Chosen (31 page)
‘How dare you, you little
upstart, you would be dead if not for me, I am Benitoff’s right
hand man, and believe me that’s the only thing that has saved you
from being shot as a traitor just like your mother was.’
‘Shot?’ said Thomas, ‘you
always told me she left because she didn’t want me. You’ve lied to
me all these years?’
Max, nudged Gilster, ‘be ready
to run, tell the others,’ she whispered. He nodded.
‘Please father, just let them
go, no one will know but me,’ pleaded Thomas, ‘I will stay with
you, I forgive you for lying to me, you must have had your
reasons.’ Fischer became enraged.
‘You forgive me,’ he yelled, ‘I
should have killed you when you were still at your mother’s breast,
I always knew you’d never amount to anything.’ He raised his gun
slightly, aiming it directly at Thomas; that was all the notice
Elkeira needed, she let go her arrow. It flew straight and true as
always, hitting Fischer in his right shoulder causing him to drop
the gun and fall to his knees. Thomas reached forward as if to help
his father, only to be lifted off his feet and thrown over Tallon’s
shoulder.
‘Oh no you don’t,’ he said, ‘we
need you more than he does.’
‘Run,’ screamed Max.
Elkeira took off at a sprint,
ducking under the portcullis and racing across the bridge, Max came
next helping Haven who still hadn’t quite recovered; Tallon raced
past them with Thomas across his shoulders who was trying
desperately to break free and calling for his father. Gilster swung
his sword, cut the rope holding the gate open and rolled under the
portcullis as it came thundering down, missing his head by mere
inches.
‘That should give us a little
time,’ he thought as he jumped to his feet and ran to catch up with
the others who were now heading back into the city.
They reached the city just on
night-fall. There had been no sound of pursuit but they knew that
couldn’t last. Elkeira had found an abandoned building on the edge
of town and quickly ushered everyone inside. The run from
Benitoff’s keep had taken its toll on Haven, he had passed out from
exhaustion the minute they entered the building. Max checked his
pulse and assured everyone he was fine, all he needed was rest to
fully recuperate. Thomas sat sullenly in the corner, his head on
his knees while the others discussed what their next move should
be.
‘We need to find the shrine and
find it quickly,’ said Tallon, ‘it won’t be long until we have the
entire guard of the keep out looking for us, we need to be gone
from here before then.’
‘But how are we going to find
it,’ said Max, ‘all we know is, it’s in old quarry somewhere. Epona
couldn’t even remember where it was, so I doubt we’ll find anyone
around here who knows where it is.’
At the mention of Epona, Thomas
raised his head. ‘Epona spoke to you?’ All eyes turned to
Thomas.
‘Yes,’ said Max, she spoke to
us in the dungeons, she told us you were her friend.’ She
hesitated, was this the right time? Would there ever be a right
time? She continued, ‘she also told us you are the Chosen of this
world but the choice is yours whether you come with us or not,’ she
added. Thomas did not speak. The others waited.
Finally he said, ‘then my
answer is no, I will not come with you.’ Tallon jumped to his feet
and advanced on Thomas.
‘What did you say,’ he said
menacingly, ‘did I hear you correctly, after we saved your
miserable life you’re going to say no.’ Thomas shrunk down and
tried to melt into the wall behind him, so frightened was he of
Tallon’s anger.
Gilster moved in front of
Tallon blocking his connection to Thomas. ‘Sit down,’ he said
quietly, ‘your anger is frightening the boy and does nothing to
help the situation.’ Tallon pushed forward but when Gilster did not
move he threw his arms up in disgust. Grabbing his bow he marched
off to the front of the building.
‘I’m going on watch,’ he
shouted back.
Max knelt down beside Thomas.
‘Why won’t you help us,’ she said with a calmness she didn’t feel,
‘we have come a long way and suffered much for the sake of this
journey, we are almost at the end now but we need you, you are the
Chosen and if you refuse to come our journey has been for nothing,
our friend’s death will have been for nothing.’
‘She killed my father,’ he
shouted, pointing an accusing finger at Elkeira, ‘why would I help
the people who killed my father.’ Elkeira, who had been trying to
start a small fire in the hearth, turned, shocked at the loathing
in Thomas’ voice.
