Eranithia: Prophecies: Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Mark was once again wandering through the forest, following the beautiful girl through the meadow. This time he was determined to free her of her bonds. He knew it was coming this time, but it still made him uneasy.

The woods became dark and sinister; once again the girl was bound to a tree. As he attempted to untie the ropes again, the rope bit at him. Somehow the rope had turned into a huge snake, coiled around her frail body, hissing and biting at him. It had almost caught his hand in its deadly jaws as he jumped back to safety. Even though he was just out of reach of the serpant's jaws, he could feel and smell the breath of the snake.

"Please, Mark, get Seth!" she screamed.

Mark sat up in a cold sweat. He looked around to find Jennifer staring at him. She came closer and placed her hand on his head.

"You're burning up," she said. Then she went to her travel pack to find a cloth. She took it to the river and soaked it in the cold water. He wondered why she was suddenly being nice to him again. He ignored his thoughts. Did it really matter to him why she was suddenly treating him with kindness instead of the cold way she'd turned away from him yesterday?

When she returned he said, "I just had the dream again, but this time she wasn't tied to the tree. She was held there by a giant snake."

Jennifer dabbed his forehead as she said, "It's just because we saw that snake skin. It doesn't mean she's being held captive by a giant snake."

"How do you know?"

"I don't," she admitted. "But it just sounds like too much of a coincidence."

"Coincidence?"

She stopped wiping his face for a moment to say, "Yes. You saw that giant snake skin so it would only make sense that you would dream about a snake instead of a rope holding the pretty girl tied to a tree."

"She's not just a pretty girl. Besides, we have to get Seth to save her."

"Why?" she asked wiping the cloth over his forehead again.

"Because she needs saving."

"How do you know she's not on the other side? Just trying to lure you in and kill you?"

"Because Garandol knows her. When I told him about my dream he said I was 'the one' remember?"

She must have forgotten about that conversation. But she had a point. What if Garandol had it wrong? Garandol wasn't in the dreams with him. He was only making assumptions based on what Mark could tell him. What if there was someone powerful enough to put these dreams in his head and make him see something that wasn't real? Or even make something up about a girl Garandol would have trusted?

"Old men will have dreams and young men will have visions," Garandol said sitting up and looking at them. They both turned towards him, hearing his riddling words.

"Did we wake you?" Mark asked apologetically.

"Yes, but it's of no consequence."

"What do you mean by 'old men will have dreams and young men will have visions'?" Jennifer asked. She set the cloth on a rock to dry.

"They were words spoken to me by Sol Himself," he explained sitting cross legged, facing them as he spoke.

"What do they mean?" she asked sitting next to Mark.

"They are the sign of an end of an age."

"End of an age?"

"Don't ask me what that means because only Sol will have that answer,” Garandol admitted. “There are some things even I don't know.”

Mark stared at the fire, pondering over Garandol's words. It seemed they were a part of something larger than he originally thought. It wasn't just to save a nation from their evil king, they were going to be bringing a whole new age into the land.

"What does Sol look like?" Jennifer asked out of the blue.

Mark perked up at this question. He hadn't even thought about what Sol would look like. Was he a lion like Aslan? Something more fierce, like Mirgol the dragon? Did he take human form like the Ancient Greek gods?

"No one knows Sol's true form. The fact is, He has many forms, and many names. Names that no one knows because they are in the Holy Language. There is no one in this world who can speak it without seeing death. The only time that language is spoken is in Sol's kingdom. Those who live for Him and are faithful to Him get to live in that kingdom with Him when they part from this life."

"What if you aren't always faithful? What if you mess up?" Jennifer asked.

Garandol smiled and said, "There is always grace for those who repent of their sins. If you make a mistake and don't heed His words, all you need to do is ask for forgiveness, and if your heart is truly sorry, He will forgive you and it will be as if it never happened. Sol is compassionate and merciful."

"What happens to those like Arnath who stand against Sol?" Mark asked.

"If they don't turn away from their sins then they are given to them and when they die, they are left to the clutches of Underworld. There they live in torment and pain for eternity. There is no escape of Underworld. It's an eternal resting place like Sol's kingdom, but Underworld is a place of unrest."

Mark felt his stomach twist. He hoped he could stay faithful to Sol for his whole life. Underworld wasn't a place he wanted to end up. Looking at Jennifer, he could see she was thinking the same as him. But there was something else in her eyes that he couldn't read.

"You have nothing to worry about. You have been faithful to Sol as of yet."

"But I forgot His words until it was too late," Jennifer said.

