Notes: Sorry for the shortness of this chapter. It dawned on me that this was the best place to stop, as things are going to start going down hill from this point on. This is more or less a "cascade of emotions" for Elena and the next chapter promises to dilever a lot more, as well as being a lot longer. Enjoy.
Beyond Civilization
"Master." The soft words traveled from the shadows of the darkened tent.
"Yes?" An old woman sitting upon a high seat replied toward the shadow.
"Our scouts have reported back, and they carry tragic news."
Shifting in her seat, the old woman replied, "Do not leave me in suspense."
"Master, the Reclaimer has made her first move. Six Watchmen have been slain."
"Where?"
"The bodies were found less then a day's journey away."
The old woman rubbed her chin in thought. "Then she is coming this way."
"Yes master."
With a heavy sigh the old woman stood from her chair. "Inform the Honor Guards to prepare for her arrival."
"There is one other piece of information, master." The old woman waited for the speaker to continue. "She has another Watchman with her."
"Who is it?"
"Her name is Tisha, from the house of Essra."
The old woman's eyes grew large as she stood cautiously from her chair. "I thought that she was dead? All but one of them was to have been slain. This changes things. They can not be allowed to come here, not now. Gather more information, and tell the Honor Guards to prepare the defenses."
"I will, master."
The woman cautiously returned to her chair. "And Michael, you must forget that she is your sister. Your duties must come first."
"Yes, master."
- - - - - - - -
Pushing forward into a rocky terrain, Tisha and Elena stopped near a large rock outcropping in order to rest in the shade. Mid day was approaching and it was time to rest.
"Elena, give me your robe."
Elena glared at Tisha questioning her reason. "Why?"
"I want to go back to the river we passed a moment ago. I'll fill our water and wash the blood from your robe. It'll be hard to get those stains out."
"Blood comes out easily. It is shouldn't be a problem." Elena began to remove her robe while Tisha watched.
"You are pretty good at undressing." Tisha smiled. "Some man will find you very appealing someday."
"Don't make me hurt you." Elena dryly stated as she tossed the robe into Tisha's arms. She adjusted her chest support and wrapped herself in a waist high wrap. "Hurry up and come back."
"Are you going to miss me?" Tisha laughed as she dodged a rock that Elena had thrown at her. She turned and ran off toward the river as Elena leaned back against the dry rock wall.
"Will you kill them all?" Jacob stated as he approached from the path. Elena sighed but never looked his way. She sat with her hands behind her head, and her upper body exposed; save only the chest support wrap which covered her bust completely. Jacob paused at the site of her exposed shoulder and arms and looked away briefly. "I'm sorry. I did not mean to catch you off guard."
"Have you never seen a woman wearing her support?" Elena questioned.
"Yes, but not a woman that I was unfamiliar with. We do not know each other in such a way."
"I don't mind. This is what I wore when I trained with my brothers …" Elena cut herself short and paused. She hated that she was loosely talking to Jacob about herself.
"Your brothers? And where are they now?" Elena didn't respond. Jacob sighed to himself as he walked closer. "Still not ready to talk to me?"
"How long do you intend to follow us?"
"For as long as I see necessary."
"Your choice. But be warned. There are people who will attempt to kill me, and if they see you traveling with us then they'll attack you as well."
Jacob smirked, "I guess you mean the 'Watchmen' people. I heard you mention the name before you killed them. Who are they?"
"Go away."
"Why are they after you?"
"Go away."
"Are they the ones that betrayed you?"
"Go away!" Elena stood from her resting spot and gripped the hilt of her sword.
"Calm down, Elena. I merely wish to know more about you and what you have been through."
"You couldn't begin to understand. I will not answer any of your prying questions."
Jacob continued to smile. "Aren't you concerned for your friend? She's at the river all alone."
"She can take care of herself." Elena sat down once again, and frustratingly rested her sword upon the rock ledge.
Jacob gripped the harness of his horse and pulled it closer to the shade. He then pulled a bag from its back and began to fondle through its contents. He sat beside Elena and pulled out a wrapping of dried meat and began to eat it. Elena ignored him.
Jacob tore off a small hunk and handed it toward Elena. "Please. Dine with me."
"Go away."
- - - - - - - -
Tisha fumbled with the clothing she had piled at the water's edge, scrubbing them loosely upon a rock face. She smiled happily at the chore and ignored everything around her. The day was quickly approaching noon and the suns rays brilliantly reflected off of the water's surface.
Tisha yawned as she began to squeeze the water from one of the robes, and a soft rustling of sand caught her attention. "Is it done?"
A man approached her side. "Yes, my lady. The bodies are gone and the blood covered in the sands."
