by B. D. Suever
Reinard looked at Yemenaris, “Is it wise to sacrifice Mora to the Necrom?”
“What choice do we have? This is out of our hands for the time being,” Yemenaris answered. “Our time will soon come.”
Mora, Nera and Ethan made a stop at the Temple of the Twins to pick up Naveni and say their goodbyes to the villagers and the priest. Then they headed down to the lower level of the city, where they made one final stop at the market place to load up on supplies for the trip to the north.
“How far is the northern border from here?” Ethan asked.
Nera filled a pouch on Naveni’s sadle, “We should be able to get there in three to four days.”
“From there it’s another two-day journey through the desert to reach the Library of Idalia,” Mora added.
As they approached the large doors of the capital city, Nera kept getting the sensation they were being watched. She looked around one final time at the large crowd in the market place to see if anything stood out. She saw nothing, so she continued while scanning their surroundings. They all exited the city and walked towards the nearby farming community just on the outskirts. Nera continued to look behind them, still having the feeling of being watched.
“Oh wow!” Ethan yelled. “Look at all the cows.”
“This is my favorite part of the capital,” Mora said. “I would walk out here every day to get away from the hustle and bustle of the inner city. It's so peaceful out here.”
Ethan went running through the grasslands. Naveni ran after him, chasing him through the field.
“I forget sometimes that he's a child and just wants to play,” Nera said. “I can't imagine what he thinks of all this and how he feels.”
Mora regarded her. “It is a large task put in front of him but I'm sure we can afford to let him be a child from time to time, so it doesn't get too overwhelming.”
Ethan and Naveni wrestled around in the fields for a while. Nera could hear Ethan laughing as they played. Just then, that feeling of being watched came back to her. She stopped suddenly and looked around. “Elder. We are not alone.”
Naveni and Ethan came barreling out of the fields, collapsing in front of Nera and Mora. “This is so much fun. I never thought I'd be playing with a bear,” Ethan panted.
“Be still, Ethan,” Nera said. “We are being watched.”
Ethan stood up. He glanced around the fields and couldn't see anything. Yet he knew if Nera felt something then there was something there.
WHOOSH
An arrow came flying towards Nera. She quickly sidestepped it and caught it in midair.
“He he he he. Guess we can't sneak up on you now, can we, lady hunter?” said a raspy voice from the fields.
The goblin emerged from the wheat field with four others behind him. Three more goblins popped out behind Mora. Ethan gave a sudden gasp as he saw four more goblins sitting on the roof of a nearby house. Naveni let out a growl at two more goblins hanging from a tree across from them.
“Nera,” Ethan said worriedly, “we're surrounded. What do I do?”
Nera was trying to watch all the goblins at once. “Stay close, both of you. Naveni and I will handle this.”
Naveni was prepared to pounce if any of the goblins moved. They all stayed still, however, giggling and chuckling. Their leader pulled out a dagger. “So, here's how this works. We get the old man and the boy; you and the bear get to limp away. Deal?” he asked.
“You’ll have to go through me!” Nera yelled back.
“Can't say I didn't make the offer, lady.” The goblin charged at Nera.
Nera leapt over the lead goblin, landing in the middle of the four behind him. She quickly spun her leg around, knocking two off their feet, while using her bow to knock the other two down. She quickly reached back and drew an arrow, which she shot at one of the goblins behind Ethan. The arrow pierced the goblin's arm, causing him to drop his weapon.
Naveni let out a huge roar and charged the two goblins perched on the tree. She rammed her head into one and swiped her giant claw at the other, leaving three deep claw marks on his chest.
Mora grabbed hold of Ethan and ran towards the house with the goblins on the roof. They were able to make it inside before the goblins could jump down and stop them.
Outside, the goblins were trying to break through the door. One goblin tried to jam his axe in, attempting to break the door completely. They hadn't noticed Naveni charging at them. She rammed into all four of them, knocking them away from the door. She got up on her hind legs and roared at them. Three of them ran off scared while the other stayed, trying to fend off the bear. He swung his weapon wildly at Naveni. Just as he was getting ready to take another swing, an arrow pierced through his hand. The goblin screamed in pain but didn't have time to run away as Naveni swung her giant paw at him, throwing him into a boulder with massive force.
