Incarnation | Wandering Stars Volume One

Chapter 22

ARAGATSIYR

Enoch rushed along the twisting corridors of the Myndar city. Though their creations were beautiful, they seemed to appreciate beauty more than functionality, and he had a difficult time learning his way around. By the time he reached Kiyrakom, Ananel and the others were already assembled.

Pressing through the circle of angels, like a child trying to participate in the conversation of adults, Enoch saw a Myndar standing at the center near the pool of water. He didn't look familiar. But the gigantic, striped cat lying dead at his feet looked somewhat like the form a Myndar might take. Suddenly, Enoch realized what he was witnessing.

The one standing had blood oozing from a severe wound in his left shoulder. He had cuts and scrapes all along his arms and a deep gash that cut across his cheek from his mouth to his temple.

"... there were four of them," he was explaining.

Enoch was upset with himself that he'd missed the first part of the discussion.

"They were spying the location of our city. Tamael and I attacked them. We thought, with the advantage of surprise ..."

The room was silent as he composed himself.

"I went after the last one and caught up with him before he could deliver his message."

"Surely there are more. Perhaps he already knows where we are," one of the Myndarym suggested.

"Perhaps," the stranger replied. "Perhaps those were only the first spies."

The crowd murmured with fear.

"But I do know something else. As much as we'd wish to forget about him, he will not forget about us. I saw the look in the eyes of the Anduarym. Their blind obedience. Semjaza must be dealt with sooner rather than later."

"How can we possibly—" someone began from the back of the room.

"But they're soldiers," another interrupted.

The stranger held up his hand. "I know. I know."

"Batarel," a voice rang out clear among the chatter.

Enoch looked up and noticed Ananel who now stepped forward from the gathering.

"You killed several Anduarym, so it is not impossible."

"They outnumber us three to one," someone shouted from across the circle.

"Sariel has gone to address that issue," Batarel argued.

"But the Amatru cannot be trusted," someone else suggested.

Batarel shook his head. "I think they would say that we are the ones who cannot be trusted. And who can argue with them?"