The Heroes Fall -1- When War Calls

by Zy Rykoa

  ‘I will do my best, General.’

  ‘Good,’ said Alkon, standing up and walking from behind his desk. ‘We are to reach Waikor in three weeks. Be sure we are ready to leave in five days. I have decided to leave a small force behind. I do not wish to move Ethan, so he will remain here with some of his team and as many men as he needs to continue work here. Is that understood?’

  ‘Yes, General.’

  ‘Then there is nothing more to be said. I will expect a report on the Callibrian as soon as possible. You may leave.’

  Bowing his head slightly, Liet left the room, leaving Alkon to pace back and forth in thought for the remainder of the night.

  Chapter Nineteen

  You and I move as one, so I call you friend.

  February 1, 997 R.E.

  Sunlight glistened off the stream as the two teenagers played and splashed around, swimming into the many rock pools and diving deep before coming up in the shade of the surrounding trees. The aromas of wilderness were plentiful, delighting the small company’s senses as they rested in the afternoon heat. They had travelled far since crossing the great river over a week before and were now approaching the first city in many miles, Ceahlin.

  Tarsha sat idly against a tree, not wishing to move in the heat. She had already swum for a little while, but decided it was better to rest her exhausted muscles, where she didn’t need to concern herself with floating in gentle currents. She was content to simply watch the two youngsters enjoy themselves while she contemplated the journey ahead and what she might do when they arrived at their destination. Unlike her homeland, civilisation was rare on this continent. For all their travelling, they had not yet come across a single village or city. She had thought she might have missed them on her way to Callibra, but now she was certain that Aurialis was the nature preserve many had said it to be, and that the cities scattered over it held such strong forces that they were able to protect and keep it this way.

  After spending some time in Ceahlin, allowing the Daijuar to do whatever it was they had to do there, they would move onto the next great city, Waikor, and from there they would move on to Corsec, the city that stood between the Alliance and victory over this beautiful and majestic continent.

  But the Alliance was already here, and now they threatened to take Corsec from all sides. That was why the company had travelled this way, and why the Daijuar were continually discussing the war’s direction with one another. Even now they were sitting in meditative positions some distance from her, never taking their eyes off Jaden as they spoke of his destiny and what they would do once they reached each city. They believed Tarsha was out of their hearing, and she had no trouble in letting them believe that. The Daijuar kept many secrets, and this was her chance to find out something more about them.

  ‘We may call for transport at Ceahlin,’ said Adonis.

  ‘They will take us to Waikor if we have something to offer them,’ Blair agreed.

  ‘The message must be sent.’

  ‘Word will spread. We need only show ourselves in Ceahlin.’

  ‘There are others in Waikor,’ said Adonis. ‘They will need to see one of us before they move.’

  ‘We must separate.’

  ‘I will offer protection to those in Ceahlin.’

  ‘I will continue to Waikor.’

  ‘What of the others?’ asked Adonis.

  ‘They will remain with me in Ceahlin.’

  ‘He still needs to be trained.’

  ‘He does not wish for training,’ said Blair.

  Tarsha turned her head slightly as if stretching it, and saw that Adonis was looking toward the rock pools. He then glanced over at her and she slowly turned back, doing her best to hide that she was listening to them.

  After a moment, Adonis asked, ‘How does one alter another’s desire?’

  ‘They must believe it is what they want.’

  ‘There must be a choice.’

  ‘Or no other way,’ added Blair.

  ‘His power must come forth.’

  ‘He must reach Corsec.’

  ‘We must separate them,’ concluded Adonis.

  ‘What of his training?’ asked Blair.

  ‘He may come to us, still.’

  ‘They act as if they have been in love for many years,’ said Blair.

  ‘He will not risk it.’

  ‘He must be encouraged.’

  ‘She needs to be in danger.’

  ‘How strong is his love?’

  ‘Let us find out. Woman!’ called Adonis, and Tarsha turned slowly to them. After being signalled forward, Tarsha stood up reluctantly and dawdled over to them.

