Legend of Myth: Chapter Two: Continued

For those of you just begining, this story starts with the Prelude way back in February, I think. You won't reconize some people and events that are refered to and you'll miss the connections if you don't start from the prelude part. Sorry. Enjoy!

Claude: He is Price's identical twin brother; except he has has lighter eyes. He's more layed back and easy going, though both are somewhat easy going. He and Price are the first out of any of the SouthLand decendants to marry outside of their race. The Shadow Wisp's prefered clothing is a blackish brown color robe or shirt and pants. They both do. All Wisps have a white left hand, which would be mistaken for a skin desease by anyone out side of the village. The hand is not sensitive to sun light like most fair skin would be.

The Elder: Once the story takes off his part will diminish considerably, maybe. He is a hoary haired old man who did a bit of traveling and learning. After the many reproaches for leaving his village, like the murder of his wife and children by the people in the north, he returned and has led the village for 100 years; he being around 200 years old. The north refugees are quite curious as to how he has lived so long, but because he is an honest and kind leader, they do not hold it against him. He is the only other surviving memeber of Salte's race. He is also responsible for making completely acurate copies of the historical documents that are so crucial to what he calls "the Repentance of the Outcaste." He teaches that their rememberance of their past and their exile is part of their eternal repentance not pentence, which he believes is arrogant. "Eternal" would be considered a heavy word to most people, but then again, these Southern races are stronger than most people; they have accpeted their consequences graciously and have found harmony with their lot in life and so have found favour in my eyes.

The habit of the Outcastes unfortunately was and is to bare more sons than daughters. War kept them in check and kept them balanced out so that they would not die out, but their choice to live peacfully has caused the imbalance and their tribes to fade away. However, their bloodlines will remain through Simon, Ceyes, Land, and Price and Claude, assuming they all survive.

Now, to the story:

The Elder walked into the room where Silas was resting and checked his condition. It had been two days now. Love's mother and Sara entered the room shortly after the Elder with water and cloth.
"How is he?" Love's mother asked. She had black, healthy, somewhat thick, and curly hair and a queenly (whatever that means to you), pretty face, not too thin not too round not too long up and down, with black eyes. She stood and walked erect in her dirty brown and white working dress. She was very becoming of a queen, even in this backwater village.
"He's doing a little better, Faith," The Elder replied, "He's breathing regularly and he no longer has a fever."
"Here," Faith said. She washed Silas's face with the clothe. "He looks so pale," She said.
"Honestly, I don't see how he survived," The Elder said, "His body is worn out, and he has been surviving on that rotting land for a week, and now he's asleep, so he can't eat anything. Even when the poison is completely purged, he is still going to have to recuperate from lack of food."
"Titus..." Silas murmmered in his sleep.
Sara, Faith and the Elder looked at Silas concerned.
"He's been mentioning that name in his sleep since he arrived here," The Elder said, "That name and the name, Mica."
"The names of the other two?" Sara said.
"Most likely," the Elder replied.
"What happened to them I wonder," Faith asked washing his face again.
"Whatever happened to them could not have been good," The Elder replied.
"Titus....don't," Silas mumbled again, "Don't be....Mica, I can't..."
"I think he's reliving what happened," The Elder surmised.
"Whatever it was, it must have been tradgic, poor thing," Sara said, "Shhhh" She put her hand on his head and closed her eyes. Silas calmed down from his intensity and fell deeper into his sleep. Faith sighed, "I'll get one of my daughters to fix us some food," She said.
"I'll treat him," Sara said.
"That's fine," The Elder said, "I have some buisness to attend with the Mayor of Oak."
Sara nodded her head and turned her attention to Silas as Faith and the Elder left the room. She looked on him with deep compassion, concern, and thankfulness for her sons. She put her hand on his chest and closed her eyes and concentrated. She could feel his heart strain less and less as she flooded his body with mysterious energy that purged the rest of the poison and helped his body repair itself. She continued treating him for five minutes and then stopped when she became tired. When she opened her eyes, she saw Silas staring at her. She smiled at his awakening.
"You're in good hands," Sara told him.
Silas closed his dark green and brown eyes, no longer covered with film, and swallowed hard. After forcing some liquid into his dry mouth, he looked at Sara, "Where am I?"
"You are in the village just outside of the South Land," She said, "How are you feeling?"
"I'm not..feeling," Silas said.
"Still groggy then," She said, "It's okay, you're in good hands. My name is Sara."
Silas looked at his surrounding as best he could. "Silas," he replied still looking.
"You are going to take a few more days to recover, but you will be fine. Just try to rest whenever you can," Sara said, "Do you feel like talking?"
"I will," Silas replied.
Sara smiled. "That's valiant of you, but if you don't feel well enough, don't. I'll leave you to rest."
"My sword..." Silas said slowly falling back to sleep. Sara gave him a curious look.
Silas slowly closed his eyes while looking at Sara. "She's beautiful," he thought as he slipped into a deep sleep.
Sara smiled and got up to tell the Elder Silas was doing better. She walked down stairs to see him and the Mayor of Oak talking about what can be done about Faith and Love and the girls.
"It was good of you to make this jouney on such short notice," The Elder said, "Thankyou." The Mayor nodded.
"I know of another town more rural than our town that we can send them to," The Mayor said.
"How far away is it?" The Elder asked.
"It's a decent ways out of the way for us and more importantly, Surel," The Mayor replied, "And I know many people who would be willing to take the queen and her family there out of harms way."
"Good. Do you mind making preperations at once?" The Elder asked.
"Everything is ready," The Mayor replied, "I just need your consent and the Queen's."
"Then I will propose it to them tomorrow," The Elder said. It was about noon at this time.
The Mayor hesitated as if wanting to say something but wasnt' sure. "I...understand you have a young man from Calton's capital," The Mayor said.
"Yes indeed," The Elder said, "One of the men that ventured into our forbidden lands at the command of Surel."
"How is he?" The Mayor asked.
"Better..." Sara said. The Mayor and The Elder looked to Sara standing by the stairs in the back of the main room. "He woke up just a moment ago," she continued, "His name is Silas, handsome boy."
"Silas huh?" The Mayor said.
"You reconize that name?" The Elder asked.
"Well, if it is the former apprentace to one, Alastor, yes, I do," The Mayor replied, "And I have only heard."
"Do tell," The Elder said.
"Well, I'll tell you what I know. Alastor is a very well known warrior who travels across the land; he is a mercenary," The Mayor said, "Skiit used him quite often to put down rebels in their land and to do untraceble raids on Sholom whenever they could. Love's father would hire him to purge his roads of robbers."
