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| The Chosen |
Part One
Doing this would earn a death sentence if he were to be caught, but Jericho had no choice. As he glanced down at the small village nestled in the valley below, he also saw the dark forbidding aspect of the forest beyond it.Chanting softly, he called to the residual power in the ground beneath his feet. The energy of the world filled him and flowed through him, strengthening him. Now he would have no need for food or drink over the course of the next moons.
The priests of the Hernal Temple had forbidden the practice of magic and any who broke the rule would be executed immediately. Jericho had yet to fathom why the priests had tried to cut off the people of Rael from their connection to the world they lived in. The energy was a living source, flowing through the planet itself. When it emerged at the surface, it rarely required more than a few spoken words to access its strength.
If he wanted to survive the trek through the dark mass of the forest spread out beneath him, he had to call on the Ilals to help him. Only the four elemental powers of Rael would sustain him through what awaited him below.
"I am not! Let me go!" A young man struggled against the grip of the larger, burly man who held to him. Jericho caught sight of his pale, frightened features and electric blue eyes before a hard jerk on the young man forced him to face the crowd. Jericho wasn’t sure what instinct caused him to pause, yet he did.
"What we have is a slave without an owner. Who will get to take him, Cersar?" Turning to face the priest emerging from the crowd, he addressed the question to him.
"We have need of a slave at the temple. Hernal will lay claim to the tyvel unless his owner can be found." Moving towards the slave, the priest smiled as his gaze roamed over the lithe form. Even covered in dirt and bruised, the young man was a pleasing sight.
"My Master is there. I‘m not tyvel." Frantically, he tried to gesture towards Jericho.
As the others turned to face him, the magician’s stoic features revealed nothing. His mind rapidly took in the situation the young man had placed him in. To disagree with what had been said would bring unwanted attention towards him. It would also result in severe punishment to the slave who lied.
Scowling, Jericho said, "I send you ahead to this place to secure food for us, and you mess even that up."
The one who had a hold of him let go as the young man struggled to reach Jericho. "Forgive me, Master, they think I am a tyvel. I tried to tell them."
When he reached Jericho, he leaned over slightly to rest his forehead against Jericho’s knee in a sign of complete obedience.
Bowing his head towards the others, Jericho smoothly apologized. "I had no idea sending my degdar here would cause problems. I apologize for the inconvenience."
"And who might you be?" The priest eyed him suspiciously.
"I am Jericho, the House of Hernal." Lifting his hand, he showed the black tattoo branded on the back of his hand. Though he hadn’t claimed the relationship in many years, it would serve well enough in this situation.
A gasp ran through the crowd, and the villagers stared at him in awe as the priest stepped forward. "Forgive us, my Lord, we had no idea that this boy belonged to the Iluland. Please join me at the temple. I will have a feast prepared for you."
Shaking his head, Jericho said, "I must be in Nenua by nightfall tomorrow."
Nodding in understanding, the priest said, "Then we will supply you for your journey before you continue."
A small gesture from the priest sent two of the people running for the temple. The crowd slowly dispersed as Jericho waited. Glancing down at the young head, he felt the press of a hand against his crotch. Aware of the significance of the gesture, Jericho couldn’t help the small smile curling his lips. The young man was pleading for complete forgiveness in the sign of supplication. When he raised his eyes to Jericho the same plea echoed in their depths. Jericho raised his hand, catching to the young slave’s chin. Silently he directed the power of his thoughts to him. "When we leave this village, you will tell me who you escaped and why."
Oddly, there seemed to be no fear in the slave’s eyes even though he had to know who and what Jericho was. The face upturned to him had a heart shaped form and a small widow‘s peak emphasized the shape. Though the slave was dirty, the quality beneath the dirt was apparent. The sweet lips smiled up at him, and the instinct that drove him to trust Jericho easily showed on his features.
Jericho had to hide his surprise at the sight of it. The blond was a true Iluland, and the one who had been meant for him. Bemused, Jericho stared into his eyes.
