Eranithia: The Healing River: Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Arnath walked into Mark's cell, frustrated about this unshakeable sleep Mark was in. He'd even given him a couple good lashings with his sword on Mark's back and he still didn't wake. Arnath didn't know how this could have happened. He hadn't put Mark in this enchanted sleep. Could Seilnai have done it from a distance? Did she even know about this? Was it Garandol and his magic?
Regardless, he wasn't about to let this stop him from hurting the young man. Mark would receive his daily beating as promised. How could Arnath let him down? He was a man of his word...usually.
“I don't know how you're doing this, boy, but it won't save you. You will wake one of these days. Even if you don't, it won't stop me from eventually killing you,” Arnath said, walking around Mark. “You have caused me quite a bit of trouble the past year and a half, and now I have you. I have both you and your sister in my clutches. The only difference is, I love your sister. She is my daughter now.”
Mark's face didn't flinch from Arnath's words. Arnath was hoping that there would be some kind of response from his prisoner, but he was only met with disappointment. He didn't realize that the sleep Mark was put in was induced by Sol's power, and only Sol could lift the power that kept Mark asleep.
“You know, Mark, it's rude to ignore your king,” Arnath threatened. “Of course, you don't bow down to me as your king anyhow do you? That may be the first lesson I teach you when you finally wake. Who knows? Maybe I can have both you and your sister. With both of your powers combined, we would be unstoppable. Her mind and your strength; Seth and Serina wouldn't stand a chance!”
Arnath studied Mark's face to see if there was any change, but once again, he was met with disappointment. In a sudden outburst of rage, Arnath struck Mark across the face, giving him two small cuts with the rings on his fingers.

Seilnai sat up in bed suddenly, feeling a sharp pain on her left cheek. Touching the sore spot, she felt two small marks where she had been scratched unexpectedly. She had no idea why she was feeling pains from wounds no one was inflicting on her. Who could get close enough to Seilnai without her knowing? Who was brave enough to hurt her if they did? Possibly Serina, but she was nowhere near.
What was it Serina did to her mind? She had invaded somehow and not been poisoned by her magic. She was hurt, but only temporarily. Perhaps Serina had poisoned her to make these minor injuries appear at her will! She would pay for this, if it was the last thing Seilnai did.
The dark witch rose from her bed and went to the mirror. There she was able to see the wounds on her cheek. Two small scratches lined her left cheek. They looked like they had once been small cuts, but she couldn't remember anything causing it. Looking closer she saw something else at the top of the scratches; it was a symbol she had only seen a few times before. She recognized it as Turmna's insignia. It was the shape of a serpent's eyeball. Arnath had a ring with that symbol on it.
Turmna is punishing me for letting Seth and Serina go, she thought.
Seilnai couldn't let anybody see the mark on her face, so she took out her makeup and applied an extra layer of white to her face, covering up the scratches and Turmna's symbol. After successfully covering the newest blemish on her face, Seilnai dressed back in her battle garments and left her room in the Pub/Inn in Trondil to continue on to Serpa. Serpa was the last town to sway to Arnath's side, or take captive. Either way, they were going to be under her command soon enough.

Seth and his small band of soldiers rode hard from Cathair Aureus. They had to beat Seilnai to Serpa before she either convinced them to join her army, or she took them captive to serve as slaves in her army. Seth looked back and did a quick survey of his companions. Serina rode directly to his right with Karis just beyond her. Arland and Tobiith were on his left with Gaith and Hiln behind him. The Centaurs always kept to the back to protect them from a rear attack. Since they were Centaurs, the bouncing of their galloping horse bodies didn't affect their aim with a bow and arrow. For humans, it would be a much more difficult task. Gaith and Hiln would have no problem continuing to run a steady pace while firing arrows behind them.
Seth was glad to have them back as his guard. Gaith and Hiln hadn't left his side since the escape from Arnath's castle after Serina's rescue. The only time the two Centaurs had left them was to help secure their own borders of Kushen. The Cathians had been trying to take over Kushen since they arrived a year ago. So far, the Centaurs had put up a great fight. Their borders had yet to be breached.
The end of the Aontacht Forest was near. They were finally back in Eranithia. At the pace they were traveling, they would hit Serpa within two days. Seth hoped they would beat Seilnai there.

