CHRONICLES OF AADYA

Episode Eleven

AADYA

Immediately I took off before the men could catch a glimpse at my course. My only goal at this point was to get as far away from the clergyman's servant as I could even though I was somewhat confused by the entire event. I pulled my hood to hide my hair as I went around a corner. Terror sucked the very breath from my mouth as the far-off footfall rang in my ears, blocking out all other sounds, the closer they get, the more difficult it is for me to breath. I was frightened down to the sole of my shoes.

I shakenly made another round before hiding behind some hay bales. Even though it wasn't the finest hiding place, I still hold out hope that I can get away from these rootless men who only want to see me perish.

"Check the area out. Leave no spot unchecked!" A command was thrown to the troops in the close distance and I nervously swallowed as I heard several footsteps jog past near my spot. I had no choice but to skulk among the hay, hugging my sweating fists to my chest and pleading with the goddess to shield me from the men.

I became icily terrified as a footstep continued to get closer to me before he was alerted by a boy’s voice "I saw her go there!" the lad informed and gradually I began to hear his footsteps retreat and eventually cleared out. It didn't take long for the area to become wholly silent. "Hey..." I instantly turned in the direction of the whisper only for my gazes to come upon the young chap from before.

"Hey. Come out" He whispered "Be quick" I wasn't sure how he discovered where I was, and even so, I quickly did what he commanded "Servant of the Clergyman will return to this location soon. Come with me" He motioned for me to follow him as he started down a winding route. "Do you truly possess demonic power?" He queried and took a quick look before refocusing on the path ahead of him.

"I can't tell what I am, but whatever I am is far from what they claim"

"So you're something," He remarked seizing a wooden fire torch out of a nearby corner.

I wasn't certain whether he meant that as a question or just a remark and so I just followed behind without uttering another word until he pushed open a cover and descended into a tunnel. "Are you certain It's usable?" I asked as I observed the soiled water from the tunnel soaking his shoe sole.

"News has been sent round the town, this is the only area they won't be searching," He told me before motioning for me to join him.

My shoes were submerged beneath the water as we continued through the tunnel, the only light being that from the burning torch. "Why do you help me? Aren't you supposed to be helping your grandfather in finding me?" I wasn't straining to be disrespectful; I was only curious about his motive.

"That? I'm not sure" He let out as we continued to proceed through the underpass. "I know I don't look like one of those big muscly kind of fellows, but I'd love to play the hero sometimes, you would be surprised by my strength" I just nodded wryly as he turned to cast a sidelong glance at me. I immediately started looking for phrases to compliment my admiration for his desire as soon as his countenance changed.

"No! No" I choked out "I'm sure you're stronger than you look. No. I mean... You're doing something now, right?" He glances at me and then nodded, refocusing on the path.

"One time I took a fellow apart with one strike, he was such a prat"

"I can see you're built up with such courage, it won't be long until you do take people down with less than a blow," I said. He might be a year or so than Gunnar but he's skinner, and quite hard to picture him in a fight, let alone succeed.

"Is that truly your thoughts or you're only being snarky?"

"I won't dream of such"

"We're here," He said coming to a stop "I'll head first" He informed me and handed the burning lamp to me, and then began using the ladder merged to the wall. "Now it's your turn" He notified after a while.

"I know a place you can hide until sundown"

We eventually succeeded in getting into a hay barn that he had previously worked in. He departed to check for a secure exit from the town after showing me a place where I do remain in case someone turns up. I perched in the corner of the barn reflecting on my life so far. I know my mama had mentioned my powers to me, but she never went into detail. I only knew I had much power in me, a kind she feared but never did she mention the sort, and that makes me wonder if what happened when I was about to be executed was truly me or by the grace of some benevolent god who took pity on my pathetic existence or even something malevolent that wanted me to believe I have such power.

My memories of her have progressively faded, and I hardly recognize the woman she used to be. I could vaguely remember her fair, rounded face, her soft, brown eyes, her red hair, which gave me the impression that I looked like her, and her smile, which occasionally became sad. My only distinct memories of her are of the times when she sang to me, a song I haven't come to hear from another, it was in a language I don't understand or know of. Even to this day, I'm still unsure of the song's meaning, though I shouldn't be surprised given that she didn't know what it meant in the first place. She once revealed to me that her mama referred to it as the "ancient tune written in the aged tongue". I regret not meeting my Ouma.

These memories were what I fell into when realized it was already sundown. I was getting worried as I waited for what felt like an eternity before the young chap suddenly returned. "The entire passages appeared to be surprisingly guarded tonight," He tells me dropping on the hip of hay. "You might be able to elude detection by boarding one of the carriages departing the town, though, may be perilous, but it's your only chance, as additional servants might show up by daybreak"

"It's not like stashing here looks any promising"

"Okay! That's the spirit. Once we go out there, there's s no turning back" He rose busily. I felt awful for wanting his aid even knowing how dangerous this may result, he was just a child.

"You have truly been of help to me and I sincerely appreciate it. You may not be aware of how risky what you're doing may stand, and I don't want to bring you suffering or contribute to your extinction by allowing you to continue to help me. My soul won't find peace knowing that. Perhaps, if you could point me on the appropriate path to where I could get a carriage, I would appreciate it" I told him with a genus sincerity and observed as his eyes waggled.

"I-I never complained," He said snappily. I was ready to object "And by the way, there's no right route. That's why you need me" He let out, eyes burning with desire, presumably one that evolves being a hero.

I let out a weak sigh "You need to pledge that you would deny knowing me if ever we get caught, promise?" I watched him expectantly until he nods.

"I promise"

It surprisingly appeared to be somewhat easy to reach the closest exit from the town. "That looks more heavily guarded than before" He whispered. "I think we should check the next one"

"How far is that?" I glanced over at him and refocus my gaze on the distant troops standing next to some burning torches. Two of the men seemed to be examining every single horse and carriage that passes by.

He shook his head, "Not much," and motioned for me to follow as he crept backward. The boy took a detour through a dark, constrained passageway where I could hardly see what was ahead since several troops were parading our intended path. It wasn't until we made it out of the passage that a nameless dread engulfed me as my vision trained on two troops gazing back at us, specifically at me.

****

ALISDAIR

Again, our journey began like a mystery box waiting to be unwrapped, never knowing what to expect, this impromptu journey has proven to be anything but easy. Bellamy on the other hand has grown quiet ever since his injuries whereas Gunnar is full of life and curiosity ready to throw in questions at any chance he gets.

My feet stumbled on a rock which unstable me, as I angrily kicked the rock so did the climate change, the sky looked like it will cry any moment, it wasn't a delightful feeling, was it going to rain without warning? Suddenly the peaceful environment got polluted with the sounds of birds chirping and tweeting, they began to appear in the sky hovering around us, or perhaps me. A formation they were building in the sky began to form right in front of my eyes, I stared at the castle-like building they have formed, it was unfamiliar, nothing like the one we have come across, and mystic voices began whispering indistinctly from nowhere in particular.

The whispering persisted, to a point, that it was no longer a whisper. "Go West. Find Zoyidel" It was clear and sound, I looked around to find where the voice was coming from but it was just the three of us, and neither did it seem like it was coming from the strange birds. They dispersed themselves and came directly to me as if about to attack and devour me, without warning my body went down to avoid them but they flew past me with the same speed they came with.