Reborn (8 page)

Athel rose from the floor, her head held high with dignity despite her teary eyes. “You will have me executed, then,” she said calmly.

“Don’t think we haven’t considered that option,” said Wara. “That your fate will not be as such, has more to do with Kelus than ourselves.” She sighed, her wrinkled face making her sad frown look that much deeper. “He believes all living things have a right to exist. A tiger may tear a deer to pieces, then devour its flesh in what looks like a malevolent, vile act. The cat is only acting on instinct, and doing what it has always done.” Her look hardened. “He thinks you are no different, it seems.”

Athel met the woman’s gaze evenly. Nothing seemed to matter anymore. “Exiled, then.” The three members of the circle watched her silently. Athel looked away, nodding her understanding.

“Perhaps, but this is still not our decision to make,” said the old woman after a time. “It is yours.”

Athel looked up in surprise. “Mine? Why is it mine to make?”

“Land of suspicion,” came the dry, lifeless voices once more, as the twin heads dipped down then came up with a click.

“It seems the ways of the old world have not changed that much,” hissed the old woman. “Why wouldn’t you be given that choice? We’re trying to show patience, but we just don’t understand your way of thinking. Our people live by a code of honor. Anyone you speak with here will tell you plainly, they would rather die than endanger their friends and family. From what we can tell, you somehow need to be told to do the right thing. A figure of authority must force you to make the right decision, otherwise you will just do as you please?” Wara shook her head, eyes rolling with disgust.

“I would never purposely endanger my friends,” Athel pleaded. “But how am I supposed to make a choice like this? No one knows for sure what the future holds. I can’t just leave them because of what might or might not happen.”

“Once again, this is why you have been brought before us.” The old woman waved her hands toward the purple liquid. Large bubbles began to form with more frequency, the rolling movement becoming more violent as the thick ooze boiled. “You are correct, we ourselves don’t know what the future holds. However...”

“The spirit world does,” echoed the twins once more. Their eyes were now glowing with the same reddish orange light as before. Once again, their heads clicked as they dipped before coming back up.

The old woman’s thin lips curled up into a dark smile. “What you are about to see is more than just a sign from the spirit world. Time does not exist there. All events, future, present, and past, all happen at the same time.” Athel watched as streams of wavy mist rose from the small black cauldron. “The images here are not a projection of things that may or may not happen.” Wara’s dark smiled widened even further. “They will happen.”

The purple mist began to swirl around the room, each line dancing about like a restless ghost. One by one, the shooting lines began to join one another as the pleasant flowery scent filled the air. The joined lines weaved in and out until a misty floating canvas formed in midair. It began to swirl with black and yellow, as even more mist began to cascade from its center. The room darkened before the warrior’s eyes.

Athel watched as the swirling calmed and actual shapes began to take form. What looked to be green vegetation, now bordered the outside of the floating canvas. Slowly but surely, the images materialized from the outside inward, until she finally could make out the kneeling outline at its center. She watched in horror, watched herself kneeling in the grass with her hands waving in the air. Although there was no sound, it was obvious she was screaming up at the sky, her hands covered with blood.

“Still not convinced of the danger you represent to those you love? Then keep watching...if your stomach can handle it,” wheezed Wara, her clouded eyes now a milky white.

With her face contorted in a painful grimace, Athel watched on in dread, terrified of what this disturbing sight might be symbolizing. Her likeness leaned down low to the ground. She had her hands on something or someone, but it was still hard to tell. Athel wanted to look away, but couldn’t find the strength. The image sharpened and enlarged, now giving a clear view of the carnage. Athel screamed. Her image turned and faced them, as if it had somehow heard her. There she was, her face and hands covered with blood as she kneeled over Jacob. His insides had spilled out onto the grass through a clawed opening in his stomach. His wide-open eyes stared lifelessly up at the sky.

“Enough. I’ve seen enough. No more!” shrieked Athel, finally finding the strength to turn her gaze away. She dropped to the floor and covered her head, sobbing wildly. “It’s not true. I would never—”

“But you will,” moaned the old men. The light slowly faded from their eyes.

“I told you this was an exact prediction directly from the spirit world. This
is
your future,” said Wara.

“Wait. Please. There must be something I can do,” the words pushed through gasps of air. Her sobbing was now nearing hysteria. Athel slowly got back to her feet. “There must be a way to change this. Nothing could ever make me hurt him.”

All three members of the circle stood up at the same time. Their faces held no emotion, no judgment. The old woman stepped forward. “There should be no way to change this. The spirits have shown that your powers will directly affect your friend’s life, no matter what you do. Whether or not this can be changed is unclear to us. If changing it is your wish, then my advice is simple: Do the right thing: leave. ”

* * *

Kelus and Eric walked back the way they came. Everything was silent, save for the light breeze rustling the sparse leaves that still clung to the trees, echoing a soft buzzing through the air. Eric knew the assassins were moving along as well, matching them step for step. Admittedly, he couldn’t see or hear any of them, but could feel them somehow, through a slight energy given off by all living creatures, whether or not they were in sight.

Eric’s thoughts wandered as they moved along. He pondered the story Kelus had told, not sure what to make of it. Was this person real? Was
he
the one the ancient books spoke of?
Maybe this burden was never mine after all, and it actually belongs to another
. But if so, why did he sound so wicked? It seemed the other person was a vile creature born from the nightmares of only the darkest imaginations. By all accounts, the Gate Keeper was supposed be a savior to all mankind. Did the ancient ones have it wrong? Was this supposed savior nothing more than a supernatural tyrant, born only to unleash his suffering upon mankind?
If he is the Gate Keeper, then who am
—

“Follow me, my boy,” said Kelus, distracting Eric from his thoughts. “There is one more thing I still need to show you.” Kelus walked up ahead, the youthful spring in his step returning once more. Eric kept a slight distance between them, trailing behind as the village came back into view. The townsfolk stopped and stared as their beloved leader walked with this foreigner, this man surrounded by mystery.

