Arwick (A Light Of Roria Sequel)

Chapter Fifty-Five

Addisyn

Scaling the castle tower was an entirely different fete compared with the fortress wall and one my body had not been prepared for. Using the jagged stones as leverage, we mountain climbed our way up to an open window. Aziel was the first to leap inside, quickly giving the rest of us the okay to do the same. When my feet touched the floor, I fell to my knees, unable to catch my breath. Emunah knelt beside me, placing a hand on my shoulder.

"Princess, are you injured?" she asked with concern.

"Nah, just out of shape," Jake teased, sounding winded himself.

"Shut up, Jake." I glared his way. "But he's right."

Emunah smiled. "The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." She patted my back. "Demand divinity to give you the strength to continue, for we must keep moving."

"Shall I carry you, dear heart?" Elijah grinned cheekily, reaching out his hand for me to take.

"Trying to stay out of the fight already?" Jake smirked, heading for the archway that would lead us from the small circular room before taking a good look around.

"Such a task may keep someone such as yourself out of a fight, but my skills are unmatched, Jake. I can wield a sword while carrying my one flesh with ease." Elijah winked.

"Quiet," Jake began with a forced whisper. "Someone's coming."

We all fell silent as a fragile woman appeared beyond the archway. Her wild hair fell in tangles around her sunken cheekbones. Hunched over, her ankles were kept chained as she stepped toward one of the many barrels in the room. "The red wine, Rahab. Do not forget he requested the red," she repeated to herself fearfully.

I could feel divinity's tug to reveal myself to her, but I hadn't been the only one. Aziel, removing our conceal, quickly sheathed his sword and stepped toward her. "Forgive me, my lady, but I did not mean to startle you," he said quickly as she fell back. "Shh, shh, please do not scream. For I trust in Selah as you do."

Aziel was right. She did trust in divinity, but her faith was as weak as her frame. Unlike my friends, whose own divinity was as tangible as the stone beneath my feet, she carried its presence so faintly that wielding its magic would have been impossible.

"H-How d-did you g-get in here?" she asked, frightened.

"Through that window. We've come with those who battle the dark users at the wall. We come because the fairy who travels with me found the light of Roria, and Selah's great command was to overtake Kane's kingdom."

She gasped, her eyes darting among us all. When his words had finally registered, she moved to rest on her knees, clasping her hands together. "Thanks be divinity!" she whispered. "I long ago lost hope of seeing the prophecy fulfilled, but now it has arrived."

The fragment of faith she held sparked inside her. Though it remained small, I was pleased to see it grow before my eyes, proving that hope was the strongest medicine for us all.

"I am greatly pleased to see your faith beginning to be restored, but I must ask that you tell us where we can find Kane's throne room. We must get there at once," Aziel asked hurriedly.

"I am Rahab. I shall lead you there myself. I am to take this wine to him. I only ask that once I have done so, you grant me your protection," she answered with a bow.

"You shall have it, Rahab." Aziel smiled.

"What a coincidence that we'd run into you, Rahab." Jake smirked. "Almost like Divinity meant for it to happen."

"Come, but for now remain hidden behind your conceal," Rahab started out. "Though I doubt it will help you once we've reached the throne room. Kane senses divinity quite easily."

Once again Aziel placed us behind a conceal as we followed Rahab beyond the archway. The long hallway reminded me of Ahab's castle. It was large with many doors and a vaulted ceiling high above my head. But while Ahab's castle was gaudy and filled with his trophies, Kane's was dim and had dark walls and shadows in every corner. In many ways it mimicked the sinister atmosphere that thickened as we approached the large double doors straight ahead.

I knew Kane stood behind those doors. His presence, the very opposite of divinity. I thought back to the moment I met Selah, filled with immediate reverence and awe-inspiring peace just being near him. But this, this was hopelessness and the origin of despair.

The single guard standing before the doors moved aside, giving Rahab and the rest of us access. As she held open the door, we swiftly entered. My eyes fell on Kane, who looked directly toward me with a frightening grin. In any other circumstance, it would have drawn my focus, but the sight of Selah in shackles had me forget it altogether.

"That one," Kane's wicked voice said, his long finger pointing directly at Jake.

The guard in the corner released two arrows, one striking his thigh, having pierced through to the other side, with the other hit his right shoulder. He toppled to the floor with a sorrowful groan.

Aziel was the first to race toward Kane, his sword drawn above his head, with Emunah and Elijah hot on his heel, but as soon as Kane's blade touched Selah's throat, they froze. This was their king, and if his life was threatened, then surrender was necessary.

I rushed to Jake's side, thankful the arrows had not pierced an artery. I was no nurse but was aware that any injury to an artery would have been catastrophic. "Oh, Jake, I'm so sorry," I said, hesitant to touch the arrow as I tried to consider a way to slow the bleeding.

"Tell your dragon to leave my kingdom, or I will run my blade through Selah's throat," Kane demanded. His voice was snakelike, fueled with hatred as he stared into our king's eyes.

"No. Don't." Jake struggled to speak as he tried to stand but began to fall.

"Jake, don't get up," I urged him, tears streaming down my face. I knew the outcome that was moments away, and I could hardly stand it, breaking me down until my vision blurred and my breathing became heavy. "I-I have to stop the bleeding." I couldn't save Selah, but I could try to save Jake.

Elijah, Emunah, and Aziel hadn't moved. Their eyes were fixed on the horror before them. With their hands raised, I could see them waiting for Selah to act. Their hearts believed that no shackles or dark sword wielded by Kane could stop Selah's power, if only he would act.

"Eliora." Jake strained to speak. "Go. Y-You have to...You need to stop."

"A wise decision, young man." Kane kept his blade at Selah's throat. "I see, much like your pathetic king, you know when to surrender."