Finally, Mark understood what had put Jennifer in such a bad mood. She felt like she'd failed them all. More importantly, she felt like she'd failed Sol. Sol had given Jennifer a warning and she didn't remember it soon enough. At least, she thought she hadn't remembered in time. She was even blaming herself for what had happened to Timberfoot.

“You didn't sin in that case, child. You forgot what He told you, you didn't go against Him. And because you remembered them when you did, we were able to escape,” Garandol assured her.

“But Timberfoot didn't escape,” she said sadly, her head dropping down. She was studying her nails again as if she were about to start biting them again.

“Timberfoot is in Sol's hands. We can't worry about him now.”

“But maybe if I'd remembered what Sol told me, none of this would have happened. We could already be somewhere safe.”

Garandol smiled as he said, “But we are safe. Arnath's men couldn't get into Unterhumus if they tried. When I shut the doors, they disappeared into the cliff face again. Besides, we would have been there just as long whether you'd remembered Sol's warning before we entered or not. We didn't spend much time there at all. You did nothing wrong.”

Mark watched Jennifer as she stared sadly at the flames in front of them. He wanted to assure her everything was fine, but he wasn't sure about that himself. Timberfoot was either dead or badly injured. If the Forsaken were as bad as their name sounded, there was no chance they left him alive.

"I think it's time for a bit of breakfast and then we should be on our way," Garandol said growing the fire more to cook breakfast.

Arland woke up to the smell of the meat cooking and joined them in sitting around the fire. He didn't speak to them, he just watched as the meat cooking over the fire, waiting to eat his own portion like the rest of them.

Mark noticed how Jennifer watched Arland. Except this time her expression wasn't showing any attraction towards him. So he studied him as well. He couldn't help but notice that something was different about Arland that morning. He was quiet, had no smile on his face, and he stared at the fire as if it were speaking to him an important message.

After breakfast they grabbed their belongings and followed Garandol as he led them along the river.

"Garandol, where are we going?" Mark asked.

"North."

Mark just smiled and laughed to himself thinking, Well that is what I asked.

Mark suddenly sensed something didn't feel right. Like they were being watched. He looked back at Arland. He was looking for something in the darkness of the cave's ceiling.

"What is it?" Mark whispered.

"Sh," he said quickly holding up his hand to silence him.

Mark saw Garandol and Jennifer still walking ahead of them. They didn't notice Mark and Arland's absence as they walked up a couple stone steps towards a small door. It was then they noticed that he and Arland weren't with them.

Garandol turned back, looking at Mark then at Arland. At first his expression was one of concern, but quickly he sensed something not right as well. He readied his staff to fight. Mark pulled out his sword but Jennifer was frozen with fear. Mark started to walk towards her but a scream rang out from overhead. He turned quickly to see the creature making the sound.

A large creature with bat-like wings swooped down on them. In one fluid motion, Arland readied his bow, fitted it with an arrow then shot the creature before it reached any of them. Mark walked up to it as it writhed around in pain. He took his sword out and ran it through the creature's chest to put it out of its misery. His eyes were glued to his would be killer. It's small body stood only about two feet high. It's face was a distorted version of a human face. Tall pointed ears; big, sharp, almond shaped eyes; sharp, jagged teeth dripping with slimy, brown saliva. From its arms, like a duck's webbed toes, was skin attached to it's mid-section forming wings from its pale, white, scaly skin. Its eyes were still slightly open and Mark could see the large red iris and purple pupils. If the rest of the creature hadn't looked so hideous, Mark would have thought the eyes were beautiful.

"What is it?" he asked.

"An Imp," Arland said. "Many confuse them with vampires, but this is much different. Both are dark creatures of Underworld, but Imps are foot soldiers. They prey on human blood. It's for that reason people confuse them with vampires.

“A vampire will appear human and deceive you into thinking he is a friend and when you're most comfortable with him he will feed on your blood. In the rare occasion he does see you as a friend he will give you the option to be like him. Then he will merely bite you and you will become a vampire as well.”

Mark stared back at Garandol. These were things he already knew from books he'd read in the past. He stole a glance at Jennifer to see her reaction. She hadn't read as much as him, so her eyes were wide with fear.

“Vampires can't drink the blood of anything but an animal or a human. Elves, Dwarfs, Centaurs, and wizards have too much power in their blood that it would kill the vampire as soon as he tasted their blood. Imps on their other hand are different. They can drink anyone's blood and not die, and they only drink blood because they like the taste. They don't need to drink it to live or for nutrients. Imps are evil creatures who do not need to feed for strength. They do it for sport."

