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The rainbow bridge was insight Ichiro was glad so far nothing had happened to keep Jaden from this quest so far so good. As they reached the base of the bridge, Fir Darrig appeared stopping them from their crossing. Ichiro knew he must be here on official business since the man's expression didn't change. Lilla, who had felt lighthearted when she first saw him, now felt a wave of dread wash over her.
He refused to look at anyone other than Ichiro trying to send him a mental message that what they had talked about last night was coming to pass.
"my master Leander has sent me, he sends his greeting to the Fair Lady Jaden. He extends an invitation for her to come to his palace and exchange herself for the life of the young one named Jem."
Silence hung in the air. Ichiro was glad he had talked to Azure and had decided to speak to Koria before they left camp, he said two words Koria, Azure you must do as you promised.
Azure, protested,
"You never said it was at the risk of Jem."
Ichiro looked at her giving her a stern warning.
"It does not matter do what is expected of you."
Azure turned to her friend just as Jaden was announcing to Fir Darrig she would go with him. Azure caught her attention and had a morose look on her face.
"Forgive me,"
then she used her powers to keep Jaden restrained.
Koria moved to Azakia's side. Azakia was now confident giving Jaden to Leander was the answer.
"Azure release Jaden, she must go to save not only Jem but the rest of Lantea and end this quest then everyone can return to their world."
Again, Ichiro demanded one of his ranks do their duty, he knew he was asking a lot of these two people, but he trusted Fir Darrig. He knew turning Jaden over to the enemy was a mistake whether Jaden and Azakia thought that, and he is damned if another man was going to possess her. Koria drew in a deep breath and did something he thought he would never have to do render his cousin who he loved dearly unconscious. Both Jaden and Azakia had been silenced waiting to see what the outcome of this meeting would be.
Fir Darrig rolled his eyes telling Ichiro this was only being said to keep Leander's trust.
"I warn you not to go to the temple of the Garnet and complete this task or the child and Lantea will be doomed."
What he told Ichiro by telepathy was
"I need you to attack me to make this look legitimate."
How was he going to attack a friend? Then he thought about what he was now doing to his brother who he loved more than anything and a young woman who came to mean a lot to him. It was with great sadness he had to order someone else he trusted to be hurt.
"Azure use, your powers to prevent him from taking Jaden."
Azure did something she didn't think that she could do she was mentally able to hold Jaden and shoot a blast of her powers towards Fir Darrig, making sure she didn't hurt him. She knew he had no choice in what he was doing any more than she had a choice about what she was now doing to the only best friend she had ever had.
He let the blast hit him, knowing he could have diverted it if he had wanted it to. He was aware maybe he had made a mistake when the blast hit, and Lilla fainted. This was getting harder especially now since all these people came to mean something to him. He disappeared and went back to tell Leander what he had to report.
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Dead Hand of the Past
FantasyThe Maidens and the Warriors are on their second set of Temples and in the first one they must face their far-off past to see what made them who they are in the present. One Maiden must learn to live with the knowledge of her past which will not be...