Chapter 33
The fog surrounding Willy’s little fishing boat was so thick that Rose was having a hard time seeing her companions, let alone the surrounding waters. Then, as if passing though some sort of invisible wall, they emerged to see what could only be the Isle of Shadows. Cliffs at least twenty feet high made landing the boat somewhere seem impossible. Exposed tree roots and dead snags hung from the top edge of the ominous wall and Rose was quick to notice that these half dead trees were the only sign of life. As far as she could tell, this small group would be the only living creatures on this dreaded rock. After a quarter hour of rowing, Willy brought the boat around a sharp corner and a steep crevasse came into view.
“This be the only way up far’s I can tell,” the old boatman spoke, breaking the long, tense silence.
“Here will be just fine,” Gaost responded, “thank you for bringing us here good sir.”
“I brought ye’ fer pay, that is all,” Willy said gruffly. “When will ye’ be need’n a return trip?”
“Of that we are unsure,” the Cleric replied. “Would you mind waiting for an hour or so?”
“I will go and come back,” he said, shaking his head. “Don’t like this place at all. It feels evil.”
“Understood,” Gaost affirmed.
Logan took the lead, climbing half with his hands up the steep trail. Rose took some time to tie up her long flowing dress around her waist before the climb, and continued up after him. Logan looked back often to see if Rose was having trouble and would offer his hand for a pull up when she needed it. Once again Rose was impressed at how strong and kind this dear man was. She felt very safe with him, even in the midst of this dark and lonely place. Once Logan finally reached the top, he turned to help Rose, and it was then that he noticed her exposed legs.
“Take my hand,” he said, reaching down and turning his gaze to the side. “I will pull you up this last bit.”
Rose smiled at how shy this mighty warrior was at the sight of her bare legs, but she resisted the urge to tease him about it. What happened next was a surprise to the both of them. Rose leapt as Logan pulled and in moments, they found themselves in an embrace. They lingered in this position for only a moment, but those short seconds, looking deep into each other’s eyes, a serious bond was made. An unwritten but binding vow was made in the hearts of both these children of Ya. A connection was created that would last till the end of their days. Then, as quick as the moment had begun, it was over. Logan released Rose from his supportive embrace, and Rose untied her dress just as Goast came up the bank to stand on the top.
“Is it just me, or did anyone else notice that Willy stopped stuttering?” Logan asked, trying to avoid discussion about what has just occurred between him and Rose.
“I noticed it too,” Gaost said. “I would think that Rose had something to do with that again.”
“I prayed for the dear man of course,” Rose said with a smile. “Ya in his great mercy chose to help the man talk I guess.
Now that the trio was settled on the flat ground, they looked around to see before them a thick wall of trees. Rose was startled and a shudder shot up her spine. These tangled trees were straight from her life-long nightmare. She took a deep breath, and straightened her shoulders in resolve. These trees were not from a nightmare, but from her ever-loving father. Rather than coming from some dark place or horror, the dreams she had experienced for most of her young life were meant to show her the way and will of Ya.
“Lead on Gaost,” Logan said motioning to the wall of trees with his big hand. “I got no idea where to go.”
“Truthfully Logan, I have no idea either. I was hoping that Rose may have some idea.”
“Follow me then boys,” Rose said with a smile. “These trees and I go way back.” Rose gave herself over to her intuition and led them forward into the thick forest.
Only moments after starting on their way, an ominous voice spoke with an evil hiss from the small clearing behind them.
“I thought that killing you would be more of a challenge Gaost,” said the mocking voice of Bane. “You have no idea where you are going do you?”
Rose gasped at the realization that Bane had been right there listening to them, waiting for a dramatic time to reveal his presence.
“I have no problem with depending on someone else, Bane,” Gaost said. “In fact, I see your dependence on self to be your biggest weakness.”
Without warning, Bane released a bolt of searing red energy from his fingertips, square into the chest of the surprised Cleric.
In a moment, Logan had drawn his sword, and Rose moved in to help Gaost get to his feet, but the mighty Cleric was up in a flash.
“You two go on now,” Gaost ordered. “There is nothing you can do here, and besides, this is my battle.”
Before any answer could be given, white hot bolts of holy energy shot from the hands of the Cleric into the chest his nemesis.
Logan lingered only for a moment, resisting the urge to rush in, swords swinging.
“Protect Rose Logan,” Gaost yelled. “Follow her close and make sure she can get to that staff.”