Eranithia: The Healing River: Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Blinking his eyes open, Mark could barely see. A bright light shined in the center of the dungeon. Mark tried to block some of the light with his hand, but the light seemed to spread throughout the room. It was as if the source of the light was all around him, rather than in one spot. Then the light dimmed and there stood the blue translucent form of Sol. The Spirit of Sol.
“Sol,” Mark said quietly.
“Hello, Mark.”
“Are you here to tell me your plan?”
“I am here to tell you the next step,” Sol said, walking towards him.
“What's that?”
“First I have to give you important information.”
Mark waited patiently, staring up at him from the table. Sol passed his hand over the table, unlocking the shackles. Mark sat up, facing Sol.
“You and Jennifer have a strong connection, it's your blood that binds you. When I brought you into this world, I made it so your bond as siblings, and especially as twins, would be stronger than any who have been born in Eranithia. Even stronger than Seth and Serina.”
Mark sat stone still, staring at Sol.
“I did it because I had it planned all along that Jennifer would sacrifice herself to save you and your friends.”
“Why didn't you ask me to do it?”
“Because your sister has the stronger mind. Although you have a heart of gold, you tend to act before you think. Jennifer, however, was able to protect a piece of her mind, focusing on a specific memory.”
“What memory?”
“You have to learn that on your own. Before I tell you where I'm going to send you, I have to tell you more about your connection with Jennifer. Everything that happens to you affects her, same with what happens to her affects you.”
Mark reached behind him, feeling where he'd been whipped.
“Yes, the wounds you received from Arnath, she has felt. Not in the same way. For her, the slashes on your back appear on hers as scratches. But she knows when you're in pain, although right now, Seilnai doesn't know what's happening. Jennifer inside her knows though.”
“But Seilnai has grown too strong, Jennifer can't break through.”
“Yes.”
“What do I have to do?”
“You will know when the time comes, but you must be ready to face your death to save her.”
“Of course!”
Sol smiled then said, “Your heart is in the right place, but it's one thing to say it and another to do it.”
“I'm willing to die for my sister.”
Sol smiled again, then said, “Good. Now, I'm going to send you back to your own world for a short time, but only partially. You will be in both places. Anything that happens to you here you will feel it in the other world, and anything that happens to you there, you will feel it here.”
“So I should work quickly then,” Mark said.
“Yes. But be careful not to let anyone see you there. Only your parents can know you're there. Jennifer can't be allowed to see you. What happens must happen. If you change anything there, too much could change here.”
Mark nodded his understanding. Then suddenly he was standing on concrete with unfamiliar buildings surrounding him. He heard the sounds of running footsteps coming towards him. He looked back to see an open door. Darting through it, he found himself in a strange room with rows of wooden slabs, extending nearly the length of the room. At either end were rings with nets... His old memories came back to him. He was in the gym at his school. Turning back quickly he watched as a boy ran by. He looked familiar...It was him! He was watching himself run past. Then a girl, Jennifer! This was the day they first entered Eranithia he was witnessing. He stepped out as Jennifer went by, hearing her thoughts of tripping the guys behind her.
He looked back and saw a push broom leaning against the wall next to a large barrel trashcan. Mark grabbed the broom and stepped out just as Rene and his goons were about to pass. He moved quicker than they could see. With Jennifer near he could use her telekinetic powers.
Throwing the broom out, the group of bullies tripped, falling on each other. Then he pulled back the broom with his mind, set it back against the wall. The bullies recovered, then followed their leader around the corner. He followed at a safe distance. When he came to the end of the wall, he saw Jennifer alone with the bullies. Jennifer held out her hand, pinning Rene to the wrought iron fence. Rene's goons walked away, separating into two different directions, looking confused about where they were. He couldn't hear what Jennifer was saying to Rene, but he looked scared. Then she dropped him back to the ground. He staggered to his feet, running away, swearing at her as he left.
Mark darted back to the entrance of the gym, not because he was afraid of Rene anymore, but because of Sol's warning not to let anyone see him. When Rene was out of sight he sneaked along the wall, watching his sister. She was sitting on the ground crying. Crying as much as she had after being in the Cave of Truth. He wished he could go and comfort her, but then he heard a familiar noise. Arrow's call rang out through the air as he swooped down to Jennifer. She looked up, a smile spreading across her face. He was delivering a letter from him. He'd just sent it before starting his training with Garandol and Arland.
He watched her as she read his letter. By the time she was done, the tears had stopped and she was laughing and smiling again. Seeing the drastic change of devastation to elation told Mark he was the only one who could break through to her. The memory she was holding onto as the one piece of light in the darkness of the mind of Seilnai was him. But a specific memory. He had to find that memory.
She started running in his direction, so he bolted for the gym, hiding in the darkness until she'd passed. Then he made his way through the back of the school to where he knew no one would see him. Crossing the black top area where the beat up basketball hoops, used by the P.E. classes, he passed the racquetball courts, then the baseball fields. Once he crossed the track and went through the opening in the chain link fence, he would be home free. He quickened his step in anticipation of a school security guard catching him. Looking in every direction for any guard. It was empty. Not a living soul in sight.
He reached the fence then followed the dirt path towards the neighborhood he always passed through to get to the golf course. After the golf course was the green belt that would take him home.

