CHAPTER 36 ~ THE WHY

Hi All!
I'm glad you enjoyed the last chapter. It will be hard for me to walk away from Aiden as well and I'll be sad when his final sentence is written. Although, for me the story will last much longer as I still have to edit and rewrite. Still, it's always hard to say goodbye to a character, but Aiden is in many ways my inner character. Aiden has gone through more of my own struggles, especially with Deus, than any other character I've every written. And that will be hard to give up as well. Saying that though, I'm dying to start writing my Liberty Series and I've vowed not to start until Aiden is finished his first draft. So, I'm also anxious to get him done.
Katie, I think we've been writing these for around two years now. Wow, that seems odd. As for Travon, I don't believe I ever mention an exact age for him and its not ever in my notes, but I believe he is around 16 and 17 during the course of the story. Hopefully, he sounds that way!
And now, faithful readers, your weekly fix of Aiden... um, well, in this case it might be Kristalyn, but hey, he's there too! At any rate, the length of this one should make up for the length of the last one!

CHAPTER 36 ~ THE WHY

KRISTALYN

A knock on the door forced me out of bed. I had been enjoying the extra rest of late, if that is what one would call it. I had been imagining what a reunion with Tray might look like. The thoughts made me equally happy and sad.

I opened the door to find a highly agitated Aiden and something else. There was something in his eyes, something different.

“What’s wrong? Are all the animals okay? Are you?” I asked in a rush.

“Get your things together. We’re leaving,” he said, before turning to knock on Travon’s door.

“What?” I asked in shock as Travon opened his door.

Aiden repeated his instructions then moved down to his own room, opening the door, and entering. Travon and I looked at each other in surprise, before we quickly followed him.

“Aiden! What is going on? What happened?”

He was already packing his few things.

“Wren’s falcon came back. Arnan is not here.”

“Okay…” I said slowly, assimilating the news. I crossed to his bed and sat down. Travon leaned against the door frame to watch and listen. “So, where is he?”

“Wren didn’t say.”

The short answers weren’t getting me anywhere very fast.

“Aiden!”

He stopped to look up at me.

“Slow down and explain. Please,” I added as an after thought.

“Arnan didn’t kill the king and queen, but many believe he has. He is safe for now, but perhaps not much longer. Wren set out the trail we followed as a false lead.” Here he did slow down.

He stopped altogether and crossed over to me. He was towering above me and I had to strain to look up at him. I was shocked when he lowered himself down to be at my level. Something was wrong.

“Kristalyn, Arnan needs a safe place to go too and the only one I can think of is Braedoch Forest. I have to face Duard. I have to go back.” His voice was low and firm. He had thought this through at least somewhat. Whatever the process had been, he was determined.

“Oh,” was all I could think of to say. He was heading home.

“We need to leave right away. Unless, you aren’t coming with me.”

I couldn’t move. I needed more time. I couldn’t answer that. Could I? This wasn’t the plan! This wasn’t what I had agreed too. What was going on?

Aiden’s gaze had not left mine and I could tell he saw emotions soaring through them, but I couldn’t stop them or him from seeing them. A small smile graced his face, but it was almost an understanding one. Before I could process that he turned and stood, suddenly freeing me from the grasp he had somehow held over me.

“What about you, Travon? Do you still want to travel with me?”

Travon straightened from the doorway. “I said I’d come with you and I will. I don’t care where that is.”

Aiden nodded. “Good. Get your things then.”

Travon grinned and disappeared. Aiden glanced at me and then went back to his packing.

“Why the change, Aiden? You’ve always said you still needed more training. Why are you suddenly ready?” I finally found my voice. I still needed answers and I couldn’t answer his question without them.

“I have to be. Arnan needs a safe place, so does my family. This has always been my purpose. It’s time I finished what I set out to do,” his voice was low and held no hint of hesitation.

He had changed. Something on that mountain had changed and it wasn’t just his sudden decision. I had seen it earlier in his eyes. He was different, confident. But I still didn’t understand why. Was it simply because he decided he had to be or was there something more? What wasn’t he telling me?

I decided to ask. “What aren’t you telling me, Aiden? What else happened on that mountain?”

He glanced at me. “Why does it have to be more? Whether or not I am ready to met Duard’s challenge, I have waited too long. My siblings have been separated for almost three years. I can’t let them suffer because of me anymore.”

“You still think the split was your fault? Duard did this, Aiden, not you!” Why couldn’t he see that?

Aiden turned to face me. “Did he or did Deus let it happen?”

“Deus?” It was the first time he had ever mentioned Deus’ name before me, but what was more astonishing was that I did not hear the usual animosity in his voice. Had Deus made the change in Aiden? I took a breath. “You know Deus let’s us choose our own paths with their own consequences.”

“Do I? So, if this is my path, why do you still question me?” Aiden asked, his eyes never leaving mine.

“I question the motives of the path you have chosen,” I stated carefully. He had been listening. He wasn’t totally correct in his logic, but it was there none the less. Could he truly be acknowledging Deus existence?

“Motives? Is protecting my family a wrong motive?”

“No! Of course not, but is that your only motive or what you are using to cover the truth?” I couldn’t back down, not now.

“Kristalyn! I am not discussing this with you right now! I am leaving to face Duard. I will conquer him and I will bring my family back. It is a long trip and I do not know how long it will take.” He paused to take a breath then locked his eyes back on mine. “Will you come with me, Kristalyn, or will you return to your home and brother?”

I wanted to answer! I wanted to say something. But I could only sit there, my heart beating with emotions I could not define. He almost sounded as if he wanted me to be with him. And still I could not answer.

He turned and slowly put a length of rope in his pack. He was giving me time.

The plan was not to go back to the forest! It was so far away and no one knew the amount of time it would take or what we would find when we arrived. I had thought to help him only find his brother, Arnan. In truth, I thought our trip would end here in Cequelet. If I continued with him, I would be going over the rest of the mountain range and into a foreign land I did not know. It would be months before I might return. I would not see Tray or my mother in all that time. He already believed me to be keeping secrets from him. I was. How could I hurt him even more? What if the secret I kept and time were too much? Would I damage our relationship beyond repair? Regardless, I had no desire to wait a large amount of unknown time before I saw him again. And yet… and yet I did. Not to stay away from him, but to be with Aiden.

He was rearranging his things now, waiting for me. Despite his desire to start off quickly, he was waiting for my decision. I owed him that… and so much more.

When I had left Aerilya, it was with a mission. That mission had not yet been completed. There was no way around it, no way to pretend that fact did not exist. I had come because I had a duty to help Aiden, to give back to him some of the help and time he had given to me, to help him find his brother. I had not done that. Aiden knew Arnan was in danger, but he still didn’t know where and he had come up with the only plan he could to protect his younger brother. He was going to go back and fight for a place his brother could be safe at. Was that not the point of the mission? To not only find his brother, but to keep him safe? How then could I leave before it was accomplished?

Only it wasn’t that simple. It never was. Tray was counting on me to come home, not travel across unknown lands. If something should go wrong, I might never see my brother again. Did I have the right to decide that?

I shook my head, disgusted with myself, even that was not my real problem. Despite how much it hurt, leaving Tray was still an excuse. My problem was much larger than that. I had known when I left that I was truly in danger of Aiden. If I stayed with him longer than I first thought, could I keep my heart away from his? This was a much longer trip and each day I was with him was one more day I struggled to stay away.

I had seen Aiden changing so slightly. He had been listening to our conversations about Deus. Now, he came close to admitting he at least acknowledged His existence. But what if that was it? I would be lost to him and him to me, just as effectively. Would I be able to return to my home knowing my heart remained with him?

There was the other side as well. My mission had been two fold and neither was complete. He might acknowledge Deus, but he had a very long way to go to accepting him. The path he continued to follow was proof of this. Deus had asked me to help show Aiden Himself and to help Aiden save his brother, I had not completed either of those two things.

There was a chance my feelings would take a free fall if I stayed around Aiden and while I hated not seeing Tray, I could not escape the fact that I had not done what Deus had asked of me I had set out with a clear set of goals and I had not yet completed them. It wasn’t something I was used too. Could I really stop now?

Deus, guide my thoughts and my heart. I have no wish to leave this man’s side. Please, help me to make a wise decision.

I received no clear answer, but a peace settled on my widely moving thoughts and emotions. Whatever my decision, it would be right.

Aiden picked up his pack and placed it on the table, his back towards me. I watched him, until he finally spoke. “Kristalyn?”

“I’m here,” I whispered.

“Have you decided?”

“No,” I answered slowly.

“I can no longer stall. Is it really that hard of a decision?” His voice drifted back to me. I heard my own emotions inside it.

“It shouldn’t be, I guess,” I answered quietly.

“Then what stops you?”

“Aiden, what do you want from me?” I asked, my heart breaking at the pain I heard in his voice.

“Nothing. I have never wanted anything from you.”

I stood and took a step towards him. “That’s not true, Aiden. Once you sought me for my connection to the Hunter and then for the skills I possessed. But all that is behind us.”

“Why follow me then?”

“I told you. Someone had to look out for you.” I smiled.

“You don’t think Deus will?”

The question surprised me and I felt my heart leap that he would care about such a question.

