The nearest tables must have overheard. They turned towards the trio of companions and became quiet. A small girl at the nearest table looked at Eli with tears in her eyes.
“Mama and Papa aren’t coming home?” she asked in a small voice that seemed to echo in the now silent room.
Eli took a deep breath, and Juana laid her hand on his arm, smiling sadly.
“You have lived through a horrible experience, something that no one should have to endure,” Juana said to the crowd. “We were able to destroy the ones who took your families, but we were too late to save them.”
Several children and adults started crying softly. A man in the middle of the room stood and looked at everyone around him.
“What do we do now?” he asked. “We’ve lost over half of our village, and most of the remaining are just children.”
Juana looked at the group of people staring back at her with fear and hopelessness.
“You’re exactly right,” she began. “You saved your children, who are the future of your village. Teach them to be strong and brave. Be the leaders they need you to be, so that your village will continue to grow.”
“What if we’re attacked again?” a woman on the right side of the room asked. “We can’t defend ourselves against those things.”
“We destroyed the group in the mine to the north,” Eli explained. “You shouldn’t be attacked again because we’ll find any who are left and eliminate them as well.”
The crowd calmed a little, but their fear still lingered and probably would for a while.
Eli turned to the innkeeper and put a couple coins on the counter. “We’ll collect our horses and be on our way.”
“I won’t take your money, friend,” he said as he pushed the coins back to Eli. “You have done enough for us. I hope you find what you’re looking for, and may God watch over you.”
Eli nodded and they left. The sun was setting, and it started to snow as they rode further south towards the next town.
“I hope we get there soon,” said Adalina. “It’s freezing out here. Maybe we should have stayed at the inn for the night.”
“We probably should have,” Eli agreed. “I just didn’t feel like answering any more questions. I felt like we let them down, and any apology from us would never be enough.” He kept his head forward, watching the snow-covered road.
“They’ll remember us when there are no more attacks,” Juana reassured him.
“What if there are more attacks?” Eli turned to look at her. “What if that was only one group, and there is another that we missed?”
“Eli, what’s gotten into you?” Adalina asked with frustration.
“Doesn’t it seem like they are getting bolder by the moment?” he asked, his voice rising with his anxiety. “We’ve been doing this for a long time, ladies. Have they ever summoned demons in someone’s house right in the middle of town?” He stopped his horse, forcing them to stop with him. “The number of demons in that mine was astounding! And we still don’t know how many they have summoned at the castle in Russia. The strategies that we have seen would indicate that a full-scale war is not very far in the future.”
“I think we all feel exactly the same way, which is why we’re here,” Juana replied.
“I’m pretty sure that Mikel is not sitting idle either after our discovery in Paris,” Adalina added. “That has all of us worried, but we need to stay focused on what we can do here.” She smiled mischievously. “Besides, my warriors are itching to join a fight. If we find another group, I will have to go get some of them, or they’ll have my head.”
Eli chuckled. “I know you’re right, I just hate not knowing their intentions. I worry about the innocent lives that will be lost if we aren’t strong or fast enough.”
“We can only do what we can do,” Adalina said. “Now, let’s get moving before my horse freezes to death.”
They reached the next village within a few hours, taking their horses directly to the stables. The snow was coming down hard and had accumulated several inches. The innkeeper gave them rooms for the night, without questions. In the morning, they went downstairs for breakfast and asked what he knew of the neighboring town.
“I heard that over half the village disappeared, and that they were starving to death,” he replied. “Some of our folks got together a few livestock and took it to them. We couldn’t let the little ones go hungry.”
“That was extremely generous.” Eli’s compliment was genuine. “We just came from there, and they truly appreciated the gift.”
The man blushed and cleared his throat. “You’re the ones who went looking for the missing villagers?” he asked.
“Yes,” Eli replied reluctantly, not wanting to have the conversation again. “We found the men who took them, but we arrived too late to save the people.”
The man’s sadness was evident. “I’m sorry to hear that. Lots of folks here had family there.”
“You haven’t seen any strangers in town besides us, have you?” Adalina asked.
“Not this time of year,” he replied. “The snow keeps most people home.”
“How far is the next village?”
“It’s pretty far, about a two-day ride on horseback,” he replied. “There are a couple farms between here and there who would give you shelter for the night, but they probably won’t have extra food this late in the winter.”
“We should probably take extra with us then,” Juana suggested. “Is there someone in town who can sell us some?”
“Yes, the baker and butcher are right across the road from one another,” he replied.
“Thank you for the rooms and the conversation,” Eli said as he paid for their accommodations.
“Thank you! Be safe out there.”
They stopped and bought extra food on their way out and continued following the road southeast along the border.
Chapter 25
While Eli, Juana, and Adalina’s path led them closer to Zar’Asur’s castle in Russia, Mikel and Raphael tried to determine what Zar’Asur’s goal was and his strategy to achieve it.
“So, what do we know so far?” Raphael asked.
