Eluan Falls: A Whisper of Fate

by Dane G. Kroll

  “You should not put my safety above the others,” said Abigail. “We are all important.”

  Seres was running out of options. He did not wish to insult the crowd that was firmly behind Abigail. He knew his soldiers could better protect Abigail, but nobody wanted to believe it.

  “Then you may all come,” gave in Seres. “I welcome every one of you to the Senate House. There are rooms. There will be food, drink, and clean clothes. Protect Farrah side by side with my men in the heart of Myrus.”

  The crowd celebrated with roaring cheers. They jumped for joy. Hands reached out to slap Seres on the back thanking him for his generosity.

  Abigail smiled and bowed her head. She would gladly accept Seres’ offer. The Senate House would be Abigail and her followers’ new home.

  Chapter 50

  Seres was true to his word. Abigail and her entire flock were brought from the shanty towns at the edge of Myrus to the heart of the city. Ellen welcomed them with open arms at the Senate House. The once empty halls were now robust with thankful people and weary travelers.

  Abigail’s room was on the highest floor of the building and just down the hall from Seres and Ellen. The floor was the heaviest fortified with guards and only a handful of people were allowed to live up there while the majority of Abigail’s followers filled up the rest of the wings of the Senate House.

  Grifith and Darden were allowed to accompany Abigail on the top floor as her most trusted advisors. That was all Seres would allow, but Odessa thought otherwise.

  “You need proper protection,” Odessa urged Abigail. The two women spoke softly in Abigail’s room. They were alone, but Odessa could never trust that somebody wasn’t spying on them.

  “You don’t trust Seres,” Abigail commented. It wasn’t a question. She could feel Odessa’s distaste for the man.

  “Not particularly,” said Odessa. “I don’t know him well enough.”

  Odessa held back what else she knew about Seres, and what he knew about Abigail.

  Abigail stood up to walk around the room. Pacing helped her consider her options. Seres was being generous, but Abigail knew there was something more hidden behind his smile. Since her memories came back her powers had been weakened. She couldn’t probe into people’s thoughts like she had in the past. Those she had a previous connection with were easier to read, but it was nothing like before.

  “You’re right,” admitted Abigail. “I do need help. But what’s to say that I need your protection?”

  Odessa got to her feet to meet Abigail as an equal. “You’ve seen me fight for you once already. Is that not enough?”

  “No,” said Abigail. “Because when push comes to shove survival of the self is all that matters for most people. You want me to return home with you. That is why you are protecting me. And as you said about Seres, I don’t know you well enough.

  “You come to me saying I am your savior, requesting that I leave everything I have built to return to your city that nobody even knows exists. And now, there’s more. I can feel it. You’re holding back something. What is it? What do you really want?”

  Odessa clenched her teeth. “I am here to protect you. You have to believe that, but yes, I’ve learned something. Something about you.” Odessa slowly pulled out a small dagger from her breast pocket.

  Abigail’s eyes widened. She took a step back afraid of the rage that was boiling in Odessa’s voice.

  “You wish to strike me down?” Abigail asked.

  Then Odessa turned the blade towards herself and stretched out her arm. She presented the dagger as a gift for Abigail, handle first.

  “No,” said Odessa. “I am giving you a choice. Seres knows the truth about you. He told me in order to cause a rift in my loyalty. It almost worked. But I am not giving up so easily. What I am about to say will not leave this room. How that happens is up to you. You can either trust me to not say a word, or you can strike me down and I will never say another word again.”

  Abigail was not taking the blade from Odessa’s hands. The Outlander warrior slowly put the blade on a table close to Abigail. Then she walked several paces backward. Abigail was now closer to the blade than Odessa.

  “He knows about my past,” said Abigail. “I used to live at the Capitol. I was friends with Emperor Heric and Nikali. I grew up with them. But my loyalty is to my people. I will not hide that fact.”