A half an hour later he was walking up to the home he hadn't lived in in almost two years. The door was locked, so he knocked and waited for his mother to open the door for him. He heard her coming to the door, the lock slid back, then the door opened. There she stood. His mother. He suddenly found he couldn't speak.
“What are you doing here? You should be in School! Just wait-” she paused mid sentence. Something about him looked different to her. “What's going on?”
“Can I come in?” he asked. “I'll explain everything.”
“Of course, come in, come in.”
She led him into the kitchen and got them each a glass of water.
“I knew something was up when I saw you in Eranithian clothes. Are you a soldier?”
He grinned out of the side of his mouth, then shrugging his shoulders saying, “Yeah. Actually, for the past year and a half I've been heading up a small special ops team. Karis and I are the only survivors of our team.”
“Karis? Little Karis? As in Lana's cousin?”
He nodded, saying, “She's my second.”
His mother shook her head, baffled by what she heard.
“What does she look like now?” she asked.
“Beautiful, strong.”
“You like her?”
“I love her, yes,” he said, emotion tying a knot in his throat.
“I'm sorry, honey. Tell me what's going on.”
“Okay, I'll start from the beginning. I'll let Jennifer tell you later what happened when we first entered Eranithia, but right now, just an hour ago, Sol pulled Jennifer and I into Eranithia during lunch. Jennifer is back already. We spent three weeks there, finding Seth and convincing him to stand against Arnath.”
“You were successful?” she asked.
“Yes, but it took taking Broc captive so Arnath would send troops to retrieve him. For the last ten years, he'd been under Arnath's control. He was angry about Arnath murdering you and Dad, but Arnath took control of his mind before he could do anything about it. Garandol put protection over his mind so he could help us rescue Serina.”
“What did he do to Serina?” She asked angrily.
“Right, you don't know what happened in Eranithia after you died. Let's see...” he thought for a minute. “Seth found you dead and Dad dying. Arnath accused him of murdering you both. Then Seth escaped and moved from town to town until finally living in the Blood Mountains, alone for nine years.”
“He lived in the Blood Mountains for nine years?”
“I know. Nobody's lasted more than a few days in history. But Seth is special. Very special.”
“I knew he was strong, but bless him, Sol has really blessed him.”
“Well, Arnath didn't just accuse him of killing you and Dad. He had Engard put Serina in an enchanted sleep for ten years. She contacted me, here, in my dreams. The connection must have been you and Dad. That's how she was able to reach me. Garandol contacted Jennifer the same way.”
“So do you both have powers like Seth and Serina?”
“Yes, exactly the same. I just learned recently that I have his healing powers. I'm not very strong in it yet, but I was able to heal Iriand-”
“Iriand?” She asked surprised to hear the Youngliff's name.
“Yes, Lana's cousin. Karis, Lana and Iriand are all cousins. What is their family connection?”
“Okay, Efreal has a brother and a sister. Efreal's brother, Ailen, is Karis's father. Sheilan, his sister, is Iriand's mother. Iriand was probably only two last time I saw him.”
“He was on my team,” Mark said sadly, looking at the counter.
“He's dead?” she asked.
He looked at his mother, tears pooling in her lower eyelids. She blinked, forcing a few tears out. He nodded sadly.
“He was a good soldier. He was a reader you know?”
She tried to smile, but the thought that such a young Elf had died broke her heart as much as it broke his.
“He was a good friend too. He was the first one I ever healed. He read the mind of the Cathian Captain we took captive, but Seilnai put some kind of protection on Armadd's mind causing Iriand to forget everything.”
There was a long silence before he continued.
“Where was I?” he asked.
“Rescuing Serina.”
“Right, after the battle where we let them take Broc back, Jennifer was sent back here, but I stayed in Eranithia to train. Jennifer was far more advanced in her powers than I was at the time. I needed more training than she did. This is what's going to happen. She's going to come home after school and tell you I've run away. Believe her, get upset with her, whatever you have to do to make her believe that you believe her. It has to happen the same way. For me, I'm back in time a year and a half. I'm here to find a piece of me she's put a strong memory around so I can get her back.”
“Get her back?”
“She's Seilnai.”
“What? Who's Seilnai?” his mother asked, shaking her head. She was receiving a lot of information real fast, it was a lot to process so quickly.
“When we rescued Serina, Broc killed Engard, so Arnath was out his dark sorcerer. Jennifer gave herself over to him in trade for our lives. It was part of Sol's plan. She held onto a memory that only I can find. I'm the key to bringing her back. I think Sol is going to ask me to sacrifice myself to save her.”
“Sacrifice yourself?”
“He said I have to be ready to face death.”
She gasped, “You can't!”
“I have to. Mom, I love Jennifer. She's my sister. I'd rather die than see her stay trapped inside Seilnai's mind. And just because I have to be ready to face my death, doesn't mean that I will die. Sol has a plan. Don't forget his prophecy, that twins from another world will have the power to help Seth and Serina to the throne.”
His mother took a deep breath and let it out. “I just can't believe all of this is happening. All because of your father's evil brother. My brother-in-law!” She growled angrily.
“Mom, I have to be able to search Jennifer's room when she's gone. She'll be home in a couple of hours- AHH!” he shouted suddenly.
“What is it?” she asked horrified.
“Arnath has me in his dungeon. He's whipping me again.”
