Akdarosif frowned in anger and resumed:
‘The messengers we send barely convey vital information and the creatures change the rules of the game. Afaris, I place my hope in you to find a solution for I see no way out.’
‘I have some ideas, but let’s first get to the town.’
‘I agree. My wings hurt anyway from this flight.’
Falus slowed down, going behind Akdarosif.
‘This conversation did not go as I expected’ Afaris said.
‘What is it that you wanted to tell him?’
‘Those creatures know what we are going to do before we do. They attacked Saraf when he was most vulnerable, removing our main pillar. Then the Nest. No Nymph was expecting to be attacked there. Moreover, they were not aware of the existence of the creatures on Aora. They then razed the town closest to Saraf-Menom, the same, in the most vulnerable moment.’
‘So, you think you can anticipate their next move?’
‘It’s hard to tell. It is very important that the messengers from the other Menoms should return. We can thus realize on what we can count.’
‘When did they leave?’
‘Immediately after you left for Urfius-Menom.’
‘They must be back by now, at least some of them.’
‘Yes, but I wonder whether the others will return.’
‘You don’t think they have the power to attack other towns, do you?’
‘I don’t know, but since they can fly, they may have attacked them in flight. I think they know as well as we do how vital they are to us right now.’
‘I get your point.’
‘Akdarosif proposed, before reaching the Nest, that everybody should withdraw there and be safe.’
‘Extremely safe I should say …’
‘He’s right. Spread on Aora we are vulnerable. They will raze one town after another. We must summon everybody to Saraf-Menom.’
‘This means sending new messengers, I think this is not a good idea.’
‘No. I will try to call them, but I don’t think I will succeed. Apart from the fact that they all have their mental shields activated, something interferes with our long-distance telepathy.’
‘I think this is another effect of the energy pits.’
‘That may well be the case. I will consider it. We must all discuss it over, together with my advisors.’
They heard the psychic shout of an Aorian coming from in front of them:
‘We’ve got company!’
They all regarded bewildered in all directions and finally saw a flight of black birds flying in from their left. They were not numerous, but were posing a real threat to them.
Several Aorians prepared their energy bows, waiting for the creatures to reach their shooting range.
When they were close enough, Afaris could see the whole of them. They had one set of very long wings, only two rear legs, quite weak and with little flesh, their neck was long and curved with a round, beakless, fangless and hornless head.
‘That’s just ten of them’ Afaris said. ‘We can handle them. They don’t look so menacing.’
‘Be careful. This is what we thought the first time to. Body to body they stand no chance, but they can spit jets of fire at incredible distances. We will soon enter their action range so order Aorians to shoot!’
Afaris said nothing as he had another idea. He focused and sent his thoughts to them. To his surprise, their minds were poorly defended. The shield was so frail that it seemed not to exist. With a mere thought he fried the mind of one of the creatures and it collapsed to the atonement of the others. He then focused on another creature with the same result. The other creatures, realizing what was happening, changed course, abandoning the attack.
‘They’re pulling back, well done, Afaris!’
‘I’m not done with them’ Afaris replied after he eliminated another one. ‘Falus, let’s chase them! The others, mind your way, not matter what!’
‘Are you insane? Chase them? Just the two of us?’
‘Yes, trust me.’
Falus changed course, leaving the flight of Nymphs and following the creatures. Getting close, Afaris managed to knock down two of them. The others, seeing they stood no chance against him, changed tactics. They turned around to attack Afaris and Falus from all directions.
‘I told you it’s a bad idea! I told you!’
‘Just shut up and mind your flight!’
Afaris shot down another creature, but when he reached the next he realized he could not enter its thoughts. Something was protecting it; an extremely strong shield. The others were protected in the same manner. Without any other option he generated an energo-spirit bow and armed it with an arrow. He aimed at one of the creatures attacking them from the left, but, before he could shoot, Falus dived, avoiding a liquid fire jet.
Afaris regained balance, gripping tightly his friend’s feathers and squeezing his back between his legs. Another jet of fire went past their heads, coming from another creature. Afaris armed his bow fast and shot an arrow to the creature, hitting its chest. It screamed and started to twirl in pain while still in the air. Before it could move, Afaris shot it again, the arrow penetrated its skull turning into energy dust. The dead minion collapsed.
‘1...2...3...4. 4 left, Falus!’ Afaris shouted.
Falus dashed onto a creature which tried to go under them, catching it in his claws and tearing it with his beak.
‘Three …’
‘Be careful!’ Afaris shouted, but it was too late. One of the winged creatures came unnoticed from their right, hit Afaris’s shoulder causing him to lose balance and fall off Falus. Falus tried to fly after him, but another minion blocked his way with a jet of fire.
‘Afaris!!!’
Below him, another monster was flying and at the right moment, Afaris deflected his fall with a jet of air and landed on its back. It screamed in surprise, them dived; its body quickly became oily, covered in a black liquid. Afaris grabbed its right wing joint and jerked it off.
The minion spit fire all over its body, the black flammable liquid caught fire, engulfing its body. Afaris threw himself off to avoid the flames, but realized how high they were.
