by C. K. Rieke
“Sounds . . . Interesting.” She could read me a book on mathematics, and I’d be okay with it.
“Yeah, it’s about foraging. What to eat and what not to eat. You ever had an elderberry?” she asked, as another strong gust of wind hit their backs. Their hair flew into both of their eyes, and their clothes flapped strongly in the wind. “Whoa, that was a strong one.”
“Here, let’s get down from sitting up so high,” Zaan said, as he dipped down and put his back up against the wall they were sitting atop. She followed down to the ground after him. “Can’t say I’ve ever had one, an elderberry. What does it taste like?”
“Not sure, never had one,” she said and they both laughed. Stronger winds gushed over their heads.
“What is the second book?” Zaan asked, looking into Lily’s eyes. He thought they held the beauty of the forests in them, rampant greens and lush auburns circled her pupils.
“Well, let’s see. It’s called A Honeybee and his Sunflower Patch,” Lily said. “Any guesses what this one is about?” She looked up at him, who was staring deeply into her eyes. “Zaan?”
“Yeah?”
“What are you doing?” she asked softly.
Zaan reached up and touched her cheek with the back of his hand. Her face was smooth and delicate. He looked into her beautiful eyes, lit with bright greens. Her rosy lips were slightly opened apart. It was hardly noticeable, but enough for him to notice.
Her body was tense as he caressed her cheek, then chin. He slowly began to move his face closer to hers. He could feel the tenseness in her back and shoulders, and the panic in her eyes. He moved closer, until he could feel her breath. Then she moved forward just enough for her lips to press softly against his, and he could feel her body instantly relax.
They put their arms around each other as strong gusts of winds rushed and howled above them. Lily threw her books off to the side, and she wrapped her arms around him. He felt her soft skin as she ran her hands up his arms, and up to his neck. Neither wanted that moment to end.
Then, the loud sound of a single horn blew from Palanzal’s Tower, and the winds picked up above them.
They kissed a moment more, then pulled away from each other and smiled uncontrollable smiles. They gave each other one more kiss, to share one last intimate moment.
The horn blew loudly, so loudly actually that it almost drowned out the whistling of the winds overhead. Then, another horn began to blow from the second tower, doubling the volume of the first. Zaan was confused, and could see she shared the same feeling, from the look on her face.
“What is that?” Lily asked.
“I don’t know,” Zaan replied. “But something’s wrong, we should get back down to the others.”
A third horn began to blow from the third tower. They watched as people began to shuffle out of their homes out into the streets and look up to the towers, blowing their loud horns down to the citizens of Barrier Cliff.
Lily and Zaan looked at each other. Zaan couldn’t help but feel a sense of concern and worry. He’d never heard those horns blown. “Yes, we need to find the others,” Lily said.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
A large crowd of women, men, and children had formed at the base of Palanzal’s Tower. People shouted over each other, trying to yell up to the high tower while the deafening horns blew. Lily and Zaan found it difficult to make their way through the crowd. “Excuse us. Excuse us, please,” Lily said, as they slid through the cracks in the crowd of people. Eventually, they made their way to the front door, slid the latch open, and went inside. They tried their best to slip in unnoticed and shut the door behind them.
They went over to the staircase to the side of the tower and strode up quickly to the office of Mäezer Palanzal. Zaan knocked once and then opened the door. Startled faces appeared as Zaan saw Zelestiana and Astor quickly draw their swords and Tilda pulled back an arrow in her bow.
“Whoa!” Zaan said and put his palms up in the air, “It’s just us.” They lowered their weapons. “It’s just Lily and me. What is going on around here?”
Palanzal stood and waved for them to come over and join them. At Palanzal’s side sat Elindrill, and besides the three who drew weapons upon them, there was the Major and a group of armored soldiers, six of them.
“Quickly, head over here,” Palanzal said urgently. “We do not have time to fully catch you up.”
“What’s going on, Headmaster?” Lily asked.
“There is a concealed shadow heading for the high walls of Barrier Cliff.”
