The Ever War: Chapter 2.7

A Shade stood at the head of a battalion. A Waith came up to him. "Sir, why must we have to put up with...her?"

The Shade glared at the grunt. "Because it is the will of Lady Lilith." At the mention of her name, the Waith drew back. Echo stood ten feet away, alone. The rest of the soldiers feared her. She was the Handmaiden of the Generals. She carried out their will without question.

The Waith bowed and fled. Echo approached the Shade. "There's a village not far from here."

"And you're sure that this is the village?" The Shade asked. Echo looked at him with cold eyes.

"Mistriss Lilith taught me to read the Signs. There is no doubt; this is the village." The Shade turned to order his troops. "But remember, he is not the priority. It is the two who are on their way here that are the main targets."

The Shade turned back to her. "They are your targets..." A blade held to his throat silenced him. Echo crept close until she was an inch from his face.

"It is the will of the Generals that those two be stopped, and you will not stand in the way." She removed her blade. The Shade nodded, shaken that she could move so swift.
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Sarah stopped and rested on a log. "How much farther?" Josh looked at the map.

"About three more hours. I wonder who we'll find." Josh answered. Sarah raised an eyebrow.

"You mean, we don't even know who it is we are getting?" She asked. Josh shrugged.

"All I know is where to go, and now we know how to get there. As for who we are getting to...I have no idea." Josh said. A glance at the sky revealed it to be around noon. His original thought that the forest resembled Earth had been wrong. The trees grew tall, and many were centuries old, their massive trunks rising into the sky. "Be wary. Darkness lurks about." Josh stiffened. Now that it was brought to his attention, he wondered why he hadn't noticed it earlier. Solaris was in his hand in seconds. Sarah stood in alarm. He looked at her and nodded. Their wings quickly spread out behind them in case they needed to fly.

Sarah's wings were interesting. As the Sage, she could manipulate time, hence the sun and moon. As a result, her right wing shone with a golden light, while her left shone like silver. Her hands glowed with magic. Together, the two of them carefully made their way forward. Josh frowned. Smoke? Sarah shifted uneasily beside him. They ran in the direction of the smell and froze at the edge of the forest. Smoke rose in the distance, a few figures could be seen running about. A shadow towered over them, and they both whirled around only to freeze again. A giant stood before them, or at least, he appeared to be a giant. He stood over them, inspecting them, before kneeling down to their height. He said something, speaking in a deep and slow voice.

Josh frowned. The giant spoke again, and this time, Josh understood it better. "Are you the Wanderer?" he asked. Despite his great size, his movements were quick and precise. Josh's eyes widened at his face. A Mark. The Mark of the Warrior. Two wings spread out around a double headed axe, their tips spiraling down the sides of his face.

"The Warrior." Josh said. He gave a salute. (The Vi'gero were a people of honor. Those who held special titles would receive a special salute in greeting: a closed fist to the heart.) The Warrior returned the gesture. Josh nodded at the burning village. "What happened here?"

"We were attacked." The Warrior answered. "I apologize, I have not introduced myself. I am Thoden, son of Thaden. This was my village before we were attacked by a Shade. A Shade and an assassin."

"Assassin..." Sarah murmured. "Was it a woman?" Thoden nodded. Sarah bowed her head. "She is after me." Josh frowned.

"What?!" He exclaimed. "Josh, assassin!" He whirled about, Solaris flinging the throwing knife away. She emerged from the brush, her eyes shining with malice.

"You are much stronger than your predecessors, but you are still no match for me." She drew her blade. With hate burning in her eyes, she inspected her prey, ready to slit his throat.