fight.” I didn’t know what to say, so I chose not to say anything at all. She eventually let go and pushed me to my side. I found myself next to Les. She stirred but I placed a kiss on her cheek letting her know it was only me.” Right before I was asleep, I contacted Laila.
“Are you awake yet?”
“I am. Is everything as well as it can be?”
“It is. We made it here, but I wanted to warn you: Gibi is in a weakened state, and the shadow hounds were forced to turn back. Well, the ones following us at least.”
“Thank you, and Weaver. Are you okay?”
“In the end, I think everything will be okay.”
“I'm not sure I understand but I need a favor. Let Aden know that our father is here.”
“I take it that was unexpected?”
“Well, yes. He wants you arrested not that it matters now. He has this idea in his head that you somehow killed my mother. That this has all been a ploy against Aden and I.”
“He wouldn’t be wrong about your mother.” A flash of my blood drenched skin came into my mind. “I will tell Aden.”
“Thank you, and… say goodbye to me… before, you know.”
“I will, Laila.” Afterward, I fell asleep, feeling a bit guilty for not telling her, but it would be worth it to see her expression when I saw her again.
The rest of us woke when there was knocking at the door. Juben walked inside and shut the door behind him. “Afternoon, I hope all is well, considering.”
“It is, thank you. Has Tisen called upon us?” Aden questioned.
“He has, Prince Aden.” Aden’s mouth opened but froze. “Did you believe we wouldn’t recognize you? Give us more credit than that, and this meeting will go much smoother.” We all stood and got our boots on to walk outside.
“I'm sorry there is one stipulation, she must stay.” He pointed to Anna.
“Why me?”
“We know you carry magic. We already risk a great deal with one in our midst. Tisen will not tolerate any more.”
“Well, then let's head home,” A hand grabbed my arm. I followed it up to meet Anna.
“No, Weaver, it's fine. Have your talks. I'm sure I will be okay here.”
“You have my word, Lady Anna.” Juben bowed and walked outside into the warm afternoon. It felt good on my skin now that it was more lukewarm and nowhere near as cold as the night before. That’s when I promised never to live in the mountains or visit the Twins anytime soon. As we got closer, my hand began to pulse lightly, then I knew he was here. The man that would end this for me. We walked into another tall building and went to the top floor. We were led inside by Juben. I saw the window that had a beautiful view of the mountains below.
“God’s… it's a beautif
ul sight.” I spurted out before I realized. “I'm sorry, I didn’t mean any offense.”
“Trust me, there is none taken for only stating a fact. I'm sure by now you know that I’m called Tisen. Pleased to meet you all but I'm not one for pleasantries. So, I inquire, why are you here?”
“I appreciate that as I am not either.” Aden said as he took the center seat. He offered his left to me while Les was standing at my shoulder and placed a hand on it. “There are two reasons we are here; the first, I had hoped we would discuss first. I want to know your perspective on the rebellion. If I am able, at the end of all this, I would hope peace would be on the table for discussion.”
“My, perspective…” He thought for a moment.
“Juben, please tell the prince why you fight.” Juben stood near Tisen’s left side.
“I fight for one’s own reason, the most basic need that all breathing creatures need. Food. Now the reason behind that motivation is that they are no longer here. My family was murdered along with my youngest son and daughter. They were caught stealing in the Twins. They were just hungry as many of us are. The most pain comes from the fact I wasn’t even at home. I was out hunting. When I returned a week later I had to hear it as a friend told me in the street. Even now I can't understand why the taxes that were imposed to such an unreasonable level. I'm sorry for the disrespect, but the king might not have murdered my family. However, he did sign the order that led to their deaths.”
“I am sorry for your loss, truly. I recently lost my mother. I know it's beyond comparison to your loss but know I suffer with you.”
“Thank you, Prince Aden.” Tisen only sat looking at us. Juben returned to the back of the room.
“I appreciate your sympathies to my man. But do you realize I can march a thousand people into this room, and you would hear similar stories. Stories of friends who have died, of family, some just from withering from the lack of food. In the past five years not once has the king offered his apologies for this. For five years, we have been trying just to survive. Do not think me foolish, I know our effort is a fool's quest. But maybe if more people appealed to the king once they heard what was happening here. Maybe something could change. I have not suffered nearly as much as many under my care here. But I did lose my mentor and friend. I could not dishonor his memory by giving it up now without some sort of resolve.”
“Are you not the leader of the rebellion?” Aden asked.
“I am but wasn’t always. The first was a person you probably knew. Lord Fredricks. He was killed within one of the first skirmishes.”
“I did know him. I didn’t know he arranged all this though. Something this organized is amazing, to say the least.”
“Nothing is amazing about it, just sadness. Somehow, he knew that one day we would need these refuges here in the mountains. It turned out he was right; he was the smartest man I ever knew.”
“I thank you for your honesty. If you don’t mind, I would like to think on this while Weaver explains his presence.”
“Please.” Tisen urged me to speak.
“This is going to be hard to understand but when we came into this room did you feel a pull of some kind? Or something that felt like a manipulation?”
“No. I cannot say I did.”
“Okay, well, have you ever heard of a tale dealing with something called a Creator’s Stone?.”
“Of course, I have. I was not born into manhood.”
“Well, it's not so much a tale. I was sent here to give it to you.”
“You want to give me the creator’s stone? Let's say I even believe you. And I don’t. But that would mean you would be handing a great weapon of magic. For what? Because you were told to?”
