Green Eyes

“The explosions have stopped,” Jared remarked as he and Mara built a fire for their camp.

Mara cocked her head and listened. There was nothing but the sound of crickets chirping away in the tall, dry grass.

“Do you think that means the battle’s over?” she asked her brother.

“I don’t know,” Jared sighed as he looked back the way they’d come. “It could be that both sides just ran out of juice and needed a break.”

“It’s still burning,” Mara pointed out as she joined Jared at the edge of their campsite, looking at a glow on the horizon.

They had pushed pretty hard all day, covering 15 or so miles, which was pretty good for a group of 5000 people who weren’t used to long marches. Of course it had helped that they had listened to the deafening blasts of the battle the entire day. Needless to say, no one was complaining about having to be evacuated now.

But even standing 15 miles away, they could still see Jerel burning like a torch through the clear summer night. And somewhere in the middle of all that, was Selene.

“Is that Jerel?” inquired Deborah, tugging on the hem of Mara’s dress.

“Yes, honey it is,” Mara picked up her charge. It had been a hard day for the six-year old. First she was unceremoniously dragged from her bed and then exposed to a cacophony of explosions that had terrified the confused child who had no clue as to what was happening. And all that had been followed by a long ride with thousands of frightened strangers punctuated only by the detonations of the battle.

To her credit though, she hadn’t cried or screamed, although she only just now had stopped quivering. Deborah was truly her mother’s daughter, Mara noted again. She got scared but had a backbone of steel.

“Is that where Ms. Selene is?” Deborah questioned looking at the orange light flickering in the distance.

“Yes,” Mara replied tightly as she bit her bottom lip.

“Is she okay?”

Mara and Jared exchanged worried looks. “I don’t know, honey,” Mara finally said.

“I think she’ll be okay,” Deborah confidently observed. “Ms. Selene is a good person and good people always win.”

Another look between the twins. So young and so naïve Mara thought wondering how she kept this innocence after all she’d been through, wishing she would keep it, and knowing that she wouldn’t.

“I wish that were true,” she remarked to the child. “I really do. Are you hungry?” Mara asked, already knowing the answer. They had barely eaten all day so the child had to be absolutely famished.

“YES!” Deborah exclaimed excitedly. “Are we going to eat?”

“Soon,” Mara laughed at the sudden burst of enthusiasm. “Why don’t you go find some cooks and see what’s for supper?”

“Okay!” the little girl slid out of her guardian’s arms and scampered off in to the dark.

“She yours?” a new voice, Fredrik of Esther and sort of leader of the refugees, asked.

“Kind of,” Mara answered.

“Who’s the father?” he queried.

“I don’t know,” Mara replied, getting a raised eyebrow. “I’m not her mother. It’s a long story, but her mother asked me to look after her just before she died.”

“Well you do an excellent job,” remarked Fredrik. “She’s a brave child. I daresay that she put many of us to shame today.”

“She’s been through a lot and that may have hardened her a bit,” Mara supplied. “And she has her mother’s courage.”

“And she’s got Kalashonian blood,” the Esthorian added with a half-smile. “I noticed that the sounds of fighting stopped. Is the battle over or are we too far away to hear?”

“Probably neither,” Jared responded. “Both Navi and sorcerers experience a physical drain when they use their powers so most likely they are simply taking a rest to recharge.”

“Ah, I see,” the white-haired man nodded. “And when the battle is over, how will we know who won?”

“You won’t until someone goes back to check,” Jared told him. “I would suggest that you don’t all head back at once.”

“Good idea,” acknowledged the Esthorian. “I wanted to thank you in person for what you did to save us. I know many, myself included, were skeptical at minimum and outright incensed at most at being kicked out of our homes and having to flee. But after listening to the battle today, I assure you that no one is saying that now.”

“We’re just glad that we got all of you out in time,” Jared replied.

“It saved our lives and we are in your debt,” Fredrik said.

