No one witnessed the event more surprised than Fedaro. A light went up in his mind, calculating at a mile a minute. He found himself running to the scene, ignoring the wide-eyed face of the Stonegald and checking the girl's vital signs. She was alive; concussed at most. He shook her awake. A hope began to build in him, or maybe at this point in life, simply a sense of duty. He had honestly thought that he had put that old prophesy to bed. It was difficult to explain, but a hundred flashbacks of that night rocked his mind, of a Wiseman's telling of the Goddess's fall. But with Gloria's powers there was finally a chance to kill the Goddess. This alone would make him take a path he thought was not the destiny of any mortal man. Eight years ago they had failed at this very task. When Fedaro helped the girl up, the Imperials started moving in, seemingly detecting in Fedaro some change of heart. He looked across at Mestarés. He wasn't sure they could be called friends, but it would be the last time that they would ever be on the same side. ‘Run!’ he urged the girl, and the two of them disappeared into the woods.
Fedaro didn't like where this was going. He was chasing mindlessly after the girl in a move that was much too dangerous according to his mandate. He was blind on all sides, the growth so thick that something could hit him in the run without him knowing of it until it was too late.
He lost her at some stage, and he yelled, trying to persuade her not go on without him. It was in vain.
He picked up her trail again, running frantically, but he lost sight of her every now and then. He couldn't help but feel he had taken a huge gamble with his future just to see this girl escape from his grasp.
But fate had one last strange hand to show today. Fedaro caught up to her just in the nick of time. Of all the things, the Hippo had hunted her down just like he promised, blindsided her, and was busy manhandling the girl.
The trail ran by a solitary wall now almost indivisible with the many plants beside it, and the roots running down it like a curtain of sorts.
Having thrown her around Beluka now slammed Gloria to the wall, his huge hand wrapped around the side of her face as he pressed her to the stone, the other arm curled back in a fist intent on murder. Fedaro aimed his Musket at him.
‘Let her go Beluka!’ commanded Fedaro, already committed to kill the Hippo if necessary.
‘She killed Gesper! She is a witch!’
‘Really?’ said Fedaro steadily, aware that the sheer weight of Beluka could crush Gloria's skull against the wall. ‘How many arrows did you see in your friend?’
Beluka relented slightly. ‘But the monstra killed him because of her!’
‘Do not begin a path of lying to yourself, Beluka, it is a quick way to misery.’
Fedaro's finger squeezed harder around the trigger...
Beluka suddenly let her go and she fell to the ground clutching and covering her face, sniffing by the sound of it. Beluka himself collapsed on his behind and had a faraway look as the girl lay crying not two feet away from him. Fedaro lifted his rifle up into the air, relieved. This might yet work out alright, he thought.
Fedaro answered a call that came through from Mestarés.
‘What on earth are you doing? Did you capture the girl?’
‘I thought it was pretty obvious that I'm not interested in handing her over to the Imperials when I told her to run,’ answered Fedaro.
‘Listen, if this about you growing a conscious and not wanting her killed or abused then I swear to you I will make sure that she-’
‘It's not about that. Mestarés, if it's any hint, look at my past for answers. This girl just changed everything.’
‘You cannot begin to understand the ramifications here Fedaro! You will never have a life again anywhere near Doma Arak. Any fortune you have built up will become worthless!’
Fedaro didn't answer him at first, ‘some things are a calling...’ Looking across at the girl, Gloria, he slammed another magazine into the Musket. It was simple really; the way to any sensible future was going to be paved with death, and a whole lot of bullets. And maybe one fortunate arrow.
Mestarés' voice came over the radio again. ‘You've made a dreadful mistake my friend. I cannot protect you even if I wanted to,’ and then he dropped the call.
Thank you for reading Legend of Axiatés! Keep an eye out for Episode 2 coming soon! For updates, book info and promotions visit https://www.facebook.com/Road2Exodus/
Legend of Axiatés Episode 1 Page 4