At that moment, Zachery knew. He knew his reason. Cassy was his reason. His father and Launa were his reason, too. If they could not stop the demons on Amundiss, his whole family would die, then the demons would come here even stronger, and Cassy would die. He would not let that happen. She was his reason. She was his hope. She was his love. "I need you to listen to me and not say anything until I am finished. What I'm about to tell you is going to come as a shock and I need you to stay calm. Can you do that?" Cassy nodded her head, sat back, and waited for him to start. Zachery stood up, paced around clenching his hands together a bit then turned to her and just said it. "I love you."
Cassy laughed. "That's what you had so much trouble saying, silly boy? I know you love me. I love you right back."
Zachery placed his hands on her shoulders and gazed into her eyes. "That is not all I need to tell you..." Zachery told the whole story. From the tree in his garden to his real mother dying recently in the Path of a Thousand Eyes. Cassy seemed to take the news well. The two stayed by the river just talking. Once Zachery started, it seemed like he would never stop. The sun had started to set so they decided to go back. "Thank you for letting me get that off my chest, I have wanted to tell you for so long. Remember, you cannot tell anyone." Cassy smiled and nodded her head. He kissed her like he had never before, as if they were truly connected now. This whole time was a half-truth, a lie and now he was bearing his soul to her. He loved her and because she stayed, he knew she loved him.He traced the side of her face with his fingers, smiling. He kissed her once more and then smacked her horse and she was off. Zachery felt like a giant weight had been lifted off him.
Telling Cassy my secrets that day helped me more than anything else could. She took it very well, I half expected her to run in the opposite direction screaming! She truly is my reason for everything, my soulmate.
Back at the house, Tradan was in the backyard practicing his training. "You okay?"
Zachery smiled. "Yes, my prince. How goes the training?"
Tradan cut his eyes to him and said, "Watch this, I haven't told Benzoete I can do this yet." He took his over shirt off and did a quick look around. "You ready?" Zachery watched intently. Tradan closed his eyes, drew his sword from the sheath on his side. Tilted his head to the heavens, then Zachery saw the most spectacular site he had ever seen. . .wings. Tradan had wings that protruded from his back.
"OH, MY GODS! When did you discover this?" Zachery shouted.
Tradan hovered above the ground, swaying from side to side. "It was a couple of nights ago in my room. When they popped out, they nearly knocked all my stuff over. They don't seem to bother my undershirt, but they break through anything else I'm wearing. I think the tighter to my body, the better."
Zachery went over to inspect them and Tradan shifted them forward, sending a gust of air that took Zachery off his feet, and Tradan straight up into the air.
"Come back down here. We do not want anyone seeing a flying teenager above our house!"
When Tradan landed, Zachery could see they were not the usual set of wings. They were not feathers, but almost wraith-like and hard to see up close. He reached out to touch them. They were cold with an odd feel to them. The closer to Tradan's body, the stiffer they became.
"Benzoete has to know about this, this is amazing!" Zachery exclaimed.
Tradan lowered his head and the wings retracted, and the two ran back into the house.
30
Place of Reckoning
As the brethren entered the path, it was as if an alarm had sounded. The whispers were now deafening, and only at the beginning of the path, the voices saying "Sons of evil, beware... Brothers of pain shall know..." surrounded them like a swarm.
Dori'naur swatted the air around him. "Blast these voices, do they not know we have no soul?"
Rauko' laughed, then let out a roar, "We are fear! We cannot be swayed by confessions. We know what we have done, and we love it!"
The demons traveled farther as the voices of the lost souls continued to chime in and bend their ear with warnings. The brethren were determined to reach the refugees and the Tomb of the Elders, capture Gabriel, and destroy anything and everything they found inside from the first war.
After walking for what seemed an eternity, Rauko' asked, "Do you hear that?” He then paused for a moment. “There are no voices. We must be close."
They came upon the tree in the middle of the path, this time the carvings read, "Brethren, remember who you were."