“Deus has guided you for a long time now, Aiden. With or without your permission.”

“That’s what Wren said.” His voice was almost so low, I didn’t hear it.

“What did your sister write you?”

He was silent for a moment, before quoting, “‘Beware Deus’ plans might bring you peace despite your best effort.’”

“She sounds like a wise woman.”

“She is.”

“Do you believe her then?” I asked, scarcely believing we were having this conversation.

“I believe she believes it. I do not know.”

“The way of peace and revenge are not the same,” I whispered.

“No, but one can come from the other,” he pointed out.

“Only revenge comes from revenge. Peace is taking a different path.”

“I do not know that path,” Aiden admitted.

I stepped forward again and placed my hand on his shoulder. I felt it give ever so slightly under me.

“Then find it, Aiden.”

“I do not know that I want too.”

“What do you want?” I asked, softly wishing I could see his face and eyes.

“To protect my family and stop Duard’s evil.” The hardness in his voice was back. With the restatement of his purpose, his fire had returned.

“There are more ways to accomplish that then the way you now seek.”

“But I know my way. I am comfortable with it and I can win.”

“Then let Deus show you a different path.” I kept the pleading note out of my voice, but just barely.

Aiden turned and his eyes met mine for the first time. Inside their shale blue depths was a storm I had never seen before. He was fighting a different battle now. Deus had gained headway, but the enemy’s grip was strong.

“I can’t believe he cares.” Though the emotion was strong in his eyes, his voice was impassive.

“He does, Aiden. He wants to prove that to you.”

“By taking you away too?”

My breath caught and my decision was made.

“I’m not going anywhere.”

***

Two weeks of traveling together and we could hardly speak to each other, though it had nothing to do with not wanting too. Three days ago the storm had hit, the weather had been bad before that, but it was nothing compared to this. The high winds forced us to move slowly and deep into the mountain range. The snow swirled in hard blankets around us and refused to slow for even a moment. Aiden had taken out his rope and had tied the leads of our horses together, then taken a second one and tied Kurioden to Magnar. The griffin had been grounded with the storm swirling overhead. Egan had taken shelter inside his pouch, which I had placed inside my coat for extra protection, but the dragon was still miserable, as were we all. Despite all attempts, we had not met with a place large enough to house all of us warmly and so, had been forced to continue on.

We had been told there was a village about two week away from Cequelet, but we had yet to encounter it, we hoped by continuing on we would get to it soon, but that hope diminished with each passing moment. I prayed we had not yet passed it without seeing it. Unfortunately, we were not sure what was after that village. We had thought to restock there and now food was running low, because we had no opportunity to hunt. Of course, I couldn’t see Travon traveling in front of me though the white blindness, so there was no way to see any potential food either.

Suddenly, Aiden appeared at my side. “I think I found a place for the moment. Come on!” He walked ahead and I felt the horse’s reigns tug slightly. He was leading my horse.

Up ahead, I saw Travon’s black shape form. We were closer now and Aiden let go of my horse to get around Travon. He paused to say something then disappeared. Soon, Travon started to move and I followed silently, keeping my head ducked low to keep the wind out.

Finally, Travon turned silently and we entered a cave of sorts. I shook my head and watched the snow fall from around my hood, before pulling it off and looking around. Aiden was at my side and me motioned for the pack. I handed Egan to him, who clacked loudly about being in the hands of someone so ignorant.

“Hush, Egan,” I said tiredly, climbing off my horse and moving him further inside to give Magnar and Kurioden room to get in.

The two animals tromped in slowly and I raced quickly to Kurioden’s side. He was covered in snow and his exposed skin was chaffed and bleeding. Quickly, I tried to brush off the snow, but much of it was frozen fast to his fur. I gave him a hug.

“I’m so sorry about this, Kurio.”

The black panther licked him face slowly and then hung his head.

“We don’t have anything to keep a fire going,” Travon lamented.

“No, but at least we are out of the wind for a bit,” Aiden said, depositing Egan on the floor.

“Aiden, we can’t stay here long. We’ll freeze.” I said, looking up to him.

He nodded slowly. “I know, Kristalyn. But at least we can be out of the wind. We’ll huddle together until most of this snow melts from us and then we’ll have to head out again.”

“To where? Do we know where we’re going in this stuff?” Travon questioned, his voice young and hopeless.

“To where I never have to see snow again,” Aiden responded, but then added, “I hope.”

I unrolled a blanket from on of the horses and carefully moved it up and down the animals body. “Help me, Travon. We have to get the horses warmed first. Move them close together.”

Travon shot me a look. “They can’t get any closer.”

Travon was right. The cave almost didn’t fit all of us, but I wasn’t going to complain at the moment.

“Help me anyway. Aiden, if we sleep all together with the animals, do you think it would be safe?” I asked, concentrating on my task.

I felt Aiden’s eyes on me, though I couldn’t see him. “I don’t think we have much of a choice. I’m worried about the snow getting to high and blocking us in. So, I’m going to stay awake. But if you and Travon each sleep on a side of Magnar, you should be able to stay pretty warm. I’ll keep Kurioden with me.”

I turned to look at him. “Are you sure?”

“Yes, hurry up with the horses and get some sleep. Kurioden, come here and I’ll dry you off.”

The large cat gave me a look of slight confusion, one I shared, but he went to Aiden, who began to rub him down. In a few moments, we had finished and Travon and I had curled up next to Magnar. Our exhausted bodies didn’t take long to fall asleep.

When I awoke, it was to find Aiden and Kurioden sleeping together and the wind outside only slightly calmer than the night before.

Oh, Deus. We could really use a break in this storm. We aren’t going to last much longer, if we have to keep fighting it.

I turned and headed back into the cave to pull out some breakfast, though the meager amount of food couldn’t really be called that. A few moments later, everyone was awake and had eaten.

“Are you ready to head back out?” Aiden asked calmly.

Travon stuck out his tongue. “Do we have too?”

“We can’t stay here. We’ll freeze before too long and we have at least a slim chance of getting food out there and finding better shelter,” Aiden replied.

“Yeah, because that’s worked so far,” Travon muttered, but he rose to ready the horses.

Aiden turned and calling Kurioden too him, pulled something over to him from the side of the cave.

“What’s that?” I asked, curiously.

Aiden shrugged. “Something I made for Kurioden.”

“Something you made…” my voice trailed off as I watched in wonder.

Aiden pulled out four strips of leather and tied one around each of Kurioden’s legs, covering them fully. Then he placed four shoe-like bags over each of his paws. Finally, he placed a large piece over his back and tied it under his belly.

“What?” I asked, when I finally found my voice.

Aiden rechecked all his adjustments and didn’t look at me when he replied. “Kurioden shouldn’t be in weather like this, so I’m hoping this will help keep him warm.”

“When did you come up with this?”

“I bought the supplies back in that first village before the mountains. I should have made it sooner, but he didn’t need it at first and then it took longer than I thought. Sorry about that, Kurio,” Aiden apologized to the panther, who gave him a giant lick on his face.

He had spent thought and time on Kurioden? When did he start caring about my panther? And since when did he call Kurioden by his nickname?

Aiden stood and glanced at me.

“What? It isn’t that big of a deal.”

“Yes, it is. Thank you,” I responded still surprised at this newest change in attitude.

Aiden nodded and turned immediately, to see Travon and Egan watching the end of the exchange. “Let’s get moving then.”

He took out the rope again, and after everyone was properly bundled, tied us together again. We were facing the snow and wind again shortly after, but my mind was still on Aiden and the look on his face when he had been ‘caught’ helping my panther. It had been such a change and my heart had leapt at the caring act. Once again, Aiden proved his heart beat for those he cared about. Could I be one of them? Everything in me wished it was so, despite the trouble I knew it would cause me in the end. I hated admitting it. I cared for Aiden and I wanted him to care for me.

***

We stopped twice more for the night, before we finally found the salvation I had been praying for. Travon spotted it first. In the snow, Aiden had passed right by it. Thankfully, the wind died enough that when Travon passed, it could be clearly seen. His yell brought everyone to a halt.

Carefully, he dismounted and made his way towards the small building as I pulled up along side his horse and Aiden made his way back to us. The back of the cabin was built directly into the mountain. Travon knocked on the door and then pushed it open. Shortly he reappeared.

“It’s empty!”

Aiden reached up and I handed him Egan before climbing down myself.

“Watch the horses for a second,” he called, placing the dragon’s pack over his own shoulder and heading after Travon. I quickly gathered the rains for the three horses and waited as Magnar and Kurioden caught up.

“We might have a place to stay.” I informed them.

“Good,” Magnar responded shortly and Kurioden just kept his eyes on the door.

Aiden appeared at the door. “Come on, it goes back far enough we can get even the horses in.”

I tugged on their reigns and led them to the cabin door. Aiden and I coached them inside, though they needed little encouragement to get out of the harsh wind. After Magnar and Kurioden were safely inside, I stepped into the cabin myself.

It was very primitive, but warm compared to outside. There was a bunk on the left wall with a shelf above it. The rear wall was all rock and the three horses were over by it. A fireplace was on the right wall, right before the mountain walls started to take over. A table with no chairs stood in the center of the room, but it was the site of all the firewood piled against the back wall that was the most encouraging.