"Sounds like a man free of loyalty," The Elder said.
"Yes, It's a wonder his apprentace would join a military," The Mayor said, "But he joined while the Valiant's were still in power."
"Well, he may wake up again," Sara said, "I'm going to help Hope prepare some food for him."
"I'll go and check on him in a little," The Elder said. Sara nodded and walked to the Elder's kitchen where Hope was roasting a stew. "Oh," Sara said turning around, "He said something about a sword."
"He must have lost his sword," The Mayor said.
"He probably lost it in his scuffle with the wolves," The Elder said, "I'll send Simon after it." The Elder turned back to The Mayor.
"What happened to, Alastor," The Elder asked.
"He disappeared four years ago," The Mayor said.
"Did Surel have something to do with it?" The Elder asked.
"No one knows. I would think Surel would have tried to hire him rather than do away with him, though."
"Or someone else would have tried to hire him."
"I don't know how many Silases are in the Calton military, but if this is the Silas of Alastor, he is a known fighter."
"Is that so?" The Elder said, "That would help explain his survival somewhat. I think I'll go check on this fighter."
"I'll go with you," The Mayor said, "My curiosity has gotten the best of me."
They walked up the stairs quietly and down the hall to Silas's room. They walked inside to find him still asleep, so they quietly slipped out not wanting to disterb him.
"I'll check on him later," The Elder said.
The Mayor nodded.
They walked down stairs to talk some more about the coming soldiers and the arrangments for Love's family.
Outside Simon was providing some wheat for the family who lived a hundred feet or so west of the Elder's house toward the hospital, if that is what one could call it. The Elder poked his head out of the front door. "Simon!" he called.
Simon finished giving that family their share of grain and walked over to The Elder.
"Yes, Elder Sel," He said.
"I have a favour to ask of you for Silas, the young man in our care," he said.
"What is it?" Simon replied.
"Around the area where you found Silas should be a sword somewhere. Would you please walk down there when you get a chance and find it? It seems to be important to him."
"Yes," Simon replied.
"Thankyou. Hello Love," the Elder said and then pulled his head back inside.
Simon turned around and saw Love standing right behind him.
"Hello, Simon," She said. His eyes turned black as he looked at her, but she appreciated the chance to see his green eyes.
"Are you going to look for his sword?" she asked.
"I..will tonight," Simon answered, "I've got too much to do right now. I have to finish harvesting the rest of the grain."
"Tonight?" Love asked, "Wouldn't it be better to look during the day?"
"No not really," Simon said shaking his head.
Loved looked at him funny. "What's your problem now?" Simon thought to himself.
She became frustrated with his "nonsence" so quickly in the converstation and now with his eyes as well and broke off the conversation, "Well, have fun." She walked passed him and into the house. Simon stared at the closed door for a little while, rather irritated and then headed home to harvest more corn and grain.
The day changed to night and Love was now at home. The sky was perfectly clear and both moons completely lit the night with a blue tint. Though one moon reflected light quite a bit like our moon and the other only about half as much. The smaller usually set at about half way through the night. It had a much quicker revolving speed. Love walked outside to enjoy the night. She looked up to see the sparkling sea of stars that twinkled as if speaking to one another. And she watched the smaller moon move swifly across the sky. Swiftly compared to the other moon, that is. She enjoyed the night and began thinking about her father and how he was doing. "I wonder how he's doing with my Uncle," she thought to herself. She was awed by a small shower of comets that streaked across the sky: red, blue then yellow. "That's pretty," she thought. She decided to walk to the Elder's house since it was not that far nor was it terribly late yet, and see how the guest was doing. She wanted to speak to him since he could possibly tell her about her father. Her house was on the begining of the northward trail a little ways from the Elder's house. She walked past two other cabins and saw the fathers playing with their children through the window. "I wonder how come the seasons never seem to change here," she thought, "it's always a nice night to have windows open." They did not have glass windows, they just had shutters.
When she reached the Elders house, she walked up to the door and heard speaking. A moment later Simon walked out.
"Hey," he said to Love.
"Hey," she said back looking blankly at him, "What are you doing?"
"I'm going to find Silas's sword," he replied, "It's somewhere near that cave in the rocks."
Love looked at him curiously. In the dark she could see they were black, but now she also saw glitters in them like his eyes had little star-lights of their own. "What?" She thought to herself.
"The Elder's inside if you're looking for him," Simon tolder her pointing inside.
She looked at the house and then looked at Simon. "Are you going to be alright in the dark?" She asked him as if she didn't believe he knew what he was doing.
He smiled, "The dark doesn't matter to me."
She gave him another curious look, and he walked off. She watched until he reached the dark moutain pass. When he vanished in the pass, she walked inside.
"Hello, Love," The Elder said.
"Hello, Elder Sel," she replied.
"He's doing fine," Faith said, "He's awake right now if you want to talk to him."
Love smiled and quickly walked up stars. She came to Silas' room and gently opened the door and walked in. Silas was sitting up in bed and eating some food. He looked over at Love.
"Hello," Love said.
Silas quickly swallowed his food and replied, "Hello."
"Are you feeling better?" She asked.
"Yes," he said, "Your Elder said I'll be able to get out of bed soon."
"Good, you looked really bad when we brought you into the village," she said, "I wasn't sure if you were going to make it, but the Elder and Sara seemed to think you would be alright."
"They seem like nice people," Silas said looking at his food.
"They are. The Elder is very kind," She replied.
Silas focused on her face, "You must be Princess Love."
"Yes," she replied.
"I would kneel, but you know," he said smiling.
"It's okay. I actually came to talk to you because I wanted to know," she said looking away, "did you ever see my father?" Silas understood her anxiousness to know about her father.
"Sometimes," he replied, "Sometimes he would walk through our training grounds and talk to us about various things. I was not in the military while he was king unfortunatly, but I enjoyed his visits and speeches, even though he doesn't know I exist. But, eventually, Surel made him stop coming to our training because he did not want us learning codes like honor or compassion. He thought those would hinder the war effort and our effectivness as soldiers."
She smiled. "But he is still well?" She said happily.
"Oh yea. Every one was surprised that he made a recovery from such a long time illness, but he made the recovery nicely, but by that time, though, Surel had bought too much power and suceeded in overthrowing your father completely, for now anyway. He threatened to kill any succesor unless it was him or his line. The people can't revolt, though because Surel suppresses it immediatly and mercelessly."
"So is my father in any danger?" she asked anxiously.
"No," Silas said taking another sip of the soup they had prepared for him, "if he did any thing to your father as good as he has been to the people, including the nobles and Lords, there would definatly be a revolt. Some of the Lords Surel has bribed have told Surel if he harms the King, he should consider his bribes simply alturistic gifts." Silas took another sip.