Her mouth was open slightly as she shook her head. He looked at his mother, seeing her wide eyes.
“Mom it'll be okay. I just need to find this memory. Once I do, Sol will take me back to Eranithia. Actually, I never really left. Sol has made it so I'm in both worlds. Whatever happens to me in either world is carried over into the other.”
“Let me see,” she said.
Mark hesitated. He didn't want her seeing the gruesome wounds on his back.
“Lift up your shirt, let me see. I may be able to help.”
He slid off the stool he was sitting on, turned around and lifted his shirt.
“Oh my gosh. Honey, does it hurt?”
“Not as much as it does in Eranithia. But it does make my back a little tighter than normal. It's harder to bend and everything.”
“Can't Jennifer help you?”
“NO!” he said, dropping his shirt.
“What?” she asked confused.
“She can't see me. Only you and Dad can know I'm here. That's the rule Sol gave me.”
“Okay, you can stay in the pool house. We'll pray for Sol to keep it sound proof. Just in case Arnath decides to whip you there while you're still here.”
“Thank you.”
“Let's go, I think there may be bandages in the pool house.”
She took him through the sliding glass door into the back yard. Everything was just as he remembered. The kidney shaped pool; the trees and rose bushes; the wide open lawn of soft, green grass; and finally the small, white pool house. It only had a sitting area with a television, couch and love-seat, with a glass top coffee table for furnishing. But there was also a bathroom and small kitchen. It doubled as a guest house when family came from out of town. The children typically stayed out there together as Mark and Jennifer would give up their rooms for parents.
His mother searched the cabinets for the first-aid kit while he took a tour of the pool house. It'd been so long since he'd been in that little house. He saw eight-year-old versions of himself and Jennifer running into the pool house, followed by a big group of friends. There were decorations up; it was their birthday. They looked so happy playing together. It was a time when they shared the same friends. Some of those friends split off into two different groups by Middle School. He recognized two girls and a boy who were a part of Jennifer's popular friends. They were the only ones who didn't make fun of him at school. They also didn't say hello to him in passing either.
Then there were two boys, Ryan and Bryan, who were his two best friends. They had joined that club together and trained to fight with swords and spears as if it were the Dark Ages. He remembered when they had started their clan together. The Makielski Clan, named after Mark's last name. He smiled at the memory. Such a free and innocent time of his life with no worries about whether people thought he was cool or not. The only worry he had was to have as much fun as possible.
Mark missed those days and wondered if they would ever be a possibility in Eranithia. Would he and Karis get married and have children of their own one day? What kind of father would he be? What would his children be like? Would Jennifer be turned back to their side and have a family of her own one day as well? Would their children become more than just cousins, but great friends as well?
“Here we go,” his mother's voice said, invading his daydreaming.
He looked up at her startled, like he had forgotten she was there.
“You okay sweetie?” She asked him.
“Yeah, just daydreaming.”
“Oh? What about?” She asked as she got the disinfectant ready on a piece of cotton.
“I was thinking about our eighth birthday, then I started to wonder if my kids would have fun times like that.”
“I'm sure it'll happen, honey.”
“I guess we'll see, if this war ever ends. Ow!”
“Oh, it doesn't hurt that bad,” she said. “If I don't do this, the wounds will get infected. You don't want that do you?”
He smiled at her, “No Mom, of course not.”
Mark hadn't realized how much he had missed his mother. Life had become so distracting in Eranithia, he was beginning to forget about the life he once had in his own world. Everything in Eranithia was so extreme and had become such a normal part of his life, it made him appreciate the relatively quiet life he once had. A part of him also knew it would bore him to death now, but he was enjoying this small break from the war and the torture he was going through in–
“OOOWWW!” He screamed at the top of his lungs.
“I barely touched you... oh my,” his mother said.
“That wasn't from a whip,” he said.
“No, that looks like a sword or knife wound.”
Mark's mother immediate applied pressure to the wound with a towel to stop the bleeding. It wasn't nearly as bad as it would be if it had happened directly to him in this world, but there was still plenty of blood dripping down his back. The cut was from his right shoulder blade down to the left corner of his lower back.
“Honey, you better lie down until this seals up. You won't be able to do anything until Arnath leaves that dungeon,” she said.
As he laid down on the sofa, his mother began to close the blinds. She muttered prayers as she did. Mark recognized them as the same prayers Garandol prayed when he had first saved them from the jail cells in Trondil. Everything reminded him of his new home in Eranithia, and, of course, every thought took him back to Karis. He missed her more than anything in the world.
Another slash mark appeared on his back as he laid there on the couch. He screamed out in pain even louder than before. He was thankful his mother had finished praying the prayers, or else the neighbors would have heard and called the police by now. His mother ripped more strips of cloth from the extra towels to place on the wounds until new ones finally stopped appearing. Mark was grateful for his mother's help, but he couldn't let this stop him from doing the work he needed to do. He had a limited time before he would be brought back into Eranithia.

