|[ THE FAERI'S KEEPER ]|

Chapter 36: Falls of Esele

"Abbadon?" I growled, "You mean that bastard who tried to reap my soul?"

"Well yes," Claude said slowly, "That is his job. And you were dying."

"And how is going to see him going to help us?" I asked, "What could he possibly do?" the men around us talked quietly amongst themselves, as if trying to guess what we were talking about.

"If we can get to him," Claude said swiftly, "We can possibly find Cedric's soul and return it to his body."

"You mean we could bring him back to life?" I asked. There was a flash of hope inside my chest, like a small fire, but doubt doused it almost instantly. Bringing the dead back to life was impossible. I wondered if the magic had addled his brains.

"That is the main idea, yes." Claude said, "But any member of the living who passes across the Soul Bridge never returns. Powerful magic surrounds that place. There is a huge chance you wouldn't survive. And even if we did the Soul would only work if the body is in the same state as it was when it left. And even so there is no certainty it will work."

"You mean we have to keep Cedric the same as he is now?" I asked, "How do you we do that?"

"We could use magic," Claude said softly, "But it will cost me. A lot. I could keep it up for maybe a day, at most, before the energy cost would kill me."

"How long will it take to get to Abbadon?" I asked. We had already lost so much time... if I hadn't been so weak, hadn't laid there with Cedric for so long, crying...

"I don't know." Claude said shortly, "I... we'd have to find the Soul Bridge first and I just..."

"So we can't save him..." I breathed.

"I have a question." A soldier asked, stepping forwards, "Why should you save your king? Why can we not save our king?"

"Because he was a mad-man." I growled, "And if we brought him back war would only ensue."

"I believe it was your king who declared war." The soldier growled. I balled my hands into fists, forcing myself to breathe slowly. A fine message it would send if I lost my temper and killed a soldier after I had demanded peace.

"We both know Soldin manipulated the situation." I said slowly, "Cedric never wanted war."

"This still doesn't solve our situation..." Brandon interrupted, "We are both still left without kings... or queens..." he tried. I narrowed my eyes at him.

"No..."

"The Falls of Esele..." Claude breathed, "Yes... yes that could work...."

"What?" I snapped, "Falls of what?"

"Falls of Esele." Claude said patiently, "They... its a waterfall, but it's waters are said to suspend life. Its an old witches tale. If you're mortally wounded lie in the waters and they will keep you alive until you naturally heal. That kind of story."

"That would be very helpful indeed," I sighed, "If Cedric wasn't already dead."

"No, you don't understand!" Claude persisted, "If we put Cedric in the waters... it should keep his body as it is for as long as we need."

"How far away are these waters?" I asked, "Or do you not know that either?"

"I know where they are," Claude said darkly, "Because they were where i healed myself as a child." My reply was caught in my throat. He cast me a meaningful look. "If we ride by carriage we could be there within a day."

"Can you keep Cedric as he is until then?" I asked. Claude nodded.

"Just make sure i have a lot to eat."