Nera saw that the house was clear of goblins thanks to Naveni. She turned and rushed the leader of the group. He pulled his sword and as he swung it at her, she dropped to her knees and arched backwards, sliding underneath the sword, barely evading the goblin's swing. As she slid past him, she sliced at his lower legs with her dagger, bringing him to his knees. She jumped to her feet and swung her dagger around, but the goblin blocked it with his sword.
“HIIIIYYYAAAAA!” Another goblin jumped down from a nearby tree behind Nera. He had his axe in hand, ready to bring it down on her. She was frozen in place. She couldn't avoid it or move in time.
“GET DOWN!” a voice shouted.
Nera ducked as an ice spike zoomed past her head, piercing the goblin behind her in midair. The force of the spike pushed the goblin back into the tree.
Nera pushed the lead goblin's sword away and ran her dagger into his chest, dropping him to the ground. She turned around to see who had rescued her. “Trixxie?” she cried.
“Miss me, love?” Trixxie yelled back with a laugh.
“What are you doing here?” Nera asked.
Trixxie shot out another ice spike at a charging goblin. “Reunion time later, dear. Let's take care of this filth first. What's the remaining count?”
“Ten, I think,” Nera responded.
“Glorious!” Trixxie said joyously.
Inside the house Mora barred the door to keep Ethan from leaving. “We must remain in here, Ethan,” he said.
Ethan was worried for Nera. “But what if she needs our help?”
Mora spoke firmly. “We would just be in the way. I fear she would be worrying about us too much to keep her focus on the enemy.”
Ethan could hear Nera talking to someone outside. He peeked out the window to see what was going on. He saw Nera fending off a couple goblins and Naveni chasing a goblin around a wagon. Then he saw a blue-haired woman using magic on a goblin. “Who's that?” he asked Mora.
“Ethan, stay away from the windows. We want to remain silent and hidden,” Mora said.
“It's fine. All the goblins are fighting way over the—”
Crash!
Ethan was pulled through the window before he could finish what he was saying. The goblin threw him on the ground and turned to Mora. “Stay there, old man. You're next,” he threatened.
Ethan ran towards the grasslands trying to escape the goblin. He tripped over a rock in the field landing on his stomach. As he rolled onto his back he saw the Goblin was getting closer. He rushed to pull an arrow and get it ready to shoot. He finally got the arrow out of the quiver, nocked it and drew the bow. His hands were shaking with fright. He kept trying to remember what Nera had told him about slow breathing and focus. It was extremely hard for him in this moment. How am I supposed to focus with all this scary craziness going on? he thought. He pulled the arrow back hard and let it loose. It zoomed right past the goblin's neck missing him.
“Close one, kid, but not good enough, hehehe,” the goblin chuckled.
MMMMRRROOOOOOOOOOO!
The goblin turned around quickly and saw that the arrow had pierced a stray bull in the
butt. The bull let out a scream of anger and began to chase the goblin.
“ARRRRGGGHHHHHH! Stupid cow! Stay away!” the goblin yelled as he ran from the bull.
The bull let out another scream of anger as it caught up to the goblin ramming its head hard into the goblin, launching him into the backside of another stray bull. As the goblin stood on wobbly legs the other bull kicked its back leg hard across the goblins face knocking a couple teeth out and dropping him to the floor.
Ethan let out a sigh of relief and laughed at what had just happened to the goblin. He quickly got up, grabbed his bow, and rushed to help Nera.
Nera was fighting hand to hand with one of the goblins. Just as the goblin lunged at her, she sidestepped him and hit him hard in the neck, causing him to fall to the ground choking. As he tried to catch his breath, Nera kicked him hard across the face.
One of the goblins attempted to run away and escape into the nearby woods. “Naveni!” Trixxie yelled. Naveni turned and rushed towards Trixxie. She hopped on Naveni's back and they raced after the goblin. The goblin turned just in time to see Trixxie swing a scythe made of ice in his direction, chopping his head off. Trixxie jumped off Naveni's back and gave her a pat on the head. “Good girl. I've missed you,” she said with a smile.
