by Melanie Ray
"Jerks! My whole family is nothing but jerks." Muin pushed Xiam slightly. "You're a jerk too for getting captured. Don't do that again."
"Uh, where am I?" Xiam looked around.
"In the mountains," Yed answered him. "Do you remember anything? Those inhibitors, I don't know much about the red and pink. How do you feel?"
"Iri," Xiam said again. "I lost Iri."
"She won't be killed, waryes need female warnos. Trust me, Xiam, she'll be safe." Yed laid his good hand on his shoulder. "Do you know why you were here?"
"No." Xiam looked toward the guards. "I don't remember much."
"They must have a base around here," Yed reasoned. "Thank goodness we went this way first."
"We'd help you up," Ezra finally spoke to him, "but we're all stuck to the ground except Guy and Regwallis."
"Oh." Xiam stood up. "Okay."
Ezra wished she could make him feel better. Iri was gone, and he wasn't accepting anything yet. Just 'Iri', 'oh', and 'okay' is all he said. He was so hurt. What did those inhibitors do to him? All of them took a few minutes to welcome him back, and there was a slightly teary reunion.
"You're okay now," Yed said. "I can tell from the way you were acting, you're not going to know much. But, I assure you, everything's okay. Iri will be fine."
"Iri." Xiam gulped. "Iri."
"Don't sweat it, you don't have to discuss anything until you're ready, man." Yed looked around. "There might be a base around here. The mountains would make a good spot, so we better hurry."
"We're going to the top," Muin said, "leaving me and Cooey there, and then you are splitting again. Leaving me there. On a cold mountain."
"Muin, we'll find safety first for you," Ezra assured her.
"Which isn't here, let's go." Yed gestured with his mobile hand, and pointed upward. "Time to get climbing again, but everyone stay really quiet. By Xiam's position, there must be a base nearby, or Fayu knew what they were up to. Which one, he wasn't sure. It was suspicious that they ran into Xiam like that, but then again, he was getting the stuffing beat out of him. He was near a strange combination of inhibitors too. Red, pink, and a tiny bit of green. His eyes were unfocused and he was in pain, emotionally as well as physically.
If King Fayu knew, he would have stopped him with more than two. The only warnos there were Guy, Muin, Ezra and him. More than two, and in different positions, he probably wouldn't have survived the encounter. So, that didn't make sense. The rhymes were written in secret by AnoNymous too. It was hard to track down. It had to be coincidence.
Yed glanced back at Xiam several times. Xiam looked confused, and forlorn. Nothing out of the usual, he just lost Iri and those inhibitors didn't help. He moved a little slower, to walk with Xiam side by side. He preferred walking near Muin or Ezra, since they were both low to the ground like him. Xiam walked upright, so having a conversation wasn’t as easy. Still, it was necessary. "Xiam."
"Yed." Xiam spoke softly. "What?"
"Just, seeing how you were doing. Great to see you're still alive." That didn't sound right, Xiam was a brother to him! "I didn't think you'd survive. You could have lost everything by defending King Regwallis."
"I did lose everything." Xiam looked toward the ground, his walking becoming even slower.
"Iri, I know." Yed sighed. "God, it's a miracle you're alive! Do you know how lucky you are to be alive?"
"Hm." Xiam glanced toward him a second. "I'm not a god."
"Nevermind. I am just happy you're back." Yed tried to smile, but it wasn't reaching him at all. "Ezra and Muin had a hard time saying goodbye to you." He was so bad at expressing his feelings. The impossible had happened, and he couldn't make it clear how happy he was to see him alive. Mere words.
"Nothing to mourn." Xiam continued staring at the ground, his pace not improving.
"Yeah. You have a real knack for making us think you're dead." Yed almost chuckled, remembering the time Xiam got shot. He and Muin thought he was dead, but it had been fine because of the inhibitor. That hadn't been a trap. No, there had to be a base nearby.
"Unit one, where are you?"
Another waryes? Yed ran in front, and signaled everyone to go left. More waryes. He could overhear more waryes' talking. No one spoke a word until they walked far enough out of the way.
"Was that the base?" Muin spoke first.
"I think so. Bases aren't close to each other. If we stay going straight, it should be fine. If anyone hears anything, then we'll have to step out of the way again." Yed gave some general steps on avoiding bases, and then they walked again. Xiam still wasn't talking much.