  ‘Again, my name is Tarsha, Sentinel.’

  ‘Who is the girl?’ asked Adonis, as if he did not care for what she had to say.

  ‘Her name is Alyssa. I hope you show enough respect to call her by it rather than “girl” or “woman”,’ said Tarsha bitterly.

  ‘How do they know one another?’ asked Blair.

  ‘They are both from the same village.’

  ‘Another survivor,’ said Adonis.

  Tarsha nodded. ‘From what she has told me, she was riding through the mountains with her father before the attack. They both fled and had been travelling as far as they could when we caught up with them. That was her father that we saw lying lifeless near the scout.’

  ‘The boy saved her life,’ said Blair.

  ‘They are in love?’ asked Adonis.

  ‘I do not know,’ said Tarsha. ‘I think he loves her, but they are only now getting to know each other. In time, I think so.’

  Adonis and Blair exchanged glances.

  ‘It will soon be time for you to eat, Tarsha,’ said Blair. ‘You should find food before we move on.’

  Tarsha eyed them both suspiciously. ‘What are you planning on doing?’

  The Daijuar let their shoulders drop a little to show that they did not know what she was talking about.

  ‘Come on, I’ve heard you talking. What are you going to do to Jaden?’

  ‘We are here to train him,’ said Adonis.

  ‘We must teach in whatever way that we can,’ added Blair, bowing his head a little.

  ‘You are not to bring harm to either,’ said Tarsha strictly.

  ‘The Daijuar are here to protect,’ Adonis assured her with a comforting tone.

  Tarsha flicked her vision between the two of them, and then knowing she could say or do nothing more, she left with a “humph!” and wandered away, but not so far that she could no longer hear what the Daijuar were saying.

  ‘Jaden,’ called out Adonis, rousing the youth’s attention.

  Jaden swam quickly over to Alyssa and said something to her, then kissed her gently on the cheek before getting out of the water and picking up the Daijuarn vest. As Alyssa lay on her back, floating gently in the current, he walked slowly toward the Daijuar as he put on the vest. Once before them, he knelt and waited for them to speak.

  ‘We thought you should know of our plans,’ started Blair.

  ‘We must move from here soon,’ continued Adonis. ‘Once we arrive in Ceahlin, we must seek out the others.’

  Jaden nodded, but allowed them to go on.

  ‘Noviahn has asked us to take you with us. He wishes to meet you again in Corsec city.’

  ‘I understand,’ said Jaden.

  Adonis smiled. ‘She is a beautiful girl,’ he said, inclining his head toward Alyssa.

  Jaden returned the smile. ‘The most beautiful,’ he agreed.

  Blair stood up and excused himself. ‘I will find food,’ he said, leaving Adonis to speak with Jaden alone.

  Adonis nodded and then turned back to Jaden. ‘You are in love,’ he said, still smiling.

  ‘She makes the pain go away a little,’ he said, looking over his shoulder.

  ‘Ah,’ said Adonis in sympathy. ‘You still suffer from the loss of your home.’

  Jaden nodded. ‘I don’t know what else to do. She is the only one that can make
it go away.’

  ‘The Daijuar can help you.’

  Jaden lifted his arms so that he could see both endobraces. ‘Releasing the energy doesn’t help,’ he said.

  Adonis laughed. ‘No, but the Daijuar are more than just powerful. We have an understanding of ourselves, and the world around us. Remember, we are a race by ideal, not by blood. Perhaps there is something we know that could help you deal with the pain.’

  Jaden shrugged. ‘I don’t want to think about it.’

  ‘There is no need for it now. However, if you ever feel that you need to revisit events lost in the past, remember my offer.’

  ‘I will,’ said Jaden.

  ‘Good. We hope to move from here soon. Will you be ready?’

  Before Jaden could respond, Alyssa screamed from the rock pools. The gentle current had become faster and was now a rushing tide with so much water that Alyssa was being swept away.

  ‘Alyssa!’ Jaden cried out, racing toward her.

