This Red Sky

Chapter Twenty-Nine

            "You know, Sonia, you can be kind of an idiot sometimes," Nakt said, following her through the refugee camp. "Whenever something gives you feelings—"

"I know," Sonia glanced ahead at the dark silhouette of the flagpole in front of the starry sky. "I just have to see what she wants to show me so badly.  What if it could help us?"

"So what are you going to do if she's there with her father and his cronies?" Nakt demanded. "Do you realize how many people have tried to kill me lately?"

"I don't think—I don't think she'd do that." Sonia shook her head.

"But she'd take the job you studied for your whole life?" Nakt pointed out, drawing his bow as they approached the tall pole that lay at the edge of the camp. A group of knights in armor marched by.

"She didn't want to, Ashod made her—"

Sonia came to a stop at the clearing between the tents. She could see Frida, cloaked and hooded, standing at the other side of the small open space, supporting a shorter figure in a shapeless dress.

Sonia didn't dare hope. She crossed the beaten grass slowly. Fireflies fluttered into the air as she passed. Her hands shook as she reached the other two, finally looking into the shorter woman's emaciated face.

"Sonia," Elna rasped. Sonia almost screamed. She let out a choked gasp instead and lurched forward, grabbing the old woman in a tight hug. Elna was thinner and frailer than ever, but she squeezed Sonia weakly around the shoulders, chuckling. The girl could feel the old woman's spine jutting out. "Where have you been? I thought you were lost to me."

"I—I—" Sonia stuttered. She could tell Elna didn't know that Ashod turned her away. "I've been everywhere. I'm so sorry."

She pulled back, looking more closely at the old woman who'd raised her. Most of Elna's hair had fallen out. One of her eyes was clouded, half-closed.

"I am not well, my child," Elna told her hoarsely. "It will not be long before I go into the jaws of Gamorax, and gladly so. Frida has been acting in your place, but it will soon be time for you to step into my shoes at last."

Sonia glanced at Frida. The other girl smiled hesitantly at her from under her hood.

"And who is this?" Elna looked up at Nakt. Sonia saw a hint of her old toughness as she cocked her head suspiciously.

"A friend. More of a brother," Sonia reassured her.

"Oh, that's fine then," Elna said imperiously, even thought her voice was still faint. She narrowed her eyes at the thief. "Are you a pious man?"

Nakt looked from her to Sonia, and chuckled.

"You must be Elna," he said instead. "Sonia's told me all about you."

"Hmph," the old woman responded, turning back to her former pupil. "And you, Sonia? Have you been keeping up with your prayers?"

"I think you'd be proud," Sonia smiled to herself. "I've prayed more than I ever have before."

"Good, good, I'm sure you will have plenty of stories to tell," Elna touched Sonia's arm again, smiling up at her. "Perhaps all it took was a little adventuring to bring you to our god for good."

"Maybe," Sonia allowed.

"I've missed you, child," Elna said finally, her voice growing faint again. "I always wanted a daughter, but as a priestess I— oh!"