Fate of the Blessed

Chapter 18

Amara

"Oh, my goodness, Amara!" Shanti squealed, flinging her arms around me in a death-like grip. I laughed, prising her arms from around me and kneeled at her level. I held her at arm's length, just looking at her. An overwhelming well of emotion came over me, and I couldn't help but let a sob escape my lips.

"I've missed you Shanti."

Shanti smiled, gently wiping the tears from my eyes. She told me to dry my eyes before jumping up and hugging Tae-Seong tight. To my surprise, he hugged the little girl back. I guess he has a soft spot hidden somewhere deep. Very deep.  

"You're going to need to be careful with your shoulder." He scolded. I jumped up from my kneeling position and noticed the bandage on her shoulder.

"What happened to her shoulder?" I swung to face Tae-Seong, demanding to know what happened. He looked at the floor, ashamed.

"We were attacked by Saja, demons if you like, Charon saved us."

Anger boiled within me, but I looked again to Shanti and breathed a sigh of relief, letting the fury ebb from my body. It wouldn't do any good getting at him.

Charon smiled as he watched the exchange between the three travellers. A knock on the table startled us all, and we looked towards the noise. A girl with silver shimmering hair looked at the boat keeper she pointed to the door, showing us she had to leave. He nodded, and she disappeared. Shanti ran to the door, trying to stop her, but she brushed past, giving the little girl a quick pat on the head as she did so. 

"Where is she going?" 

"She has duties to attend too, little one." Charon said. Shanti sat back down, rubbing her shoulder, wincing as she did so.

"Anyway, my friends, sit down I'll make some tea." Charon cut through the silence.

Tae-Seong and I took seats on the table, whilst Shanti perched herself on the edge of the bed, which Cerberus was now hiding under. Charon busied himself making the tea. 

"So, what's our next move?" Tae-Seong asked. 

"Well, we've already agreed that we need to go back." I said.

Charon set down 3 steaming cups of tea, seating himself at the table as he did so. 

"I fear that is the correct decision, but still a path I would rather you didn't have to take." Charon sighed.

Tae-Seong and I looked at each other before turning our attention briefly to Shanti, who had lain back down on the bed. Although she was trying her best to hide it, she was in pain.

"This time Shanti is going to come with us as well."

Tae-Seong looked grave, whilst Charon just gave a small nod. We all sat in silence for what seemed like forever until Tae-Seong piped up. We all looked up from our teas.

"Will you take us back, Charon?" 

"Unfortunately not. The payment I was given is spent and you don't have another obol to give me. My journey ends here."

I put my head in my hands as I swallowed back a scream of frustration. Everything is this good forsaken place has a damn price. The unfairness of it all was like a blow to the stomach.

I hate this place.

"We can't go back through the forest, the Saja are still there." Tae-Seong said, banging his fist on the table in frustration. 

"There is another way. The Saja can't go past the forest as orange trees grow at the edge. However, you can follow the midnight trail." We stayed silent, so he continued on.