Chapter 14: The Path into Darkness
Some would say that fire and ice are completely different but when they are at the height of their
strength both can burn you deeply. That's how I feel inside, the strong I get the colder I feel inside. I
can't let my power make who I am. I have to learn to control it. I look to the clear night sky and find its
magnificence comforting somehow. I guess it's because even with all the darkness that surrounds us
the night skin doesn't yield to it. The icy chill of the night has taken on a life of its own. Every creeping
thing every shadow has begun to move. Things slither and hiss in the charred grave remains of the
woods that encompass us. We ride in silence with only our breathing to remind us that we are alive.
This place held so much of my child hood in its embrace…and I destroyed it. It was just a miniscule
time ago when it overflowed with many enchantments and a trove of life; now it seems a graveyard in
comparison. I close my eyes and whisper my thoughts to Edward, "Look at it, this use to be a place we
could always escape to be happy and free from life's demands. I wish there would have been another
way. I only did what I knew to do at the time…I had to save you no matter the cost. I lost all control
and look what I've done. Edward I wonder sometime what kind of monster sleeps… inside of me." He
reaches over and grabs my hand, "Isabella, I know what it does to you to see it like this; it hurts me
the same… deeply…but you're no monster. You saved my life and I would have done the same thing
given the chance. I would give anything to take that night back for the both of us but what was done
can't be changed. We can only look to the future and the future of Savor…it's in our hands now." He
smiles then rides ahead halting the men to speak, "Men this is the night that will define who we are
and what we stand for. We will fight until our last breathes to protect what we hold dear and that is
love, freedom, and our lands. Through our blood and sweat it has prospered and we shall not let empty
our hands of it. Hear me when I say you will protect it with your lives or any life you have will not be
worth living…they will consume it leaving you with nothing. It's time to change into our Night Hunter
forms the shadows hide what we cannot see. There are dangers in these woods I can feel it. There will
be greater dangers in the pass of Mount Slagel. Some things will call to the weakness in you; playing
with you mind. Don't give into what the eye sees, stay in your night hunter form. Be on your guard at
all times and only communicate through the bond." They all nod their agreements and pull their bows
ready. They flank into a cross surrounding us. The two Night Hunters Ox and Colt; that I saw at
Edwards's door when he was ill are leading the ranks. They wear green bands around their upper arms
with the palace crest. Edward is using hand signal I've never seen, however the Night Hunters know
them well as they move into position toward Mount Slagel. Edward upon proudly upon Hawk waiting
and watching, he is in his element here. He loves the night; it calls to him. The thought of it sends chills
over me. Edward closed his eyes along with the other Night Hunters as they change form. He turns to
me as his eyes burns in the darkness, "Isabella, please don't use you powers if you don't have to. I
want you to stay next to me… alright. That is the only place that I know you will be safe." I nod as I
watch the essence of his power seething through every fiber of his being. "Alright, I'll stay by your side
my lord." When we exit the woods leading to the inky web of the pass everything goes silent…just like
it did that horrible night. My heart hammers and Falcon began to shift uneasy beneath me. Some of the
hunters get off their horses feeling the change of the air and walk on foot with bows at ready. I know
something watch us I can feel it to. The hunters in the rear turn and begin walking backwards. Edward
is talking to them through the bond, "No this is what they want get back on your horses men and we
will ride hard until we reach the pass; they are preparing to ambush us. They are pushing us toward
something." Edward looks at me and I know…I pull Falcon into a full gallop with the rest, the horse
senses the danger but they never veer off the path. I notice up ahead there is a red oak bridge over
water and on the other side is the pass of Mount Slagel. "Men, there's something wrong here whatever
was behind us has backed off. There has to be something wrong with this bridge." I turn to him
alarmed, "What's going on?" Just as the words part my lips, the bridge burst into flames. The water
steams and splashes as the bridge falls to it final rest beneath the murky abyss below. Edward looks
around to see if there is another crossing point. "Ox what do you see?" He comes over as his eyes scan
the gloomy woods," Your Majesty there is no other way to the pass without cutting through the woods
again and riding back to take the other bridge but we will lose a day. Edward's eyes scan the trees," I
have an idea but I will not put words to it just in case someone knows what we are saying through the
bond. Just follow me and I will show you my plan." I follow him until we stop before a very large red
oak tree. It has to be over a hundred feet tall and the ones next to it are just as large. Edward jumps
off his horse and walks over to the tree. The other hunters looked at each other and shrug that they do
not know what he is doing. Edward pulls his sword and the ring of its steel pierce the silence of the
night. I now know what he wants to do but how? "Edward that will not cut this tree down, it's just too
thick." He winks at me, "While not alone but with your help, my love. I need you to bathe this sword in
your flames." I jump off of my horse and walk over to where he stands holding his sword out to me.
