The Source: Observer Chronicles, Book 3

Chapter 42: Setting Up

Sand swept through the Sahara air before a crack of thunder came from above, followed by a significant bolt of lightning thicker than the last time they travelled here. Steam rose a few miles to the south of the fortress, far enough out of the way not to be noticed.

"We have come so far these six months," said the Edeolon leader. "Not as far as we all hoped, but time has run out. We make our stand today. Iʼm done waiting for them to come for us, this time we come for them." They all encircled Reetho with droopy faces and pounding hearts. The burning smell of steam lingered in the air. "We all know our parts."

Reetho turned and looked in the direction of the fortress. Its tall spire stuck out behind the steep sandy hill as a thought crossed his mind, "Drage, you are in charge until I return . . . If I do—"

"You don't get to say those words to me! You're coming back," reacted Drage.

"I'm coming back," repeated Reetho, "but things will be different. Very different, however it turns out."

The fire-wielder walked off into the distance, his footprints marking his path. All the warriors stood and watched him grow smaller until he disappeared.

"It's our turn," said Drage, "we know the plan and have until the signal to prepare." The earth-wielder sighed, "letʼs get things moving."

* * *

Reetho walked alone again and began to wonder if a leaderʼs life was about feeling this way, though Drage was in his mind this time making him stronger, not wanting to stop.

He walked all the way around the other side of the fortress, where Tom told him he could find another entrance, the one he used to escape. The door, hidden by a dark shadow, making it look like any other wall, covered by its grandness and shadow that should not be there. He felt for the gap like Tom told him to, "impossible to find by the naked eye," he said to the boy, shifting his hand along the wall, solid . . . his arm disappearing into the dark. "Found it," he whispered. He felt a pressure building inside him, pulling his arm back from the dark in reluctance. Part of him didnʼt want to enter. If I fail at retrieving this, everything we have done would have been for nothing. He walked through, this time going all the way.

His sai started to fade into existence, feeling the tough metal press upon his hands before swirling them.

* * *

"You heard what Reetho said," spoke Drage. They all looked focussed, eyes so piercing it looked as if he was the target, staring at him as he spoke.

"I'm not ready," said Lauret, "I can't. We are depending too much on if I can pull this off. You went on about it as if I've done it a million times before, all of you did."

Clarabelle put her hand on Lauret's shoulder, "you are potentially the strongest one here. You can do this. We have faith."

"I would be lying if I was to say I know we'll all survive, Lauret, but we need you alive," said Drage, "and as long as possible if we are going to distract the enemy for Reetho to get to what he is looking for. I only hope it will turn things in our favour once he finds it."

"Comforting speech, Drage," said Darryl, "but you are right. Thereʼs no use lying." Annette looked up at the sky, no clouds.

"I suppose I'm the first to start this whole thing off," said Annette.