Chapter 3

She had had a dreamless night, tossing and turning with thoughts. She had wanted to cry, but managed to stifle it. Eonis seemed to be sleeping so soundly, it would be cruel to wake her. But still, Reith longed for someone to speak to, and for some reason that person was Calintz. She didn't feel embarrassed with him like she did with the others, perhaps she shared some bond since she'd saved him. He always looked so depressed, and how she wished to know what caused his discontent. But of course, he never seemed to give anything away.

She was scared.

She felt alone in this alien world, a stranger, a burden. She kept doing things wrong and Calintz would get angry at her – that was the last thing she wanted. What if he began to hate her and left her behind? She erased the thoughts from her mind before they took over. The sun was rising, a cold light seeping through the windows and falling onto her face. There was no point in lying here any longer, she might as well get up.

Reith wandered out of the inn, even thought the thought nagged at her that it would only make the others mad. But the maids were not up yet and she didn't know where they keep the food. Outside, in the main square things seemed to be a bit more lively. Some early merchants were already setting up their stalls selling fish, fruit, tools and various other oddities. Reith walked round them, eyeing all the beautiful colours and textures of what they sold, but restraining from touching anything. She remembered how mad Calintz had seemed yesterday. It was then that a man approached her. She turned to face him. He had short, spiky hair and was dressed in grey. She noticed there was something different about him – his ears; they were long and curved, much different from everyone else's she had seen.

"So it is you…" he said in a low, commanding voice. At first Reith was scared and wanted to run back to the inn, but something made her stop. Had she seen this man before? She didn't know what to say to him so she just smiled.

"I was worried about you, after you disappeared. I thought the kingdom would fall but providentially Miss Serina took your place. I had to come, Amila…I needed to ask you something…"

"Huh? ButI'm Reith…"

"Reith…? So that is the name you are going by. Do you really plan to continue on this expedition? I am in fear of the kingdom, more are dying by the day, the military forces are growing restless, there is talk of conspiracy, even rebellion. We need our rightful Queen back on the throne,"

"I…I…don't understand…I'm sorry!" Reith was confused. What was this man talking about? The intense emotions which burned like flames in his eyes frightened her.

She could not bare to look into them. She ran as fast as she could, leaving him standing in the shade of tree. Not once did she look back until she reached the inn.

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The journey to Amabat had been fruitful. There had been countless monsters slain, many miles covered and for once Reith was not examining everything they passed. Calintz glanced back at her from time to time, she seemed deep in thought, sometimes even failing to notice that a comrade needed healing in battle. He walked up beside Eonis, who was strolling along behind Haren.

"Did anything happen last night?" he asked abruptly. The black haired woman looked at him curiously.

"What do you mean?"

"She seems different, did she tell you anything?" Eonis sighed and shook her head.

"No…She did seem a little down though. She has the mental age of a child…I reckon there's more to it than just amnesia,"

"…."

"You better drop in and see Agreian when we reach the Temple. You didn't reply to his last call…"

"Yeah…I know…" Calintz looked at the ground as it passed beneath his feet. He was dreading the meeting. Agreian was not the type to take mistakes lightly. He was easily insulted if Calintz failed to turn up or call him. Agreian was a normally calm person, always thinking rationally and examining the whole situation before making any definite decisions. It was one of the reason's he had become General of the Alliance, that and he was Mistress Ladrienne's son. However, like everyone Agreian could lose his temper. Calintz had only witnessed it a handful of times in all the years he'd known the man, but it was something else to behold. He never fought in battle but directed from afar, which seemed odd, due to his amazing ability with a sword. He was the only other person that could best Calintz at a fight.

"What the hell's THAT?" Chris said, nodded up to the sky. They all looked to see a burning ball of flames soar through the sky.

"A meteor?" Eonis thought. Reith had run up beside them.

"….It's a bird…" she said. Sure enough it was, with it's golden wings and tail of flaming snakes. A burning bird, a creature of fire, of new life. A phoenix.

"She's right…" Calintz mused.

"I've never seen anything like that before!" Azel said, jumping up and down.

