With no danger apparent, the group relaxed and absorbed their new surroundings.
“This is magnificent” Thad said marveling at the cityscape.
“Look who’s using big words,” Leath said nudge Thad playfully. But he agreed. Giant glass buildings flanked by smaller structures made from solid metal towered around them. “I thought you said these people were primitive?” Leath repeated the question inquiring about Zyphera’s earlier statement.
“They have highly advanced abilities, and are able to work numerous materials and create just about anything with it, their beliefs are primitive,” She explained looking at Leath over her shoulder.
“What do you mean by their beliefs?” He asked.
“You’ll see,” She replied.
Soon they reached the doorstep of one Mister Joseph Brown. Mathias sauntered up and rung the door bell. A magnificent sounding chime rang out and with in moments a burly man appeared.
“Hello Joseph,” Mathias said warmly greeting the man.
“I thought I made myself clear, you were never to return to this place,” Mr. Brown replied in a hostile voice, “But seeing that you are standing on my doorstep, you might as well come in.” He popped his head and glanced in either direction, “Be quick about it now, hurry hurry,” he said pushing them inside before slamming and locking the door.
The house was made entirely out of stone, exception given to the windows. Different shapes, sizes, kinds and colors graced the walls and ceilings. Delicate silver beams framed the outer edge of the room and provided the sills for the crystal windows.
“I suppose you are here about the kidnapping of your beloved Professor,” Mr. Brown growled, getting right to the point.
"What do you know?” Mathias asked.
Mr. Brown eyed them tentatively. He leaned in close. “I know he was taken by Lord Madron’s personal hunters. Their orders are not to harm him and prevent any others from doing so. As we speak they are making their way back to the land of darkness. They were on orders to stop here for a few days, but no one knows why,” he said in a half whisper. “But there is something else. Rumor has it that Madron is not alone in Barathrum. There is talk of a person who Madron demands the Shadow Breathers respect. They say this person is the true reason he kidnapped the Watchman.”
“Do you know who it is?” Mathias asked his eyes narrowing.
Mr. Brown shook his head. He promptly stood up and opened the front door.
“I take it that’s our clue to leave,” Leath said with disgust in his voice.
“That is all you can tell us?” Mathias prodded the gentleman.
“If you do not leave I will be forced to turn you over to the Priory,” he answered, looking directly at the four of them.
Their hesitancy to leave vanished. They immediately exited the home and headed down the road. Before they were out of sight, Mr. Brown called out after them, “I am warning you, no one has yet made it through the passage of Relvak alive,” than disappeared inside.
“Well that was a wonderful waste of our time now wasn’t it?” Leath replied dryly.
“Actually it wasn’t,” Mathias replied.
“How do you figure?”
“The Relvak passage is where the portal is,” Mathias stated, “We have to hurry before the residents become aware of our presence.”
Thad looked at him quizzically.
“These people have very primitive beliefs. Their citizens do not have freedom speech or anything else for that matter. Their fears of the unknown is so great, they have every citizen under surveillance. Any hint of “witchcraft” and you are liable to disappear forever. Strangers are considered the biggest threat and any who “entertain” them without turning them over to the Priory are burned at the stake,” Mathias explained.
“That is a little unnerving,” Thad stated, moving closer to his friends.
“If his place is bugged how come the Priory didn’t show up?” Leath asked.
“Joseph found a way to temporarily overwrite the bugs,” Mathias said with a smile.
“Can we just hurry up and get out of the city?” Thad said swinging his bag onto his back, marching forward.
“It is not that easy,” Mathias said stopping Thad. “We will need supplies, not to mention finding you a safe place to hide. The passage of Relvak is a totally unsuitable place for a young boy such as your self,”
Thad immediately started to complain. “I am not going to just wait around see what happens. I came this far and I intend on helping you rescue my grandfather.”
Before Mathias and the others began to object Thad continued. “Now, as I recall I am suppose to be the “long awaited boy” and capable of amazing things. So as I see it, you need me, even if you don’t think I am capable. Trust me please. He is my Grandfather and I want to save him.”
The others were once again stunned by his maturity.
“That settles it then,” Thad said as he looked at their silent faces. “What are you waiting for, let’s move out,” Thad said marching forward.
“Well, the boss says move,” Leath said following Thad’s lead.
“Is he even going the right way?” Zyphera asked after a moment of walking.
“Surprisingly enough, he is,” Mathias answered with a chuckle.
“He was so much easier to handle when he couldn’t talk,” Zyphera whispered with a grin.
“You have no idea,” Mathias replied.
They made it three blocks when a group of cloaked men stepped out from the shadows into the street blocking their way.
“May I ask what you folks are doing in this city?” one of the men in the group asked.
“We are just passing through,” Mathias answered in his most no threatening voice.