“Heat!” Travon exclaimed, obviously happy about that part too.

“Let’s start a fire,” I agreed.

Travon gladly jumped too it, while I turned to Aiden.

“Thank Deus for this find,” I said softly.

Aiden nodded absently and I wondered if he knew what he had agreed too.

“Aiden?”

“We have heat now, but what about food?” Aiden’s eyes met mine. “Ours isn’t going to last much longer, Kristalyn. And we may be here a while. I don’t want to leave here until the winter has settled.”

I nodded. “This is the best shelter we’ve found so far.”

“And we don’t know where that village is or the next one might be.”

“So, we have shelter, but no food,” I said quietly.

“Pray to your Deus, Kristalyn. We’re going to need help.”

“He’s your Deus too, Aiden.” I replied, watching for his reaction and wanting him to admit to it.

He gazed at me for a moment. “Not yet.”

He didn’t have to say more. I could see it in his eyes and hear it in his tone of voice. He was telling me he was still changing and Deus was making headway, but slowly. It was a victory, yet was it enough? When would Aiden realize his motives were making his path wrong? Would that come too late? Only Deus knew and I could only pray.

***

“I’m starving!” Travon whined louder this time.

I sighed loudly. This was nothing new. We had been holed up in the cabin for almost a week now. Our food was almost out. We had been rationing it past what it should have been. Somehow, Deus had made it last this long. Aiden and Magnar had ventured out only a few times to try to find the village or food. The village had been totally unsuccessful, but twice they had come back with some meat that had kept us from starving. We had also found some rather old food preserved in a small space in the back rock wall and had made use of that as well. However, in my mind, this wasn’t the worst part of our situation. No, by far, the worst thing was that were we are stuck together in a one room space with no escape from each other. Aiden was going insane and the rest of us weren’t far behind him.

“Travon, if you say that one more time I swear I’m not responsible for what happens to you!”

“Death is better than this!” Travon exclaimed.

Aiden turned to him, eyes sparking. “That can be arranged!”

“Hey!” The youth protested.

“Aiden, will you please quite getting him worked up. There is not enough room in here for your fighting ego,” I said wearily, laying back against the wall.

“My what?” Aiden turned to stare at me.

“Oh, you heard me,” I muttered.

Cretan. Egan clacked from his perch on the shelf he had long ago claimed s his own, after unceremoniously dumping everything else off of it.

“He is not and you’re not helping,” I stated, shooting the dragon a glare.

“What did the loud mouth say this time?” Aiden demanded.

“That he is in total love with you,” I answered, not going to give the two of them any more fodder to use against each other. They had been at it since we had entered the cave and I seriously wished Deus would grant one of them muteness for a good long while. The only thing that kept the sanity was that Aiden couldn’t understand everything the dragon clacked at him.

“He’s calling me names again, isn’t he?” Aiden glared at the lithe dragon.

“What does it matter?” I asked. “You’re the person, he’s the dragon. Grow up, Aiden. Please!”

“That’s right, he’s the dragon,” Aiden’s voice took on a tone I defiantly did not like.

I sat up quickly and looked at the man who was staring at Egan with a new look in his eye. The dragon stared back, his scales turning black, and tail flicking ominously.

“Travon, you still starving?” Aiden asked, conversationally.

“Yeah!” The youth’s eyes lit up. “What can we eat?”

“How about some dragon?” Aiden asked, pulling out his knife as he spoke.

“Aiden!” I called warningly, but he ignored me.

Egan jumped up and started flapping his wings hovering over the shelf.

Ignorant. Fool. Stop. Blast you! Poison you!

“Knock it off both of you! Egan, you will do no such thing!” I said, getting to my feet.

“Aiden! I don’t want to eat Egan,” Travon put in, shaking his head at the whole thing.

Deserves! Pain! Care more him! I not!

“You are being foolish! I do not care more about Aiden than I do you and I won’t let him eat you! Now stop this you two!” I stepped in-between the two would be combatants.

Aiden glanced at me. “Are you sure about that?” His voice was quiet.

“That I won’t let you eat him? Yes!” I exclaimed.

Aiden’s mouth twitched into an amused smile. “No, that you care more about him than me.”

I looked at him in surprise for a moment. What was he thinking? And why was he badgering me about it? How much had he figured out?

“You really want to discuss this now?” I asked, suppressing my initial reaction to just punch him.

He shrugged. “Why not, you won’t let me eat the pipsqueak.”

Egan clacked angrily. His scales changed color rapidly and he sprang into the middle of the room, slashing his tail lethally.

“Egan, no!” I yelled, but it was two late.

His poison tail clipped Aiden on the arm, creating a deep gash. Aiden reacted quickly, throwing his knife to block any further attempt. The knife missed the dragon by a mere inch, but managed to cut through his leather wing, creating a large rip. The dragon screamed in agony and raced by for the shelf. Once he landed, he pulled his wing into his body and stated angrily shouting about rogue barbarians who didn’t have manners and should be killed on site.

“Egan, shut your trap!” I commanded harshly. The dragon obeyed, but not happily. “Travon, see to Egan’s wing. There’s supplies in my pouch, after you take some out bring the rest here, quickly.”

Aiden had collapsed to the ground sometime during Egan’s panicked flight back to the shelf. I knelt beside him and gently took his arm into my hands. His heavy breathing caused my heart to tighten. He was suffering. Aiden had been hit by Egan’s spikes once before, but it had not been to this extent than and the poison was easily gotten rid of. This time, the gash was much deeper and it was already festering.

“Travon! I need those supplies!” I called harshly.

Within seconds they were beside me along with Travon’s worried face.

“Is he gonna be okay? Is he, Kristalyn?”

“He’ll be fine,” I answered, trying to keep the calm in my voice and the worry out. “Take care of Egan, so I can handle this.”

The boy nodded and disappeared, but only to have Magnar take his place. The large griffin put his head next to Aiden’s and whimpered.

“Magnar, if you want to help get behind him and let him lean against you,” I admonished, already searching in my bag for the herbs that would counteract the poison. Tancred and I always carried them on us for just such a reason. The griffin moved obligingly and I heaved a sigh of relief when I found the carefully packed herbs. Unraveling them, I took out the small leaves and crushing them in my hands, sprinkled them directly over the open wound.

“Kurioden, I need the water flask.”

The panther moved from his position of over-watching Travon to get the flask and drop it in my lap. I nodded my thanks and put more crushed leaves into it. Carefully, I moved Aiden’s arm back onto his on chest and moved towards his head.

“Aiden, you need to drink this.”

He immediately opened his mouth and that too had me worried. He was too weak to put up arguments. He opened his eyes and looked at me when he had finished half of the flask.

“Don’t look so worried,” he commented softly.

Magnar instantly rubbed his head against Aiden’s on hearing his voice.

“I’m okay,” Aiden whispered to his friend.

“Egan got you pretty badly. Why did you provoke him like that?” I asked, ignoring his comment. Instead, I began to wrap his arm with the cloths I had brought.

“Too serious in here. Everyone’s worried,” Aiden replied, though it came slowly.

I looked up at him in shock. “You purposely did it just to get a reaction? Aiden, that was far from smart.”

“We needed a distraction. It worked.” I think he would have shrugged carelessly if he could have.

I shook my head at him. “You know Egan hates anyone insulting his pride. Pipsqueak?”

“Well, I didn’t know he’d do that,” Aiden admitted.

My mood darkened. “Neither did I. If I didn’t have the herbs with me, he could have killed you.”

“Would that have upset you?” Aiden asked.

If he could tease me, he was feeling better, but when I looked into his eyes, I saw no intent to tease, only an honest curiosity.

I swallowed. “Of course.”

“Why?”

I laughed, but it was nervous. “After all the work I put into you? It would be a shame to lose all that.”

He didn’t reply, but his eyes told me he was reading something quite different than that answer in my own eyes. I hated that he could read me so well, it really wasn’t fair. Especially now, when my heart was filled with fear and worry over him and I probably wasn’t hiding that fact very well.

“Besides,” I diverted, “you still have questions you have to answer.”

“Oh?” He asked, closing his eyes.

I frowned. He was still too weak. “Open you mouth,” I instructed. He gave me a look, but did so and I placed some of the herbs under his tongue and then gave him another small drink. “Yes, like why you suddenly decided to not kill my brother.” His eyes opened again to look at me. I took out another piece of cloth and wetting it, used it to gently wipe his face. “I know it wasn’t because of me, but you’ve always refused to tell me why.”

He leaned his face into my hand, startling me. “Is it really that important to you?”

“Yes,” I answered simply, trying not to focus on his every feature. Man, he was good looking.

“Why?”

Why could he never just answer things?

“Because whatever happened between the two of you changed you and I want to know why.”

“Why?”

What was he two? Couldn’t he just answer? No, he was playing games with me, just as he use too. Instead of making me upset, the thought actually made me feel good. It was more familiar then the pain I saw him in now.

“You could just make this easy and answer my question, Aiden.” He smiled underneath the cloth I still rubbed against his face. I sighed. If I wanted answers, I was going to have to give them too. “I want to know because I care. My brother is still alive because of your actions or non-actions, in this case and that’s important to me.”