The demons looked to each other. "Who we were? We have always been what we are and always will be." Rauko' chuckled while readying his blades, "And what we are is evil."
A flash of light blinded them, as their eyes focused, they see a man who stood in front of the tree. "You were not always evil, Rauko'."
Dori'naur drew his axe, "Well look who it is brother, this has got to be our lucky day. Akadius himself." The demons stepped back to prepare for battle.
"I have not come to fight," the God stated calmly. "I have come to remind you of what you were."
Rauko' snarled. "If you did not come to fight, you should not have come at all." He rushed in swiping his blades. Suddenly he was frozen in his tracks, unable to move.
"You know you cannot defeat me alone. I created you and I can destroy you," Akadius retorted.
"No, the rules have changed, or have the millennia washed your memory away? We may not be able to kill you, but when we chose to side with Craotonus, making him our God, you lost power over us. We are our own entity now." Dori'naur glared with hatred.
"You were once my most trusted. When you left, you took half of the angels with you, damning them to a life of demons. Where are they now? Craotonus sacrificed them for his glory. Do not be fools and think he will not turn on you. Do you not remember the good that was inside you?" asked Akadius.
"Craotonus offered us more than you ever did or would. We were overlooked by you and the other miserable so-called Gods. forgotten about until you needed something. Here we are feared by the mortals. He gave us power and for that we will offer up your son for his own gain." With that, Dori'naur hurled his blade in Akadius's direction.
With a slight movement of his hand, the blade stopped. "That is true, I cannot destroy you, but without the power of Craotonus fueling you, you cannot touch a true God." Akadius summoned lighting all around them, striking one then the other in furious motion. The demons were sent flying backward, hitting the ground with a thud.
They got to their feet and slowly walked back to the God. "We will pass you. You cannot interfere for long in the matter of mortals, that is your rule, dear Akadius."
Then they rushed each side of him. Akadius raised his arms, palms facing each demon, and time slowed down. Akadius used the slowed time to clasp his hands into fists and bring forth a sword of pure lightning in each hand. The demons, in the slowed down time, made their way into his reach. He moved back and as the demons passed by, he struck them repeatedly leaving burning, gaping wounds in their bodies. Time resumed and they fell to the ground, twisting in pain.
"I hope this has bought them time," Akadius grimaced to himself.
"We will strip the skin from their bodies for this!" Dori'naur shouted painfully.
"I believe in them. They will defeat you. They will find the pieces we gave them and end this." A bright, golden light shone, as the God faded from sight and left the demons paralyzed for the moment.
INSIDE THE WARM, SUN touched area of the path, the refugees saw the Valley of Ice Shadows. "I have never witnessed anything like this. The land goes from sunlight and warmth, to snow, ice, and frigid weather." Antoine complained as he looked out in front of them.
"Your elders really wanted this place to stay hidden for some reason," Gabriel remarked.
Elos nodded his head in agreement. "That is what we are hoping for. The tombs have been sealed for centuries, since the first war. The elders should have their weapons sealed with them."
The people started preparing for
their last journey, they have come this far, and nothing will stand in their way. Gabriel walked over to George who sat quietly with his daughter and knelt next to him. "I am sorry old friend. You and Elizabeth are family to me, always have been."
"I cannot go on without her, Gabriel. She was my rock, my reason. Who am I without her?" George said while shaking his head.
Gabriel took one arm and draped it across his friend’s shoulders. With the other, he pointed at Launa. "Her reason. That's who will be. She will look to you now more than ever. You have to be strong for her. Launa was just a girl of eight when the demons had come; all she has known is life on the run, and who has been there to protect her? You have. Now, we are almost to the end of this journey and she will need you more."
George buried his face in his hands as he wept, "I miss her already, Gabriel, but you are right. I know what I must do. Thank you for showing me who I still am." The two stood and embraced.
"I am always here if needed, my friend. We are family," Gabriel said.
George then hugged Launa tightly, and both wept in each other’s arms. He took her hands to console her.