  ‘Jaden! Help!’ she screamed back to him, but already the current was overwhelming her, the rumble so loud her screams were barely audible. It was as if an entire dam had just burst further up the mountain, tossing her about like a rag doll as she was thrown under the surface constantly, bobbing up only briefly to take in what little air she could.

  Jaden was racing to her, but was too far away to save her.

  ‘No!’ he shouted in vain.

  Darkness fell then as if a cloud had blocked the sun, but a flash of light broke through the shadow with a powerful roar, and the air was filled with white light. Incredibly the flow of water changed direction. Alyssa was left suspended in the air as Adonis walked forward, pushing the water away from her with his endobraces. He signalled for Jaden to run behind him to get to her, and soon the water subsided and the stream returned to its gentle calm.

  Alyssa had fallen heavily and remained down, exhausted. Jaden ran to her and helped her upright.

  ‘Are you all right?’ he asked.

  Alyssa coughed a little, but nodded.

  Jaden then noticed the wounds she had suffered, a cut above her eye and some bruising already starting to show on her shoulders. The Callibrian garments she wore were torn a little, exposing much of her neck and chest. Jaden took off the vest he wore and put it around her, he then held her to him to comfort her.

  After a moment, he turned to Adonis and thanked him.

  Adonis bowed in return. ‘When she feels she is ready, we will leave.’

  Jaden nodded that he understood, and then he turned his attention back to Alyssa.

  Adonis wandered away to where he had been sitting, where Blair met him shortly after.

  ‘He has seen our power,’ said Blair.

  ‘Now we wait.’

  ‘His training will resume.’

  They were interrupted as Tarsha returned with some berries she had found, and then her jaw dropped at the sight of destruction that now lay before her. ‘What happened?’ she asked.

  ‘There was a flood. The Alliance must be in the area,’ said Adonis. ‘We should move soon.’

  Tarsha looked bewildered at the now water-damaged scene before her. There were puddles where there had been dry ground, branches and leaves ripped from trees, and grasses and small plants all pushed over. Before she could say anything more, Adonis was moving past her.

  ‘They are ready. We will go now,’ he said.

  Perplexed, Tarsha followed obediently, trying to make sense of it all as she did.

  Together, the small company travelled for the remainder of the day without rest. They found a comfortable rhythm in which to walk, and avoided the sun as much as possible. By night, Jaden, Alyssa and Tarsha all wanted to rest, but were urged on by the Daijuar, who assured them they needed to make up for lost time.

  As they pushed on, Alyssa had begun to drop in pace, and Jaden joined her so that she would not have to walk alone.

  ‘Does it hurt?’ he asked her, looking at the cut above her eye.

  ‘No,’ she said. ‘I just need rest.’

  ‘Me too,’ he lied. Since finding her, he had felt a lot better. Even the sickness didn’t seem so bad. He had started to believe that Alyssa was the cure he sought after, not the endobraces or Daijuarn healing. Just being with her made everything seem like it was going to be all right. There was a connection of a sort, something they both shared deep down that neither really understood. He would have thought that it was simply him falling in love with a beautiful girl, but now that he had spent time with Raquel and the Daijuar, he was guessing that things were not exactly as they seemed.

  ‘Do you remember the sharp movement we were meant to speak about?’ he asked.

  Alyssa nodded and looked at him with wide eyes, waiting to hear what he had to say.

  ‘I’ve had dreams about it since, but I’m not sure about it. What do you think it is?’

  ‘I’m not sure either; it could be real or it could just be in our heads,’ Alyssa said thoughtfully. ‘But we both feel it, so either we’ve both been poisoned or there’s more to it.’

  ‘I agree,’ said Jaden. ‘Have you had dreams too?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘How long have you felt it?’

  ‘I think always, but only strongly recently. You…?’

  ‘Same. Maybe something is changing in the world,’ said Jaden. ‘Have you heard the whisper on the wind?’

  ‘What whisper?’

  Jaden laughed. ‘Just me going crazy, I think. I keep imagining a voice speaking to me, but maybe it is just stress.’