“Because of him?” Aiden lifted his hand and stilled my movements, his eyes catching mine.

What did he want me to admit? That I cared about him? I had almost said it out loud before and he had stopped me. He knew the answer to this question, I was sure of it, though I wasn’t sure he realized that my feelings had grown since then, just as I had been afraid they would. But why push me? Why did he suddenly want me to say it out loud? He didn’t feel the same way… he couldn’t. It would make things so much worse. I wasn’t even sure he was capable yet of feeling… whatever it was I felt.

“Kristalyn?” He voice gently called my name.

“Because I care about you,” I blurted. “I care about you and what happens to you.” My eyes widened as I said it out loud, at the same time wondering why I had, but his only softened and he nodded, releasing my hand.

“I let him go because in that moment, we were the same.” His answer came out softly and I almost didn’t hear it.

“The same? How?” I questioned, my voice matching his level. Without thinking, I caught his hand in mine again.

I felt his fingers squeeze mine, before releasing.

“The Hunter is almost my equal in everything, except the side we fight on.” He turned his head, so that he was no longer looking at me and his words were so soft no one else could have heard them. They were filled with self-reproach. “He fights for something he believes in, for his people. I fight for myself.”

“For your family,” I corrected gently.

“No. For myself. To make myself stronger. They were so far back in the reaches of my mind I forgot about them more that I remembered. He fights with an inner virtue. I have no such guide. Yet if I had grown up differently, I might have been who he is now. I too might have been worthy.”

“Worthy? Worthy of what?” My heart beat with each word he spoke.

He turned and caught me in his gaze. “Anything.”

“What do you mean?” I breathed. He was telling me ‘anything,’ but that wasn’t what he meant. Somehow, we had left the conversation from before and a new one was taking place, but he was purposefully keeping me on the outside, not telling me the whole truth. Everything in me yearned to know exactly what he was trying to tell me.

“Just what I said. I betrayed my family and everything my parents once believed. I’m not worthy of any good that comes from anything I do. I can only do things for their sakes and hope my path will somehow be enough for their good. That’s all I have left now.” He paused and seemed to re-gather his thoughts. “Duard and Ricald, they are the same too. They hold the same actions and hate for us. They treated us the same, taking everything from us, but your brother took the noble path and I the dark one. That moment before I let him go, I saw myself, who I could have been. I didn’t let your brother live, Kristalyn, I let who I might have been live.”

“Aiden…” but I could say nothing more.

He squeezed my hand and closed his eyes once more, this time falling into the herbs healing sleep.

“Oh, Aiden,” I whispered again.

“Egan’s still mad, but he’ll be fine,” Travon said, coming up behind me. “What about Aiden?”

“Healing now. I’m going to get some rest, Travon. I’ll deal with Egan later. Can you watch Aiden?”

Travon nodded willing and took my place as I walked to the other end of the cabin. Kurioden joined me and sat next to me silently.

“Aiden,” I whispered, as I petted my best friend. “Kurioden, he still has so much pain, so much he is trying to understand. I didn’t know, didn’t think, he would compare himself to Tancred. I wonder what my brother would say about this? I’m not even sure what I think. My heart is so full and confused right now. I want to help him, to make him see he’s changing and he is worthy. I feel like he’s working for some prize, something he thinks is out of his reach and I’m not so sure it’s Duard. His soul is reaching, it’s crying out for Deus to guide him. Why does he still not listen? Does he not realize that that is the biggest difference between him and my brother? Aiden rejected Deus, Tray grew closer to him.

“Deus, my Abba, help Aiden to see you in Tray and my actions. Help him to know You are the difference. I want him to find that hope, Deus, but it comes from You not his own strength. He might feel unworthy, Deus, but the only one who can make him truly worthy of what he seeks is You. Help him, Dues, please help this man I care so much about.”

I did care about him and every time he opened up and let me in just a little more, my feelings grew. To know that he had saved my brother because he felt like Tray was the good version of himself was overwhelming. Did that mean he finally wanted to be that person? If he was, if he would let Deus change him, nothing was impossible. Not even for us.

For the first time I felt a glimmer of hope before exhaustion overwhelmed my senses.

***

Hey All. Thanks for the comments. As you have requested here is CHAPTER 35. It's rather short, but necessary. Hopefully, you will find it fun as it moves Aiden forward to his next step.

CHAPTER 35 ~ A PATH TO FOLLOW

TWO YEARS SEVEN MONTHS

AND FOUR WEEKS AFTER BANISHMENT

AIDEN

The village was more of a fortress than it was the small town I thought it would be. Most of it was built directly into the rocks at the base of three mountains that joined together. The base of the middle mountain seemed to hold a miniature castle and the rocks surrounding it were formed into smaller houses. A rock wall, well over head high, surrounded the exposed part of the village. In its center, were more buildings and although they weren’t attached to the mountains themselves, they too were made mostly of stone. We could see it all from our vantage point on a mountain path across and above from the village. The three of us paused to take in the rather impressive sight.

Magnar, Kurioden, and Egan had found a deep cave that was rather a tight fit with a griffin inside, however, it would protect them all from the whipping wind and their body heat would keep each other warm. They had been left with the last of the food supplies and instructions to hunt out whatever they needed to eat. Judging by the structure of the village, Kristalyn had been right when she had said that we would not be able to escape from the structure without notice. Leaving to often would cause suspicion we wanted to avoid and we defiantly didn’t want to give away the animals position. Still, looking at the stone structure before us, I wouldn’t have minded having Magnar along. It would be difficult, if not impossible to communicate if I needed him, and leaving him with a promise that I would call should I have need, was the only way to get him to agree to stay behind.

“Let me try to get us in, Aiden,” Kristalyn spoke from my side, looking at the fortress herself.

“Why?”

“There will be guards at the gate and we’ll need a good excuse,” she explained calmly.

“What did you come up with that is better than last time?” I asked, with a smirk.

She shot a glare at me, obviously remembering quite well our first time into Ruma’s gate. “We don’t have a lot of contact with these people, however, it is well known that they harbor escaped slaves and they don’t take kindly to people trying to liberate those taking refuge in their walls. I’m hoping news of the war will be of enough interest to get us in.”

“It will look suspicious if a girl is giving the orders,” I commented.

“Not if that girl is the Hunter’s sister,” was the calm reply.

I shrugged. “Have it your way.”

She gave me a curious glance at my reply, but nodded and headed down the path towards the city. Travon glanced at me and followed. It hadn’t been that bad of a response, just one she wouldn’t hear often. I simply hadn’t felt like having meaningless arguments lately, now arguments to get a rise out of her, those were fun.

The two guards at the gate called for us to halt well away from them.

“Who are you? And what is your business in Cequelet?” One called over the distance.

“We have come baring news of the war,” Kristalyn called back, moving her horse to the front.

“Of Elangsia and Aerilya’s war? We have no interest in their affairs!” Came the rapid response.

“But the freed slaves taking refuge here will!” Kristalyn replied calmly.

The guards paused to look at each other. “What news do you bring?” One finally asked.

“I would speak to your Elder,” Kristalyn responded.

“You offer no proof of your mission. We will not allow bounty hunters’ inside our village.” It was not a voice to be argued with.

The news was good for me, however. If Arnan had come here, perhaps they had unwittingly helped to protect him.

“I am no bounty hunter. I have spent my life freeing the slaves you protect. I am the Hunter’s sister,” her voice was bold and full of confidence.

I felt something stir in me as I heard it. Pride?

There was silence as the two debated between them the likelihood of that particular fact. Finally, they turned back towards us. “What news do you bring?”

“The war is over. I will say no more but to you Elder. Call him if you do not wish us inside. But be quick about it.” It rang with royal impatience.

The guards were obviously miffed by the new attitude, but it got results as one headed to the wall and knocked three times, a small rock was slid out of the way and then slide back. In short order, the door was opened slightly and a small elder man with three others, all on horseback, rode out the gate. They stopped within talking distance.

The elder man smiled in a welcoming manner, though his words still spoke of distrust. “You claim to be the Hunter’s sister?”

Kristalyn shook her head. “I do not claim it, I am his sister. And you are?”

“I am Elder Hiram. Have you a name yourself, Sister of the Hunter?”

“Kristalyn is my given name. My companions are Aiden and Travon.” She motioned to us each in turn.

The Elder nodded a greeting. “I am pleased. Now, you said you come baring news of the war? Is it at last over?”

Kristalyn nodded. “Yes. Aerilya is the victor.”

Elder Hiram was silent for a moment. “The victor how? Has the war ended or is only one more pause in its long history?”

“We defeated Elangsia and Queen Brysa now sits on the throne,” Kristalyn finally gave more relevant information.

“Interesting. That would change much for our people. But you did not just come to our fair city during what promises to be a harsh winter to tell us of this news. What else do you seek here, child?” Elder Hiram asked in gentler voice.

“You are wise, Elder. I too have need of information only you can give me, though I fear it may already be too late for my friend. I am hopeful the information I can give you will at least save others from more pain.” Kristalyn’s eyes and voice spoke of a pain only she knew.

