Chapter 28
Alanasse sat upon his horse overlooking the early morning fog laced valley. He had ridden to the Kentucky and Indiana border where the Galdar had said they were to meet the Brkatins. They were a short stalky type staying mostly underground, but were supposed to join them here, that’s why he brought extra horses. He knew of their hatred of riding, some say it’s because their legs are short, but his mother told him it was because horses tend to hate them.
There was no sign of them, but the Galdar said to wait. She assured him they will show up. Elisabeth had ridden with him but she had stopped a ways back to use the restroom. She hates using the trees so she will go into homes along the way. Sometimes she comes out crying when she sees the almost dissolved bodies still in the homes. She even takes time to sing for them. She says that’s the least she could do for intruding into their homes.
He watched as she rode up beside him with a worried look on her face. He told her not to worry they would be there soon, “maybe they are combing their beards,” he joked.
“Beards,” she asked with wrinkled eyebrows?
“All the men and even some of the ladies have beards,” he said chuckling.
“You’re being mean aren’t you,” she said as she punched him in the arm?
“Actually not, just wait and see,” he said with a slight raise in his shoulders and a smirk on his face.
With their horses side by side they sat in silence as they waited, except for the occasional grunt of a horse. Elisabeth glanced at Alanasse; he was a strong man and a good leader. She figured he was a few years older than her, but she was falling for him anyways. She wasn’t sure how he felt about her, though he did ask her to ride with him today, maybe he liked her too, she thought.
Three ruggedly dressed short men appeared suddenly from the trees; axes strapped to their backs with beards hanging near to their bellies. Elisabeth followed suit after Alanasse dismounted and as he stood near whom she thought to be their leader. She listened as their leader spoke in a throaty deep voice, “my name is Morwin Axewill, and we got the Galdar’s whispers. She talks of a battle that will soon take place and asks us to join.”
“There is a truth to the whispers,” Alanasse said, “the battle for the planet will take place in a place called Nevada. The Galdar says every living creature on the planet is in danger.”
“We are few here, but have some other clans throughout the land; we will put a call out to them as well. We will have them meet us along the way,” Morwin said. “What about the uniting,” he added.
“We have the scepter with us yet the heir is yet to be found. The Galdar lost track of the sword a while back, but Elisabeth here says the swords heir took it through a portal to save his wife.”
Morwin looked disgusted, “he put his wife above the uniting, removing the sword from Earth. I should have stayed with him longer. We might as well as go back home,” he said to the others with him, “The battles over we lost.”
“Wait,” Alanasse said, “maybe you didn’t hear me right. The Galdar said that the invaders plan to destroy every living creature on this planet, so we must fight. It’s us or them.”
“We could try to open a portal back to Kivanha,” Morwin said, “if these people will not fight for themselves.”
“The Galdar says that would be impossible unless the uniting takes place plus we cannot afford to lose this planet. She says that technology has driven magic from three others, we must hold on to this one even if the uniting fails,” Alanasse spoke somberly.
“With the sword off the planet and the heir of the scepter not found, it’s already over. We might as well give up,” one of the other men with Morwin spoke up.
Elisabeth stepped forward, “this is my planet and it’s worth saving. I trust Treyson will bring the sword and his wife through the portal in Nevada. We can’t give up hope; we will find the heir to the scepter and unite them.”
“Has the Galdar seen this,” Morwin questioned Alanasse?
“No she has not, when she tries to see, it’s only darkness,” Alanasse said sadly.
“Can we defeat this enemy,” Morwin asks?
“I will not lie to you; the Galdar says it will be a costly battle that much she can see.”
Alanasse whistled bringing a lone rider with eight horses all with the stirrups pulled up. Alanasse said that the Galdar told him to bring eight which caused Morwin to stare at him. He made a short loud grunt and five others came out from the trees. All bearded though at two of them had feminine features making Elisabeth give Alanasse a look and a smile. Alanasse asked if they needed help, but Morwin said no. He got down on all fours allowing his back to be stepped on as the others mounted up. One by one they climbed on and at last two others helped pull Morwin up.
Alanasse and Elisabeth rode side by side silently on their way back to camp with Morwin and the rest of the Brkatins close behind. Elisabeth’s thought was for Esther hoping she was ok knowing Treyson would take care of her.
The Renewal Page 28