Page 127 of The Lands Defying
“But what about my family?” she says, looking around her.
“You can all come with me, however we get there.” Her eyes go wide in alarm and she looks above me. A warmth hits the back of my neck and I look up into a chest of fur as the wolf stands behind me, his legs on either side of me as his head swivels left and right. “Don’t be afraid, he’s a softy,” I tell the woman andhe huffs, nudging my head with his before continuing to look around.
“I... I have never seen a wolf so large before,” she says quietly, almost like she doesn’t want to spook him as her other hand grips mine.
“He is no normal wolf, but he also needs to go back to where he belongs.” She gives me a questioning look, but I press on. “Do you want to come with me to Eridian? If the Elites are still there, you will be safe, and they could also take you to a place in Colhelm where they have been taking others to safety.”
“Colhelm?” she asks, and I nod. “But we are in Colhelm.”
We are in Colhelm? “I don’t know where the place is, I don’t think anyone does except Darius and his inner circle. Have you seen anything in Colhelm? A place where maybe too many Elites are?”
“No,” she whispers, “I haven’t seen anything like that at all.”
Dammit. I thought maybe if she knew, we could go there, and they will take me to Darius. “If you come with me to Eridian, they will take you there. Your family and the whole village.”
“And what of the Highers? They said no one should leave their homes and to just continue with their jobs. We have guards coming to the village weekly to make sure we are doing what we are told.”
Their sins are getting worse and worse. “The Highers won’t know, or at least, it will be too late when they do.”
She looks around and bites her lip, her face unsure of her decision. Then what could possibly be the worst sound we could ever hear hits our ears, and we both lock eyes. Fear sinks into me as more and more join in on the howls.
“You need to decide now!” I say in a panic as I rise to my feet and drag her up with me as best as I can. The wolf growls low, a snarl on his lips. “Hurry!” I tell her, trying to keep my voice low.
“We will go, I need to get my family.” She turns and starts running around the house with me following behind her.
“Please tell me you know where that bastard’s port stone is?” Port stones are not cheap to come by for a village like this, so I don’t imagine she has one.
“Elrick always kept it in his home, but I don’t know where.” She points to a house, by far the largest one and I grab her hand to halt her.
“Did everyone in the village see the posters of the Highers deeds? Do they pray to the Gods?” I ask her, my head turning to the sound of doors opening. Panicked voices soon follow as the people of the village come out of their homes at the sounds of screeching howls.
“None pray to the Highers, even when Elrick beat us to do so, this is one thing we have refused.”
I nod and look at twenty or so onlookers who have stopped in their tracks when they see me, all panicked from the sound of those howls.
The wolf stays close to me, ears twitching.
“Gather everyone to come inside Elrick’s home, I’ll find the port stone and then we will get out of here.” Another howl, this one louder. They are getting closer. “But we have to fucking hurry before they get here.”
“What if you can’t find it?” she asks, her body shaking in fear.
“I will, we have to.”
Otherwise, we will all be rogure food.
“Now, go.” She runs off toward the other villagers, and I rush to the house Mivera pointed out.
I slip in the soggy mud, ignoring the protest in my body at just wanting to lay down and rest. Runa whines inside of me, knowing I’m pushing myself too much, but this isn’t a rare occurrence for me or my body. I just need to hold out untilwe are all safe. I won’t leave these people to be torn apart by rogures.
“Don’t let any rogures near here,” I tell the wolf as I rush up the steps and pull open the door. I hear a small growl in answer, but I look around the spacious living area and start with the drawers of a nearby desk, looking for the port stone.
The sound of the rogure’s howls is a haunting song in the background as I rummage through every drawer and piles of trinkets around the room. With no luck here, I rush to the room next to it. It looks like some sort of storage space, but I look through the crates and inside of a moldy box of apples anyway.
Nothing.
The kitchen is next, while I’m rummaging through cupboards I hear the front door opening, followed by plenty of footsteps.
I don’t ask them to help me, they could panic and could just port themselves out of here leaving us to fend for ourselves. I wouldn’t blame them; they are protecting themselves and their family. But I can’t risk it.
