The Sahara Chronicles #1: The Young Foreigner (Available in full on Amazon)

PART XXXVIII: DELAYED BY A WEEK

"There's been news that there are some goings-on in the Isles of Armanda and Cramarick," stated Lorel Snayt. "Have you heard of any of it?"

As Elmeida shook her head with a blank expression on her face, Yor nodded with a grim look.

"Yes," he replied. "Something about strange diseases that don't kill but torture?"

Lorel nodded. "And people around the Cond Ranges have been sighting alien creatures and so, are fleeing towards the cities and towns. We're sending people out to see what's happening there." Her brows creased. "My brother will be going in a fortnight."

Yor nodded his head thoughtfully. "And you don't want him to go," he inferred.

"No!" she cried. Then, checking herself, lowered her voice and went on: "He's my little brother. Just fifteen! How can I send him off like that?!"

"I understand, Lorel. Why did he go in the first place? Was it mandatory?"

She shook her head. "He wanted to go. After our parents disappeared, he'd been dying to do something to help save the world. I think he wanted to somehow believe that they – our parents – are alive and that he'll find them. I think that's why he chose to become a knight—so he could move around in search of them."

"Was he the one who gave you news that they might still be alive?"

"Yes," she nodded, eagerly. "He sent a letter!"

"Are you absolutely positive that it's really them?"

Here, she hesitated. "Er – no, actually. I feel that he's mistaken somebody for them. He was crying, or so he described. So... I think he glimpsed into their afterlife or something in his delirium." She gave a faint smile.

"Afterlife?" This was from Elmeida.

The two turned to her.

"There's such a thing that people go to after they die?" she asked.

Before Yor could say anything, Lorel stood and walked towards her. She placed a hand on the Dark Princess's shoulder and said, "I'm sure they go somewhere when they die. You and me, too, when our time comes."

Elmeida now watched her new acquaintance with much eagerness. "I... Will I be able to see them? Talk to them?"

When Lorel hesitated, Yor replied for her, "No, Elmeida. I'm sorry."

The younger girl turned her attention to him. "So... they've moved on, then?"

He nodded once. "Most likely."

She nodded, too. "Okay. That's good. Right?" But she turned her head away, so she couldn't see what they did.

A few minutes passed by in a silence that slowly descended upon them.

Finally, Lorel went back to drag her chair towards Yor's, and Elmeida was left to her own devices.

"So, what now?" the former enquired of him. "What's the plan?"

"Well," he replied, "we need to meet the germaina first and inform her of our mission. For that, we need an audience with her and I'm confident that you shall acquire that for us." After a pause, he added, "Through your brother."

Lady Lorel's face cleared. "Ah yes, that I shall. I'll send a man soon after lunch to the capital."

Yor nodded, suddenly having to stifle a yawn. "But before that, would you please arrange some mattresses for us to sleep on?"

The woman smiled at this. "Of course, dear brother! Come along now!" She turned to the Morgana mia. "My lady, I think we should all sleep on this. What do you say? I'm a little tired, too, after hearing your stories."

Elmeida chose that moment to look up at them and ask, "How long will it take for him to go and come back with a response?"

Lady Lorel blinked. "Oh. You mean the servant I'd be sending to my brother?"

Elmeida nodded.

"Uh... Nearly a week."

"A week!" exclaimed Elmeida in surprise. "Oh well, I suppose I should have expected that."

She chanced a glance at Yor, who gave her a comforting smile with a nod. She replied with the ghost of a smile.

Lorel showed her guests to their rooms.

They stood in a corridor on the far end of ground floor of the mansion and she opened one of the doors there.

"Would you mind sharing this one for the moment?" she enquired, turning to her guests. "We are running short of mattresses, as I've given the rest for a wash. I saved just three for an emergency. And, to move one of them into another room... well, let's just say that this is about one of the cleanest rooms thus far." She paused. "It isn't like somebody prophesied your arrival!" A glint of mirth shone in her eyes.

The two young guests exchanged glances, as though in silent conversation. Lady Lorel's keen senses witnessed this unique bond they seemed to share.

All at once, something her brother, Linel, had said three years ago rang in her ears: "Woe to all that's living... Chaos is awakening from his...slumber...descend chaos upon us... not certain whether Lady Celia and Merlin will be with us in time to stop him... two mages... aides of Lady Celia and Merlin... destined to be bonded...will travel to Jermis..."

'Could Seer Inda's words be coming true in front of my eyes...??' she thought in wonder. '"Two mages destined to be bonded..." Lady Yuri with the Darkness tethered within her certainly makes her a magician... and as for Yor Castel, he is a disciple of Merlin himself and an alchemist... Yes, it's rather unbelievable, but surely, I'm right...!!'

Lorel came back from her spiralling thoughts when she realised that Yor was waving a palm in front of her face. She blinked twice.

"Lorel, are you all right?" he asked, voice painted with pure concern. "You have been staring at us with that strange expression for some time now."

"Oh," she gasped.

"Er...we've decided that we can make do with whatever is available at the moment."

Ridding her head of her thoughts, Lorel told them, "There are a couple of beds on each side of the room. You may make use of them."

"All right, Lady Lorel," said Elmeida politely. "We thank you very much."

When Lorel left them, her two guests chose their beds and lay down, falling asleep without delay, as they were equally tired.