Part 38
Solimus knelt behind the platform that had been erected for the challenge the day before. He watched with growing despair as his grandmother began the ancient ritual that she was convinced would break the curse cast upon his people. Solimus had grown up believing as his grandmother did. He had been so sure that the Giving would free his people. He had believed despite the horrors he had seen inflicted on the innocents, despite his own inner doubts. But once he had looked into the eyes of the pretty blonde woman now strapped to the bridge spanning the pit, he had seen the truth. Now he knew that what his grandmother was doing was wrong. It would not free his people but would only condemn them further. And he could no longer stand by and let it happen.
Neffa's chanting rose in volume. She was oblivious to everything around her. Her time had finally come and she would soon be free to seek revenge against her ancient enemy.
As her voice rose in pitch, the mist that lay in wait at the bottom of the pit began to wake. Soon it would rise and claim what was being offered to it.
Beka struggled against the ropes that bound her to the bridge. Her wrists were torn and bloodied but she refused to stop trying. She would fight until her last breath against this evil trying to steal her life and the life of the unborn child she now carried.
Dylan set a strenuous pace. The others struggled to keep up. He didn't even flinch as the sharp twigs and branches scratched his face and arms. He cared about nothing but reaching the pit and Beka before Neffa was able to harm her. He refused to even think that he might already be too late.
Dylan and his crew burst into the clearing where the pit was. The sight that greeted them was one that would haunt their nightmares for years to come. What they saw next seemed to happen in slow motion. After it was over none of the witnesses could be exactly sure of what they had seen.
Beka was strapped to the bridge in the very middle of the pit. Neffa stood above her with a dagger poised to strike at any second. The young boy from the village stood uncertainly at the foot of the bridge. Vibrant red mist floated within the pit and was slowly rising to surround the three on the bridge. An unearthly wailing could be heard coming from what seemed to be the mist itself. Suddenly Neffa ceased her chanting. The boy began running forward at the same time. Just as the dagger began its descent, the boy threw himself between his grandmother and Beka. The blade buried itself deep within his small chest. He slumped forward onto his knees. Looking up into the horrified eyes of his grandmother, he smiled.
"I understand now Grandmother. You were wrong but I forgive you." He said.
The others quickly reached the bridge. Dylan ran to Beka and freed her from her bonds. He lifted her into his arms and held her tightly against him. Beka buried her head in Dylan's shoulders and let the tears she had been holding back run down her cheeks. Tyr grabbed Neffa by the arm. The old woman seemed to be in shock, simply standing still, looking at Solimus. Trance and Rommie moved toward the boy. He was still alive but barely. One glance was all it took for both of them to realize the wound was fatal.
Suddenly the mist began to change. It turned from red to a soft blue. The wailing grew quieter until it became a seductive whisper. Ever so slowly the mist began to gather and take form. While they watched in astonishment, the mist took on an almost human shape. It moved toward the boy lying on the bridge. Trance beckoned to Rommie and both of them moved away from him. Once it stood over his broken body the mist figure turned to the others. Looking directly at Trance it spoke.
" Good Lady, for many years, these people have called upon my essence to accept the sacrifices they have offered. None of these sacrifices have been worthwhile. In fact all were abhorrent. Today, however, this young man has made a sacrifice worthy of my notice. He has given of himself to save another instead of taking a life to advance his own selfish desires. This boy's sacrifice is one I am willing to accept. Are you willing to allow me to do so?"
The others watched in shock as Trance stepped forward and bowed to the mist figure.
"No, good spirit, I am not. While the boy is worthy of your notice, most of his people are not. I do not think they are ready to be freed of the restraints placed upon them just yet. However, it is possible this child may be able to help them learn. If he were allowed to teach them, to lead them, I am sure they could be worthy once more. Are you willing to allow him the chance?"
"Will you instruct him?" the mist asked.
"No. This is a journey he must make alone." Trance said sadly.
"As all great leaders must." The mist agreed. Turning to Dylan she said, "Place the amulet of power around the boys neck."
Dylan gently lowered Beka to stand on the ground. Harper came forward and helped to support her when it seemed she might fall. Dylan took the amulet from his pocket and moved toward the boy. As he passed Neffa, the old woman seemed to come out of her trance. She pulled another dagger from her clothes and moved toward Dylan.
"No, that amulet should be mine!" she screamed. Before she had taken two complete steps, she was hit by three different forcelance blasts. She tumbled backward and fell over the side of the bridge, into the bottomless depths of the pit. The others watched her fall without any feelings of remorse or pity.
Dylan knelt before the boy. Taking the amulet, he placed it around the boy's neck. He stepped back slowly. The amulet began to glow the same soft blue shade as the figure standing before them. After a few moments the boy's chest began moving up and down as his breathing became normal. The crew watched in amazement as the wound on his chest began to heal. Within minutes it was as if the wound had never been.
"Rise Solimus, grandson of Atrimus, son of Tourk. Rise so that you may lead your people back into the folds from which they strayed so long ago." The spirit said.