Rumors ran rampant throughout the village. Some claimed Eric and his friends were brought here by the sea, and had been washed up by the gods themselves. Others had him figured for the infamous tyrant known for destroying entire villages at will. Although very few witnesses remained after these attacks, their stories were at least similar: mad rants of a man in white stepping through a shimmering golden opening in the air before killing everything in sight.

The presence of Kelus helped to turn outright hatred into hushed whispers as they moved through the village. Kelus led them between a tight row of homes and down a narrow, but well- swept alley. They exited out the backside, entering a flattened clearing where most of the trees had been removed. Off in the distance, Eric could see a sturdy barn surrounded by guards. Each one was standing still, with weapons in hand. Their green capes rolled gently in the cool breeze. Under their wicker helmets, sharp eyes darted back and forth, alerted to even the slightest movements.

When Eric and Kelus approached, the first line of guards sidestepped the large double door, which was secured tightly by a thick wooden plank. Two young boys with large mallets rushed in behind the guards and began banging away at the plank. They concentrated their efforts on one side first, then the other as the thick plank rose up in jolts. Once it popped free from the metal brackets, they dragged it off to one side.

Kelus smiled at Eric, pointing to the doors with his chin. With a last doubtful look over his shoulder, Eric reached out and swung open the heavy doors. He squinted his eyes, trying to adjust to the darkness while taking one carful step at a time, but the high-pitched rattling of chains made him jump back a step. The large winged lizard’s outline was unmistakable. It bucked its head up and down with a gurgling moan, before laying back down on the soft hay.

“Release him now. Take these chains off,” said Eric excitedly as he rushed in, kneeling down at his companion’s side. The lizard purred and cooed as he ran his hand across its reddish brown scales. It nuzzled its head against Eric’s chest as a long forked tongue quickly swiped across its eyes. Even with chains attached to its feet and neck, the creature could move freely due to the generous slack.

“I assure you he is unharmed,” said Kelus, coming up from behind. “I have no idea how you managed to tame a krackledon. They are very aggressive by nature, and certainly would never let a human ride them. Not only have you somehow managed to tame it, the beast seems to have missed you.”

Eric slid his hand down the beast’s neck in long soothing strokes, then whispered to his friend, “I missed you too.”

* * *

Some time had passed since Athel left the circle in tears, her heart shattering at the thought of hurting the man she held most dear. The three members of the circle sat quietly, meditating in the soft light of beeswax candles. Their eyelids fluttered rapidly while soft moans radiated through the room, a relaxing hum of peace and tranquility. As if linked by some unseen force, their eyelids stopped fluttering and opened at the same time. Now released from the spiritual trance, the twins spoke in unison. “Deceptive...partial truth.”

Wara sighed, a slow breath released over a period of time. “All that matters now is that she will most likely leave, and the village will be safe.” She rose from the floor, a graceful, effortless movement giving the illusion she must be nearly weightless, then turned toward the twins. “Sometimes it is best that one does not know the entire truth.”

“And what of the demon? Is it possible?”

For the first time, Wara’s eyes held deep concern. “I can’t be sure yet, but I will speak with the spirits. If he really is the Shantie Rhoe, then we are now living in the darkest era ever recorded.” Wara shivered at the thought. After a moment, she looked up thoughtfully, trying to remember the old world’s translation. Several minutes went by before she whispered, “The Gate Keeper.”

Chapter 5

Athel sat in the corner of the room, trying to ignore Jacob’s constant prodding as to what had happened after they took her away. Jade’s womanly instincts told her it was best not to force the issue. Athel would open up when she was good and ready. She rubbed Athel’s shoulder and kissed her cheek before walking away, leaving the poor girl to her thoughts.

“Fine, then,” said Jacob, standing up from his kneeling position next to Athel. “If you don’t want to talk about it, then I guess that’s that. But I can’t help you unless you tell me what happened.”

She leaned against the corner of the room, pressed in tightly like a shy kitten looking for a place to hide. Her eyes were bloodshot and dry, now drained of all tears. With her mouth ajar and a dazed look, she mumbled, “Just go away. I don’t want to talk to you right now.”

“Athel, please, I just to understand what’s going—”

“Just get away from me, Jacob!” she shrieked before rolling to her side.

“Give her some space, OK?” said Jade, lightly pulling back on her friend’s shoulder. “You men are all the same, thinking you somehow need to solve all our problems. You keep pushing when all we really need is a little space…you know, time to think things through.”

Jacob sighed, knowing there would be no winning this argument.
Better to try and run my head through stone than try and argue with these women. Do men ever win arguments against women
?

“Alright, then, I can see I’m not wanted. I apologize for caring about you, but that isn’t going to change any time soon, so you better get used to it.” He stormed out the sliding door, snapping it shut behind him.

A moment passed before Athel even realized what had happened. Her glazed-over eyes dilated suddenly as she gazed back. “Jacob, wait,” she said, rolling over as she reached her hand out.

“Now, don’t you worry about him,” said Jade. “Just let him walk it off. He’ll be back before you know it. You know how men are.” Although Athel was sure her eyes couldn’t possibly produce another tear...it turned out she was wrong.

* * *

I’ll never understand women,
Jacob thought to himself as he wandered down the road, the usual spring in his step gone, his head hanging low. He hardly noticed as entire families moved to the other side of the road, getting clear of the demon’s friend before he was even close. He was oblivious to the whispers identifying him as one of the foreigners, sent here to bring them pain and suffering.