An hour later, Xiam picked up the pace and headed up toward Ezra. "How are you?"
"Xiam." Ezra smiled at her brother. "I'm fine."
"That looks heavy." Xiam's voice was hoarse. "Are you hurting?"
"No, I'm OK. It never hurt, we all woke up this way," Ezra assured him. She looked toward Tigeravich in her basket. "The children are unaffected because you watched them. Thank you so much, Xiam."
"I tried." Xiam cleared his throat. "That basket around your neck looks heavy. Do you want me to carry it?"
"Oh, by Pagnia, thank you!" Muin stopped and looked toward Xiam. "It is heavy, here. Cooey is small, but this distance and my neck? Ouch."
"I was talking to..." Xiam looked toward Ezra who simply groaned.
"Ezra's fine, aren't you, Ezra?" Muin grinned at her. "Please be fine?"
"I'm fine," Ezra said for her sister's benefit. Having the basket off her neck would have been gratifying, but she couldn't simply say no when her sister was in pain. "Go ahead and take Cooey, Xiam."
"Sure, okay." Xiam took the basket off from around Muin.
"Oh, thank goodness! I can move again." Muin stretched her arms out along with her neck. "That makes it easier."
Ezra didn't say a word against that.
"I can hold Tigeravich if you want, Queen Ezraponia?"
Ezra looked behind her at Guy. He still had his nose pinched with the toga.
"I could help too, mother Ezra?" Regwallis volunteered.
Regwallis was too young, Ezra couldn't even consider that. "Okay, Guy."
"Be careful of that nose," Yed spoke from behind.
"We could switch off later," Xiam recommended. "Give everyone wearing a basket a break every now and then."
"Great idea," Yed agreed.
"I second that," Ezra said. Having her basket removed even a short time would undoubtedly help her neck. Walking on her knuckles was hard enough. Even with calluses she could feel sticks and stones. Their walking was unspokenly slower because of it. Regwallis and Guy kept trying to hide the fact everyone was moving at the pace of snails.
She tried to think about how far they had traveled just to reach the mountain. Compare that with going back to the Warno Kingdom and Waryes Kingdom? The walk wasn't a simple walk. She was bound to start bruising and bleeding soon.
It took two days to climb that mountain, and Muin still wanted to go back.
"A small cave? A small cave, for how long?" Muin questioned Yed. "I'd poke you in protest if I could do that. I could bonk your head with mine, but that would hurt."
"Muin," Yed warned her. "This is our only option. We came all this way to do this. If this doesn't work, we have nothing left."
"How long am I supposed to wait?" Muin gestured to the cave. "How long do I have to stay up here?"
"Awhile. Walking like this is taking twice as long." Yed fidgeted his fingers on his good hands. Without streets, figuring out distance was tough. They were about three days walking distance from the safe house with average speed. At their new speed, that was about nine days. They could get to the car and time would speed up, but if anything happened to the car? Oh, what a walk that will be. "If we can keep the car in proper running condition and it doesn't run out of energy, less than two weeks. If anything happens to the car...it could be months."
"Thanks, lovely. So this is essentially my new home?" Muin growled, and even lifted her
hand to act like she wanted to scratch. "Thanks, I'm so glad I agreed to this!"
"Muin. It's a small price to pay if this works," Ezra said as she nuzzled her sister's cheek. "Come on. Please?"
"You're only saying that for Yed," Muin complained. "I'll wait a month, but then I am going back to Zaria if no big miracle happens." She took the basket from Xiam who was still holding Cooey. "Thanks, Xiam."
"Don't mention it." Xiam tried to smile as he hugged his sister's neck. "Don't wander down below."
"At least the scenery is gorgeous," Ezra added. She gestured out in front of them. They were on the most massive area for inhibitors. It wasn't as easy to bring equipment all the way up a mountain, so most of it had been unharvested. The ground glittered like ice, but with a touch of green. Raw, untampered inhibitor. "Have you ever seen such a site?"
"Well, I will every day from now on." Muin glanced in front of her. "Okay, it is pretty. It might not be so bad." She pawed the ground. "Okay, anything extra? Cream for Cooey's butt, medicine, food, and all that jazz?"
