The Eye of Alia
Carum finally made his way back to Windspear. He knew he was under some type of spell but too weak to fight it.
When he reached the stables, he noticed his beloved horse Rainen being groomed by Bytor. He wanted to tell Bytor of the events of the night before but held off.
Bytor greeted his friend with a smile which quickly faded. He knew his friend well enough to know when something was bothering him.
“What is it Carum?” he asked.
Silence was Carum’s answer.
Bytor thought back to his vision of Alia. Certainly, she had to be wrong. Carum would never do anything to harm Kindle in any way. He loved her. Yet the warning still burned behind his eyes.
Carum finally broke the silence.
“I met a woman by the name of Ryanne last night. I believe she drugged me. I also believe Kindle is in danger but for the life of me, I cannot remember why.”
This shocked Bytor. Alia had been right all along. Kindle needed protection from both Carum and Ryanne.
He made an excuse to Carum.
“I would like to take Caden to the barracks so he can learn the Paladin ways” hoping that Carum did not pick up on his urgency.
Carum was still lost in thought and acting so strangely that he agreed to the request as an afterthought.
It did not take long for Bytor to reach the palace. He raced to Caden’s room and woke him up.
“Get up my son, we have to go now!” He demanded as he shook his son awake. Bleary eyed and confused, Caden got up from his bed and started to dress.
“Does this have to do with that lady?” Caden asked his father.
Taken aback, Bytor wondered just how much his son knew.
“Lady?” He asked his son.
Caden still half asleep mumbled something about a lady who visited him in his dream last night telling him that he and his father needed to leave the palace immediately.
“The girl that is in trouble. She needs protection, doesn’t she?” Caden asked as he became fully awake.
Bytor stared at his son incredulously.
“Hush, Caden. We need to leave NOW. Pack what you can and let’s go”
Caden finally finished his packing so father and son left the palace as quickly as possible. Their destination, the Paladin’s Barracks.
As they arrived, Bytor called an emergency meeting with the Paladin’s.
He explained that Alia had visited both he and his son with a warning. Carum was no longer to be trusted. He was distressed as a hush fell over his fellow breathren .
“There is a Mage with the Myriad that needs our ultimate protection from both Carum and a Siren by the name of Ryanne who has put a spell over Carum. This Mage named Kindle has the Eye of Alia and neither Carum nor Ryanne will stop at nothing to possess it. Our kingdom which has been in turmoil for centuries will fall if they succeed at this task”
His breathren hung on his every word.
“Kindle lives in a small village east of the palace, close to the Elourna. I have a feeling that whatever will happen will happen tonight. Anthony, I will need you to please watch Caden tonight as I will be on my way to the village to try and convince Kindle to give the stone to us for safe keeping. As we all know, only the pure of heart can replace the Eye of Alia into its rightful place. Only then, there will be peace in this land.”
Chris volunteered to go with Bytor which he very much appreciated.
“It will be dark soon, we have to have a plan of action. I will take Chris and Ty. The rest of you wait here for our return” Bytor ordered.
“If Carum comes in and asks why Caden is here. Tell him you are teaching him the ways of the Paladin’s. Do not tell him where Chris, Ty or myself are. Tell him that we are out running drills.”
With that, Chris, Ty and Bytor suited up and readied their horses.
Of all the worst times for Carum to come to the barracks, this was the worst.
“What is going on in here? He asked suspiciously.
Bytor, always quick with an answer simply told him “we are running drills”
Carum still suspicious asked “why is Caden not going?”
This time Caden spoke up “because Anthony is going to show me the way with the sword” This seemed to appease Carum for the moment.
Night fell fast. Chris, Ty and Bytor watched as Carum mounted Rainen and took off into the night. This did not make Bytor happy at all because he knew exactly where he was heading and why.
As the three guardians mounted their horses, they kept a safe distance as to not be detected. Their pace was slow and deliberate. Too slow for Bytor’s taste. As fast as Carum was riding, Bytor was worried they would be too late to save Kindle and the Eye of Alia.
On the road they met up with three of the Myriad. The Elder informed Bytor that what was meant to happen will happen. He did not like this answer and tried to ride past her but she held him in place with a swift motion of her hand. His horse and neither of the other horses could move. Just like they were in some sort of trance.
“What are you doing? Don’t you want to save Kindle?” Bytor demanded.
Again the Elder explained “what is meant to happen, will happen. You cannot stop fate. Her unborn is the one.”
This confused and angered Bytor. “Her unborn? Don’t you know that Carum is on his way now to harm, rape and probably kill Kindle just to get his hands on the Eye of Alia?” He spat back at them.
The Elder explained that the Eye of Alia was safe for she had it in her possession. “We were on our way to meet with you so you could keep the stone for safekeeping until Kindle’s child is old enough to return it to its rightful place”
This stunned Bytor. He never thought about this. His mind was still on the safety of Kindle.
