It was almost invigorating, but Tidus had enough intelligence to feel a twinge of fear deep inside. He knew there was no way he and Yuna could take on twenty temple warriors, but he could not deny the rush of adrenaline coursing through him as he urged the mare into a break-neck speed. The poor creature was already stiff from the hours of marching at a brisk walk; a fast gallop was the last thing she needed, but she could sense her riders' apprehension, and it gave speed to her hooves.
"We have to make it too the trees," Tidus said over his shoulder. Yuna nodded and gripped him tightly around the stomach. The young man could feel her heart pounding against him, matching the rhythm of the horse's gait.
Behind him, Yuna chanced a quick look back at their pursuers.
"Tidus, they're gaining!" she said in an alarmed voice.
"I know," he replied grimly. With a trained ear, he could hear the thud of their horses' hoof beats coming closer.
"If they catch us-"
"They won't," he said, cutting her off. He didn't want to hear the rest of that sentence. She closed her mouth and leaned her head against his shoulder.
It crossed his mind that he could give her over to the temple. It was possible that they would allow him to live if he played dumb, as if he had no idea about the whole conspiracy. He could easily turn the horse around and carry her right into their awaiting arms, saying that she had lied to him and brainwashed him or something. It could work.
But the feel of her breath on his shoulder, her arms around him, her warmth against his back would never allow him to do such a thing. He knew he was powerless against those bicoloured eyes, so full of trust. There was no way he would ever have the strength to turn her in, even if he knew his life would be spared from punishment. Besides, there was the matter of his mother's soul being trapped in Sin's core. He felt the same need to free her as Yuna felt it, as well as to release the others locked in the depths of evil.
The trees were looming ahead, closer by each passing second, but still so agonizingly far away. Their followers were approaching quickly. With one glance, Tidus could already make out the figures of men on horseback, saw the flash of crimson, the Yevonite Warrior colour.
He heard a humming noise suddenly, and for a split second he could not tell what it was. Once again he turned his head to find the source of the sound, as did Yuna, and in a flash he realized what was causing it.
"Duck!" he yelled, lowering his face to the horse's mane. The arrow whizzed by like a bolt of lightening, narrowly missing the mare's ears. Yuna pressed herself against his back, clinging to him tightly.
"Let's hope this girl knows evasive manoeuvring," he said through clenched teeth, keeping his head low. He turned the mare sharply to the right, holding it for a few seconds, and then abruptly switched to the left. The horse, recognizing the signals, slipped back into battle mode from her earlier years as a warhorse. With natural grace, she followed Tidus' guiding commands, even making a move before he asked for it.
A hail of arrows came cascading down around them, but thanks to Tidus' skill and the mare's trained instincts, not target was hit.
The forest was close now, perhaps only a minute away. The horse was foaming at the mouth, snorting and panting from the strenuous run, but she stoutly held the same pace.
Tidus began to feel a flicker of hope. If they could make it into the forest, they would have a better chance of escaping the –
Without warning, the horse gave a shrill scream. Her hind leg buckled underneath her body and she fell to the ground, bringing the two riders down with her. Yuna yelped with surprise as she was thrown from the saddle, rolling off to the side. Tidus was sent into the air as well, too stunned to make a sound. But the second he hit the ground he was up again, hurrying to the horse's side to see what had happened. His heart sank when he saw the arrow protruding from her hindquarter.
Yuna crawled over on her knees and stared hopelessly at the arrow. The animal was giving throaty neighs of terrified pain, trying to stand up but unable to cope with the pain.
"We have to run on foot," Tidus said, grabbing Yuna's arm and throwing a quick glance behind. The hunters were close, drawing even closer by the second. He saw the hesitation in Yuna's face as she stared down at the animal, clearly torn.
"But, we can't just leave her-"
"We don't have a choice, Yuna! Come on!" Tidus snapped, wrenching Yuna back up to her feet and bursting into a fast sprint. With any luck the hunters would kill the horse and put her out of her misery.
The arrows were falling like rain. Tidus moved like a shadow, never staying in one spot for a second. He dodged and bobbed and wove his way from side to side, never once crossing the path of a barbed arrow. Yuna too began to get a feel for the motion, copying Tidus skilfully.
Just before they made it to the tree line, Yuna jerked forward and fell to the ground. An arrow had caught the hem of her skirt and pinned it into the earth, catching her off guard. She tugged it free and scrambled to her feet once again, dashing alongside Tidus to the trees.
As Tidus turned his attention back to the forest, no more than ten feet away, he was astonished to see a brown-cloaked figure standing in front of him, crossbow held at the ready. There were several dozen others in the trees, all armed with crossbows and spears, skilfully concealed in the woods. From a distance, they would be practically invisible.
"Hit the ground!" the hooded man barked. Instinctively responding to the command, Tidus hurled himself to dirt, taking Yuna with him. He threw his arm over her shoulders and pushed himself against her, shielding her head as he listened to the singing of loose arrows flying above.