A volley of questions raced through Jericho’s mind. He realized this young man was his chosen, but none had come to him at his tarquel ritual. If his chosen had existed at the time of his ritual, he would have stepped forward for Jericho to claim him. Since it was now obvious he did exist, something must have forced him to stay away. Jericho tried to subdue the surge of hot anger rising in him, demanding an answer to the questions. Jericho’s mind rushed through his, taking his name and essence for himself.
"You were kept from me, Daren." His grip on the youth's chin tightened as his chosen nodded slowly to him.
Looking over at the priest, the sudden flash of anger lighting Jericho’s eyes caused the holy man to take a step back. "My Lord, is something wrong?"
Quickly, Jericho forced back the rage before it could consume him as he dropped his hand from Daren‘s face. "No, Cersar, I’m just anxious to be on my way."
With his words, the two who had been sent for supplies came hurrying up the street. One carried small bundles of wrapped food and the other a small sack of grain.
"Please accept these gifts as my apology for the misunderstanding with your servant, My Lord." After bowing to Jericho, he gestured the other two towards Jericho. "Give the supplies to Lord Jericho quickly then be on your way."
Both approached Daren and handed the bundles to him. Once Daren secured them in Jericho’s saddle bags, Jericho reached down, taking hold of Daren’s waist and drew him up in front of him. Looking towards the priest, Jericho said politely, "I thank you for your kindness, Cersar."
Abruptly, he urged Seie forward, leaving the town and its occupant behind them. His thoughts focused acutely on the body, leaning back so trustingly against his own. As he buried his face into the slender column of Daren’s throat, a deep breath drew in the sweet scent that beckoned to the deepest part of him. His chosen.
Part Two
A quiet whisper of sound rose in Daren’s throat as his head turned slightly towards Jericho.A soft growling rumble answered him as Jericho’s arm tightened around him. Daren hadn’t realized who Jericho was when he'd tried to escape from the villagers. He had been frantic to get away and had chosen the only option the moment he’d seen Jericho riding by. It hadn’t been until he’d heard the name that he knew.
Daren had been consecrated at birth after the Goddess had chose him to be the Iluland of the great Jericho. He’d known all of his life who he was and when the time came, he would search for his Lord. The search had taken longer than it should have, but finally he was where he needed to be; where he had been born to belong. That same tattoo on Jericho’s hand had been branded into his hip.
It required a great deal of Jericho’s concentration and effort to focus on guiding his horse. The next sound escaping him came out as a quiet groan, and it drew a smile from Daren. His hand flattened on Jericho‘s thigh in a comforting gesture. "I am here, my Lord. The Goddess will bind us soon."
The quiet whisper of his words and gentleness of touch silenced the almost overwhelming urge in Jericho. Signs of the power this one would hold over him were already strong. Even if he were to try to fight it, Jericho would lose.
Yet Jericho had to fight it. The predominant need in him had to protect the one chosen for him. It warred with the desire to claim what was his. Jericho couldn’t take Daren with him on his journey. Not into the depths of Irewin Forest.
The quiet of the peaceful countryside surrounded them as he gazed out over the plains of Dar. To the north was the city of Nenua, the place he had to take Daren. Golden therl flowers blanketed the grasses as far as the eye could see, and their heavy fragrance perfumed the air. In the distance, a herd of varat se grazed among the rich feeding grounds. Heaviness settled within Jericho as he directed Seie towards the city. His travel to the East would wait for a day until he had Daren safe.
As if the link that would bind them had already been forged, Daren turned his head to look at Jericho. "What is wrong, my Lord? I can feel your sadness."
"I must take you to Nenua, Daren. There you will be safe until I can return for you." Looking at him, Jericho saw the beautiful features twist into hurt. Raising his hand, he gently touched Daren’s cheek. "It’s not something I want to do; it’s something I have to do."
"You are rejecting me, Jericho." A world of pain existed within the words, and Daren struggled with it.
An abrupt pull on the horse stilled Seie and Jericho slid from the horse, pulling Daren with him. Teardrops stained Daren’s face as he reached up to brush the wetness away.
"No, I’m not rejecting you. I could never reject you."
