“Emil! Skye!” The space in front of the young hero ripped open as the atmosphere rhythmically contorted. “When I heard what happened I was so worried!” Marona said as she wrapped her arms around Emil. “Thank God you’re both okay!” She broke away from him and hugged Skye. Omari watched the exchange as he clung to the strap that hung over his shoulder—something he didn’t have before he left. Eric, the blacksmith they saved, was by Omari’s side, noticeably reserved, but that was to be expected given that his world had been changed dramatically since the day he was put on trial. More so on the day Omari and the others saved his life.
“Omari, how’s Everrmore?” Emil asked.
“Good. It seems that we left just before the reinforcements from the city began to move towards the square. From what I saw, not many were injured from our course of action but rather by the panic that ensued. The medical teams were already doing their job when I arrived. It could have been a lot worse.”
“Well that’s good news. I hope everything turns out okay.”
“We were lucky that things didn’t escalate more so than they already have,” Omari responded, his face and tone still expressionless. “The people of Everrmore have already been through enough.”
“I agree...is that why you have the bag?”
“Yes, Marona and I gathered supplies before the meeting in case we had to go.”
“So that’s what we’re doing, isn’t it? Leaving.”
“Leaving but not running,” Omari said as he walked past Emil. “After what happened today, it’s best that we go elsewhere. At least for the time being.”
“But where?”
“Omari and I discussed a place. My village,” Marona interjected. “It’s small but it’s an option. It’s also not that far on foot. Only a couple of days.”
“The main thing is that we disappear until things further unfold,” Omari continued. “With Legion at large, I’d imagine a reform will be taking place as soon as Arius has the ability to do so. In the wilderness, our efforts won’t be as effective. A place of refuge within a populated area would be ideal. That way we can monitor the coming changes firsthand and prepare for our next move.”
“Yeah, makes sense,” Emil said. “He should be close in case we’re needed.”
“I have a place,” Sage said. “You all are more than welcome to stay. It’s in Molken. I’m sure it’ll suite your needs.” Emil glanced at Omari and the rest of his party as he measured the weight of Sage’s words.
“Can we trust him?” Marona whispered to Skye.
“I heard that. And yes, you can. I haven’t tried to kill you yet, have I?” Sage snickered.
“Wrong thing to say, dumbass,” Luna said as she smeared her hand down her face.
“It’s a joke, relax.”
“Don’t worry, Marona. Before your arrival we made it clear what was to happen if foul play was involved,” Omari said as he glared at Sage. His words were more so a reminder to Sage rather than reassurance to Marona.
“We’ll protect you,” Skye added. “There shouldn’t be anything to worry about. Sage, where is Molken?” I’ll keep everyone safe. If he’s planning something, I’ll be the first to know.
“Not far. It may take a little longer than usual seeing that we have a human with us.”
“Two,” Marona piped. “But that doesn’t mean that we’re useless.”
“Cute,” Sage scoffed. “So where were you about an hour ago?”
“Now isn’t the time for bickering,” Omari interjected. “Lead the way, Sage. We’ll all be right behind you.” Marona glared at Sage and gritted her teeth before he turned away and led the group into the forest up ahead. Grim trailed behind him, then Luna, her expression softer than the mugs that her comrades wore. Her somber eyes met Omari’s before she followed the others from her pack.
Chapter 8: On the Move
“So why is it that you can’t warp us to Molken again?” Marona sighed. It had been roughly over two hours since they’d begun their trek along with the others after the failed confrontation at Everrmore. Sage, Grim, and Luna had been leading the way, while Emil and the rest trailed slightly behind.
“If I haven’t seen the location yet, then I can’t warp to it.” Omari responded calmly. “Judging by how far it seems to be, I don’t think I’d be able to make it in one trip, especially with passengers.”
“How far can you go?” Marona’s brow rose, guiding a bead of sweat down her forehead, parallel to her side-braid that rested on her shoulder
“A couple miles give or take. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly. The further I go, the more it strains my body,” Omari said as he continued to look forward in his march. “You’ve felt it before, I’m sure. Everyone who travels with me feels it to some degree,” Omari said as he glanced at Marona. “Of course,” Omari digressed, “non-Abnormals are more prone to the disorientation afterwards.”