The first row of riders fell with shouts and gasps of surprised agony, falling from their horses like limp rag dolls. The row behind them faltered and veered off to the side, caught off guard by the ambush.
"Archers!" the cloaked figure shouted. Another volley of arrows shot out from the trees, piercing the hunters with ease. Tidus rolled onto his side to watch with wonder as row after row fell from their mounts. There had been more riders than he assumed. There were at least thirty-five of them, but over half of them were now down on the ground, dead or wounded beyond aid.
"Retreat! Back men!" one of the commanders yelled, balking his horse away from the trees. The remaining men on horses followed suit, casting frightened looks over their shoulders.
"Riders, stop them! Leave no survivors," the leader of the cloaked company ordered in a harsh voice. To Tidus' surprise, ten figures on horseback emerged out of nowhere and sprinted forth, galloping after the retreating Yevonite Warriors. They all had crossbows and war axes strapped to their backs.
As they shrank into the distance, Tidus slowly rose to his feet, still holding Yuna tightly around the shoulders. His heart was racing almost painfully, but as the relief washed over him, he turned to thank their rescuers.
The leading figure stepped forward from the shadows and pulled back his hood, revealing a tall middle-aged man with a long scar crossing diagonally through his lips, giving him a permanent grimace. His creased face was marked with bizarre green and brown paint, but his hazel eyes were bright with a warrior's sincerity. He offered them a smile, softening the off-putting appearance of his scar.
"Close one, eh? Trust me, my boys will catch up and finish 'em off," he said in a heavily accented gruff voice, briefly scratching at his grizzled hair. He held out his hand for Tidus to shake. "Name's Jardo, captain of the Shadowstrikes."
Tidus shook the man's hand, but was suddenly aware of the fact that neither he nor Yuna had their faces covered. Even though the man's smile was friendly, it would only be a matter of seconds before he realized to whom he was speaking. Jardo seemed to recognize the flash of fear in Tidus' eyes. He chuckled and shook his head.
"Don't worry," he said with a wink. "I know who you and the lady are. You got no reason to fear us. We were sent out here to fend off them riders coming after you." He bowed low to Yuna, as did the other warriors.
The young woman breathed a sigh of relief and offered Jardo a grateful smile.
"I thank you, Captain Jardo," she said graciously, curtseying. "We owe you and your fine warriors our lives."
Jardo's cheeks flushed at the compliment as he shuffled his feet modestly.
"Is nothing, Lady Yuna. You and Master Tidus are welcome in this land. The Mistress herself requests that you pay her a visit before you pass through."
"The Mistress?" Tidus asked, puzzled.
"Mistress Lulu, High Priestess of the Westwood people in the village of Cedrann. Very powerful black mage, handsome as the rising sun and wise as the gods," Jardo said, admiration glowing in his face. It did not sound as if his words were scripted, or memorized as some sort of required introduction. He said it as if he truly meant it from his heart. This Mistress Lulu sounded like a fine human being, worthy of respect.
"We would be honoured to see the village and meet this Mistress of yours," Yuna said graciously.
Tidus discreetly examined the tribal markings on Jardo's face, a memory stirring. He remembered an old woman in his neighbourhood in Zanarkand, a widowed medicine woman who was a close friend of his mother's. She bore those same markings, much to the disgust of many people in the area who knew her. He remembered that she had been senile and forgetful, but kindly and sweet-tempered. She knew much about herb lore and medicinal concoctions, and often swapped healing tips with his mother.
"We'll take you to the village," Jardo told them, slinging his crossbow over his broad shoulder. "The Mistress has been expecting your arrival. I'll have my men look after that horse of yours, too."
They thanked him, and then followed him as he turned and disappeared into the forest. He was surprisingly swift for a middle-aged man. The forest was dark, even in the morning light, but they could still see the shadowed figures around them. Tidus watched with wonder. There was something hauntingly powerful about them, the cat-like grace with which they moved. They were utterly silent and travelled with ease through their territory. Yuna too seemed captivated by their dignified movement. They walked wordlessly down the winding path, relaxed in the company of trained warriors. It was a relief to be able to let someone else take command. It was a relief to feel safe at last, even if it would only be for a short while.
Some time later, Jardo led them up a steep hill through thick trees, where the vegetation was so dense that everyone could only move two abreast. Cresting the hill, Tidus could detect signs of activity; human voices, the smell of cooking food, and more. It was like coming home all of a sudden, the familiarity of it.
Jardo stopped at the very top of the hill and turned to face his guests, a pleased grin on his heavily marked face. "Welcome to our village," he said with the same pride that he held when speaking the names of his gods.
The village was surprisingly big, compacted into a small valley. There was a large pond on one side of the community, and animal pastures and an orchard on the other side. Farming fields surrounded the entire settlement, and there was a small clearing in the centre of the village, obviously a meeting place for the people. Each rounded hut was made of mud bricks topped with thatched roofs, with chimney holes in the centres. A few buildings were larger and made of granite, obviously structures of importance.
Yuna grinned delightedly.
