Chapter 34
Seafas had a heavy heart as he steered his little fishing boat farther and farther into the thick fog. It was bad enough to have lost his childhood home because of these unexpected visitors, but now he was sure that Jer had them lost out in the western sea. What was he thinking, letting this kid dictate the direction of their escape? He was about to announce his intentions of turning back when Jer called out from the front of the ship.
“Hey Seaf! I think we made it,” the young thief exclaimed. “Have you ever seen this place before?
To his surprise, Seafas was just beginning to see the outline of the mysterious Isle of Shadow that he thought to be only a legend.
“How did ye know the way here boy?” Seafas asked. “I admit that I had doubts as to where we were going to.”
“I told you,” Jer answered with a grin. “I prayed to Ya, and he told me the way. I’ve been talkin’ to him all this time. It’s kinda freaky actually.”
Seafas just shook his head, amazed.
“Well, we are here now,” the fisherman said. “Let’s find a spot to land the boat so we can see what the others are up to.”
“We gotta get to them fast,” Jer said, taking a worried glance at the still form of Jirah, lying near death in the middle of the boat. “Hang in there J.”
The huntress was breathing very shallow and Seafas was convinced that each breath may be her last.
The islands’ high cliffs were showing no signs of a good landing spot, but as they rounded a corner, another potential problem came into view. Flashes of red and white light were beaming out from the top of a nearby crevasse.
“It looks like the Cleric may have his hands full at the moment Jer,” Seafas said. “I would suggest approaching with caution.”
“Bring’er up over here Seaf,” Jer said, pointing to a small landing just below the flashing lights. “You gotta stay here with Jirah anyway. I will sneak up and see what’s going on.”
Seafas simply nodded in agreement as the nimble Jer leapt from the boat and bounded up the steep bank, showing no signs of fatigue.
As he reached the top of the ridge, Jer jumped behind a tree to avoid detection and his jaw dropped open in shock at what he saw. The man he knew as Gaost was locked in a mortal battle with a very evil looking man who had similar powers to the mighty cleric. The white energy bolts of Ya coming from Gaost were being met with blinding red flashes from the hands of his opponent. Jer stood there frozen in terror, his legs unable to move from sheer fright, yet he could not take his eyes off of the action. The two men were showing no signs of wear in spite of the intense energy they were throwing back and forth. The fight seemed to be going nowhere when the gentle voice of Ya once again spoke into the mind of Jer.
“Jer my son, I need you to be brave once again.”
Jer did not move or answer. Gripped with fear, he jumped as the voice came back again, but much louder this time.
“Jer!” the almighty creator spoke. “Take out your knife.”
Being startled into action, the young man took out the same dagger he had used to save the life of Rose back in Jeru.
“I am calling you into service my son,” Ya spoke with an intense calm. “I have granted you all the power you need to defeat the man Bane.”
Jer held up his blade, and in that moment, a strange but very powerful energy began coursing through his body. It started in his chest, growing in intensity as it coursed along his right arm finally burst from the end of his outstretched dagger. Jer did not have to be told what to do next. Staying under the cover of the thick trees, he crept around, more stealthy than usual, until he stood only a few feet behind the black robed disciple of Belial. Without hesitation, and in spite of the blinding flashes of energy that surrounded him, Jer jumped out from the trees and into the clearing. Only Gaost could see the look of surprise that came to Bane’s evil face as the burning white light of Jer’s dagger was thrust into his back. With a loud cry, the young disciple of Ya pushed the blade in right to the hilt. The white glowing tip of the holy blade protruded from Banes chest and he cried out a great scream of pain.
“Master! Save me!” the cry came from Bane’s lips.
Gaost, who was equally surprised by the appearance of Jer, stumbled over to Bane and spoke, “It would seem that your master has left you to die Bane.”
Jer pushed forward with a great heave, letting the dying form of Bane fall forward onto the ground in front of him with a very unremarkable thump.
“Well, that is that son,” Gaost said, as if nothing of great report had just happened. Jer was still standing over the lifeless body of Belial’s fallen disciple with the dagger tight in his hand, its light beginning to fade. The stunned boy shook his shoulders, as if being roused from a deep sleep and he gave Gaost a questioning look.
“You did well son,” Gaost said, mussing the boy’s hair. “You would make a great Cleric I think.”
“Did you just say cleric?” Jer asked, still shook up from what he had just done.
“More of that later son,” Gaost said, smiling with pride at the young man. “We need to sit down and do some serious praying for Logan and Rose right now.”
Without hesitation, they both slumped to the ground and began to commune with the god they knew would come to the aid of the priestess and knight, just as he had done for them.
The Staff of Ramah Page 45