“My name is Caleb. Who are you two?” he answered.
“I am Elijah.”
“I am Aiken. Pleased to meet you, Caleb.”
Aiken suddenly frowned. “If I’m not mistaken, were you going to lead those men to the crusaders?” he asked.
“Yes! You’re a crusader too, aren’t you?” answered Caleb.
“Yes, I am. Where are the crusaders?” asked Aiken.
Caleb quickly replied, “They are in the foothills in a gorge.”
Aiken continued, “What are they doing?”
“They are stuck there,” he said.
Aiken exclaimed, “Stuck?”
Caleb’s eyes grew wide. “Yes. There’s a mighty beast pinning them down.”
“Why were you leading Karam’s men?” asked Aiken.
Caleb shrugged. “Because there must be dozens of the crusaders still left alive. There is a huge reward for those who kill crusaders. Zeke was just sent to verify that I was telling the truth.”
Aiken smiled. “Can you lead me to my comrades? I must try and help them!”
Caleb nodded. “For saving my life, I owe you one. I will show you!”
Elijah stammered slightly. “Uh, Caleb. What kind of mighty beast are we talking about?” he asked.
“It’s a ghoul. It is a very vicious beast that dwells in the desert. The crusaders are tired from being in the desert and cannot seem to get the upper hand on the beast. It has already devoured many of them. A ghoul is a cannibalistic beast that feeds on human corpses and living human flesh. It is very scary.”
Aiken turned to Elijah. “I do not like your country, Elijah. No offense.”
Ever hopeful, Elijah asked, “None taken. Aiken, what if we go get the tool for our wishes? Then maybe we can save them.”
Aiken shook his head. “I am afraid it is with my comrades.”
Elijah frowned. “Why have they not used it, then?”
Aiken looked away. “I do not know. It is very odd. We are going to have to find out. How far are they from here?”
Caleb answered quickly, “It will take us a day to get there.”
Aiken stepped out into the dark tunnel. “Come on. We must get there as soon as we can! Before that creature devours more of them!”
Elijah didn’t move. “It’s not something I want to see right away, Aiken,” he said.
Aiken quickly turned around. “If you want your heart’s desires to come true, you do. Come on.”
The three continued their journey into the dank darkness.
Chapter 29
Sand blew in through the cracks in the wall. Slowly, the darkness receded until it was no more. Aiken threw off the rickety wooden planks and stepped out into the open desert heat.
“Finally! Freedom at last!” he shouted with Caleb and Elijah close behind.
“This is it,” yelled Caleb.
Elijah squinted as he stepped off the last step. “I have never strayed far from Habarga. This will be new to me,” he exclaimed.
Aiken grabbed Elijah’s arm. “I am warning you. It’s nothing but desert and mountains. It’s nothing special. Are there any wells?” Aiken asked.
“Yes. There is one before we get to your friends,” replied Caleb.
Aiken excitedly replied, “Perfect!”
They stood together in the blowing sand and heat and turned around and around. The never-ending vista of dunes and mountains overwhelmed Elijah. He had never seen such unique designs in the land and couldn’t take his eyes from them. “Incredible! I have never, in all my dreams, thought I would see a sight such as this!” said Elijah to the others.
Aiken shrugged. “Ah. It’s not that special, Elijah. It’s just a desert.”
Eventually, Elijah broke the silence. “So where do we go now?”
Caleb took charge. “North.”