Love did not know what "altruistic" ment, but she got the jist.
"If you are in the military, why are you not fighting the war?" she asked.
"Because I'm in a special part. I'm an Elite Guard called The Saviors," he said taking another sip.
"What's that?"
"The miliary takes the best fighters and puts them through harder training and then charges them with guarding the 'king'."
"The Saviors huh? Not the most humble group I take it."
"Not in the least," Silas replied chuckling.
"So, you are a good fighter," she asked.
"One of their best, I've been told, but" he said sighing, "not one of the favourites."
"Why?" she asked.
"Because I make it difficult for them to controll me. I don't have much faith in them. I don't like my commanding officers. I do everything they tell me, but I don't do it with the best attitude. I originally joined because I wanted to stand for your father. The idea of standing for something besides money and power appealed to me. I was tired of working just for myself hurting others for my own greed, but then Surel took over."
"And you could not quite? Why didn't your guardian help you?"
"My guardian was already angry with me for joining and leaving him. When Surel took over, Alastor wouldn't let me back out. He told me to lie in the bed that I made. Surel immediatly senetanced all desrters with death."
"That's merciless," she said.
Silas nodded and took another sip.
"So why did you go to the South Land?" Love asked.
Silas breathed deeply and took on a sad air, instead of just melencholy.
"Because Surel was offering a thick reward to the ones who could bring him back information or anything that might be used as a weapon. I needed to get away, and I decided I could use some more money."
"Three seems like a small number to send into South Land." Love said.
"Right before he sent us, the war became heated, and he could not spare the soldiers. My superiors didn't like me, and Surel was not very happy at all with Titus, so he sent us anyway to get rid of us more than likely. We didn't go straight to the SouthLand, though, we had other errands to run before going there. We actually spent seven months traveling before going to the Southern Lands. It was quite an adventure."
Love looked at Silas with sympathy not wanting to talk about his friends, even though she was very curious.
"What are you going to do now?" The Elder said standing in the door way listening.
Silas looked back to the door way. And then looked at his food again.
"Go back," Silas answered.
Love had many more questions to ask but she could only ask one at a time. "Why?" Love said.
"I don't know," Silas answered, "just because it's all I know for now."
"If no one likes you then find a new home," Love said.
"I didn't say no one liked me," Silas replied, "just my superiors and my fellow Elites. Silas thought for a second. "Well, I guess that's every one I know."
"Why don't they like you," The Elder asked.
"Partly because I want them too, I guess," Silas said, "They have all bought into the ambition for money and status that I was trying to escape. Surel encourages it and almost all of the military accepts it with open arms. The military personel is mostly concerened with moving up in the ranks. Most all people in the military want ranks, titles, and recognition."
"And you don't," The Elder asked.
Silas shrugged his shoulders. "I used to, being an orphan and all what else did I have, and that's all Alastor taught me. But I've learned status is only an illusion." Silas stared at his food. "Status will not stop a sword from piercing your heart, or a stray arrow from killing you," he continued, "Your rank is a word or idea a few people place by your name, that is all. No enemy in their right mind is concerned with the 'status' of their kill. I think anyone who places faith in a title is a fool." The Elder nodded. Silas finished, "I try to get that across whenever new members have to face me in ranking trials." Few elites in his section ever made it to higher ranks because in order to advance soldiers had to prove that they were capapble of keeping their subordinates under control, commanding their respect, and able to mentally and willfully handle the pressure. Silas was the test in his section. To move up in ranks one had to run races in obstacle courses, comman stradegies and one-on-one combat. Silas never moved up because his commanders knew his philosophies echoed that of the Kings and didn't want it in the higher ranks. Incidently, though, Silas's section was also the most trusted and most successful and only turned out capable officers, but no one would give Silas that credit. There were Saviors that Silas would have gotten along with, but the elites Silas would have liked were no where near him or, in Titus's case, dead. (Back to the story)
"Maybe you shouldn't totally reject status and title," The Elder said, "They do have their advantages."
"The advantages don't out weigh the regrets in Calton," Silas said.
"Did you rub it in?" Love asked, "The low success rate in your section, I mean?"
"Would it be any fun if I didn't? I love watching them roll their eyes when they have to get past me. Only two people who came through my section have made it to higher ranks."
The Elder and Love chuckled.
"Anyway," Silas said, "I have to go back, even if for just a little while longer?"
"Why?" she asked again.
"If you must you must," The Elder said cutting her off.
Silas smiled, "I'm feeling tired again."
"We were just going to leave," The Elder said, "I came up here to get Love, so you could do just that."
Love looked at the Elder who motioned for her to come with him. "It's getting late," He said.
Love looked at the Elder as if to say, "Oh yea."
Silas smiled. He put his food aside and slid deep underneath the blankets in safety and peace for the first time in a very long time. When the door closed, he fell fast asleep and had a quite odd and disturbing dream:

Silas opened his eyes to see the stars twinkling in the sky. He got up startled wondering what he was doing outside. When he looked around he recognized the place; it was the Balton plains just outside of Calton's Capital. He rose to his feet looking around to see just what was going on. To his left he saw what looked like Titus sitting on a stone, facing away from the campfire ashes. Silas slowly and silently walked over to see if it really was Titus. He crept around Titus' right side a little ways away incase this was more wrong than it seemed already. When he saw Titus' face he was shocked. "It...can't...be," Silas said, "Where am I?"
"We promised to watch every sunrise together while I am away," Titus said.
Silas looked over to see himself walking over to Titus' left and sitting down on the rock with him.
"Do what?" the dream Silas said. Silas then remembered, this is when they had first set out on their journey. He remembered this conversation.
"Somewhere, Laura is watching this same sunrise," Titus said, "We're watching it together."
"How do you know?" Dream Silas said. Silas looked to the west to see the blackness slowly being pushed away by lighter and lighter blue in the west.
"You're such a goon," Titus said.
Silas looked at him clueless.
"Do you have anything to fight for?" Titus asked him.
"No, not really," Dream Silas said, "Just myself."
"No family or friends," Titus said.
"I was orphaned when I was five until I was twelve. I was taken in by Alastor."
"I've heard about that. You do a good job of keeping that under wraps."
"It's not that big of a deal," Dream Silas said shrugging his shoulders, "Anyway, I don't get along with the other guys. They're all morons."
"So no one," Titus said.
"There were two orphans that would come by and I would feed them, but I haven't seen them in a year."
"I don't get along with all of the guys either, but I have a few friends. Everyone thinks you're too negative," Titus said lifting one eyebrow at him, "But I think you're alright, Silas."