“This is not a game, Lord Tisen. Weaver almost died on several occasions to get this here. Still, there is a threat as he presents this to you.” Les said with her chin high.
“Quiet your pup, Weaver.” Tisen said, Brushing her off.
“Speak to her that way again and it is you who will be silenced.” I stood and looked down at him. The bow string pulled behind my back. Without effort, I made the bow devoid of all moisture keeping the bow flexible. It broke in half under his pressure. Tisen let out a sigh and held up a hand halting Juben’s forward momentum.
“I am sorry. Please sit.”
“I didn’t mean to offend, Lady Les, I just needed to see the fire in his eyes or the conviction if you will. Now that I have, please explain further.” I took a deep breath, but I did not like what I was feeling in this man. He was hiding something. He seemed to calm about the situation I placed in front of him. There was no outward panic as his hands returned to being interlaced on his table.
“The god Gibi sent me to you. I know it sounds far-fetched, but it is the truth. Even as we talk Liam wakes. I tell you this to help you understand should you accept this stone. He wakes and has consistently threatened me, tried to kill me, break my mind and I was even tortured in the afterlife. All tales for another time but it is the truth.”
“Ok, what am I supposed to do with this… stone?”
“I'm not sure. You might have to deliver it to another or perhaps yourself will be the one to seal Liam in his tomb. It is not my purpose to know this, it is only to provide the stone.”
“Let me understand… you want me to accept this stone, travel all over to who knows where, only to possibly seal Liam away. You must understand my position, young Weaver. It just seems so fantasized. If you have been in contact with Gibi, could you summon him here?”
I looked to Prince Aden and he shook his head for me to try. I did, but there was no answer.
“I'm sorry. He does not answer. He was drained recently from protecting us from Shadow Hounds.”
“Shadow Hounds? You mean the wolves at the pass?”
“I assure you, they were no wolves.” He stood and went to facing look out the window again.
“Can I see it?” I willed it out and to my surprise it came. “May I touch it?”
“You may.” He walked over to me and put his hand over mine, gently touching it. A shock went through my body. A series of visions flashed inside of my head, some were that of him sealing away Liam. Others of him standing on a hill over a bloody battlefield. Then they just seemed to be erased as a more potent memory came forward. It was a vision of the king’s head hanging from his waist. I could feel the malice inside of him. He would bow to Liam for the head of the king. I ripped back my hand, panting, and stepped up and away from him.
“Weaver, I'm sorry I doubted you, truly. If I must, I will have the burden of the stone.”
“I bet you will. Aden, he plans to kill your father once he has it!” Aden stood and backed away.
“Is this true?”
“I guess there's no hiding it, but yes I do. It is not murder, young prince. I only ask him to face his crimes. Surely the sealing can wait until your lands, our lands, are healed. Don’t you see? You saw the people in the city, the hunger, the sadness. We can help them.”
“The ends do not justify the means, Tisen,” I hissed through clenched teeth.
“Juben.” Before I could blink, he had Les by the waist and lifting a knife to her throat. Aden was faster than I was thankfully. Aden had his own knife as he ran forward at the same time. He threw a knife into Juben’s eye and He caught Les as his lifeless body fell. Aden backed her into a corner behind him.
“Have you lost all senses? You play with the fate of the world for your own desires!” I roared to him, positioning myself on the other side of the door.
“If you leave this room, my men will slice the other girl’s throat we before you can reach her.”
“We came for peace, you stupid man! We came to offer you the chance to save the world!” I yelled. “But now you make a threat to our friend's life. You need to decide quickly, or your next actions might be your last. Let us leave.”
“Weaver, give me the stone. I will leave this rebellion behind. I swear it. Maybe Gibi can still help here after I've
gone.” He kept getting closer to me, but I didn’t have anywhere to back up to. Finally, within reach, he grabbed me. Scratching at my wrist as he slammed me onto his wooden table face first. “Give it to me!”
“No! It cannot be taken by force. It has to be willingly given and received. I’d rather meet the fates before I ever give it to someone like you.”
“You will wish you never said that.” He whispered into my ear. “My god, Liam, what would you have me do?”
“Liam, what are you—” I shifted my eyes. Prince Aden’s eyes were completely Red. As if he had held his eyes open for the last thousand years. Not black like his fathers. Behind the red a black storm raged. “Aden… no…” I still couldn’t believe it. I tried and tried for Gibi, but no answer came.
“Weaver, I'm sorry for this. I really am. But have you made a decision on what I told you?”
“Aden! You can beat him!”
“He really can't, as I am him. His mind and body have been mine for long before you got involved in all this.”
“But Gibi’s protection.”
“Only works if I was attempting to get in.”
“The haze… it’s how you hid from Gibi.”
“Glad to see your catching on, but please stay on task.” He moved to the window. If I lost control of my magic, I risked hurting Les as well.
“What do you want from me?” I asked from the desk.
“Have you learned the truth?”
“Yes, Liam… I learned that it was Gibi who had convinced the Creators to end the calamity.”
“Not just end it, Weaver. To slaughter all our children. But it did not matter to him as he didn’t make any with that whore of his. She was his downfall, and I knew it from the start.”
“Liam… you were jealous.”
“In the simplest terms, yes. I offered her everything, but she still chose him. So, he had my children killed.”
“Is your view truly that skewed? You were becoming stronger than any being in existence. You created… monsters. In your name. For what? Revenge? Power? He had your children killed for the mere fact you were trying to take over everything.” Liam sighed.
