Chapter 5

Chapter 5

            The healing room smelled like boiled plants and mixed herbs. The coarse fabric of the cot bristled against Presti’s arms. The pain medication allowed her to forget about her leg and focus on the on-going argument with the old, stubborn healer. “I saw Elder Nolan transform. He looked like a beast!”

            “Presti, I told you not to move,” Otti said.

            “A grey beast with yellow eyes!” Presti repeated.

            “The Elders told me you lost plenty of blood and started to hallucinate. We have taken care of that. Your blood has been restored to you.” Otti placed a wet wrap around Presti’s leg.

            “This was not a hallucination. He turned into a beast. I had a clear mind. I saw it.”

            “Everyone who hallucinates thinks they are seeing something real. I don’t blame you for thinking it was real, but it was not.” Otti grabbed a jar from the shelf and stirred its contents with a white stick.

            “It was real!” Presti insisted.

            “Think about what you are saying. Elder Nolan transformed into a grey beast with yellow eyes. That is absurd. It is more likely that you lost too much blood and your brain lacked the oxygen to process your surroundings.” Otti’s big belly rumbled with a laugh.

             Feeling the wrap on her leg tightening, Presti signaled to Otti. He grumbled and set his jar back on the self. After wiping his hands on his apron, he hobbled over to check Presti’s cast. The wrap had hardened and turned a darker shade. Tapping the cast with his wrinkled hand, he appeared satisfied with the result.

            “You will be sore for a few days, but you will be able to perform the Purity Stone ritual on schedule.”

            “The ritual? The Elders aren’t replacing me with another priest?”

            “Nope.” Otti chuckled. He patted his belly.

            “What’s so funny?” Presti asked.

            Otti got so close to Presti that she felt his white curls brush against her face.

            “You’re somewhat of a celebrity now. You saved the village from the fire during that last ritual. If the Elders were to replace you, there might be some questions as to why. To keep this whole ordeal with Leviathan Path a secret, they need everything to remain the same. Don’t let those Elders fool you. They need you.” He whispered.

            Lifting Presti’s leg into a sling, Otti examined it further. There was a knock at the door. It startled Presti, but Otti acted as if he expected visitors. He went to the door, and welcomed four hooded Elders into the room. She couldn’t tell the Elders apart because the hoods concealed their identity. Before the door closed, another visitor entered. Presti shrieked and jostled the cot to the floor. With her leg caught in the sling, she had to wrestle it free. Once the sling broke loose, she pulled herself to a table. She upended the table, converting it to a shield.

            “I told you! He’s a beast!” She carefully raised her head above the table, hoping to see an escape.

            Standing before her was the same beast she encountered near Leviathan Path. Two elongated teeth protruded from the monster’s lower jawbone. Saliva seeped to the floor from its mouth while snot oozed from its large nostrils. Matted grey hair moved as the threatening beast took in mouthfuls of air.

            Unsure why the Elders remained calm; she looked for Otti, hoping he found cover. The old healer stood dumbfounded at the doorway, his hand still on the door handle. Presti waved him toward her, but he only raised an eyebrow.

            “Presti, what has gotten into you?” Otti asked.

            “Elder Nolan is a beast. I told you! Look at his yellow eyes!”

            “Presti, Elder Nolan is not a beast. Get out from behind that table! Your leg needs to be elevated for three hours.”

            “This is what I feared.” The beast’s thick, bloodcurdling voice filled the small room, followed by a deep growl.

            “She promised us she didn’t walk the path,” an Elder said.

            “Presti wouldn’t deceive us,” another Elder said.

            “She must have walked the path. Otherwise she wouldn’t see a falsehood!” The beast’s voice sounded vengeful and murderous.

            Filled with bravery, Presti rose from behind the table to defend herself.

            “I didn’t walk the path! I obey the Elders! I even told you about Oryan! He’s my friend and I told you about his plans! I could have kept that from you. How can I prove to you that I didn’t walk the path?”

            Otti, stubborn as ever, pulled Presti out from behind the table and forced her back onto the cot.

            “She could have unknowingly been exposed to something from the outer lands,” Otti said.

            “Nothing born from that world can enter our world,” one Elder said.

            “The mist! Some mist from the path came near me!” Presti hoped this would release her of any guilt.

            “Leave us!” The beast ordered the other Elders away.

            Presti hoped that one of the other Elders would be Elder Hester. For some reason, she thought he might be sympathetic to her predicament. The Elders left in a single-file-line, heads bowed. She couldn’t tell if Elder Hester was among them. Now that the Elders were ordered out, she didn’t know what this beast would do to her. Otti fussed with the broken sling. He kept a guarded eye on Elder Nolan.

            “Will you test her, Otti?” the beast asked with a growl.

            “I’ve done the test before, but it was on a dying man,” Otti replied.            “She didn’t enter the path. She told you. We don’t need to test her.”

            “Tell him about the voice!” the beast’s yellow eyes blazed.

            A tear escaped Presti’s eye. “Do the test!” Presti said as she grabbed Otti’s arm.

            “The test is painful, and I can’t guarantee you will survive it,” Otti said.

            “For some reason, the outer land is reaching out to Presti and I want to know why. Do the test!” the beast demanded.

            “I don’t want to be deceived.” Presti rested back against the cot and closed her eyes. “If this test will help me understand this day’s events, I am willing to risk whatever may happen.”

           

***

            Looking to his left and right, Oryan only saw a lack of cover. The trees were transparent, after all. If Esis was here, she would know what to do. Sorrow came into his heart. He hadn’t given himself the time to suffer the loss of her, even while he was carrying her dead body. Forcing himself to focus on his mission, he had blocked the pain. He missed her, especially her zeal and skill. His chest ached and his brow felt hot.