Zaan looked to Zelestiana, who gave no gesture, but stood as a soldier prepared for battle.
“A shadow?” Lily asked.
“Yes, something is approaching very quickly from the north, but it’s identity is shielded from my sight. All I know, is that is moves quicker than anything could by land, and that it is big, whatever it is,” Palanzal said with wild eyes. What is it coming towards us? Is it coming by sea? Whatever it is, Palanzal seems really worried by it.
“Major, take your soldiers and set up your defenses. Bar and barricade the gate, and let nothing over the walls,” Elindrill said.
“Nothing will breach the walls of Barrier Cliff, m’lady,” the Major said as he motioned for the six soldiers to follow him, and they shuffled past Zaan and Lily as they made their way out Palanzal’s study. The Major gave Zaan a look as he ran past, that Zaan interpreted as a look of ‘be prepared’ as if the Major was about to attack Zaan in a lesson of swordplay.
“What do we do?” Lily asked fearfully.
“The only thing we can do,” Tilda said, as she walked over to Lily and put her arms around her. “We fight.” She looked into Lily’s eyes. “We fight for our home.” Lily looked at Tilda with large, tear-filled eyes.
Zaan looked over at Palanzal, and then Zelestiana, and then Astor. “Okay, we fight,” he said with his chest out and his back straight, and he cupped the hilt of his sword with palm. “What’s the plan?”
Astor looked over and Zaan, “We will find out when whatever is heading our way arrives.”
“What about Gogenanth? Where is Gogenanth?” Lily asked.
“Ay, Gogenanth!” Palanzal said, as he hit himself in the forehead with his hand. “In all this commotion, I completely forgot.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
BLINDING sunlight struck the sheer cliff, it reflected so brightly, Ezmerelda even went briefly back into the White Passage to let her eyes adjust. She emerged slowly once more into the Yelden Forest, the foliage and trees thick, but she could see the highest tips of the black towers of Barrier Cliff hovering in the distance over the forest’s tree line.
Ready to draw his scimitar at the slightest sound, Gogenanth stood tensely just ahead of Wollen. After he had a sense the surrounding area was safe, he removed his hands from the hilt of his sword, and stood back up straight. He looked to the sky above where the city lay. There were no signs of smoke, then he began sniffing at the air. Yule upturned his eyebrows at the sight of Gogenanth smelling the incoming winds.
“What do you think, Wollen?” he asked.
Wollen cracked his knuckles on his right hand, one by one. “Well, from here, it doesn’t appear that there has been a battle, and I don’t sense anything around here out of the ordinary.” He ran his hands through his wild, long hair. “What do you think?”
Gogenanth growled in a low tone. “My outward senses don’t see or smell anything, but I cannot shake the sense of hatred approaching. Listen . . . ” Gogenanth put up a hand for the party to remain quiet.
“It’s quiet,” Wollen said. “Not a damn bird or animal around.” They watched as a colony of seagulls flew stealthily high in the air, moving south.
Gogenanth and Wollen both watched the sea birds fly high overhead in their V formation. Then, they both looked north. Both of their brows furrowed. Ezmerelda and Yule both followed suit, and look north, struggling and squinting to see anything of particular matter.
“There it is. We still have time,” Gogenanth said.
“Wait, there is what? What are we looking at?” Ezmerelda asked, still trying to see, she even took a few steps forward, hoping that would help.
Wollen walked over to her, and tried to match her eye line with his. He stood next to her and pointed his arm out, pointing his index finger out into the distant sky. “There, you see?” She covered her eyes and looked out. “That patch of clouds. The dark ones, in the middle of the clear sky. That's it. Whatever it is, it is concealing itself in darkness.”
“That can’t be . . .” Ezmerelda showed grave concern on her face. “That must be enormous, and it is . . . flying?” She took two steps back and stood next to Yule, who stood with his mouth open.
Then suddenly, Gogenanth fell to a knee. The three looked over at him, both his hands fell to the ground, and clenched the ground at his feet. He then brought one hand up to his head, and remained there for a few moments.
