Rising from the Ash

KAIN iii

Our horses galloped as we searched for the girl and her accomplice. Eva had gone to the Ztafas and somehow, she had managed to find out that the girl escaped with another girl, the one Grandma called Zelda.

Eva told me the girl's name as well-Amen.

'Amen'.

My mind raced as I said her name. She was beautiful, but she was also dangerous. I remembered how she looked when she held me at her mercy. I remembered the anger on her face, the way she easily twisted my silver sword and emitted powerful waves from her body. I swallowed down the fear that was building up within me. I had the right to be afraid for she totally wrecked the great palace gate, destroyed several buildings completely and caused other massive destruction around the palace.

In all of this, I constantly wondered. Why didn't I see it coming? Years ago, when a strange terrible headache had afflicted almost all of the soldiers and residents in the palace including my parents, I didn't know it was a Ztafas attack. Even if the supposed Ztafas were caught and executed, the fear of experiencing helplessness again haunted me. So, now that Amen had made me feel helpless again, I didn't know what to do.

We rode for some minutes taking the obvious route that led out of the royal estate. We didn't take the Ztafa side of the estate because she'd know better than to go there. It was now being guarded by Eva who wasted no time in whipping the slaves with silver. Silver was their weakness. It could weaken their magic if they're bounded by it. Even as low as a cut, the wound would take several days to heal and it may even kill them that easily.

As we rode, I heard Olga speaking to an aide that rode by his side. I slowed down the pace of my horse and soon they caught up with me. It was that time that I realized we weren't making any progress in finding her.

"We're loosing time Olga. She could be anywhere. Amadiran Is a large kingdom. How am I expected to find her?"

I fumbled. It was so frustrating doing the work of a prince. I just wanted to run away from it all, but I couldn't.

"Calm down your majesty. That's why we're here. Besides, if anyone can find her, it's you. You have foresight."

"Yeah, a gift that's always useless whenever there's a Ztafa attack. Could their abilities be blocking my powers?"

"Maybe and maybe not. As far as you know, only two Ztafas have attacked and only they have rendered your abilities weakened. Those attacks weren't like we know from history. It is said that certain Ztafas possess greater magic. Maybe we weren't just dealing with ordinary Ztafas."

I sighed. That was a probability. I nodded at Olga and tried to figure out how to find her. Then I had an idea. I can track something that belongs to her. I've never tried it before but I thought it would work. There has to be more to being a seer than catching glimpses of the future. Only problem was she was a Ztafa and didn't have any possessions. I shook my head and tried to remember everything in detail, then it struck me. I could track her clothes! They're her named possession so it should work.

I stopped my horse and my comrades all stopped as well. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I focused on whatever I thought I was doing, letting go of any distractions. At first, it was as if I was making a fool out of myself. Then, I felt something. I saw a glimpse of leaves. I opened my eyes in shock and closed them again, focusing harder this time. As I dived into the vision, my breath stopped. I felt my veins bulge as I focused on the fragments I saw; leaves,a forest, a path, a house with a fence and I saw Amen scaling the fence. As I opened my eyes, I exhaled heavily and blood poured out of my nose and mouth. Olga quickly rushed to my side. My eyes were red from pain. I breathed heavily and said to him.

"I found her. Let's go."

I kicked my horse and we went according to my vision. When I finally saw the house, I was elated. Finally this would all be over. We banged the gate and the occupants of the house lit up their rooms. They came out slowly, perhaps thinking we're thieves.

"Open this gate at once! By order of the king!"

Olga boomed and the occupants rushed to the gate. They opened it and we went in. I looked around the house. It was fairly large. The faces of the people looking at me were filled with fright. I did all I could to keep a calm gesture.

"I'm looking for a girl, a Ztafa. Her name is Amen. My sources led me here. I believe she's in this house."

I said. The occupants looked confused. The older man was surprised but the other lady looked afraid.

"Amen was my daughter." The older man said quietly.

"Was?" I asked, eager to hear what he was about to say.

"Yes your highness. I disowned her when I found out what she was. She's supposed to be in the palace. She knows better than to come back to this house, even if she could."

"Well, I think she did." I said and focused again. Then suddenly, I saw Ztafa clothes inside a trash bag. I became anxious.

"Bring out all the trash bags in this house!"

I ordered. The occupants moved quickly followed by some of my men. I instinctively restrained the 'frightened' lady from going in. Soon, all the bags were outside. The contents were poured on the ground and when one was emptied, a pair of Ztafa clothes fell down. I saw the surprise in the face of the occupants. I came down from the horse.

"Whose bag is this,specifically?" I asked.

"It is mine."

The frightened lady said softly. I turned and looked at her. She avoided eye contact with me. Strangely, she looked familiar.

"Did she come to you for help? Are you her sister?"

"Yes, I am her sister. I think she stole my clothes and dumped hers in the trash bag."

she said. I didn't believe her.

"She didn't steal your clothes. You gave them to her. You helped her and that makes you an accomplice of crime. Where did she go?"

The lady was shaking. She didn't say a word.

"For the sake of your family." I added coldly.

She looked me in the eye as tears dropped down her face.

"Amen never choosed to be this way. No matter what happens, she will always be my sister. I saw her heading towards Haires. That is all I know."

She said to me with fear and anger and honesty. I mounted my horse and rode off. As we galloped, I heard a cracking sound and a whimper. I looked back and saw the man holding up a fist and the girl crying on the ground. I looked away and rose towards Haires. Was I even doing the right thing?