Chapter 28

When dawn started to speckled light over the tree tops, Evera roused her fellow travelers. Ilayda gathered herself quickly and readied Taipa. A mien of infuriation crossed her face every time William glanced to see her. After wiping the sleep from their eyes, they set off in the direction the earth conveyed, keeping their worries hidden from each other.

Ilayda was not as cheerful as she was on her trip to Morag. She had become closed off, hardly speaking a word to either of the two. William tried to apologize but the only remarks she could reply were curt and using the word Master as if it were distasteful to her tongue.

Evera stayed quiet as well but William did not worry much over her calm. He was used to her stubborn silence and strong will. If she needed something to say, she would not hesitate to speak her mind.

The trio continued on the path for many a night and day. As each day pass, Ilayda became quieter and less hostile. Her eyes still held more contempt for William which made the young man disheartened. He had started to think her someone to look after. He never had siblings but he felt she was the closest to kinship he would ever have. To his dismay, she was starting to reject him for aiding her when she was fallen over.

On the fifth night of their travels, William let Evera lean on his chest while Ilayda sat quietly on the other side of the campfire, staring at fire. The young Angel was paler than usual, with her eyes loosing the passion they once held. He had not used his commanding power over her but still she kept shy of him. He nudged Evera away from his chest and gestured to the fire.

“I think this may need more kindling. Why—“

“I’ll go.” Ilayda was on her feet before he could finish.

“No,” William replied, a little louder than necessary. Both women looked at him mystified. “Ilayda, I want you to stay.” The girl threw her hands out and up in frustration. She sat down with the impudence of a child and huffed out a muffled remark William was sure was an insult.

 “Yes, Master.”

William exchanged pleading glances with Evera before the young Fae stood and started into the forest. The man looked at the disgruntled Angel before him and spoke strongly his thoughts.

“You will listen to my words. Is that clear?” Ilayda scoffed at William but did as she was told.

“Yes, Master. I do as you command.”

“I am sorry. I did not mean to touch you. I was helping you up, you do realize that?” The young man waited for an answer. Ilayda did not seem too keen on telling the truth but being of Angel’s blood, she had no choice. After a long pause, she nodded solemnly.

“Yes.” Effort of control was heard in her voice.

“Then why do you feel such anger towards me?”

Ilayda took deep breaths. The air between them was still until William could hardly hear he hum of animals from expectancy. Her eyes glistened with restrained tears before she explained.

“Each time a Fallen Angel is touched by a Human, they must do as they are told for nine days. The Holy number Nine. As you are well aware, I have no choice but to obey your command.” Her eyes reddened and tears trickled down her cheeks silently. The young girl nervously played with the ends of her black shimmering hair. “What most people are not told…”

Evera walked back with a few branches and sticks for the fire. Her face held sympathy and regret. Evera started the rhyme she learned from her readings during her days at the sickbay.

“The Cursed ones turn back their time, until they reach the blessed Nine.”

“They wait in shadows holding breath, until they die a Human’s death.” Ilayda held her knees to her chest and buried her face to hide her tears. Evera put the new kindling next to the fire and pulled the Fallen Angel to her own embrace. Green eyes met William’s brown one with a stressed intensity.

“When her time of your commandment is over, her age will undo until she becomes the blessed Nine years of age once more. Only when she dies of grey hair and wrinkles, she will be able to reenter the gates of Heaven.”

William ran his hands through his hair and sorted their words. Now that he understood her harshness, he felt he rightly deserved all her fury.

“I think I’ll get some more wood.” As he left, Taipa trotted over to Ilayda and nuzzled her neck. The horse hung her head low and the three women mourned over the youngest girl’s loss.

William cursed himself. Whenever he felt as if things were starting to become favorable, they turned for worse and buried him under more dismal affairs. Once far enough from the camp site for the women to see him, he slid down the side of a tree and placed his palms to his eyes to suppress his oncoming tears.

The young man tried never cried. He made a point to keep his emotions behind his mask of indifference. With the harsh market and living on streets which were filled with people who thought you disgraceful, it was easy enough to become hardened. As of late, William found it more difficult to keep anything back. Evera’s return in his life had altered his reality. He was not sure if he would survive the battles ahead, but he knew he did not regret finding her by the river.

Evera’s ear twitched, brought on by the sound of hurried footsteps. She peered through the trees at the sound of the noise and saw no one. Unsettled, she shook Ilayda’s arm and bade her awake.

“Something is happening.” Ilayda swept sleep from her dazed eyes as Evera continued to search the trees where the sound had come from. “William? William where are you?”

Behind her, William walked back to the clearing, his eyes red from the crying she could not help but listen to. She walked to him and grabbed his arms with urgency while Ilayda struggled to stand. Taipa began to snort at the unknown beings in the distance as Evera pulled the young man to the mare.

“We need to go. Now!” She shoved William toward the mare and belted her stolen dagger. The footsteps were running now and with every step moving closer. She could feel her fellow Fae nearing them.

“Whatever it is, you must ride. I have terrible skills.” William tried to hand the reins to Evera but she refused and pulled him with her gifted strength back to the saddle.

“Ilayda and I could outrun them. It is you who need her, now get up.” With William understanding her rush, he threw his leg over Taipa’s back, as Evera reached for the youngest. Shouts of battle cries came from the trees as the Unseelie folk came into sight behind them.

“Agisess!”

Taipa reared and galloped at hearing her old stable hand’s command. The mare’s speed nearly swayed William off. Evera and the young one raced after.

Ilayda’s swiftness easily outran the horse. Taipa followed close behind with Evera keeping at the rear. Arrows hit the ground near the Fae’s feet. She was a slight out of range but soon they would over take them. She shouted in Parisa over thudding hooves to reach the mount’s ears.

“Gest! Vert aud pac.” Ilayda and Taipa kept running, understanding Evera’s wish for them to flee. The Fae’s footsteps slowed and hid behind a tree. She heard an arrow fly past the tree trunk as the others’ strides began to fade. This was her chance to prove herself.

Holding her hand in front of her to certain her visibility, she focused her mind on disappearing into her surroundings. Fully shielded from the Fae’s eyes, she stepped out from behind the tree her hand prepared on the dagger handle, and waited for the approaching Unseelie warriors.

William held fast to the rope as he looked behind to check for his love. When he saw not but the fleeing trees behind him, he pulled Taipa to a stop and shouted ahead of him.

“Where has she gone?” He asked, knowing the answer before he could catch his words. “We must go to her. We must help her.” He tried to wrench the reins to turn his ride but Ilayda was fast to keep the horse steady.

“If we go back there, we will hinder her more than help.” William sneered at her and dug his heels inward.

“Stit.” The girl held her hands over both Taipa’s eyes, blinding her until she stopped swaying. “You are no match for the Unseelie warriors and I have a Vow to God against all violence. Even if I could help, by the time we return, she will have either finished them or they her.”

“Get on the horse. We are going to find her.”

Ilayda narrowed her eyes at his order but she had no will of her own. She took William’s outstretched arm and hoisted her body behind his. Together, they followed the path from which they just came.

William spurred Taipa faster. The ride to find the Fae woman was longer than running from the Green eyes. Though she had a heightened sense of direction as it was, the mare was slowed by the night’s dark. When they did reach the woman however, she was still locked in battle, dueling in the same spot she had left.