The Coalition (Book 1)

Chapter 49

She could stay here forever. Being around Remiel brought her a peace that reached into the deepest hopelessness and held her together. But nothing good ever lasted, so while it was here she didn't want to say or do anything to destroy it. But she was also anxious to get to Sector Seven to meet Elchai and ask about his sons, especially the Son of Thunder.

The more she thought about the Three Worlds and the veil between them the more hope began to break through the shadow of despair she had been living in. Somehow my Old World dreams and the ripple Remiel talked about are connected. But before she decided whether or not to believe in the Son of Thunder story, she wanted to talk to Elchai.

"Two hours left." Remiel's voice cut through the stillness of the afternoon.

"What?" Shai and Aliah asked at the same time. She exchanged glances with Aliah as Remiel walked a few paces ahead. They'd been hiking over rough terrain for the past several hours and her back ached. She stopped and tossed her bag on the ground then sat on a large rock. Aliah also sat, choosing a large boulder near Shai. His face sober. He looked older than his eighteen years.

"What about two hours?" Shai's throat got tight. She tried swallowing, but coughed instead.

Remiel stopped and turned around to join them. "That's how soon you'll reach Sector Seven."

"Soon isn't soon enough. I'm not used to this heat." Shai fanned her face with her hand and grabbed a drink of water from the near-empty canteen. Aliah said nothing, but she noticed an odd look on his face.

Remiel walked lightly across the stones to sit beside Aliah. "How much are you remembering?" Remiel leaned toward Aliah, his eyes intense as he watched Aliah's face.

"I'm remembering more than I care to." Aliah sat with his forearms resting on his knees the way she'd seen Remiel often sit. He leaned forward and put his head down, letting his pendant dangle from his neck. The sun caught the jewel, as red as the one on the key she'd lost. She still couldn't bring herself to tell Remiel she'd left it behind.

Remiel put his hand on Aliah's shoulder then looked at Shai. The sun on his face made him appear ethereal, his eyes so pale they were nearly transparent.

"Everyone's perception is based on what they believe. The things he thought he believed about Lael are changing. He's letting go and memories of former things are returning. He'd do better without that pendant though."

Remiel stood on the rock he'd been sitting on and looked West then pointed. "That's Sector Seven. You can see it from here."

Shai climbed up next to him and saw smoke rising in the distance.

"The smoke comes from the metal-working Factories that surround the community." Remiel stepped down from the rock and held out his hand to help Shai.

Shai still hesitated to deliberately touch him. The memory of the last time they'd touched still lingered.

"It's alright. You can take my hand. This is different than touching me through the ripple." His boyish grin convinced her so she took his hand and stepped down. "If you leave now you'll reach Kent before nightfall."

Shai glanced at Aliah. He'd heard it too.

"We will get there before nightfall? What about you?" Aliah looked up, his features clouded by an unseen shadow.

Remiel shook his head. "I have an appointment with Samael. I will be going to Gershom. Alone."

"Gershom? But why? You told me to get the Book, but I don't know how. I don't even know where to look for it." Shai's palms grew moist. She couldn't go to Kent without Remiel. She didn't completely trust Aliah's motives for wanting to go to Kent, since he still never spoke about the Book. And his strange behavior lately made her edgy. Even now he sat moping on the rock while she stood still holding Remiel's hand.