“Good,” Mara commented. “Then you can feed Deborah. She eats more than Jared’s horse.”

“Growing girls do that,” Fredrik laughed. “Will you go with us the rest of the way to Ostenstrasse?”

“We haven’t decided what we are going to do,” Jared looked over to Mara. “But probably not. We have business in Kalashon to attend to.”

“Oh,” Fredrik raised his eyebrows. “Well, may the Creator shine a light on your path.”

“And may the Creator bless your home,” Jared returned the blessing.

“So you want to go after Micaela?” Mara questioned after Fredrik departed.

“Assuming that she actually needs rescuing, yeah,” Jared confirmed as he took a seat on the ground next to the fire.

“You know what that means,” Mara stated.

“It means that we rescue a friend from a power-hungry tyrant,” Jared sharply answered. “It doesn’t mean that we try to take the throne from Manasseh or rebuild the Empire ourselves. It just means that if Manasseh wants to become Emperor, he’s going to have to do it the hard way.”

“Fair enough,” Mara allowed. “But it is something to consider.”

“Without Selene?” Jared raised an eyebrow. “I don’t think so.”

“I wouldn’t count her out just yet,” Mara chided. “Besides, you and I both know that we could take the throne without her anyway, especially with most, if not all of the sorcerers gone too.”

“I suppose,” Jared allowed. “The thing is that I don’t really want to. I know that the world needs it but frankly I don’t care. What do I owe the world?”

“True enough, I’ll grant,” Mara agreed as she poked the fire with a stick. “Still, you care enough to rescue Micaela.”

“Micaela’s situation is…different,” Jared chose his words carefully.

“Her situation is different or she’s different?” Mara raised an eyebrow.

“Her situation,” Jared automatically returned. “Well, both,” he amended, drawing a light smirk from Mara. “Okay, I admit it. She’s got my attention,” Jared threw up his hands. “But it’s more than just her. If Manasseh does force her to marry him, we know the world will be his in a matter of three years. Where do you think that leaves us?”

“In an awkward place,” Mara understood. “And that’s not a fight even we can win.”

“No, it isn’t,” Jared confirmed. “Yes, I am attracted to her but this is just as much motivated out of self-preservation and self-interest.”

“Well we wouldn’t want anyone to think that the great mercenary Mooth-Eni is going soft,” Mara sardonically remarked. “What do we do if Micaela is fine?”

“Then we join her,” Jared shrugged. “She’s extended the offer and she really is doing good work. Besides it’s not like we have anything better to do.”

“What about Selene?” Mara queried.

“What do you really think her chances of getting out of this alive are?” Jared questioned.

“Not good,” Mara admitted with a sigh. “I hate leaving her. It’s like that night all over again.”

“You’re telling me?” Jared retorted with a snort. “You weren’t there. You didn’t have to leave them behind; you didn’t have to see them die. I can’t believe I did it again.”

“We didn’t have a choice,” Mara put her hand on Jared’s shoulder. “You know that if we had stayed, we wouldn’t have made any difference.”

“I know,” Jared sighed. “It’s just that she’s so much like Zeke. It was like leaving him to Manasseh and Jericho all over again.”

“I know,” Mara hugged him. “I know. I love her too.”

“Excuse me my lord and lady,” Fredrik interrupted. “But one of our sentries says that someone is approaching. What should we do?”

Jared and Mara instantly shot to their feet. “Nothing,” Jared sharply responded. “We’ll take care of them. Coming?”

“Right behind you,” Mara said. “Which way?”

“Follow me,” Fredrik motioned to them.

They wound their way through the various fires to the western edge of their encampment. “Out there,” Fredrik pointed into the darkness. Beside him, a pair of Anorians stood very tense. The day’s events had worn everyone’s nerves to the breaking point.

Squinting, the twins focused their attention into the night, trying to see any sort of shadow or movement that would give away their interloper. After a few moments, they heard the uneven sound of someone stumbling around in high grass.