It was not my brother that caused her thoughts now. It could only be someone from her own past.

Elder Hiram nodded. “Come, child. We will speak of your news and of my own. Bring your friends, if you will it.”

Kristalyn nodded her thanks and the seven of us proceeded through the now open gates. The village inside was of moderate size and the people inside looked poor and yet more content then most I had seen. They also looked to be warmer. The temperature had been dropping steadily every day and our own warm clothing was not holding up so well. We would have to purchase a few more layers while we were able too.

A small tavern was situated on the outskirts of the center of town and I made a mental note to visit later and see what I could learn. Shops and houses intermingled through the rest of the village and it was easy to tell the place was self-sufficient. Being so secluded would make that a necessity. We received as many wary stares as we did welcoming ones. Obviously, most were confident no one would be allowed in the city who could possibly pose a threat to them, though even the children’s faces held the look of seeing far too much in far too little of time.

We rode directly through the center of the town and straight to the miniature castle, which up close looked more like an over grown house. Three small boys and a girl met us and took our reins.

“We want those back,” Travon muttered to one of the boys.

The boy looked at him with wide eyes, but Elder Hiram laughed, obviously having overheard.

“Do not worry, my boy. You may exit with everything you came. It is up to you if you exit with more.”

“What?” Travon asked, with a very confused look.

“Knowledge, my dear boy. You can always gain more of it, but only if you listen and learn.” Elder Hiram grinned at him. “And that is your lesson for the day. Now come, we have things to discuss!”

He entered the door and led the way down a long stone hall decorated only with rugs hanging on the walls. Someone didn’t know they were supposed to be on the floor, which was oddly bare. None of the archways had doors, so you could see into each room, which seemed to get larger the more we passed. Two of the guards with us split off into the first room. The fourth room was the size of our entire main house in Braedoch Forest if I was remembering right. In the middle of it, was a large table already set and waiting for the food. Elder Hiram motioned for us to sit.

“Now, Lady Kristalyn, tell me of the war beyond our guardian mountains,” he commanded, lacing his fingers together and focusing on her.

“Elangsia and Aerilya met on the field of battle over a month ago now. In the ensuing fight, Elangsia’s king was killed and his daughter, now Queen Brysa, took his place. She and King Jaeger formed a treaty that brought the two countries into peace. One of the conditions was that all slaves be freed and allowed to return to their homes, if so desired. Even now both countries are working to abolish the remnants left over. Your people can return to their homes if they wish.”

Elder Hiram sat back with a whoosh of breath and closed his eyes. He was silent for a moment as he contemplated the changes this would make to the lives of the people in his village. “This is good news you have brought us and yet disturbing just the same,” he said finally.

Why?” Travon asked. I glared at him, but he shrugged and said, “What?”

“It is a fine question, Aiden.” Elder Hiram opened his eyes and looked at the boy. This man didn’t miss much even with his eyes closed! “Many will wish to return home and this will hurt our village’s ability to be sufficient. However, it will bring peace to many who long to see old friends and relatives once again. It will bring large upheaval changes to our society and yet, it is good.”

Travon nodded like he understood, maybe he did. But I was getting anxious for news of Arnan. Ever minute we wasted explaining to this elder about his village’s good problem was more time for Arnan to get into trouble.

“It is a problem that will require much thought, but my people will be pleased to hear it just the same.” Elder Hiram smiled. “Now, Lady, what information do you seek of your friend?”

“His name is Arnan. Has he come through here at all?” Kristalyn let anxiousness seep into her voice. I wasn’t impressed she couldn’t be that anxious for my brother.

“Arnan. Hmmm, I cannot recall hearing the name in recent times. Do you have a last name and a frame of time?” Elder Hiram asked thoughtfully.

Kristalyn looked at me and I nodded slightly. If I wanted the information, I would need to give up more details.

“He is Arnan Romany, but the time frame is harder. It would be anywhere from now through the last year or year and a half.”

He nodded. “It is still not familiar to me, but everyone who passes through here is registered. I would suggest you look into our archives. Mahan can take you there and show you where to look.” He indicated the man standing behind him. “How long do you plan on staying in our city, friends?”

“As long as it takes,” I answered for us all.

He nodded. “You are welcome, but if you plan on staying longer than a week, you must plan on spending the next few months. The weather has been colder this year, even for the mountains and it will not be an unpleasant winter to travel through.”

Kristalyn nodded. “We understand. Thank you for your generosity. Can we seek lodging at the tavern we passed?”

“They do not have many rooms, but I believe they will be able to accommodate you. Thank you for your news and Deus guide in your search.” Elder Hiram stood and then made a slight bow, before exciting the room.

Mahan motioned to the door. “This way, please. Would you like to visit the archives or go to the tavern first?”

Kristalyn and Travon looked at me. We could all use a rest and good food, but the call of being so close to finding Aiden pulled on me more. “I will go to the archives. You two head to the tavern and secure us rooms and food.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Kristalyn said as Travon let out a breath of relief.

I glanced at him. “Don’t stuff yourself.”

“Never. What about our horses?” He asked.

“I can take you to them now. You can stable them behind the tavern and then I will lead Aiden to the archives,” Mahan replied, before leading the way out the door.

***

The archives was far too large of a room in the back of the cool palace. What light there was came from small candles that were incased in glass to keep them from accidently burning what they were not suppose too. It would have been an improvement if they had taken out some of the parchments, like over half. Recording every person to ever enter the city took up more room then anyone should be forced to read. Thankfully, they were at least all labeled and Mahan proved to be helpful in cutting down the amount to go through. Still, it was taking far too long and I was bored.

“I brought you something,” Kristalyn’s voice came from behind me. I turned to see her holding a large plate, heaping with food.

My mouth immediately responded by watering. “Looks great.”

She smiled. “I thought you might enjoy it. How’s it going?”

“I can’t find him and I’m not through half of these records yet. I’m starting to doubt he was here,” I responded discouraged. If Arnan hadn’t been here, I had no idea where to look for him next and how many others were close to trapping him.

“Take a break and eat. I can look for you,” she said, placing the tray on an empty table nearby.

I gladly gave up my seat and started in on the food. Peace reigned for a while as the two kept searching and I filled my vastly empty stomach.

“Where’s Travon?” Eventually I realized he wasn’t around.

“He’s rediscovering the comforts of a bed and exploring.”

“Ah,” I responded, finishing the last of my food and heading back to the table. No one looked up for a very long time.

Hours later, I wasn’t sure if I was furious or just extremely upset. We had been at it for far too long with absolutely no results. Arnan was not mentioned anywhere. If there records were accurate, and by the amount in this room, they hadn’t missed anyone, Arnan had never passed through this village.

I no longer had any idea where he was, the only thing I was sure about was that he was in trouble. Kristalyn had confirmed the rumor at the mountain pass town that he was indeed on the run. But where? How could I protect him if I couldn’t find him?

“Aiden?” Kristalyn’s voice reached me.

“What?” I growled.

“It’s not my fault, so don’t get upset with me!” She exclaimed.

“Yeah, what?” I said again, but calmer this time.

“What do you want to do now?”

I heaved a sigh. “I don’t know.”

***

Two days later I was still unsure. There was a chance Arnan was headed in this direction and if that was true I was ready and waiting for him. However, if that wasn’t true, then he was in trouble somewhere else and I was wasting everyone’s time. I was all too aware of that.

Kristalyn was homesick and I knew it. She never bothered to speak of it, but there was a new kind of pain and impatience in her eyes. As long was we kept moving her goal for staying with me kept her occupied, but the waiting was killing her and focusing her thoughts on who she had left behind. She shouldn’t have come with me in the first place. I should have insisted she go home to her brother, but something always stopped me and it wasn’t that I knew she would ignore my suggestion anyway.

Whatever my decision I had to make it soon. Snow had fallen the night before. The mountain tops were coated with it and there would be more on the way. If we did not leave the village quickly, we would be stuck.

I left my room and knocked on the door to Kristalyn’s. She opened immediately.

“What is it?” She asked, her green eyes meeting mine.

“I’m going out to see Magnar.”

Her eyes became concerned. “Are you okay?”

“Just restless. I thought maybe flying with him would help clear my head. I know you want to make a move soon.”

I watched her take in my words. Her mouth twitched in a smile. “Make a move?”

“You don’t want to be here all winter anymore than I do.”

“Right.” She looked at me steadily, but didn’t say anything else.

“I’ll be back.”

“How do I know you’re not going to run away?” She smiled.

“Run away?” I asked, before memories of previous conversations flooded back. “You couldn’t stop me if you wanted too.” I turned and headed down the hallway.

“Aiden!” She called.

I turned back slightly.

Her green eyes sparkled. How had I failed to notice them for so long? “I already did.”

That was how… her annoying attitude, but before I could responded, she was in her room and closing the door.

I guess the fact that my thoughts centered on her the whole way to the gate shouldn’t have been a surprise, but it was too me. When I wasn’t thinking about my siblings, she seemed to be the one that occupied all my thoughts lately.

I nodded to the guards as I rode past and called down, “just need a bit of fresh air.”

One nodded as the other waved. Once you were past their defenses everyone’s attitude changed. They were suddenly open and friendly. It was strange to witness, but helpful nonetheless.