"Excellent. Be sure that the other men eat well today. The closer we get to the Grand Master, the more trouble we will face."
"Yes, my lady. The man that has followed you; how should we treat him?"
Tisha stopped scrubbing the second garment and blankly stared into the water. "Send a runner and find out who he is."
"As you wish. And the Reclaimer, Queen Elena, has she any needs?"
"She is fine. She will never want for anything so long as I am in control. Now, go back to the others and make sure they are fed and receive plenty of water. We are few, and we can not suffer illnesses of any kind."
"Yes, my Lady." The man bowed deeply, upon his knees and forearms. He then slowly bowed his head into the sand behind Tisha, and quickly stood to his feet. "If you have need of me, merely call and I shall come." The man ran off and vanished from sight.
"I know you will, Gabriel. You and the Archangels are all we have left." Tisha smiled to herself and pulled another robe from the water's edge. "But that will be enough."
- - - - - - - -
After a short rest Elena, Tisha and Jacob pushed on. However they came upon a rocky terrain within a forest area and decided to rest for the night. The night time chill fell upon the land and Jacob started a fire while Elena and Tisha slept. He watched over them as they cuddled closely together. He placed his hands over the flames to warm them and then pulled his robe tighter upon his shoulders. He shuffled on top of his seat and heard a rustling in the bushes overhead. The sound was soft, yet prominent in the silent of the night. He stood and looked around to make sure that no one was out there. Looking around and upwards at the top of the cliff and trees, he saw nothing alarming and slowly returned to his seat. He then looked to Elena and Tisha, however Elena was gone.
"You are not very astute." Elena whispered into his ear. Jacob was startled and pulled away. Elena had closed the distance between them in complete silence. She was lying at Tisha's side on the far side of the fire, but in the short time that Jacob had looked away, she had approached him. "There are five men out there, two heavily armed, one slightly over weight, and two upon camelback. They've been watching us all night. But you hadn't noticed?"
"No … I did not." Jacob stood and gripped his sword, looking around as if something was about to happen. "Then I will fight."
"No need." Elena sat near Jacob and tossed a fresh branch into the flame. "They've been following us for a while now. I think Tisha knows them. Perhaps they are some of her bodyguards from Egypt."
"She has bodyguards?" Jacob questioned as he returned to his seat beside Elena. "Then why did they not reveal themselves yesterday when those Watchmen attacked?"
"I don't know. I noticed them yesterday before we were attacked. They are pretty good at concealing themselves, but I could see their tracks easily. I thought they would attack tonight, but they have yet to make a move. They even followed Tisha to the river earlier today, that's why I believe she knows them."
"Then why do they conceal themselves?"
"Stop asking questions and simply be happy with what I tell you." Elena sighed, she rested her head upon Jacob's shoulder and closed her eyes. "If they come close, I'll deal with it." She instantly went to sleep.
Jacob looked down at the top of her head, somewhat shocked by her sudden closeness, however he found something even more shocking as he looked further down. Elena was holding a dagger at his side, and he instantly understood.
"You think I know them?" He smiled. "You came close to me in order to protect Tisha, because you are afraid that I might try something and those men are following me. And here I was thinking that we had somehow become friends."
Elena sniffled softly and mumbled, "You are smarter than you look." She left the blade close to Jacob's side and allowed her external senses to take over while her body rested.
Morning came and Tisha awoke with a long stretch. She felt around but couldn't find Elena, and she bolted upward. She relaxed when she saw Elena packing the camel.
"You're up early." Tisha smiled. Elena curtly answered with a head nod. Jacob then walked from the opposite side of the camel and stared into Elena's eyes softly. She shyly looked away, to Tisha's complete shock. She raced to Elena's side and embraced her, while evilly glaring at Jacob.
"Did he touch you last night?" Tisha questioned.
Elena grumbled and yelled, "What are you talking about?" She gripped Tisha and tried to push her away, but restrained from pushing too hard in fear of hurting the young girl.
Tisha struggled to hang on to Elena. "I saw the way he looked at you! That's how my dad looked at my mom when they wanted to be alone! He wants to do naughty things with you!"
Finally annoyed with Tisha's childish banter, Elena forcefully pushed her away. "Shut up!" Tisha stumbled backward and fell on her back side.
She moaned painfully but looked up at Elena. "I guess it can't be helped. You need to have children, and Jacob is cute, if you like Lower Egyptians, but I never cared much for their clothing style." She suddenly burst into a rolling laugh.
Elena simply shook her head in disbelief. "Do you want me to hurt you?"
Jacob interrupted, "Tisha, are you being followed?" Elena was startled that he approached her directly. Tisha stopped laughing and sat in silence. "I'm under the suspicion that there are several men following us, yet they have not made any attempts to engage us."