            “What have you done with her body?” Oryan charged toward Enhon, not sure how he would overcome him.

            “You can see her. Simply follow me.” Enhon started down the path again. “She’s breathing now.”

            Oryan halted his attack, his boots slamming against the sandy path. A never-felt-before hope gripped Oryan’s spirit. Too glorious to doubt, Oryan had to ask.

            “Did you say that she is breathing? She’s alive?”

            Enhon continued to walk the path as if the day’s events always contained such miracles. His stride continued its same pace, and he kept his back to Oryan when he replied.

            “Yes. She’s breathing and I think she wishes to stay in my realm now.  I wouldn’t try to convince her otherwise. She has more powers now. She’s not one to fight or argue with.”

            Oryan took three jubilant steps forward. He increased his speed to the point that he almost passed Enhon, until he came to an abrupt stop.

            “You would say anything to lure me farther along this path, you vile creature.” Oryan grabbed Enhon’s robe at the neck.

            “Oryan! Stop!” a female cried.

            It sounded like Esis. He tightened his grip and made sure that Enhon’s mystical eyes were locked on his.

            “If she is a phantom, I will kill you.”

            Oryan loosened his grip and turned his eyes toward the female running toward them. Her stride was too fast for any normal human. She wore a white dress, not the same dress Esis wore when he had carried her. Her features were the same. However, they glowed somehow. More radiant. Her countenance carried a deep concern for Enhon. Once she reached them, she scolded Oryan.

            “Oryan, I can take care of myself!” She said.

            “You died! That is not taking care of yourself!”

            “You think you know everything, but you don’t know anything!” She said.

            “I don’t know anything. I don’t know anything? I am on the path that leads to deception! I can’t be sure of anything. I won’t argue with you there!” Oryan turned toward his village and started walking.

            “Where are you going?” She asked.

            “Back home.”

            “No stay!”

            “I can’t remain here.”

            “It’s me! It’s Esis! I can prove it to you! Ask me something that Esis would only know.”

            “I can’t be sure of anything while I am here. The Elders were right. This path is evil. How can I believe that you are alive? That is crazy!”

            “Ask me something Esis would only know!”

            “Enhon could tamper with my perception. As long as I am on this path, I can’t be sure of anything! No test can reveal the truth when I am surrounded by deception.”

            “I’ll return to the village with you. Then I’ll show you! Then will you come back with me?”

            “Can she do that?” Oryan looked at Enhon.

            “Esis, he won’t believe until Presti believes,” Enhon said.

            Oryan burned with anger.

            “What does this have to do with Presti?” Oryan asked.

            “She’s the one who must destroy the stone. She’s the only one who can enter the Sanctum.” Enhon said.

            “She will never do that! She’s more faithful to the Elders than anyone. Tell him, Esis.”

            Esis returned to Enhon’s side.

            “You haven’t seen the things that I have seen. You don’t know what Enhon has shown me. Once Presti learns what I have learned, she will destroy the stone.”

            “Either you are not Esis, or you are Esis and you have been deceived. Presti would never do such a thing. Ever!” She’s the most faithful woman I have ever known.”

            “And loved.” Enhon said.

            Oryan shuddered. He didn’t like how Enhon pretended to know everything. Besides Oryan’s feelings didn’t matter. Presti gave a vow. She wasn’t able to love a man. She was to serve the Elders and the stone. Oryan had accepted Presti’s calling and therefore disregarded his feelings. His love was barely an ember now. Enhon needed to remain quiet or his love might burn again.

            “Presti is devoted to the stone. She would never betray the Elders! Enhon, you are the one who is deceived. You don’t know Presti. If you hope that she will destroy the stone, you are a fool!”

            “I don’t hope, Oryan. I know.” Enhon placed his arm around Esis, much like a father.

In return, Esis gave him a worried look.

            “He’s leaving you for now,” Esis said.

            “Good.”

            “You will feel his absence soon. So will I.”

Enhon walked the path, and a sadness fell on Oryan. He denied it, but it didn’t dissipate. The female lingered and waited for Oryan to turn away from her. When he finally made the decision not to follow Enhon, she spoke.

“I am coming with you! I will prove to you that I really am who I say I am!” the female said this with the same warrior spirit that Esis always carried.

            Wishing she’d stay with Enhon, Oryan walked a few paces in front of her. As they walked back to the village, they didn’t speak to one another, which made Oryan doubt this female was Esis. Oryan knew Esis had a crush on him. Whenever she was in his presence, she would talk incessantly because of nerves.

            This female appeared more elegant than Esis as well. Her white dress appeared to flow, even though there wasn’t any breeze. Oryan waited for this “Esis” to thwart his escape. Maybe she only followed him to spy on him or prevent him from leaving. However, he reached the path’s threshold with no trouble.

            “When you leave, it will not be easy for you,” the female said. “However, it will be made right in the end.”

            Oryan pretended not to be affected by her warning, but his chest felt heavy. He stepped onto the clearing with the female. He was met by numerous guards who immediately bound his hands and feet. Fearing the female would escape, he gave the guards forewarning.

“Arrest her! She is faster than any of you!” he yelled.

“You want us to arrest a dead girl? You think she can outrun us?” One guard said.

The guards laughed together, and pushed Oryan to the ground, fully bound.

All her luster had disappeared. Her lifeless body rested on the ground. Two Elders collected her body into a black bag and carried it away on a cart. Oryan fought against the guards, telling them about all that had transpired.

            “Deceived, no doubt.” One guard said as he placed a black hood over Oryan’s head.

            Oryan knew the lifeless body. It was Esis. He had no doubt.