Eranithia: The Healing River: Chapter 10

Chapter 10

“Karis?” Serina said out of breath.
“Yes, Serina?” she asked calmly, sheathing her sword.
“What's wrong?”
“What do you mean?”
“You seem distracted.”
She shrugged, looking away from Serina.
Serina stared at her for a few seconds as she caught her breath. Her energy level depleted faster than normal because of how quickly her body was aging. Over the last eighteen months she'd aged about three years, not including the natural aging she was going through. When she was brought out of the enchanted sleep, she was a twenty-five-year-old woman inside a fifteen-year-old-girl's body. Now she was twenty-six inside of a nineteen-year-old body.
“Hey, I have an idea,” Serina said. When Karis looked at her again, she said, “Let's go down to the pools. I think the relaxation will do us more good than training will.”
Karis didn't agree or protest, but she followed Serina down to the pools. They undressed then entered the hot, bubbling water, letting the heat relax their muscles as they sat on the smooth, rocky ledges.
“What's on your mind, Karis?” Serina asked after a few minutes passed by.
Karis wouldn't look at her. She kept her eyes closed as she rested her head on the edge of the pool.
“You can trust me. Whatever it is, please, let me help you.”
Karis looked at her, red-eyed.
“Karis, please talk to me-”
“Did Mark really say he loved me?” she asked suddenly.
Serina smiled, saying, “Yes, he did. And he meant it.”
“How do you know he meant it?”
“Because I know him. I know his heart and mind. All that was on either one was you.”
Karis smiled but it faded as quickly as she'd shown it.
“What is it?” Serina asked.
“I don't know. I guess I just can't help but be a little jealous of how close you two are.”
Finally, the whole truth! Serina thought.
“You know there could never be anything between me and Mark, right?”
Karis didn't respond. She just stared back at Serina.
“For one, he's way too young. Granted, I don't look as old as I am...yet, but I will one day. For another, our parents share the same souls. We're practically siblings.”
“But you're not blood related.”
“True, but that doesn't matter. I don't love him the way I know you do.” Serina said, pushing back a strand of hair that had fallen over her eye.
Karis blushed slightly, looking away to hide it.
“I knew you did!” Serina said, excited like a teenage girl.
“And what of it if I do?” Karis asked, annoyed.
“This is great! You and Mark are perfect together. But are you willing to give up your immortality for him?”
Karis thought about it for a second then said, “I think so.”
Serina laughed, saying, “You better figure that out.”
Karis smiled, looking at the water to hide her embarrassment.
“I still wish I had the connection to him like you do.”
“Don't wish for that. It's not easy to deal with. For one, I know what he's thinking or feeling at any given time, and because I love him like a brother, I tend to get overly concerned about him. I have to ignore it most of the time. Secondly, if you knew him inside-out like I do, it would take all the mystery away. It would take away all the excitement of getting to know each other.”
Serina studied Karis as she soaked in what she had told the Elf. She could see it in Karis's eyes that she missed Mark and was worried about him.
“I wonder what it's like to die,” Karis said after a few minutes.
Serina watched her for a few more seconds before asking, “Are you really considering what it will cost you to be with him?”
Karis looked at her sharply. Serina saw the sureness in her eyes as she responded.
“I am. I'm wondering if it's worth living forever if he's not there with me.”
Serina smiled as she said, “That's the right thing to be considering.”