Suddenly more screams rang out from the distance.

"Go!" Garandol said. "Through the doorway. Take the winding path, we will catch up with you!”

Mark saw Jennifer disappear through the door.

“GO!” Garandol shouted but Mark hesitated, “NOW!"

Mark wanted to stay and help. There was no way only the two of them could fight off so many Imps. They didn't even know how many were coming. Even with the powers Garandol was given, they couldn't hold off the Imps forever. They needed his help.

"Mark! Get out of here. We can handle the Imps. Take care of your sister!"

Mark looked at the door just as it closed. He wanted to stay and fight, but one was flying for the door. He bolted for the door to stop the Imp. Then jumping off of a boulder into the air with a cry, he brought his sword down on the Imp, slicing it in half. The two pieces fell to the ground in a bloody mess. Thinking the Imps might not know how to get through the door, Mark threw the door open, pulled it shut behind him with a heavy thud, then tore down the narrow path after Jennifer. She would need him more than Arland and Garandol did.

Jennifer was already a good distance ahead, so Mark leaned forward to make himself run faster. It was something one of his friends, who ran for the track team at school, told him to try when running from the bullies. He almost fell over, but his legs moved faster to catch him. So he continued leaning forward as he sped down the narrow path, the rocky walls passing by as a blur. A minute later Mark had caught up with Jennifer to find her staring over the edge of a cliff. Stepping up next to her, he looked down into a chasm, seeing a faint orange glow at the bottom. Looking across the chasm he judged it to be thirty yards across. There was no way they could make the jump.

Great, he thought. Thirty yard chasm; no bridge; now what? Once again his thoughts went to his favorite movie. The broken stairway that had to be crossed in the open chasm in Moria.

He looked to his left and saw where a bridge used to be. I wonder if Garandol knows the bridge is out?

He wondered how they would be able to cross. Arland could probably make the jump and Garandol could use magic, but what if for some reason you couldn't use magic in this room?

All of this went through Mark's head over and over. He was at a loss. He had one job and that was to protect his sister and get her out of there. Now they were stuck; unsure if Arland and Garandol would make it away from the Imps. If they didn't, he and Jennifer were stuck right where they were. There was also a good chance that those Imps knew how to open doors, so if Arland and Garandol fell, the Imps would be in the tunnel in no time and on their way to them. His only hope left was Sol so he sat down, lowered his head and spoke in his mind only.

Sol, I'm not sure how this works. I've seen people in my world do this, and maybe it's the same here. But I need you now. Please send some kind of help. I don't want to die here in this empty room, and I certainly don't want Jennifer to die here either.

Mark sat there in silence for a few minutes waiting for an answer. He didn't know if his prayer was heard; he didn't know what he was doing. Mark had never been taught a thing about faith and trusting in a higher power. All he knew about religion was what he read in books. Every world had a different way to worship; a different god; a different religion. Was this god any different than the one people talked about in his world? Were they the same? Did they watch what happened in both realms they created? Were they even real?

Just when he was about to give up hope he heard racing footsteps coming towards them. He pulled out his sword as he stood up. Jennifer stood behind him with her sword out. She looked too scared to use it, but Mark was glad for her being there. Two with swords was better than just one.

They stared at the mouth of the tunnel just fifty feet away from them and waited. The footsteps grew louder and louder as they came closer. Mark wished he knew who or what was coming. Not knowing seemed worse than dealing with whatever came bursting out of the tunnel.

His feet planted in a wide stance, he stared at the mouth of the tunnel. The sound of his heart pounding began to to drown out the footsteps coming towards him. He tried to control his breathing in hopes it would ease his heart. He needed to hear the footsteps; they were the only indicator he had of when whatever was coming towards them would finally reach them.

Suddenly Garandol and Arland came bursting out of the tunnel. Relieved, Mark lowered his sword and let out the breath he'd been holding in.

"It's a miracle," Arland said. "I didn't think we would get out of there."

"Sol was looking out for us," Garandol assured him.

"What happened?" Mark asked sheathing his sword.

"Well, there we were, completely surrounded and overwhelmed by the Imps sheer numbers,” Arland recounted the story. “But then something came into the cave. At first I thought it was Mirgol, but it was much too small, but it was definitely a dragon of some sort. It flew in from the North, where the river was flowing. It came in and began crushing and biting and chewing the Imps. The Imps turned on the dragon and we slipped through the door.”

"I felt Sol's presence," Garandol said. "Not like normal, because He's always around us, but stronger, like He was in physical form. I believe He was the dragon."

