Chapter 10

Hey guys...I'm back again! This chapter is written in Rhea's 1st person POV. Let me know what you think!

"Yemaya! You made it back okay!" I exclaimed as I wrapped my arms around her and hugged her tight.

"Of course I did," she said giggling at my reaction. I held her for a second and then stepped away, she gave me a strange look.

"What is it?" I asked her, wondering a little if she thought I was odd for showing so much enthusiasm.

"Nothing, just for a second, it felt like we really were sisters," she said shaking her head slightly.

"ERIS!" Aradia yelled as he entered the room behind Yemaya. She ran towards him and jumped into his arms, "I'm so glad you're alright. I was so worried."

"Little sister, you worry too much. Besides, I was in the wonderful Maya's care," he said shooting Yemaya a smile. She blushed.

"I'm glad everyone's okay, but we really have some immediate problems to deal with," Hasubi said calmly from the doorway to the other room.

"Yes, everyone, come sit down. We've been reading this book and I think we've found out a little bit of what is going on," I said, ushering everyone into dining area of the adjoining room.

Hasubi opened the massive book to a picture in the book of 4 girls sitting in a meadow with an old man sitting between them. I gasped," That's us!"

"Yes, and the man in the middle is the one Yemaya and I saw in the garden that night. According to this book, Atavus was once the most powerful God in all of the immortal realms, and he had 4 daughter each girl had the gift to control one of the 4 elements. For centuries, everyone lived in peace until one day, Atavus' one enemy, Zaina, convinced a human to release him from the prison Atavus had locked him in thousands of years ago. Once Zaina was released, he called upon his "shadow servants" to attack Atavus and lock him in the same prison. But before he was captured, he took the gifts given to his daughters and bestowed them upon four girls to inherit four- thousand years later. Once Atavus was captured, Zaina killed his 4 daughters and ruled the realms for about 100 years until the present day gods banished him to a place called the dark realms. It was said in a different prophecy that when the moon blocks out the sun on the fourth day of the 4th month, the portal from the dark realms to the real realms and he while rise to power once again." Hasubi finished gravely.

"The fourth day of the fourth month...that's only about 1 month away... What do we do?" Yemaya exclaimed.

"The book says that the only way to destroy Zaina for good is by releasing Atavus from his prison and uniting him with the four maidens." Hasubi continued.

"Well, we're all united, how do we find Atavus?" I wondered.

"I'm not sure," Hasubi said gingerly flipping through the pages, "Ah-ha! Here!" she finished, pointing at a picture of tall, sharp- looking mountain in the middle of what looked like a desert.

"I know that place!" I gasped with astonishment, "I grew up not far from there. We call it the mountain of Dar-Libon, it means 'the different one' in our native language."

"Well then how do we get there?" Aradia asked, speaking for the first time since we had started reading the book.

"I know how, but it's about a two week journey from Corus. We'll need to get horses, tents, and you all are going to need desert clothes. Besides that, we're going to need guards; the desert can be extremely dangerous for travelers." I advised.

For a moment we all looked at each other and then Hasubi spoke in a determined voice, "Sounds like a plan."

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"Alright," I said, taking charge, "Hasubi you'll be in charge of getting us horses, and money to pay for the fare across the Great Inland Sea. Aradia, you and Eris will need to be in charge of getting us food and tents. I have desert clothing you can all wear when we get closer to the border. Yemaya...you seem in with the Palace Guards, can you persuade some of them to accompany us?"

"Well, I think given our current situation...we should go with an uh, less honorable crowd. I'll talk to my friends in the lower city." Yemaya replied.

"Alright, lets agree to all meet back here at around 8'clock tonight with all our supplies. It will be safer if we leave as soon and as unnoticed as possible. Oh, and tell no one of our plans. We don't know who's on our side."

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(Aradia's POV)

"What are we going to tell Da?" I wondered to my brother, "it's not as if we can just disappear on him like that! Besides, now that those people are looking for me...they'll go after our family."

"Aradia," he said, grabbing my shoulders, "stop worrying. Our da is smarter than that. He can see the future! You don't think he's already seen this happening and probably moved everyone to a safe place? Have a little more faith."

We walked a little farther up the road until we entered the Market District. I stopped him for a second, "I really don't know if it's such a good idea for us to be here. We were just caught by the Guard this morning."

"Relax," he said, holding up a bag of silver nobles, "this time, we're paying customers."

I grinned, "Where did you get that?"

"Actually, your friend Lady Hasubi gave it to me to buy our supplies," he said, putting on a serious face.

I frowned, "Lady Hasubi is not my friend."

"I don't care if she's your friend or not...we have supplies to get."

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(Hasubi's POV)

"Excuse me," I said quietly to the stable boy, "may I please have some assistance?"

"Yes milady, of course! What is it that you need?" replied the young boy with a bit of a shocked look on his face.

"Well, my er, friends and I are planning a journey and we are in need of some horses."