Dream Silas nodded his head."I always knew you were smarter than the rest," Dream Silas and Silas said together smiling.
They sat waiting for the sun to come up. Just as it began to peak over Titus spoke. "Silas, can you promise me something," he said.
Dream Silas nodded, but Silas continued to watch the sunrise; he remembered this part so vividly now. He had forgotten about it once the adventure got underway.
"If I don't make it back I want you to find Laura and tell her what this sunrise looked like from my view." Titus said.
Dream Silas looked at Titus.
"Don't say that," Dream Silas said, "You'll probably outlive me."
"It's just a precaution," Titus said, "don't let it disturb you."
Silas did not look at the two talking; he watched the sunrise that he had missed that day. He saw the light blue sky pushing the final black away to make way for the slight pink that was creeping up in the west. (This planet rotated backwards and on it's side) The pink turned into yellow as this planet's massive sun (at least massive compared to our sun) lit up their blue sky. (Their sun doesn't look any different to them as our sun does to us though) Anyway, shadow spots were created by huge boulders in the distance. The vast plains were completely covered in green, even the boulders were almost completely taken over by grass. Dreaming Silas smiled at the beauty of the sunrise over the plains.
"We've got to go," Titus said, "We've got five months worth of missions before getting to the big one."
"What are we starting off with," Dream Silas asked.
"First we have to meet, Mica." The two dream men walked back to where the camp fire was supposed to be doused. Dreaming Silas looked at the camp fire curiously because they always doused their fires before going to sleep and never re-kindled them. Then He was shocked to see the two men walk straight into the fire. When they did the fire flared up and sent the real Silas falling backwards covering his eyes. When he pulled his arm away he saw Titus comsumed, but Dream Silas was still alive and looked suprised. Silas got up and then felt a hot breath behind him. The sound of the breath was familiar. "Not again," Silas thought to himself. He turned around to see a massive dark red or crimson animal right behind him. The snout was long but it looked asleep. Scales covered its body. We would call it a dragon, but Silas had never heard of it before, and it truly was massive. Silas was standing next to its biggest fang, which was as tall as Silas was. The dragon its eyes and lifted its head far above both Silas' revealing a white bottom that was also covered with scales, with absolutely no weakness. Dream Silas ran next to Silas and they looked at each other, prepared to fight. Silas had had this dream with the dragon every night since the tower, but never with himself in it. It was always someone else, and it always scared him then, but not as much as now. The dragon's head was far above them and it cast a great shadow over both of the men.
"You wish to do battle," The Dragon roared suddenly.
Dream Silas and Silas looked behind them to see a great host of men. They felt some comfort as they prepared to fight the dragon. The great dragon inhaled one gigantic breath and covered Silas and everyone else in flames. Silas fell back afraid. When the dragon finished breathing, he spoke again, "Get up, you."
Silas realized he was still alive and unharmed. He looked around to see that the host of men and dream Silas had been completely consumed leaving only ash, which was blown away by the wind. He got up timidly and looked up at the dragon who lowered his head until just one eye was right on Silas. The Dragon's eye was blue and looked like a person's eye except that the white part was black, and the pupil was white.
"I thought you were completely gone," the Dragon said, "I suppose I can be wrong for once in 7000 years." Silas was now a little less afraid though somewhat still in shock.
"No matter," the dragon continued, "Make your way to me."
Silas looked at the creature bewildered."W-What do you mean? How?" Silas said, "You keep saying that. But you never tell me how." Actually, this is the first time that the dragon had spoken to Silas directly; it was always to some other person in the dream, but Silas figured now that it was ment for him.
"Follow the road before you," the Dragon said.
"Road? What? Why?" Silas inquired.
"Your world in in danger," the Dragon answered. Silas shook his head.
"It's not my world," he said.
"Not your world? Self-righteous human," the dragon growled still staring at Silas, "If it were up to me I would have even the most humble and righteous human consumed in fire for their arrogance. Do not usure forth your pathetic issues, selfish human. Only make your way to me. This most certainly is your world, and it is in great danger, and you are someone who can save it. Follow the road before you and die an insignifigant hero." Silas glared at the dragon in resentment of its ultimatum. Then the dragon inhaled another great breath and breathed its fire on Silas and growled again, "Awake!"

And Silas woke up back in the village of Outcastes. "You had a nightmare?" The Elder said sitting next to him.
Silas nodded. "The same one I have had since I escaped that tower," he said.
"So you did release Hirst," The Elder said.
Silas looked at the Elder alarmed and not knowing what to say. The Elder siged a deep sigh.
"That's what we were afraid you would do," The Elder said. Silas stared at the Elder regretfully.
"I'm sorry," Silas said, "It started as a fight for our lives."
The Elder looked at him, "Though it was a foolish adventure that now threatens to put the whole world into bondage and possibly even death...it is not all your fault Silas. We did not tell you nor did we accompany you. We left you to do as you please because we thought you were completely loyal to Surel, why else would you do something so dangerious. We did not think you would make it, and the excuses go on and on."
"Loyal to Surel?" Silas scoffed, "The only ones loyal to Surel are the ones who think they have something to gain from him."
"Reggardless, we blame Surel. Not you or your two friends," The Elder said, "I presume they are dead."
Silas nodded again.
"Do you mind telling me what happened?" The Elder asked.
Silas agreed and told the Elder everything that had happened from the time they left the village until then. The Elder listened gravely and attentively to Silas, who left nothing important out no matter how foolish he felt saying it. As he told the story, Love, Faith and Sara gathered to hear what had happened and where the great light had come from. Silas told them of Titus crumbling the statues and fighting the guardian.
"Interesting tale," The Elder said, "I'm sorry it has such great reprocusions. I would liked to have seen our ancestors. 4000 years old; alive so long ago."
"I'm sorry," Silas agreed, "I don't suppose...there is anything to be done about it?"
"We don't know," The Elder said, "The man you released is completely unpredictable and now extremely powerful. We sent some of our men to see and they have not returned yet."
"How can they?" Silas said, "If that thing is there."
"We are not average men," the Elder said, " There may not be a chance, but we felt we had to do something."
Silas looked at the Elder curiously.
"How far into the day is it?" Silas asked.
"It is not quite noon," the Elder replied.
Just then Simon came bursting into the Elder's house and ran up the stairs to Silas's room. After making sure it was alright to interrupt, he acknowleged Silas and spoke, "They're back. All of them."
The Elder quickly rose to go with Simon; the women left as soon as Simon said they're back.
"The ones we sent out have returned," The Elder told Silas, "Rest here a while longer while we go speak to them."
