Age of Sagacity

Chapter 5: L'Impératrice

Many people don't truly see the sunset the way they see the sunrise. There is hope in the sun chasing away the darkness and turning a monotone night into a million color morning. What they don't see is the way the horizon swallows the harsh light one tiny bit at a time. The western sky is a candle casting a mellow ombré glow from one horizon to the other allowing the glitter of stars to peek through. I wished I had been able to see the sun set beyond the trees, but tonight I could only feel it slipping away with each painful step.

"Can we stop? Please?" I asked as Uncle Rolf crashed through grasping branches and tangled vines snaking around our feet.

"No, we are almost there. Just keep walking."

I took a deep breath against the crushing pain in my chest and took another step, two steps, and a shaky third. My legs were barely able to hold me up as I grabbed the back of his shirt.

"Please, I have to stop."

He turned to me and grabbed both of my wrists, "Kate, in the next few hours you will feel things that will make you question the worthiness of life itself. Just know that everyone you meet in the next few minutes is only trying to keep you alive, and what we do is the only way. Just keep walking."

He wasn't just looking into my eyes as he tightened his grip on my wrists; he was peering into my being as if he was trying to see how brightly my life's flame burned. I knew in that moment the next few hours were going to be traumatic at best. I had suspected it, but now I was sure. I promised myself I wouldn't give up, and no matter how bad it got I was going to come home and see my family again even if they did drive me crazy.

"Let's go then."

He nodded and let me lean against him as we started walking again.

"Through that clearing."

He started to take longer strides as the path narrowed to an opening in the tree line. Just beyond it I could see the flicker of a fire and heard the hushed voices of several people conversing about the unborn.

We walked into the clearing and were met by three pairs of curious eyes studying us. Uncle Rolf loosened his grip, gave me a slight nudge forward, and followed me into the circle of logs surrounding the small fire. A tall woman with high cheek bones framed by long wavy brown hair that cascaded just past her breasts offered me her seat.

"You have done well to keep her safe, Rolf. I have heard rumor that the Fenrir pack has been hunting for new recruits after their last turf war."

"It is no rumor, Selena. I fought off several earlier. They were weak and unorganized, but they meant to capture her."

Uncle Rolf looked down at me as he spoke of the attack with a concern that seemed only slightly less out of place than before.

"They have become desperate. Trying to capture an unborn this close to her rite of passage is rash and irresponsible even for them. No doubt they have heard the stories and have begun to search for the child of prophecy."

"Excuse me? The what?" I interrupted as they both looked back at me.

The woman, Selena, smiled a flash of pearly white perfect teeth, "I will explain soon."

I glared through the dancing glow of the fire at her, but she had already turned her attention to a scruffy blond-haired man with a mustache and goatee to match. He was all rippling muscles and smooth tanned skin that showed a fierce dedication to hard work. He nodded at something the brunette woman had said and walked out of the circle with purpose. Uncle Rolf offered a hand to help me up as all eyes seemed to fall on me again.