Fan Fiction ❯ Gelden ❯ Bonds ( Chapter 8 )

Chapter 8: Bonds

A shadow flew across the slowly lightening landscape. The shadow had crossed an ocean, mountains and now as it drifted quickly across the forest it grew larger. As the sun broke into the sky, the shadow flared its wings and dropped toward the treetops. Cedar shivered as the sunrays fell on her cold skin. Her feet touched treetops and she stared into the morning light. Warmth spread over her body as she stood there. In one night, she had crossed the sea and mountains and she barely felt fatigued. She could have flown further, but now there was daylight. Humans feared strange things and she didn't want to risk being mistaken for a demon.

The swift wings she had flown on ceased to exist and she dropped off the tree, landing softly on the dark forest floor. Darkness of a place little sunlight could reach surrounded her. She brushed a few pine needles out of her hair and looked around. She had landed near the edge of the woods, just north of the town Merivan. She listened to the waking forest and focused. There was a ringing noise coming towards her from Merivan. It was somewhat harmonious and it soothed her.

Cedar had heard it before and was she sure she was one of two who could hear it. She would find Adem and Falon easy enough if she followed that sound. Slowly she began picking through the foliage, heading south, out of the forest.

About two hours later, the trees began to thin and the forest became lighter, until finally she stepped out into a grassy plain. She blinked in the light and looked into the distance. Trees were scattered along the horizon and far out she could see a few black dots she figured to be farmhouses. Nearby there was a herd of horses grazing in the shade of the trees. She started to walk again, that beautiful ring in her head slowly getting louder.

A cool breeze came down from the mountains and whipped her hair around. A nearby horse neighed and shook its head in the breeze. Cedar wondered briefly if the horses were wild, or animals owned by the distant farm. It would be helpful in the day to have a horse, she thought. Of course, it would become too bothersome to take care when she was almost constantly travelling around, oftentimes by flying great distances at night. The horse would probably die of exhaustion or starvation if it tried to keep up, or had to be locked up while she was away. Besides, she could travel at least as fast as one of those horses if she wanted to. Though her swiftness in flight was superior to her swiftness on land, and if she had not been trying to avoid attention, she most certainly would be racing along the countryside as fast s she could.

She assumed that Falon and Adem had, after awhile, guessed that there was something more to her then she let on. They had often noticed that when on the road with her, they often managed greater distances in shorter time. But while they may have been suspicious, they never questioned her and she never them. Not they she had too.

Cedar had known Adem a long time ago, whether he had remembered or not. She felt like laughing whenever he spoke in his native language thinking no one knew what he had said. She also had almost laughed when Falon introduced herself. She saw through their story of two skilled thieves almost immediately, but she played along. She knew she was destined to meet up with them and she knew she had to find them again, whether they believed she was long gone with treasure, or dead from the fire. She had to find Falon especially. She was the source of that harmonious resonance, and that wonderful music to Cedar's ears was a calling. Cedar could hear that calling so strongly when she first approached Falon.

It was a sound that denoted a person with the power to summon. An incredibly rare Talent, that Cedar herself had. Falon could use it, but judging by the fact Falon had never heard the resonance from Cedar, Falon had never truly summoned. She had tried of course, so she had known she could summon (Cedar had witnessed that in the basement. Falon's power had been so great it had shattered the spell that had frozen Cedar.) Perhaps that was for the best, Cedar then thought. Legendary Spirit Summons could kill their summoner as easily as they could kill their target. The Summoned Spirits could create a bond between the summoner and target so strong that they often shared the pain of death together. This was the reason why the Talent was rare; many who could summon, often died from the mental feeling of pain during their first summon. Only those who were strong enough to take the immense pain lived, and Cedar was sure Falon would succumb as many had before her.

Only four summoners were alive at the moment, to Cedar's knowledge, and only two had ever really summoned, those being herself and the witch Kione. One was a prince in a Northern Kingdom. He had refused to summon after learning of what could happen, and now was studying law. This prince had also a brother who could summon and had used his Talent (Cedar had once witnessed him summon, and been taken aback by the power he had brought forth. Cedar had been sure it had been stronger than anything she had and could ever possibly summon), but he had recently died from illness, most ironically. Falon was the last that she knew was alive.