"Alright," Silas replied and lay back down in the bed.
"They asked to see you immediatly, Elder Sel," Simon urged.
"Yes I'm coming," he replied and quickly left the room.

Chapter Two: Re-instating Silas

Around eight or nine days passed since the four men left for the tower, and the villiage carried on with their buisness anxiously that week. Simon took care of his mother and the farm. Salte's wife was very capable of taking care of her family; once she healed her boys she put them straight to work knitting clothes for the village. Price's wife and Claude's wife stayed with their families in the village.
The war between Calton and Coast was intensifying and youth were now being drafted into service. The Mayor of Oak was making visits to speak with the Elder about outside happinings and what Surel was doing to aggravate or calm the war situation. Surel was crafty and very unethical. He attmepted to manipulate situations as best he could. He knew that none of the other countries trusted him, but he knew none of them trusted each other either. He constantly tried to secretly aggravate the other countries' distrust in one another. Recently, he ordered several unexpected small unit attacks desguised as Skiit soldiers on resource areas to try to cripple Coast in hopes that they would attack one of the other kingdoms for resources. Coast's resources such as fresh water and farms were much closer to Calton's boarder than Calton's was to Coast. A simple but potentially effective move. He knew that Coast was not fond of the other two countries, but Coast resisted and simply added more soldiers to their most important remaining resourses. This still hurt Coast somewhat because they had to spread their forces just a little. But Surel was still left to find some other way to win his war without actually fighting. He then resorted to sacking Skiit cities with soldiers dressed as Coastshire warriors. This created quite a bit of tension between the two just as Surel wished.
The Elder and The Mayor were having another talk on this day and walked in the early morning through the woods near Calthes' farm speaking of these matters. Today, though, the Mayor also had a matter to discuse that did not involve the war at all, it was completely political. The Mayor hesitated after giving the Elder the last bit of the afore mentioned information and stopped to tell him something else. "The Prince will be sending men here to...speak with you," the Mayor said to the Elder.
"So soon? You have gotten word?" The Elder replied.
"Yes, as amazing as it sounds. It appears the great light was visible even that far over the mountains."
"It was that bright indeed," The Elder said resting his hand on his walking stick.
"Yes, well, apparently, he sent riders out the two nights after it happened, and they rode all through the nights to get the message to us so we could prepare for them."
"Hmm? You said it took two months to get word to and back from Calton Castle," the Elder said, "How did this message manage to get to you so quickly?"
"There are multiple roads that cut straight through the mounains, but normally they are restricted," The mayor replied, "We have to go around when we want to send messages."
"Even with something as great as this?"
"Well, before the war started, the roads were closed with big gates until now because of the danger of traveling on them and when the war started there was a lack of money to repair them, and Surel found they could get their resources easily enough without the road. We at Oak are good only for the delicacies you put out and for the education we can give, so we are not in very high demand except for now with this situation."
"Because you can mediate for them. When will the messengers come?"
"A little over a month," The Mayor said, "They cannot use the mountain passes."
"Okay, we may have information by then," The Elder said.
"They are not coming for information," The Mayor replied, "I wasn't even supposed to tell you they were coming at all."
The Elder looked up at the Mayor in alarm and some confusion, "What do you mean?"
The Mayor took a deep breath, "The people of Calton Capital instantly went into panic at the sight of the bright light. Surel needs to calm them down, and the best way to do that, he thinks, is...a scapegoat. The only thing anyone knows of the light is that it came from the south, so Surel is, of course, blaming you. The men he will be sending are going to be soldiers not messengers."
"What in the...! That mongrel," the Elder said turning to begin his walk back to his house, "If the people knew that bad omen was because of an expedition he sent out, then they would revolt for sure I suppose."
"That is correct," The Mayor said following the Elder, "Although they are not far from that right now. The only thing holding them back are wealthy men of great money, influence and soldiers." "I hope Calthes and the others will be back by then."
"So what are you going to do until then?"
"There is not much we can do," The Elder said, "We must wait. If they make it back at all, we may resist. Or we may go unless they wish to execute us."
"Execution is certine," The Mayor replied, "You must think of something else."
"We cannot hide in the South Lands," The Mayor said, "We must wait and see what Calthes and the others suggest."
"And if they don't come back? It will be hard to resist them wether they come back or not."
"We will think of somthing."
"Why not hide somewhere in Calton?"
"Where?" The Elder said stopping to face The Mayor, "Some of us have already tried that. Our accent, our hair, our peculiarities, our dress and these marks give us away." The Elder turned his head to reveal a straight brown line around the back of his neck, "We cannot hide who we are, and we do not wish to hide who we are."
"What is that?" The Mayor said.
"It's a birth mark that all Magus have on their necks," The Elder said.
"Magus? What are you talking about." The Mayor said.
"The Soul Knights brand a small eye on their shoulders when they are young and the Shadow Wisps have a white birth mark, which looks like leprosy, that covers their left hand. A hint of leprosy is not well recieved at all. We have remained almost pure for many years, and we cannot and actually do not wish to hide. Especially from a political wart," the Elder yelled stamping his walking stick on the ground, "that would never have involved us any other way." The Elder smiled and glance at the Mayor. "Do not worry about us. There is more to some of us than you know." The Elder said, "Though we are the last generation of our races, there is still power left in us."
"Races?" The Mayor replied thouroughly bewildered.
"There were three races 4000 years ago in the South Land," The Elder said, "Calthes and his family, Salte and his family, Price, Claude and myself are all that is left."
"Fasinating. So there were three different races."
"Yes, but I do not wish to say more. We have kept our selves shrouded in mystery on purpose; our privacy is our last stand for some dignity," the Elder said.
"I understand. Your lineage is your buisness," The Mayor said, "But it is still very intriging."
"It is indeed," The Elder said leading the way back to the village, "Maybe some day I'll tell you all about it, but now is not a desirable time."
"4000 years," The Mayor said following, "That's quite a while." The Mayor thought as they continued to walk. He wanted to conjor up an idea to help, but there was not much else to consider. "Well," He said, "I will send word to Surel asking him to re-think his conclusion and his actions, but he will not likely change his mind since there is no apparent threat from you, and he is doing this for political purposes."
"Thankyou," The Elder said nodding. The Elder stopped and turned to the Mayor. "But if he does not reconsider, then I must ask a great favour," The Elder said.
"Love?" The Mayor said.
"Yes, do you have any place to hide her and her family?" The Elder asked.
The Mayor nodded his head, "We have thought of that. We are working on it. We will try to keep her safe at the expense of our own lives if it must be that way."
