Chapter 6: The Endless City

Will was tired when she staggered into the city. Thankfully, it was dark and cloudy out; otherwise the guardians and their children would have been spotted.

Cornelia looked around. "What now?" She asked blankly. Her long blonde hair had briars in it, and she, like the other guardians, looked old. Too old.

"We'll find the Endless City and ask the Oracle." Will tried.

Hay Lin, holding Hope tightly, frowned. "Will, can't we rest? We're all too tired to travel." She begged.

'It's true.' Will thought. 'Look at us--we can't even fight now! But if we stay, we risk getting caught. Am I really willing to quit so close to finding Caleb at long last? No. We have to go. I just have to remember how to move first.' Will took a shaky, deep breath. "No. We have to find the Endless City by nightfall." She heard herself say weakly.

Taranee lifted Tommy, who gave a small wail. "Maybe the rebellion will give us some baby food or milk for the children." She sighed. She flicked her hair back slightly and bit her lip as the guardians staggered down the road, looking more pitiful than before.

But somehow, their journey scared Will more than anyone else. Every step brought a wave of overwhelming pain through her stomach. 'Just let me find your daddy...please just wait...' Will thought to the child in her belly. The child kicked, and Will looked up to hide her worry. "So does anyone remember the way?" She asked quietly.

Irma looked up from her belly, which she had been quietly apraising. "I do. Come on." The girls began to walk down the road weakly.

Hay Lin fell into step beside Will. "You look sick." She said quietly.

Will forced a laugh. "Oh, come on! No one looks good right now!" She tried to joke and abruptly stiffened when a pain came over her.

"It's getting closer, isn't it?" Hay Lin whispered. "The baby's birth, I mean." She didn't need to hear Will agree. The look on her face said it all clearly. "We'll rest when we reach the Endless City. Don't worry."

Will tried not to show her obvious relief as Irma found the door and the guardians entered slowly. But the place was darkened and quiet.

Cornelia looked around in the darkness as Hay Lin slowly recovered the door. "Does anyone see...anything?" Cornelia asked blankly.

Taranee pointed. "Look! A torch!" She said eagerly. Sure enough, a faint pin-prick of light glimmered promisingly in the darkness. As one person, the guardians lifted their children and raced towards it.

A young man was strolling towards them, whistling jauntily and swinging a bag beside him.

Will grabbed his arm. "Please..." She blurted. "Where's the rest of the rebellion?"

The man's mouth dropped open. "You--You're the guardians! What are you doing here?" He exclaimed.

Cornelia, holding her screaming twins, was loosing her patience. "Of course we're the guardians! Now where is the rest of the rebellion?" She half shouted.

The man frowned uncertainly. "Hey, maybe you guys didn't get the memo, but the rebellion is disbanded." He said.

"Disbanded?" Taranee asked in disbelief.

"Yeah, disbanded. You know, it's over. Ka-put. Bye bye." He said firmly. Then he saw the children and a look of sympathy crossed his face. "Okay...Um, tell you what. I'll try and scrape up a few people from the rebellion. Here--I have some food and junk you guys can have. Wait here." He handed them the bag and raced off.

Will looked in the bag and held up a waterskin, then opened it to show milk. "Look! Dinner!" She told the other girls.

"Thank God. Give me that." Cornelia said quickly.

2 hours later...

The young man walked into the palace. "Your Highness!" He called.

Elyon, wearing her wedding gown, turned to look at him. "Yes?" She asked. "Hurry, this is my last dress fitting."

"The guardians are in the Endless City." He said briskly. "They're looking for the rebellion." The man smiled.

Elyon looked over into the shadows and smiled up at Cedric. "I think it's only fair that they find what they're looking for."

Cedric smiled as Caleb walked out of the shadows. "Go get the guardians and bring them here." He ordered him. "Hurry. We have a wedding tomorrow."

Caleb smiled and walked out of the palace.