“Go— Gogenanth? Are you okay?” Ezmerelda asked.
“Shh.” He shushed back.
Inside of Gogenanth’s mind, he felt the deeply embedded presence of another persona. It was as if he had another personality communicating with him. He had to concentrate specifically on the voice to hear it loud enough to properly communicate with it. He took a deep breath and focused all of his energy on it, and it then grew loud enough to hear a light echoing of his name. It was calling for him, “Gogenanth . . . Gogenanth . . . Hear me.”
“Yes, I am here, I hear you Palanzal.”
“Gogenanth, we need your strength. Where are you?”
“I’m almost to the fortress. I am with a few friends. We should be there within a couple of hours.”
“You must hurry, something is approaching, something shielding itself from my senses. I fear it is a great and powerful force, though I know not what it is.”
“Palanzal, listen carefully to me. Whatever it is, it was sent by Armoz the Devil King, and it is coming for death.”
Palanzal did not respond immediately.
“Do you hear me, Mäezer?”
“Yes, I hear you, Gogenanth.”
“Palanzal, there is one more thing . . . it is hunting . . .” He paused, “You need to hide Zaan.”
Palanzal, again, took a few moments to respond. “I understand. Gogenanth, the Major is fortifying the fortress, but you must make great haste back.”
“Understood. May Ojiin grant me the speed needed to protect our home.”
***
An eerie, and foreboding silence floated in the air, as Mäezer Palanzal sat with both palms flat on the top of his desk, and his head bowed down. His long grey hair fell over his thin, tense shoulders, and beads of sweat fell under his golden spectacles. He sat still for many minutes. Streams of angelic sunlight illuminated the floating particles of dust slowly dancing through the room. Zelestiana stood motionless, Astor lightly fidgeted and looked around the room. Elindrill sat tensely by the Headmaster, and Zaan and Lily paced about slowly.
Elindrill moved towards Palanzal and put her hands on his back, as his head dropped down slightly, and his hands curled into fists. He lifted his head up, his long grey hairs falling in front of his face, then his opened his eyes widely, looking out into the far corner of the room. Then he turned and looked into Elindrill’s nervous eyes.
“What is it, Mäezer? What have you seen? What have you heard?” she asked.
“It is finally upon us. Victory or enslavement. Pride or death.” Palanzal stood up and spoke in a voice unfamiliar to Zaan. It nearly shook the walls with it volcanic tone. “Armoz the Devil King has made his move.”
Astor stood up suddenly and his face turned white. Zelestiana simply lowered her head and closed her eyes.
Palanzal lifted his arms up to his sides. “Chaos has stirred from the depths of Hell and awoken. The beasts of the underworld are upon us. Strong walls will do little against Demons of the Dark. The world will shake in the hours to come. Stories will be told for millennia of the events of this day. For Armoz will show his true face to all those of Essill, and all of the world. My friends, my colleagues, my family, today is that day we fight. Many may perish, but we must fight for the light of the Azulūz, for the light of our Father, the Great God Ojiin and the other Forgotten Names of the Gods. For today we fight. War is here. War is upon our doorstep. War has come to claim us.”
“This truly is terrible news,” Elindrill said softly, as her eyes welled with tears of terror. Palanzal did not reply, he simply lowered his head again.
“What of Gogenanth. Where is he?” Astor asked hastily.
“He comes, although, he may be too late.”
“What else did he say, Mäezer?” Zelestiana asked.
Palanzal lifted his head and looked into the thin, dark eyes of Zelestiana. “They are hunting, and they are coming for one.” Without moving his head, he then shot his eyes over at Zaan. “Zaan, my boy, you are in grave danger.”
Lily looked over at Zaan. “What? What do they want with Zaan?” It’s all happening again, will I never stop being hunted? What will it take to end this? Why do they want me so badly?