"Good," The Elder sighed, "If she can find a husband the people will certainly accept her and she can retake the throne can she not?"
"She can indeed. Though there may be some struggle. I only hope Surel hasn't completely bought the loyalty of the masters and nobles. It's a shame the King did not have any males," The Mayor said, "Now the line will change names. We could find a suiter for her."
The Elder shook his head. "Being in the wild has weaned her from your society I'm afraid. I do not think she will accept any person she did not choose herself. I only hope she chooses an honorable man that is capable of ruling," The Elder said, "Or one of her sisters finds an honorable man, or something to bring balance back to that kingdom."
"Indeed," The Mayor affirmed, "Encourage Love to change that law as soon as she finally obtains power."
"Indeed, I will," The Elder, "I will encourage her and her husband should I meet him."
The two men walked to the village continuing to speak of these dire matters. They reached the village a few hours before noon. As they entered the village, they observed Simon searching for something at The Elder's house. They walked over to see what was the matter. When Simon spotted them, he walked over to them.
"Elder," Simon said sighing heavily, "Have you seen Land and Ceyes. Sara asked me to find them for her and she said they are somewhere in the village, but I haven't seen them anywhere."
"No, Simon we have not seen them," The Elder replied, "We just arrived from your fields."
"Alright," Simon thanked them and sighed rolling his eyes continuing his search for the boys.
*sigh*"There is no telling were those two are," The Elder said, "I better help Simon look for them."
"That's fine. I will tell you more when more news comes, Sel," The Mayor said smiling.
"Thankyou, Paul," The Elder replied.
They shook hands and parted ways until the next meeting, naturally. The Elder then went about looking for Land and Ceyes and inquiring for the two young boys.
Salte's children, it turns out, were playing in the mountain pass between the village and the Southern Lands. They decided with their boyish ignorance to go on an adventure like their father and they had snuck away from their mother while she was deep in conversation with one of her friends. They were walking pretty far in the pass, but since the pass was quite long, they were not close to the South Land; however, the pass had many fallen rocks and boulders all over and could be dangerous in other ways. But the rocks created many hiding places and the light and dark grey colour of the rock, the small green patches of grass and shrubery here and there and the long wide space was an adventure waiting to happen for the two young brave boys.
They both looked like their father, and mother actually. Blond hair blue eyes and the fair skin.
"Alright Land, I'll be a mighty Magus," Ceyes said stopping to set up the scene, "and you be a nasty bear."
Land looked at Ceyes with his black eye brows pointing up and a wrinkled forhead. "Why do I have to be the nasty bear?" Land replied irritated.
"Because you're better at it," Ceyes said with a smile.
"No, you just always want to be the good guy. You just want to win," Land said.
"Good guys don't always win," Ceyes said.
"Yes they do," Land replied with aggravated annoyance.
Ceyes did not speak because Land was right in this case. He looked at Land and squinted his eyes thinking. Land was on to him. "Okay, I got it. Why don't we both be Mighty Maguses and fight pretend wolves," Ceyes said. Land smiled and nodded his head in excitement. "Okay," Ceyes said, "There are wolves right around the corner just up there, but we can't zap'em from here, so were're gonna have to sneak up on them."
"Why don't we just run up and zap'em?" Land said.
"No we can't," Ceyes said, "That's no fun. The battle would be over in no time and we'd have to return to the village. We have to sneak and get close."
"Okay." Land said.
"Okay, follow me," Ceyes said.
They climbed up on the rocks and down inbetween them being as carefull and as quite as two little boys could. They snuck up on top of one rock to see where the imaginary wolves where and then they snuck down to get closer. They approached their prey with caution and skill or so they thought. They made sure not to disturb too many rocks and finally reached the place where they could ambush the evil wolves. Land became careless and put his hand on a stick that was sharp. "Owww," he said in full volume.
"Shhhhh," Ceyes said quietly, "You'll give away our position."
"It's pretend," Land said still in his normal voice.
"Just be quite," Ceyes wispered.
They hudled into a little crevice between two boulders just infront of the imaginary evil wolves, still unoticed of course.
"Okay," Ceyes said, "I'll use what little force I have left to protect us from their attacks, and you zap'em with a lighting bolt."
"Alright," Land said happy to have the flashy part.
They prepared to dash around the corner. They got into their ready positions.
"Charge!" Ceyes yelled and they rounded the corner. Then they both slid to a stop and fell on their backs in fear. Instead of imaginary wolves, there was a real man or something like one.
"What in the world?" Silas said suprised stumbling backward and then forward and falling to his hands and knees in front of the boys. He looked pale and withered, almost like a walking corpse. He was still able bodied, but he could feel his strength leaving him. He lost his armor and was now wearing a white shirt with brown pants that where shredded around his thin ankles. He looked up at the two boys that had tried to ambush him. His eyes had begun to glaze over to white as he became weaker. "What are you doing?" Silas asked looking up at the two boys.
They only looked at him stunned in fear. "What's wrong?" Silas said looking behind him. The two boys gathered up some courage, scuffled up and darted toward the village for their lives. "Wait!" Silas called hopeing they would tell someone about him.
"Did you see that?" Ceyes said to Land.
"It was a monster man from the South Land," Land said.
"Keep running," Ceyes said.
"Are we gonna tell the Elder?" Land said panting as he ran.
"Are you crazy? We'll be in so much trouble. We just won't come back," Ceyes said.
"Why didn't father kill him," Land said getting short of breath.
"I don't know," Ceyes said, "but I have to rest."
"Me too," Land said.
Ceyes stopped and looked around at their surroundings. "We need to hide," He said. Land looked up along the rocks and the edge of the moutain walls and spotted a cave, "Up there!" he said pointing.
The two boys ran and climbed from boulder to boulder until they reached the cave to get out of view of the road. The boulders around the cave were very big, even requiring the boys to run across them. The sun illuminated the whole face of that wall and inside the cave. When the two boys came to the entrance they halted again. They could see five or six large wolves in the cave sleeping. Land gasped loudly without thinking and the wolves awoke. Slowly, one by one they shook off their sleep and looked untill they found their disturbers. When they saw them they growled resentfully at the intruders. "Oh no!" Land said, "What do we do?"
Ceyes picked up a rock. "Run away!"
They ran away from the cave entrance just a little ways. The wolves were still throwning off their groggyness giving the boys a little time to think. Ceyes looked around and then at the big rock beside him. "I'll get up on this rock here and distract them; you make a break for it," Ceyes said.
"But," Land objected.
Ceye pushed his brother toward the road without pushing him off the rock they were standing on, "Do you want them to get us both? Go!"