‘Wha . . . I never killed your
father, how could you even think that, he was aiming his gun at
you, he would have killed you if I hadn’t shot my arrow, but I
never killed him, I only wounded him, so he couldn’t hurt
you.’
Max put a gentle hand on
Thomas’ arm. ‘Please . . . just have a think about it before you
say no, stay the night with us and if in the morning your answer is
still no then you can leave and return to the keep, no one will try
to stop you, you have my word.’
Later that night after Elkeira
had cried herself to sleep and Thomas had dozed off in the corner
huddled in his coat, Max checked Haven again.
‘How is he?’ asked
Gilster.
‘He seems ok,’ said Max, ‘I
suppose we won’t know for sure until he wakes.’
‘Why don’t you get some sleep,’
said Gilster, ‘you look dead on your feet.’
‘How can I sleep, I’m worried
about what will happen in the morning.’
‘Worry about it in the
morning,’ said Gilster, ‘there’s nothing you can do about it now,
get some rest, I’ll go check on Tallon and see if he wants to be
relieved.’ With that he rose and quietly left the room.
He found Tallon sitting on the
floor with his bow at his feet, gazing out the open door at the
moon-lit street. ‘How goes things, my friend, would you like me to
take over watch for a while?’
‘No, I’m fine,’ said Tallon,
still watching the street, ‘but thank you for asking.’ Gilster sat
down opposite him.
‘Max has given Thomas until the
morning to decide what he wants to do,’ he said, ‘if his answer is
still no, then she has given him permission to leave and return to
the keep.’
‘What!’ said Tallon turning to
Gilster, ‘is she mad, he’ll tell his father where we are.’
‘I think he may surprise us
yet,’ said Gilster, ‘after he’s had time to think everything
through I believe he will make the right decision.’
‘And if he doesn’t,’ said
Tallon, ‘everything we’ve been through will have been for nothing.
We won’t be able to open the last portal. What was it all for,
Gilster, your friend Daria, dead, Ti Athra lost. Why?’
‘Daria would still be dead and
Ti Athra would still be lost whether we open the portal or not.
Everything happens for a reason whether it be good or bad, it’s not
the end result that matters, it’s the journey that is important and
how we played our part in that journey. If it should end here then
so be it, but we will know we did everything we could to save our
people.’
Tallon smiled wearily, ‘I only
hope I will be as wise as you when I’m an old man.’
‘Wisdom does not always come
with age,’ said Gilster grinning, ‘you only have to look at Haven
to know that.’
Tallon laughed loudly; it felt
good. ‘He’d better be well in the morning, because this is one pack
horse who refuses to carry him any further.’
Gilster stood, ‘we will talk
again.’ He patted Tallon’s shoulder and returned to the inner
room.
Thomas was curled up in his
corner only pretending to be asleep, he had no wish to talk to
anyone, having a lot to think over before morning. Listening to
Elkeira crying softly had been difficult, he wanted to go to her
and offer comfort, to tell her he was sorry for what he said, but
as usual his cowardice prevented him from doing so. When she had
fallen asleep and the crying had stopped he thought about
everything that had happened in the last few days. ‘I can’t do what
they ask of me,’ he thought, ‘I just can’t. It is impossible for me
to be the Chosen. Why wouldn’t Epona have told me, it’s not like we
haven’t spent many hours together, I thought she was my friend, why
would she do this do me.’ So many questions, so few answers.
Thinking of his father he realised Elkeira had been right, if it
wasn’t for her he would probably be dead now, shot by his own
father. ‘What sort of father kills his own son?’ he thought sadly.
‘I can’t go back now, I’ve crossed a line, I helped the enemy to
escape. Enemy? No, they are not the enemy, they are the only people
who have ever shown any sort of kindness to me since my mother left
me. No, she didn’t leave me.’ The thought gave him some sort of
comfort, ‘she didn’t leave me, father killed her.’ His thoughts
were a jumble but one thing stood out above all others, these
people had never hurt him, he would go with them and help if
possible. He smiled to himself, it felt good to make a decision, he
wanted to be a part of what ever lay ahead. He would never stop
being a coward, but at least he had Elkeira’s friendship. ‘I hope
she is still my friend, I will apologise to her in the morning when
I tell them of my decision.’ He fell asleep, feeling safe for the
first time in his life.