Jericho felt the burning edges, demanding the fulfillment of the binding ritual. As his arms slid around Daren, he pulled him close. It seemed as if Daren fit him perfectly in every aspect. Jericho had never known this feeling of completeness to his own existence. He felt the words forming on his lips and the urge to say them hazed his mind. "I am the one. Come within me. My life and yours are one. You will reside in me and with me for all of our years. I will keep you safe and none shall ever harm you. You will never want nor need; I will provide all for you."
Everything around them seemed to take on a shimmering beauty as he saw through the eyes of his chosen. Willingly, Daren let him inside to draw on the sense of life only he could give Jericho. Through Daren, Jericho connected to the full power of the magic living within the planet. It rippled upward, running like lightning through Jericho as his lips softly touched Daren’s. The surge raised the hair at the back of the magician’s neck as it connected them. Jericho felt the cry of Daren’s soul as it sought its mate in him and the ephemeral high as it merged with him, then fell into silence.
Daren accepted Jericho’s claim on his life and his promises, instinctively trusting in the strength they would give each other. His arms encircled Jericho’s neck as his body sought the reassuring solidity that held its own message. With the harder nudge of Jericho’s hips, he felt the press of Jericho‘s cock and the strong stirring of desire as it rolled through his Lord. Daren knew he was the only one who could awaken such strength in Jericho. And through the kiss, he fed every ounce of his own emotions to Jericho, letting him taste and take as he pleased. The pain of the loneliness inside Daren that longed for his Lord every hour he searched for him faded to the wealth of feelings Jericho pulled from him.
In answer, Daren felt the slow drain, drawing heavily on the pent-up emotional turmoil assailing him. He tried to capture Jericho with everything that he could offer his Lord. Everything he would be to him. He knew he’d won when he heard the barely stifled groan escaping Jericho as he pulled his head back.
The very richness filling him made Jericho’s spirit demand more as he listened to the soft rhythm of Daren’s voice.
"I am the source; the place of your power and your strength. I am your refuge that keeps you as one with the world. As I take all you give, I return all to you." Staring into the dark, depthless eyes holding his gaze, Daren gave into their hold on him. "Don’t leave me, my Lord. Please don’t leave me alone. Take me with you wherever you go. It’s my place and I refuse to let go of you."
The battle was already lost before Jericho could say a word. Unable to deny his chosen, he could only give what Daren wanted. Slowly, he nodded. "We will stay the night here, but I enter Irewin alone."
Letting go of him, Jericho took his bed roll from the horse’s saddle and laid it out on the ground for Daren. From Jericho’s tone, Daren knew he’d won as far as his Lord would allow him. A smile wreathed Daren’s features and the fear faded from him because he knew he wouldn‘t be left in the far away city.
"When I was stopped from reaching you on your tarquel, I thought I would never find you again. I had made it all the way to the steps of the temple only to find the doors had been locked." Falling quiet, the dim echo of the disturbance in Daren’s thoughts told Jericho the anguish he’d suffered.
Daren had to draw a deep breath before he could continue. "Later one of the priests told me you had ordered the doors locked; to keep the unwanted from bothering you. At first I believed him."
"I didn’t have those doors locked, Daren. Very few knew the true time of my tarquel. Only you, my eldest brother, and I knew it was near my time of ascension." Jericho spoke as he unsaddled Seie. He knew Daren would have instinctively searched for him because he could never have ignored the force that possessed him. "I thought my chosen didn’t exist, I waited every night until I lost hope. Afterwards I left the temple and the House of Hernal."
Daren’s gaze never left Jericho while he gathered firewood and piled the sticks near a space clear of grass and brush. His fingers itched to touch the strand of black hair that kept straying over Jericho’s cheek as they worked together. The dark cloak hid the form beneath it, but Daren had already felt the strength of Jericho’s body. The gentleness of Jericho’s features contained an edge of the steel beneath, and the fullness of his lips hinted at the passion beneath the surface.
His gaze traveled slowly over Jericho’s face. The angular features had a rough beauty to them, and it held the eye. Jericho’s expression softened the sharper angles of his face with its gentle, quiet peace. Dark skin tanned by the sun spoke of an outdoor life Daren deeply wanted to share. In the depths of the dark eyes, Daren saw the longing and need already awakening in Jericho. And it was solely meant for him.