Outside the walls, the path leading up to Magnar and the other’s home was just off to the side and I found it quickly. It took longer for the horse to make its way up than it had down, but he managed in a relatively quick amount of time.

“Magnar!” I called out, as soon as I crested the top shelf of where their cave lay.

It wasn’t Magnar who exited the cave though. To my surprise, Kurioden greeted me. I dismounted and put a hand on his head, stroking it in greeting. I kept the other hand tightly on the reins of my horse, but four weeks of travel with the large black cat had calmed any original fears.

“Where is Magnar?” I asked, the panther.

He growled and motioned back to the cave with his head before heading in that direction himself.

“He’s in the cave and he didn’t come?” I asked, surprised.

I entered the cave and saw the large griffin lounging on the floor and taking up all the space. Egan was on a small shelf above pretending not to notice the peasants below. I took that in with a quick glance, but it was the white spot on the griffins back that stopped me cold.

Magnar looked up at me.

“Aiden! Come friend has! Happy you are!”

“Happy I’m not! How long as that little mite been here?” I exclaimed.

The white falcon ruffled his feathers at being called a ‘mite.’

Egan clacked out a brief answer and I looked to Magnar for a translation.

The griffin ducked his head, but responded, “Yesterday.”

“He came yesterday and you didn’t think I might want to know about that?” I shouted.

All the animals winced as the sound echoed off the cave walls. I hoped they all went deaf.

“Talk to you we could not. No choice but to wait had we.” Magnar explained calmly.

“You could have thought of something and you know it!” I accused harshly. “Does he have a letter for me?”

Magnar spoke to the falcon and he obediently held out his leg. Attached to it was a small piece of parchment.

Wren had written back.

I snatched the letter and opened it quickly, completely ignoring the angry screeches of the displaced bird and Magnar’s reproachful look.

Dear Aiden,

Our brother is far from Cequelet, although many believe he has killed the King and Queen of Aerisea. He hasn’t fallen that far. You are chasing my shadow that I left to draw others off Arnan’s trail.

Beware Deus’ plans might bring you peace despite your best effort.

Your Sister,

Wren

Arnan wasn’t even close by, but he was in trouble. My sister was as smart as ever, setting a false trail for Arnan’s safety. I would spread the tale myself. She had deliberately ignored my question about who she was with, I noticed. Two lines of her letter did seem to stick out above all others though and my eyes refused to be stripped away from them. Slowly, I read each again.

He hasn’t fallen that far.

Beware Deus’ plans might bring you peace despite your best effort.

Arnan had not stooped so low or fallen so far, but I had. I had killed in cold blood and done so without remorse. My sister could not know that, yet by holding our brother up, she condemned me. Could Deus even bring peace to such a man? Were my efforts concentrated on thwarting Him? Kristalyn had mentioned a plan not so long ago in which Deus was in control and I had only two options. Worse, Gidryon and then a voice I could not deny as Deus’ had challenged my path, challenged me to a solution supposedly only Deus had for me. Wren could know none of this! And yet in her words…

It was the same as always. No matter where I chose to run, Deus seemingly chose to pursue. What made it worse than anything, was that I could no longer deny His existence. Not if he could corner me in such a way. He was real.

I stared at the paper in my hands as my thoughts raced forward. I had denied Deus existence ever since my parents’ deaths. Could I have been so wrong? I had taught my siblings about a god I did not believe in, but apparently one who believed in me… at least in my existence. But what of my purpose, the path I now followed?

My purpose… what was it again? To fight, to protect…to fight Duard and protect my family. That was my purpose and why I existed. Nothing, not even Deus could change that path. He wouldn’t. I had to fight, to finish my mission.

I looked at the letter again.

Peace.

There would be no peace for me or my family until they were finally safe. Arnan was still hunted. He needed a place he could rest, where he could find the peace that eluded me. He needed to go home. We all did.

And that meant I had to be ready to fight. I had to take Duard out. I had to go back.

***

CHAPTER 34

Hey Everyone. Thanks for all the comments and sorry about not posting for a bit. I meant to get this up earlier, but I've been busy trying to get to the finish of this story! With that said, I need to get back to writing, so enjoy reading!
Here is Chapter 34.

CHAPTER 34 ~ THE VOICE

TWO YEARS SEVEN MONTHS

AND TWO WEEKS AFTER BANISHMENT

AIDEN

The traveling plans were simple, stay far enough into the mountains to avoid the weather at the top, but close enough to the edge that it was possible to get out of the range if it became necessary. Of course, we would have to cut in eventually to get to the village, but we wouldn’t do that until we could do it as the dragon flies or at least close to it. I figured we still had a day or two before that happened.

Unfortunately, I remembered to late into the trek that I had promised to slit my own throat before crossing the barren landscape of drab gray rocks yet again. What was almost worse was that I couldn’t even do that now since my mission was solely to save my brother’s life from whatever noose he had gotten it stuck in. Still, the mountain range was just as I remembered it from passing through the first time: god forsaken awful. If ever a land represented the cruelty of evil it had to be the mountain ranges that forced a man to stare at the same gray rock and rubble color for days on end and never bothered to provide enough good meat to fill a dwarf. As if that wasn’t enough, I had to worry about two extra people, a small dragon, one panther, and a large appetite griffin as well. None of which I was happy about.

That wasn’t really the truth.

The thought entered my head, though I wasn’t sure where it had come from. I wasn’t happy that I had to take care of them all, but then again, at least I wasn’t traveling through the wasteland on my own. Travon and Kristalyn kept up a steady conversation for the most part and when I got tired of hearing them, I simply handed over my reins and climbed on Magnar’s back. The griffin talked less and he proved to be a good distraction.

Still, they didn’t annoy me as much as they would have only a year ago and the thought was a disturbing one. Some of their discussions were interesting, though I could do without all the ones on Deus, listening Kristalyn talk about the Hunter was informative. In doing so, she gave as much information about her as she did about him, though I knew that wasn’t her intent. I found myself listening for the clues she would give about herself too often.

I didn’t want to care about this girl, who she was or where she came from. She was here only because she felt I needed help, which I didn’t, some loyalty to me she probably didn’t fully understand herself. I had to be able to focus on the mission at hand and she was not part of it. Yet, I couldn’t deny that I did care about her. I had admitted it when I believed I would never see her again. That would still happen, we had only delayed the separation.

What was so wrong about caring for her?

I wasn’t sure where the question came from, but for once instead of brushing it off, I thought about the answer. It was simple really. She was a distraction from my mission, she always had been. But I could not afford to be distracted from finding Arnan or destroying Duard. That was all I existed for, if I allowed myself to care about Kristalyn I would be defeating my own existence, pitiful as it was. The same could really be said for Travon as well. Magnar was the only one who I could come up with vital reasons to keep around. The others… I simply wanted them there.

The thought caused me to pull my horse up short and he snorted at the unwanted tug on his reins. I frowned, but gave him his head. I had to be wrong. I couldn’t possible want them around. I didn’t have a heart to want anything except revenge anymore. Right?

The last time I could remember wanting anyone around was right before all my siblings had been split apart. We all loved our solitude time, but right then I wanted nothing more than to keep them safe and in one place forever. But I hadn’t been strong enough for that and my failure had caused a betrayal I could not recover from, even if I did manage to bring them all back to Braedoch Forest.

“Aiden, I caught it!” Travon’s excited voice reached my ears from somewhere behind me.

I turned to find the youth proudly holding an arrow above his head with a straggly possum attached. The animal looked like it must have been half dead before he shot it, but Travon looked to be oblivious to that fact. Kristalyn caught my eye from behind the boy. Her look was extremely clear. She could have been shouting ‘praise the kid now and like it.’

“Good job, Travon. Looks like supper,” I called back. A puny supper, but it was better than nothing, which had been the current food choice of late. We were conserving supplies as much as possible, just in case the weather decided to hate us.

The boy’s face lit up with a huge grin as if I said he’d caught the prize of the land. Kristalyn nodded her approval. I studied her for a moment. She had been giving me odd signals over the past two weeks, mostly around the boy. She had yet to confront me directly about it, which was unusual for her, but I figured she wanted me to think this one out on my own. Apparently, Travon needed more attention or something than what I was giving him.

The youth remounted and the others road up to me. Travon was suddenly frowning.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“It’s small,” he replied.

“Yeah, but that’s the best you’ll get around here, unless we find much larger prey,” I responded.

“At least it’s not the stripped meat we’ve been eating,” Kristalyn put in.

Travon nodded. “Aiden, can Arnan hunt?”

It was the first time he had been so direct for a question about my family. I frowned as I realized I wasn’t sure of the answer. Had he improved his ability in the last two and a half years?

“He is passable. It’s possible he’s improved since he’s been gone.”

“What about your other brothers?” Apparently, this discussion was not going to go away.

Did it matter anymore? I had kept my siblings a secret for so long, that it was odd to think of talking about them. But I didn’t really have a reason to keep them a secret. At least, not anymore. Kristalyn had been prying information about them out of me for a while now. I had been reviling more and more to her the longer we were together. And they were both helping me to rescue my brother.