"Alright Lady, what type you want?"

"Oh, I'm not sure...just a horse." How many types of horses can there be?! I thought.

"Pardon me ma'am but perhaps I could be of assistance?" a voice behind me said.

I whirled around, "Samir!" I exclaimed with a smile, "what a pleasant surprise."

He smiled at me, making my heart flutter just a little, "I couldn't help but overhear, you're leaving Corus?"

Goddess, he's handsome, I thought. "As a matter of fact I am. My friends and I are journeying to Carthak." So much for keeping things secret, I thought to myself, remembering Rhea's instructions too late.

"Leaving? How did you plan on receiving my letters if you were far off in Carthak? You must have just decided to let me write to a ghost." He teased.

"Oh my, I didn't even consider that! Forgive me. By the time my plans were made, I thought you had already left on your mission."

"As a matter of fact, that mission has been cancelled. It appears that I'm stuck at the palace and with only the books to keep me company now that you're going to be away," he said glumly.

"Well you know, we are traveling through the Carthaki desert...it's a very dangerous area and you are a professional soldier. Perhaps, you could come along with us, for protection of course." I couldn't believe myself. Never in all my life had I been so bold with a man, much less one I hardly knew!

"I would be honored to come along," he said with another one of his dazzling smiles.

"Good, our party is leaving at 8o'clock from the Dancing Dove Inn. Will you be there?"

"Of course, and don't worry about the horses, I'll get them for you. I've read quite a few books on them," he said with a laugh as I walked out of the barn.

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(Yemaya's POV)

How exciting, in all 19 years of my life, I've never been outside of Corus and now I'm leaving on a mission to save the entire world. Bridgette had had been right, someday I would do something better than wash clothes at the Palace, I thought to myself as I walked into the Rogue's court. I smiled amiably at all my friends. I didn't care how crooked every single person down here was...they were probably the most loyal friends anyone could ask for.

"Maya!" someone yelled.

I whipped around to see Alan Peirce, the King of Rogue's himself coming towards me. "Adam!" I yelled back, throwing myself into his arms.

"Long time, no see missy," he said once he finally escaped my embrace, "made too many new friends at the palace to come see your dear old friends down in the lower city?"

I slapped him playfully on the arm, Adam had been my friend for as long as I could remember, "Of course not. No one could ever replace you as my best friend and you know that!"

"Very true, I am number one in the hearts of many women. Anyway, what brings you down here on this lovely day in Corus?"

"Well actually, I'm here to ask a favor," I said, taking a more serious tone.

He caught my tone and nodded, "I see. Let's go upstairs so we can talk privately."

When he had shut the door, I poured out my story to him, starting with Nathan and ending with our decision to travel to Carthak. "Which brings me to the favor I need, could you possibly spare a few of your rushers to accompany us through the desert?"

"Maya, I always knew you were special. I'll gladly give you 5 of my finest rushers...and I'll do you one better by throwing in a Dog."

I hugged him again, "Thanks Adam, and I have one more favor to ask."

"Anything for the Water Maiden," he said with a smile.

"Watch out for my Ma, please?"

"You really didn't even have to ask, I owe your ma my life. I promise she'll be in good hands."

"You're the best," I said, tearing up a little.

"Okay, okay. No crying in here please! Let's go down stairs and I'll introduce you to your new guards."

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(Rhea's POV)

The clock in the lobby of the inn struck eight. Where is everyone? I wondered nervously. This entire experience had me on edge, still excitement coursed through my body. I had never done anything this important in my life.

"Rhea?" I turned around quickly, startled by the voice.

"Relax, it's just me!" Hasubi said with a laugh, "the horses are waiting in the stable. Are you ready?"

"Yes, I'm just waiting for everyone."

"They're already outside," she said with a giggle.

I blushed bright red, "Oh. How embarrassing."

"It's alright. By the way, I wanted to let you know I brought a friend along."

I stopped short, "What! Are you crazy? Send him home, now before he finds out about us!"

"No, no. It's okay, I trust him, really, he's a friend." she said patting my shoulder reassuringly as she led me into the stables.

Once my eyes adjusted to the light I could see that there were Aradia and Yemaya were mounted on two beautiful chestnut mares laughing. Two more black mares stood next to them. Eris and another man, Hasubi's friend I guessed, stood next to the opposite door.

"Alright everyone, are we ready to go?" I asked cautiously.

"Not quite, our escorts should be here in just a..." Yemaya began.

"Maya!" came a bellow from the stable door.

"Never mind, here they come now." she said with a laugh.

Five young men swaggered in looking confident and light-hearted yet incredibly dangerous.

"How are you sweet girl? We sure haven't seen you in a while" one man began as they swarmed around the beautiful red-head.

"All right boys, leave the pretty girl alone. We have work to do," came a voice from a serious looking man leaning against the door. He looked at Aradia and gave her a wink. Her already porcelain face went completely white.

"Hell. No."

Can you guess who tall dark and handsome is?

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