Seth sparred with one of Sasha's former Forest Guards, Tobiith. He was there more to keep Seth's muscles loose until they left for their next mission.
“Are you sure he's enough for you?” Arland asked, stepping into the courtyard.
Seth and Tobiith stopped their duel to face Arland.
“Arland, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in Fortuna by now?” Seth asked as he walked up to him.
“I was nearly there when Sol,” he paused to receive Seth's embrace, “told me to come back here. He said I was needed. So I came.”
“Well, I'm glad to have you. I could use a challenge right now.”
Seth looked at Tobiith, noticing his offended expression.
“I meant to take both of you on,” Seth said to him.
Tobiith bowed to him his apology. Seth laughed then took a stance between both Elves with only a few feet between him and each Elf. He held both swords at his sides, blades pointed down and away from his body, waiting for an attack from either of them. Closing his eyes, he concentrated on listening for their footsteps or any other movement that might give them away. One by one he shut off surrounding noises. Birds chirping, leaves rustling in the breeze, wind moving through the trees, servants bustling through the courtyard. A Youngliff ran past, he muted the boy's sandal slapping footsteps. Two female servants entered the courtyard, whispering comments about the three warriors. After a small grin, he muted their voices as well. All was silent but for the sound of his own heart beating, and the calm, steady breaths of the two Elves at his sides.
The first sound he heard was the heavy swoosh from Tobiith's sword as it passed through the air, immediately followed by the quicker swoosh of Arland's sword. Arland's would reach him first. He swung his sword up to block the blow to his neck to the right, then jumped over the sword speeding for his ankles.
Flipping over Arland's head, he swatted the cross of Arland's hilt with the flat of his sword. Arland dropped his sword as Seth landed behind him, wrapping his arm around Arland's chest and pointing his sword at his neck.
“How did you do that?” Arland asked.
“Who says I'm done?” he whispered, staring at Tobiith. He gave Tobiith a wink, then the Elf attacked, running forward, holding his sword high above his head. Seth then shoved Arland to the ground, blocked Tobiith's sword, then kicking him in the stomach, sent him flying back three feet to the ground. Arland was nearly on top of Seth again as he recovered from kicking Tobiith. Seth ducked low and close to Arland. Grabbing Arland's wrists in one hand, Seth rolled back placing his feet on Arland's stomach he threw Arland through the air. Arland landed hard on the ground with a thud and a grunt from having the wind knocked out of him.
Seth rolled to his feet waiting for another attack, but neither Elf moved. Tobiith finally struggled to his feet with a smile.
“I surrender, sir.”
Seth laughed then looked back at Arland. He still wasn't moving. Seth then jogged to him and knelt at his side.
“Arland, my friend. Are you okay?”
Arland sucked in a deep breath, finally able to breathe.
“I'm sorry if I was too much for you,” Seth said prodding him for a response.
“Never,” Arland said straining for breath still.
Seth offered his hand to Arland, which he accepted. Seth helped him to his feet. Standing helped open Arland's lungs again. He sucked in deep breaths to regulate his breathing again.
“Thank you, Tobiith, I think that will be enough for this morning.”
Tobiith bowed then went into the castle.
“What's on your mind, Arland? You seem a bit distracted this morning,” Seth asked as they crossed the courtyard.
“I'm not distracted,” Arland lied.
Seth stopped and faced his friend.
“Don't lie to me,” he said. “It was much too easy to disarm you, twice.”
Arland averted his gaze elsewhere. He couldn't look Seth in the eye.
“Let's walk,” Seth said noticing how many people were still in the courtyard. He'd shut of their sounds while sparring with Arland and Tobiith, but they hadn't left. He led Arland down the switchback path towards the pools. It was a silent walk to the bottom. He thought a dip in the pools would be nice, but then he saw Karis and Serina in one of them already. They would have to go to the other pools a half a mile down the road following the river.
Changing directions, he noticed Arland staring at Karis and Serina. He grabbed his arm, pulling him along.
“Don't stare, it's rude,” Seth said as they walked in the opposite direction of the pools.
Arland didn't say anything. He just stared at the ground as they walked.
“So, is it Karis or Serina?” Seth asked him suddenly.
Arland flinched at his question. Seth guessed Arland had been hoping not to be asked.
“Who says it's either one?”
“Well, a year and a half ago when we met Garandol and the others in the cave before rescuing Serina, you seemed distant with Jennifer when you greeted each other. So, your heart obviously isn't with her.”
Arland sighed then said, “Karis.”
Seth didn't say anything for a couple minutes as they walked together. He was searching for the right words.
“Have you given up hope for Jennifer?”
“She's young. Very young.”
“Karis is the same age, if not younger!”
“But she's an Elf-”
“So? What does that matter?”
“She's more mature than Jennifer.”
“Says who? Jennifer sacrificed herself to Arnath for our safety. Tell me, what kind of immature girl does that?”
Arland let out a heavy sigh, “That's another thing. She's under Arnath's control. She probably won't ever be back.”
Seth was disgusted with Arland. How could he just turn off his heart towards someone like he has? Seth knew that if history had taught them anything it was that Sol never let his faithful go unsaved. Sol had a plan to bring Jennifer back.
“Have you forgotten Sol?” Seth asked.
“What?” Arland asked angrily, stopping in his tracks.
Seth turned towards him, ready to stand his ground.
“Have you forgotten Sol?”
“How can you accuse me of such a thing?”
“Because if you truly have remembered Sol, and his power and promises, then you wouldn't believe such a thing about Jennifer. You would have hope that Sol would be working out his plan to bring her back to us.”
“What if she doesn't want to be brought back? Say she's fully embraced this new persona as Seilnai. What then?”
“Do you really have such little faith? Tell me, Arland, what is your story? Born of a clan of Elves distorting and perverting our worship of Sol. Were you lost to them forever?”
Arland stared at Seth, jaw set and fists clenched, ready to fight.
“No! Sol spoke to your heart through the blood of your father. He placed a burden on your heart to not kill his creation in worship to him. Tell me what happened after that, Arland!”
“I wouldn't say any more, Seth.”
“You wouldn't? No, I suppose not. Do you know where Mark is right now?”
“Shut up, Seth.”
“No! Mark is in the dungeons of the castle right now, being beaten after sacrificing himself to save Karis's life. Tell me, who truly loves her? And who will she love back? One who longs for her or one who shows his love for her?”
Arland swung at Seth, connecting his fist with Seth's cheek. Seth had seen it coming but chose not to duck or block him. Seth went to the ground from the force of Arland's punch. Regardless if he could have blocked the slug to the face, Arland was still strong enough to take him down.
“I said to shut up!” Arland said through clenched teeth.
“I heard you just fine, Arland. But you need to hear this. I have seen how much she loves Mark. They have been there for each other these past eighteen months. Always saving each other from our enemies. But beyond that, Sol has brought them together. This is his will, Arland. I see it, Serina sees it. We all see it,” Seth spit blood out of his mouth. His lip was cut from Arland's attack. “And so do you.”
Seth stood up again, standing up to Arland.
“Seek Sol on this. He'll show you the truth. And believe me, we will get Jennifer back.”
Seth walked back to the switchback path and into the castle, leaving Arland alone with his thoughts.

Garandol stood with Efreal watching Seth and Serina's exchanges with Karis and Arland. They saw it all from the south facing balcony.
“Grown children,” Efreal said. “That's all they are.”
“From first glance, maybe. But see how Seth and Serina both handled each situation?” he asked pointing down at them with one hand, “They are already stepping into their roles as King and Queen.”
“Perhaps, but I'm very disappointed with Arland. He's above this. I mean, he's over one hundred years old!”
“Love knows no age. It makes the best of all men act like children.”
Efreal grunted. Garandol couldn't tell if it was in agreement or not.
“You don't agree?” he asked Efreal.
“Oh, I do. I remember trying to win Luma's heart. I was such a fool. I shouldn't be where I am right now.”
“Then you can't be too hard on Arland. He's confused about Sol's will. He doesn't see how, or if, Sol will bring Jennifer back to us, so he's given up hope on her.”
“I can see what's going on, Garandol. I don't need a narrative.”
Garandol laughed, “Then let them work this out on their own. They all understand what's at stake here. None of them will let their personal feelings or problems get in the way of what's really important.”
“I hope you're right, Garandol.”
They watched Seth enter the castle, assuming he was heading to his quarters they'd set him up in.
“Serpa is the last place they must try and sway,” Garandol said.
“Yes, and after that, I think they should head for Kushen to assist the Centaurs. By then our numbers should be great enough to get through Eranithia with little resistance.”
“I agree.”