“Our supplies are running low and we needed to rest,” Leath piped up.
“For your own safety I suggest you gather your supplies at the next city as well as your rest,” another one of the cloaked men suggested, his tone dangerous.
Taking a quick look around, they saw more cloaked figures emerged from the shadows pinning them in the center of a tightly knit circle.
“We aren’t here to cause any trouble,” Leath insisted with a nervous laugh.
“My friend is right. We mean no harm or disrespect,” Mathias spoke in a steady tone.
“Yet you travel with the company of a Guardian,” one of the man pointed to Zyphera, recognizing her opal. “Surly you must be expecting some sort of trouble.”
“Our troubles lay else where,” Zyphera assured them, pushing Thad behind Leath,
Mathias and herself forming a protective circle around him. The cloaked figures made it clear that they had no intention of releasing them as they began to advance.
Suddenly Mathias’s wings flew open. He grabbed Thad and leapt into the air catching a fast current that carried them south west of the city. Thad craned his neck to see what was going on below. From his vantage point he could see Leath and Zyphera fighting with over a dozen of city folk.
“Let me go,” Thad demanded struggling against Mathias’ secure grip, “They are in trouble, we have to go back,” he insisted his voice full of fear and panic for his friends.
“I will go back and assist them as soon as you are safe,” Mathias explained in a very stern voice. Mathias searched for a safe place for Thad to hide. A hundred kilometers outside the city Mathias spotted a few small burrows partially covered in sage brush and desert plants. He swiftly folded his wings landing gracefully on the ground. He carefully released Thad from his grasp. “You answer only to my voice do you understand?”
Thad glared at him, but nodded his head that he understood. Mathias watched as Thad crawled into the largest burrow. He opened his wings and found a current to help carry him back to the city.
“Leath.......behind you,” Zyphera shouted, using her bow to strike the hooded figure in front of her.
Leath whirled around, barely avoiding the attack. He quickly dropped to the ground thrusting his right leg o
ut. He tripped the man and sent him tumbling on his butt. He followed through in a round house kick to another standing behind on his left. Without warning the group broke.“Guess they realized they were no match for us,” Leath smirked.
Suddenly arrows rained from the sky. A two foot arrow buried its head deep into Zyphera’s bicep. She could just make out the smooth titanium point emerging on the other side. She frantically searched for Leath. He’d fallen not to far from her.
“Leath,” she screamed ignoring her own wound. He lay perfectly still. She scooted closer. She saw an arrow embedded deep in his side and another piercing his right thigh. Zyphera could hear the air leaking from his lungs every time he took a breath. She threw her body over his as a shield. She felt another sharp pain, this time piercing her leg. She tried to ignore it focusing on protecting Leath. She braced for multiple impacts when a voice boomed out.
“Tego Tectum.”
The arrows ceased. Looking up she saw the arrows bouncing off some sort of barrier surrounding them. Breathing a sigh of relief she collapsed over Leath slipping into unconsciousness.
“Zyphera, Zyphera can you hear me?” A gentle voice prodded, slowly pulling her to consciousness. Zyphera opened her eyes. Mathias was leaning over her with a concerned look on his face. “How are you feeling?” he asked.
“Okay I guess,” She said sitting up.
“We removed both arrows. Luckily they didn’t hit any major veins or arteries,” He informed her. “It did rip through quiet a bit of your muscle so you’ll have to be careful. Your arm and leg will also feel stiff for the next few days,” He cautioned.
Zyphera nodded, her fingers tenderly exploring her wounds. “What about Leath?” She asked.
Mathias face dropped. “He was not so lucky,”
“You mean he’s……” A knot formed in her throat.
“He’s alive, but barely,” Mathias replied.
Zyphera immediately stood up. She took one step and winced. Mathias rushed to her side as she fell to her knee.“I am fine,” She insisted, pushing him away.
“Let me help you,” Mathias said gently.
“I said I was fine,” Zyphera demanded in a stern voice hobbling slowly. Mathias stepped aside watching as she painfully made her way to Leath.
“Leath can you hear me?” she whispered kneeling beside him, “I wanted to thank you for helping me out there. You’re a formidable warrior and I am proud to have you fight by my side,” She said choking back tears. “From now on I expect you to always fight beside me, do you understand. I need you here,” She begged brushing his cheek with her finger, “You don’t have my permission to die.”
“Since when did I need your permission to do anything?” Leath asked in a wry voice.
“Starting now,” Zyphera smiled.
Leath touched her face. “Have I ever told you how totally in love with you I am, especially since you showed me that crazy swirling skin of yours?”
“You just did,” she answered, silencing him with her lips, “Now rest, you need your strength.”
Leath barely nodded as his eyes closed. “By the way, I like your new outfit. All that Leather is pretty hot.”
