From Evil to Good and Back
I hadn't fallen asleep, but still I woke up. I couldn't tell whether I was sleeping or awake.
The man was there and I realized I knew him from somewhere before the restaurant. He was Gathar.
I had to be sure so I asked, "What's your name?"
"Gathar. Why?" he questioned
"What's a visioner? Why are they important? Why was my real mother one? What do you want with me? Why were you in my dreams? How are you really real? And what happened where, why, when, and how? I want answers now not later."
"Oh! You are Julie's girl. Fine I'll answer your questions, but only ones I can answer. A visioner is someone who can see the future, past, or present while asleep. They predicted future events making them prophets, though not all could see the future. I don't know your real mother or why she might have been one. I want to protect you, of course. I didn't know I was in your dream, am I that hot. I was born. I put you to sleep outside the prison you broke out of two nights ago with magic. Does that answer your questions?"
"Yes, I believe it does." I said as if I didn't care whether that answered my questions or not, though it did. It answered most of them anyways.
"You know Julie could have escaped if she lucky, maybe. I miss her as much as you do. We better get going. We need to make it to Losaí before it's too late. Let's get moving."
Rob and Marrie were rearing to go and get away from Kartava, and Julie's death place.
I smiled as Marrie skipped down the path merrily. I smiled as Rob turned and looked at me. I smiled as Gathar told me something was wrong, very wrong. I frowned as I realized what he said. I cried as my brain registered we were in trouble, big trouble.
He questioned, "Are you alright Maria?"
I realized we weren't going to survive. He said that the queen was following us.
"We're all doomed!" I shouted. Marrie shrank down and tears came to her eyes.
Then she mumbled through her tears, "You... a... evil... I... I... I thought... you... luv... luved me." She stopped talking and then she cried so profoundly I couldn't even think.
"I'm sorry. That was wrong of me to say. We can and will survive," I bellowed over her tears. She sniffed and slowly began to stop crying.
Soon she was smiling happily again. Chrysilis nudged my arm arching her neck to do so and pulled me on to her back. I told, I demanded, "Get on Chrysilis now. Gathar can protect himself." I looked at him desperately looking for an answer. Then I said, "Yám dõg eb h'tiw uoy."
Chrysilis took off and I felt horrible because she couldn't take him too. I wanted her to leave me and take him, but she refused.
He'll be fine. Believe me he's lived through worse.
Yeah, but I just don't want to leave anyone behind. I'm afraid he'll be killed.
He'll be fine.
We all remained silent for awhile as Marrie cried. She was so scared and I couldn't help her. Rob was scared too, but all I could manage to do was hurt the ones I love, all of them, except, maybe, Chrysilis.
I just shut out all noise including Chrysilis. She always pushed me around like I was only three. I was a civilized young adult and I been living for many years before she had. Still she had a point, too bad I blocked her out.
Chrysilis flew on and on. She had no plans of stopping. Marrie soon grew tired of crying and settled herself so as to fall asleep in this bad situation.
Rob said to me the second he was sure she was really asleep, "Maria... I... You deserve a normal... a normal life as much as anyone. You never think... You probably don't want anyone to know you yearn for a normal life, but I won't think any less... less of you. If you do just... tell me."
Of all the moments to cry that was the one, not out of sadness, but out of pure joy and love. Had I not been strapped into Chrysilis's saddle I would have hugged him till all life drained from his body.
He seemed concerned that I cried, but was relieved when I smiled, "That is the single most sweet... I love you, Rob. I shouldn't try to lock you out because every time you just win your way back in. You're a part of me as much as Chrysilis is. Rob I'll never forget you even when you do... do.. leave me. I know you will, but I wish I could change your destiny, your fate."
Just then a screech came from far below us. An arrow pierced the delicate membrane of her wings. The arrows were headed for Chrysilis not us.
Chrysilis's willpower faded very quickly once the arrows struck. She soon could no longer remain air born. I was blinded by tears. Her wings were mutilated. Arrows stuck out at protrusive angles.
Before we knew it our attackers were upon us, but they didn't look horrible or evil. They had kinder gazes than you'd think after they attacked you.
"We're sorry to be rude, but we'd at least like a thank you. I mean we did save you and your dragon's life." My only response to that was glaring at them.
Marrie had apparently awoken and unhooked herself from Chrysilis's saddle. They smiled and another man shook excitedly and exclaimed, "It'z a youngen!"
The man who initially spoke said, "I had no clue. No one could have predicted it. A child! How could it be. You have a child."
"Oh!... No! No!... She lost her mother," I said laughing at the idea of me actually having a child.
"Yo' 'e 'o 'odes'. 'Oo' th' luky 'ap." insisted the second man.
"No, No, seriously. I've never even considered having a child. I'm to young for that. Honestly!" Rob choose the the worst time ever to walk up to me and wrap his arm around my shoulder.
"Whose your friend? Did they shoot us down. Prepare to die."
"No, Rob don't attack. Not yet. I know not whether they be friend or foe.
"Aye, we be friend if ye fight the empire. If not we be foe." said a third man. Two remained quiet.
"Then welcome my friends. This is Marrie young , but brave. This is Rob my lover, but not the bearer of this child. I would be-"
"Maria the dragon rider," observed the first man, "Every man or woman big or small knows you, though not all view you as good. My name is Fortava, but you may call me Tava if you must"
The second man said on a more respectful level, "Yoleraus at 'our 'ervice and comman', my liege."
"I rule over no one, but I thank for your respect. I am no more or less powerful than any of you. I am at the same level."
