Part 32 (2/2)
”No! Stay away!” she urged, but she could not hear even her own voice. Surely the boy could not.
She looked to the sky, searching for the twisted form Myranda had seen silhouetted below, but there was none. The halberd hung alone, yet a second flash of lightning revealed the three shadows again as the halberd swept to the child's side. She summoned a bright light, prolonging the shadows as she tried to rush to the child. The twisted figure existed only in shadow, but it suddenly grasped the shadow of the boy. The child shook as if struck. Then Myranda watched helplessly as the boy's shadow was somehow torn free. The boy dropped to the ground, then slowly rose as the twisted shadow replaced the stolen one. The boy reached out and clutched the halberd. Instantly the look of innocence and fear was replaced by the look of cool, disconnected intellect that Epidime had worn. Indeed, he still wore it.
In a smooth, practiced motion of the halberd, Epidime summoned the swirling black form she'd seen Demont step out of. He guided his stolen body through just as Myranda reached it. Before she could do anything, the void in the air snapped shut, releasing a wave of black energy that knocked her to the ground. Deacon was beside her in a flash, helping her to her feet. The air was still ringing in her ears, her vision returning slowly, but what she saw told her that she could delay no longer. People were now flooding out. They did not know what had caused this, why their town had been ravaged. Fear, anger and confusion filled their heads. It was a potent mix, and it needed an outlet. If she and her friends lingered, the townspeople could not be blamed for what they did.
Deacon and Myranda rushed to the edge of the town. There, Lain had discovered the horses that they had ridden in on and loaded Ivy onto the back of one. Ether was atop the other, and clearly out of her element.
”The sheer idiocy of using one body to control another . . . ” she muttered as she struggled to determine how to guide the horse.
”I'll guide the horse, you ride behind me,” Myranda said, climbing to the saddle as Ether grudgingly agreed.
Deacon climbed to the saddle of the mount that Ivy had been entrusted to. In truth, he displayed nearly as much difficulty handling the steed as Ether, but he managed, and a moment later the group as a whole was off, Lain trailing slightly behind on foot. The clearing clouds were shedding the light of the rising sun upon them, and they could ill afford to be seen. Worse, the rain that had spared the town and offered the means of striking down Epidime had soaked the heroes to the bone. In the bitter cold of the north, that was a swift road to death. Shelter would have to be found, and fast.
After nearly an hour shelter was indeed found in the form of a dense stand of trees tucked in a slight valley. Wood was gathered, a fire was started, Ether quickly took advantage of it, and in short order Lain had managed to track down enough prey to provide a meal. As warmth slowly returned to frost nipped limbs and it became clear that, for now at least, they had not been followed, Ether could hold her tongue no longer.
”Explain yourself,” she ordered.
Myranda stared pensively at the ground.
”I think perhaps Myranda needs a few moments. I would be happy to . . . ” Deacon offered helpfully.
”Are you a Chosen one?” Ether asked.
”I am not, but . . . ” Deacon attempted to explain.
”Then do not speak in our presence. Myranda, answer,” Ether again demanded.
”It was for nothing . . . ” Myranda said, shaking her head.
”What are you mumbling about?” Ether snapped, unaccustomed to being so blatantly ignored.
”He was just a man!” Myranda replied angrily through clenched teeth, tears in her eyes. ”Arden and Epidime were not one and the same! I killed the man, but Epidime still lives. I killed him for nothing! Nothing!”
”The weapon, a halberd. It would appear it houses some manner of ent.i.ty. It was this ent.i.ty that was your foe. This Arden fellow was merely the host,” Deacon explained.
Lain watched from the other side of the fire, a knowing look in his eye.
”I've never taken the life of a human before. Never. And now I do so and it achieves nothing. That poor man had to die because I was too foolish to see the truth,” she continued, her voice quivering.
”Yes, yes. I am sure it appears to you to be a terrible tragedy, but save your emotions for another time,” Ether dismissed. ”I require an answer.”
”At the risk of angering you further, my esteemed Chosen, I feel that perhaps I could indulge your curiosity while Myranda-” Deacon attempted.
”I've warned you once,” Ether stated sternly.
”It's alright. I owe them an explanation,” Myranda said numbly.
And so she began to recount the tale, a tale that it is my great hope shall find its way to you as well. It begins where the others believed that Myranda's life had ended, in the lowest level of Demont's personal menagerie. Had I the strength, I would not rest until every last word was recorded. But alas, the years weigh heavily upon me. You have my word. When next my stylus is put to work, all that remains will be revealed. The truth is too important to be lost to the ages.
Discover other t.i.tles by Joseph R. Lallo at Smashwords.com:.
The Book of Deacon Trilogy.
Book 1: The Book of Deacon - /books/view/9354.
Book 3: The Battle of Verril - /books/view/45617.
Other stories in the same setting:.
Jade - /books/view/25151.
Science Fiction t.i.tles:.
Bypa.s.s Gemini - /books/view/57468.
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