by Adam Cairney
Chapter 22.
Days passed, and turned into weeks. Weeks passed, and turned into months, and things slowly returned to normal. The city gradually rebuilt itself, healing its wounds and patching itself up. The scars remained though, big, repaired holes running along the streets and alleyways literally looking like healed cuts and in a way they were, scars that the city would bear forever. With the Cloud gone, and most of the scholars in the city with it, transformed into the nightmare creatures they had been, the city considered what to do.
The mayor had proposed a new site for learning, for discovery. People were at first, and with good reason, a little sceptical. However the few remaining scholars that hadn’t been on the Cloud at the time everything had happened agreed to certain guidelines, particular regulations. Everything was to be made public, open to everybody, to help avoid any dangerous discoveries from being hidden in the future. The mistakes of the past would not quickly be repeated, so the scholars had vowed.
And so the rebuilding began. The Cloud had originally been anchored in place in the centre of the city, and had been part of the giant, buoyant rock that Spectrum had been built around. There had still been a sizeable amount of the stuff left at the centre, a large area of nothing but the rock. It was agreed that the new Cloud should be built there. Of course, it wasn’t the Cloud any more, and so from day one it was simply referred to as the Rock. A gorgeous site had quickly been built, with Spectrum’s two rivers flowing out of the centre of it.
Molly looked out of her window. From where she was she could just see the top of the construction works in the distance. They were building a new Grand Hall as she looked out, along with several other centres for learning, although there would be no work going on today. It was grey, overcast and miserable, she could hear periodic thunder in the distance and little rivulets ran down her window, confirming just how horrible the weather was. It reflected her mood quite adequately.
As she sat she thought back to the events of a few months ago. The two of them had been hailed as heroes. She had been given the key to the city, standing up on a stage in front of everyone and anyone who could attend to show their gratitude. She had even been granted membership to the Cloud, or the Rock, whatever it was called now. She didn’t really care anymore though. She had attended all the ceremonies, functions and parades alone. All she had really wanted was Elijah there.
They had saved the city, but the cost had been high, incredibly so. Hundreds if not thousands of normal, everyday people had died during the few days Azrael had terrorized the city. One of those had been her close friend. She let her mind wander for a moment, and then she began to think of Noah, and of Percy, and let out a deep sigh. What a miserable day.
Molly turned on her stool and looked around at her kitchen. Her studies had managed to migrate from the basement all the way up here, and the table and sides were now littered with half-finished projects and experiments. Nothing was really piquing her interest though, and she shook her head, wondering what on earth she was going to do. She wasn’t wondering long before there was a knock at the door.
She got up from where she was sitting and slowly padded across the room and out through to the entry hall to see who it was, but couldn’t quite figure it out. She had not been expecting guests. She approached the front door, passing a small shadow box with the key to the city in it on the wall. She had originally framed it, briefly caught up in the excitement of the time, but barely even glanced at it now. She reached the door and undid the lock, and opened it to see who was calling. There, standing in front of her, was Elijah.
He was standing there with a long, thin metal cane, leaning on it for support. “I absolutely hate the rain.” He said as he stood there.
Molly didn’t react for the longest time. She just stood, motionless, staring at him with increasingly widening eyes, and then all of a sudden she shrieked with joy. Bounding out of the front door she threw her arms around him, nearly knocking him off his feet. He winced, and tottered back a little, using the cane he had with him for support. Molly had tears rolling down her face as they embraced. She invited him in straight away, and he followed her back inside with a big grin.
“How are you…I mean what…I thought you were gone! I mean, I stayed by your side for weeks and weeks. They said you would never recover! And now you’re walking!” She spluttered as she whipped around the kitchen, clearing sides and making some space to make a pot of tea.
“I am indeed. Bit of a surprise I know. I wanted to keep it a surprise, just come over and show you. I had heard you’ve been kind of miserable since everything happened you see.” He said, sitting down on one of the stools awkwardly and resting his cane across his legs. “They said it turned out it was just time, that my body healed itself somehow. They aren’t exactly sure how, especially after that splinter of wood impaled me…They said because it was my lower back that they thought I would never walk… lovely stuff to wake up to.”