"Wouldn't He have been a bigger dragon?" Mark asked confused.

"Like I told you before, Sol can take whatever shape He wants."

"Like a deer?" Jennifer asked.

They looked at her and she looked back awkwardly.

"That's the shape He took in my dream. He spoke to me as a deer."

Garandol smiled and said, "Of course. He would take the shape of anything to be heard. In your case, a deer."

"But it was just a dream wasn't it?"

"Not everything is as it seems, my dear."

Garandol then looked around seeing their new predicament. Then he sat down patiently on the edge of the chasm. He seemed at ease as if being stuck didn't bother him.

"I'll go see if there's another way across," Arland said.

Mark watched him leave then looked back at Garandol sitting patiently on the ledge. He decided to join the old man; there was more than likely a lesson Garandol wished to teach him.

"So what are you not telling us?" Mark asked, kneeling down next to him.

"What aren't you asking me?"

Mark smiled and gave a small laugh before he asked, "Do you know the way across?"

"Yes I do."

"Then how do we cross?" Mark asked.

"The Leap of Faith."

"Leap of faith?" Mark asked. "Only Arland can jump across this, and that's because of the strength he has as an Elf."

"This is true, but who says you have to jump across the gap?"

Mark stared at him until Garandol continued on and said, "There is an invisible path to my left. Only one with enough faith can walk across it to the other side and show the way for his friends. You see that torch over there?" Garandol asked pointing at the small, faint glow in the distance.

“That small floating orange glow?” Mark asked; he'd been wondering what that was when he first noticed it a few minutes ago.

Garandol nodded and said, “That is the torch to light the way."

"Do you mean there is another basin like in the Entrance Hall?"

"Do you see anything like that?"

Mark looked around the dark room. He couldn't see a basin anywhere. Just as he was about to say so, something caught his eye. There was some sort of crude, stone bowl across the chasm.

"Yes," he said as he stared at it.

It was on the edge of the cliff on the opposite side and two feet away from it was another one. Mark was beginning to understand what he had to do.

"There's a bridge isn't there?" he asked Garandol as he stared at the empty expanse.

"There is. It's called the Leap of Faith. Only the faithful can cross to light the way for his friends."

Mark stood up and walked to a place that was directly across from the two stone basins. He looked down at the orange glow below.

"What's below us?" Mark asked, looking back at Garandol as he stood at the ledge.

"The fires of Underworld, many would say, but it is the beginning of the earth's core."

Mark swallowed hard then looked at his sister. She was watching the tunnel for Arland, biting her nails. He thought it was better that she didn't see what he was about to do because if he happened to miss the path, she wouldn't see him fall to the fires of Underworld.

He looked down and thought he could see something below him, but he wasn't completely sure. Then he closed his eyes and thought, Sol, help me. Then he dropped down, falling into oblivion, thinking for sure he was going to Underworld that moment. Wind beat at his face as he fell, then he remembered Sol and suddenly he landed on something solid.

His legs gave out beneath him as he hit the hard, invisible surface, scraping up his hands and tearing a hole in his jeans. He waited a minute before trying to stand. His hands hurt but he knew he could deal with the pain for a short time. Sol would take care of him after this. Then he looked up. The ledge was only about five feet above him. Standing up, his head was just peering over the top of the ledge. He heard his sister running over to him.

"Mark!" she screamed frantically as she came into view. Then she saw him standing on the invisible surface. "How...how are you doing that?"

"Doing what?" he asked as if everything were normal.

"You're floating or something. You're not standing on anything."

"It's an invisible path. I'll be right back okay? Stay here with Garandol."

It was obvious she was at a loss for words. He was not only standing but walking on an invisible bridge. On top of that, he was acting like it was completely normal. Mark smiled at her confusion then turning away, he began walking straight across. As he did, the path gently raised up to meet the edges of the cliffs. He never noticed it's slow rising. He walked slowly, not knowing exactly where the path was.

As he looked down he could see the orange glow in the center of the dark chasm; open like a dry throat, waiting to swallow him whole. Forcing himself not to look down at the fires, he stared at a point between the two basins. Even though he couldn't see it, he knew something was holding him up; keeping him from falling into the fires of Underworld.

Walking with confidence, and quickly, he continued crossing the chasm. He looked back, hearing Arland rejoining the others. From what he could see, Arland looked astonished. His mouth was open, gawking at him. Mark smiled then looked back at the basins coming closer. He realized he wasn't nearly as scared as he thought he should be. So with absolute confidence, he picked up the pace and finished crossing the invisible bridge at a jog.

