The Lost Sigil; Dawn of Light

Chapter 11: Back to the Hole

Following the caravan was simple enough as quite a number of curious people did follow it trying to get a peek at those who had been captured. One of the captives, a lanky pale man with rotten teeth, was tugging outside, trying to claw his way out of the metal bars of the carriage as he shouted, "I'M NOT A VESSEL. I'M NOT A VESSEL."

Seven people were being held within the carriage. There were five men, who were shirtless exposing bony structures, Dora, who was clad in sackcloth and a girl who was hidden among the others.

"What did they do to them?" Eda asked Rhys.

"Torture. Probably chopped off a few fingers," Rhys said and that was when Eda realised that the yelling man only had three fingers left on his left hand.

People following the caravan grew fewer and fewer as the caravan took a turn to a part of town known as Base. This part of town was right beside the Forest of Whispers and unlike the other parts of Aluma, it was a collection of tents with a single building set up. The building had banners from different regimen, the Betas, Hunters and other five they did not know off. The streets were filled with soldiers, mostly hunters and Betas. There were also a few soldiers that were definitely not Daegan. They wore white tunics and sandals laced up their entire calves.

Rhys stopped Eda, crouching behind some crates, before they even entered the street. He fondled with his bag checking for something. He then raised his shirt collar that covered the lower half of his face.

"That's the Hatch," Rhys pointed at the building at the far end passed all the tents. The caravan had continued all the way to the Hatch and stopped.

"I don't know how they built it back so fast. How much light can you produce?" Rhys asked. He was tying his laces tight and put his hood on.

"I don't know. A lot," Eda answered unsure of Rhys's line of thinking.

"We'll need blinding light." Rhys then reached into his bag again and removed two black twigs and offered Eda one.

"Crush it and rub the ash on your hands,"

Eda did as Rhys had said still uncertain of what he wanted. There was a short tingling sensation that ran through her body as she rubbed the ash on her hands.

"We'll go around the soldiers using the forest," Rhys was tracing the route behind a line of trees. "Once we're close enough to the Hatch, we'll have to move fast if we want to go undetected. The ash will help us stay undetected within those shadows." Rhys was looking at the sun's position and the Hatch did cast a shadow towards the forest.

"I can't move fast," Eda said.

"You don't have to. All I need you to do is produce the brightest blinding light you can once I'm inside. A light that can cover the entire road from there to here."

Rhys then moved towards the trees still crouching and following the shadows along his route.

"When I'm inside, I'll let you know,"

It was a bit odd seeing Rhys so composed and actually serious. Eda however, was nothing short of trembling and doubts. Her stomach started rumbling and her arms were getting a bit weak. She followed Rhys through the trees and passed the tents of soldiers who were drinking and singing and having a merry time.

Eda dreaded the feeling in her gut. As she towed close behind Rhys, she could not help but let out a few loud breathes. The soldiers' tents were so close that she could reach them if she stretched out her hand. Eda froze as her eyes met with one of the soldiers, a hunter who seemed to have not seen her. The hunter just continued towards the trees, pulled down his trousers and took a piss.