“I know, I remember!” Molly exclaimed, still pottering about, “The witnesses at the scene of the crash said you’d been shouting at people to come and help me, even though you had practically half a tree sticking out of you. You didn’t even realize.” She stopped and looked at him. “I don’t really care how it happened, I just can’t believe you’re back. Back on your feet. I don’t know what I would have done if you’d never woken up. Here you go by the way.” And she slid a cup of tea across the table to him, which he gratefully accepted.
They talked for a long time. They discussed absolutely everything, from what had happened, to the rebuilding of the Cloud, now known as the Rock. They pondered over what would become of Azrael, and both agreed they had surely seen the last of him. Elijah also caught up on how the city itself was doing, as the majority of the time he had been awake thus far had been spent in one hospital. One unfortunate but inevitable topic that came up was the fate of Noah and Percy.
“I heard what happened to the both of them” Elijah spoke up as the topic was broached. “He would have done it a hundred times over, you know.”
Molly sighed. She had had plenty of time to dwell on this over the last few months, and had come to terms with the fact that their old friend was gone. It didn’t make it any easier though, and she was sure the pain would endure for some time. She felt a familiar lump in her throat form as Elijah said he would be sorely missed, and all she could do was nod. They toasted his memory, and spent a little time reminiscing about the times they had had together. They swore that he would not soon be forgotten.
Eventually, after many hours and plenty of cups of tea, the conversation turned to what was to happen next for them. “I’d like to get back into work, to be honest,” Elijah said when Molly asked him about what he wanted to do, “Maybe we could take on a couple of easier jobs to get us back into the swing of things? I don’t know if you’ve given it any thought or..?”
“Yeah I have, I was hoping you’d say something like that. I’ve had dozens of requests while you’ve been in hospital. I’ll trawl through all the letters we’ve got and we can see what’s what. I mean, as long as you’re able to…” She glanced down at the cane as she spoke the last bit. Elijah assured her he was more than ready and able. As he finished speaking, as if on cue, a letter fell through the front door, hitting the floor below. Elijah said he would get it, and got up slowly, leaning on his cane, to go and pick it up. Molly sighed as he left the room. Elijah was back! Walking as well! He was getting better, and things would finally get back to the way they were. Everything was going to be alright. She thought to herself once again that she didn’t quite know what she would have done if he hadn’t recovered. She had spent so many nights by his side in the hospital. They had eventually sent her home, against her will. It didn’t matter now though.
Elijah came limping back into the kitchen, a frown on his face. In his hand he held an opened envelope with a letter. He was scanning it intently, his frown deepening with each line that he read. After a moment of him reading and seem
ingly re-reading it in silence Molly started to panic and wonder what it said.
“Was it addressed to both of us? What does it say?” She asked as Elijah finally sat back down. He looked up from the letter deep in thought for a second, and then snapped out of it.
“Yeah, both of us. Here listen to this. It’s…interesting…” And with that he cleared his throat and began to read the letter out, stopping once for a quick gulp of tea. The letter read as follows:
“Let me begin with an apology. Several really, and let me get straight to them. Firstly, I’m sorry that you had to deal with my brother, Azrael. I knew he could be a troubled soul, but never counted on this. Had I been able to assist in any way I would have, rest assured. Secondly, I apologise that whatever damage was done, was done. Both to yourselves and to your fair city. I was only in Spectrum briefly, but I very much enjoyed what I saw of it. Time heals all, however, and it will heal both your wonderful city and both of you too. My third, and final apology, is for what is to come. You won’t have been aware of this, no one would have been, but we are linked, all of us. I feel my brother’s pain even now as I write this letter. It pains me to say this, but worse is to come. My brothers and sister are not as placid as I, and will no doubt seek revenge on the both of you. There is but one thing I can offer, and that is my aid. I once tested you to see what you would do, and neither of you disappointed me. It isn’t every day an old man in a cable carriage pulls a sword on you, but you didn’t back down, and you didn’t turn and run. You are both worthy of and deserve my help, and I would be happy to give it, should you wish to seek me out. I can be found in Vaardas, in the Northern continent of Tyreem. I know this to be a long journey for the two of you, but believe me when I say you are going to need my support. I hope we meet before too long, and until we do, good luck, and god speed. Your future friend, Sartathur.
P.S – I have enclosed a token that should prove useful upon your arrival. Guard it well.”