“Yeah, I remember when you found me in the forest near Nerai. You were looking for Emil and we were lost in Silvia’s fog. After we warped I felt pretty sick, but by that time I was already feeling Silvia’s poison.” Marona sighed. “I’d take a little nausea over being dead any day of the week...but it’s not that bad now that I’ve gotten used to it. I hardly notice now.” Omari said nothing as he continued to follow behind Sage, keeping a safe space between both parties. “Omari,” Marona said, her voice softer than before. “Do you think we can trust them? You don’t think this is a trap, do you?” Marona studied Omari’s face as he kept his sights ahead of him.
“If they wanted to kill us, they would have done it hours ago, when we were at our weakest.” Omari paused his speech as he stepped over a raised root that protruded from the ground. “Tensions were running high before I got you and Crane, but I believe things are getting better.”
“You haven’t let me down yet, so if you trust them, so do I.” Marona smiled and then a silence ensued between the two. He was trying to be polite but Marona could tell that Omari’s mind was occupied and that he needed some space. Marona slowed her steps to synch with Emil’s, allowing Omari to pull away.
“How’s your new gear holding up? Omari and I packed some stuff before, but I grabbed some last-minute things just in case.” The lingering smile that Marona wore began to fade as she noticed Emil’s silence. “Emil?”
“Hmm? You said something?”
“It was nothing...just small talk, really. What’s been on your mind? I haven’t heard much from you this whole trip and we’ve been walking for a while now. Are you okay?”
“I’m doing much better now that I had a chance to catch my breath, but we’re not out of the clear yet. Not by a long shot.”
“That’s good and all, but that’s not what I mean. You fought again today but it wasn’t just an ordinary scuffle. You fought against your brother, Emil. That’s not a simple thing to do.”
“I don’t think I can consider him my brother anymore, Marona. Not after all that he’s done.”
Marona frowned as she noticed the dark cloud that hovered over Emil. I shouldn’t have brought that up. There’s no way that he’s okay...not after all that he’s been through. “You know I meant what I said all those months ago, right? I’m with you on this.”
“Yeah, Marona, I know,” he flatly responded. But you can only do so much.
“Is the new gear working out okay?”
“Yeah, the sheaths you gave me are working great. It beats carrying two swords all the time.”
“About that...what happened to your other sword? You always managed to have that one. I never saw you with two until now.”
“I lost it in the heat of battle,” Emil lied. “But these two are standard from the vanguard. They’ll do just fine.”
“I’m sure they will, but now I have an excuse to whip you up something good. Especially since we know a famous blacksmith.”
“Humph, more like infamous.” Emil smiled. “You’re determined to keep things light aren’t you? Even in a time like this.” Marona’s ear
tweaked at the sound of what she thought was a muffled chuckle from Eric. Not much had been said from him either since the initial attack on Everrmore, though in their time alone, Marona had begun to somewhat loosen him up.
“It’s better than being all doom and gloom. I know what we’re up against. I just don’t want it to change us.”
“Sometimes change is necessary.”
“Guys,” Skye said as she came to a stop. “They’re people nearby. I think they’re searching for us.” Skye pressed her hand against her temple while she strained to focus. Emil placed his hand on Skye’s back and with his other, grabbed her hand. Since the confrontation with Arius, she had been exerting herself by maintaining a perimeter in which she could perceive outside threats through the use of her psychic energy.
“From where?” Emil said as he scanned the surrounding forestry. The sound of wind cutting through the air blazed past Marona’s ear, the tip of the arrow almost grazing Marona’s cheek. Marona quickly looked behind her and found a bolted arrow lodged in the base of the tree that towered over her.
“I found them!” a male voice yelled from the cover of the forest.
Marona pulled her crossbow from the sling on her back and fired two arrows along the same trajectory of her attackers. In the distance, Marona heard a short-lived scream and then another voice. “Everybody, get down!”