"Aye the name be Oneri. Ready an' willin'" replied the third man.
"My name is Fosawver. I'll will follow wherever you lead, even to the death of me."
The fifth man's eyes reflected death and terror as he croaked the just audible words, "I'm Fratis, my Liege."
I prepared to attack with enough force to kill three average men. Fratis began to laugh so loud all but I had to cover their ears. It was high pitched and screeching like a cat when you step on its tail.
He slowly stopped and everyone winced at the the noise which still rang through their ears, all but me. Then Fratis said, "I have no intent to harm you nor am I evil. I wish to you only good fortune on your journey and give you my service, thus would you trust me?"
"But.. I... You-"
"Many bad rumors have be spread about my so called treachery, though I've yet to hurt a being, not deserving it, in my life. I have tried, but contained myself not to. You may not realize how hard it was to accomplish for a person in my position." Then he looked down at my hand, which was now on the hilt of my sword. I had partially drawn the sword and he smiled. "I see you have my sword." I unstrapped it from my waist, bowed my head, and handed it too him. He put his hand out and pushed it back towards me. "Keep it. It's magic and it will serve you well. I haven't the use for it."
Fortava spoke up, "He is a good man. He barely controls his actions, thus making it very hard to be around people, but he manages."
"Hey where's Deamond."
"He's.. hunting. What Fortava trying to say is, I was born into an awkward life."
"Explain yourself," I chided
"Yes we'd love to hear your story," Rob joked.
"Oh! A story! Tell us! Tell us!" Marrie giggled in her mysterious way.
"let's start with my father, Oh and please don't interrupt. My Fa-"
"Gathar! We need to help Gathar! You can help us can't you?" I realized.
"Gathar... No... 'e 'ied... 'even 'ears ago," replied Yoleraus.
"What!?" I didn't and wouldn't believe him.
"Gathar be dead." I rejected to accept this comment. I grabbed his arm and dragged him, but Chrysilis stopped me and said Do this not Maria. It will only hurt you and your chances of survival. Don't do this.
I must Chrysilis. He's not dead and you know it, at least not seven years ago.
I disregarded her warnings and took him there anyway and was revolted by the scene there. I couldn't believe it. The man I knew as Gathar, lay down in a ball, dying. I instructed Marrie to stay back and run if anything happened, and I meant anything.
Why wasn't he dead or captured?
I walked up to him. He gasped and pulled me closer. I heard him mumble, "I lie as all humans do. Your mother was a wonderful person to knew and I'm sorry for your loss. I wish I had the time to tell you more."
The men crowded around him and Yoleraus gasped, "Gathar ye said 'o 'e 'ead. 'Ow 'ould you 'ake 'eath an' 'eave us in disper."
"I'm sorry for that. I should have told you, but I wasn't allowed."
Fratis had tears in his eyes when he stammered, "Gathar... I.. Gathar don't you dare die on me."
"Get out-" he choked on his own words and stopped.
My question became answered.
The Empress herself came out from behind an old oak tree and said gentler than I previously thought she could talk, "You've fallen into a trap. You've brought to me the most wanted criminals ever. This little girl, who helped you escape."
"Her name is Marrie." I spat
"The Four Artrasha Bandits, Fratis, trader," she direct trader at him. Then continued, "Gathar, Rob, and of course, my dear, you yourself. It was a bloody fool thing to do, though I've yet to see my dragon."
That was a bloody fool thing to do. I gritted my teeth in frustration, but didn't attack for she could kill me in a heartbeat. She had dark brown eyes and I could see the evil within them, but I also saw a, no that couldn't be. I saw a great passion. She had a love. Who would love a beast like her. Her hair was the darkest black I ever saw. It put coal to shame. Her fingernails were long, pointed, and black as coal too, maybe blacker. Her teeth were flawless and whiter than white. She gently twitched her crooked mouth into a smile, more like a sneer.
"Oh! Did I offend you. Where is she?"
My eyes darkened and I began to say I'll nevertell you when Chrysilis crashed through the surrounding trees. She bowed low and said aloud, "I am here my liege."
My heart pounded she was bowing to the Empress. Then she sent me the invisible message Maria play along and inform the others else I fear they will kill me.
I sent the message to everyone there, but the Empress.
Chrysilis walked to her side and said, "Do you really think I served you? You are weak. I'd rather serve a rat." The insults weren't her real feelings, but they still stung. I realized just how big she was getting at that moment.
"Yes Chrysilis, I'm you true master. She is weak, so leave her."
Fratis stated blankly, "Chrysilis you are a traitor. You deserve to die." Whatever was he doing?
He swung his sword over his head and aimed for Chrysilis, but didn't he get the message? His black eyes flashed with fury as he charged.
I couldn't help myself, I jumped in front him and he stabbed me in between the heart and lungs. I felt the pain very clearly.
My surroundings blurred. I saw a beautiful woman standing before me. I know I'd never seen her before.
Her head lifted and she looked at me with bright greenish-blue eyes. Her voice was filled with her beauty as she whispered, "This is all I can say to you injured one, your time has yet to come."
"I don't understand."
She closed her eyes, took a deep breathe in, and let out a wavering breathe while shacking her head back and forth.
My eyes widened as I saw Rob was standing next to me, though he had not been there five seconds ago.
She said in her ever so gentle tone, "Rob just as scheduled. Follow me. Maria wait here."
Rob said, "Told you it was a good reason." I realized Rob was dead and I was stuck in the tween.