Sekali, "The Sister City"

 

                                Chapter 98

 

     Mabuhi gasped and clawed at the air above her in shock and horror, her blade falling to the ground. The Lady, who had watched over her continually throughout the duration of the spell, quickly knelt beside her and pushed the flaming blade away from them both, took up Mabuhi in her arms and held her tightly, letting her light flood the area and penetrate Mabuhi’s entire being.
Slowly Mabuhi calmed, her breathing becoming regular once again as she opened her eyes and looked up into The Lady’s face. Coming to her senses slowly, she finally recognized who held her.
“It is done. He is badly wounded. I need to go to him.” Tears streaked Mabuhi’s face as The Lady nodded.
     “Stand, child, I give you my own strength to bolster your own mortal frame. Stand, I can now send you into the Sister City, for she is alive and can receive you!”
     Mabuhi felt an energy flood into her, even as The Lady’s countenance darkened. Holding up her hands, The Lady wove an intricate pattern into the air before her and then touched Mabuhi upon the forehead.
     “Think of the Sister City now.”
     Mabuhi’s thoughts turned to the Sister City, and suddenly she felt herself falling, and could see nothing but blackness. Panicking, she screamed as a sense of utter confusion engulfed her mind. Covering her face, she doubled over in terror, or thought she did, for it was only a thought, as she fell into what seemed an endless gulf of shadow.
     She felt the cold stone of a floor below her and grasped the meaning of it, slowly coming to recognize it as the reality of a marble floor. She screamed, startling the many elfin soldiers that crowded the chamber about her, and heard the not far away clash of arms as both men and elves battled in the near distance.
     Opening her eyes, she sobbed out and stood unsteadily as an elfin soldier came to support her as she struggled to stand. She pointed toward the only opening; that was all she could do; she could not speak. The soldier pulled her arm up and around his neck and made his way toward the doors.
As they both left the chamber, she saw his arrow-pierced body and sobbed as her senses cleared.
“Sekali!” She pulled from the soldier and stumbled to Sekali’s side, falling to her knees by him.
Snapping his fingers, the guard yelled for a healer as loudly as he could.
     Mabuhi felt panic taking her as she tenderly brushed lose hair back from Sekali’s blood-stained face.
     “Hold on, Sekali, don’t you die on me! Be strong . . . be strong . . .”
Sekali opened his eyes and looked up into hers, feeling her hair fall about his face.
     “Mabuhi?”
     She heard him say her name and sobbed out in desperate hope as a robed figure quickly approached and knelt by them both and began to chant the words that could heal him . . . if he was in time.

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