Of course, when Cedar had discovered Falon, travelling along with that poor Eyyuve, Adem, she knew it could only be THE Princess Falon Zephyra. The resonance, the name, and the news that she had run away about a year and a half earlier, had been a dead give away. Cedar had figured it out, not even bothering to look at the somewhat hidden manners of the girl. The only thing she hadn't known about the two of them was that they were being hunted by Hardis.

Hardis wanted summoners. They attacked Zephyr, not realizing that Falon was in Temyna, where the two summoning princes' were, learning about her power. Cedar assumed the girl knew about the consequences of summoning, and had realized when she had attempting summoning a dragon in Cerik, Falon didn't care if it killed her, as long as she got revenge on Traque for destroying her home. It frightened Cedar. She knew and wanted Falon to stay alive. And she knew she had to find her before Traque did, in order to save her.

She reflected on her first summoning, and remembered the pain it had brought down onto her. She had been attacked by demons while still new in the world. The demons had been ripped to shreds, and the pain had been horrible to her. Fortunately, the beast had died quickly enough that the pain didn't linger. Only a memory of it lingered and that had gone away with a tender caring hand… Keipai Cedar had seen to that.

A bitter memory stung her heart when she remembered the second time she summoned to take revenge for the murder of Keipai. Those wounds had been real, not the shadow of pain. She still had scars from where her flesh had ripped open in the same places as her target, which had been another Fusion creature. And the pain from those wounds had never completely gone away until recently. All because she had wanted revenge for a loved one. She smiled sadly at the thought and thumbed her pouch.

Inside was the Obsidian Mage. The object she had longed for, she now possessed. And now that she had it, the pain was gone. It was bliss in away. Being a creature of Fusion, she had lived untold years and ever since that second summoning over eight hundred years ago, an inner phantom pain had tortured her.

Long ago, the statuette had been used by medics to remove pain from their patients. It didn't heal, just removed pain. But that was all she wanted. And once she found Falon, she had planned to go back to that eternal pain, all so Falon may live, when she decided to take revenge for her loved ones.

"Get up, kid! Someone's coming!!!" someone screeched into Adem's ear. Adem's eyes bolted open and he nearly fell out of the tree. Heart pumping, he stared around looking for who had yelled at him. Suddenly something sharp dug into his arm and he winced. The owl had landed there and was digging it's talons in.

"He's really bad!" The owl screamed. Adem's jaw dropped as he stared at the owl. "No bloody time to goggle, you simpleton, get into the thicker leaves!"

Adem nodded and climbed up higher, the bird still attached to his arm. The Suzen-U tree seemed to be cold now, frozen almost. Adem could feel the tree's fear almost, and as it seemed the owls also. He crouched down against the truck and peered down. He could see a horseman approaching the tree and a wave of intense nausea swept through him. There was a glint of light from the left side of the man's head, through a mass of long blue hair. It was Traque and he was heading the same way Adem was.

A series of horrible thoughts raced through Adem's mind as the handsomely deadly psychopath stopped by the tree. Adem could have sworn he was sniffing the air. The bastard followed me… Somehow, that demon managed to follow me… Adem thought, and then he could see Traque looking through the leaves. He was staring right were Adem was. The sick feeling swept through him again as the cold gaze continued to stare up. And then it was gone. Traque looked ahead on the road and continued riding. He never looked back.

Adem almost sighed with relief, but he restrained himself from moving until long after Traque was out of sight. The tree seemed to unstiffen along with him and the owl finally let go of his throbbing arm. Adem rubbed it and stared at the owl.

"I guess I should thank you for warning me." Adem said. He could see the tree shudder with laughter again and the owl fluffed up. "I know that guy and I'm surprised he didn't try to burn me out of the tree. I could have sworn he saw me."

Well I'm certainly glad he didn't burn thee out, young master… The tree said. The owl fluffed again.

"It would have been bad for all of us…" The owl said. Adem looked back down and the owl looked back at him and started laughing. The surprised look had returned.

It seems my owl friend has taken a liking to thee. The tree said. Adem shook his head.

"I've never heard of talking owls." Adem said. The owl started laughing and Adem suddenly realized that the owl was really just sitting there. The words he heard were in his mind.

He's not talking. He's merely projecting his opinions through a bond he created with thou. I believe the Eyyuve often bond with animals. The tree went on.

