Redeo ~ Return

By Tempest Break

Chapter Eight

An hour earlier, Landon, Michael, Chelsea, and the rest of the party had just exited the Border Forests and had found an abandoned watch house for sentries. The Azhan King was a little paranoid about invaders, and normally had watch houses all along the borders to make sure that nobody from another country entered his.

The watch house was little more than a shack, but it served for a rest stop. They had been traveling long enough for them a few of them to get tired, namely Sarah and Chelsea.

There was another reason Landon called for a stop–he was worrying about Michael. He was remembering when Michael had collapsed in Laro, and he didn’t want that to happen while they were moving.

At any rate, they stopped at the watch house and they rested. Landon talked with Rand and Willy, and a little ways away, Chelsea was giving Michael some red-violet-leafed herb to help with his dizzy spells. Ivy sat in a tree, away from everyone else, as was her way. Sarah had gone off to look for more food.

“What do you propose we do now?” asked Landon of Willy and Rand.

“Go after all the Maashira,” growled Willy. “They’ve had it coming to them for a long time.”

“Calm yourself,” said Rand shortly.

Landon looked up at the big man. “What do you think, Rand?” he asked.

Rand sighed. “I am inclined to agree with Willy, actually,” he said quietly. “I want the Maashira out of our country before they decide to take it over. Also, we must free those slaves.”

Willy nodded adamantly.

“Okay, then,” said Landon. “When we get to Azha, we’ll talk to the King, and then we’ll–”

“Agh!”

Landon whirled around and saw Michael teetering on his feet, his hands clutching his stomach. He straightened and then hunkered over again and again, as if shocks of pain were shooting up his spin. “Grab him!” shouted Landon, but Rand had already picked up Michael as if he was a rag doll and taken him inside the watch house.

There was a bed there, mostly a cot, up against the wall. Rand laid Michael down there, where he continued to spasm. His eyes rolled and he flung himself around on the bed. He slammed his head against the wall, the ruby on his forehead cracking down the middle.

“Hold him!” exclaimed Landon, and he and Rand pinned Michael to the bed. He still thrashed, but could do no more damage to himself. “Where’s Sarah?” he demanded of Willy.

“She’s still looking for food,” he answered frantically.

“Damn,” he cursed. And Nicola’s still in Ereves. What are we going to do?

He did not notice Chelsea standing in the corner of the watch house, watching everything. Her cold blue eyes glinted.

*

Nicola held on tightly as Katie guided her gray mare out of Ereves and into the Border Forests again. Elves jumped out of their way as she galloped along the forest floor.

“Katie!” exclaimed an elf. “Where are you–?!” His voice was lost as they darted out of Ereves.

They were suddenly among the normal-sized trees of the Border Forests, but everything was a blur of green and brown as Katie expertly guided her mare through the trees and over logs. Nicola squeaked as they jumped a particularly big one, but Katie rode on with steady determination.

“How do you know he’s going to die?” Nicola yelled to Katie.

“The jewel on his forehead broke,” she answered grimly. “I blessed that headpiece before I left for good, hoping that I could save him for a little while from his cursed fate. But now that the jewel’s broken, he’ll die within the hour, no matter what.”

Nicola gulped. “I don’t want anyone to die,” she said. “Is there anything you can do?”

There was a short silence, and Nicola repeated the question. “No,” said Katie quietly. “There’s nothing I can do.”

*

“I found Sarah!” shouted Willy, ushering the small girl into the cabin.

“What’s wrong?” asked Sarah, coming to sit by the bed. She looked at Michael worriedly.

“Isn’t it obvious? He’s sick,” answered Landon through gritted teeth. Holding Michael down had gotten to be hard work. In Michael’s ill frenzy, it seemed as if his strength was inexhaustible. “You have to heal him.”

Sarah nodded, and rested her hands over Michael’s brow. She whispered words of healing, and a silver light glowed from her palms. Then it stopped, and Sarah inhaled sharply.

“What is it?” Landon demanded. “What’s wrong?”

“I can’t heal him,” she said, frightened. “There’s something greater at work here than me.”

“That’s not possible. Try harder!”

“It won’t work!” cried Sarah.

“Nonsense! Just do it!” Landon insisted.

