ANGEL OF JUSTICE (2014 revised)

Chapter Sixty Two - Courage

Courage

Sarah raced through the trees. Her legs were burning, her heart pounding. Fear was etched on her tear streaked face as she glanced over her shoulder to glimpse something black through the thick greenery behind. Turning left she jumped a fallen log, the tops of her bare feet scraping against the bark. The stumble saved her life as she heard an arrow whistle overhead and thud into the tree in front of her. She took off again darting between the giant trees of the ancient woods, the sound of her pursuers crashing through the undergrowth close. She chanced another look behind and saw them gaining. Clawing long, dark sweaty hair from her face, she stopped abruptly seeing that she had unknowingly headed back towards the ruins of the village she and Pias had been searching for survivors. The sight of the charred bodies was grizzly and the stench of death was nauseating. But what was more disturbing was that everyone in this village was known to her, this had been her home before going to work at the citadel. She held her breath in a desperate bid to keep the bile from rising as she turned and raced off into the cover of the woods.

Jack. Where are you?

There was no answer from the mind contact, just as there had been no answer when she had searched for him earlier. Deep down she knew the armies had most likely already taken him but she prayed otherwise, for she had nothing left to help him but her wits and trembling legs. Wiping sweaty palms on her torn and dirty pale blue robe, Sarah took off again, the fear of dying before she learnt of Jack's fate, momentarily keeping her fatigue at bay. She had run far from the village now and paused behind a grand old tree trunk. Her breath was ragged as her lungs protested for an end to the physical struggle and pain she was pushing her body through. Again she called upon the earth goddess to help her relocate away from the thick woods. Nothing happened. Just some rest, that's all I need and the power will return.

She sought her powers again but found only emptiness echo. The sound of pursuits and shouts were louder now. Fear consumed her as she ran off as fast as her rising fatigue allowed the stumbling became as constant as the fear that cloaked her. She did not rise after the next stumble knowing there was no strength to do so. Instead she dragged herself up against the nearest tree to catch her breath, hoping the men would not find her. The faint pulsating residue of its ancient power at her back brought a race of chills over her body and a weary smile to her sweat drenched face. She peered beyond the tree's massive girth and saw the men that had pursued her, now clearly through the trees. They were close enough that she could see their dark hair and black beared faces split into grins of hungry anticipation. They were mountain men, tall and strong and they had her surrounded. She shook her head in despair knowing capture was a heartbeat away. Where the hell are you, Pias? She attempted to stand but her shaky legs would not respond. No longer did she have the energy or the will to continue. A sudden fear that her life would end here filled her with failure. I'm sorry Jack and Tallis, I failed you both.

Resting her head against the tree, Sarah closed her eyes and whispered the spell of relocation one last time. The plea came from deep down in every fibre of her being in a frantic cry that she hoped would be answered. Earth goddess, please aid me! The air changed, the damp, earthy smell of the woods was gone. Sarah found her senses filled with the salty scent of the sea and the sounds of waves rolling somewhere distant, replaced the crashing sounds of human pursuit. Her eyes flashed opened to reveal she was standing in a small room lit by several large candelabras brimming with fat yellow sticks of beeswax. Their flames flickered slightly from her presence, lending their cheery glow to the white washed room. Sarah sighed with relief at the golden haired woman of middle age seated at the cane wicker table in the corner. Sarah knew she was safe.

"Aunt Gwendolyn thank goodness you are safe. Everyone in the village is dead." Tears rolled down Sarah's face now as she fell to her knees before her aunt. "I can't find Jack anywhere! Is he by chance here?"