The leaves whistled as the barrage of arrows ran through the foliage, marking trees and nicking the soil. “It’s a search party!” Omari yelled “Arius must have tipped them off!”
Emil’s aura lit around him as he leered in the direction of the original attack.
“Don’t, Emil. It’s too risky. We don’t know their numbers,” Omari said.
“I’ll handle it,” Luna announced. With a grunt, Luna cut her hand across her chest, unleashing a wave of devastating wind that began to uproot the trees from the soil they clung to. An array of leaves and branches twisted in the wind, spiraling backwards into the unknown territory where their assailants hid.
“Not too much,” Omari said “We can use the environment to our advantage as well.”
“I think that bought us some time. They don’t seem to be firing anything else ou—” Not far from where they stood, a series of loud booms erupted that shook the very foundation of the forest. “Cannons!” A black sphere flew past Omari and Luna and struck the side of a tree further behind them. The tree crackled as it began its descent, shaking the earth once its branches finally hit the ground. Soon after, two more spheres crashed near their location in quick succession, launching debris into the air.
“We need to get rid of them before they get too close,” Emil said. “Cover me.” Emil’s aura resurfaced as he drew the blades that rested in the sheaths he’d fastened to his body.
“No problem,” Marona said as she dropped to one knee and gazed down the sights of her bow. She didn’t have to be accurate, but only a distraction while Emil navigated through the terrain. “Firing now.” A loud clap resonated within the forest and the ground began to quake. Upon her release, Marona’s shot went wide as her balance failed, the trembling earth causing her to press her palm to the ground.
“Skye?” Emil asked.
“Abnormal,” Skye shouted as she pointed. “Straight ahead!” The ground continued to rumble as the trees north of them buckled with the force that rapidly approached their location.
A shockwave! Emil thought to himself, but he was too late. Sage used his serpents as a shield and Luna used her wind, but the blast came too fast. Their abilities did little to impede the coming force.
Emil dove over Marona and covered her body as the wave blasted them away, shoving Emil deep into the base of a tree several yards away from where he once stood only seconds ago. Marona?
Chapter 9: The Road Less Traveled
5 years ago, on the way to Mayarc
“Hey, I decided to bring these two twerps along with me,” Hugo said as he ruffled Roen’s hair. Hugo moved his other hand towards Arius, but Arius subtly side-stepped his gesture with a snarl. “Now before you say anything Iver, there’s no additional charge. They’re new to this sort of thing and the best way to gain experience is through livin’ the life.”
The merchant eased against his carriage as he studied both of the young men that were to aid him in his travels. His brow depressed. “Are they competent?” Arius’s eyes flickered as he glared at the merchant, though the merchant seemed oblivious to his disdain.
“Iver, I wouldn’t take ‘em with me if I thought they couldn't pull their weight if they needed to. I’d prefer that the occasion never arises, personally, but if something were to happen, you’re in good hands. The more, the merrier.”
“Very well,” the merchant said as his eyes darted from Arius to Roen before he climbed into the front seat of his horse-drawn carriage. “Then it’s settled. I trust your judgment. Let’s get a move on.”
“Snobby prick,” Hugo mumbled beneath his breath.
At Iver’s command, the horse began to pull him along the tattered road that laid at the edge of the city. As the horse trotted, Hugo directed Arius and Roen to the left while Hugo remained on the carriage’s right side, all of them lagging slightly behind. The pace was comfortable, just a notch below a brisk walk. Arius found no trouble even though his body was still healing, and Roen, for the time being, seemed to handle it just fine.
“I don’t like him,” Roen said, the rattling carriage further cloaking his voice even though it barely outmatched a whisper. They had been walking for a while now and the day had long since passed its peak.
“Is it because he thinks you’re incompetent?” Arius sneered as he kept his eyes in front of him.
“No, it’s not that. He’s...I don’t know...mean. Unnecessarily so.” Roen’s face sank into a frown.
