Kel was now a dead weight in Joren's arms. Carefully he laid her down to check for and temporarily wrap her wounds. He hissed in her surprise after ripping her tunic open. There was a long gash across her chest. Luckily her breast band had soaked up much of the blood. Any other time he would have appreciated looking at her clearly feminine body, but right now her lifeblood was seeping into his hands.
Thinking hard, he decided it would be best to remove the remains of her tunic and use it as strips for a bandage. After, wrapping her chest he found another slash on her arm and a small one on her thigh. Carefully he bound those as well then observed his now quiet surroundings.
Jace had a piece of his shirt wrapped around his head while he set Raven's wrist back in place. Raven was grimacing trying not to cry out in pain. Daren was healing some of the scratches and bruises on Arric's back. Oddly, it hadn't been Arric's back that had cracked but the tree. Daren didn't look to good himself. He didn't have any dangerous openings on his body but his face was bruised. It seemed that the shadow raider he had fought had beaten him for sport.
Picking Kel up, Joren started walking towards Daren and Arric. As he passed Raven and Jace he nodded towards them indicating the others.
Laying Kel down Joren turned to Daren.
" How is Arric? Will he be able to walk?"
" He'll be fine for now. Truth is, we all need to get to that village. Arric and Kel may not survive. They have both lost a lot of blood. They need a healer at full strength and they need one now."
" Well how the hell will we get to that village quick enough if we don't have our thrice be damned horses?!"
" Don't worry, I got them." It was Raven who was holding the reins of their horses in his good hand.
" What should we do with those?" Jace asked pointing out the raiders' corpses.
" As soon as we get Kel, Arric, and Daren to the village me, you, and Raven will come back here."
" But we can't leave the bodies unsupervised. Anything can happen to them." Daren pointed out.
" Don't worry they will be watched."
" What do you mean they will be watched?" Joren retorted his eyes completely focused on that of Raven's.
" Exactly what I said. Stop wasting time. Let's go."
Without looking at Joren, he mounted up with the help of Jace, while Daren helped Arric who was only partly conscious. Taking his cue Joren got onto Darkness and Jace placed Kel in his arms. Without further ado they rode away.
~ ~
By the time the beaten and tired tortallan fighters reached the village "gates" it was early morning. Before any of them could dismount and knock on the "door", it was already open. A middle-aged woman stepped aside so they could get in.
" We've been waiting for you,"
After everyone had dismounted she quickly directed them towards the village inn.
" We already have three beds ready. When the other three of you return your beds will be ready also. Leave the girl and the man here; my healers will attend to them. And you," she grabbed Daren by the arm and led him to a bed, " will recuperate also. You used too much of your gift after such a hard beating."
" The rest of you leave. Questions will be answered later." Without so much as a glance backwards, she closed the door in Joren's, Jace's, and Raven's face. Having nothing better to do, they followed her orders.
~ ~
The group of three stood in front of one of the bodies. They had just finished watching the burning of Thomas' body. Now they were looking for answers.
" I noticed something. The raiders I killed had black eyes until they died. Then they turned to well natural colors," observed Jace.
" They were under enchantments. Do you see the looks of relief on their faces, even after going through a painful death?" asked Raven while going through a dead man's clothes.
" But who set the enchantments?" Jace asked, turning to Joren for an answer.
" It was Codane." Joren replied. " The whole reason why I am on this stupid quest."
" So he binds raiders to do his dirty work."
" I'm not so sure," exclaimed Raven who was pointing to a tattoo on the dead man's left wrist. It was a dark moon with a bright sun shadowing it. An eclipse. " I've seen this tattoo on a few people before. In Corus, Maren, Tusaine. I think this Codane has people all over the northern continent."
" Shit!" yelled Joren. " We left Kel and the others in that village. How do we know if they are marked or not? We are going back now!" Joren and Jace started running towards their horses.
" I'll get rid of the bodies." Cried out raven as they rode away. " And maybe I'll get some answers too."
~ ~
" So you're back. So soon?" asked the strange woman keeping her attention on the binding of Daren's wounds.
" Who are you and what do you want?" Joren asked the woman grabbing her arm tightly.
The woman looked up at him, surprised to say the least. Yet a few seconds later realization set on her features. She pried Joren's fingers off her arm then showed him her left wrist.
" I am not one of his lackeys. If I were you would be dead."
" I want answers." Joren stated as he settled down in a chair.
" But you already know the answers just not the questions." Joren just stared at her. When he didn't let up she sighed.
" My name is Aidalla White."
" The great seeress?" gasped Jace.
" I don't know about great, but I am good," she smiled at the awed black man.
" I saw you in a group of different visions. I saw the help you would need. I also saw what you were up against. I only have a few words of warning Sir Joren. The truth is more and less then it seems. The truth covers and protects the illusion. Illusion is the truth unveiled. And what you see is all that be."
" What is that supposed to mean?" Joren asked arching an eyebrow.
" Exactly what I said and nothing more." Joren's mocking face turned back to one of seriousness and anger.
" I asked for answers."
" I asked for questions."
" I asked a question."
" I gave an answer."
" Stop with the riddles woman." Joren suddenly bounced out of his chair, stalking over to her seat next to Daren.
" You're right. It is time that I should go. Remember this quest is also more and less than it seems. Good Luck." Before anything else was said, Aidalla turned into a sparrow and flew out the open window.
" And that my good men," Joren exclaimed sarcastically, " is the reason why women should not have power. They talk in riddle and sing rhyme because their man wan't on time."
He was answered with disapproving looks from Daren and Jace.