Tisha stood up and smiled at Jacob's words. "Yes."
"Who are they?"
"You can't understand. You couldn't understand. Words alone can not describe them, but just know that they are here for our protection."
Elena snarled and stepped forward. "Who are they? Egyptian Guards?"
Tisha backed away, nervous at Elena's aggression. "No… nothing like that. I can't say it around Jacob…"
Elena stepped closer and gripped Tisha's shoulders. "Jacob is not my only concern right now. You can't afford to keep secrets from me, Tisha! Who are they?"
Tisha looked away. "Archangels." Elena gasped and Jacob nearly chocked on his own saliva. His sudden reaction to the word echoed in Tisha and Elena's ears.
Elena glared at him. "You can't know that word."
Nervously, Jacob attempted to think of something "What? No, I was merely …"
A rustling sound came from afar and two men appeared from the thicket upon the side of a tree. "He is a Watchman, my Queen. He comes from a distant tribe, but he is indeed a Watchman."
"A Watchman?" Elena muttered, but beyond that she snapped to a defensive stance and drew her sword. "You are … Archangels?"
"My Queen." The two men approached and lowered themselves to the ground, bowing deeply and respectfully. "Forgive us, but we felt it best to not reveal ourselves until the time was right. Lady Tisha has told you of us, so there is no longer any need for concealment."
"Tisha!" Elena drew her blade and lunged at the young girl that had been traveling with her for the past few days. Her blade was true to target, but Tisha did not move. Suddenly one of the Archangels stepped into Elena's path, blocked her blade with his shield and sent Elena tumbling forward. Elena regained her balance and stood to her feet; lowering her sword to defend against the oncoming attack.
"My Queen, do not react so harshly!" The lead Archangel pleaded.
"Don't call me that you exiled hounds!" Elena snarled furiously. "Tisha, you traitor! How could you side with them?"
"Who else could we trust?" Tisha questioned. "I knew you wouldn't understand, but they are all we have!"
"They turned their backs on us thousands of years ago! They are no better then the Watchmen that are trying to kill us!"
Elena stepped forward, passing the Archangel that stood at her guard. "If you have not noticed yet, Reclaimer, we are all that are left. The old ways are gone. We are the ones who must decide on the future of our ways. You think we can walk into the Grand Master's camp and simply ask him what has happened in your absence? No Elena, we can not."
Elena angrily stepped forward. "Do not dishonor the Grand Master! His teachings have always been for the sake of the Reclaimers and the loyal Watchmen!"
"Elena, the Grand Master turned against us!" Tisha shouted. Elena paused and her heart nearly stopped. "You've been away, locked inside the Ark for a year and you have not known what the Grand Master has become."
Elena questioned. "Yet you side with the Archangels, Lilith's seed, those that have been exiled. You think I will believe someone who works with the traitors of our history?"
"In these many generations do you think that all of Lilith's descendants would still bare their mother's sins?" Tisha walked forward. "I told you that I had made some contacts in your absence. Does it matter that they were once our opposites? Not all of them carry the hatred of their ancestors. They will follow us and help us."
"Why didn't you tell me about the Grand Master before?"
"Because you would not believe me unless you saw for yourself what she has become. She blessed you upon your birth, like she did your mother and father. I can not expect you to believe me with word alone; especially not now." Tisha stepped closer and lowered her head. "If I have failed you, then take my life. I am nothing but a Watchman, and I have been trained to do what I feel is best for your safety. Trust is not something we can value loosely, but I need you to trust me. I am not a warrior, merely a Watchman, and if I am in error then my life is in your hands."
Elena turned and walked away, slipping her sword back into its sheath. "No more secrets. Tell me everything, right now."
"No." Tisha looked up and stared at the back of Elena's head. "Like my father, I will not reveal any information until I feel it is necessary."
"You tell me that things need to change, and then you tell me that you're going to do as your father taught you?"
"There are some things I can not tell you, Elena. Some of the things that we Watchmen have kept secret, for many years, are for the benefit of you Reclaimers. Do you believe that this feud between Watchmen happened over night? That suddenly there were Watchmen that turned against the Reclaimer ways? Things about your father and mother, and things that date back as far as Lilith and the second movement, do you think we can share such secrets?"
Elena turned quickly and looked at Tisha. "My mother and father?"
"We guard the greatest secret of all humanity. Even your sword is a secret tool of the Forerunners. The Ark, the Reclaimers, those who came before us; all secrets that we must guard. To tell you some of the darker secrets would be to seal your own doom. No, Elena, I will not share anything with you until it is time. As for your mother and father…" Tisha paused as Elena walked closer, eager to hear what she was going to say. "I know their fate."