Land immediatly began to climb down from the rocks. Ceyes climbed up on his rock and found a decently sized stick amidst some old bushes growing from a rock and found more rocks and waited for the animals. When the wolves came out, he threw rocks as hard as he could and waved his stick. It worked; the wolves were distracted and Land got away. Ceyes climbed onto another large rock and continued to find stones to throw at the wolves. They growled and leaped for Ceyes, but Ceyes would fend them off with the stick and keep them from reaching the rock he stood on.
Ceyes remained on the rock and kept himself secure. He continued to fend off the wolves until eventually they became tired of his stick and sat down to watch what Ceyes would do. He sat down as well, watching the wolves closely. The wolves layed themselves down under the bright sun to sleep and keep their pray on the rock until it had to come down or until it starved to death. Ceyes hoped and waited for someone to return. After some time the wolves fell asleep and Ceyes stuggled trying to decide wether or not to sneak past. Finally, he decided he just wanted to get out of there. He got up and got ready to slip down griping his stick tightly. He took a deep breath and just as he was about to go, he looked up and saw a wolf on a lege a little above him ready to jump on him. The wolf growled and Ceyes gasped. The wolves waiting below awoke looked up and saw what their prey was going to do, and growled along with the wolf on the lege. Ceyes turned and looked for a way to escape; he jumped to another rock behind him, and then scrambled on top of another. The wolf above jumped on the rocks after him, but Ceyes swung with his stick when the wolf would try to jump onto a rock with him. The wolf kept a close eye on Ceyes and looked for a way to get closer while pacing back and fourth on the rock it was on. After fuitless searching the wolf decided to make a jump for it stick or no stick. Ceyes had no where to go and no more rocks to throw now. The wolf jumped and Ceyes swung his stick at the animal to scare it or even hit it if possible, but it had no affect on the wolf. It made the leap and landed on the big boulder with Ceyes. Ceyes now had a closer look at the wolf. It had a grey chest and the rest was black, and it had foam coming from it's mouth. It's eyes had a white film over them, and patches of fir were missing in various spots on its head and back like its hair was falling out. The wolf was also much larger than a normal wolf, but to Ceyes all wolves were big enough. Ceyes swung at the wolf with his stick when it started to come closer, but the wolf caught the stick in its mouth and broke it in two with its massive jaws. Just then Ceyes heard yelps on the other side of the big rocks. This wolf was taken off his guard and looked around to try to figure out what was happening. It jumped and scrambled back and forth at the sound of the yelps, not knowing what to make of the sudden noises.
After a brief moment of silence, Silas climbed on top of the rock in front of Ceyes behind the wolf. Silas immediatly understood the situation and ran to jump the gap between Ceyes' rock and his. The wolf growled and Ceyes looked frantically for a place to escape, but there where no other rocks to jump on and the rock he was on was fairly high off of the ground. The wolf did not move when Silas began running and threatened Silas with growls if he should decided to intrude on the killing. Silas did not heed the growl and leaped off his rock with his sword to come down on the over sized wolf. The wolf quickly backed up and Silas missed, but the second strike was an immediate thrust forward as soon a he landed on the rock, and the sword pierced deep into the chest of the wolf before the wolf could do anything. Silas got up with the animal still stuck on his sword and yanked the blade tip up and to himself cleaving the wolf's head in two as he kicked it off the rock. The wolf's brain came out like green liquid on its way down and the wolf broke apart when it hit the ground. Silas looked at Ceyes, who was paralyzed with fear, and then collapsed with exhaustion on the rock before he could say "get help" and let his sword slide off the boulder to the ground. Ceyes quickly seezed the opportunity and ran past Silas and climbed over the rocks back to the trail. He then saw where Silas had killed the other four wolves and how they were as putrid as the one that had cornered him. He also saw one wolf that was heading in the direction of the village, but it was dead like the others. That was six wolves altogether. He reached the trail and took off to the village.
Ceyes did not have to go very far before he saw Simon, four other men, and Sara a little ways off. Sara ran to him, grabbed him and hugged him.
"Are you all right?" She said checking him for any cuts or wounds.
"Yes," Ceyes said sniffing.
"Thank goodness," one of the men said, "loosing a child is is the last thing we need right now."
"Alright," another said, "we found him, we'll get more men together and take care of those wolves tomorrow."
Everyone agreed except Simon who wanted to take care of the wolves immediatly. But he consented and returned with the group to the village, thankful that Ceyes was still alive, though he wondered how Ceyes got away from five wolves.
The Elder and many others from town waited for them at the pass entrance. When they entered The Elder glared at Ceyes. A little later after everyone returned to their homes in the village the Elder came to visit Ceyes and Land; it was now a some time after noon, about two hours after. He walked in to see how they were doing and to inquire of the wolves.
"Hello, Elder Sel," Sara said letting him in the cabin.
"How are you doing, Sara?" The Elder asked.
"I'm shaken. But I"m alright," she replied.
"Are the boys alright?"
"They're fine."
"Good," The Elder said walking over to the table were they sitting. He looked ominously at them. "I suppose you have already scolded them for their foolishness," he said glaring at them. The Elder's blue eyes gave quit a glare through his grey eyebrows along with his short grey beard. Over his long life he had cultivated that glare for just these purposes.
"Like you wouldn't believe," Sara said almost breaking down.
"I think I can believe," he said taking a deep breath, "Alright, boys I need to know how many wolves you saw and where they live."
Ceyes and Land looked at one another not wanting to speak.
"Don't worry. Your scolding is over," The Elder said, "So don't worry. Just tell me where and how many wolves you saw, so we can take care of them."
"There were six that we saw, but they're dead," Ceyes said. The Elder looked at them in suprise.
"How did you get away? How did you kill them?" The Elder asked sitting at the table.
Ceyes looked at Land and then back to the Elder. "A monster killed them," He said.
"A monster!?" The Elder said now even more concerned looking at Sara who looked just as shocked as he did, "What kind of monster? And where did it go?"
Ceyes looked up in fear, and Land gasped.
"Tell me quickly," the Elder wispered getting up kneeling in front of Ceyes to look him in the eye.
"He looked like a man, but he was white. He...he fell down after he killed them and I ran away," Ceyes said sobbing.
"And you didn't tell me?" Sara scolded.
"Fell down?" The Elder repeated to himself, "Where?"
"At a cave on the side of the passage walls," Ceyes said sniffling again.
"A cave?" The Elder said, "There is only one cave I know of on that passage."
The Elder got up and looked at Sara who was now concerned for the "monster."
"I'm going to gather some men and go to that cave. Hopefully that poor man is still alive."
"You two are in trouble again," Sara said mumbled to them, "You tell me everything when I ask you what happened.'"
