Uittan did not bother to explain. He began to walk away.
“You shouldn’t have allowed her to leave. Do you know what lives in those woods?”
Uittan stopped.
“God has found her to be capable enough,” the prophet replied.
“Those giant men eat humans. Do you understand what you have done? My daughter is going to face those animals alone.”
“Those giants are human. They are worthy of our Savior’s salvation as well. He died for all of us, Edandir. You know that.”
“I just can’t believe you sent her
. She is a warrior, yes, but she does not have the maturity to carry out something like this by herself
,” the general said.
Uittan rested his hand on Edandir’s shoulder.
“The Lord sent her, General. Talya has many things to work out in her heart, and this journey is more beneficial for her than you could ever imagine. She is young, but she is also courageous and smart.”
“I have to send someone after her. I can’t allow this.”
“I can’t stop you from making that mistake, but I
highly
suggest that you do not interfere.”
“I am the leader over this entire army, Uittan! If I know that one of my knights – my daughter – is in danger, I will send help.”
“Of course you can. Just remember that this is God’s plan for Talya. Do you want to be the one that interferes? Trust me, you will regret it if you do. And so will she.”
“I am her father.”
“Maybe it is time for you to trust in God, rather than in yourself.”
The prophet left.
Edandir stared after him. He couldn’t argue with God. And the prophet was right. Being a military general, it was more difficult for him at times to lay down his pride and let God take care of things. He should be trusting God to see her through. Still, his faith only went so far. The thought of his only child wandering through the desert, let alone that cursed forest, nearly drove him mad.
He thought back to two years ago. He had done everything he could to discourage Talya’s interest in the army, and it had driven her to Cardamon. He just wanted her to be safe. He did not want to lose Talya, like he had lost her beautiful mother – the only woman that he would ever really love.
Now, his daughter was on a mission to one of the most dangerous forests in the area, and there was nothing that he could do for her. Talya had made the decision to go, and Uittan seemed to believe that she was doing a God-ordained task. Surely He would protect her. Besides, she was one of the bravest and most capable people that
Edandir
had ever known.
Talya truly is a replica of her mother
.
Edandir let out a whoosh of air.
At least s
he would be spared from the battle
now
. Maybe he should be thankful that she would be far away from the Malinorians and their wicked magic.
Chapter Ten
The morning sun was already pounding down on Talya’s back. Her throat was parched, and she had already gone through three out of the four canteens in her bag. She had to somehow save the rest of her water for the sweltering afternoon that would soon come.
Talya had heard of the arid, barren wilderness, but she never imagined that it would be this hot and dry. She had already seen countless mirages. Surely she would pass by a real stream soon.
At last, she gave in to her thirst and guzzled down half of the last canteen. She needed so much more.
After another hour, another blurry image came into view on the horizon. It looked like several tents. Talya shook her head and wondered what she would see next. Why hadn’t the prophet warned her to take more water? She had already perspired more than she had drunk just a short time ago.
As Talya approached the cloth dwellings, she noticed several desert people were moving about. Some were tending to their goats and pigs, while others were pumping water from wells. They looked real. It all had to be real.
Stars filled Talya’s vision as she approached a woman who was filling a wooden pail with fresh water. Talya wondered if they even spoke the same language. The lady narrowed her eyes suspiciously and set her bucket down.
Talya sat on the well and closed her eyes for a moment, willing the dizzy spell to end.
“I apologize for trespassing,” said Talya, “but I was hoping to refill my canteens. I am journeying to Hunter Forest.”
“Hunter Forest? Are you mad?” the woman spat.
“It’s a special mission,” said Talya, feeling foolish.
“Well, what are you waiting for? Get your water, girl, and do it quick. We don’t like strangers lingering too long.”
“I understand.”
The woman huffed and left Talya alone
to get her own water
.
Talya sat down
again,
hoping
that
her lightheadedness would subside once she drank enough. She swallowed down
what was left in the last canteen
and then refilled all four of
the containers
.
Hopefully it will last me until I reach the next water source.
Talya had already attracted enough attention. Groups of small children watched her with wide eyes while their mothers glared. A few of the men stood there gawking at her.
Talya cringed inwardly
,
walking quickly through the village.
She was about to sigh with relief when she saw a shocking sight ahead. A man was beating
a fallen animal
with a whip. It was a black horse lying on its side in the sand, submitting to its cruel master.
Enraged, Talya ran over to them.
“What are you doing?” she shouted.
The man turned and squinted at Talya. He appeared to be in his mid-forties with long, scraggly black hair and a thick scar on his cheek. He ceased whipping the animal for a moment. His hooded eyes roved slowly over Talya.
“She refused to move,” he said. “Ten times more stubborn than a mule she is, and I was told these blasted Pegasus horses bred in Malinor were of top quality. I didn’t go to all the work of stealing this thing to put up with disobedience. I taught her real good, I did.”
Talya had no idea how he’d gotten his filthy hands on such a rare animal, but she knew that the man did not deserve to be the owner of any living thing.
“You were going to beat her to death weren’t you?”
“What’s it to you, pretty lady?”
“I’m not going to turn a blind eye to abuse.”