When he reached the basins, he scanned the dark expanse, looking for the small orange glow. It wasn't hard to find, being the only light around. Flickering in the darkness, it hung in the air about a hundred yards away. There was nothing but an open, rocky surface separating him from the torch. He ran for it, not wanting to delay his friends from crossing the chasm safely.

When he reached the torch, he found skeletons laying on the ground everywhere. All either reaching for the torch or in retreat from the spot. He couldn't see what it was that killed these men and dwarfs, though. Was there some kind of booby trap? Maybe there was an invisible monster of some kind waiting to kill him now if he made one wrong move.

As Mark reached for the torch, he stopped as he saw writing on a wall just off to the left. For some reason he couldn't take his eyes off of it. His curiosity grew, so he went to the wall. It was in Dwarfish, but then the letters morphed themselves into English. It said, "Ask and it shall be given to you." He looked at the torch then he looked at the writing then back again. The writing was no longer in English, but in Dwarfish again. He doubted the writing would change again so he walked back to the torch and stood, staring at its flames.

"Ask and it shall be given to you," he said. His heart beat a little harder as he looked around at the skeletons and thought, Might as well give it a shot.

"May I have the light to guide the way for my friends?" he asked in the most humble but confident voice he could muster.

He waited only a few seconds, then the torch shook, lifting from its post then floated to his outstretched hand. His breathing accelerated with excitement.

It worked!

"Thank you," he said with a small bow then ran back to the invisible bridge.

Dipping the torch into the first basin, which smelled of gasoline to him, the fire spread quickly, filling a small canal that appeared as the fire followed it. Then he went to the second basin and did the same thing. The invisible path was no longer invisible. His faith had shown them the way.

As the others began to cross the bridge, he ran the torch back to where he got it, replacing it to its stand.

"Thank you," he said with a wide smile.

As he turned to rejoin the others a voice whispered, "You're welcome."

A chill ran up his spine, stopping him where he stood. Turning back, he still couldn't see anything there. But he thought he saw an obscure figure sway slightly. The surface warping like a magnifying glass passing over a flat surface. His knees began to weaken as he stared at the empty space. Something was definitely standing there. Out of fear he tore himself away from the mysterious voice, running back to the others who were walking up to him.

"This way," Garandol said leading them down a tunnel a few yards to the left of the torch. The tunnel led them to a river. Small docks lined a section of the shore, holding more small boats; just like when they'd escaped Unterhumus.

"Is this the same river?" Mark asked, temporarily forgetting about the mysterious, invisible creature they'd just left.

"It is," Garandol answered. "If we would have stayed on the river, our attack from the Imps would have been much worse. The Dwarfs found this other way, and I was the one who put the invisible bridge in for them. They wanted a secure way to cross, and since they were there when the path was created, their faith that it would get them across was strong. But for you to get across, ask for the torch and come back was a great feat in itself. How did you know to ask for the torch?"

"The writing on the wall said to," he said simply.

"Writing on the wall?” Garandol chuckled as they neared the docks, “But it's in Dwarfish."

They stepped onto the docks, heading towards the two boats furthest out in the river.

"For a second it was in English, or basic, whatever you call it here."

"You read it in your own language?" he asked stopping and turning towards Mark.

"Yeah, but it went back to Dwarfish right away and never changed again. It said 'Ask and it shall be given to you'. So I asked and the torch came to me."

Garandol didn't speak, but his smile said enough. He was proud of Mark.

"There was something else," Mark said as they walked towards the boats.

"What is that?"

"When I returned the torch, I said thank you, but there was a voice that whispered, 'you're welcome'."

Garandol stared at him without expression.

"Who was that?" Mark asked curiously.

"The keeper of the torch. Like the bridge, he is invisible and those who don't ask for the torch, he kills."

They looked back, Arland and Jennifer were straggling, talking as they walked together. Mark fought an urge of over-protectiveness. Let her do her own thing, Mark. Maybe she'll want to stay too and you won't have to worry about going back to your world.

"That's why there were so many skeletons of men and dwarfs there?" Mark asked turning back towards Garandol.

"Precisely," Garandol said looking back at Mark

"What is he?"

"An ogre. A small ogre, but an ogre all the same. He's very kind when you use manners. That's why you must ask for the torch, not take it."

"So he handed it to me?" Mark asked, eyes widening.

Garandol nodded, saying, "You didn't feel a hand holding the torch did you?"

Mark shook his head.

"He didn't want to be given away, so he held it close to the fire as he handed it to you."