Rose and Logan sprang forward, leaving as resounding cracks of energy rang out in the small clearing behind them. The ground in front of them was sloping downward just enough to keep Rose walking at a brisk pace. The farther they went, the more she became sure of the direction she was leading them. It felt as if the hand of Ya himself was pulling her to her destiny. Normally this feeling would disturb Rose. She did not like the feeling that someone else was in control, but in this case, the dreams of many restless nights were being unfolded with finality. Rather than fighting the restless promptings to push forward, she gave herself over fully, getting lost in the thoughts of finally reaching the end of this fitful dream.
A sudden and vigorous rustling of the branches around them brought Rose to a stop.
“This place must be over-run with Taints,” Logan said with a worried look. “How are we supposed to fight what we cannot see?”
Rose did not hesitate to pray for help, placing one of her hands on Logan’s cheek, and the other on one of his strong sword arms. “Almighty Father, give us eyes to see clearly and may we both depend on your might to defeat whatever foes may attempt to keep us from your will.”
Logan opened his eyes and found that his words were truer than he expected. They were completely surrounded by the evil, dark creatures. With a loud cry, the holy knight of Ya drew both of his swords, filling the forest with a great white light.
“Ya has granted you the power to fight against the taints brother,” Rose exclaimed.
“No foul creature of Belial will be left standing before me sister,” Logan agreed, sweeping the flashing blades in front of him to clear the path forward.
The pace forward was much slower now, and the unholy creatures kept coming forward at a relentless pace. Rose kept in close to Logan’s back, not wanting to get in the way of his swinging blades. On and on, the Taints came for what seemed to Rose like an eternity, until the mighty strokes of Logan finally cleared an opening in the direction that Rose wanted to go. Without thinking, she lifted her dress, and burst through the opening, running as fast as her sore feet would take her. Behind her, she could hear the clamour of the fight between Logan and the endless Taints; the swish of the swords and the ear piercing cries as each broad stroke cut another Taint in two. She got ahead by nearly ten paces before any of the fallen ones noticed that she had eluded them. No longer distracted by the menacing knight, the Taints turned their attention back to chasing the woman in white, as their master had ordered them. On Rose ran between the trees, branches lashing at her face as she dodged back and forth into the dark. The taints gained a little ground on her with every stumble, their numbers seeming to increase even with the white hot blades of Logan slashing at them from behind. The panting warrior was doing what he could to get closer to Rose and ahead of her pursuers, but fatigue was starting to se
t in. He had never faced this many enemies on his own before.
Rose began to feel a desperate panic pounding in her heart. She was beginning to think that every single Taint on the face of Terros was chasing her down this dark valley. She could feel their clawed fingers grasping for her flowing dress and tangled hair.
Logan, with a mighty scream and a terrible slice in the air was finally able to move back to back with Rose, keeping the taints off of her for the time being.
“We are nearly there,” Rose exclaimed.
Logan did not answer as more fallen ones swept in on them in a flood. The poor man’s arms felt as if they were going to fall off, yet he kept on swinging, all the while praying to his heavenly Father for strength.
The dark opening of a narrow cave came into view in front of them and Rose rushed into the darkness with her hands out in front, feeling her way forward.
“I will do what I can to hold them off here Rose,” Logan yelled back from the opening. “You go on ahead and I will come as soon as I can.”
Rose did not speak, but rather moved on as fast as she could into the darkness, all the while hoping that there were no taints waiting in front of her. She could hear Logan’s battle cry sounding out behind her and she said another quick prayer under her breath for her brave friend. This groping in the darkness seemed to go on for a long while as the sounds of the fierce fighting died out behind her and just when she thought that it could not get any darker, a very faint light began glow in the passage ahead. Rose’s heart took a leap of anticipation at the prospect of arriving at her dream’s goal, but it was quickly diminished by the appearance of growling taints closing in on her from behind. Now that she could see better, she ran as fast as she could. Panic began to swell in her spirit as the wicked beings got close enough to tear at the flowing edges of her torn dress. She was more than a little worried for Logan, thinking that he may have fallen under the constant flow of fallen ones in order for them to get this close to her. She did not stop moving though, praying a constant, desperate mantra of protection. She had no idea what she would do when she got to the staff, but having given herself over completely to the will of Ya, she pressed forward. Rounding one final corner, she was blinded by a brilliant light coming from the open ceiling of what must be the resting place of the fabled staff. Before her eyes could adjust to the sudden burst of light, the panting knight burst into the room behind her with many taints in his wake.
“Grab the staff while you can Rose,” Logan cried out in desperation. “I cannot hold them off much longer.”
Long bloodied claw marks were oozing on the big man’s face and arms from the taints’ groping hands, and it took great effort of Rose to tear her gaze from this man that she loved so dearly, but she did eventually turn to look upon the long, smooth form of the staff of Ramah. Taking a deep breath, she reached out boldly to grasp the staff, finally reaching that which had eluded her.
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The Staff of Ramah Page 44