  Odessa smiled. Abigail pretended like she was an open book but her darkest secret was still tight to her lips. “No, he doesn’t care about that. He knows who you really are, Farrah. He knows you are the granddaughter of Aldrin the Ageless.”

  Abigail dropped her head. The words stung in Abigail’s ears. She was too ashamed to look at Odessa and stare into her orange eyes.

  “Who all knows?” Abigail asked softly. Without even realizing it Abigail picked up the blade that Odessa gave her. Her grip was tense around the handle.

  “Just me and Paltro. I’ve sent the others back home,” confessed Odessa. “You can trust him. I trusted him with the information. I can’t speak for Seres.”

  “Aldrin was a terrible man,” said Abigail. “I know that. He had my mother killed. He told me the man who took me in and raised me, Alexus, was a traitor to Eluan. He had plans to overthrow the empire. I was kidnapped and brought to Aldrin during the war. I did what I could to survive and to keep others alive. I saved Heric’s life and I got a death sentence in return. With Aldrin was the only place I was safe. Then Heric burned it all down. And I had to run again. I have made some mistakes. I have stood against the Eluan Empire, but I am not Aldrin the Ageless.”

  “I believe that,” said Odessa. “That is why I am still here. That is why Paltro is still here. We want to help you. We believe in you.”

  Abigail was silent for a moment. The blade stayed steady in her hand. Odessa did not once look at the dagger.

  “Can you be burdened with more secrets?” Abigail asked.

  “It is our way,” said Odessa.

  Then Abigail put down the dagger. She gave Odessa the time to take in their situation. Things were relaxing.

  “I am not as powerful as I was,” said Abigail. “Ever since the battle at Jemn whatever it was that I unlocked about myself retreated back into my lost memories.”

  “What do you mean?” Odessa asked.

  “I have not been myself,” said Abigail. “I’ve been following the chain of events. I overdosed on Tamor Blood. It should have left me comatose like so many I’ve seen, but instead I become stronger. Something from my childhood before I was brought to Eluan erupted in me. I don’t actively remember my childhood in Prial, but it helped me survive these past few months. Then I used up my power protecting the people on the battle field. I was near death and my memories retreated again. Whatever I knew before is gone. There are still fragments, things on the tip of my tongue. But I am not what I once was. I cannot heal people like before. I cannot read people like before. I have to start all over again and regain my power.”

  “Oh,” said Odessa as she tried to come up with the words to console Abigail.

  “I am not the savior you believe me to be,” said Abigail.

  It was Odessa’s turn to pace around the room given the new information.

  “I’ve debated going out there and telling the people that it is no more, they should all go home, but I haven’t the heart,” she said.

  “As you shouldn’t,” said Odessa. “Those people have built their faith in you. You gave them hope. Breaking it now just as they’ve found a new home would not be advised.”

  “Then what should I do?” asked Abigail. “What will you do? You can leave at any time. You can still find your savior.”

  “No,” said Odessa. “You are the savior, not only of my home, the savior of all these people.”

  “I can’t be their savior,” said Abigail.

  “Yes, you can,” assured Odessa. “You said you can regain your powers? Then let’s do that. Let’s unlock your mind again. I will protect your secrets,
and I will protect you. Together we can stand against Seres, Eluan, the Blood Beauties, and anything that means us harm. Together we can be strong.

  “Back home we have an oath, said by both parties. Farrah, I will protect you.”

  “And I will protect you, Odessa,” answered Abigail.

  United, they were strong. Abigail had to act quickly after her talk with Odessa. Their only strength came with secrecy, but they needed a stronger network to help keep the secret of Abigail’s waning abilities. Abigail could only trust her closest allies. It took a lot of careful maneuvering to get all five of them together in one room. Seres’ men were at posts all throughout the Senate House and the rest of its grounds. Abigail did not want to risk any of their lives by trying to have a meeting somewhere else in Myrus. Seres already fought to make sure Abigail was within his reach. She wouldn’t be able to leave without notice. Instead they met at a garden house in the heart of the senate property.