" Well since Keladry and Arric are still unconscious book three other rooms. We'll stay here for five days then we'll leave."
" What should we do for the next five days?"
" I don't care. If you learn anything on the raiders tell me. Just make sure that your weapons are well honed. Last thing we need is a dull blade."
" Sir yessir."
" Shut up Daren. Be happy it's not part of my practice to maim an already injured man."
~ ~
Joren sat looking at Kel's face. She looked pretty much at peace except for a few light cuts and bruises. What the hell is wrong with her? It's been a full day and she still hasn't awakened. He was concerned. Not about her. Of course not. It was just that he ha had a sinking feeling that to finish this task, both of them were needed. He would deny it to anyone but himself.
He touched her face. But after a grazing touch, he grabbed his hand back. What the hell? He got up and left.
~ ~
Joren was walking down the street when he felt a presence behind him.
" What do you want Raven?"
" Need to show you something."
" This better be important."
" Don't worry it is. Follow me."
Shrugging his shoulders, Joren followed the smaller man. Raven stopped in front of an old storyteller talking to young children.
" You brought me to a senile old man?" Joren asked incredulously. The old man looked up from his young charges. He smiled while looking the knight over.
" Senile yes, but wise also. The name is Nathis the Storyteller." Joren raised an eyebrow.
" Am I supposed to be impressed?"
" No more than I of you." The old man rather did look unimpressed. Joren smirked, he liked this man. He turned to Raven.
" So why is this old man so important?"
" It's not him we are here for. We are here for his stories." Joren turned to Nathis again.
" Well tell me this story. Hurry up now."
" The youth these days are too impatient," said the man shaking his head.
" And the old are too slow," Joren retorted. The old man ignored him and started his story. His eyes became distant as if remembering a different time.
" Five centuries ago a child was born to two gods. Lord Loki and Lady Raedis. When he was to reach his third century of life he was to enter into his full title, Lord of deception. But before he could even attain his first century of life his parents saw that he was flawed. He was not a god. He had the cursed De'Owyn."
" The De'Owyn? What kind of bull is that?" Interrupted Joren rudely. Nathis glared at him, his aura of mysteriousness vanishing.
" I was getting to that boy," he snapped. " Anyway, every five millennia a godly child is born with this curse, the De'Owyn. The child is born with an amazing gift linked to their full title, yet they do not have the invincibility of the gods. They may live thousands of years but in the end they remain mortal and a burden to their parents.
Now this child of Lord Loki and Lady Raedis was as stubborn as his parents. He told them during his third century of life, that he would gain not only immortality but also his full title. His father in return declared that until he reached his goal the child would be called Codane the Nameless. A wandering godchild in the mortal lands. In time…"
Joren had already started walking away. Now he knew why Codane was searching for the chalice. The story also clarified that Codane is desperate. A man with a grudge and something to prove. A dangerous and powerful mage also. Not good.
Maybe if Joren had stayed longer he would have found something even more interesting.
~ ~
Joren sat on the edge of Kel's bed looking out the window. It now had been three days since the battle. Arric had awoken yesterday yet Kel still hadn't even stirred. The blond haired male sighed then frowned. Why was he so concerned? The Lump deserved it anyway. She should of known not to mess with a man's work. Turning around he examined her features. Her face seemed paler than usual. The bruises on her face had long sine faded away. She looked fragile and lost in her sleep.
" Hmph," Joren snorted, " probably the least delicate female I've ever met. And stubborn as the Black God himself."
Without knowing that a small smile had crept up to his handsome face, he reached out to smooth her hair. Surprised with himself, he yanked his hands back. he jumped when Kel suddenly changed position and mumbled something incoherently. When she continued to mumble he leaned forward to catch a few words.
" Dom… leave me… child…" At that Joren leaned back surprised.
" What the hell? Wh-" his tirade was interrupted when more words were heard from Kel.
" Shadows… eyes…black… Thomas…head… dead?!" Joren shook his head.
" Help… darkness… blood… shadows… Joren!" His name was followed by a silent scream. Joren didn't know what to do. When more expressions of terror crossed her visage he made a decision.
Moving forward he gently shook her by the shoulders. When she continued to mutter things in her sleep, he shook her a bit harder. Still she didn't wake up. He slapped her across the face. Kel stopped moving and abruptly her hazel eyes opened.
~ ~
Kel had felt the slap even through her dark dreams. It was the only thing she needed to be pulled back to reality. When the first thing she saw was Joren leaning over her reaction won over logic.
Though weak, her fist came around and punched him in the face. Joren fell back in astonishment, blood pooring from his nose. There was silence then…
" Owwwwwwww! I was just trying to wake you up bitch!" Kel slowly crawled out of bed.
" I'm sorry Joren. That was not meant to happen."
" Well it did. Shit this hurts!"
" Here let me help." Before he could protest, she had his head back and a cloth wrapped over his nose. He was going to push her away when he saw the genuine concern in her eyes. Sighing, he let it go.
" So Joren we leave in two hours."
Pushing her hands away he gave her a disbelieving look.
" No we are giving you two days to get back your strength," he added, " if you were a real fighter I'd say six hours but… your not."
" Joren don't be an ass. We are leaving today."
" Stop being a Lump we are leaving in two days."
Kel stared straight into Joren's eyes.
" We need to leave now. Things are getting deadly. I don't want more people to die. Please." Her last sentence was almost a whimper.
" Fine we will leave. But in four hours." As he left the room, he couldn't help wondering what was in Kel's dreams that made her so nervous.
Sorry this chapter was kind of boring. Don't worry the rest will be better. Also thanks for all the reviews. Later. Ciao.