He and Mikel were standing over a large table in their new meeting room in the tower. Not only had Raphael created the portal in the tower, he had also changed one of the large storage rooms into a meeting room. The room contained twelve chairs and twelve small tables that could be arranged together into one large table. Today, it was a large table with a map of Europe spread out on one end and stacks of papers and books on the other end.
Mikel was sitting at the end of the table, looking through notes he had written down on several sheets of paper.
“Zar’Asur hasn’t surfaced in over fifty years, until now,” Mikel began, “and he shows up with a book capable of killing most magic users. I think he was trying to draw Juana to the castle in Hungary, somehow knowing that she would be strong enough to withstand the book’s power.” He rubbed his temples with his forefingers and continued. “For a moment, let’s pretend that Darian is out of the picture because Zar’Asur knew nothing about him until recently. Zar’Asur would have used Juana to summon those monstrous creatures. We would have attempted to rescue Juana, but Darian would not have been there to destroy the demons before they destroyed us. Then, they would’ve rampaged through Europe, killing everything in their wake.” He stopped and looked up at Raphael, who had placed a marker on the location of the castle in Hungary.
“That seems logical to me, Mikel,” Raphael said. “Some of us might have made it back here alive, but our numbers would’ve been severely crippled. There’s no way we would have been able to stop Zar’Asur from destroying Europe.” He continued to stare down at the map. “Is that his intention? Does he really plan to eliminate us so he can destroy humanity? I thought we had reached an agreement to maintain balance.”
“Do you remember when Darian said he heard a voice reprimanding Zar’Asur for not leaving the castle before we arrived?” Mikel asked.
�
�Yes. You believe Zar’Asur is just a pawn in a bigger game?” Raphael’s attention was drawn away from the map and focused on Mikel.
“It’s the only thing that makes sense,” Mikel replied. “I have to assume that this mysterious voice commands Zar’Asur. He must also have some foresight into the future; otherwise, why would he tell Zar’Asur to leave the castle before we arrived? This master must have known that Zar’Asur would toy with Darian, thus giving him the power to destroy the demons.”
“Our next attack on Zar’Asur should be very well thought out,” Raphael said. “I think you’re right, and he intends to destroy us.” They both sat in silence for several minutes before Raphael spoke again. “What will we do if he summons more of those huge, winged demons? Adalina’s warriors weren’t able to injure the one they fought.”
“I don’t know, Raphael,” Mikel replied. “I fear the same thing. The only way I know to defeat them is through Darian’s exposure to the book, but that cannot be the answer. If he continues to draw that power, it will either destroy him or convert him.” Mikel shuddered at the thought. “We can only hope that Zar’Asur doesn’t find someone strong enough to summon them.”
“Do think Darian is another Watcher?” Raphael asked, changing the subject.
“It’s possible,” Mikel replied. “It would feel like we were tipping the balance if he is a Watcher, though.” Mikel stood from his chair and stretched. “Or maybe God is trying to give us balance based on Zar’Asur’s actions. I can only guess and wait to see what is revealed to us. I’m certain Darian will let us know if God approaches him in the same way as Juana.”
“When do we expect Juana, Eli, and Adalina to come back? They’ve been gone for over a week.” Raphael’s normally cheerful demeanor was replaced with worry. “At what point do we go looking for them?”
“I was thinking the same thing.” Mikel walked towards the end of the table with the map and stood next to Raphael. “I believe the mine they located on their first trip was here.” Mikel pointed to a small area in Russia, just over the Prussian border. “They planned to head south, following the border with Austria, which should put them about here.” He pointed to another location on the map. “Darian may know this area well enough to find them quickly. Can you ask him to join us?” Raphael nodded and left the room. Mikel ran his fingers through his blond hair and let out a deep breath.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I was sparring with Edwin when Raphael found me. The lines of worry around his eyes made both of us pause mid-swing.
“Mikel needs to see you, Darian.”
“I’ll be right there.”
Edwin looked at me with concern, which I shared. I walked with Raphael into the tower, but rather than going up the stairs to Mikel’s office, Raphael opened one of the storerooms and went in. I followed with confusion until I walked into the room. My confusion turned to amazement.
“I assume you’re responsible for our new meeting space, Raphael,” I said with appreciation.
He smiled, but the gratitude barely reached his eyes. The situation must be extremely difficult if even Raphael was in a dire mood.
Mikel motioned for me to join him as he looked at a large map on the table in front of him. As I approached, I realized it was a map of Europe.
“Do you know this area?” Mikel asked, pointing to an area along the border of the Austrian Empire and Russia.
“I’ve visited a couple of the Austrian towns along the border with my father years ago, but I’ve never been to the Russian side,” I replied. “What’s wrong?” I looked at both men. They had the same concerned expression.
“We’re worried about the others,” Mikel replied. “They have not yet returned. We believe they were moving along the border, and if they were able to make good time, they should be in this area.” He paused and moved his finger northeast from where he thought our friends were, stopping at where I knew Zar’Asur had taken over the castle in Russia. It was no more than a few days away from their location. “I see that you comprehend my concern. I don’t want them to be any closer to Zar’Asur. They may not realize how close they are.”
