| |
ISRI APPEARED INSIDE her own bedroom. She had no idea where these strange spells were coming to her from. Perhaps a spirit within the staff was trying to help her. It was of no concern to her now. She had to find her mother to make sure the next part of the plan went into action. She raced down the hall to her mother’s study. By the position of the sun she knew that she would be there meditating. She would not have time for lengthy explanations. She threw open her the study door. Aesurnu was startled by the door flying open to reveal her eldest daughter standing before her half-dead and leaning on the mystical staff Shultash.
“Isri, what is the meaning of this? Why are you here in this realm with Shultash? What have you done?”
“Mother, I have no time for questions. I need you to listen to me carefully. Several people will be teleporting here in the next few minutes. Lye-Ashe will lead two immortals here named Harmonia and Athine. You must tell them that I went to Ialo. I need you to do this mother, to keep everyone here safe.”
“Have you gone mad? You have stolen Shultash and bring it here with Lye-Ashe, our great protector, right behind you? Do you wish to damn us child?”
“No, mother, I am going to free us. This is all I can tell you. If I fail, we will never be free. Please, promise me you will cooperate and send the immortals to Ialo.”
“Very well child. I will do as you ask, but only because I have to trust you know what you are doing.”
Isri embraced her mother and ran out of the study. On the way through the grand gardens she ran into Est’it. She looked horrible, but she had no time to worry about that. She had already won his heart and if she played her cards right she would come back to him someday. She tried to run past him, but he caught her. He was horrified at the condition she was in. Her clothes were tattered and dirty. Her skin was pale and scratched.
“My love, why are you here with that staff? I know you had a plan, but I did not think angering the goddess that protects your town by stealing her prized staff was what you had in mind.”
“Est’it, I have so much to explain to you, but I cannot at this moment. Lye-Ashe is coming with other powerful immortals. I have to lead them away from here because if I fail I do not want them to annihilate the village. Please do not further delay my escape. I need to get to Ialo as soon as I can.”
“I will do anything to protect you and help you in your quest. Take Oranunen, my horse. He is fast and knows the way to Ialo. He can get you there promptly.”
Est’it pointed to Oranunen and then grabbed Isri around the waist. He looked deeply into her eyes as if this were the last time he would see her alive. He kissed her with all the passion he had felt for her the moment he saw her. A moment had not passed that he did not think of her or worry about her. He knew that if she survived the plan that she would be back but letting her go alone was hard. Isri pulled away and ran to Oranunen with one final look at Est’it disappearing into the afternoon sun. She had to get to Ialo to try to heal at the cavern before she faced any of the immortals.
As predicted, Lye-Ashe appeared before Aesurnu in her study followed by Harmonia and Athine.
“Lye-Ashe. I know not what goes on here, but Isri told me that you were coming and to tell you to meet her in Ialo.” Aesurnu offered part in fear and part in defiance. If her daughter had taken Shultash it must have been for a good reason. The evil look on Lye-Ashe’s face seemed to confirm the fear in Isri’s eyes when she came to her mother.
“You were always a very smart Raelisuir Aesurnu. I will take that into account when I am dealing with your daughter. Don’t worry; I won’t do anything to your precious Cerynian since you have decided to help me instead of hinder me.”