"All in your basket," Yed said.
"That explained the weight." Muin sighed. Then, she gulped. "Up here, all alone. Waryes at the base."
"They are everywhere." Yed moved closer to Muin and wrapped his arms around her neck. "This isn't for nothing, this is for everything. Keep your spirits up, and if they come, just run."
"They'd catch me." Muin looked at him, square in the eyes. Her eyes started to shimmer. "I'm risking everything for this."
"I know." Yed let Xiam and Ezra come closer for a hug too. Muin was far from stupid, she knew the risks. "Muin, we'll come back. I promise you, as soon as we can."
"You better." Muin started to break down. "I'm not ready to die yet!" She dropped to the ground. Ezra wrapped her arms around her neck tighter.
Yed didn't know what to do. She was right, there was a chance she could get discovered. If he could have done anything to prevent her from risking her life, he would. "Muin, I know it isn't easy to stay when you've seen waryes around here, but they were at a lower end. Look around, they don't like it up here, or this would be all gone. Chances of survival are decent."
"Just be strong," Xiam whispered. "You've got a strong heart, you can do this. Believe in yourself, okay? This will be over soon."
"Soon. A month is soon?" Muin ducked her head beneath her again. "Yeah, fine. I'll be fine."
"You will." Yed gave her one more hug. "We'll be back."
"Fine." Muin sniffed. "You better go before I change my mind." She wouldn't lift her head again.
Yed motioned for everyone to turn around and head out. Muin wasn't going to say goodbye, she wanted them to leave so she could deal with the situation. He didn't blame her. Long goodbyes weren't always the best thing.
"Muin is so scared," Ezra whispered to Yed.
"She'll be fine, just don't look back," Yed encouraged her. The wind still didn't die down. It would be a couple more days before they were off the mountain again.
"It's getting later, we could have set up camp there?" Ezra recommended.
"That would make it easier on us, but harder on her," Yed didn't bother looking at her. "Your sister is strong, she'll make it through. We'll make camp a little ahead, far enough that she doesn't see or hear us."
Chapter 84
BROTHER’S BETRAYAL
As everyone slept, Xiam looked at Tigeravich. The boy was out of the basket and crawling around. He was getting better each day at crawling. He felt his back, remembering the brand mark. If he took Tigeravich while everyone was sleeping, he could get away. He didn't even need a strong start, Yed and Ezra couldn't even walk upright, let alone run.
If he took him now, it would mean they would go back for Muin too, instead of her spending weeks alone with Cooey. It'd be safer, and they'd all give up. It was the reasoning he was working out in his head, but how could he do that? Steal his sister's child?
Iri though, oh Iridescent. Bearing King Fayu's children! Being his?! The thought pierced his heart even more. If he didn't take Tigeravich to King Fayu, he would lose Iridescent.
What if the rhyme worked though? What if after Yed set everything in place, what if something did happen that made everything right again? He could get Iri back, and...and start a family with her instead. They could get a life back, create a new beginning. If it didn't work though, which was most likely the case. If it didn't, he'd lose her forever.
Xiam could tell Yed what Fayu was doing, and maybe he'd agree to go save her? Oh, who was he kidding. Yed worked for years as a Protector to try and gain the opportunity to get his own mom and sister out. He hadn't been able to do that, what chance did Iri have?
Tigeravich. His nephew was in his arms, right now. Fayu just wanted an heir, the boy would grow up with riches and a future kingdom. That wouldn't be bad.
Damn it! What was he supposed to do? He couldn't let Fayu have his wife, and he couldn't take his nephew to the Waryes Kingdom. He couldn't tell Yed though, it would ruin both options!
Iridescent. Tigeravich. Iri. Tiger.
Xiam felt tears fill his eyes. No matter what he chose, he couldn't live with himself afterward. If he sent Tigeravich there, he couldn't live happily with Iri knowing what he had done. If he didn't take Tigeravich though, he'd always imagine the happiness he lost.
Telling Yed was a waste, he couldn't do anything. He couldn't even stand upright anymore. Iri didn't deserve her fate!
To take Tigeravich though...
"You okay?"
Xiam jumped as he saw Guy next to him. He wiped his eyes and looked away. Yed had told him about Guy taking care of the children for a week, and how he had entrusted him with watching Carressella in the Warno Kingdom's castle when the moment came. "Hi. Fine."
