Chapter 19—Torn Apart

Later that day, the sun met the horizon, which made the sky fade from blue to yellow to orange until it finally rested at black for the night sky. It was a romantic and beautiful view as the birds started to chirp before they fell asleep and the frogs began to croak near the water. The four of us sat eating dinner in front of a fire. All of us were silent, carefully debating a strategy to bring up the topic that was on all of our minds. Ruth was a touchy subject for Asher, as well as Rory, but there was no getting around it. The only person who has not given their opinion on the matter was Eden.

“So, Rory, did you think any more about what we talked about earlier?” I asked sheepishly while looking down at my plate, afraid to look him in the eye.

“Yes,” he replied with nothing more to say.

“Eden, I know you know all about it, so what do you think?”

He met my gaze, fear and resentment reaching his eyes as he really did not want his opinion out in the open. I usually didn’t put people on the spot like this because I hated it when others did it to me, but this problem really needed to be solved. And I was working with two stubborn men. “What do you mean?” he finally asked, choking on his food.

“Do you think I am ready to go to Shanaledge?”

“Sarai, don’t drag him into this,” Rory replied in a monotonous tone.

“I want to hear what he thinks. It is only his opinion. Whatever he has to say doesn’t change anything. You know that…”

“Look honey, I believe you need a little more training, but I also don’t see why you are learning all of this stuff when it seems like you may never go,” Eden responded, putting down his plate.

“So you’re conflicted.”

“Yeah…I mean, I don’t trust that Asher will protect you. As soon as Ruth is set free, I think he is going to just leave. I don’t think anyone would be able to find him.”

“Hey!” Asher started but was quickly interrupted by Eden and me.

“Shut up!” I snapped.

“Well, it’s the truth!” Eden replied.

“I know Rory can’t go to Shanaledge, but what keeps you from going?” I asked Eden.

“I’m not from that plane of existence so I cannot travel from realm to realm. I could hitch a ride with Asher or someone else, but it wouldn’t be an ideal solution for me to go to Shanaledge to get Ruth if that’s what you were getting at Sarai. I would be stuck there if Asher just so happened to leave, then I would be stuck there either with or without Ruth. Then you and Rory would still be in the same situation trying to figure a way to get me out, which you would be the only one who actually could. And who’s to say I’d survive?”

“But I’m not from there, so I cannot travel to different realms,” I stated.

“Actually, you can. You were originally from Shanaledge,” Asher chimed in.

“What?” I replied in astonishment.

“It is said that long ago, King Aldwyn’s great-great-great-great-grandfather placed you in this world away from Shanaledge to keep you safe. You were special to them. You could prove to do great things for our realm because of the various abilities that you possess. Most of them remain untapped, unfortunately. But they knew if someone were to rule Shanaledge with darkness in their heart, then you could ultimately be used to destroy the whole realm. From what I have gathered over the years, it is also told that you are a member of the royal family,” Asher explained.

“You’re full of crap,” I replied, unwilling to believe what he said. “There is no way that could be true.”

“Actually, that makes perfect sense,” Rory replied, eyes wide as he thought deeply into this theory.

Eden only remained frozen with a shocked expression plastered on his face.

All I could do was sit there, speechless. I still couldn’t believe anything that was being said. “How could any of this be possible? I wasn’t even born there!” I began to entertain this theory Asher put out. I was still skeptical, but something told me that I shouldn’t be.

“You were originally, but because your royal ancestor banished you from Shanaledge, under good reasons, you were always reborn here. Your family is, by all means, your biological family, but your true home is Shanaledge,” Asher responded.

“Okay, but after all these years, how is it that Rory and I can grow older and die but you, Silas, and everyone else from Shanaledge almost always look the same?” I asked, confused by all of this.

“Time flows differently in our realm. We also have longer lifespans than humans in Terrah.”

I couldn’t think of anything else to say. No matter how much I wanted to deny all of this, I had to admit that it all did make sense. Something told me—I could feel that it was all true.

We all remained quiet as we mulled over the information given to us. Our thoughts were suddenly broken as there was suddenly a rustling sound in the bushes. All of us jumped to our feet. It was so quiet aside from the flowing water.

Eden started cautiously walking toward the bush.