The three plodded through the sand under the burning sun. Elijah realized that he had stopped sweating and began to worry. The small containers of water each carried were nearly exhausted. No matter what he thought, he couldn’t take his mind off the pain in his back or legs. He remembered how Nizar fought him so much and began to feel sorry for him. Then he saw Isabelle’s face. He grinned when he thought that she finally stopped being so difficult. Thoughts of Natalia wouldn’t stop. He reached into his shirt, only to realize that he had somehow lost her tiny wooden gift. He tried to remember where he could have lost it, but kept coming up blank. As the heat increased, so did his negative thoughts. But he realized that his old life was now completely ruined. How stupid he was, he thought. Why did he block out everyone’s help? It had nearly killed him, but he realized that he simply couldn’t stop. He had to have Natalia. He loved her so. But he could never have her again. Maybe he could, but how? He would have to talk more about this with Aiken. He screamed inside himself, Stop, stop, stop. His mind wanted to spiral out of control, but he couldn’t let that happen. Look out at the vistas, he thought. Suddenly, he felt a tiny bit hopeful. All is not lost, he realized. Just keep on going, he told himself. Hours and many rugged hills later, they finally reached the well. Elijah sped down the rutted surface and buried his face in the cool, clear water. He forced handful after handful of the precious liquid down his throat. Aiken followed suit, and Caleb brought up the rear. They all moaned loudly with each mouthful.
Elijah stopped for a minute and glanced up, only to realize that they were losing their daylight. “Let’s rest here tonight and get an early start in the morning,” he said.
Aiken stood up. “No. We must press forward. My comrades are depending on me to help them!” he demanded.
“No! We are weak and beat for the day, Aiken. It would not be wise to keep going. We need our rest, especially if we are going to have to face this ghoul. Let’s set up camp.” Elijah finally got his way with the three nestled around a blazing fire.
Aiken poked a stick into the blazing embers. “Well, Elijah. I think it’s time for you to finally tell me about the princess,” he said.
Caleb slowly turned toward Elijah.
“What would you like to know?” asked Elijah, shrugging.
“What happened between you two?” asked Aiken as the fire crackled away.
Elijah glanced between the fire and Aiken. “It’s nothing now,” he casually replied.
Caleb exclaimed, “You can’t do that! What happened?”
Elijah grinned. “I just, I just fell for the princess. I fell in love with her and…well in the end, we couldn’t be together,” he said.
Caleb’s fifteen-year-old mind spun, nearly out of control. “Did you kiss her?”
“Yeah, I got to kiss her.”
Caleb’s eyes grew wide and Aiken nodded.
“It was just…a dream that I got to experience for a little while. Then reality set in. She is a princess, and I’m just a bandit. I know it’s stupid, but somehow, deep down inside, I thought it would work. I suppose I was wrong.” Elijah’s voice trailed off.
“Don’t give up hope, lad,” replied Aiken.
Elijah chuckled. “You think I still have a chance with her?” he asked.
Aiken poked the fire again. “Maybe, maybe not. But there is no need to give up hope.”
The tone in Elijah’s voice dropped. “She is going to marry the prince. I don’t blame her. He can make her a lot happier than I ever could anyways.”
Aiken didn’t respond.
“What about you, Aiken? You have anyone waiting for you at home?” asked Elijah.
“No. I did, but that was years ago.”
Elijah replied. “I am sorry…What happened?”
“It was a plague that killed her. I was blessed and survived it. She did not,” whispered Aiken.
“How long were you together?” asked Elijah.
“Twenty-fo
ur years. She was the love of my life. A love that I will never get back. That is why you must have hope for you and the princess. If you do love her, you only have one life to share that love with her. I would never give up on that dream, Elijah. Love is too precious to give up on.”
Elijah asked, “Do you have any children?”
“I have two. My son is in abroad studying art, and my daughter is a priestess back at home.”
“Why are you here, Aiken? Why not be with your children?” asked Elijah.
“They do not live at home anymore. When my wife died, it was depressing, to say the least, to live in that home by myself.”
“I understand. I suppose I would have left as well,” replied Elijah.
Ever so quietly, Aiken replied, “Yes.”
Suddenly, a loud scream pierced the dark night air.
Elijah sprung to his feet, knife in hand.
Aiken joined him, sword in hand.
Caleb shouted out. “It’s okay! It’s not close!”
Another shrill scream pierced the stillness. “What do you mean, it’s not close! It sounds like it’s right in front of us?” shouted Elijah, eyes wide.