“Relax,” Jared breathed to the sentries. “Whoever it is, they’re no threat to us.”

“How can you be sure?” one of the Anorians, hands firmly grasping his hunting bow.

“Listen to the steps,” Mara told him. “Hear how uneven and clumsy they are?” They nodded. “Those are the sounds of someone who is badly injured. You won’t need those bows. But if any of you know a good doctor, that we could use.”

“I do,” volunteered the other sentry.

“Go get him or her,” Jared ordered. “We’ll see to our guest.”

Following the sounds of stumbling and groaning, the twins quickly tracked down their intruder. Judging from her silhouette, it was a she or what was left of a she. She seemed to see them and staggered forwards three steps before falling.

“I’ve got you, I’ve got you,” Jared told her as he caught the woman. His hands felt something warm and wet.

“Jared?” a faint voice asked.

“Do I know you?” Jared questioned as he began helping her back to the camp.

“It’s me, Emmanuelle,” the weak woman replied. “Been looking for you for days. Unicorns attacked. Micaela. Trouble.” Then she went slack.

“Who is it?” Mara ran up to help.

“Emmanuelle?” Jared answered as he carried her to the nearest campfire.

“Emmanuelle?” Mara repeated. “What’s she doing here?”

“Apparently looking for me,” Jared supplied. “We can stop wondering if something happened to Micaela; it did.”

“What?”

“I don’t know,” Jared shook his head as laid Emmanuelle down next the fire. “Where’s the doctor?”

“I’m here,” a big Anorian stepped into the light. “Where’s my patient?”

“Here,” Jared motioned the Anorian over.

“What happened?” the doctor demanded as he examined Emmanuelle. She was alive, barely, her entire body lacerated by multiple stab wounds. The Anorian had lost so much blood that her black skin had paled to a dark gray color.

“Unicorn attack, I think,” Jared informed. “Or at least that’s what she said right before she collapsed. Can you help her?”

“Not really,” the doctor shook his head. “These injuries are far too extensive. She needs a Navi touch which wouldn’t be a problem except…” he looked back toward Jerel that still burned.

“Yeah,” Jared sighed. “Could you patch her up long enough to get back to Jerel if we left immediately?”

“I suppose,” the Anorian considered that for a moment. “Wait, you’re not thinking of going back there? That would be suicide.”

“Maybe,” Jared admitted. “But she came halfway across the world to deliver me a message and I need to hear it.”

“At the expense of your own life?” the doctor skeptically replied.

“Look doc,” Jared stared him down, “Creator knows I’m not given to dramatics but the fate of the world could very well depend on what she knows. I have to find out what she knows.”

“He’s not kidding,” Mara added. “Besides, we can take care of ourselves.”

“I’ll give it a try then,” the Anorian acquiesced. “Someone get me some water, preferably cold, and clean rags.” A couple of people scampered off to fulfill the doctor’s demands.

“Pardon me my lord, but are you sure about this?” Fredrik questioned.

“First, don’t call me my lord,” Jared ordered. “I’m hardly worthy of the title.”

“You saved our lives,” Fredrik pointed out. “If that doesn’t make you worthy, then I don’t know what would. But are you sure about this?”

“Like Mara said, we can take care of ourselves,” Jared told him as they watched the doctor get to work on his wounded patient. “We don’t have a choice in any event.”

“Is her message that important? Does the fate of the world depend on it?” Fredrik wondered.

“It really does,” Jared confirmed. “I’m a soldier, not a politician. I don’t make stuff up to get my way; I just call it how I see it.”

“What about us?” came the next question.

“You knew we weren’t planning on going with you the whole way,” Mara interjected. “You can lead them.”

“Me?” Fredrik looked stunned.

“Sure,” Mara said. “They know you and respect you. All you have to do is get them to Ostenstrasse. Wait there for a couple of days for an all-clear message from us.”

“And if we don’t get one?” he asked.

“Then I would strongly suggest you avoid Jerel,” Jared replied coldly.

*******