Gabriel walked to where Antoine and Andrea were standing. "We ready to do this?"
Antoine smiled. "Of course, we are. When we do this, it means we are one step closer to getting Natallia, Tradan, and Zachery home and we end this."
The wizards moved to the front to address the group. "We know little about this Valley, only that it is not the cold you have to fear. Be on the alert and keep your eyes open for anything," Elos started.
"We will go at a steady pace. According to the Book of Ancients, the Valley is more dangerous than it is long," Benzoete finished.
Gabriel walked to the front of the group and stood on a rock so he could be seen by all. "I would like to express my deepest gratitude for the ones who have come this far. My condolences for those who have lost loved ones. We are looking at the last leg of a journey that started almost seventeen seasons ago, and we have seen many unusual places. I plan on finishing this quest to the tombs to retrieve whatever may be there. If any of you wish to stay here, if you wish to wait for those of us who enter the valley to return, I will not stop you. You have the choice to stay and I promise we will send for you when we have made it through the tombs. We are a small number now, and I feel honored to have fought beside each and every one of you. If you wish to stay, my thanks to you for your service, if you will go and battle the valley with me, stand and let us finish this."
One by one the entire group stood to support their king. They would follow him until the breath leaves their bodies. Gabriel felt his body fill with pride and was also humbled to be able to lead such an honorable group of followers. The king stepped down from the stone and began their walk toward the boundaries of sun and snow.
AS THE DEMONS REGAINED control of their bodies and resumed the path, they were filled with rage. They were humiliated by Akadius and they sought revenge. They were so blinded by their own bloodlust that they did not notice the path forked and they took the wrong direction. Rauko' had lost their trail. The demons were in the middle of a dark forest with no end in sight. Dori'naur growled out a roar of frustration, one so loud the refugees heard it at the boundaries.
"Antoine, what was that?" Andrea asked.
"Just the path letting out its frustrations for us making it out," Antoine said as he took her hand and started through the boundary line.
Dori'naur and Rauko' continued through the dark woods until they come to an opening where they saw a dark figure wearing ragged robes. The brethren stopped and fell to their knees. "Master, you have returned," Rauko' said. "Have you fully regained your strength, Remissum?"
The figure raised his head, pulled back his hood. "We are nearly complete."
Craotonus opened his arms, allowing a dark black and purple mist to swirl around his feet. The dark master sneered and opened his robe to reveal where his body had been formed by the souls of the devoured mortals, they had taken over the centuries. He closed the robe. "We need to prepare. I need to feed to regain full power. That is how we will defeat them."
Dori'naur bowed his head. "We need to return to the castle. We can gather the remaining mortal souls and make you whole."
"How do we get out of this wretched place?" asked Rauko'.
Craotonus grabbed each by the shoulder. "Leave that to me." Evil wings adorned by the skulls of the fallen appeared on his back and they took flight.
With Craotonus almost at full power, the refugees were going to need all the help they could get. With Tradan almost to fruition, they had a chance to end the war, and bring peace to all the worlds that were created by the Gods.
31
Truth
After Zachery told Cassy about where he and Natallia had come from; Natallia being a half human, half angel queen; Tradan, or as she knew him, Billy, being the Champion of Light; and of course, his heritage of being the Dragon Rider, he thought she took the news very well.
"Zachery is crazy!" Cassy exclaimed to Miss Lizzy.
"Now why would you say that? He has always seemed to be a pretty stable boy to me," chuckled Miss Lizzy.
Cassy sat down with her grandmother and told her all that Zachery had revealed to her. "There is no way someone could come up with that stuff and be in good mental health." Miss Lizzy just sat there with a calm, but rather confused look on her face. Cassy shook her head and said, "Crazy, just crazy I tell you."
Miss Lizzy laughed her big booming laugh, "Sounds as if he does have a big imagination. What do you plan to do?"
