Lucidity

Chapter Twenty-One: Communication and Consequences

When Oburon strutted into the camp, everyone knew something was off. He had this air of confidence they'd never seen on him before.

"Oburon... Are you alright, buddy?", asked Junior, eying him.

"It's not Oburon," spoke Caitlyn. Her voice was hard to recognise now that it was being produced by Oburon's vocal chords, so she explained, "Oburon brought me back."

"That idiot!", growled Junior, "You're a traitor and he went 'Oh-la-di-dah, let's just bring her back!'"

"Oburon believes that people should listen to others and give them a chance to explain themselves. I hope you'll give me that chance," spoke Caitlyn, then continued, "It's true, initially I was gathering information to give to my parents. I even got as far as calling them, but when it came to it, I just ended it."

"Yeah, because you were kidnapped by a sand monster!"

"The people who killed Dale had armour by Rectionem Scientiae. I went back home for information. Timothy Crayver and Imperon have-"

"We know, they have a weapon and we're getting the anti-solution or whatever," interrupted Kosa, "Seems like we got exactly the same information. Uh, welcome back, by the way, and never ever lie to me again. Thanks."

"I was almost caught at the weapon's storage place but luckily I escaped and got some information. They're planning on firing it off in a month's time. It's basically genocide," explained Caitlyn.

"You know where it's kept?", spoke Yaz. The idea of resurrection wasn't one her cultural background embraced. They believed that when people died they deserved a happy life in the stars, only occasionally blessing the living with their celestial and infinite knowledge. Yaz recalled how her mother had initially misunderstood her saying she'd had a special dream for it having been an ancestral dream. She sighed. What would her family make of all this? She'd befriended people who didn't mind killing, so shouldn't she be appalled? It was true, she was disgusted, but she could understand. Hazhil and Junior had both spent so long in the army that it was a wonder they were still quite as sane as they were.

Caitlyn - or Oburon, this was all rather strange - nodded. "In the middle of Fevalé Woods. Though, security could be an issue. It's in part guarded by Imperon."

"If we want to get in, we'll need a good plan...", said Hjalmar, looking at nothing in particular as he drifted off into thought. Junior added, "That is, if we can believe you."

"I can understand that with your background, it goes against all your morals to trust me. But you have my bag - you can see I brought back stuff for everyone."

"A simple deception," argued Junior.

Caitlyn let out a sigh. "If only Dale were here, with just me saying it, you won't believe it, but have you ever wondered about how I managed to travel here on Pegasi. A shame you had to turn it into a Vanox, by the way. Witnessing something such as murder turns them into creatures of darkness. Anyway, as you should know, as a former spy, they don't exactly roam the land freely; it's not like every rich girl has a stable full. They are still around - hidden, of course - and will only fly those with a genuine heart. If your intentions are good, they will fly you anywhere."

"Blake, let it go," mumbled Hazhil, stroking his shoulder soothingly, a fearful expression on her face. The bitter man unclenched his fist. "I still don't believe you. But we should carry on to Axworth first anyway; for the solution. I'll check the books there but if I find out you're lying, I'll finish the job Hazhil started, even if it means killing Oburon in the process."

Caitlyn nodded in understanding, then commented, "There's something else. If the solution hasn't been tested, I know where we can test it. Belmoth. The children."