So much had changed, even in just the last three weeks. But had more than just my attitude towards my traveling companions changed? If I told them about my siblings now, what else would I end up revealing? There were some things no one should ever find out about me. If I thought about it, Kristalyn had figured out much already, but she didn’t know everything. And I wanted to keep it that way. I had no illusions about what I was, but somehow she still did and I didn’t want her to lose them, to somehow figure out how unworthy and repulsive I really was. I hadn’t cared about it before, but lately…

I wasn’t sure why things had changed and I didn’t know if I really wanted an answer to the question either. If I told them about my family, my life before I became what I was, would they leave the rest alone? If I did tell them of my past it meant thinking about the family I had left behind. The family I had once loved. With the small form of acceptance, thoughts of each of my siblings flooded back.

“Well, Taerith is more quite and ready to read things he finds and Sam knows how to fight, but it’s rare that he let me see him do it, though I know he can. Neither one was very into hunting down food, that was left to me and some of my sisters.” I glanced up. The sun would be setting soon. We would have to make camp before then.

“Your sisters?” Travon’s voice was incredulous.

“Almost all my sisters fought better than most of the Hunter’s men,” I replied.

“I think not,” Kristalyn responded smartly.

“Yeah, there’s no way!” Travon shook his head, disgusted at the suggestion.

I laughed at them both. “You’d be surprised. Ilara could hit anything she threw a knife at. I remembered that a little too well.” I thought back to the tree she had mutilated before we had split.

“What about Zoe?” Kristalyn asked. Somewhere along the line she had found out that it was Zoe that kept me from killing the last of my soul as I had killed others. As long as she never found out she had taken Zoe’s place I didn’t care. But her knowledge made her more interested in my Little Firebrand.

“She would often practice with me. I would trust her to fight by my side. Knowing Firebrand she’s kept up her skills and improved.”

Where was Zoe now? Was she free? Happy? Had she found the adventure she always wanted? I would give anything to know she was safe and not in danger as Arnan seemed to be.

“Firebrand?” Kristalyn’s face showed she was impressed by my description and still interested in my little sister.

Zoe’s young tan face framed with her flaming hair and dark green eyes swam, just as I remembered it, into my mind’s view. At least, it wasn’t an apparition again! This Zoe stayed quite, but her eyes held the deep sadness I had last seen in them. Looking at her face once again, made me want to break Daurd’s neck for tearing us apart. If I failed in all else, I would find Zoe again.

“Zoe had red hair and green eyes, but she also had a fire and determination that no one else could match.” I shook my head as a few of her finer moments flashed in my memory. “She was so little, but her ‘take me on’ attitude caused me to nickname her Little Firebrand.” I shrugged. “It stuck.”

Kristalyn grinned. I wasn’t sure I wanted to know what she was thinking, but she was obviously greatly amused. Travon glanced at both of us then posed his next question.

“What about your other sisters. Wait! How many do you have?”

“Five.” The ridge dipped low and we followed it further down. We would be able to find a cave down here where we could camp for the night.

“Wren, Aquila and Daelia are the three you received letters from,” Kristalyn commented helpfully.

“Thank you,” I muttered. “Yeah, they are the other three.”

“Are they good enough to join the Hunter?” Travon questioned.

“Wren is. Her skills are more subtle, like the missions Kristalyn does,” I thought out loud.

“You mean like when I took you out?” Kristalyn smiled sweetly. I wasn’t fooled or impressed.

“I don’t remember anything along those lines. I do recall putting you in your place,” I responded.

“Your memory is faulty,” Kristalyn shrugged.

“Should we ask Magnar? He beat Kurioden after all.”

“Just what battle were you in?” Kristalyn spouted.

“The one I won.”

“You ended up with an arrow in your shoulder!”

“You did?” Travon looked at me with wide eyes.

She was ruining any respect I was ever going to get from the kid.

“She couldn’t shoot me when I was facing her, so she waited till I turned away. The fight was over.” I muttered.

“You told me never to turn my back on an opponent,” Travon said, with a very confused look.

Kristalyn laughed out loud. “Some instructor you are.”

Had I actually thought I wanted these two along? They both needed to be dropped off a cliff! Good thing I had plenty around. I just had to pick one. “You shouldn’t turn your back on an opponent, especially one with a nasty attitude and bad aim. I gave her too much credit at first.”

“You didn’t give me any!” She protested loudly.

“Wren wouldn’t have made the same mistake.”

“What mistake was that?” She asked in a very tight voice.

Quite suddenly, I was tired of the foolish fight. “She wouldn’t have let me get out of the house, but then she wouldn’t have turned her back either.”

Kristalyn stared at me for a moment, her eyes locking onto mine and I saw understanding pass in them. She nodded her head and smiled, accepting the bow out.

Travon watched us for a moment and I wondered what he was thinking, but he quickly shook his head and whatever his thoughts on our fight, it passed with a new question.

“What about the other two?”

“Daelia’s work with a knife is in carving, though she can cook up anything we find and Aquila prefers to leave the fighting and hunting to others, at least they use too,” I answered, forcing myself to calm down.

“Were you close?” Kristalyn asked.

“To each other? We all preferred times of solitude in our forest, but we each had one sibling we were closer to.”

“Like Zoe for you,” Kristalyn supplied.

I nodded. “Yes, Wren could also usually tell what I was thinking. Though it was Arnan she was closest too. And Zoe has a twin Sam, so they were close.”

“Zoe is a twin?” Travon asked.

I nodded.

“Oh,” he said, before asking, “What is your forest?”

Did I really want to tell them that? “Braedoch Forest.” Apparently, I did.

Travon shook his head. “Never heard of it.”

“It’s on the other side of the mountain range and a few weeks travel.”

Kristalyn glanced at me. “Will you be returning there?”

“That’s where Duard is,” I answered.

Kristalyn nodded and said nothing.

The sun was setting more quickly now. It would be dark soon, but my thoughts were fixed on home and my siblings now.

“Travon, I think there’s a cave up ahead. Let’s see if we can use it to camp tonight. Kurioden, scout ahead.” The panther leapt to the front and Kristalyn urged her horse after him. Travon glanced at me before following.

What were they all doing now? What if I managed to defeat Duard and they didn’t want or need to come back? I had never considered the option. I had changed so much from the boy they would remember, but what about them?

Taerith was the smart one of the family, more into stargazing and finding out facts. Only he and I had a personal challenge from Duard. He had set out to find answers. Had he managed to get them? Our past was a mystery and Duard even more so. Was Taerith smart enough, had he become so? Or had he gone the other way? Followed my path and become a warrior who didn’t care either way?

Daelia would always be our eldest sister, the mother many of the younger siblings never really knew. She had a teacher’s heart and the gentle touch, but an inner strength that caused her to stand up for everything she believed in, unless of course it was against Duard. She had found other ways to fight then. The last I heard from her, she had mentioned nothing of her circumstances, but her faith had remained strong, even to the point of being upset with herself for not encouraging me more in the past. That had been a while ago. Was she still strong or had her surroundings finally beaten her down?

I reached the cave and saw that Kristalyn and Travon had started making camp, even Magnar was helping. I ignored them as I untacked my horse and my thoughts stayed centered on my siblings. The others left me alone.

Ilara had been so angry when we had parted. She was ready to take on Deus himself. She had been questioning everything and with a determination that she too would find answers somewhere. Had she found them? She had skills with the bow and arrow and the knife that would make anyone worry about their life. Had her fighting spirit grown harder or softened? What if she had grown the opposite of me? What if she had learned to temper her strength with gentleness? What would she think of me when she saw I had done the opposite?

Wren had been the latest one to write me, but her letter had been more cryptic than explanation of what she was doing. She talked of finding peace in the quite of the day and she mentioned a ‘we’ but did not explain who. She sounded as if she were learning lessons she never thought possible, that would change my sister quite a bit. Had it made her calmer and more accepting, but then Wren had always been that way. Meeting challenges not with angry determination, but rigid and almost fierce calm. She saw what everyone missed and she knew the meaning, was she still that way? Could she still read me? She seemed to be able too.

I finished with my horse and gave him food and water, before settling down at the fire. The two others talked quietly, but still left me alone. It was just as well.

Aquila was so small and quiet. She had always seemed to need more protection than the others. For some reason, I always thought of the quite stream by our house, when I thought of her. She always had big dreams, but was so timid in carrying any of them out. What troubles had she met with? Was she strong enough to stand up to them on her own? She had written to me at one point asking advice about a man who had entered her camp. Was she safe from him? Had she followed my advice to trust no one or had he led my little sister astray? What if he did something dishonorable to her? I would track him down and kill him. He would know the true meaning of the word ‘trouble’ if he had hurt my sister. But, as with the others, I had no way to know.

Sam had always been filled with a quite curiosity and a sense of wanting to know more. He preferred loving the land to hunting in the wild. Though he was Zoe’s twin the two were as opposite as could be and that suited them both just fine. They were more amused by the fact than anything else and somehow it drew them even closer. He didn’t have the confidence in himself that Zoe had, and yet I had seen him accomplish more than most in situations he had been placed in. Had his confidence grown as he traveled or had someone squashed his pride? What about his curiosity? What had he discovered on his long travels? Had he been able to find answers? He had been on the verge of discovering his many skills when he had left. What had he found out about himself? Only Sam knew now. I wasn’t even sure he had kept in contact with his twin.