"Trust me; I know what I'm doing." I smile shyly and run my hand down the smooth steel calling forth
my flame. My hands are wrapped in white flames; that now seem so familiar to me. It feels good as it
dances upon my skin. The sword began to tremble as Edward calls forth his blue flame. Rage is at my
doorstep and it frightens me. Suddenly visions of Edward and I in the throws of passion slam into me
like lighting before my eyes. "Is that enough?" He frowns and nods "Yes, are you alright?" I rub my
hands and step back trying to subdue my rage and my untimely need. "Stand back and be ready to
move men." He swings the sword and it slices through the tree's immense trunk as if it were air. Four
soldiers run forward to push the tree forward with Edward's help and it hit the water with a
thunderous crash shaking the opposite shore. They repeat this three times until we have a new bridge
to cross. My eyes began to go out of focus as a vision hits me "No not now" {I'm standing in the wake
of a great battle field… torn bodies are everywhere. The smell of burning flesh sickens me. I turn to my
name ringing in the smoky air. (Isabella, why did you do this?) I look down to find my hands are still
burning with fire.} My eyes open as panic engulfs me. I take in a large breath as tear burn my face. "By
all the heavens, what have I done?" Edward has me in his arms as he watches the soldiers proceed
with caution to the other side. "Isabella, are you alright, we must hurry this bridge will not hold up for
long. "A vision my love…now?" I nod as I stand and climb onto Falcon. Edward, turns as he hears
howls ahead as well as behind us…in the Cankos Woods. The creatures are heading back toward the
castle not toward us. Edward sends 200 Night Hunters back to protect the castle. The home guard will
not be able to do anything to protect themselves or the people from the Gyadens. They all will be
slaughtered to a man. The first officer nods and runs off with his team back toward the castle through
the dark shadows of the Cankos Woods. Some take to the trees as if it where home to them. It still
amazes me how quickly they disappear with the darkness. "They will catch up with us once they have
handled the threat. We must continue to ride hard until we reach the top of Mount Slagel. This is just to
delay us, let's keep riding." As we pull the horses toward the pass in full gallop there is a large crash
behind us and the bridge floats down the waterway. "What are they going to do now the bridge is out?
They can't get back across; it's too wide to jump or swam." Edward stares at the water in silence then
he turns to me, "Bella, they will come around and come up the side passage. Colt is with them… he
knows what to do. Emmett will also be with him. It will take another day; we will just have to wait for
them there. We need them; we can't leave without them when going through the final descend from
Mount Slagel, it is the most uncharted. I don't know what dangers lie ahead there. We will camp out
about another half a day's ride below the mountain's summit. It will be extremely cold so we will have
to set up camp and secure a perimeter." He turns toward the other Night Hunters, "We must ride hard
until we get to the old village that uses to be part of the supply chain through the mountains it's a half
days ride below the summit. That is where we will wait on the others. If they don't come then we must
ride on alone. I hope you're ready to fight with everything you have because they are waiting for us, I
can feel it." I suddenly felt my blood run cold and I hug my arms around myself, "Edward, I don't like
the feel of this, maybe we should wait for them here." He turns to me, "Bella, I will not run from this
enemy, I will face it head on. The sooner we get through this, the sooner we can come to your mother's
aide. There is not an option to delay in this…we must ride now." Edward pulls the horse back toward
the pass and we ride into tenebrous night.
The Captain watches the lights in the distance approach rapidly as the home guard of Dothin arrive to
greet them. He turns to his officers, "Pass the orders to stay back and set up camp here; we will not go
into the palace alone. I only want my three commanding officers and two Night Hunters to come with
me to meet with the royal family. If anything goes wrong the Night Hunters can communicate the
message and pass the word to attack." The officers nod their agreement. Dothin home guard
approaches with smiles of welcome. "Captain Hale we've heard that Savor has a swarm of guard
heading this way, we are here to escort you." The Captain nods," Thank you for your open welcome,
but we haven't a moment of time to waste. We must speak your King at once it is of the greatest
importance." They motion the Captain and his team of men toward the palace at an urgent pace. The
Palace of Dothin is the second largest palace next to Savor. It is heavily guard at all times and
surrounded by a 50 foot wall on three sides and a swarm of home guard in front awaiting any
offenders. They have some of the most trained and fierce soldiers around. This was where Isabella's
mother was born; her uncle was now King of Dothin. Queen Renna's mother and father both died from
a plague that killed thousands, it was contained to Dothin. Queen Renna had already been sent away to
marry when the plague broke out so she did not take ill. The king's brother Samuel was away in battle
at the time the plague broke out so wasn't affected. When he returned home he was next in line to be
King.