He was closing the ground fast and small clouds went past, he was probably higher than Aora’s highest mountain. He tried to reduce the speed, forming a strong air current underneath, but to no end. He then remembered the adventure he had lived with his father on the Mountain of the First Light. He generated an energy shield under him, strong enough to slightly reduce the dropping speed. The ground was closing in fast, but he felt ready for the impact, he stretched his legs, then hit the ground.
A loud thud flooded his ears. All over the place there was dust, but he was unscathed. He stood up and looked around trying to find Falus, but his winged friend was not in sight. He looked at the sun to understand which way Saraf-Menom was. The attempted to climb the crater ramp, but something behind him caught his attention.
He turned his head and noticed a black creature on the other side of the crater; it was watching him. It was one of those four-legged minions, its beak was long and it had sharp fangs. Another one appeared next to it. Several seconds later, the crater edge was filled with countless creatures, both two and four-legged, all big and strong like the one he had fought in the forest. They were all watching him without acting.
He generated two energo-form swords, filled with energy; he looked around frowning waiting for them to attack. He experienced no fear, even though his heart was beating like mad. Then, to his great atonement, they all left. They withdrew from the crater, running into the forest. He watched them leave, failing to understand what was happening. Why were they not attacking him? What were they concocting?
The following seconds, he felt two claws grabbing his arms and lifting him off the ground. He tried to shout and fight, but it was Falus, his friend:
‘Are you alright, knuckle-head?’
He took off holding Afaris and heading back to Saraf Menom.<
br />
‘Yes. Did you see that?’
‘I did.’
‘They could have slaughtered me there.’
‘You were lucky, who knows why they left.’
‘That was no luck. They have a plan, I know for sure.’
***
Falus and Afaris went back to Saraf-Menom without further incidents. Akdarosif and his Nymphs were already there, concerned about them.
‘Oh, praise Pandora you are safe!’ Akdarosif shouted as they landed next to him on the tower balcony. ‘What were you two thinking to chase those creatures alone?’
‘Each minion less is one concern less for us.’
‘Yes, and we could have been less’ Falus nagged him.
Afaris’s advisors were next to Akdarosif, one of them drew Afaris’s attention:
‘The messengers are back. Or, at least, some of them.’
Afaris raised his eyebrows and the advisor continued:
‘Two of the towns … well … no longer exist. They belonged to two of your sisters.’
‘What do you mean they no longer exist?’
‘I think it’s a good idea to first and foremost catch our breath. We’ve had a long day’ Akdarosif said.
‘With all due respect, there’s no time for that.’
As he walked by his advisors, one of them put his hand on the shoulder of the one talking and advised:
‘Akdarosif is right. We deserve a break. Five minutes won’t make a difference, anyway. How is Calis?’
‘Sitting there, next to …’
‘Alright, I will spend some time with her, maybe I can manage to take her out of her state. I’ll see you all back here in a few minutes.’
Chapter 32
The retaliation plan
Afaris stepped over the energy pit’s edge and saw his advisors sitting at a round wood table which had grown on the tower balcony. They were sitting on the shrub trees and behind them, on the grass were Akdarosif and Falus.
The advisors had kept an empty seat for Afaris.
‘We are one seat short’ he told them.
The advisors gazed at him amazed, as he was next to the available seat.
‘Do not look at me. It may sound foolish, but there shall always be a chair for my father even though he is no longer among us.’
‘Certainly’ one advisor replied. ‘We’ll generate a new one.’
‘Do not bother. I will stand, I am too tense to sit down.’
‘How is your mother?’ Akdarosif asked, and everyone perceived his thoughts.
Afaris noticed two of the guards watching the sky close to the table were eavesdropping, but ignored them. He knew there was no point having secret discussions. From that moment on, they were as entitled to listen to their worries as they were.
‘Not too good. She’s not uttering a word. I hope she recovers …’
‘Nobody can put themselves in her position. Nobody can deny her way of reacting to this tragedy. Only she can understand the trauma she’s experiencing. We, the rest, can only hope she will be strong enough to recover.’
‘You are right, Akdarosif.’
Afaris changed the subject and started speaking on a more imposing and formal tone:
‘I have analysed our current situation. I have figured out how those monsters think or, better said, how they have thought so far. This has allowed me to realize what they will do next. Or, better said, what we have to do next. All Menoms are in danger. They will attack when the time is right and decimate us. If all those creatures we have encountered so far gather and attack one Menom, regardless which, it will stand no chance. This is why we must gather everyone here.’
‘Given the situation, it is too hazardous to send messengers to them’ one advisor complained.
‘It is not only hazardous, but we do not have the necessary time. We must move fast. At first I thought to leave Saraf-Menom as an army and go to every town to gather our brothers and sisters. Had we been together with the Nymphs, I do not think they would have attacked us. But I realized that the minions would cut our life cord, we would not have anywhere to go back to.’
‘You mean they’d attack Saraf-Menom while we’re gone?’