Zoe, my Little Firebrand. Where was my youngest sister? How had she changed? It was hard to think of her as anything, but the way I knew her before. Had she too grown up? What lessons had being on her own taught her? Was she still my Firebrand or would I not recognize her when I final met with her again? Of all my siblings, that thought hurt the worst. I wanted more than anything to protect her from the dangers and hard lessons out there, to not let her become what I had. But I had let her go towards the mountains and now I had to fight to get her to return home to the forest. Would she even want too? My little sister, so strong even when all she wanted was a hug and to cry, her spirit then had been unbreakable, I had to believe it was still so, for if I lost Zoe, I had lost it all.

Across the fire, Travon laid down to sleep with Egan curled up by his head. Kristalyn stood, stretched, and headed to the cave entrance to keep watch, Kurioden at her side. Magnar plodded around the fire and folded his wings, taking his now usual place at my back. I rested against him and thought of my final brother.

Arnan, alone, I knew was in trouble. How much, I wasn’t positive, but if I didn’t reach him soon, he might not be alive to bring home. I had to track him down and quickly. I could only hope he was in Cequelet and I got to him first. We had many things to discuss, he and I, but first came his safety. I would not fail my brother, not ever again. Despite what he had done in the past and perhaps to the king and queen, he was still my flesh and blood. I had done worse and I would not judge him for that. He had to survive too, if he did commit the deed, it was because he felt he had no choice. But I would not believe such a thing until I heard the truth from him. Still, the fact that he was being hunted, told me much about my mischievous brother and how he had changed.

The Romany’s were a strong clan with strength tested only by Duard’s cruelty before we had left. Now, we had been on our own for two years and seven months, if I was counting right. It was odd to think of my siblings changing and growing up and yet I knew they must have. Otherwise none of them would have been able to survive and someone would have known if that happened. Somewhere out there each Romany sibling was alive and learning how to stay that way. What new skills had they acquired? Each of us had left looking for answers and freedom. Had the others found it? For the first time since I had said goodbye to each, I wished I had contact with them all to find out.

For a moment, the thought amused me. I had spent the better part of my time, pushing them away and trying to forget they even existed, it seemed I was still changing. Which way was better? My concentration was clearer if I forgot about them, if I didn’t care. But, the entirety of my life was based on extracting revenge on the man who had caused my betrayal and bringing them back together. In truth, even if I allowed my mind to forget about them, I existed for them. I wasn’t sure how I felt about the irony of it all.

Magnar ducked his head against my shoulder and I glanced up at him. “No more think now. Rest. Rise again sun tomorrow will.”

Yeah, the sun would rise again tomorrow and each of my siblings would start anther day wherever they were. So would I.

***

We had cut deeper into the mountains a few days ago. In the lower regains of the mountain range, trees and wildlife were in slightly better supply, but pickings were still scarce. Fires were easier to build and keep up and tonight we had a nice one. The chill in the air was getting worse. Winter was well on its way and it looked like it might be a bad one. By Kristalyn’s judgment, we had a day to a day and a half and we would reach the village Arnan had taken refuge in. Hopefully, I would be able to extract him from whatever mess he had created before the bounty hunter’s used him as a golden fleece.

Travon tossed another branch onto the fire and poked it with a stick.

“You know if you make it any higher, it’s going to be a pain to put out,” Kristalyn commented from her spot next to Kurioden.

Travon grinned. “Magnar can just use his wings!”

The griffin snorted at the thought and bucked his head against the boy.

“I’m kidding! I’m kidding!” Travon laughed, before giving the griffin a rub down.

Magnar purred with pleasure.

“Magnar!” I called.

The griffin looked at me, then grinned, and stood to walk over and plop himself down behind me. I settled back comfortably. Kristalyn shook her head at us, but said nothing.

“It still doesn’t make sense. If he did love us, then Gidryon and the whole village would be alive,” Travon returned to the conversation that the fire poking had interrupted.

I sighed. I’d enjoyed the brief respite from the never ending conversation.

“Really? I’d say Deus took a really bad situation and turned it into something good,” Kristalyn responded confidently.

“How can you figure that?” Travon asked, poking the fire absently.

“What would you have done if nothing happened to the village?” Kristalyn asked instead.

Travon shrugged. “Nothin’ I guess.”

“Think a little,” Kristalyn urged.

“I woulda stayed there and everyone would be alive.”

“So you never would have left the village. What else?”

“I dunno. Life woulda kept goin’ I guess. I mighta married this girl I knew and raised something. Taken over Gidryon’s house maybe when he died.”

I closed my eyes as I listened. Travon’s speech was reverting back to his old ways as he thought about that life and concentrated less on his actual words.

“Okay, so you would have led a pretty quite normal life. But you did leave. So, what are the differences?” Kristalyn continued her questions.

I glanced at Travon and caught him looking at me.

“I met Aiden and Magnar. I grew up real fast. I learned weapons…” Travon’s voice trailed off.

“You did a lot of things you wouldn’t have done otherwise. You also tracked Ricald and saved many villages from suffering the same fate as yours,” Kristalyn pointed out. “Your actions helped hundreds of people and by following the Hunter’s lead, you helped even more. Do you see the connection now?”

Travon was silent for a moment and then shook his head. I was beginning to and I didn’t like the implications she was coming up with.

“Evil is all over our world. And yes, Deus could have stopped Ricald from taking that village, but instead, He decided to use that awful act to put you in a position to not only leave the village, but save hundreds of others. He gave us the ability to make our own choices and very often we choose the wrong way. Deus, however, can take our wrong choices and still use them for good.”

“But couldn’t he do that without killin’ everyone?” Travon asked, still confused.

He didn’t care enough to save their lives. I wanted to answer, but I stayed silent and waited to hear how Kristalyn would work her way out of this one.

“Deus could do a lot of things. He could have taken away our free will and force us to do whatever He wants. But He wants us to be able to make choices and follow Him without being forced. Take Magnar and Kurioden. You want them to do what you ask, right?” She waited until Travon nodded. “But would you force either of them to talk to you and do what you ask or would you rather they did it because they love you and want too?”

Travon reached over and patted Kurioden on the head. “The second way.”

“It’s the same with Deus. Long ago, He decided He wanted us to follow Him because we love Him, not because we are forced. But we decided we didn’t trust Deus and wanted to do things our own way. That meant instead of choosing the right path, we picked the evil one. That’s the path Ricald chose and his choice had consequences not only for him, but for those he hurt too,” Kristalyn explained patently.

“But it wasn’t our fault he was bad,” Travon protested.

“No, it wasn’t. But it wasn’t Deus’ fault either. He lets us choose how we want to act and those choices, good or bad, have consequences.”

“What if you don’t like the consequences? Why should you have to suffer for others?” I put in.

Kristalyn glanced up at me. I could tell from her look she was impressed I’d been listening, but not surprised. I wondered how much of her conversation with Travon had actually been for me.

“That’s justice for you. You made the choice and you have to live with the consequences. Your choices never affect just you, but most people in today’s world don’t care about that.”

I scoffed. “That’s not justice.”

“Not perfect justice. Dealing with your own consequences is a form of it though. The fact that others have to pay for your mistakes is part of the world we live in. Be glad that Deus is still in control despite the choices we make,” Kristalyn said, her voice containing the pain of past experiences.

“That makes no sense!” Travon exclaimed, throwing his stick fiercely into the fire. It popped harshly and sent a shower of sparks upward, coming close to Egan, who was resting in the tree above.

The little dragon clacked angrily, leaping from his perch and letting those of us below know just what he thought of the hot sparks. Travon called up an apology, but I was just sorry they had missed him. Roasted pseudo-dragon would have made for a quiet trip and probably not to bad of a meal either.

Travon looked back at Kristalyn. “If He’s in control, then no matter what choices we make, He should have saved the village and still made everything turn out good! He messed up!”

I agreed.

“You think so?” Kristalyn asked, as if she was considering the possibility. “Remember it was our choice in the very beginning to not trust Deus and disobey Him. That’s why there is evil in the world at all. We chose it.” She was quiet for a moment and then pulled a branch out from the fire and used it to draw in the dirt. “Okay, look at this chart. You have a starting point and you have an ending point and all of the paths in-between start at one spot and end at the other. No matter what path you take, you come out at the same ending. It’s up to you to choose which path you take and you can choose any one you want. But in the end, the result will be what Deus planned from the start. There is really only one question. Will you take the path that Deus picked out for you or will you choose to try your own path? Ricald and Duard chose their own path and look what it brought them and those around them. Destruction. But you have a choice too. Will you choose a path of your own making or follow the solution Deus has in mind for you?”

Gidryon’s voice rang in my head. “Deus has a special solution in mind for you.”

“What Aiden?” Kristalyn asked.

Had I spoken out loud?

“Nothing,” I answered quickly.

But it wasn’t ‘nothing’ and I knew it. From somewhere deep within I heard the words. And this time, I could not deny the voice.

I have a path, a solution, for you, Aiden. Will you take it?

What should I do?

***