Chapter 70: 70
THE ORHERT.
CLEON:
The first rays of dawn painted the sky in hues of pink and gold as I prepared to depart from Mirabel’s sanctuary. The weight of the Orhert’s knowledge settled within me, both a burden and a gift. I knew that time was of the essence, and I longed to reunite with Jason and Jọshụa, to share the truth that lay hidden behind Fawnhide’s veiled façade.
As I strapped my belongings onto my back, a surge of gratitude washed over me. Mirabel had risked her own safety to aid me in my mission, guiding me to the sacred place where the Orhert resided. Her unwavering belief in the goddess and her commitment to the greater good had fueled our journey.
“Mirabel,” I said, my voice filled with appreciation, “thank you for everything. Your guidance and assistance have been invaluable. I will forever be in your debt.” I don’t k knkw what I would have achieved anything is she has not helped me.
Mirabel’s eyes held a mixture of sadness and determination as she nodded in response. “Cleon, remember that the goddess has chosen you for a reason. Carry the wisdom of the Orhert with humility and use it to bring about positive change. Your pack awaits your return, and they are willing to wage war in their concern for you. It is now up to you to prevent unnecessary bloodshed.”
Her words resonated deeply within me, grounding me in the purpose of my journey. I promised myself that I would fulfill my mission with honor and protect the lives that depended on my success. With one final embrace, Mirabel and I parted ways, each embarking on our separate paths yet forever connected through the bond forged in the pursuit of truth and in the universal goodness of the goddess.
My guide awaited me behind the door, and I ordered hi to first lead me to the place of the young textile merchant whom I had visited the day before, I wanted to let him know that he needn’t endanger his life on my behalf any longer. We got to the where the shop had been yesterday, and to my utmost surprise it had been razed to the ground — his whole shop, it smelled of burning hair. There was no sign of either the arsonist or the victim.
“By the goddess, what happened here?!” I exclaimed and asked my guide who just stood with an expression that told me he knew everything that transpired but would not tell me. Shocked that I had may caused the death or banishment of textile merchant, I was eager to leave Fawnhide as quickly as possible before I killed for mere suspicion and curiosity.
“Take me to Alpha Axel. I want to pay my last respects before I leave.” I ordered, my guide confirmed with a brief nodded and went down the familiar road that led to the meeting hall. There was another meeting, and I could hear Onias’s angry voice from quite a distance.
“Why did I burn it down?! Because he talked more than he should have! He deserved everything he got.” He ranted.
“But, the guide confirmed that nothing about the Orhert was discussed, don’t you think your measures were to extreme for a member of our pack?” Came another loud and concerned voice.
“Onias did what was right for the safety of our pack. Now, anybody that persecutes him, persecutes me, and that would be treason.” Axel’s voice cut in, a dismissive yet challenging tone that shut up everyone else in the meeting. It was true dictatorship.
JASON:
Late in the night, we got another message from Mirabel, the seer from Fawnhide pack that had taken our side.
“Cleon would be on his way out of Fawnhide as soon as dawn cracks — make sure to meet him on the way, the Orhert must not stay another night in Fawnhide. Mind you, the goddess has ordered that there be no spill of blood.” She informed with an urgency of somebody who was being watched.
As the sun rose higher in the sky, casting its warm glow upon our camp, a sense of anticipation coursed through my veins. Jọshụa and I had decided to follow Cleon’s path, trusting in his judgment and the guidance of the goddess. We had left a message for our pack, assuring them that Cleon was alive and urging them to postpone any plans for war.
With determined strides, we set off on the path that Cleon had taken to Fawnhide, with the carrier that we had provided him in the beginning. The weight of our purpose propelling us forward. Though uncertainty lingered in the air, a glimmer of hope danced in our eyes. Our bond as a pack was unbreakable, and we would face whatever challenges awaited us united.
JOSHUA:
The journey to catch up with Cleon was arduous, but the thought of his safety and the secrets he carried with him propelled me forward. Every step brought us closer to Fawnhide, to the heart of the mystery that had consumed us. We had put our trust in Cleon, in the goddess, and in the strength of our pack.
As we traversed unfamiliar territories, our senses heightened, attuned to any signs that would lead us to Cleon’s path. The scent of adventure and the taste of uncertainty hung in the air, invigorating our spirits and reminding us of the importance of the task at hand.
The landscape shifted, revealing the boundary between our pack and Fawnhide. The town loomed before us, its enigmatic allure calling to us like a siren’s song. We steeled ourselves, ready to face the challenges that awaited, knowing that the fate of our pack and the truth that lay hidden within Fawnhide were within our grasp.
CLEON:
With each step closer away from Fawnhide, my heart quickened with a mixture of anticipation and apprehension. I had a duty to fulfill, not only to my pack but also to the goddess who had entrusted me with the Orhert’s knowledge. The weight of responsibility settled upon my shoulders, but I refused to let it crush me.
As I approached the boundary, determination burned within me, I had played my part well, and now it was time for the goddess to do hers.
To my greatest surprise, I found Jason and Cleon, already seated under a tree close to the boundary, waiting for me.
“Jason, Joshua!” I exclaimed, dropping all formalities because it felt so good to see them again, some days ago I had thought I would die in a foreign land, with a foreign name.
“Cleon!” They exclaimed equally and embraced me.
“We brought you some food, rest up, by midnight we are taking back what rightfully belongs to us.” Jason asserted, and we bounded off farther away from the boundary so we would not be spotted.