17

Present Time

It was before dawn as Rebecca and Turgoth walked out into the garden. Rebecca could feel the circulation returning to her legs as she was finally able to move freely. Towering above her and watching her every move was the Sphinx Calphie.

Stopping by a bed of scented, delicate roses, she passed her hand over the blooms, enjoying the sensation of the petals against her palm.

“Look,” she said to Turgoth, “how soft these tender and pliable flowers are, yet they are able to pierce the hard ground like nails when they need to survive.”

Turgoth’s lips were set into a hard line, yet his eyes were still soft as he listened to her. How warm, expressive and familiar his eyes seemed to her. It felt like they emitted a strange radiance that penetrated and explored her. She felt that he was reading her mind and knew what she was going to say even before she did. It was like having a spy inside her head, browsing through her mind page by page.

But at the same time, she felt that she had been reading his thoughts, too. She had the impression that they could sit silently opposite each other, just looking into each other’s eyes, and be able to conduct a complete and meaningful conversation without either of them having to open their mouths. It was a strange game of spiritual communication which, she had to admit, she was finding enjoyable as well as frightening.

“Rebecca, you are a unique person,” Turgoth said after a few moments of silence, “which is why what I say now is hard. We have three options. The first is that you stay and help us seize the Flame, then we join together to help fight evil on Earth.”

Rebecca looked at him and her eyes said it all. Turgoth nodded and went on.

“I thought as much, but you do see - I had to ask? Second: Will you at least stay uninvolved? Go back to Earth. Choose not to become an Orizon. If you promise that you won’t take the Flame, I’ll let you go free right now.”

Rebecca shook her head. She stopped walking and looked directly at him. He seemed to have aged from the strain of his situation.

“Although I struggled with the decision to take the Flame right up until last night,” she said, “my mind has been made up since then. I cannot betray my people, nor myself.”

Turgoth looked away and his eyes turned inwards.

“Then you leave me no choice,” he said, his voice cracking. “Alas, you must die!”

“You must do as you see fit. Even though I have not lived long, I can accept death. If you choose to take my life now, here amongst the flowers, you would honour the respect you have shown to me.”

The pain she could see in his eyes seemed to be burning them red. He turned away in a vain attempt to hide his feelings and took her arm, gently steering her back inside, away from Calphie’s stare.

In a corner of the room, Rebecca’s sword still leant against the wall where the Sharkans had left it. Saying nothing, Turgoth left her in the room without turning the key in the door. She stared at her sword. This was surely the chance he had promised her. She sighed and returned to the sofa.