Tales of Aridia

Ambush

Both bowed their heads, ashamed to look me in the eye.  Hope sensed the growing tension and retreated into the bushes. Red lines shot across Jayden and Max's body, from their violent attempts of escape. "Who did this to you?" I questioned. Jayden went to stand up but Max shook his head disapprovingly, so he slumped his back against the tree and gazed up cautiously.  "Aridians, they broke through the veil and for the past months they've been tearing this forest apart." Max went on. I knew of the war that brewed in Aridia but it was to my belief that I was safe, here on earth.  "The veil?" I asked.  "The veil separates us from humans, it is a magical boundary meant to keep us safe. A very long time ago, somebody broke the veil and now Aridians can freely pass as they please." Max explained.  "Who broke it?" I asked. Max sighed, bored by my questions. "Now that is a tale far too old and long to tell," He said.  Jayden mostly sat there In a silence, occasionally leaning forward to speak but was too afraid. 

I turned to Jayden, who held his head between his legs, cowering. I nudged a lump of dirt and flicked it with the tip of my foot so that it sprayed into his face. Once I had grabbed his attention he gulped, swallowing the guilt. "The last time I saw you, you rescued me. You told me you had things to do...this is why you left?"  I said, my heart shattering slowly into tiny fragments. Jayden threw himself on his knees, his scarred hands tugged at my coat as he consoled me. His soft, black hair was swept back, and his eyes poured out to me. His sadness was genuine, the cracks in his voice convinced me and the eyes drowning in sorrow granted my sympathy.  "Please Robyn...I'm only trying to protect you." He cried. I rested his head on my stomach stayed there momentarily. Jayden backed away, embarrassed at his outburst. "I promise, I've been there this whole time, watching over you." He said. I knelt down, so that his head rested on my shoulder. Hope had crept out from the bushes and untangled the ropes tied around Max. "There is a man, called Abraxas. He is a Tyrant and he wants Aridia for his own. Not only that but he believes humans can be controlled, his ideas divided Aridia, leading to a war." Max said, regaining balance and pulling himself to his feet.  "Abraxas would never truly be able to rule Aridia if there was an heir."  Jayden said, his voice still torn apart.

Everything fell into place. "He wants me dead, so he sends his soldiers through the veil to kill me." I said. Jayden prodded away the tears and stood up limply beside me, hiding from Max's Glare. "She knew you were an Aridian Jayden, I told her." Max said. Jayden nodded slightly, but didn't speak.  "Max, when I told you that day that I knew Jayden you acted surprised, why is that?" I asked, finally seeing an opportunity to ask questions that continued to float in the air. Max scowled, eyeing Jayden like he was dirt. "He's not supposed to be here."Max said plainly.  Jayden had walked further back, sensing the aggression that now radiated from Max. "I was sent to watch over you, just me. But he snuck in after me."  Max exclaimed. 

After a minute of silence the frustration settled and the tension in the air had dissolved. That silence was then ripped apart by an agonizing scream that pierced through the forest. Behind us, Hope had vanished. I looked at Max, he nodded and we all separated down different paths. I ran down slope after slope, using my powers to push the long intertwining vegetation out of the way. Max was running along the other side. I watched as he approached a tall cloaked figure, Max pulled out a sword and stabbed him with it before running beside me once again. We both came to a halt as we were enclosed by a circle of cloaked persons.  "What do you want?!" I shouted at them.  Each of the men had lowered their hoods, letting the moonlight shine on their faces. They squinted before it and dropped to their knees. Unexpectedly the began to bow, lowering their heads before me. "We only wish to worship you, your highness." They all said in immediate synchronization.  Max lowered his sword and placed the tip on the chin of one of the figures. He lifted his chin up. The mans' face bore a burn that engulfed his entire face. "I trust you stop lying, or do I have to remind you who gave you that scar?" Max said. The man grimaced and suddenly raised his arms, throwing me to the floor. Max had blocked the blow and stabbed him in the chest. "Magic isn't always easy in close combat, you're gonna have to learn to fight." Max said to me. He swiftly handed over his sword, "I'll find Jayden and Hope," He said before scurrying away. 

I was trapped in a circle, being taunted. "Look how weak you've become," one said. The sword felt nimble in my hand, I span it around easily holding it by my side. I had done this before, I knew it. I was not going to be weak, I couldn't. I wielded the sword above my waist and thrust it at one of the figures. They swiped it out of my grasp, I could only rely on my powers. I pushed one side of the circle to the ground while the others stood shocked and phased. I found myself caught in a cycle of throwing people to the ground, which was no use. A looming oak tree hung above me, one of its branches right above my head. I tore it off the tree with my powers and turned it in a hundred small spikes, each one sharpened like daggers. I held them mid air then forced them hurdling at the bodies. A few missed, but others were embedded deep into their hearts. Two were left. I forced them to their knees and held them there. To my surprise three had survived. One crept up behind me and used his powers to twist my arm behind my back. I heard it snap and knew for sure that it was broken. My rage was at its peak. With a nod of my head his neck snapped clean and I watched his life less body drop to the floor. The two that were still kneeling I stabbed with my sword, one after the other. 

I had been so caught up that I had not noticed the audience behind me. Jayden, Max and Hope stood on a rock that overlooked the bodies which I had slaughtered. Max smiled but Hope seemed shocked and unsure of what to say. I stood motionless, with the bloody sword in my hand. Jayden began to clap, he laughed sarcastically as he jumped down from the rock to examine the bodies. "You've made a good job of this haven't you Robyn!" he yelled, "Well friend you've finally turned our sweet innocent queen into a soldier, that is what you wanted isn't it?" Jayden said slyly, facing Max eye to eye. He stepped back, in a fit of anger he snatched the sword from my hand and flung it at the tree. The sword sliced into the bark making Hope jump. Everyone had been silenced by Jayden's outrage, letting him run off into the forest. Max stared at the floor guiltily, shocked at the anger Jayden had shown.