Elijah finished reading and took another long swallow of tea, draining the cup as Molly digested what she had just heard. She shook her head in disbelief.
“It can’t be real. That can’t be true, any of it, surely?” She questioned as she sat there. “What about the envelope it came in, anything written on it?”
Elijah turned the envelope over to show her the front of it. On the front it contained simply both of their first names, and a blue wax seal, now broken. Molly’s jaw dropped. “Elijah, do you realise what that seal is?” She asked.
“Yeah, I’ve seen it a couple of times. Royal seal from Vaardas, right? I think this is legitimate, Molly. I think we need to pay this…Sartarthur a visit.”
“I…I mean, the penalty for imitating the royal seal is death. Only a madman would do it.” She thought for a moment, and then asked, “What’s the token he included?”
Elijah realised he hadn’t even taken it out of the envelope yet, and tipped it upside down just above his hand. Nothing fell out for a moment, and then a tiny, copper coloured feather drifted down to land gently on his palm. This was the final, undeniable proof of where the letter had come from. The feather, if genuine, which it seemed to be, was from a rare desert peacock, kept only in the royal gardens of Vaardas.
It didn’t take long for the two of them to come to a decision. They sat and discussed everything they knew and had just read for a little while, but they both knew what their decision was going to be about following the letter up. If everything they had just read was accurate and true, they knew they were going to need to leave anyway. They couldn’t risk hurting the city any further, especially if there were going to be people coming for them. As soon as they had decided on what to do Elijah stood up to leave, to go and pack some things for the journey. Molly told him she would do the same, and they bid each other farewell, agreeing to meet at the North-western gate of the city, one of two exits, the other being in the South-west. It made sense to meet at the Northerly one though, as that was where they were heading. Elijah left to pack, promising he would see her again soon, and Molly went to do the same.
Before either of them knew it, it was the next morning, and the sun was already gaining height, warming the streets. As Molly wound her way along the twisting passages towards the gate, she couldn’t help but admire one last time just how beautiful Spectrum was. It was as if the recent events had enhanced the rainbows in the air. They seemed more vivid to her now than they ever had been. Maybe they were. Either way, she loved this place, and she knew she was going to miss it. This needed to be done though, if there was even a slight chance of what the letter had explained being real, they were gladly going to take any help they could get. Forging the royal seal on the envelope was punishable by death after all, and how else would a complete stranger have known about the man on the carriage? Molly was quite certain it was genuine.
She looked up as she exited the twisting, winding passageways that opened up to the large forum area around the main gate. People were bustling to and fro, already peddling their wares or heading to work. Several greeted her and offered her various things, pieces of fruit or clothing as she walked past. She had become one of the most recognized people in Spectrum since everything had happened. She always politely declined, and carried on, acknowledging everyone she could with a smile. Life had returned to normal in Spectrum pretty quickly, but not for her or Elijah. As she wove her way through the crowds she spotted him leaning against a wall next to the gates, and hurried over.
“Hey, you ready to do this?” He asked as she got close. She nodded, shifting the large pack on her back to make it more comfortable. They had both packed and prepared well, and dressed sensibly. It was going to be a long journey, that much was certain.
“You know…” Elijah spoke as he looked around, leaning on his cane, “I love this place. I think it’s more beautiful to me now than it ever was before.”
Molly smiled at him. “I know the feeling all too well.” She agreed. Elijah looked at her and nodded. “Well in that case, let’s make sure we keep it safe.” And with that he turned and began to walk towards the main gates. They passed the guards without a fuss, everyone in the city knew their faces these days, and then they were outside the walls, people coming and going, milling around them, the long road ahead stretching out in front of them. Looking around they could see for miles and miles. Focusing on the North, they could see the tips of the mountains in the very distance. That was their destination
“Well…This is probably going to be incredibly dangerous but then, when are our lives not? You ready for another adventure then?” Elijah asked Molly as they began to walk down the path.
“You know what?” She replied, “I think I really am.”
And so onwards they went, travelling to the North, to whatever Tyreem might hold in store, the mountains ahead of them in the distance stretching up to the heavens, leaving Spectrum behind, radiant and glowing like a beautiful rainbow in the sun.
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Look out for part two, coming soon!
Many thanks,
Adam Cairney