Eranithia: The Healing River: Chapter 9

Chapter 9

He could feel his heart pounding in his head as he sat up. Looking around he saw he was in a barred carriage, shackled to the wood panels. After his talk with Serina on the mountain peak, Sol had visited him, assuring Mark he had a plan for him and to be patient and endure, he would send help at the right time.
Testing the chains and shackles, he knew he could break them and escape. Even the sixty or seventy men wouldn't be a problem escaping from. In fact, he found it easier to escape a large number rather than a smaller number. The less men there were, the more flexible they were. The larger the group, the slower and clumsier they turned out to be. Especially Arnath's men. Over the past year he'd learned that the Cathians were much more skilled warriors than Arnath's soldiers.
It was too dark to see where he was so he could inform Serina, but he knew he couldn't tell her  even if he knew where he was. Sol didn't want him to. Instead, he laid back down to sleep.

Mark ran as fast as he could. Checking over his shoulder to make sure they were still behind him. He and his men had been outnumbered and cornered. The only option he saw was to lead them down to the Great Marshes. In the center of the marshes is a large lake, Sol's Lake, fed by the many river systems throughout the marshes. All of the ponds, rivers and the lake had at least a six inch thick layer of ice on the surface.
Finding the trail to the bottom, he hurried down it. How many were behind him? He'd counted twenty. They'd have to continue on foot to follow him down the trail. That allowed him to put a little more distance between them and himself. 
The trail took him fifteen minutes to run down. He followed one of the frozen rivers towards the center of the marshes, where he knew Sol's Lake waited for him. An arrow struck his hand, right through the palm so half of the arrow protruded on either side of his hand. 
Grabbing one end of the arrow with his left hand, he snapped the arrow's head off then, ignoring the pain, he slid the arrow out of his hand. All without stopping or slowing. He looked back to see that it was just a lucky shot from their archer still up the cliff trail. He stopped and squinted at the archer, then watched as he fell fifty feet to the bottom.
When Mark reached the lake, he ran fifty yards out and stood waiting. Arnath's soldiers tested the ice before venturing out towards him. Some of them were still unsure about the ice as they followed the one soldier who'd decided to lead them after Mark had taken out their Captain. He could feel their shaking knees vibrating through the ice. 
Then something caught Mark's eye. At the shore of the lake stood Karis. She'd come to help him. At first he was angry she'd left, but seeing their numbers he was glad for it. Instead of being outnumbered almost twenty to one, they were only about ten to one. They could handle those odds.
She ran silently to the edge of the line of soldiers to where she could see him clearly. He looked at her, giving her a wink then raised his elbow above his head, pointing his fist at the ice. Then with as much momentum as he could muster, he fell towards the ice, punching through to the water below.
The ice began to split and break, heading for the soldiers attempting to surround him. The soldiers watched as cracks in the ice spread, passing between their legs. 
“Retreat!” their leader shouted, but as they began to run half of them fell through the ice. 
Mark fell through the ice with his enemy. Completely submerged, ice cold water biting at every inch of his body. He tried to swim towards the shore, to where he could punch through and stand up again. But the shallower the water got, the thicker the ice was. He swam back to the hole in the ice he'd made only to find it frozen over once again.
He started to panic as his breath ran out, pounding everywhere he could. His muscles ached from fatigue and from the cold. He was ready to give up. To let the cold overtake him and carry him into his final resting place. Then he saw Karis's face through the ice. His determination to live returned to him.
With every ounce of strength left in him he pulled back his fist and punched at the ice. It cracked slightly, so he pulled back again and punched even harder. Thicker cracks. Reaching back with one last attempt, he punched through the ice. He felt Karis's warm hands take his. Then she let go! Looking back up he saw she was going to make the hole bigger. She stomped through the ice a few times, expanding the hole. Then she pulled him out, unconscious from the cold and from lack of oxygen.
He woke up later next to a campfire. Karis's arms were wrapped tightly around him. As he turned towards her, he realized he was wearing next to nothing, as was Karis.
“You okay?” she asked.
“Thanks to you,” he whispered.
They stared at each other for what seemed an eternity. Then Mark did something he'd never done before. He kissed her. She returned the kiss but stopped a second later.
“I'm sorry,” he said.
“Don't be,” she said. “It's just that, now is not a good time for something like this between us. We have a war to fight. We can't allow ourselves to get too attached, or it will be used against us.”
He knew she was right, but he'd never felt this way about a girl before. Sure, he'd had a crush on Serina, but when he found out they technically had the same parents, that stopped real fast.
“Where are my clothes?” he asked.
Karis laughed then said, “Hanging to dry. You would have died if you would have stayed in them.”
“Where are yours?”
“I have enough on,” she protested.
He smiled saying, “True, you are wearing more than I am, but it's much less than normal.”
“Well, you passed out in the water. I used my body heat to warm you.”