Solimus knelt behind the platform that had been erected for the challenge the day before. He watched with growing despair as his grandmother began the ancient ritual that she was convinced would break the curse cast upon his people. Solimus had grown up believing as his grandmother did. He had been so sure that the Giving would free his people. He had believed despite the horrors he had seen inflicted on the innocents, despite his own inner doubts. But once he had looked into the eyes of the pretty blonde woman now strapped to the bridge spanning the pit, he had seen the truth. Now he knew that what his grandmother was doing was wrong. It would not free his people but would only condemn them further. And he could no longer stand by and let it happen.
Neffa's chanting rose in volume. She was oblivious to everything around her. Her time had finally come and she would soon be free to seek revenge against her ancient enemy.
As her voice rose in pitch, the mist that lay in wait at the bottom of the pit began to wake. Soon it would rise and claim what was being offered to it.
Beka struggled against the ropes that bound her to the bridge. Her wrists were torn and bloodied but she refused to stop trying. She would fight until her last breath against this evil trying to steal her life and the life of the unborn child she now carried.
Dylan set a strenuous pace. The others struggled to keep up. He didn't even flinch as the sharp twigs and branches scratched his face and arms. He cared about nothing but reaching the pit and Beka before Neffa was able to harm her. He refused to even think that he might already be too late.
Dylan and his crew burst into the clearing where the pit was. The sight that greeted them was one that would haunt their nightmares for years to come. What they saw next seemed to happen in slow motion. After it was over none of the witnesses could be exactly sure of what they had seen.
Beka was strapped to the bridge in the very middle of the pit. Neffa stood above her with a dagger poised to strike at any second. The young boy from the village stood uncertainly at the foot of the bridge. Vibrant red mist floated within the pit and was slowly rising to surround the three on the bridge. An unearthly wailing could be heard coming from what seemed to be the mist itself. Suddenly Neffa ceased her chanting. The boy began running forward at the same time. Just as the dagger began its descent, the boy threw himself between his grandmother and Beka. The blade buried itself deep within his small chest. He slumped forward onto his knees. Looking up into the horrified eyes of his grandmother, he smiled.
"I understand now Grandmother. You were wrong but I forgive you." He said.
The others quickly reached the bridge. Dylan ran to Beka and freed her from her bonds. He lifted her into his arms and held her tightly against him. Beka buried her head in Dylan's shoulders and let the tears she had been holding back run down her cheeks. Tyr grabbed Neffa by the arm. The old woman seemed to be in shock, simply standing still, looking at Solimus. Trance and Rommie moved toward the boy. He was still alive but barely. One glance was all it took for both of them to realize the wound was fatal.
Suddenly the mist began to change. It turned from red to a soft blue. The wailing grew quieter until it became a seductive whisper. Ever so slowly the mist began to gather and take form. While they watched in astonishment, the mist took on an almost human shape. It moved toward the boy lying on the bridge. Trance beckoned to Rommie and both of them moved away from him. Once it stood over his broken body the mist figure turned to the others. Looking directly at Trance it spoke.
" Good Lady, for many years, these people have called upon my essence to accept the sacrifices they have offered. None of these sacrifices have been worthwhile. In fact all were abhorrent. Today, however, this young man has made a sacrifice worthy of my notice. He has given of himself to save another instead of taking a life to advance his own selfish desires. This boy's sacrifice is one I am willing to accept. Are you willing to allow me to do so?"
The others watched in shock as Trance stepped forward and bowed to the mist figure.
"No, good spirit, I am not. While the boy is worthy of your notice, most of his people are not. I do not think they are ready to be freed of the restraints placed upon them just yet. However, it is possible this child may be able to help them learn. If he were allowed to teach them, to lead them, I am sure they could be worthy once more. Are you willing to allow him the chance?"
"Will you instruct him?" the mist asked.
"No. This is a journey he must make alone." Trance said sadly.
"As all great leaders must." The mist agreed. Turning to Dylan she said, "Place the amulet of power around the boys neck."
Dylan gently lowered Beka to stand on the ground. Harper came forward and helped to support her when it seemed she might fall. Dylan took the amulet from his pocket and moved toward the boy. As he passed Neffa, the old woman seemed to come out of her trance. She pulled another dagger from her clothes and moved toward Dylan.
"No, that amulet should be mine!" she screamed. Before she had taken two complete steps, she was hit by three different forcelance blasts. She tumbled backward and fell over the side of the bridge, into the bottomless depths of the pit. The others watched her fall without any feelings of remorse or pity.
Dylan knelt before the boy. Taking the amulet, he placed it around the boy's neck. He stepped back slowly. The amulet began to glow the same soft blue shade as the figure standing before them. After a few moments the boy's chest began moving up and down as his breathing became normal. The crew watched in amazement as the wound on his chest began to heal. Within minutes it was as if the wound had never been.
"Rise Solimus, grandson of Atrimus, son of Tourk. Rise so that you may lead your people back into the folds from which they strayed so long ago." The spirit said.