“We thought you ditched us,” Evan said.
“Hey, we were as surprised as you were.”
“Still, a little warning would have been nice,” said Manuel, letting his tense shoulders relax a little.
“Greetings, Warriors.” A diminutive figure in a purple robe appeared from nowhere, his face hidden by a draping hood. Ruwach. Their guide in Ahoratos.
“Welcome back.” His voice was huge compared to his body, so big it filled the kids’ minds as well as the Cave. They had never actually seen Ruwach’s face, although they’d had glimpses from time to time of something that might have been a nose or eyes. Ruwach was still very much a mystery to them, and he seemed to like it that way. But he was also their friend; his very presence had become a strange sort of comfort to them.
“Ruwach!” said Ivy, running over to hug the small figure. Brianna did the same. “We’re so glad to see you!” The boys looked at each other and rolled their eyes.
“I am glad to see you as well,” said Ruwach with a slight chuckle. “I have something special to show you today—”
“I have a question,” Manuel said, raising his hand as if he were in school. “Why was the Water on earth? I mean, normally when the Crest brings us to Ahoratos, we have to find the Water ourselves, but this time it found us, on earth, which seems out of the ordinary.”
“Today is an out-of-the-ordinary day,” Ruwach said. “You will understand in a little while. We must go now.”
The kids glanced at each other. Ruwach seemed to be in an unusual hurry, which meant they were about to do something exciting and probably dangerous. Which might be fun but then again, might not.
“Where are we going?” Evan asked.
“Someplace you have not yet been. You will see. Follow me.”
CHAPTER 2
Finn
Finn ran to the edge of the rocky precipice and skidded to a halt, sending a flurry of pebbles into the deep fog below. His heart beat like crazy in his chest. He couldn’t look down without feeling dizzy. He panted hard, struggling for breath.
The narrow rock he stood on shook as the pounding footfalls of the Forgers closed in. Finn had no idea where he was now. But he knew he had nowhere to go.
* * *
Finn had been out exploring the land of Ahoratos, learning the ins and outs of being a Prince Warrior. After a life spent in the dark prison of Skot’os, the beauty and splendor offered on this side of Ahoratos nearly overwhelmed his senses. Forests with trees as tall as mountains, rivers and streams with water that sparkled like fine jewels, rolling hills choked with wildflowers of every imaginable color. Color itself was something wholly new to Finn, who had lived in a world of endless gray for as long as he could remember.
He was about to head back to the Cave when he heard a sound—like a cry for help—so pitiful and sad it nearly broke his heart. He’d heard that sound before, coming from his own mouth as he had sat in Ponéros’s prison, losing all hope that he would ever get out. He ran toward the pathetic wail, which led him to a bridge that spanned a deep chasm.
He stopped, gazing at the pretty, cobblestoned walkway with the ivy-covered railings. Was this the Bridge of Tears that separated Skot’os from the rest of Ahoratos, the one he had heard about when he was still a prisoner? He wasn’t sure.
But then the cry came again. Finn drew nearer. As he did, he noticed that halfway across the bridge, the rustic cobblestones morphed into black steel girders, which disappeared into a thick fog on the other side. He felt a chill run down his spine. Skot’os must lie beyond that fog, he thought. But he assumed that as long as he stayed on this side of the bridge, he would be okay.
Again the horrible cry of distress filled the air, and a figure emerged from the fog, limping toward Finn over the metal girders. He gasped—it looked like a prisoner of Skot’os. The figure was dragging one of his metal-encased legs behind him, obviously struggling, desperate to escape from that dark, malevolent place. Finn felt a rush of adrenaline—he had to help rescue this prisoner as he himself had been rescued! He had been hoping for an opportunity like this ever since he’d received his armor from Ruwach and begun learning the ways of the Prince Warriors.
Without thinking further, Finn ran over the bridge toward the prisoner, who looked at him pleadingly, whimpering, unable to speak any words.
“I’ll help you!” Finn whispered. “Quickly! Come with me!”