Back at the house, two of the goblins had Mora cornered inside. “Let's go, old man. You have a date with the Necrom,” one of them said.
Before they could grab hold of Mora, Nera burst through the front door. She immediately threw her dagger at one of the goblins. The dagger pierced his chest and his body fell backwards with a loud thud. The other goblin was screaming and cursing at Nera.
Just as Nera approached the goblin, another one swooped down from the rafters above and kicked her hard. She went crashing through the window, landing in the dirt outside. The goblin rushed out to sustain the attack on Nera while the other goblin dealt with Mora.
“Let's go, hunter witch. Let's see what you got,” the goblin said.
Nera stood up, preparing to fight. The goblin ran at her then suddenly fell to the ground, screaming. She looked at the goblin's leg and saw an arrow sticking out of his thigh. Off to her left was Ethan, standing there with his bow in hand.
“Nice shot, Ethan,” she said with a grin. She walked up to the goblin, picked him up by his armor and punched him in the face, “Had enough?” The goblin tried to mutter out an insult, but Nera gave him a nasty headbutt, knocking him unconscious.
Trixxie and Naveni rushed back over to Nera and Ethan. They all ran to the house to save Mora, but it was too late. As they entered the house they saw that the goblin was gone, and Mora was face down on the floor. Nera rushed to his side and lifted him up. Mora groaned in pain and Nera saw the blood spilling from his stomach. “Get me something to bandage this with!” she yelled.
“N- n- no. Don't try to save me,” Mora said. He let out a long sigh. “It's my time, child. I told you I saw this coming. It is time to let go.”
Nera held Mora tightly, not wanting to let go. “I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I tried to save you,” she said. Tears fell down her face.
Trixxie walked up to Mora and sat down next to him. She held his hand in hers. “I'm sorry I wasn't in time,” she said.
Ethan stood there, watching sadly, “Wait! I know magic. I can heal him.” He raised his hand up trying different methods to bring out the inner light.
“It's ok, Ethan. Don't waste your energy on me,” Mora murmured. “It is simply my time.” He looked over to Trixxie and then Nera. “I will always consider you two girls as my granddaughters. You brought so much joy to my life.” He began to cough up blood.
“Elder, you must stop talking. Save your energy,” Nera said.
Mora shook his head. “No. You must hear this. You two have found each other again. You must remember that you are stronger together than apart. Work together, never leave each other, and you can take on any enemy.” He coughed. “Protect the Avent.” With a labored breath, he said, “Please fulfill this old man's dying wish.” His head fell back into Nera's arms as the last gasp of air escaped him.
Nera hugged him tightly while Trixxie squeezed his hand. Ethan sat there watching.. He hadn’t known Mora for very long but the elder had been really nice to him. He hugged Naveni as he watched the sisters. Nera placed her hand over Mora's face and closed his eyes. She and Trixxie lifted him up and carried him outside.
Ethan helped gather wood to place around the elder. Nera and Trixxie laid Elder Mora down on some wooden beams. They began to place wood around him, along with leaves and branches as kindling.
Trixxie bowed her head as Nera lit the wood around Mora. “Goodbye, dear friend. I am sorry I couldn't do more to help you,” Nera said. “I will keep my promise to you and I will protect the Avent.”
Trixxie reached her hand out to her sister and they embraced as the fire lit the night's sky.
A single tear fell down Ethan's face as he watched the dancing flames consume Mora.
Ethan stared off in the distance as he rode Naveni. He was still trying to wrap his mind around the events that had happened to him in the past few days. Meeting the steward, his inner light, the attack from the goblins, and losing Mora. It was all so much in such a short amount of time.
“It's been three days and you haven't said one word,” Trixxie said, glancing at Nera.
Nera had Naveni stop. She looked back at Trixxie. “We'll make camp here tonight. Tomorrow, we'll reach the border.” Her tone of voice was cold. She helped Ethan off Naveni’s back. “How’s your leg Ethan?”
