Battle of the Elements

We woke the next morning refreshed and ready for our new adventure. I had woken before any of the others and found myself glad for the moment of peace as I sat down next to a resting horse – Apollo – and opened one of the books I had hurriedly pulled from my library on my way out. I checked the cover and read the title the dream-RIDER - one of my favourites – and began reading.

I had gotten up to page 800 when I realised everyone was awake – turns out I had been reading for two hours – and talking about plans for the day.

“I have a meeting scheduled with one of my allies today. I think she could be of use today.” Bridgette was saddling one of the new horses – a black beauty with a white ankle – as she talked.

I closed my book and joined the conversation, “So, where are we going then?”

Alex was eating a bowl of mushy stew, he looked up from his food and smiled at me, “We’re heading to Headisan.”

Headisan was a kingdom just across the border of Astia – our home. I had never been there, but I had heard that the rulers were the ideal family, with a perfect daughter and wife and husband – the king. They had experienced a death of a child a year ago and only had one daughter left, they had apparently realised family was the most important thing in life after that.

I nodded in response and went over to the big pot of mushy stew and poured myself a bowl. I sat down and ate.

After breakfast, we set out on the road. I enjoyed the countryside views while riding on Apollo’s back. I found myself deep in thought, thinking of what my life would’ve been like if my father and I had stayed in our little cottage out in the outskirts of the kingdom. Maybe I would’ve been married to the boy who lived next door, perhaps I would’ve been a nurse like I had always dreamed. I thought about this for a while until I realised I didn’t care about what could’ve been, that I loved my life as it was. I saw Alex in the corner of my eye, riding his horse and singing a song under his breath. I knew the lyrics he was singing even though I couldn’t hear him.

One boy in the woods his illusions play a game

A little girl singing, her illusions are the same

Two children meet in the hollow of a tree

They sing their sad songs of their fatal destiny

It was a song that had been created long ago. It was about two children, a boy and a girl. They each had the ability to communicate with the dead, but back in those days no one believed them so everyone said they were crazy and were seeing things. One day, the ghosts brought the children together and the two of the children became friends. However, people thought they were crazy and back then, religion ruled the kingdoms. Mentally unwell people were said to be possessed by demons and were executed. The children knew this and, the day before they were going to die, they met in a hollow tree and sang a song with the dead about their fate. The children were executed the very next day.

The song stands as a memory of the dark days that religion ruled us. Now days, not many people have a religion, so, stories of gods and demons are treated just as that, stories.

Bridgette’s voice cut through my thoughts, “We’re going to be at the gates in a few minutes guys. I suggest you guys don’t say anything about Melanie and Jake.”

“Why?” Harrison said from his dark-brown horse – Kiki.

“We haven’t been to the labs.” Melanie said as she pulled a dark cloak from her bag and draped it over her, covering her ears and tail.

Alex cleared his throat, “What?”

“Don’t argue Alex. You can’t blame us for not wanting to go to a place where torture is implemented every day. We haven’t done anything wrong, so why should we be punished for something we cannot control?” Melanie said with a clear, level-headed voice. She seemed strong, stronger than any child I had ever met – she had been through a lot at only thirteen.

I saw the gate to the kingdom. Its stone-brick walls towering above us. I saw the castle inside the walls, its towers reaching for the sky as if trying to catch the birds that flew high in the air.