“Maybe it is just an animal,” I said, unconvinced by my own statement.

Rory stood closer to me. “It’s still safer to be sure than to be sorry.”

Asher quietly replied with a grave tone to his voice, “They are here.”

Suddenly, twenty cloaked figures jumped from outside the shadows. At this moment, I could faintly hear Asher’s voice, I broke my eyes away from the followers that surrounded us to look at him, but he wasn’t talking; his lips weren’t even moving. The disembodied voice kept repeating, “I’m so sorry, please forgive me. It had to be done.”

My face changed from shock to an accusing stare. “What did you do?” I asked with anger and betrayal tinting my voice.

He looked at me frightened with sorrowful eyes. “I’m sorry.”

Rory started walking towards him in an intimidating manner, but I was shaking with so much rage that I willed my abilities to consume me. No longer will I be the scared damsel in distress who has to rely on everyone else to save her.

The wind started to pick up around me. My hair flowing and whipping around. Asher had fear running through his whole body as he began floating in the air. Rory stopped dead in his tracks before turning around to look at me in awe. I waved my hand and Asher was thrown across the forest into the darkness.

Eden was fighting the followers with his sword, while Rory ran to pick up his bow and arrows. I remained in the powerful state I was in, helping them in the background. A few followers ganged up on Rory who started injuring them with his fists. I used my abilities to freeze them in place while creating a blue ball of light to injure some who were attacking Eden.

More of the cloaked followers started coming out from behind trees and from outside of the shadows. It wasn’t long before Rory ran out of arrows, now having to use his own body as a weapon, as Eden had to do, but he could use his sword. Both of them moved so quickly as they started to become winded from their exercise. It was starting to become difficult to keep up with them.

One of the invaders drew a dagger as they started toward Rory. I barely noticed as I was too busy helping Eden at the moment, but Rory was more than capable of taking care of himself. In one swift movement, he grabbed the man he was fighting and used him to block the dagger-wielding attacker. Rory then took the weapon and began using it to his advantage.

This serene place had suddenly become a battlefield all because Asher had to tell on us. Rory had been right about him all along. As my mind started to drift towards every action Asher has ever made and tried to find ways to defend him, my powers started to wane. Soon after I noticed this taking effect, I started to become aware of a nauseating pain that throbbed in my head. I soon found myself on my hands and knees. All of my energy was completely drained, and I was trying not to faint.

In a dazed state, I looked at Rory who was still fighting in a distance. Then I turned to see Eden doing the same. They were too far away to call for help. I also knew that by screaming at them, I would only distract them resulting in their deaths. The pain in my head and the weakness that consumed my whole body had caused my abilities to suffer significantly. I couldn’t even telepathically communicate to Rory. I must have used too much in a short amount of time. I thought to myself.

I felt useless, and time seemed to be slowing down as I watched my soulmate and my friend fought for my safety. Eden had been injured with a cut on his arm that looked to be very deep and would need stitches. He also suffered a blow to the head among other things. Both of them kept going as their wounds became more and more significant. They were covered in so much blood that it was impossible to figure out if it was theirs or not.

The most bewildering moment of this whole ordeal was when we all thought it would soon be over, more and more followers appeared from what seemed like thin air. Rory and Eden were becoming more visibly exhausted after each wave. Their clothes were tattered, every inch of their skin was filthy and sweaty, and they even had to scavenge for new weapons as they fought from the corpses that lay on the ground.

An excruciating noise filled my head that was accompanied by a rushing noise. The pain was so unbearable and caught me off guard, so I couldn't make a sound. It was even more difficult to breathe as I started to perspire from the pain and grew sicker. I found myself curled in the fetal position with my hands over my ears and my eyes closed shut when the pain and noise suddenly subsided.

As I lay watching the carnage, a little strength started to come back to me. I finally felt able enough to stand up.

Suddenly, Asher appeared in front of me. My heart leaped, and my breath faltered.

“I’m sorry, Sarai, but this is the only way.”

He grabbed my arm as I tried to fight him, but I was still too weak. Finally, I was able to find my voice as I screamed, “Rory!” My hand was out, reaching for him as he quickly turned, rushing towards me before Asher and I were gone.