Lepharists and Daevas – part 2
The cool night air wafted gently over my broken body and finally awakened me. I lay there as the pain flowed over me in waves. It was dark out, or as dark as it gets in Elysea. I could hear insects and animals moving about near me. Faintly in the distance, I could also hear voices speaking, but none were near me. I attempted to sit up and another wave of pain washed over me and I felt sick to my stomach. I tried to move my arm and couldn't. I had to wait until the pain receded a bit before I tried again. This time I just went with a finger. Yes! It moved. That was a start anyway. As I lay there, I tried to remember what had happened.
The immediate past is blurry in my mind. I vaguely remember someone standing over me with something sharp, then pain, and then nothing. I tried to move my arm again. It twitched weakly at my commands, but that's better than what is was a minute ago. I feel cold. I lifted my head a bit and looked at my body. It is covered in blood. Fear flittered across my soul and cold fingers of dread crept up my spine. Panic set in and I tried to sit up. Pain hit me like a sledgehammer and I passed out.
When I awoke again, it was full night. I could still hear the small sounds of insects all around me. In some part of my mind I knew that I was alone for insects would not give away their positions if people were around. I tried to move my arm again and was rewarded by its obeying my commands. I felt my chest where most of the blood was. It was dry and flaked off when I scraped at it. My jerkin was ripped and torn but I couldn't find any injury that would account for the blood.
I was still in a lot of pain and my legs refused to obey any of my commands. At some point I must have passed out again for when I woke up again it was light out. I could hear voices again and they sounded close by. Panic filled me. I couldn't be found here to be killed at someone's leisure and I didn't want to go back to prison. I rolled over onto my stomach and began to drag myself towards some bushes. I had it in my mind that I could hide there, at least until they left. I managed to get into the bushes just in time. A small squad of soldiers came around the bend. They stopped where I had been just a moment before.
They looked around a bit, and then continued on. I breathed a sigh of relief. It was short lived however when they stopped again to look at something lying on the ground. I saw one of them grab something and begin to drag it along behind them. With shock I realized that it was a body and it was dressed as I was. This then must be a clean-up squad. I watched them until they turned around the edge of the rocks and I couldn't see them any longer.
I sank back down on the ground. I was hungry and thirsty so I felt around my waist for my belt pouch. I always kept a small canteen and some dried bits of meat for emergencies. My fingers finally found it and I took a small sip. My stomach cramped up and I paused before I took another sip. My legs were beginning to hurt now and I turned my attention to them. Again, my armor showed several rips and tears, but I couldn't see any wounds that would account for the blood. I took another sip of water and nibbled on the meat.
The sound of footsteps approaching brought me to full awakeness. It was a Templar. He had his sword drawn and he was examining the ground closely. I could hear him muttering to himself. He stopped a few feet from where I was hiding. He bent down to study the ground closely. Fear began to trickle up my spine and settle in my stomach. His eyes scanned the ground around him and then he turned and looked directly at the bushes where I was hiding. He grinned, and then said, "So, you're still alive are you? Well, with that wound in your chest it shouldn't be too much longer. If you come out now I'll put a quick end to you."
I was puzzled. What wound in my chest? My hand went to my jerkin and I pulled the laces loose. I ran my hand lightly over my chest. More dried blood flaked off. My hand froze when it came across a tender spot on my left chest, just under the nipple. My fingers gently explored the area. The area felt rough and very painful. I pulled my jerkin aside and took a look. My chest was a mass of bruises and partly healed cuts. I could see a deep freshly healed scar that looked like a sword wound. How could that be possible? I didn't have any more time to think about it, for at that moment the Templar drew his sword and started towards my hiding place.
I had no more time. If I wanted to survive I needed to be able to move. I pulled my legs under me in preparation to spring. I didn't know if they would obey my commands but it isn't in me to just lie down and die. He was very close now and I sprang. It wasn't the grandiose leap I had hoped for, instead it was more of a stagger, but it took him by surprise. I crashed into him and he stumbled back. I took off running as fast as I could. He roared and gave chase. I had no idea which way to go, so I just ran taking the easiest path. This area was very rocky and the footing was bad. I stumbled and almost fell. I could hear him behind and the hairs on the back of my neck were standing straight up.
And then the gods betrayed me. I had run into a dead-end and almost went right off the edge of a cliff. I stopped and despair fell over me. I turned to face the Templar. He had stopped about 10 yards away. He was breathing heavily from running in plate armor. I had no weapons except my hands. I was exhausted and my whole body hurt. I was having hard time breathing, and coughed up some blood.
He laughed at me then. "You might as well give up lepharist. You failed in your mission, and now you are going to die. Don't make it any harder on yourself. I promise you a quick death." I pulled myself up to my full height and spit at him. I raised my hands prepared to grab him and pull him over the edge with me. If I was going to die, I wasn't going to die alone. Lepharists aren't cowards and we don't roll over for anyone. He laughed at me again and pulled his sword out. "So be it," he said and charged.
He had the sword out in front of him and just before it struck me, I turned slightly. The sword slipped passed my chest with inches to spare. His momentum carried him into me and I grabbed his arm and jerked backwards with all my remaining strength. We both went over the edge. He roared in anger, but I'll give him this, he went like a warrior, not a coward.
We continued to fall just inches apart from each other. I had let go of his arm after we went over. We were still face to face and I grinned at him. A terrible wrenching in my back suddenly jerked me to a halt. I saw his eyes go wide in surprise and his lips shaped a word, but I couldn't make it out. He continued to fall, while I hovered in place. I thought I must have caught on a root or something, and then something black and feathery looking caught my eye. I turned my head and saw part of black wings behind me.
Did a Daeva just catch me? I looked wildly around but all I could see was a beautiful pair of wings and they were attached to me! They were slowly moving backwards and forwards just keeping me in place. My astonishment was complete. I gaped at them. They seemed to have a mind of their own. I could feel them but yet I couldn't. My mind seemed to be frozen in a rut and I couldn't comprehend what was happening to me. Then they vanished and I fell. I hit the ground hard and then nothing.
To be continued…