“It’s fine. The medicine you put on it helps but it still hurts a little to walk.” Ethan could feel the tension between the sisters. There was an uncomfortable atmosphere and he wanted to get away from it. “I'm gonna go gather some firewood. Maybe walking will help it feel better” he said as he limped off.
Trixxie sat down near a tree. “So, are you going to break the silence?” she asked.
Nera shrugged. “What do you want me to say, Trix?”
“Well, a thank you would be nice for starters. I happened to save your life,” Trixxie said.
Nera kicked a rock in frustration. “A thank you? Are you kidding me with this?” She stared at her sister. “You left me when I needed you the most and then you show up years later and expect things to be as they were?”
Trixxie's expression hardened. “Don't try to throw that in my face. You know I couldn't stay after Rorick's death. Having everyone in the village remind you daily that your brother is gone is not how I wanted to spend my life. So yeah, I left.”
Nera placed rocks in a circle for the campfire. “You could have handled things differently. You could have told me where you were going, stopped by to see me, or at least let me know you were alive and well.” She straightened to capture Trixxie's gaze. “I have worried about you every day since you left. I had no idea if you were alive, injured or dead.”
They both sat there for a moment, letting the conversation sink in. A loud crash suddenly broke the silence. Ethan had tripped over the rock Nera kicked and fell face first onto the ground, dropping all the wood he had gathered.
“Stupid rock!” Ethan said as he stood up and dusted himself off.
Trixxie walked over to help Ethan gather up the wood. “So you're the fabled Avent that's come to save us all?” she grinned. “I didn't expect the Avent to be a clumsy child.” She laughed as she looked back at Nera.
Nera cracked a smile at Trixxie's joke. “You should have seen him when we first met. Clothes all burned up, his bare butt out in the open for the world to see. That would have made you laugh.”
Ethan and Trixxie threw the wood in the rock circle while Nera started the fire. “Ha Ha. Very funny, you guys,” Ethan said.
Nera pulled out some meat to fry up in the fire. She placed a few slabs on some twigs and hung them over the fire to let them cook. “So where did you go, Trix?” she asked.
Trixxie settled near the fire. “Well, to be honest, for the first coup
le months I just wandered around the outskirts of Dragenmar. An Erenmar witch found me sleeping in a pile of hay and offered to take me with her, so I decided to go.”
Nera looked at her. “Erenmar?”
“Yeah. She said she saw potential in me and offered to draw it out. I just looked at it as an adventure and a warmer place to sleep.” She shrugged. “So, they trained me in the art of magic and I learned to handle the ice element.”
“That's how you were able to create those spikes you were throwing out,” Nera said.
Trixxie nodded. “I was there for two years learning to perfect the spells. The Erenmar council didn't like me from day one. They said I was out of control, arrogant and didn't belong. They later banished me after a tinsy, winsy incident and told me to never return.”
“Tinsy, winsy huh,” Nera said. “Why didn't you come home after that?”
Trixxie’s expression turned somber. “Honestly? I felt I would have been looked at as a freak or something because of how my appearance has changed and my abilities. The only one who would've accepted me is you.”
Nera looked sadly at her sister. “People do judge but our village would have accepted you. You should have had more faith in our people.”
“True,” said Trixxie. “I'm sorry I left you, Nera, and I'm sorry I wasn't there in time to save Orius or Mora.”
Nera gave a slight nod. “It's ok. You’re here now. It's hard, but we have to carry on and fulfill their wishes.”
“So, you're a witch,” Ethan interrupted.
Trixxie glanced at him. “And you're the Avent. So, what's your story, Ethan?”
He frowned. “My story?”
“You know, where you came from, how your journey has been, your feelings about all that's happened to you since arriving on Terah,” Trixxie said.
Ethan looked at Nera as if asking for approval to say anything to Trixxie. Nera nodded to him. “It's ok, Ethan. She can be trusted. You can tell her.”
Ethan sat there with Trixxie for a good hour, telling her about the book he found in his world, being drawn into the world of Terah, the goblin that attacked him in the forest, and his meeting with Joraya. Trixxie sat with a smile, listening to everything. When he was done, she looked over at Nera. “I see why you like this kid. He reminds me a lot of Rorick.”