Sekali, "The Sister City"
Chapter 94
Aria felt the pull of the rope decrease once, twice and then again, until there was no weight but the rope length itself. She heaved on the rope, and it gave easily. They were safe! Closing her eyes she whispered a prayer. She stood and untied the rope from about her body. Slowly her hands released it. As she watched the rope race toward the opening of the deep shaft and vanish into it, she closed her eyes for a moment. She knew that it was her only escape. Opening her eyes, a silver light illuminated them. She stood to the side of the cave, drew her katana, holding it up before her and stared at it.
“Ageli ahm keshileighen (bring me victory).” She whispered, setting her jaw firmly. The blade flashed as brilliantly as the sun, its light filling the cave. Aria’s eyes blazed a silver light as the power of the Eldishar filled her being. Without emotion she turned and charged out of the cave, meeting the Veleighen in her wrath.
It appeared as though a Herald in its wrath had emerged from the cave. Many of the Veleighen were already cut down by the Dreganox Wolf as it faltered before a swarm of arrows and blades assailing it. She ignored the beast and focused on the Veleighen closest to the thickness of the forest, cutting her way toward it, cleaving both helm and shield in her wrath. As she cut through them with the ancient blade of her people, she heard the beast scream, and knew its mortality was coming to an end. She had one chance; to get out and up into the woods and attempt to lose them.
But the Veleighen were a hardened, warlike people, and they were not deceived at her sudden attack, even though they fell before her might and power like sheep before the wolf. They routed her quickly, doubling and fortifying their attacks so that she began to slow. Finally their attack surged forward upon her, and her blade was struck from her hand as one Veleighen scored through her side with his scimitar. Then another blade pierced her shoulder. It was finished; she had tried, and though many Veleighen lay dead at her hand, many pressed down upon her.
Then, out of the blizzard, out of the forest, came Grisham leaping into the ranks of the Veleighen, even as two more blades pierced Aria from behind. The sudden assault of the Lycanthrope was so intense that the Veleighen scattered, and had to regroup. With the swiftness of a viper, Grisham howling in rage, launched into the thickest part of the Veleighen, ripping them to pieces with both claw and tooth, rending their strong bodies and sending them screaming for mercy before him. But his wrath only intensified as he spotted Aria falling to her knees. With a snarl, he leapt to the throat of the one Veleighen that led them all, gripping and crushing two others with powerful talons. His attack was so incredibly swift and sure that the Veleighen fled from before him without looking back. Grisham swiftly pursued one Veleighen on his great cat and leapt an incredible distance upon him, beheading him with a dire swipe of razor-sharp claws, landing on the cat which turned, fighting for its life . . . in vain.
As quickly as he slit the cat from neck to mid-section, Grisham leapt from it and sprinted back to Aria, snatching her and her blade from the bloodied ground. Just before entering the thickness of the forest, he turned and snarled, filling the mountainside with the fury of his rage, challenging any who would follow. None did.
Grisham, dripping with the blood of his enemies, looked down upon Aria, who struggling for breath, clutched at him in shock. She tried to smile, but burst out in tears as blood spilled from her mouth. Grisham knew she was dying. He lowered his head to her and wept for a moment . . . and then bit her arm, sinking his teeth deeply into her flesh as tears, mixed with Veleighen blood mingled with her own wound which he now gave her. Then Grisham sheathed her blade and ever so gently held her, bearing her steadily into the shrouded forests of the Northern Lands.
Its cries to the heavens were heard late that evening as it watched over Aria before a fire, built to warm her body as she struggled with a deadly hot fever; not the fever of wounds, or of sickness, but of the disease Grisham had spread into her blood stream. Grisham held her closely, and took up snow in a great paw and squeezed over her mouth, dripping water onto her lips now and again, and licking her hair back from her face.
As the Lycanthrope watched over her, to the east there was a sound of thunder and the earth trembled beneath them both, but Grisham paid it no heed. All thought was bent on the life of Aria, whom it loved with all its heart.
For three days, she burned with a terrible fever as Grisham watched her breathing stabilize to an even, healthy, rhythm.
On the morning of the fourth day, she weakly opened her eyes and looked up into Grisham’s, which were filled with concern. Slowly she smiled and raised a hand to the side of his face. “I knew you would come. I knew you would follow . . . come for me.”
Grisham bent its head into her hand, squinting its eyes, tears beginning to stream down and around her hand.
“I would always come for you, Aria, even into the Veleighen’s strongest pack . . . I would come for you. Aria, I had to change you. I am sorry, but I could not let you die. Forgive me.”
Grisham let her stand slowly, aiding her gently should there be any further after effects. She stood and composed herself; she did not know why.
After some time, she turned and fell against Grisham, her head spinning. Grisham supported her, crouching to accommodate for her size. Aria breathed hard for a few moments and then looked into Grisham’s eyes. Gently she stretched up and kissed the side of Grisham’s face, just below the right eye. Then she whispered softly, “I love you.”
Grisham took up Aria into the strong shelter of his arms and headed northward, both soon vanishing into unusually dense snowfall, and out of this tale.