"What do you think I am?! A parrot? Of course I'm not talking!" The owl continued to laugh. Adem gaped.

"But… only when the age is right, and the elders converse with the Suzen-U can my people bond with an animal!" Adem began to protest. The tree shuddered again and Adem began to understand.

Great tasks await thou, young master. Am I not Suzen-U? According to thou art's custom, the Suzen-U is the one who decide when and what thou art's youth can bond with I believe thee will need it soon. I have long felt something great approaching. Tis now inevitable and I believe thee will be a part in it. So does my friend. He decided he would help thee, as thee slept.

"I'm stuck with you if you like it or not." The owl threatened. Adem burst out laughing. For the first time since leaving the Woodfall, he felt as if he were back in the shady forest with his childhood friends.

"I hope you enjoy journeying though the hot desert." Adem said. The owl seemed to ruffle excitedly.

"There is a tasty bred of mice there." The owl replied and gave a hoot of happiness. Adem held out his arm and the owl flew down, landing on it. Adem winced again.

"You don't mind flying most of the way?" Adem said, realizing he wasn't sure if his arm could take holding the owl for very long. He would have to get his leather bracers out, if the owl would be hitching a ride.

"I don't mind, for awhile at least. I'm very tired, though. I'm usually sleeping right now." The owl said. Adem realized that this particular owl, by deciding to go with him, had just given up one of its most important traits. If this owl was going to travel with him, he was going to have to give up his nocturnal ways. And that also meant Adem might have to start helping with his meals. If this owl couldn't hunt at night…

"You're getting all worried about my diet! Stop it! I'll be fine!" The owl interrupted his thoughts. Then, smugly, he added, "I can read your mind, too, so don't try to hide anything, now."

Adem grinned and turned back to the tree and bowed, causing the owl to screech and fly off his arm.

"I must leave now, Ancient One. I thank you for your hospitality and…" He looked at the owl, who had perched one of the lower branches. "…blessing. I hope I shall return and we can speak again."

The tree shivered and its branches almost seem to bow to him in the wind. May thy journey be safe and thy fortune good. I'll look forward to the day we can talk again, young master.

Then, with a wave, Adem began to walk down the road again. The owl soared up over his head. Adem felt refreshed and began to think about what the tree had said. `Great tasks awaited him'. Adem figured they involved Traque and the Hardis, somehow. Suddenly he became aware of the owl above him, reading his every thought.

"You understanding this?" he mentally asked the bird, figuring he was a part of everything now.

"Mostly. You got tied into this when you met Falon and her problem with Hardis became your problem." The owl replied. "And now that you decided to leave her with that knight, perhaps to return later and take her hand in marriage"-

Adem suddenly felt shocked as if he had fallen through the ice of a frozen stream. The owl started laughing hard. "I'm joking… just joking… You don't have much of a sense of humor do you?"

Adem continued walking, and tried to shut out the comedian of a bird. Eventually he became aware of a small stream of the bird's memories and thoughts. It wasn't much different from the Sight, but it was a lot less chaotic.

"Hey… what are you doing?" The bird suddenly asked, realizing Adem had found `the spot'. "Don't read my mind!!!"

Adem grinned to himself and thought to the bird, "Then don't read mine." Then he shut off that part of his mind and the bird's thoughts disappeared. He could still hear what the bird wanted to project to him, likewise he could project to the bird, but no longer could the bird or he freely read each other's minds.

"And then there was silence." The bird said bitterly. Obviously he had enjoyed sifting in Adem's thoughts. "Oh well, I'm gonna fly ahead and see if I can keep tabs on that scary guy, Traque, from before."

"That would be a good idea." Adem replied, projecting the mental words back to the bird.

"See ya later!" The bird called, and Adem watched as he flew ahead. A few hours later, when dusk had come, Adem had gone through Messik, bought supplies and reached the edge of the desert. The owl had returned and was now perched on Adem's arm (on which he now wore his leather bracers). The desert wouldn't be a problem to travel at night. Adem had consulted a man, who often traveled the desert, in Messik and had discovered the northern part was easily covered on foot within about three days, or two nights, depending on how you decided to travel it. Traque had already entered the desert and, being on a horse, was already halfway through, according to the owl.

Adem began to walk again as the heat of the desert's day, became the chill of the desert's night.

