THE LIGHT OF A'LEST

CHAPTER 22

Kara peered through the struggling light of their small fire. "It's hopeless," she bleated. Keko ignored her and continued to prod at the infantile flames with his stick. Brushing his dark hair behind his ears, he cleared his throat but otherwise remained silent. The tip of the stick met the flames and lapped up its sides. The wood crackled and popped. Kara held her tongue and watched as the tiny embers flew into the air like wishes. They danced upon the wind for a moment before fading into nothing. Just glimmers of light snuffed out by the unrelenting abyss of night. She couldn't help but see the resemblance.

     Zander sat across from her with his knees tucked tight, and his cloak pulled up. Most of his face lay hidden within the shadow, illuminated only by the small glow of the Keeper Stone in his palm. Beside him was a blood-stained pack of provisions. Its previous owners, no doubt. His red-rimmed eyes struggled to remain open. They reacted as Kara spoke but remained fixed on the glowing light of the Keeper Stone.

     Kara swallowed hard, sniffled, and reconsidered her approach. "I can't believe they are gone."

     Keko scoffed as he threw his stick into the fire, stalked a few paces away and placed his hands on his hips. All three shared a moment of silence as they remembered those they'd lost. Staring out into the darkness, Keko surveyed the foreboding foothills of the Steps.

     Lord Alaric was their rock. Stern and indifferent. An ocean of courage. Everyone he encountered was instantly caught in the tide of his assurance. He had given them all strength, but he was gone. As the brisk wind of the foothills met Keko's face, he felt tears form. His mind flashed to Master Vicam. His limp corpse staring up at the heavens. Limbs scattered about before him. Great wells of blood pouring from gaping wounds. The man had remained silent throughout the attack. He had been their guide, their rudder in uncertain times. Quick with an answer but speechless in death. No words. No screams. Nothing...

     Keko turned back to the group. By the light of the small fire and the grim looks on their faces, he could tell his friends entertained similar thoughts. Rejoining the group, he sat for a moment and searched for the right words. He found none. His mind was a hopeless wash of fear and despair. He wasn't as courageous as Lord Alaric. He wasn't wise like Master Vicam. He was just Keko, but somewhere deep inside, a soft voice within him whispered that it was enough. Peering out at his friends, he thought of his mother and began to sing. Using his voice like a blade, he slashed bravely at the despair that gripped them.

     Kara nearly choked on her spittle as Keko finished his song. In all her years as an apprentice, she had never heard such a beautiful voice. Strange emotions began to overwhelm her as she struggled to peel her eyes off him. Keko smiled as he finished and did his best to act as if he hadn't done anything out of the ordinary. "Your voice...it's beautiful..." Zander blurted the words, but they trailed off as Keko finished, uncertain of how his friend might react.

     Keko grimaced but accepted his compliment with a quiet grace.

     He gestured to the small glowing stone in his hand. "May I see it?" Zander raised his arm and unceremoniously dropped the Keeper Stone into Keko's hand.

     "An entire world's hopes. Trapped inside such a small thing." He regarded the stone closely, twisting and turning the tiny gem between his forefinger and thumb. "Huh." Looking at Kara and Zander, he lowered the stone. "I don't know what to do anymore either." He swallowed hard, his eyes taking on a sheen. "But our friends died for this. They died protecting US." The muscles in his jaw flexed as he rolled his tongue. "They are gone now, but we're still here." He paused in silence once more. "We owe them. We can't stop now. We are not alone. We still have each other. We must finish this."