Page 41 of Aofie's Quest
Chapter Thirty-Six
Mist hung heavyin the air as we walked, shutting out the rising red mountains and the murky greenness of the wood we’d seen from afar.Days we’d walked, leaving the river behind and venturing into land that appeared barren. Romulus sought to evade notice and shared that the route he’d chosen bypassed nearby villages that dared dwell close to the shadow of the elven haven.
I was grateful to be alone, and with each step I regained my strength, the headaches lessened, and the tightness of my skin eased away. The scars on my wrists flared red and the skin was raised in ugly welts. Aside from those welts, I only had the memory of what Jezebel had done to me. I pushed it away, for when I thought too hard, my fingers shook and trembled, and I was reminded, once again, that I no longer wanted to be Aofie, savior of the people.
“The Shrouded Gate lies before us,” Romulus warned one morning, a hand going to his sword hilt before dropping away. “Be on your guard against waifs.”
I glanced at Takari, who frowned, her grip tightening on the staff she carried. She’d taken one look at my spear and decided she wanted a staff for herself. A dead branch had served as one and during the evenings, Romulus whittled it down into a proper staff, smooth and easy to carry. “Druantia guide us,” she muttered.
“I’ve walked through unharmed many times,” Romulus replied. “Once we reach the other side, they will give us passage.”
I frowned at the idea of yet another terror. “What do you mean by waifs?”
Romulus glanced at me. As he did, my skin tingled with that new feeling, something sharp and pure, something I did not know how to explain. “After the angel of death won the war against the kingdom of men, the alliance that was built of elves, nymphs, and humans became divided and scattered across Labraid. The elves used their magic to call up the mists to hide them from the demons. We call the mists the Shrouded Gate. The souls of the dead reside in it, frightening off those who pass through. Their voices will beckon you to the edge and call you to join them on the other side. Weapons are useless against them. You must keep your feet and your wisdom. The elves alone are immune to such magic and come and go as they please, for theirs is one of the only true havens left in Labraid, however it is not easy to gain access to, nor easy to leave.”
My mind went to those who fled from the angel of death. Had the elves helped by cutting themselves off or brought harm to those too weak to face the mists? “Why did they call up the mists? Surely there are other ways to create a secure haven?”
A shadow passed over Romulus’s face. “It is because of magic. When the true intent of the angel of death became clear, and the lesser demons began to appear, the elves decided to protect not only their people, but magic relics from being stolen or destroyed by demons. The Shrouded Gate ensures the magic is kept safe and those who would seek to make an alliance with the elves must first show their strength and commitment by facing the shroud. Those who fall are weak.”
Discomfort passed over me and my thoughts flickered to the red sword. It was a magical weapon, protected by the elves. Yet the way Takari had spoken of it made it seem dark and evil. Wasn’t it better that it be destroyed? Unease crept around me, and I looked to Romulus for comfort. Surely the gate wasn’t as dangerous as he made it sound.
“You’ve been through the gate many times?”
“Many,” Romulus confirmed.
I glanced at Takari. She shook her head, her black ringlets dancing over her forehead. “I have known elves but I have not come here.” A sadness came over her face. “The elven haven serves as a last resort, for they are powerful and aware of what could happen if they fight the angel of death. The last of the all-powerful people of Labraid would be wiped out, leaving only the gods and goddesses. Those who remember the old ways recall how the gods assist in times of war in the most unexpected ways.”
“Do you believe the gods and goddesses will assist us now?” I asked, desperate for a positive answer to my question. After my encounter with Jezebel, doubts rose within me, and I was unsure whether they were really there to hear my cries and come to rescue Labraid in its time of need.
Takari shrugged. “I believe the gods and goddesses prefer to listen, loath to interfere because they gave us free choice and allow us to learn from our mistakes. Although, many believe Labraid is too far gone for salvation, especially because demons rise forth to ravage the world.”
Romulus’s bitter laugh broke through Takari’s words. “Labraid is godless.”
Takari crossed her arms over her chest. “I believe what I believe because of what I have seen. You have walked the hills and valleys of Labraid, as I have, and you’ve seen much more than I have, and yet you still hold to the old ways.”
“We all do.” Romulus nodded. “Even when it is difficult to believe. Many have unique gifting and the power of magic, and yet, many do not. Still, the gods and goddesses watch over us and see all. In their eyes they see futures far beyond what our small minds could imagine. So, when we suffer, we call on their names and rail against them, and when times are good, we thank them for their blessings. But that is not all there is to life. The gods and goddesses know this, because their immortal eyes are open to see beyond what we can imagine. Picture, for a moment, the entirety of Labraid. Each action causes a reaction across the land. The people of Labraid trade with each other because it is mutually beneficial, unaware that a little goes a long way. Take a farmer, for example. He toils under a relentless sun. Little does he know the sweat of his back goes to feed the warriors who keep his family safe. He does not see the result of his actions and perhaps does not know how vast the ripples are. All he knows is the heat, the sweat, the discomfort, and his weary body. On the other hand, the warriors do not see the crop flourish, or understand the farmer’s pride when he receives a good price in the market, or his wife and children, content to have a roof over their heads and plenty of food in their bellies. In a similar way, we are like the farmer compared to the gods. We toil and till in this life, unaware of the reaction that our actions have, unknowing where we might cause pain or pleasure, save a life or steal one. To speak out against the gods is blasphemy because we only see in part what is around us, while they see in full, including past, present, and future. If only we could see the future, then we could catch up to the gods and understand as they do, realize as they realize, that life is more, much more than what surrounds us and our day-to-day experiences.”
Romulus’s words gave me pause. I hadn’t considered the knowledge of the gods in that way before, but questions still held me back. I believed in the gods, in the old ways, and yet they hadn’t come to help me in my time of need. Why? I pressed my lips together as my thoughts twisted together. I’d need to seek out my father to discover the answer.
Takari frowned. “Are you saying regardless of what happens we must put our faith in the gods?”
“We must trust that they have a plan,” Romulus said.
“What about goddesses like Jezebel?” The question burst out of me. “She is evil. Trusting in her would lead others astray.”
“Good point,” Takari agreed.
Romulus looked at me, but his expression was impossible to read. “There are false gods. You will have to trust your heart not to lead you astray. Don’t forget, the gods and goddesses war against each other, the fallen angels and the demons. Even though they have power, sometimes it is not possible for them to assist.”
“How do you know all this?” I challenged.
Romulus’s eyes slid away as he pointed to what was ahead. “I have learned much during my travels. Now stay close.”
I followed his gaze and swallowed hard. An ocean of gray mist rose in front of us. It reached as high as the heavens and stretched to the left and right as far as my eyes could see. Panic fluttered against my breastbone as Romulus strode toward the mist. What looked like fingers reached out, a white hand determined to swallow him up. Gods help us, we had to go in there? But on the other side was a promise of safety.
Even though Romulus said weapons were useless, I squeezed the spear as I stepped into the gloom. A dull coolness settled around me and the air smelled ancient, raw. A distant wailing made my blood run cold. Romulus was nothing but a vague shape hovering in front of me. The mist pressed against me like walls and when I put out my hand to push back, invisible fingers ran up my throat, blocking out the air. A wail of panic rose within me but I put one foot in front of the other, keeping my eyes on Romulus, hoping the Shrouded Gate would deem me worthy and let me pass.
Behind me, Takari muttered prayers to the goddess of the trees and then her voice rose to a shrill cry. “Get away from me! Mother save my spirit, she cannot be alive!”