They were lead to the palace main hall and escorted to the King's court. The King was at his table along
with his advisors and Captain Malcolm Latain. The King walked over and locked forearms with Capt.
Hale in welcome. "It has been brought to my attention that great sorrow has fallen upon us. Is it true
then that Queen Renna has been taken?" The Captain nods and walks to have a seat at the table after
he greets the other with a nod of his head. " King Samuel it is true that the Queen has been taken, we
will find her but in her stead her daughter Princess Isabella has step into place as the Figira. She is just
as strong if not stronger then the Queen herself." The King holds up his hand to silence the Captain.
"What are you telling me here Captain Hale, Isabella was but a child when we last spoke. Did I miss
the wedding of is there something you're not telling me? Who did she choose as her husband...?" Capt.
Hale clears his throat to speak. "King Samuel, Isabella has grown into a Figira on her own without a
husband and she possesses the White Fire." The King eyes widen in shock," So the time of the Great
War may be upon us. She needs a king at her side, has she even picked a husband?" Captain Hale
smiles as he steeples his fingers against his lips. Everyone leans forward waiting to see who the next
High King of Savor will be. "Well King that story is a long one so I will tell you the short version.
Edward is the son of the late King Phillip. Isabella is not King Phillip's daughter, her father was
another. Edward is the true King by right and has taken his place on the throne. We will have the
formal coronation once all of this war business is out of the way." The King sits with his mouth open in
disbelief. "Captain if this is true then does he possess… the Blue Flame as well." The Captain nods
"King there is more, he has also fallen in love with Princess Isabella and she has agreed to marry him.
Edward was sick with Sleeping Death sickness but Isabella was able to postpone it for now but they
are on their way to Mount Slagel to get the root of the Silver Pine to cure him completely." The King
comes to his feet, "Captain, are you mad man? How could you let them go to Mount Slagel they will not
make it back, no one does. That is a mission that it impossible for even my guard." The Captain holds
out his hand in explanation," King Samuel we have 100,000 field soldiers and 5700 Night Hunters. King
Edward and Princess Isabella have 500 Night Hunters with them. Isabella is very powerful and Edward
has also begun to grow stronger as well. We are to meet up with them in Mangor. They are the reason
why I am here to speak with you your majesty. The King has called on his entire nation to join the
battle. We know there is a nation among us that has let some of the enemies in already. We are going
to find them and see if we can change their minds, so to speak." The King rubs his chin in thought,
"Captain we have been noticing some of our scouts have not been returning and when we ask the other
scouts they just tell us that they just disappeared. I will tell you; this is all a lot to take in and discuss
before we decided to join this… great battle without the Figira herself requesting our assistance in this.
If you can give me until tomorrow morning I will give you my answer." The Captain stands "Your
Majesty, the King as well as Princess Isabella have word that they want me to deliver also. If there is
any nation that decides that they are not with us then they are against us and must be made to join by
force, it's our Figira's life at stake here so there is no time to think about it. I need your answer now or
I will assume that you are not with us in this fight for our Queen and our Freedoms. I'm sorry you
Majesty but I don't have time to lay over once I'm finished here I must move on to Lothran. We need
your army as soon as possible." The King turns with a look of concern and resentment, "You come to
me and make demands dropping all of these things in my hands. I haven't even seen Isabella or
Edward since these changes has taken place." The Captain pulls out a scroll that has the full orders as
well as Princess Isabella's signature and King's stamp. The King nods and hands the orders to his
Captain Latain. Captain Latain stares at Captain Hale, "How many field soldiers do you need Captain
Hale and I will ready them right way. Captain Hale smiles, "I need at least as many as I have with me,
can you send at least 100,000 field soldiers." The King nods his approval, "Captain we will fight for our
Queen the way she has always fought for us. I am proud to serve the nations. We will be ready to ride
by the midday sun.
Author's notes:
Thanks for following and reading my stories. I can't wait to see where the next chapter leads us.
EndlessRedFire