The War Must Go On ~ Book 1: Gemaris Island

Chapter 8: Park Sway

Book 1: Gemaris Island

Chapter 8: Park Sway

Amien's spirits lifted when the boat reached the shore and the giant elm tree on a wide, short hill loomed into view. He had visited Park Sway a few times in his life, and every time, he had found peace. Mainly in his naps under the large tree. At the base of the elm grew some scattered flowers, red and white in a patch of green grass. Surrounding the tree was a short, square hedge. Ferns, reeds and yellow weeds sprouted all around the grass of the tree, but despite the overgrown park, Amien always loved lying in the plants with his back against the trunk.

Master Amien noticed that recently the park had been redecorated a bit. There were little sculptures of pink butterflies surrounding the hedges, and the paths winding around the tree and outside the park were bordered with teal bushes with tiny white blossoms. Amien didn't like or dislike the new decorations. He was just glad that the giant swing from his childhood still hung from the elm tree's sturdy branch. Smiling at the pleasant view of the park, Amien put down his bag and Ora's suitcase and plopped down in the grass. While resting his head against the firm bark and gazing up at the blue cracks in the treetop's leaves, he tried but failed to stop worrying about Ora for just one second. What was taking her so long? Was she really going to interrogate Cosmos about his chosen theme of "rebellion?" What if Cosmos turned her in? What was Ora thinking? She couldn't be that stupid.

Actually, she can be, Amien realized.

He lowered his gaze and watched the bridge in the distance, until he realized that there were two young people leaving Unity Bridge and coming towards the park...and holding hands.

Amien rose out of the soft reeds and hurried away from his comfortable resting place to get a better look at the two people heading towards Park Sway. But Amien knew who the white man with the white lute was, and he could recognize the girl right away.

Ora spotted, in the heart of the park, Amien in his long black trench coat, a complete contrast to Cosmos in his milk white suit. She finally pulled her hand out of Cosmos' grasp and found herself running towards Amien, shouting his name.

"Ora! What's wrong?" Amien stopped walking towards her, wondering what was causing her to rush towards him.

She didn't stop. It was difficult to clop down the path in her glass high heels, but as soon as she reached him, Ora immediately hid behind, putting Amien in between her and Cosmos.

"What is going?" he asked both her and Cosmos.

"Amien. Don't worry. I'm on your side," Cosmos smiled. "Ora found the hidden message in my songs and we both agree that we need to defeat the king."

"You're against the king?!" exclaimed Amien, sounding excited and yet surprised.

"Shh! Yes! I am. Of course I am," Cosmos said to him. "However, there's one thing that you and I are going to disagree about."

Amien was still celebrating the new ally before he processed Cosmos' words. Then his smile vanished and he threw Ora a concerned look.

"What are we going to disagree about?" Amien asked, turning to Cosmos.

Cosmos leaned his head to meet Ora's worried gaze. Then he said to Amien, "The Willow Wanderer. The one started this mess by standing up to the king in the first place."

"WHAT?!" Amien exploded, storming towards Cosmos. His reaction was completely expected. "Here I was so happy to hear that you're 'on our side' only to find out that you're not?!"

"Don't you realize that the king is so negligent because he's paranoid about Diamond? That means that if Diamond hadn't threatened him-"

"She didn't threaten him!"