‘Yes, Saraf-Menom and the other towns. Another possibility would be to fly with the Nymphs to all Menoms and fly them in. But this would take time and we do not know how many of them are winged.’
‘Wait, can they fly?’
‘Yes. We faced several such creatures on our way back. They are not as strong as the others, but they must not be underestimated.’
‘We could try to find the survivors from the Nest. I am sure at least some of them escaped and who knows where they are hiding’ Falus said.
‘Nobody escaped …’ Akdarosif answered sad. ‘I have searched them with my thoughts, but haven’t found one single Nymph alive on Aora.’
‘You cannot know for sure, Akdarosif. You, too, have noticed that something was disturbing our long-distance telepathic communication.’
Afaris knew better than Akdarosif that no Nymph had escaped the slaughter in the Nest, but did not want to leave his friend believe it.
‘Even like this, it would take too long to look for them and we would become too vulnerable if we separate from you, Aorians. We have nothing left to do but hope.’
One of the advisor, obviously concerned, asked Afaris:
‘What do we do then?’
Afaris turned his back to the advisors’ table and looked at the energy wave flowing out of the pit.’
‘There’s another option …’
‘Impossible, that’s one of the most important laws Saraf left us’ the advisor answered guessing Afaris’s thoughts.
‘Leaving the law aside’ another advisor continued ‘since this is water under the bridge, you just cannot do it. The energy will not let you descend lower than the last level of the tower. I think we have all tried this, out of curiosity.’
Afaris looked up at Akdarosif, but he was gazing at the forest. He followed his look, but saw nothing.
‘We have no other option’ Afaris concluded. ‘I must try and, if it does not work, then …’
‘Maybe she will allow you, Afaris’ one advisor added. ‘After all, you are Saraf’s son and our heir. But I doubt she will allow entire towns to go down the pit. But, as you’ve said, we need to try.’
‘I will try alone. You know it’s not a good idea to leave Saraf-Menom in large numbers.’
’What if something happens to you?’
‘Then, it will only happen to me.’
Another advisor, who had sat and listened to their conversation added:
‘We admire your courage, Afaris, but your life is much more important than ours. We cannot let you risk it like that. Assuming your plan actually worked.’
‘I have made my decision already. And it will work, I know so. You have noticed in years that Aora is much more than we know she is. It may sound foolish, but I believe she is a living creature, with a mind of her own.’
‘You are not the only who has asked himself this question’ Akdarosif came to his help, suddenly becoming interested in the conversation.
‘I felt it and saw how she helped us in the Urfius-Menom battle … in the first battle.’
‘Yes, I know, I was there, too’ an advisor agreed. ‘I support you, Afaris, it is worth breaking this law for the future of Aorians and Nymphs.’
‘Supposing you manage to gather all the Aorians left on the planet, what do we do then?’
‘Then we will fight. We will fight them and show them what we are capable of. And when they fall back, we will chase them.’
‘You are thinking too far ahead, but, yes, should everything go according to the plan, I don’t see what else we can do.’
‘Let’s not waste time, we can discuss it further later. Afaris, I advise you to get going as soon as possible.’
‘Certainly, I just want to tell you something, Akdarosif.’
Akdarosif raised his head, listening careful
ly:
‘Firstly, I would like to ask my advisors to leave us alone.’
The advisors looked at him surprised. Then one of them had a grimace, tapped his hand slightly on the table, suggesting indignation and stood up, followed by the other advisors, telling him:
‘If you think this is the time to be secretive with the others …’
‘It’s about Nymphs’ traditions, secrets. And even if these are difficult times, we must not neglect mutual respect.’
Akdarosif was surprised by Afaris’s words and wondered what secret this was all about. After his advisors went to the other part of the balcony, away from them, Afaris looked at Falus and said:
‘You, too, Falus.’
‘Me, too!? Still, I’m …’
‘Please’ Afaris interrupted him abruptly.
Falus frowned, but respected his friend’s wish. He took off and, as he was rising, told Afaris:
‘Your discussion had better not affect me.’
After his son left, Akdarosif asked:
‘So, what is this all about?’
‘We need all support we can get’ Afaris told him in thought so as not to be overheard. ‘I want to talk to Galus.’
‘Galus!? He won’t do it, he won’t budge from his crib.’
‘You think so? Not even if we told him Aora’s future depends on him?’
‘On Aora there are mountains whose age is smaller than the time Galus has spent guarding the Lake of Mirrors. He will not move from there, end of story.’
‘We’ll see. There is another reason why I want to see him. I guess you know what’s on the lake bottom, don’t you?’
Akdarosif nodded.
‘My father knew he would die. Pandora told him.’
‘As a Prophet, this comes as no surprise. I wonder whether he saw what the future has in store for us.’
‘This, I do not know. Shortly after the battle in Urfius-Menom between the Nymphs and Aorians, Father told me I could find him there after he left our world.’
‘I see. You have strong arguments, indeed, to go there. But I have a con. A while ago, while you were at the table, I noticed a dark creature among the trees at the edge of the field. It was standing there and watching us. When it saw I was watching it, it just left.’
Afaris: Shadows on Aora Page 29