Arius lightly sighed. “No, look ahead, Roen. Can you see his face? There. Look at his eyes. Even from this angle I can tell that he’s uptight, darting around like such a danger exists out in the open. We haven’t even reached the pass and all of us are armed. He’s nervous. I’ve been watching him since before we left and everything seems contrary to who he claims to be.” Roen’s face straightened as his eyes dilated, his mind keen on exploring the depths of Arius’s logic.
“What do you mean?”
“I think he knows something we don’t. I think he’s hiding something. Hugo said the route we’re on isn’t dangerous. It isn’t frequented nearly as much due to distance and terrain, but not much so for criminal activity. Why of all times would he be so suspicious?”
“Well, didn’t Hugo say that he had some high-quality merchandise he was delivering? It’s only natural to take pride in what you have, right? Especially if it’s something expensive. How should he act? Relaxed? Anything can happen.”
“So you’d rather him belittle you than assume my suggestion? You went from disliking him to defending him. It’s odd.” Roen said nothing as Arius leered at Iver. “He’s an experienced merchant. He’s done many of these types of runs before, I’m sure. Judging by his garments, it’s safe to say he paid Hugo a more than reasonable amount for compensation.”
“It is Hugo, we’re talking about,” Roen said, his confidence returning. “He does this sort of thing all the time. He’s really strong, and reliable. I’m pretty sure he’s one of the best, if not the best in the area. He’s done a lot for everyone, you know?”
“Strong enough to be an escort on an occasion like this? Iver could have easily hired half a dozen more men if he truly wanted safety. Even more so if they were hired in addition to Hugo. It doesn’t make sense.” Iver flicked back in his seat and exchanged glances with Arius. Iver faked a cordial smile after he realized he had stared too long and turned away. “See, what I mean?” Arius spoke softer as the merchant leered ahead of him. “I don’t think we’re the problem.”
“He’s probably just on edge and heard us mumbling. How could you not be a little nervous? It’s only natural. Don’t tell me you’ve never been n
ervous before.”
“Humph.” Arius chuckled.
“Nothing’s wrong with being a little scared, Arius. But you shouldn’t worry because Hugo has our backs.”
“Roen.” Arius paused. “While having allies is a great thing, don’t you want it to be so that you’d one day stand with your own power? Don’t you want to become stronger? That’s why you came here, isn’t it? If you spend your life relying on others, when will you have the moment to rely on yourself? Sometimes the only ally you have in life is you and you alone.”
“Arius, I...”
“Thus far, my life has been far different than yours. I only know what my life has taught me, and for that I can’t help it if I’m jaded.”
“No, I understand. I remember what you told me about your past. I can see why you see things the way you do.”
“No, Roen. It’s simpler than what you think. I just swore to never be helpless ever again.”
The day drifted on, time moving almost at a crawl as the carriage slowly traversed along its predetermined route. After their conversation, little was said between Arius and Roen, but the thought of Roen’s mental state was something that weighed heavily on Arius’s mind. He was also pressed by the issue of Iver and his suspicious behavior.
Arius’s lips remained sealed as they walked, vigilant of any potential threat, trying his best to block out the dozens of questions that had been running in his mind. It wasn’t until nightfall that he found it within himself to breathe easy, but even then his mind urged him to heed his surroundings.
THE FIRE BURNED BRIGHT as Roen, Arius, and the merchant sat and watched its dancing embers. Soon after the sun went down, they had made their way into the pass and found a suitable place to rest for the night. It wasn’t far from the main trail, more so an offshoot as opposed to a vast man-made clearing that robbed the forest of its beauty and wonder. The encampment that they settled in had been touched by human hands, but the ones that came before them took caution and worked with precision, allowing only a small settlement amongst the trees and beneath the stars. Nature had become something that Arius was used to. The initial trials Arius and his brother endured had made him familiar with the ways of Mother Nature, and in a sense, blessed him with a small comfort; a comfort that was soon robbed from him and replaced with a sinking sadness that tugged at his heart.
The Last Light Series Omnibus One: - The Dreamer and the Deceiver - All Things Eternal - Ode to the King: A Superhero Epic Fantasy Collection (The Last Light Collection Book 1) Page 28