"You don't look fine," Guy reasoned. "You look like your life's falling apart." He patted his back. "I'm sorry about your female. I don't even know my other life, let alone if I had anyone." He hung his head. "I don't think I'd want to remember, but then again, it's like I've wasted years of my life that I'll never gain back. No mom, no dad, and no memories of childhood. Life seriously is hard, I hope we all catch a break soon."
"Yeah." Xiam kept staring at Tigeravich. "She doesn't deserve anything. Muin doesn't deserve to be left behind. The children don't deserve to be left anywhere, and we don't deserve extinction." He thought back to the inhibitors and what he saw. All those different realities, he never ran into this one. He'd seen so much, even killing Yed himself. Never did he see Iri end up with Fayu, or stealing Tigeravich!
Iri. The love of his life. The love of his life.
"Xiam?"
Xiam jumped, hearing Yed's voice next to him. "Oh, hey."
"Why aren't you sleeping? Thinking of Iri?" Yed patted his foot. "She is still alive, and one day we'll get her out."
"When is one day?" Xiam asked, hope entering his voice. "Tomorrow? A week? A month?"
Yed rubbed his face with his good hand. "It's going to take some time. I can't make any promises when, but eventually the waryes will let down their guard more."
"Years," Xiam said for him. "You'd get her in years."
"She would be safe, even without rescue. They don't kill the females, trust me." Yed lied his body back down. "Get some rest. It'll be a long wait, but one day you'll see her again. Don't feel obligated to hold Tigeravich all night long, Ezra likes to sleep with the children nearby her."
Xiam didn't answer him back. He felt his back one more time. If he didn't comply with the deal, King Fayu would probably kill him. For all he knew, they could have had a tracer on him. He looked toward Tigeravich sucking his fingers.
A light stroll. He wouldn't do anything, just take a light stroll. He got up and held Tigeravich closely. Looking at the moon, he began to walk. It was only a stroll. Simply a stroll. He walked a few feet, getting some fresh air. He couldn't live with losing Iri, and he wouldn't live if he didn't take Tigeravich.
"A stroll this late, Xiam?"
Xiam turned around and saw
Yed, staring at him questioningly. "Yeah, just...catching a breather."
"Go give Tiger back to Ezra," Yed commanded. "Now."
"Sure, no problem. All you had to do was ask." Xiam froze. He tried to move, but he couldn't. Yed's eyes were piercing him.
"You're like a brother to me, more than you'll ever know," Yed warned him. "Don't do anything stupid."
"No, I know. I know, I saw. I saw many, many different times." Xiam felt himself start to break down. "Those inhibitors, they don't take you through time but...you can see different realties. All kinds, all kinds. I saw you and Ezra jumping off a cliff. I saw Ezra's mind go back to childhood. I saw two weird beings electrocute. I even saw myself killing you because you said to. I saw many thing." His eyesight began to disappear as the screams and yells came back.
"I knew it. I knew the inhibitor had a reason for being with you." Yed approached, no longer hostile. "Xiam, those are different realities, and no matter how many you saw, you can't change anything. Not for good, and not for bad. They don't affect this one, so try and put it out of your mind. You belong here. You can't change anything, and if you go into a time machine, you'll regret everything."
"Do you?" Xiam asked him. He was still frozen. "Honestly, do you regret leaving?"
"Half of my family is captured or dead because of me. Yeah, I regret leaving." Yed gulped. "If I had known, I never would have left, but I can't change that anymore. I have this life. It's all I have, and I am never letting it go."
"You'd do anything for your family," Xiam said. "Anything."
"That's what we are. Family." Yed walked closer toward him. "You should get back to the camp, Xiam."
"What is family? Is it, the ones you grew up with? The ones you know you spent decades with in another time? Or is it the love of a woman?"
"They're all family." Yed approached closer.
"Not all of them can be, not all the time. Sacrifices must be made."
"You can't turn your back on family." Yed's words came out rough, almost unreadable.
"Who is family?" Xiam looked down at Tigeravich. "A young baby that probably won't even survive through this whole thing?"
"Yes!" Yed was growling, and he let out a hiss toward Xiam. "Don't."