"You knew? You knew all this time!" Elena slapped Tisha across the face, but restrained herself from applying too much force. "Why … why would you keep this from me?"
One of the massive Archangel men walked forward. "For your own safety. The truth is far worse than the mystery." Tisha stepped around him and place a hand upon his arm. The man bowed respectfully and stepped aside.
Tisha held her sore cheek as a tear dripped from her eye, she reached up to Elena and brushed her hair away from her forehead. "Do you remember the events after you were branded?" Tisha revealed the tattoo that had been long hidden by Elena's growing hair. It was a tiny triangle upon her forehead and it represented her acceptance of being a Reclaimer.
She rubbed it softly, almost forgetting that it was there. "This is the first time it was used, a new symbol for Reclaimers. After I was branded we left for the Ark."
"And after that?" Tisha questioned.
"We traveled for many days until we arrived. My mother and father fought back the Watchmen as I ran to the Ark."
"Did you see them fight?"
"No … I was entering the Ark."
"Elena. Your mother slaughtered all of them, easily. She was wounded in the fight, but nothing too serious. However … it was your father that nearly killed her."
Elena glared at Tisha strongly, questioning her statement. "I don't understand."
"Your father tried to betray you and your mother to the Watchmen."
Elena stepped away in shock.
Tisha continued. "This is the truth. Your father was the traitor, and I was unsure of your loyalty until we first talked at my home. He led the betrayal… your mother fought him in battle after he failed to sway her to join him."
Elena crumbled from the words, holding her stomach as if she felt ill.
Tisha continued. "She escaped by wounding him, but he also wounded her. She kept this information in her heart and told no one, yet the Archangels knew of this. They watched from afar, knowing that they could not interfere. When your father was wounded, Jonas took that chance to seize command of the Watchmen. He ordered one of his men to kill your father while he was recovering from his wounds. Jonas loved your mother, and we believe that this was all planed to win her back, yet she did not side with your father." Tisha lowered herself to a knee and rested Elena's head upon her lap. "The simple truth is this; Jonas was not the leader of the Watchman young who betrayed us. Your father was."
Elena shrieked uncontrollably, tearfully mourning the news she had just received. The Archangels appeared from the thicket of the wilderness and circled around Elena and Tisha. The five of them lowered in respect and watched as the Reclaimer wept.
Jacob rested against a tree and gazed into the cloudy sky. "Reclaimers, Archangels and Watchmen. What a horrible world in which we live."
- - - - - - - -
"You have returned Michael. Have you news of the Reclaimer?"
"Yes master. My sister … forgive me. The young Watchman girl told the Reclaimer that her father betrayed her mother."
"Half truths and bending of facts, such a pity." The Grand Master stood from her chair and pulled back the tent's vale. Beyond the tent was a magnificent view of a small town. The tent sat atop a great hill that overlooked the Grand Master's entire kingdom. She stepped out into the sun and gazed to her right as a mighty plume of dust continued to rise. "It has been digging for many days now."
"Yes master, it has." Michael stood at her side. "We will guard it from her, even if it costs us our lives."
"No. We will not need to guard it. We merely must prevent her from finding it until it has finished burying itself."
"Master, that may still take many days." Michael added as he gazed into the distant dust storm. "She is almost here."
The Grand Master lowered her head in thought. "Yes, and with this latest news she will undoubtedly be in much more of a hurry."
"What is your command Grand Master?"
She thumbed her long grey hair and looked into the village below. "Such is our fate. We must delay her arrival. Notify the Honor Guards to mobilize the army."
"Master, it will not be enough."
"I know, Michael. But for now this is all we can do. Not even two thousand will be able to stop her."
"Let me go to her, master." Michael pleaded. "I was of her village, she knows me. Let me give her all of the facts."
"You think you can curb her anger?" She questioned. "She has been told many things this day, her mind is fragmented and filled with half of the truth. And then there is the Watchman girl. What will you do to confront her?"
Michael firmly added, "I do not fear Tisha. I lived by her side all of her life."
"Yet you do not know who she is anymore. No Michael, take the army and wait for her at the border. I will come as well. We will do all within our power to slow them down." The Grand Master gazed once again at the distant dust cloud, which was rising from a gigantic pit miles away from their village. "When it is complete, we will have nothing to fear."
"Master." Michael bowed and walked down the ramp toward the village below. "I will instruct the Honor Guards."
The Grand Master gazed into the horizon in thought. "My poor guardian, your mind must be in great pain. Your heartache echoes across time itself. Why must it be this way, why could we not have done things differently?"
To be continued