Quest of Water and Steel (Gothos Rising)

Beginning

Sera was awaken by Marie and taken to a small stream to bathe. Such water sources were rare in the vast desert. Undressing she slid into the waist deep water and started to wash herself. Once again she got dressed and returned to her tent. The servant girl was in the process of packing her things for the journey.

“Ooh you get to travel with Lord Cabel. How lucky of you getting the chance to be alone with him” the other woman said smiling widely. Tilting her head to the side, Sera walked to the bag Marie was filling with clothing, bundled food, and other supplies.

“You’re not coming with us?” she asked trying to muster the feelings that were rising in her.

“Me? No, of course not!” Marie cried. “Besides you won’t need me on your journey. Lord Cabel will keep you safe from any danger. He is wonderful” Marie chatted on, letting out a soft, breathy sigh. Sera weren’t much older than the other girl, but her experiences made her feel all lot older. Loving and losing two men in her life made her feel like she knew all lot more about the nature of men then this starry-eyed girl.

“I am going to complete this task and come back. That is all” the healer said in a calm tone of voice. Helping Marie place the last items into her bag she went out to where Cabel was waiting. In the glint of the morning Cabel looked at the young woman coming toward him, now garbed in a cloth top and breeches for horseback riding. Giving her a hand up her swung her leg and held onto him tightly. Their bags had been tied onto the side of the horse for traveling. Her hands lightly pressed against his stomach as they started off across the dessert.

“You have told me your story, but you have no told me what brought you to the arms of your winged lover?” He inquired curiously. He figured that a normal woman would not have fallen for a Sythian prince knowing that they are a dangerous race of beings.

“Meeting Dominic I thought I met a hero from a fairytale. Handsome, strong, and brave. I didn’t see the monster he truly was. He lied and betrayed me. All lot of women could overlook infidelity, but he was secretly cruel and merciless. Argos despite being a Sythian was kind and gentle, truly kind and gentle. My love for him lead to his death and my exile. This might sound strange, but I do not regret my feelings for Argo” she said.

“You are a very passionate woman. You looked beyond skin deep and overcame fear. That is admirable” he commented as he drove his mount further into the desert.

They traveled through the rest of the day and set up camp at night. Sera helped him put up the tent and quickly realized that it was very small quarters. Cabel was standing there, his chest plate in hand. He cast it aside next to the tent and looked at her. A smile played across his lips noticing that she was staring at his bare chest. Feeling the color rising in her cheek she walked slowly to the traveling tent and slid into the cramp small conditions. Reaching down she grasped the necklace she still wore around her neck. It gave her all lot of trouble through her life, but her sister had given it to her and that’s why it meant so much to her. It still gave her strength and right now she needed it. Laying on her she pulled the blanket over her body. She felt the strong body of Caleb slid in at her side, his chest a mere inches from her back.

“The nights are uncommonly cruel to the unwary. Stay close to me for body heat, the temperature is dropping steadily” he murmured, his lips mere inches from her ear. She felt a delicious shiver running through her very core at the intimacy between them. Cabel felt her soft breath ripple through their bodies lightly touching.

“Get some rest. Traveling will be hard for the next few days” he said quietly, his fingers sliding a strand of her hair from her face. Turning her head she looked at him slowly with her blue eyes, locking gaze with him. He gave her a soft smile, his hand reaching down to press against her stomach pulling her closer to his masculine form.

“Sleep” he murmured in a lulling voice as he watched her. Turning her head back down she closed her eyes and drifted asleep, feeling safe in his protective arms. The next few days they got to the mouth of a large cave, the stone black as onyx. Sliding off the mount, Caleb helped her down and looked over at the mouth of the cave.

“This entrance is the labyrinthine caves where the hermit, the Undying one lives.” He announced and moved his head side to side to get the kink out of his neck. Reaching into his saddle bag he pulled out a bottle, some spare cloth, and a flint. Walking to the entrance of the cave he picked up a stick and wrapped the strip of cloth around it. Next he lightly sprinkled the content of the bottle into the cloth and finally struck the flint. Creating his torch instructed Sera to tie up the horse and started to walk into the mouth of darkness.

From the heat of the desert then submersed into the cold, dampness of the cave made her feel a bit uneasy. Reaching out he took her hand and helped her along the path as he held the torch aloft. Sera followed him along unable to see more than a few feet in front of her. Shivering she had no idea where they were going, hoping they wouldn’t get lost in the perpetual darkness.