Tall white walls shone orange in the sunset as Lodon and Falon finished their journey in the back of the farmer's cart. They had reached the grand city of Palador. Lodon helped Falon out of the cart as the farmer headed off to set up his stall for tomorrow when he could sell his goods. Lodon gave him an extra gold coin as they left.

Falon looked around at the tall buildings and the people. They were dressed colorfully, and all seemed to be cheerful. There was a festival approaching, Lodon told her, and this month was usually spent celebrating Firspus, the fire god. They had a celebration for each god, for an entire month and they celebrated the leftover months with good harvests, good weather, and they even had one where everyone just gave gifts. Falon wondered how these people could handle so many celebrations, but then remembered this was the capitol kingdom and was immediately struck with a pang of homesickness. At seeing her look miserable, Lodon had quickly suggested they find an inn. So they walked up the main streets, Lodon seeming to know his way around, until the came to a homely looking place called the Rooster's Nest. Lodon paid for two rooms, brought their things up, and then met Falon down in the common room. Falon was sitting near the fireplace, looking dreamy as she listened to a pair of bards strum and sing about the fire god and how he fought bravely along with the Fire King. Lodon made his way through the crowd of people and sat down next to her, signaling a waitress to bring him a mug, and looked over Falon, concerned.

Although she seemed intent on the song, Lodon noticed that beneath her dreamy look, she was very tired. She was tapping her foot to the music, but to Lodon even that slight movement seemed weak. He also noticed that she seemed very pale.

"You look ill…" Lodon said and Falon seemed to come out of her trance. She smiled at him and shook her head.

"I'm merely weary from riding in that cart." She said. "And I'm afraid. I'm afraid Hardis might be here in Palador, waiting…" She said with a sigh. Lodon grasped her hand.

"I promise they won't find you again. Especially that this Traque doesn't find you. I love you like a daughter and I won't let anyone hurt you. I'm going to bring you to where no one will hurt you. We just need to go about two weeks south of here. We'll stay here and rest for as long as you need, though, if you are sick." Lodon said, with the air of a concerned father. If Aurora had heard him just then, she would have been shocked. Very few had ever seen this side of Lodon Camlin.

Falon nodded and went back to listening to the harp. The waitress came over with Lodon's drink and he gratefully took it. She gratefully took the coin he handed her. He drank, and thought. He would bring her to where the people were peaceful and protecting. His homeland, Kindalas, would welcome them. There might be trouble when they realized he had renounced his Knighthood and returned, but once he explained the situation, he knew they would help.

Falon had told him Hardis was after her. He knew that she had a rare Talent, and could only assume that was why Hardis wanted her. After she told him the brutal attacks Traque had made on her, he knew there was something about Hardis that threatened everyone. If his duty as a Ziech Knight meant fighting the Demonic, it would be honorable to defend Falon against something that might certainly concern the Demonic?

He would handle whatever the Ziech decided to throw at him, and he would protect Falon. Not only because of his fatherly feelings, but to prevent the potentially dangerous power she had from falling into darkness.

And perhaps, he thought with a smile, my son will be there. Lucas…

Suddenly Falon made a noise. Lodon broke from his thoughts and looked over at her. She had fallen asleep. Still smiling, Lodon set his mug aside, and carried Falon up to her room. He laid her down on her bed and pulled the covers over her. Then he went into his room and lay down, listening. He remained in a half aware state, the rest of the night, ready to wake if any sound other than Falon's peaceful sleeping were to drift from the other room.

Celiak watched with a cautious eye as the two potentially dangerous bounty hunters shook hands with each other. Poe had seemed extremely suspicious of Deatrixx, but they seemed to respect each other in their duty. The listened to their orders intently.

Find the Fusion Beast and the Girl Summoner called Falon. Bring them to Y'Xar alive. If there is a male travelling with them, you may kill him if he tries to retaliate (Poe had seemed excited about that). Once you reach Y'Xar, you will receive payment. Your pay is your demand. There are two Knights out searching for the thieves as well. If you happen to come across them, you may take any means, besides killing them, to stop their search. Be wary of the female Knight.

After Celiak had briefed the two, they had made some bounty hunter's oath and shook hands. Celiak still didn't understand its concept. Then the two hunters had bid farewell, and gone, leaving Celiak still confused, and hoping, that he never had to deal with bounty hunters again.