He was even more stunned when the Elder handed him a burlap sack which contained the Eye of Alia. He held up the stone, examining it. Before the Elder spoke again.
“You had better hurry, it is almost finished. If you don’t make it in time. Carum will kill Kindle. She must survive for the child she will be carrying is the only one who can save us all”
And just like that their horses came out of their trances and galloped at top speed toward the bank of the Elourna.
Just as he had suspected, he was too late to stop Carum from harming and raping Kindle. She lay there on the bank in a pool of her own blood. Bytor feared she was already dead but to his surprise, she moved. Looking up at Bytor, she placed her hand up and blew him off of his horse into a tree.
When he recovered, he approached her cautiously. She was beaten pretty bad so much so that blood was everywhere.
“Kindle. I am trying to help you” He told her.
When she did not respond, he knew she was passed out again. He picked her up gently so as not to hurt her anymore. She opened her eyes once more and realized that the trio were here to help her not hurt her.
Bytor assessed her wounds and found many. He had no idea how she survived such a vicious attack. Why did she not fight back? She had the power to. He asked himself as he helped her onto Traya.
“I am going to take you someplace safe Kindle. Carum and Ryanne will not be able to hurt you anymore” He explained gently to her. She slowly nodded her head in understanding. He would take her to her room in her village and watch over her that night. To make sure she would be safe.
Then the four of them were off toward Kindle’s village entering by the east gate. They were met there by Aliana and Elan who both were frantic with worry. Bytor carried her into her room and lay her down on her bed while Aliana prepared medicinal herbs and Elan brought warm water to wash her wounds.
Kindle winced at the pain of being handled but it had to be done in order to dress her wounds. After a time, she fell into a deep sleep while Chris, Ty and Bytor took turns keeping vigil over her. Every now and then her eyes fluttered open wide with fear. Bytor wanted nothing more than to take that fear away. To take her pain away. Just to take care of her.
After a while the three Mages that met Chris, Ty and Bytor on the road came in to examine Kindle. The Elder placed her right hand on Kindle’s belly. Closing her eyes she simply stated “It is done. Our salvation will be in the near future”. She then turned to Bytor “You will have to take her to a safe place. If Ryanne finds out that Kindle is with child, she will kill them both. For the child Kindle carries is the answer to all of our problems. Take her to the Jasmine Coast on the other side of the Elourna. There is a Priestess by the name of Clea, she will help you”
“My son?” Asked Bytor. He had to go get his son from the barracks.
“Go quickly then. When Ryanne finds Kindle still alive, she will kill her” Said the Elder.
Bytor hopped onto Traya with one leap and was off, galloping as fast as he could to go get his son from the barracks. He nearly ran Traya to death as he finally made it to the barracks. Cautiously, he entered, afraid that Carum had already been there and found out their plan to save Kindle and the stone but Carum was nowhere in sight.
When he entered the room, he was met by Anthony who was looking after Caden.
“What happened?” he asked Bytor whose only thought was on his son.
“Just as we thought. Carum beat and raped Kindle. But he did not get the stone. The Elder has given me the stone for the moment. I need to get Caden and get out of here. You would be wise to do the same”
Anthony whistled under his breath, then said “I would never have thought Carum would do anything like this.”
As Bytor lifted his son who was still asleep, he turned to Anthony and said “It’s not Carum anymore. Ryanne has put some type of spell on him.”
Anthony gathered his things as fast as he could and followed Bytor and the still sleeping Caden toward Kindle’s village.
When they arrived, Kindle was awake. Wide eyed with fear, she looked at Bytor trying to figure out if he was really there to help her or just for the stone. Satisfied that he was there for her and not just the stone, she softened to him.
“I am sorry for throwing you back, Bytor. Sometimes I don’t know my own strength. I thought you were there to hurt me further”
Bytor smiled and simply said “I could never hurt you Kindle.”
Kindle looked toward Caden who had never woken up. “Is this your son? He will make a mighty great leader one day.” Bytor nodded toward Kindle, thanking her for her uncanny insight.
Then her gaze turned to Anthony. “You are terrified. So am I. We have to get to the Jasmine Coast as soon as possible. Ryanne and Carum will be here shortly and I am still too weak to fight them”
Kindle packed what she could with a little help from her mother. Then climbed on Traya with Bytor while Caden still half asleep climbed with Anthony on his horse. Chris and Ty followed suit.
Their destination was the Jasmine Coast where they would find The Priestess Clea.
They had left just in time for in moments after they left, Ryanne and Carum showed up looking for the Eye of Alia. Upon not finding the stone, they lay siege to the tiny village destroying and burning everything in their path.
The Myriad, with Aliana and Elan in tow left the village quietly right after Kindle and the
Paladin’s had left.
All were safe for now.