Cassy smiled her big bright smile. "He's just messing with me, I know it. Although, he did sound convincing, I'll give him that. I know Zachery, he's just a jokester." She kissed her grandmother, got up and headed up to her room, laughing. Miss Lizzy sat quietly at the table, pondering what she was just told.
The next morning Natallia had come to Miss Lizzy for advice. "I need your help, if you please."
Miss Lizzy was stocking liquor under the bar of her saloon. "I'll be happy to help anyway I can, my lady."
Hearing someone call her that made a flood of memories rush into her mind. Startling her, nearly making her forget why she was there. "Oh yes. As you know it is almost Billy's seventeenth birthday and I want to do something special, not only for him, but for Zachery, too. The little brother always gets the attention and Zachery has been a little down lately. I had him so young, I did not know really what I was doing especially when his father passed. He needs to know he is still important, even now as a man."
Miss Lizzy rose up from her bottles. "You are exactly right. We can have a big shin dig for both of 'em. I'm sure Cassy will want to help. You know, I believe those two are made for each other."
Natallia smiled. "Great! We will get together on the details later. Thank you again Miss Lizzy, you have been a godsend to us."
The old woman smiled and watched as she walked out of the saloon. A look of concern furrowed her brow, "Gods send, huh? I need to find Zachery," she mumbled under her breath.
Zachery still worked for Miss Lizzy at the saloon. She went to head him off before he got there. She had questions of her own. Miss Lizzy mounted up her horse, spry for an elderly woman and went to Natallia and Zachery's house.
When she arrived, she found Tradan, or Billy to her, on the porch with a makeshift sword prancing around, "Well, hello, Miss Lizzy! My mom is not home right now."
Miss Lizzy got down from her horse and slowly walked up to the boy. "I know, child, I have come to talk to Zachery." She looked very hard at the boy trying to get a vibe from him.
"You okay, Miss Lizzy? You ain't looking right."
The old woman just nodded her head and said, "I'm fine. You gettin' ready for your big day?"
Tradan smiled so big, all his teeth showed. "Yes, ma'am. Mother said she was planning something special, a surprise."
"Yes, I've heard some things, but you won't get anything from me! I know how to keep secrets! Now where is that broth
er of yours hiding?"
Tradan pointed out toward the barn. "He's out there. I... I should go get him for you. It's a long walk out there."
"No, that's okay. I'll walk out there."
She slowly walked down the steps, heading for the barn Tradan knew Zachery was out there practicing his magic and had to warn him before Miss Lizzy saw something they could not explain.
He ran into the house, pulling off his over shirt as he went, straight out the backdoor wings spreading out and flew straight up, out of sight and to the back of the barn.
"Quick! Miss Lizzy is about to open the door! Hide your magic!" Tradan warned.
Zachery pushed everything under some straw as Tradan flew back out just as the front door of the barn burst open. "Good to see you Miss Lizzy. Mom is not home right now."
She squinted her eyes and peered right at him. "So, I hear. I needed to come see you though."
Zachery being quick on his feet asked, "Oh, I'm sorry, did I do something at the saloon? I will fix whatever I did when I come into work, don't you worry."
She paced around the barn, circling the young man. Now, she was almost face-to-face with him. She reached up and grabbed his face with her hand as if she was examining him. She lets out a gasp, and the color left her. "I... I did not think it possible."
Zachery was scared now. "What is wrong, Miss Lizzy? You're worrying me a bit." Her eyes grew wide open, and she bolted for the door. Zachery ran after her and saw how easily she got on her horse and rode back to town. Zachery ran to the house shouting for Tradan. "We have to find Natallia, we have to do it now!"
Tradan looked to him. "She didn't see you, did she?"
"No, I hid all my materials before she entered, but I think Cassy told her about us."
Tradan's mouth dropped open in shock, "You fool! Why would you do such a thing?"
Zachery threw an overshirt at the boy. "I'll explain later, let's go find your mother." The two shot out of the house and searched for the queen. Zachery thought of how Cassy could betray him and tell anyone his secret.
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