Caleb continued, “No! Its scream can be heard for miles! It’s not. Trust me. It must be attacking the camp.”
Aiken stepped away from the fire. “What! Then we must hurry!” he exclaimed.
“We would not make it in time. It’s too far from here,” Caleb shook his head as he replied.
Aiken sliced the night air. “Curses!” he cried.
Elijah looked at Aiken when the scream came again. “What a horrific sound! Make it stop!” cried Elijah.
“What sort of demonic creature is this?” demanded Aiken.
“It is the ghoul,” answered Caleb.
Elijah paced back and forth, realizing they he would probably have to face this thing in the morning.
Chapter 30
Escape from this furnace seemed impossible when Elijah glanced at the brightly burning sun. And it was only morning, he thought. At least in Habarga, he could hide in the shadows. But not here. There were no shadows except for the fleeting sand images caused by a lone bird overhead. The blue sky looked so inviting, he thought, but it also represented something else. It was endless, just like the heat. He felt his heart surge with a momentary freedom as the blue and golden rays mixed together. But the moment disappeared quickly when a sharp pain in his back nearly drove him to his knees. Caleb ran to his side as he stumbled, worried.
Water was not a problem in the city, and Elijah seldom considered its value. But today was a different story as the sun clawed its way upward. He realized that death was almost a certainty if they didn’t reach the Crusader’s camp soon. Hours had passed and hours still loomed. “How much farther?” asked Elijah.
Caleb seemed eager to respond. “Just over that hill,” he pointed.
Elijah felt his blood surge. His tongue cleaved to the roof of his mouth for a second when Aiken replied, “Finally.”
Elijah stumbled again. He kept thinking about his bed back at the hideout. How long has it been since I actually slept there? he wondered. If only I was still in Bijan’s abandoned house. At least I could rest. The heat grew more intense with each step. Knowing that the rising hill hid their long-awaited surprise didn’t do anything to relieve the profuse sweating. It poured from each of them. Elijah reached up and wiped his brow, trying to stop the intense burning in his eyes. Nothing helped.
The last few steps to the top seemed endless to Elijah. He winced in pain as his back fired shot after shot of disagreement. It screamed at him constantly now, “Stop, stop, stop.” But he knew that was impossible. If I stop, I’ll die, he thought. His eager glance captured a deep and wide gorge. It looked like a valley without life, partially shaded, partially illuminated with the searing light. The steep sides were broken up by near vertical ruts, and where they weren’t, the jagged rocks were. Far below, on the other side of a massive set of foreboding outcrops of stone lay an orderly array of tents. They backed up to a sheer rock face, seeming impossible to climb. Men hung to the quickly disappearing shadows as the three looked on.
“There it is! Come on!” blurted Aiken.
Elijah shouted, “Aiken, wait!”
Already several feet over the crest, Aiken turned and motioned, “Come on!”
Elijah stared back at the camp. “Aiken!” he grunted in disbelief, shaking his head. But Aiken didn’t stop, so the others reluctantly joined him.
Caleb’s frantic voice suddenly shouted out, “Wait!”
Aiken turned around. “What?” he yelled.
Caleb stood with arms outstretched. “If you go down there, you will be stuck! That’s why they can’t leave! You will be entering the ghoul territory!”
“He is right! There has to be another way!” said Elijah. He felt his heart race at the sound of that word. He had to lean forward in order to relieve his pain.
Aiken twisted back around. “No! I must go down there! I must!”
“Aiken! You heard Caleb! We need to figure something else out!” Elijah shouted at Aiken.
Barely stopped, Aiken shouted back, “Like what? We are already out of water and food! We have nothing! We will die out here if we just stay out in this sun! There is no shade. Come on, we can figure it out down there.”
Elijah’s eyes grew wide with fright. “Aiken, you know it’s not wise to go down there. What is going on?” he pleaded.