Morning came and a sullen,
yellow sun sniffed its way in through the windows. Tallon had stood
watch all night lost in his own thoughts, Gilster had napped on and
off keeping one eye on Max and one on Elkeira; their sleep had been
restless, disturbed by dreams unknown to any but themselves. Haven
snored softly.
‘I think we should move on as
soon as possible, otherwise it will not be long before the guards
find us napping,’ said Max, yawning and stretching, her neck stiff
and her back sore. Elkeira, woke and looked towards Thomas.
‘Well,’ said Tallon speaking to
Thomas, ‘will you be leaving us soon? All I ask is that you give us
enough time to get away before you tell your father where we
are.’
Thomas stood on shaking legs,
all eyes were now on him. He wanted to sound brave and confident,
he wanted to tell them they were now his family and he would do all
in his power to help. But what came from his mouth was a squeaky
little voice, ‘I’m coming with you,’ he said.
‘Well done, well done,’ said
Gilster patting him on the back, ‘we’re glad to have you with
us.’
Max smiled, ‘thank you Thomas,’
she said, ‘thank you for being brave.’
Tallon grunted, ‘didn’t think
you had it in you. Pack up people, we’re leaving in five
minutes.’
Elkeira walked over to Thomas.
He couldn’t look her in the eye, ‘are we still friends,’ he asked
looking at his feet.
‘Of course silly, and just so
you know, I would still have been your friend had you decided not
to come with us.’ Thomas looked up.
‘Really?’ he said.
‘Really,’ said Elkeira and
kissed him on the cheek before turning to pack her things.
Thomas touched his cheek, ‘I
made the right decision,’ he thought.
Haven sat up, ‘what’s been
happening -- I feel much better, more like my old self, I told you
all I needed was a good night’s sleep.’
‘Good,’ yelled Tallon who was
listening from the next room, ‘because I was not intending to carry
you another step.’
‘Carry me?’ said Haven.
‘Never mind,’ said Max stashing
weapons about her clothes, ‘it’s a long story.’
‘I’m not sure if I really want
to hear it,’ said Haven.
Tallon returned. ‘Is everyone
ready?’
‘Yes, but where exactly are we
going,’ said Gilster.
‘I don’t know,’ answered
Tallon, ‘just away from here.’
Thomas was huddled at the back
of the group trying to keep out of everyone’s way and remain
unseen. Elkeira nudged him.
‘Speak up Thomas,’ she
whispered.
‘PPerhaps I can help,’ said
Thomas stepping forward reluctantly. ‘Where is it we need to go?’
The minute Tallon’s fierce gaze fell on him he regretted stepping
forward.
‘Can we trust you, that is the
question I ask myself,’ said Tallon.
‘Of course you can,’ said
Elkeira, ‘and stop doing your ‘fierce warrior’ look, it doesn’t
help matters.’
‘We need to find an old shrine
of Epona’s,’ said Max gently, ‘it’s in an abandoned quarry.’ Thomas
turned to Max, glad not to be looking at Tallon.
‘I don’t know where it is,’ he
said, ‘but I may know someone who does; if she’s still alive. I
used to visit her almost daily until my father found out and
forbade me from talking to her again. I did try once more, but he
found me and beat me senseless so I never went again, that was many
years ago.’
Max felt sick, thinking of what
this poor young man had suffered at the hands of his father. ‘Thank
you Thomas, you go up front with Tallon,’ said Max, ‘and give him
directions.’ Thomas went white and turned beseechingly to Elkeira
who laughed.
‘I’ll come with you,’ she said,
‘and don’t be frightened of my brother, he’s just a big cuddly bear
really.’
Tallon grunted, ‘let’s
go.’
As they left the building,
Gilster clapped Haven on the back. ‘Good to have you back, you’ve
been away for too long, I’ve missed you.’
‘It’s good to be back,’ said
Haven, ‘have I missed much?’
‘No, hardly anything,’ smiled
Gilster.
‘I hope you have some food
somewhere, I’ve lost so much weight my clothes are hanging on
me.’
‘Oh,’ said Gilster wryly,
‘you’re definitely back.’
They kept to the smaller
streets and back ways, not wanting to attract too much attention on
the main roads until eventually they reached a small thatched hut
on the very outskirts of the city.
