Medice Ceres

Chapter 44

Only after the horses were saddled did Eira fully realize the separation that was about to happen. She ran and clung tightly to Ceres, streaming tears down her cheeks and shaking with silent sobs. Ceres held her in return and stroked her hair. 

Ceres pulled back and wiped the tears from Eira's face, putting on as confident a smile as she could. "My dear sweet girl, know that I love you always. Alden shall look after you, mind him well."

Waithe felt a twinge of the ominous. Ceres did not make a promise to her daughter that she would return.

Ceres turned to the giant already on horseback. "My dear Yorg, protect them. To you, I charge the safety of these two so very precious to me."

Yorg nodded with a grunt.

Waithe placed a hand on Alden's shoulder. This initially awkward young man had grown in confidence since they first met. Waithe felt he would be proud to have him as a son-in-law and said a silent prayer that he would have that opportunity.

He spoke of more immediate matters. "Go north to Myst, then turn east where the mountain passes are not so high. Less dangerous that way should be. If the weather be good, you may be back in your land of Woest within a week. Tell your father and mother..." He paused. "Tell them to be ready for what may come."

Alden grasped Waithe's free hand and looked directly into his eyes. "Protect her."

Waithe nodded but said no more. He would give his life if need be, but still could not promise Ceres' safety, and he knew Alden understood that as well. Ceres handed Eira to Waithe, then came to Alden with head bowed.

Alden took her hands into his. "Be strong, my dear Ceres. And know that I love you."

She pulled into an embrace, wrapping her arms around his neck as she nestled her head under his chin. "That I know, and I love you in return." She pulled back and gazed into his eyes. "That shall be my greatest advantage."

He pulled her lips to his for a deep prolonged kiss. Ceres melted into his arms.

Alden, having taken Eira with him on the saddle, glanced back and held her gaze one last time. Ceres wiped another tear from her cheek as they disappeared around a bend in the road.  Now only faint dust lingering in the still morning air marked their passage.

Waithe moved his horse beside her. "Ready, Daughter? Westward to the capital city Welde, I presume, where Scias would be?"

"Aye..." Ceres sighed, sounding not so sure, or perhaps lost in thought. Waithe raised an eyebrow. She shook herself back into the moment. "Aye, to Welde we go." She urged her horse on down the road.

He asked, "Something I have not yet fully understood, why you Ceres? I mean, why do Scias and Raste spend so much money and effort to acquire you? Surely they already have another Lady of the Order."

She shook her head. "That they have not. Those who value power over life have little need of a healer."

"Why then?"

"It must be that I am the last Tau. Or was so. Somehow they must have known of the mark, even when I did not understand it."

Waithe put a hand to his chin. "Reverend Quar. She may have known of it and conspired with them."

"If Raste is truly consumed by the Darkness, then only one reason do I know why he would wish to possess the last Tau. That is to do what Sorne failed to accomplish, to bring about the End Times."

Waithe's eyes widened as the realization took hold. After a moment he found his words. "But Scias and Quar would never agree to that."

"They may not know of his true motives. The Lord of the Northlands knew not of Sorne's intentions. Deceit is a way of the Darkness."