Astor looked over to Lily, and in a grave tone said, “Revenge.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
TO the south, the east and the west, the skies were as clear as a pane of freshly cleaned glass. Flocks of birds flew in enormous groups southward, and small mammals hurried into burrows or hollows. There was a general commotion at the front entrance of Palanzal’s tower and in the square of the city.
Every minute that passed, the northern sky grew darker. The blackness grew closer, and the fear rose in the population of Barrier Cliff. Frenzy gripped the people of the town, as fully-armored soldiers ran about, mostly to the front gate. The sun hung directly overhead, reflecting off of the armor and weapons of the soldiers.
From atop the tower of Palanzal, the horns died down, and the people of Barrier Cliff quieted their voices. In eager anticipation, they looked up to Palanzal and Elindrill standing on a great pedestal high on the tower.
“Citizens of Barrier Cliff. Hear me,” Palanzal said with a great tone in his voice, a tone most of them had never heard, and wished they hadn’t. “I wish this day had never come, but they are finally coming for us, in our home. Evil is upon us.”
The audience remained quiet below, although there were murmurs passed around.
“This evil is what we have sworn an oath to defeat, and defend against.”
“What can we do?” A woman’s voice asked from below.
Elindrill stepped forward. “The strong will fight. Yet, the children, must be hidden. We shall move the children under the city and take them out into the forests for safety if need be.”
The group below stirred and began yelling.
“Hear me, citizens of my city.” The voices quieted at Palanzal spoke again. “We will fight, and we will win. We will defend our home, and our families. This fortress has been a home to us, and she will protect us.”
“Gather your weapons, and rally the elderly and children here,” Elindrill said. “This is not the end.” Palanzal turned and went back into the tower, and Elindrill followed.
Zelestiana, Astor, Tilda, Lily and Zaan stood there in the room, without a word spoken.
“Well,” Palanzal said. “What do you think?”
Astor looked toward Elindrill. “So, we have no idea what is coming for us? Correct?”
“It appears it will come by the sky, whatever it is,” Elindrill said. Astor put his hand up to his chin, and scratched.
“Form squadrons, and take them down from our numbers,” Astor said.
“Astor, Tilda, and I will take on any problems that arise,” Zelestiana said.
“What of them?” Palanzal asked, looking to Lily and Zaan.
Zelestiana, Astor, and Tilda looked at one another. “Zaan will come with us,” Zelestiana said.
Tilda looked at Lily. “
Lily will help look after the children.” Lily’s face showed great disappointment. She looked over at Zaan.
“If they are coming for Zaan, Zelestiana, do you think it wise to put him into the battle?” Palanzal asked.
“I’m not going to hide away like I'm a helpless child. I’m going to fight,” Zaan said.
“We need his strength. He is ready, and we don’t know what will be upon us yet,” she replied.
“I agree with Zelestiana,” Astor added.
Palanzal looked at Tilda. “I also agree,” she said, nodding in approval.
“It is decided. Lily, you will escort the needy into the tunnels,” Palanzal said. “Zaan, you have already proven yourself a crusader, ten times over. This battle, it will test all of us. You must be strong, and confident. You must watch over your brethren. May Ojiin watch over you, and us all.”
Lily began to speak up in protest of her assigned position. “It has been decided,” Palanzal said, and sat at his desk.
On their way out of Palanzal’s office, Lily gave a scared look at Zaan, who looked deep in thought. “Tilda, I can’t leave you all,” she said.
“You are not leaving us. You have a very important job ahead of you. Be sure to arm yourself,” Tilda responded.
As they all left the entrance of the tower, the crowd split in two, to allow the group to pass. All eyes lay upon Zaan as they left. Zaan only looked forward. As they exited the group of people. Tilda turned and spoke, “Now, all of you, arm yourselves or gather in the tower. Take only what is necessary. May Ojiin watch over us all.” The group scattered quickly in different directions. Most faces showed panic and worry.
“Okay,” Tilda said, turning back towards her friends. “This is where we separate. Lily you must stay.”
“What of Gar and Stave?” Lily asked.
“They will fight with us. Worry about your part, for you have much to do, and you must be focused,” Tilda said.