“I’ll pack my things and leave immediately,” I said, a feeling of dread washing over me. “Should I take someone with me?”
“You need to be swift and unseen,” Mikel replied. “I’m not sure that Cyrus’s body has had enough time to build the endurance to move as quickly as you will need to move. I have a very bad feeling that our friends are walking into more than they can handle. Find them, and either bring them home, or come back for reinforcements.” Mikel looked at me with a stern expression. “If they have been taken by Zar’Asur, do not try to free them on your own.” He looked over at Raphael, who nodded a silent agreement. Mikel sighed. “We believe he is actually trying to destroy us. Any action we take against him needs to be well planned. So as difficult as it may be to walk away, do not engage him alone.”
“I understand,” I replied. “I’ll find them.” I pointed at the map. “I will arrive in this small town and move northwest, hopefully intersecting with them here.” I picked a location east of where we thought they should be, hoping that I would run into them as they moved east.
“Come back tomorrow night regardless, and give us a report,” Mikel commanded. “Sitting here waiting is becoming intolerable.”
Chapter 26
I quickly threw clothes, food, and weapons in my bag and traveled to the small town where I planned to start my search. Without intending to, I arrived in the middle of the night, the time difference actually being beneficial for a change. Grateful for the cover of darkness, I sprinted down the road, heading north towards the Russian border. I would never get used to the strength that pulsed through my body, especially when I pushed my endurance. I focused my strength through the rune on my back and sprinted faster, enjoying the exhilaration.
I stopped just outside of the next village to rest and eat. It wasn’t quite dawn, so I decided to sneak into town and see if there was anything unusual. I slid into the shadows between two small shops. A man walked quickly down the street towards me and entered the building on my right. Within five minutes, he had the wood-burning stove smoking. Several more people ventured out into the cold, getting ready to start their daily routine. I hid there for about thirty minutes before deciding to visit the baker next door, whose oven was already emitting wonderful smells.
“Good morning!” I said cheerfully as I entered.
“Good morning!” the baker replied. “It will be another twenty minutes before pastries are ready.”
“They smell wonderful, but unfortunately I cannot wait for them,” I said with disappointment. “Can I have a coffee?”
“Certainly,” he replied, and after a couple minutes, he handed me a small cup of dark coffee.
“I’m looking for friends who are supposed to travel this way.” I sipped the hot liquid and smiled at the smooth flavor. “This is delicious!”
The baker smiled at the compliment. “We’ve had several travelers in the last few days. What do your friends look like?”
“A man and two women. One of the women is almost as tall as I, and the man is very large. The second woman is smaller with dark hair,” I said, trying to keep my description simple.
“Nope, haven’t seen them,” he replied then leaned towards me. “There were two men here yesterday wearing strange black robes, though. They made my skin crawl.”
I tried not to look alarmed at his description, but they had to be Csökkent. How did I warn him without creating panic?
“Were they alone, and was this their first visit?” I asked. “The friends I’m supposed to meet are tracking an unsavory group of individuals who fit that description.”
The baker looked at me with worry. “It was just two of them. They didn’t buy supplies when they were here; they only asked many questions of all the shopkeepers, then they left. Do you have time to talk to the constable before you leave?”
I sighed. How could I help these people
? They were surely the next target.
“Do you know which direction they went after they left town?” I asked.
“Yes, they took the road north,” he replied then hesitated. “One of the local farmers followed them. He said they left the road after walking for half an hour. He lost them in woods, though I’m not sure how,” he said with disgust. “They should have left tracks in all this snow.”
“I’ll try to stop by the constable’s office before I leave town,” I replied. “Thank you very much for the coffee and the information.”
“I hope your friends didn’t run into any trouble,” he called as I opened the door.
“So do I,” I replied.
Thankfully, the constable’s office was on the north side of town. I entered the small office to find a short man with dark hair and full beard looking at me.
“How can I help you, young man?” he asked with a gruff voice.
“I was enjoying coffee with the baker a few moments ago, and he told me of the strange men who were here in town yesterday,” I began. “I’ve encountered them before and wanted to warn you that they will bring trouble with them when they come back.”
“What makes you think they will come back?” he asked with irritation.
“They always come back,” I said with resignation. “All they did yesterday was ask questions and harass your people, correct?”
He nodded, still skeptical but now also worried.
“Stay vigilant,” I said. “I’ll try to bring help. You won’t be able to fight them alone.”
I walked out of the small office and into the cold, trying to decide if I should go back to Santuario and recruit some of the warriors to help fight or continue to look for Eli, Juana, and Adalina. It really wasn’t a decision. I couldn’t leave these people to die. I slid into the shadows of the nearby forest and traveled back to Santuario. When I arrived at the gates, I remembered Raphael’s new portal too late. The guards let me in, and I sprinted to the tower. Raphael and Mikel opened the door to leave just as I reached for the handle. They both looked at me with surprise.
Light's Rise (Light in the Darkness Book 1) Page 20