“It won’t work!” she cried again. “It won’t work! Nothing will heal him.” She looked at him tearfully. “I’m sorry, Landon. He’s going to die.”

Landon’s muscles seized up and his stomach dropped out. He suddenly felt very hollow. “No...” he whispered.

Michael broke free of him momentarily and let out a bloodcurdling scream, before Landon and Rand got him under control again.

*

A distant scream split the air, and Nicola’s heart stopped for a second. “Michael,” Katie muttered. She clicked to her mare, and they sped up, weaving in and out of the trees even more quickly.

Finally, they broke free of the Border Forests, and Nicola could see a small shack in the distance. “What’s that?” she asked, pointing.

“An Azhan watch house,” Katie said. “That must be where they are.” She reached down and rubbed her horse’s neck. “C’mon, girl. You can make it.”Miraculously, the horse seemed to respond, and they practically flew across the barren field.

Katie finally drew her horse to a stop, and dismounted. She noticed Ivy leaning against the watch house, and handed her the reins. “Could you walk her out for me, please?” she asked. “I need to be in there.”

Ivy looked at Katie for a moment, but took the reins and began walking the mare away.

“Thank you,” Katie said breathlessly. She turned to Nicola. “Let’s go.” She reached for the doorknob, turned it, and opened the flimsy wooden door.

All eyes turned to them, except for Michael’s, when they entered. “Nicola! Katie!” exclaimed Landon. “You’re here!”

Katie didn’t respond, but crossed the room in a few strides and came to stand near the bed. She looked down at Michael for a moment, and then placed her hand lightly over his eyes. After a moment, she withdrew her hand, and looked at Landon. “He’s been poisoned,” she told him. “With vita venenum, lifesbane. There is no cure for this, surely you know that.”

Landon looked away, but nodded. Then he turned to stare back at Katie. “Not even elves have a cure?”

Katie shook her head. “There is no cure for death,” she said. “If he had not broken the headpiece, then maybe he would have survived, but now...” She sighed. “Now he’s as good as gone.”

“Ga...kk...!” choked Michael, straining against the strength of Landon and Rand. His teeth ground against each other and the veins in his neck popped out.

“Kowaisou,” Katie whispered in the elf-tongue. She traced a hand over Michael’s forehead, removing the headpiece. He calmed a little, but thrashed again when she withdrew her hand.

With that hand, she reached for a small pouch that was attached to her belt. She unsnapped the pouch, her scarred fingers reaching inside of it. From it, she drew a small, crystal vial of clear water. The small bit of light caught on the bottle and threw rainbows on the walls.

“What’s that?” Landon asked her, his voice almost a whisper.

“Water from the Fountain of Dreams,” she replied.

His eyes widened with realization. “Then that’s–”

“Yes,” she said. She took the stopper out of the bottle and placed it on the small table next to the stumpy candle. “I could save Michael with this.”

Nicola remembered, too, what Sera had told them all those long years ago. “No!” she burst out. “If you drink, you’ll–!”

“I know,” Katie said with a small smile. “It’s okay, though. I haven’t lived for four years. No matter the outcome right now, I’ll never have the chance to live again.”

“Katie...”

Katie turned to Landon and Rand, and said, with quiet finality, “Let him go.”

Landon gulped, but stopped restraining Michael. Rand, too, let go. Michael screamed again, and flung himself at the wall. A sickening crack resounded in the watch house.

Katie brought the crystal vial to her lips and drank the water of the Fountain of Dreams, water that had the power to give and take life.

The last drop slid down her throat, and she set the vial down on the table. She reached out and found Michael’s hand, entwining her scarred fingers with his seizing ones. Michael stopped thrashing and trembled, still in an ill unconsciousness. Katie leaned down and touched his lips with hers.

A small gust of wind picked up, and Nicola could see a curling green aura, like smoke, blowing from Katie’s body into Michael’s. “This is... Katie’s soul,” she whispered. “It’s going to protect Michael.”

Michael had stopped trembling, and it almost seemed as if he was sleeping, now. Katie, though, was becoming paler by the moment as her soul bled out of her and seeped into Michael.

Michael’s brown eyes opened. He seemed confused and a little weak, but coming back. He pulled his head back and said, “Katie?! What–?”