Caleb was holding the torch with one hand with the other he dug out a piece of paper. It was scribbles he had made out of here say to those he spoke to about the whereabouts of the hermit. He knew he was banking all lot on all of this, this one single gamble he hoped would give him the chance to protect his people. Leading the wisp of a woman along the rocky path he realized he had let go of her hand along the way. Turning his head quickly he found her standing right behind him, not missing a step. Relief washed over him that she hadn’t lost her way. Looking back down at the piece of parchment in hand he studied his own handwriting. Tucking it back into his belt he reached out and took Sera’s hand lightly.

“I am glad you haven’t slipped away” he called back to her.

“You really think I am useless don’t’ you?” she said back at him, frowning deeply. A chuckle came forth from him as he walked along.

“You’re such a little thing. I was afraid that the darkness ate you up like a fly in a spider’s web” he commented. He smiled to himself when he heard her huff in annoyance. They walked around for what felt like hours, only stopping once and a while. The darkness started to press on them as they came to a stone bridge. The tinkling of water could be heard from below them. Sera held onto his hand grasping harder when the torch went out. Cabel cursed under his breath and waved his hand in the darkness.

“Don’t worry I will light it again. Just stay very still. The bridge is very narrow.” Reaching into his belt he pulled out a the flint and tried to light it. Sera looked into the darkness hearing scratching noise in the dark.

“There is something out there in the darkness. “She whispered to him, her voice barely audible over the sound of the waterfall. Making an annoyed sound in the base of his throat he was more focused on lighting the flint to listen to her concerns.

“Dammit Cabel there is something out there!” she cried and pounded her fist into his arm causing him to groan. The flint clicked and fire climbed the moist rag, wrapped snugly around the stick. He opened his mouth to retort at her mild assault when he saw a dark figure come out of the darkness letting out a roar. A creature that looked like a giant cat pounced on him, its tail was that of a great serpent whipping out at him. Losing his balance he hurtled forward off the bridge. Grasping the edge he dug his fingers into the stone. The torch had tumbled on the stone where they had come from.

“Cabel!” she cried and backed off the bridge as the creature growled menacing at her, it’s gaze moving from her to her companion, dangling from the bridge.

“Be careful! It’s a Jaxopla. It can spit acidic venom” Cabel cried as he tried to hoist himself up, seeing the creature’s attention was on her. Swinging his body he grabbed the side of the stone with his other hand, the coldness of the cave and sprinkling of the water causing a chill to creep over his body. He felt his fingers slowly starting to lose feeling. The Jaxopla stared at Sera with its golden eyes, its growls a chorus with the water trickling down, and the hissing of the great snake.

“HEY, YOU BASTARD!” Cabel yelled on the top of his lungs. The creature turned its large head and opened its mouth, baring its great fangs at him. It raised its clawed paw and swiped at Cabel’s arm leaving a huge gash causing a cry of pain to come forth. Sera knew she couldn’t just sit stand there on that tiny piece of bridge well that creature forced Cabel to fall to his death. Letting out a shaking breath she backed up and reached down, taking hold of the torch. Starting forward she swung the torch at the Jaxopla’s head and ended up thrusting it into the beast’s right eye. It wailed in agony, blood and puss pouring from the wound. It backed up and ended up hurtling off the side of the bridge.

Sera hurried forward and grabbed Cabel’s arms. The adrenaline rushed through her giving her the strength to pull him up with her. She fell back but luckily landed safely on the ground in front of the bridge. Cabel looked down at her since he had landed on top of her.

“You really are something else, Lady Sera” he said softly, his fingertips stroking her forehead lightly.

“Who would of thought that I would save your life” she murmured in reply looking into his green eyes. Sera looked at him knowing that from the look in his eyes that he wanted to kiss her. Instead he eased himself off of her and shifted his arm, realizing for the first time that he was greatly wounded. Quick to action Sera sat up and looked around in the darkness.

Feeling around in the darkness she found a bone and pulled out a cloth from his pocket and the small bottle and created a new torch. Lighting it deftly she handed it to him and started to study the wound. Hearing him wince she focused her attention on it and placed her hand upon it gently. Focusing she closed her eyes and let out a deep breath.

Cabel watched her and to his amazement he saw her hand start to glow. It didn’t sink in till that moment that she was the protector of the stone of healing. That she had the power to heal. Yes, he had brought her along because of what she told him, but in truth he didn’t believe it until he saw it. When Sera removed her hand the wound was gone, only leaving behind the trickles of blood.

“Let’s keep moving” she said and got to her feet, wiping her hands together.