His dream disappeared and the real world came rushing back to him. He was dripping wet with ice cold water. Sitting up quickly, he searched for the one who'd thrown the water on him.
“Wake up, sunshine,” a Cathian soldier said, laughing.
Mark glared at him, noticing the bucket in his hands. He continued to glare at the solider. As he did the Cathian began to choke, as if Mark had his hand around the Cathian's throat. Then just as quickly as he'd been woken up, his world went black once again, with a piercing pain to the back of his head.

Mark felt the steel shackles around his wrists and ankles. Lying on his back on a hard, wooden surface, the first thing that came to his mind was the table Serina had slept on for ten years, in an enchanted sleep. His eyes began to blink open. It was dark, too dark to see. He smelled the blood on the floor.
Tugging at the shackles, he knew he could rip them free and use the chains as weapons to escape. But Sol had told him to endure. He had a plan for Mark in the castle.
To his left, he heard the clanking sound of metal against metal. The door opened, revealing soft torchlight. Two of Arnath's guards flanked Arnath himself, each with a torch in their hand and a sword in the other. Mark assumed they knew he could break the chains at any moment. He grinned at their fear.
“Mark, we meet again. You have caused quite a bit of trouble for me and my men over the last year or so,” Arnath said, stepping up to the table.
“You're welcome,” Mark said.
Arnath chuckled then said, “Think you're funny do you? We'll see how long your laughter lasts. Light the torches,” he instructed his men.
The two guards walked around the table Mark laid on, lighting the torches around the room, one by one. Each torch revealed a different torture machine. One had leather straps for the wrists and ankles, a crank on either side to stretch the prisoner. Another was a wooden chair, also with wrist and ankle restraints. Next to it was a tray with knives and blades of different shapes and sizes. Each machine was worse than the last.
The guards returned to the table, removed the shackles from Mark's wrists and ankles then walked him to a single rope hanging in the middle of the room. Raising his hands above his head, they tightened the slipknot around his wrists. Then the guards went in opposite directions. One went to a large wheel crank, the other Mark couldn't see. The guard at the crank began turning the wheel, the rope tightened then lifted Mark to where only his toes could touch the floor.
“Here you are,  your majesty,” the other said.
Mark turned his head to see a small whip in Arnath's hands. Arnath held the handle, letting the rest of the whip unwind. Mark saw many strands of leather at the end. The torchlight glistened off of what looked like shards of metal and glass.
Mark knew how these whips were made. Metal, glass, rock and bone were commonly tied into the ends of the whip. They were meant to rip flesh from the body.
“First, Mark, I'm going to make you want to die. But I won't grant that wish until I desire. Each prisoner has been different. Some have been more fun for me than others, so I kept them around much longer.”
Mark felt Arnath's chin on his shoulder as he spoke in a whisper.
“I think you will be my most entertaining prisoner yet.”
Arnath backed away. Mark anticipated the first strike, but Arnath seemed to be waiting purposely. Just to make Mark's anticipation worse. Then he felt the pain across his back. Cold at first, then quickly turning hot. He felt blood trickling down his back. Then another strike, followed quickly by another. The fourth one grabbed his right shoulder, tearing the flesh away as Arnath ripped it away. Three quick lashes followed.
“How are you feeling, Mark?” Arnath asked, his voice crazed with blood lust for the pain he caused Mark.
“Is that all you got?” Mark asked, hiding his pain. He couldn't remember feeling more pain, but he knew he could withstand it. Sol would strengthen him.
Arnath gave him three more lashes, one right after the other. Mark didn't feel the pain anymore, but he knew he would later. The guards let him down from the rope hanging in the center of the room. He fell to the hard, cool, stone floor in a heap. The cold floor brought comfort to him as he laid there, unable to move. The guards took the slipknot off of his wrists, then carried him to the table again. They laid him, back down, on the table, retraining him once again. He knew the next time he was moved off of the table would be as painful as the whipping. His back would heal itself, drying the blood to the table. When they picked him up again, it would reopen the wounds in his back.
“Goodnight, Mark,” Arnath said once the guards put out the torches.
The door slammed shut with a heavy thud. Mark couldn't see his hand in front of his face, even if he could move it. That night, he cried out to Sol until sleep finally came to him.

Seilnai sat straight up in bed. She'd felt something scratch her back. A candle next to her bed lit up as she grabbed it. Crossing the room to a full length, oval mirror, she set the candle on a small table. Dropping her nightgown off of her shoulders, she turned around to look at her back in the mirror. There were numerous scratches on her back, as if she'd just healed from whip wounds.
She couldn't think of ever being attacked by anyone with a whip, let alone the assailant actually getting close enough to her to make contact. Then spinning around, she searched the room, thinking she heard a voice. She pulled her nightgown back up, grabbed a blanket and the candle, then left the room. Making her way down the stairs, she made a B-line for the door.
The night air was cold. Ignoring the snow on the ground, she stepped out of the house, searching for any sign of life.
“Jennifer!” came the faint voice again.
She spun in circles looking for the voice. Something about it sounded familiar, but why? And why were they calling for Jennifer?