Finn reached out to take hold of the prisoner’s arm—but as soon as he did, he knew he’d made a mistake. The prisoner’s half-human face darkened and hardened, his body lengthened, straightened, new plates of metal taking over the uneven patches of human flesh. The prisoner’s human-looking eyes disappeared behind round, red, glowing discs. This was not a prisoner at all. It was a Forger. One of the freakish, metalized agents of the enemy.
Finn snatched his hand away and turned to run. The Forger grabbed for his shoulder, but Finn managed to evade him. He glanced back and saw that there were several more of them, charging out of the mist on the Skot’os side of the bridge. They’d lain in wait for him. It was a trap.
Finn was naturally pretty fast, and his boots made him feel as though he were flying over the cobblestones. But the Forgers’ huge steps covered twice as much ground at the same time. Once off the bridge, Finn tried to run back to the Cave, but he wasn’t sure of the way. And he was too busy fleeing Forgers to pay attention to the blinking light of his breastplate.
Now he regretted it. Somehow, he had made a wrong turn and ended up trapped on this narrow ledge that jutted out over a seemingly bottomless pit. He skidded to a halt and heard the sound of pebbles cascading into the deep fog below. There was no escape.
His heart pounded. He struggled to breathe.
“Ruwach! Someone! Help me!” Finn cried aloud.
He got no reply.
The Forgers closed in on him, their metal hands reaching out to grab him. Finn knew he was done for. He would turn back into the half-metal prisoner he’d been before. No. He couldn’t let that happen. He wasn’t going back there again.
Then he remembered his shield. He pulled the tiny red seed out of his pocket and thrust his arm out before him. The shield burst forth from his tightly closed fist, a spray of brilliant red lights creating a dome of protection around him. The Forgers stopped in their tracks and roared, waving their metal arms around angrily.
Finn let out a breath of relief. He kept his arm straight out and tried to take a step forward, pushing back against the strength of the Forgers with his shield. But they appeared to be immovable. He tried again with no luck. He kept his arm erect but began to feel the pressure of the Forgers mounting as they closed in on him. Pushing. Pressing. He struggled to keep his shield deployed.
As he stood there, protected but still surrounded, he felt the ground under his feet shift. He glanced down and saw a crack forming in the rock of the precipice. In a moment it would break off, and he would fall into the pit.
“Tell me what to do!” he called out, hoping Ruwach, wherever he was, could hear.
The orb of his breastplate began to spin, churning out words that hovered in the air before him.
Resist the enemy, and he will flee.
Finn remembered this instruction from The Book the last time he’d been with Ruwach in the Cave. That word rolled around in his mind.
Resist.
The only other time he’d heard about resistance was from his high-school football coach during weight training. “The heavier the resistance, the more muscle you will build. The stronger you will become!” he had bellowed over the clank-clank sound of the heavy metal plates.
Resist the enemy, and he will flee.
Build strength.
Heavier. More muscle.
Finn braced himself, gathering all his strength and focusing it on the arm that held the shield. This was all he could think to do. He opened his
mouth and let out a thunderous growl as he pushed his shield into the Forgers with all his might. Then he took one step toward them.
Resist . . . resist . . .
He took another step, gasping for breath, every muscle in his body straining to the breaking point. He could feel the rock he stood on give way; he could hear the ominous cracking, the showering of pebbles as it began to break. He kept his focus on his shield, moving, pushing, resisting.
His renewed resolve seemed to weaken the Forgers, for now they were inching backward, their heavy iron feet kicking up dust and dirt that lodged in their metal joints, causing them to stumble.
Resist!
The faltering of the Forgers gave Finn new energy, and he pushed harder and harder, leaping over the crack just as the rocky precipice broke free. He teetered on the edge of the chasm, throwing all his weight into the force of the shield. He thought his arm might break from the effort, but he kept it out straight, his fist clamped on the seed. He took another step. And another.
Resist.