Aiken stood for a moment, taking in the distant camp. “I am sorry,” he said to Elijah as rocks and dirt went flying.
“Come on,” shouted Elijah to Caleb.
The color drained from Caleb’s face. “Are you crazy? I have seen what that ghoul does! You can go.”
Elijah frowned. “And what will you do? Can you really make it back to the tunnel?”
“I have before. They are crusaders. They may kill you if they see you. They are your sworn enemy, remember?” said Caleb as he drew in a deep breath.
Elijah just stared.
“Well, I brought you here, so now my job is done. Take care!” said Caleb, and he was gone.
“Hey!” shouted Elijah. But it was too late as he watched the boy turn out of sight. Aiken, he thought. What do I do? I don’t want to face that ghoul, but I can’t leave Aiken now. The camp again came into view just when the dryness in his mouth seemed overwhelming. He slid nearly halfway down until he could stand upright and finally caught up with Aiken just after he had entered the camp. The men looked so different than he had imagined. Blond hair, red hair, and beards, fair skin, red from the sun. What a strange lot of men, he thought, as they excitedly conversed with his friend.
The crusader talking to Aiken abruptly turned. “It’s the enemy!” he shouted, sword now raised.
“Put your sword down, Darrel! He is an ally!” commanded Aiken, stepping in between the two.
“Like hell he is!” shouted Darrel. The air filled with the sound of steel sliding against steel as the others unsheathed their swords.
“Stop! He is with me!” shouted Aiken.
Darrel scowled. “Were you brainwashed, Aiken?” he demanded.
Elijah stared at the stern man’s dark hair and beard. For a man only in his thirties, he thought, the scar across his cheek seemed out of place.
Aiken quickly replied, “I was not. This is a good friend. Not all of them are bad.”
Darrel’s knuckles tightened around his sword handle.
“Please! Trust me!” pleaded Aiken.
Another crusader joined them, a younger man with blonde hair and mustache. Holding out his sword, he said, “Enough, Darrel. We can trust Aiken and his words.”
“You are too trusting, Edward!” scoffed Darrel.
Edward turned his back to Elijah. “What choice do we have, Darrel
? We have lost enough men. I will take any help I can, even from the enemy,” replied Edward.
Darrel scowled again. “Fool! He is probably in league with the ghoul!”
“Nonsense! No one can be in league with that creature.”
Aiken stepped in. “Enough! We are here to help and that is final! Where is my brother?” he asked.
Edward’s eyes fell toward the ground.
Darrel quickly lowered his voice. “He is dead, Aiken. The ghoul took his life a few weeks ago.”
Aiken’s body stiffened as he stared off into the distance.
Elijah quietly walked up to his friend.
They all stood silently, practically motionless, until Edward spoke up, “I am sorry, Aiken. We have lost over thirty men to this creature,” he said somberly.
Aiken wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. “How many men are left?” he asked.
“We have thirty-one, but that will change today,” replied Edward. His voice faltered.
“Today?” exclaimed Aiken nervously.
Edward continued, “The beast has come the last seven days, taking two at a time.”
Aiken threw up his hands. “How can you not fight this creature? You have thirty men!”
“This creature is unnatural how it moves! It launches its body at speeds of an arrow being launched from a bow!” complained Darrel.
Edward pointed. “We set up our defenses in that cave,” he said. They all turned toward the corner of the gorge. “But the damned creature dug a tunnel to the back of the cave and started attacking us there! There is no getting away from the beast! We are tired. Our rations are running out, we hardly have enough water. It seems hopeless,” said Edward, voice quivering.
With renewed vigor, Aiken replied, “We can’t give up hope.”
“If we work together, we can defeat this creature,” added Elijah.
“Shut up, sand rat!” replied Darrel gruffly.
“Enough, Darrel!” shouted Aiken.
Edward turned to Elijah. “Excuse him. He has had many bad experiences with your kind,” he said.
Elijah glanced toward the ground. “I understand,” he whispered.
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