  Each one of them had a separate route through the gardens that eventually brought them to the small secluded hideaway. Grifith and Darden were running errands helping out many of refugees that were still settling in to their new homes in the Senate House. Paltro was making security rounds throughout the area. All while, Abigail was simply out for a walk to visit with her followers and Odessa was her guard.

  Once they were all together Odessa and Paltro kept an eye out for any spies. Abigail did not want any information from their meeting getting out. The alliance with Seres was a forced option at best. He may have been willing to help, but that was going to come at a cost and to a point.

  “Thank you all for coming,” said Abigail once she was assured the coast was clear. None of them were followed.

  “What is this all about?” Darden asked.

  “Francesco is forcing us together,” said Abigail.

  “That’s good, right?” Grifith wondered. “He can crack down against any threats towards us. We won’t have to stay cooped up here for too much longer.”

  “He’s holding us hostage,” corrected Odessa.

  “That would put it a bit harshly, but yes. He brought us here to keep us close. If we do not ally ourselves with Francesco then he will surely send us out on the street,” said Abigail. “It’ll be chaos without protection from him and his guards.”

  “Bastard,” said Darden. “So are we joining him then? What does that even mean? Can we just leave? Maybe we’ll be okay. We fought against Nikali’s soldiers, and the Blood Beauties’ agent. We can get through this.”

  “We barely survived Nikali’s army,” said Abigail. “And that was only because of the Myrus army. We don’t know if the Blood Beauties will be back. We’re being attacked on several sides, and I can’t protect us.”

  “So we’re aligned with Seres,” said Darden.

  “Yes,” said Abigail. “But there’s another problem. My powers are waning.”

  “What?” Grifith exclaimed. The group shushed him, worried that he was getting too loud.

  “Ever since the battle at Jemn I haven’t had the same power levels.”

  “Have you been drinking Tamor Blood?” Grifith asked. “I can get you more.”

  “I have,” said Abigail. “It’s not enough anymore. I barely feel anything. I don’t remember how to do any of the things I was doing. I can’t heal like I used to.”

  Odessa sat quietly. Paltro took the news strongly. Grifith sat quietly with a frown dropping his face low to the ground. Darden rubbed his face with his hands. His fingers then turned to his temples and tried to massage away a coming headache.

  “What then?” Darden asked. His voice was getting angrier with every word. “There are hundreds of people out there that chose to follow you, Farrah. Hundreds of people that believed you would save them, that you would help them. Emperor Nikali is out there executing people, and turning the Capitol into a violent side show. You were the level head that people wanted to be lead by. Now, you’re saying that’s over.”

  “I’m not saying that,” said Abigail. “I did not ask for this, Darden. Don’t put the blame on me like that. You were there every step of the way. You took advantage of the situation. How much money did you make parading me around to the villagers on our travels?”

  Darden looked away. He did not wish to answer Abigail.

  “Darden?” Grifith ask his friend. “You were using her?”

  Darden remained silent.

  “You were a great help, Darden,” assured Abigail. “That is why I have kept you around, and that is why you are here right now. I need true allies, people that I can trust with the truth.”

  “You trust them?” Darden asked, nodding toward Odessa and Paltro.

  “Yes,” said Abigail. She looked over at her two guards.

  Odessa and Paltro nodded their veiled heads.

  “We still hardly know them,” said Darden.

  “I trust them,” said Abigail. “That should be enough.”

  “This is getting out of hand,” said Darden. “This has gone too far. We should never have come to Myrus. We should have turned people away. We got greedy.”

  “Is that it then?” Abigail asked. “Are you done now because I can’t control my powers like I used to?”

  “I didn’t say that,” said Darden. “I don’t know what I’m saying.”

  “The Tamor Blood is helping, but I am nowhere close to where I was before the battle at Jemn. If Seres discovers that then the need for me is more than likely over.”