Soon he was clear of the edge and gaining traction, pushing the now powerless and clumsy Forgers backward. A new plan formed in his mind. He sidestepped in a circle so that the Forgers were forced to swivel with him. Now they were the ones with their backs to the chasm.
Finn let out a yell, a brawling victory cry as he thrust the Forgers steadily backward, his resistance as lethal to them as kryptonite to Superman. The Forgers howled as if in pain, waving their arms helplessly.
Finn was practically running now as he steered the Forgers right to the edge. With one last powerful thrust he sent them reeling over the cliff. He watched as all of them cascaded into the mist below, disappearing from view. He stood motionless for several seconds, shocked and paralyzed at the sound of their pitiful cries. As the noise subsided, Finn retracted his shield and stared out into the empty distance.
He closed his eyes and let out a long, long breath. It was over. He’d done it. He’d faced the Forgers and beaten them. But instead of pride, he felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude. Without the guidance of Ruwach, the instruction from the Source, and the power of the armor, he would never have prevailed.
“Well done, Prince Finn.”
Finn whirled to see Ruwach standing behind him, his hands folded into the long sleeves of his purple robe, his face still invisible in the deep hood. Finn knelt at once, bowing his head. He always did this when Ruwach appeared to him; Ruwach had taken away his metal parts and made him whole again. Fully human again. His only desire now was to serve Ruwach and the Source with all of his being.
Suddenly Finn noticed that Ruwach was not alone. The other Prince Warriors he’d met in the Cave walked up beside him, looking at Finn quizzically. They seemed surprised to find themselves here. With him.
“What happened?” asked the tallest one, Xavier. “Where’d those Forgers go?”
Finn pointed silently to the edge of the cliff.
“What . . . they just—went over?” said the youngest, Evan. He looked shocked.
“Did you throw them off?” said Levi, the kid with the low-cut afro.
Finn shrugged. “I just . . . resisted.”
“You did indeed,” said Ruwach. “They didn’t anticipate you would.”
“Who? The Forgers?”
Ruwach nodded. “They did not expect one so young or newly freed to know the secret power of resistance.”
Finn lifted his head a little in a humble sort of pride.
“You were tested,” Ruwach continued, “and now you have been strengthened by your resolve. You are ready now.” He paused as if in thoughtful reflection. “In fact, you all are.” He extended one of his long arms out to encompass the kids.
“Ready? For what?” said the dark-haired girl, Brianna, tilting her head.
Ruwach’s arm stretched up; his white glowing hand emerged from his sleeve, one long finger pointing toward something in the distance. Finn and the children all turned to look in that direction.
Ruwach was pointing to the tall mountain that stood at the very center of Ahoratos. Its peak was invisible underneath a veil of clouds, but only for a moment. When Ruwach pointed, the clouds began to separate, pulling back like a curtain to reveal the top of the mountain fully for the first time. It was entirely flat, as if the tip had been cut off.
“Cool,” whispered the red-haired girl, Ivy. “A volcano.”
“Possibly a fumarole,” said Manuel, who seemed to know about such things. “Although I’ve never seen anything quite like that.”
A thick white vapor steamed from the flat peak of the mountain. It did look an awful lot like a volcano. Except different. For although the mountain appeared very still and calm, they could sense a movement within it, like the pulse of blood pumping through a vein. Somehow, the entire mountain seemed to rise and fall steadily. And they were certain that they could hear a soft whispy sound ascend from its flattened peak, each hushed exhale in cadence with the steady rhythm.
It was as if the mountain were . . . breathing.
“The Mountain of Rhema,” Ruwach said. He spoke the words very quietly, as if even he were awed by them. “The mountain awakens when it is time.”
“Time for what?” Xavier stepped forward, his eyes glued to Ruwach.
“Time for you to receive your swords.”
CHAPTER 3
The Mountain of Rhema
Yes!” Evan jumped in the air, beside himself with joy. “Finally! Swords! Real swords!”