Zyphera smiled and nestled beside him. It was not long before both fell fast asleep.
“Mathias,” A voice quietly called out. “The area is secure. There is still no information on who is responsible for the attack. Members of the Priory where also hit.”
“Thank you Traiden,” Mathias replied as a sizeable man emerged from the trees. “How is it that you knew where to find us?” He asked.
“I figured you’d come and see Joseph before going anywhere else. I’d just arrived when I saw you take off with the boy. Where is he by the way?”
“He is safe,” Mathias answered. He dared not give away Thad’s location. Even friends can turn out to be your enemies. “Well your timing couldn’t have been better.” Mathias smiled giving his friend a pat on the back “It is good to have you here,” Mathias exclaimed.
“Well you need someone to watch your back,” Traiden joked.
“Do you mind watching their backs for the time being? I have an item to retrieve,” Mathias stated.
“Sure. No problem. Happy to help any way I can,” Traiden replied with a grin.
Mathias waited for Traiden to make him self comfortable by the fire before taking to the sky to find Thad.
Thad once again found himself curled up in a burrow wondering what fate was to befall him. Curiosity nagged at him, egging him to peek outside. “No” he told himself, “Mathias told me to stay put, so stay put I will.”
He sat there for a half hour before the nagging got the best of him. He crept to the opening of the burrow, cautiously sticking his head out. He looked left, then right. The entire area was quiet. He pulled himself out and stretched his legs. He’d explored only a few hundred feet when he saw a familiar form appear in the sky.
“Mathias,” he whispered. He quickened his pace running in the direction the form was flying. A few meters ahead the figure descended into a small clump of trees. A few moments later he arrived. He picked his way through the thick undergrowth and around the small rough tree trunks. Suddenly he heard voices. He strained to hear if it was Zyphera and Leath, but they were too muffled. Drawing nearer he realized the voices were unfamiliar. He stopped instantly, tilting his head to see if he could hear what they were saying.
“Do they have the boy?” one voice asked.
“He is here, I just don’t know where,” Another replied.
“Well if you value your life you will find him,” The other commanded.
Thad was smart enough to know they were talking about him. Quietly as he could, he made his way back through the trees. He looked up to see if the figure he had followed was air born. Sure enough it was flying in the direction that they had came. Thad waited till it vanished before exiting the clump of trees.
After crawling back into one of the burrows Thad heard some one approaching. He held his breath wondering if the men from the trees had followed him.
“Thad, Thad are you there? You can come out now,” Mathias called out, sticking his head into the burrow. “Thad?” his pulse quickened as he realized the burrow was empty.
“Yes.”
Mathias pulled his head out of the burrow and look to the left. Thad popped his head out of another burrow “You called,” He said grinning from ear to ear.
“How come it took you so long to answer? You had me worried.”
“Well I had to make sure it was you. You told me to answer to no one but you” Thad stated, “So I was just making sure you were really you.”
“Glad you listened, this time,” Mathias added under his breath.
“I heard that,” Thad said shooting him an evil look. “So where are Zyphera and Leath?” he wondered, peering around Mathias’s towering form.
Mathias hoisted Thad onto his back. “Hold on tight,” was all he said.
Thad did as he was told. A sudden G-force pulled against Thad as Mathias leapt into the air. He tightened his grip around Mathias’s neck fearing he would fall off.
“Not so tight,” Mathias gasped, “I still need to breath you know,” he gagged, trying to loosen the python like squeeze Thad suddenly applied to his Trachea.
“Oh, sorry,” Thad apologized re-adjusting his death grip.
“Thank you,” Mathias said inhaling deeply.
While they flew across the dusky skies, Thad thought about the conversation he over heard in the trees. He debated asking Mathias about it. But the slight bit of fear the conversation left swimming in his veins persuaded him.
“Mathias,” Thad yelled over the loud swooshing of wind rushing past them, “is there any reason someone might be looking for me?” He asked trying to sound causal.
“Why do you ask?” Mathias wondered, turning his head so he could hear. Thad’s question set off an alarm bell that rang in his ears.
“Well I might have overheard a conversation some people were hav
ing. They were talking about finding “the boy” and who had him and where they might be going,” Thad answered still trying to sound casual.
“You left the burrow didn’t you,” Mathias scolded.
“I might have,” Thad replied sheepishly.
“That was reckless and irresponsible. These lands harbor only our enemies Thad. You are very lucky these men did not find you.” Mathias chewed him out slightly.
“I’m sorry,” Thad mumbled realizing how foolish he had been.
“Next time I give you an order I expect you to follow it,” Mathias added, a slight flicker of apprehension sparked in his gut. “So why do you think they were talking about you anyways?” Mathias asked trying to keep his tone from wavering with the sudden worry he felt.
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