Suddenly Reith took off.

"Huh!"

"Reith!"

"Hey, wait a second…" But it was too late, she had disappeared round the outcrop of the mountain.

"I told you she'd be more trouble than she's worth," Haren grumbled. Calintz began to think that perhaps he was right.

He ran up the mountain, his legs straining under the pressure and gravity. Everyone else panted behind him like a pack of weary dogs. A strong wind picked up, moving the sparse trees as if to their own dance and blowing his hair around. A black feather flew past him momentarily, like the ghost of a shadow. Then he finally saw her. The mouth of a cave camouflaged into the rock.

"Reith!" he shouted. She turned and looked at him. Her face a mixture of fear, confusion…and was that anger? A man stood beside her, dressed all in grey. Calintz immediately recognised him as a Yason. A Yason in Efferian territory? His rage surged up again, fresh as the day his village was destroyed.

"Get away from her!" he roared. The man didn't however, he stood in front of her as if in protection.

"What right does a Yason have to be here?" Calintz snapped.

"I'm here to take back the girl,"

"Oh really? You're all the same; a load of over inflated egotistical scum,"

"And you call yourself a human? You're no better, you can't even protect a vulnerable girl," Calintz anger was about to peak. How dare this self indulgent swine insult him. He drew his sword, pointing it at the man.

"I will warn you, if you fight me you will perish. Leave now and return to you're hole," he spat the words the poison.

"Leave? You're more stupid than I thought. You think I'd leave over the pleasure of killing a Yason?"

"Do not attempt to delve into things which are beyond you're understanding,"

"Oh, I understand – you want us all dead, you want to take over the whole of Efferia, isn't that correct?"

"I tire of this conversation…I gave you you're chance and you declined it." At that the man withdrew two curved sabres and jumped at Calintz. He blocked the blow but was sent hurtling back, knocking over Eonis who had just reached the cave.

"What's happening n-" before Chris could finish he was pummelled by a serious of furious slashes. Eonis chanted and a bolt of lightening broke through the sky striking the Yason, electricity bouncing off his blades. But still it didn't harm him.

"We ain't landin' a blow!" Haren yelled as he fruitlessly punched at the man. He was as quick as light, appearing almost everywhere at once. Calintz's sword locked with his sabres and he pushed with all his strength. But the man, in one fine sweep struck him viciously in the torso. Calintz yelled out in pain as he fell to the ground. Everyone else was in the same position, either injured of depleted of energy. What was this man? Some sort of God? Why couldn't they touch him? The man stood back, re-sheathing his sabres.

"Now…is the end…" he said, his voice like the crack of a whip. A vortex appeared before them, the wind picked up, blowing the leaves of the trees. And from that vortex a huge bird appeared. A raven of the darkest night. It's eye's fixed on Calintz and the others, staring into their skulls like lasers. He knew there was nothing they could do. They had been defeated. He had failed in protecting Reith. He'd promised her Amabat, but now that seemed so far away. He would never repay his debt. He closed his eye's, ready for the final blow.

But it never came.

"Amila…?" it was the Yason. Calintz's opened his eyes. Reith was standing in front of them, her arms wide open, shielding them. The raven would not attack, it would not even go an inch closer. The expression in the man's face was one of sorrow, of betrayal, as if he had just been fired from a job he was loyal to.

"I don't understand…" he muttered. The raven vanished as suddenly as it had come. The man sent a bitter glare at Calintz.

"This is not over yet.."that was the last words he said before he too vanished.

Reith immediately set about healing everyone's wounds as best she could.

"What happened?" Chris asked once she'd finished with him.

"Reith?" Eonis asked, staring at her. "Did you know that man?" Reith shook her head.

"I…I don't remember…I'm sorry…"

"Useless!" Haren boomed.

"Oh, can't you just shut it for once?" Eonis snapped.

"Let's just get going…The sun's setting and we don't want to be out here at dark," Calintz said.

"Heh, yeah. Let's just hope we don't run into that loon again or I really will rip his face off!" Haren fumed.