Fan Fiction ❯ Stolen Prayer ❯ On The Run ( Chapter 8 )

Stolen Prayer

Chapter Eight--On The Run

"They found us," Nicholai whispered. "We have no choice but to fly and pray to whatever God you misplace your faith in that we escape them in the forest."

Gargoyles gave shrill cries all around them, swooping lower and endeavoring to delay the two escapees until their Masters advanced.

'But they underestimate me,' Nicholai's eyes sought for a break in the line of the trees- - anywhere he thought to lose the pursuers. "Let's have a gamble," He told Wink as he wrenched her arm towards his body and tucked her under one arm. Resplendent wings of energy blinded her as Nicholai unfolded them from his back and he lurched off to the side, his velocity escalating.

Wink held on for dear life as she swallowed the life back into her body. She couldn't help but close her eyes, praying to Soa that he have mercy upon them.

"You have to trust me," She heard Nicholai say sternly. He must've sensed her trepidation. "Lean into me when I turn and don't move otherwise. Do this correctly and have no doubt that we will be able to outwit them."

Wink nodded frantically, trying to interpret to the rest of her body all that he had told her. Nicholai veered in and out of the trees dexterously, satisfaction flowing through his veins when thunderous collisions ricocheted throughout the forest. The buzzing behind him slowed as time passed and he sharply edged for a mountainside, clearing it and hugging it until he no longer could sense the enemy's charisma.

"Is it safe?" Wink opened her eyes as Nicholai decelerated his momentum.

"If it wasn't, I wouldn't be stopping." He told her bluntly. He dropped to the ground, sheltering him and Wink against a protruding stone. Nicholai heaved Wink into contact with his body, his arm automatically coming around her as he used the other to steady himself against the rock.

The viscous soil beneath him began to congeal around his boots, molding a sculpture over the leather. Nicholai suppressed breathing and brought his arm up from Wink's back to her head and pressed it against his chest to refrain her from inhaling too deeply. He took care not to smother her.

But the atrophy of the forest did not persevere and the clamor in the atmosphere did not disguise treacherous conduct. The disarray had come to pass and the exigency had lessened. Nicholai's arms fell away from Wink, and she drew herself away from him.

"Furni is over the hill," He did not inhale the long-awaited breath of liberation but instead immediately began to take charge, hiking through the woods towards Furni. "It's only a short distance away." He pivoted on his back leg and looked at Wink intently. "Are you okay?"

She nodded, mouth agape slightly. She only wished to regain her bearings. It did her no good to grouse about their misfortune, for fear of agitating him. She shuffled quickly behind him until she fell into step with his movements.

"That was close," She remarked. "Do you think they will continue to follow us?"

"Under these circumstances…" Nicholai huffed, not daring to admit that he was just as frenetic as she. He had to remain imperturbable, for her sake as well as his own. If he broke down, then she would have no one to rely on. "…no." But even Nicholai wasn't positive.

"Good," She replied, her spirits rising. "Then I won't worry."

'This enemy is unpredictable,' Nicholai's face scrunched up. 'I must be cautious not to underrate them. Although I was able to evade death twice, it does not mean that they won't be quick to catch on.'

"What will we do when we reach Furni?" Wink inquired.

"I will head for Tiberoa." Nicholai answered. "Remember we had a deal. You were to show me your skills. If you succeed in impressing me, I will take you with me." Wink nodded. "I still don't see why you want to come with me. You have people to be looking for."

"I told you that I would not stop following you until you found a way to expunge your actions in Deningrad. Besides, I have no idea where my people are. I will only be walking in circles."

"If you insist," Nicholai shook his head, nettled with her persistence. "But even still, I'm sure that Furni has heard about the fall of Deningrad. I don't think that it would be a good idea to attract too much attention, especially now that the enemy knows you're with me. It will make you a target."

"I believe that I will come to admire your stratagem," Wink laughed. "Now how are you going to resolve our blockade?"

"You're going to stay outside the city. I will go into Furni and find you an exchange pair of clothes. I'll come back for you."

"Oh really?" Wink replied skeptically. "What if you just hitch a ride on the Queen Fury and abandon me?"

"Hey," Nicholai took her words offensively. "I haven't wronged you yet, so just chill." He paused. "And the demolition of your city doesn't count."