“My, oh, my.
Beautiful and passionate.
I don’t think I’ve ever met
one
like you before. Why don’t you come and stay with Mog for a while?
Then I may consider letting the mare free.
”
Talya wished that she had brought her sword. She wanted to slit his throat where he stood.
Stay composed.
Remember what Uittan said.
Talya folded her arms across her chest.
“I’m going to Hunter Forest,” she said.
“Is that a fact?” he chuckled as he reached to grab her arm.
She smacked his hand away and kicked him in the shin.
“Get away from me!” she yelled.
“A feisty one to be sure,” he grinned as he pulled out a knife. “Like a wild filly.”
Talya gritted her teeth and readied herself to kick the weapon out of his mangy hands. He looked strong
so s
he had to be quick.
“Come here, my fair-haired pet,” he cooed.
She waited for him to get close enough and then kicked his armed hand.
He yelled in pain as the dagger fell to the ground.
Talya dove for it and clenched it with both of her hands
, holding it in front of her
.
He backed away slowly.
“You crazy wench,” he said.
“Just get out of here!”
The uncouth man ran back into the small village. She knew that she would have to get moving soon, in case he came back with more people, but not before looking over the battered horse.
Talya crouched down and caressed the velvety soft muzzle of the abused Pegasus. Her eyes were closed. Her breathing was shallow. Deep lash marks ran from her neck down to her rump. Her legs had also been whipped.
“I’m so sorry,” Talya said.
She was a beautiful animal with an ebony coat, bell-shaped hair over her hooves, and sleek wings similar in design to those of a bat. The creature, if left, would slowly starve to death. It was best to put her out of her misery.
Talya gripped the dagger firmly in her hands, trying to work up the courage to end the poor beast’s life.
“Y
ou hesitate to kill a horse, but you willingly slay the lost.”
Talya glanced up at the sky as gooseflesh covered her body. God hadn’t whispered to her heart
like that
in years. Now He had. It was true that her
conscience
had grown cold for the men of Malinor. Unlike Tanel, Talya had fought for the power that she felt when she slew her enemies. Her friend killed only when it was needed.
Talya glanced down at the wounded horse.
“But she’s innocent, Lord,” said Talya quietly. “The men I kill burn villages and slay many righteous people – even innocent children. They deserve death.”
This time there was no answer.
Talya shut her eyes. She didn’t know if she could ever be rid of her blood lust for the evil. It was what she
had
lived for
so long
.
The mare snorted.
Talya jumped back at the startling sound. The horse’s dark eyes were wide open now. She rolled
onto her belly
and pawed at the ground with her front hooves.
Talya’s pulse quickened.
She
used all of her might to help the animal stand.
“Come on, you can do it!” cried Talya.
After several moments, the beautiful
mare
stood shakily on all fours.
Talya immediately grabbed the water from her bag and poured it over the mare’s wounds.
She removed her outer tunic – which was really much too heavy anyway – and began to tear strips from it, wrapping them around the mare’s largest leg wounds. She was amazingly tame considering the harsh treatment from that sweaty dolt.
The horse’s black, almost sheer wings spread. They had been, for the most part, spared from the brutal beating.
Thank God.
Then, the horse slowly dropped onto her knees.
Talya frowned.
“What are you doing?”
The horse whinnied. She had more strength in her than Talya would have thought. Talya had never ridden on a winged horse before. How well would a Pegasus obey commands?
Then again, anything bred and raised in Malinor would have to follow orders very well.
Pegasus horses were much smaller and most likely faster than
the
dragons
back home
. It would certainly solve the water issue – Talya would be at her destination by nightfall on a fast steed. They could both quench their parched throats in Hunter Forest.
Talya took the blanket from her sack and placed it on the mare’s back. She slowly got up onto the horse, being careful not to bump too many of her cuts and bruises.
The horse leaped gracefully into the air
as she spread
her wings
and
carried them high above the hot desert.
Talya closed her eyes. The fast ascent made her feel lightheaded again.
With a greater velocity than Sanctus’ swiftest firedrake, the horse flew toward the forest. Talya hung on to the mare’s strong neck until she got used to the feeling of flying so fast. Once she relaxed a little, she drifted into a fitful sleep as her new companion carried her toward the forest.
Talya dreamed of the boy again.
His childlike, sorrowful eyes from the previous dream had transformed into those of a soulless killer. He was now in his early teens. An angry red scar above his left eyebrow marred an otherwise flawless face.
He rode proudly on his ebony horse as he led thousands of men two, three, and four times his age into war. He was the only one not wearing a battle mask. He and his army collided with a sea of opposing warriors. With amazing stealth, the boy stabbed, sliced, and chopped his way through powerful opposing warriors. Talya wondered what battle it was. She could not recognize the other army’s armor.
The vision then transported Talya to after the war. The boy was beheading the hopelessly wounded of his own army. He was already becoming one of them.
As Talya watched him, she saw a wounded, angry youth forced into being something that he never would have dreamed. They had made him into something he did not want to become.
A tall, powerfully built warrior approached him. The cocky lad suddenly cowered in the man’s presence, appearing to be the young boy he truly was.