"What a beautiful home, captain!" she said enthusiastically. Perhaps she was simply glad to see civilization again, after keeping to the wilds for two days. Tidus guessed that maybe it just reminded her of Besaid.
"Come on now, the Mistress' house is this way," the older captain said, heading down the trail. Yuna and Tidus followed eagerly. Tidus felt a tug of curiosity inside. He wanted to see this Mistress with his own eyes. Indeed she sounded like a powerful woman.
They were taken to one of the large granite buildings, a house with two floors and oaken front doors carved with rich designs. Jardo pushed open the front doors and stepped aside for the two visitors to take a look.
It was not as grand as most middle class homes in Besaid, but it was certainly a fine home. The stone floor was festooned with many ornate rugs, and the high ceiling held a huge chandelier lit with candles. The walls were decorated with many lovely tapestries depicting various scenes and designs. There was a tall flight of stairs that no doubt led to private quarters.
A young serving girl, perhaps no older than thirteen, came forward from one of the rooms off to the side. Shy and pretty, the brown-haired girl curtseyed politely.
"Mistress Lulu wishes to see you in the dining lounge, if you please," she said in a small voice, speaking with the same accent Jardo had. Her Common was spoken haltingly, as if she had practiced it from a script. Then she turned and led Tidus and Yuna through the door she came from.
The dining lounge was a large room, but it was very plainly decorated with no windows. There was a low table set up close to a fireplace, with an assortment of cushions placed around it for seating. One cushion was already in use.
Mistress Lulu, no more than perhaps twenty five years old, was indeed as 'handsome as the rising sun'. Her long coal black hair was held back into a cluster of several braids spilling down from a tight bun, and her ivory white skin glowed faintly in the firelight from the hearth nearby. She wore a black fur-lined corseted dress with an eye-catching skirt fashioned mainly of belts, and her soft full lips were tainted with pale violet. Around her neck she wore a necklace of amethyst stones to show her rank as a High Priestess; the gems glittered beautifully in the flame light. Her crimson eyes beckoned the two guests forward invitingly.
"Welcome," she greeted in a deep, velvety smooth voice. She did not have an accent like Captain Jardo's. "In the name of the Mother and Father, I greet you. Please, have a seat. I've had wine ordered for you."
"Thank you," Yuna said, bowing low. Tidus did the same, too enchanted to say anything. They seated themselves next to each other across from Mistress Lulu. Her very presence was imposing.
"I understand captain Jardo managed to reach you in time before the Yevonites captured you. I am glad, for I was worried I had sent them out too late," she said, taking a sip from her goblet. She then turned to address the greeting girl, speaking in a different language. Tidus guessed that it was in one of the old tongues, native to the wild people who had rejected the teachings of Yevon. The girl curtseyed and smiled at the high priestess, and then hurried away.
"We are very grateful to you, Mistress Lulu," Yuna told the High Priestess. Lulu smiled regally.
"I could do nothing else. I was greatly relieved to know that someone has at last decided to put a stop to the lies behind the temple's ceremony," she said in her rich voice.
Tidus and Yuna stared at her in disbelief.
"Oh yes," Lulu told them wisely, "I know about the Children of Light ceremony. Not all the finer details, of course, but I do know that Sin is involved, as well as human sacrifices."
"How can you possibly know?" Tidus said incredulously, his eyes wide.
"I am a Seer," Lulu explained in her quiet elegant manner. "I know many things that others do not. I've known about the ceremony for quite some time."
"And yet you did nothing to put a stop to it?" Yuna demanded, suddenly angry. Tidus glanced at her quickly, surprised by her tone. Sensing his gaze, Yuna promptly silenced herself and bit her lip.
"My place is here, Yuna, not risking my life fighting for a faith that is not of my own. I knew that someday, someone with the courage and wits to fight back would arise from the shadows and right the wrongs of the temples. I understand your anger; you are far too young to have this burden placed on your shoulders. But I cannot leave my people, not for the Yevonites," the black mage responded civilly.
Yuna bowed her head apologetically. The High Priestess' claret eyes fell to Tidus.
"You have questions. Please, ask anything you want."
"Is this your village?" he inquired. Lulu smiled softly.
"In a way, it is. The people look to me for guidance in times of doubt. They look to captain Jardo and the Shadowstrikes for protection. The Council of Elders looks after managing the village's treasury and legal disputes. It is as if we share leadership. It has been this way for as long as anyone can remember, since the time of the Priestess before me, and the woman before her," she replied, taking another sip of her wine.
"I notice that you do not have the same markings as Jardo," Tidus remarked. She smiled.
"Those are clan markings," she clarified. "They are personally worn by members of a family who wish to honour their ancestors. Every pattern is different. Some do not wear markings, preferring to keep heirlooms or special trinkets. I am not born of these people, but when I was adopted many years ago, I had to forsake my heritage and start anew. My children may one day bear markings to remember me."
Yuna wanted to ask more about the old ways, but Tidus had an agenda.
"Did you see Yuna and myself coming here?"
"I did."
"Have you . . . seen the end of our journey?"
Lulu hesitated.