Draiks and Angels: Survivor

10 - Saga

Satiya was thirsty. And hungry. She tried not to think about it, as she figured that if she died of thirst, at least she would stop being magic food for Yom Cimil. It didn't help her thirst much. She felt the Shadow enter the room and shivered but didn't bother opening her eyes. She heard Husani's chains clink and a wordless sound of protest, then gasped as the Shadow touched the side of her face in almost a caress. She shied away, snapping her eyes open, and then Yom Cimil slammed his hand on her breastbone, pushing her hard into the wall behind her. She gasped again as she felt magic come into her, icy and dark. She wriggled and struggled against the chains, but the Shadow's hand was firm. At last, he released her, and she sagged in the manacles. She could feel the magic still inside her, under her breastbone.

"Can't have you starve, now, can we?" Yom Cimil sneered, and turned to Husani.

He repeated the process on the white-winged Angel and left without a backward glance.

"What..." Husani panted.

"He has become entirely too powerful if he can keep us from starving with his magic, but I think that's what has happened," Satiya frowned. "I'm not thirsty anymore."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The next morning, Selim came to retrieve Ava and Tadeas. But instead of going to the library or a conference room, he ushered them into Tadeas' room and borrowed a stool from Ava's room for her to use. He sat on the bed.

"I'm sorry to get you two tangled up in that," he started.

"It seems it's our fault you were caught in the first place," Ava countered, "for which we are truly sorry."

"I had been avoiding leaving the Aerie to try and keep them from having more targets. I didn't realize Balian was so... set on dealing with me."

"Would that have changed anything?" Tadeas asked. "If you knew?"

Selim thought about it, "Maybe. Maybe we could have arranged a formal meeting and that would have been enough."

Tadeas was skeptical. Someone who pinned the other person to a wall with iron hooks didn't seem like the kind of person who would be satisfied with a formal meeting.

"But my question for you is: have we found what you were looking for?" Selim looked seriously at the pair.

Ava pulled out her notes where she had written down what Selim had translated in the cave and read from it, "'Mortals may only fight back by attacking the aternah mer'ho using projectiles.' The only problem is, what is an 'aternah mer'ho?' If we knew that, it seems we would have found a pretty good weakness."

"I'm afraid I can't help you there. It isn't in any language that I know of."

"Do you have ideas where we could go to find out?"

Selim thought about it, "You'd need a linguist who specializes in ancient languages... Let me go make some calls."

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Selim returned an hour later with a piece of paper folded in his hand.

"I've found someone I think can help you. They are in Sverige. I have arranged for the Aerie to summon you up there so you don't have to fly on a plane again. I'll just need your full names. But before that, here is the contact information of the linguist," he handed Ava the paper. "They are an Angel, though they don't stay at the Aerie."

"Selim, is everything okay with all..." Ava trailed off.

Selim closed his eyes, "What's happening here won't be solved today or tomorrow. Better you not get caught up in it. You have your own problems, yes?"