‘Here it is,’ said Thomas, ‘I
hope she is still here.’
upstart, you would be dead if not for me, I am Benitoff’s right
hand man, and believe me that’s the only thing that has saved you
from being shot as a traitor just like your mother was.’
‘Shot?’ said Thomas, ‘you
always told me she left because she didn’t want me. You’ve lied to
me all these years?’
Max, nudged Gilster, ‘be ready
to run, tell the others,’ she whispered. He nodded.
‘Please father, just let them
go, no one will know but me,’ pleaded Thomas, ‘I will stay with
you, I forgive you for lying to me, you must have had your
reasons.’ Fischer became enraged.
‘You forgive me,’ he yelled, ‘I
should have killed you when you were still at your mother’s breast,
I always knew you’d never amount to anything.’ He raised his gun
slightly, aiming it directly at Thomas; that was all the notice
Elkeira needed, she let go her arrow. It flew straight and true as
always, hitting Fischer in his right shoulder causing him to drop
the gun and fall to his knees. Thomas reached forward as if to help
his father, only to be lifted off his feet and thrown over Tallon’s
shoulder.
‘Oh no you don’t,’ he said, ‘we
need you more than he does.’
‘Run,’ screamed Max.
Elkeira took off at a sprint,
ducking under the portcullis and racing across the bridge, Max came
next helping Haven who still hadn’t quite recovered; Tallon raced
past them with Thomas across his shoulders who was trying
desperately to break free and calling for his father. Gilster swung
his sword, cut the rope holding the gate open and rolled under the
portcullis as it came thundering down, missing his head by mere
inches.
‘That should give us a little
time,’ he thought as he jumped to his feet and ran to catch up with
the others who were now heading back into the city.
They reached the city just on
night-fall. There had been no sound of pursuit but they knew that
couldn’t last. Elkeira had found an abandoned building on the edge
of town and quickly ushered everyone inside. The run from
Benitoff’s keep had taken its toll on Haven, he had passed out from
exhaustion the minute they entered the building. Max checked his
pulse and assured everyone he was fine, all he needed was rest to
fully recuperate. Thomas sat sullenly in the corner, his head on
his knees while the others discussed what their next move should
be.
‘We need to find the shrine and
find it quickly,’ said Tallon, ‘it won’t be long until we have the
entire guard of the keep out looking for us, we need to be gone
from here before then.’
‘But how are we going to find
it,’ said Max, ‘all we know is, it’s in old quarry somewhere. Epona
couldn’t even remember where it was, so I doubt we’ll find anyone
around here who knows where it is.’
At the mention of Epona, Thomas
raised his head. ‘Epona spoke to you?’ All eyes turned to
Thomas.
‘Yes,’ said Max, she spoke to
us in the dungeons, she told us you were her friend.’ She
hesitated, was this the right time? Would there ever be a right
time? She continued, ‘she also told us you are the Chosen of this
world but the choice is yours whether you come with us or not,’ she
added. Thomas did not speak. The others waited.
Finally he said, ‘then my
answer is no, I will not come with you.’ Tallon jumped to his feet
and advanced on Thomas.
‘What did you say,’ he said
menacingly, ‘did I hear you correctly, after we saved your
miserable life you’re going to say no.’ Thomas shrunk down and
tried to melt into the wall behind him, so frightened was he of
Tallon’s anger.
Gilster moved in front of
Tallon blocking his connection to Thomas. ‘Sit down,’ he said
quietly, ‘your anger is frightening the boy and does nothing to
help the situation.’ Tallon pushed forward but when Gilster did not
move he threw his arms up in disgust. Grabbing his bow he marched
off to the front of the building.
‘I’m going on watch,’ he
shouted back.
Max knelt down beside Thomas.
‘Why won’t you help us,’ she said with a calmness she didn’t feel,
‘we have come a long way and suffered much for the sake of this
journey, we are almost at the end now but we need you, you are the
Chosen and if you refuse to come our journey has been for nothing,
our friend’s death will have been for nothing.’
‘She killed my father,’ he
shouted, pointing an accusing finger at Elkeira, ‘why would I help
the people who killed my father.’ Elkeira, who had been trying to
start a small fire in the hearth, turned, shocked at the loathing
in Thomas’ voice.