Wink gave an exasperated sigh. "See? How do I know that you won't just take off?"

"Well then, Princess, do you have any other bright ideas?"

"Not offhand but…"

"Thought so. Now leave everything to me."

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Neet wasn't exactly a fecund village, flourishing with life. As history went, the abandoned township was in absolute rubble.

"It will take years to restore this place to its natural youth," Setie had told Luanna when they had arrived at Neet, heaving up the hill, the forsaken village materializing on the horizon.

Now the hundred survivors of Deningrad unified together to set up sojourn housing until the reconstruction of Neet was consummate. Setie sat nearly outside of her tent, watching as the citizens cleared out the snow and rubble in order to recreate a new community.

"Luanna…can you feel them? Can you feel their hearts and spirits coalesce into an entire society?" Setie's head fell and she turned to the blind sister, who lay recumbent on the flooring of the tent. "I feel so useless…It's as though I really couldn't save anyone…" Setie fingered the plastic of the tent. "If not for the scourging of our people, we would not have shelter such as these tents…or food, such as what lies in our ration supply…"

"These people have strong wills. It is only natural for humans to strike back. It is for survival." Luanna's face stared up at the ceiling of the tent, although she was really gazing at something. "We must help them as they help us. We must rely on them and allow them to rely on us in return."

"How can we help them!?" Setie cried. "They're out in the snow FREEZING while we sit in here like ROYALTY and watch in amusement! It sickens me to the very core."

"I cannot delineate the features in which I describe Setie. If you can only see yourself as a burden, then maybe it is better that you do not stay here."

Setie was taken aback by her sister's words. "How can you say that?" Setie asked, breathlessly.

"You know that I do not mean for you to leave, Setie. All I am telling you is that we are not the only people suffering. But we can't stumble in any way or else we are finished as a civilization. Do you understand me now, sister?"

Setie did not respond immediately. Luanna's mundane theories did not strike Setie directly. She usually played roundabout games with Setie's mind, doing more than just irritating her.

"How can you believe that we are strong enough?" Setie asked quietly. "We searched every nook and cranny and could not find a trace of Miranda or Wink. There is no doubt that Queen Theresa perished with her city and there isn't even enough of us to stay unified."

"Then that is your own belief." Luanna responded.

Setie continued watching the people put their sweat and tears into the revival of the city. Their penchant for overexerting themselves in their line of duty did not stir Setie in a negative way, but one of inspiration and admiration. She yearned to be strong like her people.

"Dart and the others will know what to do," Setie whispered. "I just hope they arrive soon."

"You need to start learning to make decisions on your own, Setie," Luanna sat up and folded her hands in her lap. "We're living a new life now. You are your own individual and you must accept it."

Setie paused, allowing her sister's words to permeate through her mind for a little longer. Finally, she pushed herself to her feet and strode out of the tent, ready to participate in renovating the city.

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"Bale is upon us," One of the three knights looked yonder over the crag. He turned back to his companions. "Grant me leave to find his Majesty Albert. He'll know what to do."

The second knight nodded. "I would not deny it. For the ubiquitous eye of the demon who attacked Deningrad is upon us. We have no time for argument." He calmed his startled steed. "Carry on. The two of us shall ride to Seles to meet with Master Dart." He acknowledged the third knight. "Do not leave until King Albert is with you. We must reunite the Dragoons!"

The first knight bid his comrades farewell before speeding down the hill towards Bale.

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A Foresight Into Episode Nine:

Dart was accosted by the two knights on the verge of dusk. He had finally finished that roof that Shana had been bugging him about…but what was this?

"Gentlemen?" Dart slapped his hands together, and then wiped the sawdust from his body. "What seems to be the problem?" He felt like he was talking to authorities…say, a knight or a guard?

"Master Dart?" A knight on horseback called out to Dart.

"With the exception of the 'Master' part, yes that's me. What can I do for you?" By now both knights had halted in front of Dart. He pretended not to notice the fretful crowd drawing around them.

"Master Dart," The knight closest to Dart spoke, his lungs depraved of air. "Have you not heard of the incendiaries of Deningrad?"

Words were being thrown at Dart that he could not comprehend. Did this man just say that Deningrad had been torched?

"…What?" Dart asked stupidly.

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Kat