Then Katie’s knees gave out and she fell onto Michael’s chest, her soul still flowing into his through their interlocked hands. Katie’s eyes were closed, and her mouth was slightly open. She breathed heavily, as if each breath was a painful ordeal.

If I let go of your hand clasped in mine,

with that, it would probably all come to an end right now.

Michael stared at their hands, their fingers interlaced, Katie’s green-tinted soul flowing into his body and up his arm, to his chest. His heart felt warm, he realized. “What’s happening?” he asked quietly.

What I wanted to know, and even what hurts me–

Even those were left undone.

Katie spoke, but her eyes stayed closed. “I’m saving you, of course,” she said. “You were going to die. It was the least I could do.” A tear squeezed its way out of her closed eye, and with a thin, pale hand, she wiped it away. “It hurts...” she whispered, as if she needed to make an excuse for crying. Still more tears flowed down her cheeks.

Even though I should want to wish

for you to find happiness,

I can’t, I’m too immature.

I wipe the tears, but they still keep flowing.

“What do you mean?” Michael said softly, still confused. “I’m fine, you don’t need to save me.”

Goodbye

I love you

more than anyone else

Even more deeply than the sky.

“You always need saving,” she replied, still with her eyes closed. “You were poisoned this time–lifesbane. I used the water from the Fountain of Dreams.” She drew another sharp breath. “This hurts... Like my heart is being ripped from my chest,” she said, more to herself than anyone.

“Don’t do this,” pleaded Michael, and Nicola was surprised to see a small wetness forming in his eyes. “I’m fine now. You can stop. Don’t do this.”

Don’t cry

We’ll meet again, right?

But not being able to see you

is something only I know about

Katie opened her green-brown eyes and let out a small chuckle. “You never change, do you, Michael?” she laughed faintly. “Still don’t know when to thank me...”

This fate that we’ve chosen...

Someday, you too will understand its true meaning.

“I’m serious, Katie. That’s enough. Don’t die,” Michael said quietly, but his voice took on a careening note. He hugged her close to him, as if trying to protect her from her fate. “I’m serious! Stop it now!”

“Michael... that hurts...” she said quietly against his chest.

The treasure of memories that we’ve made

will always live on deep inside my heart.

Tears flowed down Nicola’s cheeks as she watched the two. She felt a weight on her shoulder; she looked up and saw it was Landon. He was watching, too, with the same sadness as her.

No one noticed Chelsea slip out the door.

I thought it was a beautiful thing

The word called “hope”.

In an almost painful embrace,

I’m looking up at you.

“What are you going to do without me, huh?” Katie asked him with a slight joking attitude.

“I don’t know...” he said, resting his chin on the crown of her head.

Thank you

I love you

more than anyone else

Even more strongly than dreams.

“You’d just better be more careful this time,” she told him. “I won’t be around to save you again.” She smiled one last time, as widely as she could. “But don’t worry. I’ll be with you. You just won’t be able to see me. And we’ll meet again. So don’t worry.”

“Can’t you stop this?” he asked her once more.

She shook her head, but didn’t say anything. She just drew in one, long, ragged breath.

Hold me.

Don’t let go.

But don’t utter

even a single thing...

One last, pale-green puff of her soul squeezed its way through their hands, and into Michael. Then Katie’s fingers went slack, and her head fell against Michael’s chest.

“Katie.” Michael stared straight at the wall ahead of him, his hand clenching hers. “Katie?” he tried again, tears shining in his eyes. He pulled her body closer to his. He bowed his head so his bangs hid his face and his shoulders shook.

Don’t cry.

I love you.

Even if we’re separated far apart,

I can still live with you...

~~**~~

Tempest: Ahhhhhh... wasn’t that sad?! *Sniff*... By the way, that song was “Hikari no Naka E” sung by Sakamoto Ma’aya and written by Kanno Youko (who is a genius). It’s a beautiful song and I love it. Ahhhhhh... no more Katie, huh? Too bad. How many chapters was she in? Three or something? Four if you count the one when you didn’t know it was her. What a short time to be in Redeo. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed that, because I enjoyed writing it. I’m so happy I finally got to this part!!! Yay!!! I thought of this many months ago when I was in the car coming home from Little Tokyo. I was staring out the window... I do my best thinking then... Yep... Okay, I’ll see you guys later! Byeeee!