‘Wha . . . I never killed your
father, how could you even think that, he was aiming his gun at
you, he would have killed you if I hadn’t shot my arrow, but I
never killed him, I only wounded him, so he couldn’t hurt
you.’
Max put a gentle hand on
Thomas’ arm. ‘Please . . . just have a think about it before you
say no, stay the night with us and if in the morning your answer is
still no then you can leave and return to the keep, no one will try
to stop you, you have my word.’
Later that night after Elkeira
had cried herself to sleep and Thomas had dozed off in the corner
huddled in his coat, Max checked Haven again.
‘How is he?’ asked
Gilster.
‘He seems ok,’ said Max, ‘I
suppose we won’t know for sure until he wakes.’
‘Why don’t you get some sleep,’
said Gilster, ‘you look dead on your feet.’
‘How can I sleep, I’m worried
about what will happen in the morning.’
‘Worry about it in the
morning,’ said Gilster, ‘there’s nothing you can do about it now,
get some rest, I’ll go check on Tallon and see if he wants to be
relieved.’ With that he rose and quietly left the room.
He found Tallon sitting on the
floor with his bow at his feet, gazing out the open door at the
moon-lit street. ‘How goes things, my friend, would you like me to
take over watch for a while?’
‘No, I’m fine,’ said Tallon,
still watching the street, ‘but thank you for asking.’ Gilster sat
down opposite him.
‘Max has given Thomas until the
morning to decide what he wants to do,’ he said, ‘if his answer is
still no, then she has given him permission to leave and return to
the keep.’
‘What!’ said Tallon turning to
Gilster, ‘is she mad, he’ll tell his father where we are.’
‘I think he may surprise us
yet,’ said Gilster, ‘after he’s had time to think everything
through I believe he will make the right decision.’
‘And if he doesn’t,’ said
Tallon, ‘everything we’ve been through will have been for nothing.
We won’t be able to open the last portal. What was it all for,
Gilster, your friend Daria, dead, Ti Athra lost. Why?’
‘Daria would still be dead and
Ti Athra would still be lost whether we open the portal or not.
Everything happens for a reason whether it be good or bad, it’s not
the end result that matters, it’s the journey that is important and
how we played our part in that journey. If it should end here then
so be it, but we will know we did everything we could to save our
people.’
Tallon smiled wearily, ‘I only
hope I will be as wise as you when I’m an old man.’
‘Wisdom does not always come
with age,’ said Gilster grinning, ‘you only have to look at Haven
to know that.’
Tallon laughed loudly; it felt
good. ‘He’d better be well in the morning, because this is one pack
horse who refuses to carry him any further.’
Gilster stood, ‘we will talk
again.’ He patted Tallon’s shoulder and returned to the inner
room.
Thomas was curled up in his
corner only pretending to be asleep, he had no wish to talk to
anyone, having a lot to think over before morning. Listening to
Elkeira crying softly had been difficult, he wanted to go to her
and offer comfort, to tell her he was sorry for what he said, but
as usual his cowardice prevented him from doing so. When she had
fallen asleep and the crying had stopped he thought about
everything that had happened in the last few days. ‘I can’t do what
they ask of me,’ he thought, ‘I just can’t. It is impossible for me
to be the Chosen. Why wouldn’t Epona have told me, it’s not like we
haven’t spent many hours together, I thought she was my friend, why
would she do this do me.’ So many questions, so few answers.
Thinking of his father he realised Elkeira had been right, if it
wasn’t for her he would probably be dead now, shot by his own
father. ‘What sort of father kills his own son?’ he thought sadly.
‘I can’t go back now, I’ve crossed a line, I helped the enemy to
escape. Enemy? No, they are not the enemy, they are the only people
who have ever shown any sort of kindness to me since my mother left
me. No, she didn’t leave me.’ The thought gave him some sort of
comfort, ‘she didn’t leave me, father killed her.’ His thoughts
were a jumble but one thing stood out above all others, these
people had never hurt him, he would go with them and help if
possible. He smiled to himself, it felt good to make a decision, he
wanted to be a part of what ever lay ahead. He would never stop
being a coward, but at least he had Elkeira’s friendship. ‘I hope
she is still my friend, I will apologise to her in the morning when
I tell them of my decision.’ He fell asleep, feeling safe for the
first time in his life.