In exasperation, Jericho tucked back the strand of hair behind his ear and Daren almost chuckled. When he finished gathering the wood and started the fire, he slowly approached Jericho. Silently, he watched as Jericho finished combing over the horse. His hand lifted to press against Jericho’s back.
Jericho had an acute awareness of his chosen and he didn’t need the touch to know he was right behind him. Daren would be the strongest connection he would have to the world surrounding them and its power. But as yet it was an untested force. One he had no experience in controlling. Over time, he would gain it, but going into the danger he was, Jericho couldn’t chance destroying his one and only link.
Lifting his head, Jericho glanced in the direction of the Irewin Forest. Somewhere within the dense groves of trees, several days' journey away, was the demon he tracked and sought to destroy. It preyed on one of the villages not protected by the Hernal priests, and unlike the house of Hernal, Jericho couldn’t turn his back on them. They had begged for his help and he’d promised them the demon would trouble them no more.
That had been before his chosen had found him. As Daren’s arms slipped around his waist, the intimate press of Daren’s body to his back sent a surge of the overwhelming protective need rolling through Jericho. "I will protect you, Daren. My life is forfeit to yours."
As it had been through the ages for all of the House of Hernal, so it was to Jericho now.
Daren whispered softly near his ear, "My life would be given for you as well."
The soft words startled Jericho and make him turn around to face Daren. A heavy frown creased his brow. "No, Daren, that is not…"
Daren lifted his hand, silencing him with the simple touch of his fingertip to Jericho’s lips. "You are my Lord. I don’t care about tradition; I care about you."
Speechless, Jericho stared unwaveringly at him. The urge to argue with Daren over the idea was strong. Watching him, the stubborn jut of Daren’s jaw told Jericho it would do no good. Only the raw determination to keep his chosen from harm’s way would suffice. Leading him into the Irewin Forest didn’t qualify as keeping him safe, and Jericho struggled between his need for Daren’s safety and his chosen’s need to remain with him.
Sighing quietly he released Daren to grab one of the bundles of food they had been given earlier. His other hand took hold of Daren’s arm and drew him towards the bed he’d laid out. As he knelt down, Daren knelt with him. Handing him the food, Jericho quietly said, "Eat."
"Won’t you join me, Jericho?"
"My hunger was taken care of earlier." Shrugging slightly, he stretched out on his side to watch Daren.
Daren knew it was forbidden to go into the tainted forest and he wasn’t sure why Jericho was determined to. Opening the cloth, Daren slowly ate the handful of fruits. "Why are you going into the forest, Jericho?"
"For the people of Nar-Pel. The priests of Hernal have denied their petitions for aid against a Sarphal demon, and I am aiding them anyway."
Somehow it didn’t surprise Daren to learn his Lord would help where none other would. The Goddess had chosen wisely for him. Silently he sent a thankful prayer to her and a petition for Jericho’s safety.
Stretching out beside him, Daren curled as physically close to Jericho as he could. "I will never doubt the wisdom of the Goddess again."
Chuckling, Jericho’s arm slid under Daren, keeping him against him as he drew the other side of the bed roll up to cover them. "Sleep now, Daren."
The command in Jericho’s voice was impossible for Daren to deny and his eyes closed slowly. As his breathing deepened in the rhythm of sleep, Jericho’s gaze lingeringly studied his face. His mind slowly enveloped Daren’s to complete the ritual of binding. For the rest of their lives they would be together as one mind and heart. Until now, his life had held no true meaning other than what Jericho managed to forcefully carve out of it for his own sanity. Now things had changed completely. As he closed his eyes, he sent his own prayer of thankfulness to the Goddess. Her power engulfed them both in golden light, binding every part of them, one to another. Through the hours of the night, she kept them shielded from those who wandered, her power infused through both of them, merging them as it was meant to be.
Part Three
When Daren awoke, he immediately felt the empty space next to him, and his eyes flew open. Blinking blurrily, he saw Jericho near the horse, speaking quietly to him. Inwardly, he could feel Jericho’s worry as he pushed the cover of the bed roll off of himself. Standing quickly, he made his way to his Lord, the instinct to calm Jericho guiding his footsteps. As he approached, Jericho’s head turned to look at him, and he smiled slowly."Already you know me too well, my chosen." His voice softened over the words as he fully turned to face Daren, holding his hand out to him.