  ‘No,’ said Alyssa softly, ‘I think I’ve heard it too.’

  ‘What does it say?’

  Alyssa began to mouth words but only made some audible, going through her memory for the words she thought she had heard, ‘Ice. Icy. I seek ... sense. I seek presence ... rue you. Through you. I seek presence through you. Go on while ... no, child, with you. I seek presence through you, go on, child, I’m with you.’

  Jaden felt a chill run down his spine, as if a ghost had just touched the back of his neck. ‘What do you think it means?’ he asked, doing his best to sound unaffected.

  Alyssa shook her head. ‘I don’t know.’

  ‘Are you scared?’

  ‘A little, but I think it is safe, or I am going crazy, too,’ she said, looking at him with a faint smile.

  Jaden reached out and held her hand, smiling back, hoping to comfort her.

  ‘I almost jumped off a cliff, but the whisper told me I had to stay alive,’ said Jaden, now realising how glad he was that he hadn’t.

  Alyssa turned to him again. ‘You were going to end your life?’

  ‘I was not myself, the attack had ... I was devastated. I lost everyone. I didn’t know you had survived.’

  Alyssa was silent. She was looking forward, now seemingly in a faraway place.

  ‘Sorry,’ said Jaden, ‘I don’t mean to remind you, it’s just hard...’

  ‘I know,’ said Alyssa, squeezing his hand a little, ‘I understand.’

  Jaden could see the tears welling in her eyes. He knew she was thinking of her recent loss. She and her father had escaped, but only temporarily. Jaden had mostly evaded the Alliance scouts, but her father had not been so fortunate. Knowing the pain she felt all too well, Jaden stopped and embraced her. It took a moment for the others to realise they had stopped, but soon the two Daijuar were walking back to them.

  ‘Why have you stopped?’ asked Adonis.

  ‘We need rest,’ said Jaden, careful not to speak too loudly next to Alyssa’s ear. ‘This is far enough.’

  The Daijuar exchanged glances before nodding and setting about making camp.

  The forest had become thicker over the previous miles, making it difficult to find a place in which to rest. Despite Jaden’s protests, they had to walk another mile, with him half carrying Alyssa, before they found another stream. Blair lit the immediate area with his endobraces, just enough so that Tarsha was able to collect what firewood was available, w
hile Adonis called for Jaden to follow him to gather more from around the area. Adonis led the way, keeping the immediate area alight as Blair had done. They kept the light low to avoid confrontation with any Alliance scout wandering the area, and used strong bursts only when they were needed.

  Jaden watched silently as Adonis scanned the area with the endobraces, sometimes using them to move rocks out of the way and clearing scrub. When they were almost ready to return to the others, Jaden paused.

  ‘You saved Alyssa,’ he said.

  Adonis gave a quick nod, but continued searching around the area.

  ‘I want to learn how you did that.’

  Adonis now stopped what he was doing and turned to Jaden. ‘It takes years of practice.’

  ‘Can you teach me?’

  ‘If there is time,’ he said with a smile.

  ‘We have a long way to go,’ said Jaden. ‘You can teach me along the way.’

  Adonis seemed to consider the thought for a moment. ‘Do you have the dedication?’ he asked.

  ‘I want to be able to protect Alyssa.’

  ‘The Daijuar protect more than just one.’

  Jaden knew what Adonis was asking him and was thoughtful. In truth, he wanted only to know how to use the Daijuarn arts so that he could make sure both he and Alyssa were always safe from any danger, but to be trained by the Daijuar would mean he would have to abide by their code. He would have to use his powers to protect the innocent in wars as well as Alyssa. He began to think of what life would be like lived in such a way; being unable to call a place home, to be always needed somewhere, and to knowingly place one’s self in danger in hope of ensuring safe passage for others. War had already taken his home, so he was bound to no place. If he could be sure Alyssa was safe while he was away, it was a small sacrifice for being able to save her life in the way Adonis had earlier during the day.

  ‘I will do what it takes,’ said Jaden.

  Adonis seemed satisfied.