Morning came and a sullen,
yellow sun sniffed its way in through the windows. Tallon had stood
watch all night lost in his own thoughts, Gilster had napped on and
off keeping one eye on Max and one on Elkeira; their sleep had been
restless, disturbed by dreams unknown to any but themselves. Haven
snored softly.
‘I think we should move on as
soon as possible, otherwise it will not be long before the guards
find us napping,’ said Max, yawning and stretching, her neck stiff
and her back sore. Elkeira, woke and looked towards Thomas.
‘Well,’ said Tallon speaking to
Thomas, ‘will you be leaving us soon? All I ask is that you give us
enough time to get away before you tell your father where we
are.’
Thomas stood on shaking legs,
all eyes were now on him. He wanted to sound brave and confident,
he wanted to tell them they were now his family and he would do all
in his power to help. But what came from his mouth was a squeaky
little voice, ‘I’m coming with you,’ he said.
‘Well done, well done,’ said
Gilster patting him on the back, ‘we’re glad to have you with
us.’
Max smiled, ‘thank you Thomas,’
she said, ‘thank you for being brave.’
Tallon grunted, ‘didn’t think
you had it in you. Pack up people, we’re leaving in five
minutes.’
Elkeira walked over to Thomas.
He couldn’t look her in the eye, ‘are we still friends,’ he asked
looking at his feet.
‘Of course silly, and just so
you know, I would still have been your friend had you decided not
to come with us.’ Thomas looked up.
‘Really?’ he said.
‘Really,’ said Elkeira and
kissed him on the cheek before turning to pack her things.
Thomas touched his cheek, ‘I
made the right decision,’ he thought.
Haven sat up, ‘what’s been
happening -- I feel much better, more like my old self, I told you
all I needed was a good night’s sleep.’
‘Good,’ yelled Tallon who was
listening from the next room, ‘because I was not intending to carry
you another step.’
‘Carry me?’ said Haven.
‘Never mind,’ said Max stashing
weapons about her clothes, ‘it’s a long story.’
‘I’m not sure if I really want
to hear it,’ said Haven.
Tallon returned. ‘Is everyone
ready?’
‘Yes, but where exactly are we
going,’ said Gilster.
‘I don’t know,’ answered
Tallon, ‘just away from here.’
Thomas was huddled at the back
of the group trying to keep out of everyone’s way and remain
unseen. Elkeira nudged him.
‘Speak up Thomas,’ she
whispered.
‘PPerhaps I can help,’ said
Thomas stepping forward reluctantly. ‘Where is it we need to go?’
The minute Tallon’s fierce gaze fell on him he regretted stepping
forward.
‘Can we trust you, that is the
question I ask myself,’ said Tallon.
‘Of course you can,’ said
Elkeira, ‘and stop doing your ‘fierce warrior’ look, it doesn’t
help matters.’
‘We need to find an old shrine
of Epona’s,’ said Max gently, ‘it’s in an abandoned quarry.’ Thomas
turned to Max, glad not to be looking at Tallon.
‘I don’t know where it is,’ he
said, ‘but I may know someone who does; if she’s still alive. I
used to visit her almost daily until my father found out and
forbade me from talking to her again. I did try once more, but he
found me and beat me senseless so I never went again, that was many
years ago.’
Max felt sick, thinking of what
this poor young man had suffered at the hands of his father. ‘Thank
you Thomas, you go up front with Tallon,’ said Max, ‘and give him
directions.’ Thomas went white and turned beseechingly to Elkeira
who laughed.
‘I’ll come with you,’ she said,
‘and don’t be frightened of my brother, he’s just a big cuddly bear
really.’
Tallon grunted, ‘let’s
go.’
As they left the building,
Gilster clapped Haven on the back. ‘Good to have you back, you’ve
been away for too long, I’ve missed you.’
‘It’s good to be back,’ said
Haven, ‘have I missed much?’
‘No, hardly anything,’ smiled
Gilster.
‘I hope you have some food
somewhere, I’ve lost so much weight my clothes are hanging on
me.’
‘Oh,’ said Gilster wryly,
‘you’re definitely back.’
They kept to the smaller
streets and back ways, not wanting to attract too much attention on
the main roads until eventually they reached a small thatched hut
on the very outskirts of the city.
‘Here it is,’ said Thomas, ‘I
hope she is still here.’
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