The red smoke curled up to my waist and once it reached my head, I knew no more.
Gilan POV
I ran. I wasn't even sure why. It wasn't as if I was in a hurry. Then I remembered Ally. If it hadn't been for her, I would probably be dead multiple times over. At that thought, I began to run even faster. I had trouble catching my breath from when the thing had its claws wrapped around my throat, but I pushed away the pain and kept running. Eventually, I came back to Halt's cabin. I gasped for air and knocked on the door. Halt opened it.
"Gilan…Why are you?..."His eyes widened. He didn't say anything else but grabbed my arm, looked around, then pulled me inside and shut the door behind me and locked it. He tapped the door a few times. A pattern I knew from when I was his apprentice. A silence seal. It made sure that no one could listen in on our conversation. Whatever he wanted to talk about, he wanted to make sure no one else heard it.
"Talk. What the hell happened?" I opened my mouth to explain when there was a knock on the door. Halt slid his knife out from his belt and held it close as he moved over to the door. He looked through the spy-hole and opened it slowly, keeping his knife hidden behind the door. To my shock, it was Ally's mother who appeared. Her face was as calm, but in her eyes was a wild and deranged look.
"Ma'am. How may I help you?" Halt asked. She sighed.
"You don't know me Halt O'Carrick, but I know you. A ranger. I know it is your life duty to help people. That is why I am here. For your help. My daughter, something happened to her." Halt nodded and opened the door.
"Please, come in and sit down." She nodded and took a seat across from me, it was only when she looked up that she seemed to recognize me.
"Gilan?...Do you know.." She started, only to be interrupted by another knock on the door. Halt opened it again and Teyran ran in and kneeled next to his mother.
"Ma'am and sir...who are you?" Teyran took a deep breath.
"We are here for your help, Ranger Halt. From one Alayva to another, we need yours. You are the only one we can turn to." Halt stiffened. "My sister, something has happened to her…"
"Teyran…I think I may be able to help you with that, but you may want to sit." I said as I stood slowly, still trying to catch my breath. As I moved I felt a shooting pain lance up from my side and I reached my hand over to the spot and held it. Ally's mother saw it and motioned for me to come to her.
"I can heal it, then please tell us what you know." I nodded and sat next to her. A soothing cold emanated from her palm and in no time, I felt better. I stood and moved back across from the two of them and looked at Halt, who was standing near the door.
I took a deep breath and told them all that had happened. As I went along, both Teyran and his mother became paler and worried. When I finished, Teyran let out a harsh breath.
"So what you're saying is that…Morgarath….That monster…Has my sister?" he asked through clenched teeth. I nodded sadly.
"I believe so. He is the only person I know to have the Kalkara under his control." His mother took a deep sigh and a calm look passed over her features as she shut her eyes. But as she stood she opened them, and all I saw was a venomous rage.
"That monster destroyed our home and broke our family once. I won't let it happen again." She turned to Teyran. "Go get Pentharial and Evalia and meet me at the edge of town. Call on some horses if you can, we have a long way to go." Teyran nodded then left, sending Halt a small signal of some kind, maybe an Alayvan thanks, to which Halt replied the same way. She turned to me. "Gilan. If you care for her as much as I know you do, please. Come with us and help get her back." I nodded.
"I would do anything to get her back."
She hugged me and whispered in my ear. "Kanlya aut'mayna. Kanlya aut'mayna." I wasn't sure what that meant, but I was fairly certain is was thank you.
I hugged her back then we pulled apart.
"Meet us at the edge of town as well." She turned to leave, "And Ranger Halt, thank you, for everything." With that, she left. Halt looked at me.
"So you really do love her, don't you?" He huffed. "Very well, if you are going on such a harebrained mission, at least get some good supplies. Blaze is out back, waiting for you." With that, he retreated to the back of the cabin.
"Thank you, Halt," I whispered.