“Chill, Van,” said Xavier, using the nickname he’d given his little brother when he was a baby. He put a hand on Evan’s shoulder to calm him down, although he was just as excited. It was about time, after all.
“But why are we out here?” Levi said, glancing around. “The swords are in the Cave, right? We saw them in the Hall of Armor the first time we came to Ahoratos.”
“You must receive your sword from the mountain,” said Ruwach.
“From the volcano?” asked Ivy, tilting her head in confusion.
“It’s the Mountain of Rhema,” Xavier said, as if he’d been the only one listening. Rhema. He wondered what the word meant. He’d have to look it up when he got home.
“You must draw your sword from the breath of the mountain,” said Ruwach.
“The mountain can breathe?” Brianna asked, fascinated.
“It is the breath of the Source,” said Ruwach.
“Oh, so, the Source is in the mountain,” Ivy declared.
“No. The Source is not of one place but every place. The Source lends breath to the mountain when it is time for Prince Warriors to receive their swords.”
They were all silent, contemplating this.
“So, it’s not a fumarole,” Manuel said, scratching his chin thoughtfully.
“What’s a femoral?” asked Evan.
“Fancy word for volcano,” said Brianna.
“Not exactly—” Manuel began. But Ruwach cut him off.
“You must leave now. Time is of the essence. Go.”
“Go?” asked Xavier, pointing to the tall, distant peak. “You mean . . . up there?”
“Yes. You must reach the top of the mountain before the sun has turned once in the sky.”
“But you’re coming too, right?” Evan asked. “I mean, that’s a really big mountain. We could get lost. . . .”
“Your armor will lead you, as always,” Ruwach said. His voice was becoming more distant as his form began to fade. “Keep your eyes open, Warriors. The enemy does not want you to succeed. . . .”
“Wait!” shouted Brianna, but Ruwach was already gone.
* * *
The kids stood looking at each other for a long moment, wondering what to do.
“Guess we need to go,” said Xavier, glancing up once more at the very tall, smoking mountain. “If we want our swords.”
; “It’s strange we have to go and get them,” said Levi. “I mean, all the other pieces of armor Ruwach just gave us.”
“Guess the swords are different,” said Ivy.
“I’m not sure I actually need a sword,” said Manuel, backing up a little. “I mean, I don’t think I’d be much good in a sword fight anyway. So why don’t you guys go on up, and I’ll stay here and keep watch—”
Levi shook his head. “No, Manuel, you’ve tried staying behind before. Remember how that turned out? You’re coming too. And so is Finn, right Finn?”
Everyone turned to look at Finn. He had been so quiet; they had almost forgotten he was there. He was older than the rest of them, high-school age, and a lot bigger too. He seemed a bit out of place, but he met their curious gazes with a shy smile and a shrug.
“Guess so.”
“Great,” said Levi with a nod. “Let’s go.”
“How about we get Tannyn to give us a ride?” asked Evan, looking around for the dragon/sea monster who’d helped them out of so many jams. “He’s got to be around here somewhere.”
“Only Ruwach can send for Tannyn,” said Ivy. “And he didn’t. So I think he expects us to walk.”
“Walk? All the way up there? Before the sun sets? Impossible!” said Brianna.
“If Ruwach says to go,” said Xavier, “it means we have everything we need to do it. Right?”
Brianna sighed. “I guess so.”
“All right then.” Xavier took a step. As soon as he did, his breastplate lit up, a bright steady beam. Xavier let out a breath; he knew he was going in the right direction. He had learned to trust the breastplate, even when it pointed in a direction he didn’t really want to go. “This way.”
He started walking, with Levi close behind. The girls followed, with Manuel and Evan and Finn bringing up the rear. They walked in silence for a while, Xavier always on alert for anything out of the ordinary. He had learned to be vigilant even on this side of Ahoratos where Ruwach ruled, for the enemy had a way of setting traps in the most unlikely of places.
The Prince Warriors and the Swords of Rhema Page 2