  “So what do you suggest we do?” Odessa asked.

  “That’s one of the reason’s I called this meeting,” said Abigail. “How do we keep this going?”

  The garden house fell into silence as the five of them pondered their futures. Finally, it was Darden that spoke up.

  “Why did you come to Myrus?”

  Abigail looked up at Darden. She thought back to her time before the battle and her old intentions were drawing a blank.

  “That whole time you kept saying that Myrus needed us,” said Darden. “There were people waiting for you.”

  “I remember saying that,” said Abigail. “But I do not remember why.”

  “Maybe that’s our answer,” said Darden. “People here need our help. So, let’s help them.”

  “How do we do that?” Odessa asked.

  “By getting our faces out there,” said Darden. “You said Seres basically has us hostage. What if he didn’t? What if we show Myrus we are not here to harm them or rule over them?”

  “For what?” Odessa questioned.

  “To show our value,” said Darden. “You’re right, Farrah. I did take advantage of the situation with you. I got out in front of the whole thing and made sure my face was right next to yours. People believed I ran the inn for a while.

  “That’s what we need to do. We need to make our presence known, not just for being the people that Seres welcomed into Myrus, but for the people that are helping Myrus.

  “We ran a shelter at the inn. Let’s do that again. Bigger this time. The doctors are still here. We can provide food, shelter, and healers all under your guidance, Farrah. That way, Seres begins to lose his power over us. He has us under his thumb because of fear.”

  “Seres will never sponsor that kind of aid,” said Abigail. “We won’t have the supplies to feed and clothe the people.”

  Darden bobbed his head a couple of times then begrudgingly let out the next part of his plan. “I can afford it. Myrus is under construction. Seres is looking for investors for more of the city. Especially now that he has gone against Emperor Nikali. I can invest. Part of that deal can be supplies for the people.”

  “With what money?” Odessa asked, looking Darden up and down in his shabby clothes.

  “Again, Farrah is correct. I made a profit from the followers.”

  “What?” Grifith asked.

  “You saw some of it,” said Darden. “That hat didn’t buy itself.”

  Grifith took his hat in his hand and looked at it like the hat itself had
betrayed him.

  “The coin we got was used mostly toward food and clothing,” said Darden. “But that wasn’t all that was donated. There were heirlooms, rare, expensive to the right buyers, priceless to suckers, also some land deeds. Mostly stuff out northwest, but prices are rising again because of Nikali. I can turn it into coin. I was going to sit on it a little longer. I think prices are still going up, but I can move it now.”

  “You would do that for me?” Abigail asked.

  “Yes,” said Darden. “You’ve been right most of the time, Farrah. I started this because I thought I could make some money. And Grifith never wanted to leave you alone. So I tagged along. I can sell trinkets any day, but once the sale is over that’s it. Then you came along. You were the miracle that I could sell every day.

  “I was going to retire off of this. No more scavenging through dead towns hoping to find something that was looked over. I could have left as soon as we got to Myrus. I should have. The battle at Jemn was a nightmare. But I’m still here. Because for some reason somewhere along the line I started to believe as well. You inspire all those people out there and you inspire me. It wasn’t just your powers, Farrah. It was your heart. Your powers brought them here, but your generosity toward anybody that comes to you is what makes them stay.

  “We can use this alliance toward our benefit. Seres wouldn’t force our hand if he didn’t need you. He’ll give us some room to maneuver. Then we can build our strength and break free from his grip.”

  “That’s one more enemy on our list,” said Odessa.

  “I know,” said Darden.

  “It’s the only way,” said Abigail. “Thank you, Darden. For everything. We cannot rely on Francesco for too long. We need to become independent in Myrus.”

  “Seres will fight back,” said Odessa.

  “Then let’s hope we’re strong enough to defend ourselves when that happens,” answered Abigail. “We need to get everything in motion.”