The Scarlet Scepter

Chapter Seventeen (Revised)

We ventured out to the hills. The sun was going to set in hour or two. We were riding in horseback, and I held onto Cyrus's waist because I could not steadily grasp the saddle. Excitement was rushing in my veins, but when I noticed his expression, it somehow made me sad. When everything is over, I would never see him again.

Cornelia told us to go straight for the hills. When we reach the ruins of Sapiro, we were about to search for a temple. "The temple should be a possible place for the Scepter to go to. Or if not, you could search the abandoned structures," she had said with a wink. "But, be warned. You must cautiously seek it, or else it would hide from you."

We reached the ruins as the sun was beginning to rise in the eastern sky. We got down, and he pulled the reins as we walked. There were stone houses and structures everywhere, and each had its own jungle. The vines and the trees sprouted from the rooftops. Broken sculptures were scattered in the ground. I tried to peek at one house, but red eyes glared at me when I was still several feet away. I almost ran screaming.

Cyrus was calm. He warily eyed the surroundings, and he was silent throughout the ride. I looked down as I walked beside him. The horse was also quiet.

Something caught my eye, and when I ran to it, I saw that it was a rag doll. I held it in my palm, and I felt a pat on my shoulder. I looked at Cyrus, and I saw pain in his eyes. I put the doll in my pocket.

We continued walking, and I realized that Cyrus wasn't really calm. He kept looking around, like a very painful memory was stirring in his mind.

"Cyrus, what's wrong?"

"I've been here before."

"Well, maybe you have. You were found in the woods, remember?"

"Yes, but I feel like I am forgetting something."

"Huh?"

"This place is really familiar. There used to be a fountain there, and wells over there... and the apothecary is right down the corner." But all he was pointing at were stones. "I feel like I've forgotten something I should not have."

"Don't worry, Cyrus. We'll figure it soon enough." As I said it, he looked at me questioningly. Oh, did I just we?

I decided to just shut my mouth. He was leading the horse, and the air was beginning to get colder. He glanced up at the moon, and a vague memory struck me. His face turned austere, and it reminded me of my dreams. He looked like. . . Zephyr, with the same austerity and the same sadness, but physically, they were different. The Zephyr I remembered had blond hair like his sister and the same blue eyes. Cyrus's face was more well-defined.

We covered about a mile or two when he tapped my shoulder. "Look."

I looked up, and sure enough, a mile from where we were standing was a huge beautiful dome-like structure. Behind it was what I thought was left of the Sapiran castle, overlooking the hills.

"Come on," he said, and he picked up his pace.

"Cyrus, why won't we just use the horse?" He made sure the horse was following us, but if we were walking, what's the use?

He looked around nervously. "Not yet."

We were halfway there when the air turned chilly, like the warning wind of winter. The sun was still on the horizon. I glanced at the ground beneath my feet, and there were white specks. I bent down to examine them.

"Snow?" I looked at Cyrus, who was as puzzled as I was. "Hey, was it supposed to be snowing here?"

His eyes narrowed. "Snow? It does not snow here." He looked up. "It only snows in Ahavah. Come on."