The Elder looked at the two boys and nodded and then quickly walked out the door.
Love was just walking up to the cabin as he exited.
"Love," the Elder said.
"How are they doing," She asked.
"They are fine. Right now, I need you to go and find Simon and bring him back to the village," he said slightly anxiously, "he's on his way home."
"What's wrong?" she said.
"I'll tell you later just go. And hurry as fast as you can." After sending her on her way, he headed back to the central part of the village.
Love rushed to catch up with Simon. She wondered what the hurry was and why the Elder wanted Simon? "It must have something to do with his eyes," she thought shivering at the thought. She was in excellent shape and found him before he was a quater of the way down the road to his home. She saw him in the distance and ran faster to catch up with him.
"Simon!" She called weakly and a little intimidated. She didn't know why.
Simon turned around suprised to see her. "What does she want?" He thought. He remembered his eyes and he fought to keep them from turning black infront of her." Just one conversation without her running away," he thought.
"What?" He answered as she came up to him.
As she drew nearer to him she was struck by his eyes. She looked intently, they were soft and light green and sparkled in the sunlight, with darker green ring surrounded the light green. "They're emeralds," Love thought to herself as she came closer.
"Yes?" Simon asked again.
Love came back to herself. "The Elder wants you now. It's important," She said stepping aside.
Simon's green eyes turned black as he immediatly hastened back to the village. Love watched him in wonder. That was the first time she had ever seen his eyes unblackened or not turning to black. She started back to the village and slowly walked with the two emeralds stuck in her mind. She looked at the beautful green trees that surrounded her and the lush green grass that she loved and spent so many hours a day in just resting in the fields. She couldn't believe that his eyes were so pretty underneath the dark emotionless eyes that she had always seen. To her, Simon's black eyes were ghost like and cold. Now his eyes confused her. She walked on just pondering mostly about clear green. The Elder came to her mind and what he ment. "His black eyes were hiding those eyes all this time," she thought, "Then why does he have those black eyes?" Then she began to think about how she never really knew him in the first place. For seven years she lived in this village and had never said more than a few words to him at a time and never as a companion or a friend or anything. Then she thought about Salte's pure blue eyes and how striking they were, one reason she never cared to get to know Simon was because Salte was closer. "Hubba, hubba," she thought. When she arrived she saw the Elder and walked over to him.
"His eyes are green," She said to him.
"Yes," The Elder said lifting his eye brow giving her a "you silly girl" look, "It runs in his family."
"I know," she replied, "but I never saw Simon's green eyes. I always saw his father's, but they are not as pretty as Simon's."
"He has very striking eyes," The Elder said.
The Elder looked at Love with a half smile. "They went to find the young man that saved Ceyes and Land," The Elder said to change the subject not that he wasn't happy with her observation, but he wanted her to know about the more pressing matters she had inquired about.
"What?" She said.
"They didn't save themselves," He answered shaking his head, "It should have been obvious to us, but we were caught up with the children themselves. It turns out that a man killed the wolves and then colapsed near a the cave in the rocks. The two boys left him there because they thought he was a monster."
"Why did you want me to get Simon?" She asked.
"Because he's good at finding things," The Elder said.
Love was puzzled, but she nodded her head. "It must have something to do with his black eyes," she thought again to herself.
"I'll wait here for the men," Love said sitting on a nearby stump.
The Elder raised his eye brow and looked down at her from the edge of his eyes. "Are you worried they won't make it back?" he asked.
Love nodded slightly. "A little," she said looking back at the Elder out of the corner of her eyes.
"Okay," The Elder said giving her another "you silly girl" look, "I'm going to check on Ceyes and Land again. Come and get us when they return." Love nodded and waited impatiently for the men.
The men finally returned as the sun was falling behind the east mountain peaks letting the cool air of the mountains fall into the vally. As soon as Love spotted them she rushed to Sara and Salte's house, and came back with the Elder and Sara and the boys. The towns folk gathered to see the man that had saved the two boys.
"I want us to treat him," Sara said to the Elder. The Elder looked at Sara sternly.
"Are you sure?" The Elder replied.
"It's the least I can do for him," She said.
"Very well," The Elder said, "I have plenty of room for him to stay at my house."
The four men entered the village and Simon carried Silas to the Elder's house. Ceyes and Land watched in shame as the men passed the two boys with the dying man. The Elder gave them a quick look and followed Simon into the house.
"Why are you bringing him in here," one of the village men said following him in. They had a cabin specifically for treating ill people. It was located at the edge of the west side of the village. They would take injured and ill there if they were serious and treat them. Villagers would take turns, but the Southlanders never treated anyone outside of their tribes. Northland villagers had to rely on their own abilities and fate.
"We can treat this illness at my house, we don't need any help," The Elder said.
The villager looked at the Elder belwildered, but conceded to the Elder's reply. "You men are free to go back to your buisness," he said, "Sara and I will take care of this man. Sara, please go get a wet clothe." She nodded and left to go get the washcloth, and they took Silas up stairs to a vacant room and laid him in the bed.
The three villagers and Simon walked out to go back to their homes, but Love stayed to see what the Elder and Sara were going to do.
"He's been in the south for well over a week," The Elder said as he ran his hand along Silas's arms and head, "I can feel the poison of the land all over him."
"He's been eating that awful meat from those deseased animals," Sara said as she came in the room with a wash clothe. She placed it on his head.
"He's still alive, but he's barely breathing. He's exhausted," The Elder said listening to Silas's chest, "I'm sure we can heal him though."
"I would like to take him back to my cabin if I can. That way I can keep an eye on him," Sara said. She removed the clothe and placed one hand on Silas's forehead and one hand on his chest and closed her eyes to concetrate. Love moved to see what she was doing to him. After a few minutes she opened her eyes, "There, his body is being purified. It will still take us four or five days to purge the poison and help him recover from the exhuastion."
"I will help him recover," the Elder said, "I don't mind keeping an eye on him. I want to speak with him when he recovers. We will take turns aiding him during the four days. He should be alright for tonight though."
Love looked with sympathy on the man who had gone to the forbidden land against the Elder's warnings. When he left with his two companions to finish their task, she noticed how Silas looked some what sad and lost, and he was very quiet compaired to the other two men. After assuring themselves he would be alright, the Elder and Sara left him to rest. Love walked outside to find Simon, but the Elder stopped her.
"Love, would you mind going to retreve two of your sisters. Tell your mother that I need some care takers," He asked.
"Yes sir," Love said and left immediatly to her home.
The Elder turned and looked toward the South Land Pass slightly lit up by one of their two moons, and thought about what to make of it all.