As his fingers closed over his hand, Daren stepped closer, resting his body against Jericho’s. He took the apple Jericho offered and bit into the crisp flesh. Raising his face, the soft brush of his lips teased over Jericho's. He wanted a kiss from his Lord. A reminder of their relationship and all that would come.
The slow part of Jericho’s lips molded to Daren’s, and the tip of his tongue tasted the sweet juice moistening his skin. Unable to still the urge, Jericho deepened the kiss, plundering the confines of Daren’s mouth with slow, sensual strokes. They both wanted far more, but now wasn’t the time for them. Jericho’s hands came to rest against Daren’s hips as Daren’s arms snaked around his neck. Allowing only the momentary pleasure of sinking into the physical sensations assailing him, Jericho continued the deeper taste. Finally he needed to draw back, breaking the kiss between them. A soft groan followed the exhalation of Daren’s breath.
"When I return, Daren, I promise." Jericho’s soft whisper accompanied the lingering brush of his lips as they trailed over the soft skin beneath them. "Until then I want you to remain with Seie. If I’m not back by the time the sun sets, he will take you to Nenua. The temple priests will welcome you, and I want you to wait for me there."
As he lifted his hand, he took off his sigil ring and reached for Daren’s hand. The small gold band, decorated with its intricate etchings, would protect his chosen and insure Daren would be taken care of wherever he went. Jericho slid the ring onto his finger, and Daren had to curl his hand to prevent it from falling off.
For once Daren didn’t argue with him; he realized Jericho couldn’t afford the distraction of it. His eyes narrowed in concern as he slowly nodded to him.
After another soft kiss, Jericho stepped back from him, gathering the invisible rivers of magic around them. His form shimmered into pure light as he stared into Daren’s worried eyes.
Once he’d disappeared from Daren’s sight, it required mere moments for Jericho to orient himself in the planes surrounding him. Pulses of magic flew around him in a brightly colored array of streaming ribbons. His focus delved past the immediate sense, searching for a void inside the near blinding brilliance. Wherever the demon was in this field of magic, its darkness would disturb the patterns dancing in his field of vision.
He hadn’t planned on using this transportation method. It carried with it a stronger chance the demon would be alerted to his presence. But he couldn’t bring Daren into the forest nor would he leave Daren alone for days while he rode through the forest, trying to find the demon. This had been the only acceptable alternative.
To his left, he saw the moving swath of darkness cutting through the prism-like colors. Heading towards it, his movements were a blur inside the light, and he tried to gauge just how close he could get to the black void before his own presence might be noticed. He wanted the advantage of surprise on his side, yet he didn’t heavily count on it.
His thoughts remained focused on the battle to come because he couldn’t afford anything distracting him. Judging the moment to be right, Jericho emerged from the inner world of magic into the realm of the world’s reality. The demon was no more than a quarter of a cen away from him. Close enough for him to finish tracking quickly, but hopefully far enough from the demon’s acute senses. The sun already had reached its highest peak in the sky above, and the heat of it sweltered in the air around him.
Silently, he stepped between the trees, following the oppressive feel of the darker taint. Its strong presence crept along his skin in a distasteful sensation as he homed in closer on it. Carefully he set magical nets, weaving the ephemeral strands with the power of thought. He needed to insure no matter what happened, the demon couldn’t escape the confines he set in place.
When he caught glimpses of the massive beast moving through the trees ahead of him, Jericho paused only for the space of a breath to draw more heavily on the pulses of magic floating through the air. He tapped into the source of the planet, taking its strength for his own.
An enraged roar signaled the demon awareness of his presence, and it suddenly rushed towards Jericho, barreling through the trees. The cracking of wood sounded abnormally loud and was followed by the alarmed cries of the animals and birds in the trees and on the ground. All of them madly scattered away from the approaching conflict.
A blast of energy preceded the demon, an attempt to terrify his opponent into reacting and misspend energy in a wasted attack. The demon wasn’t yet close enough to Jericho for him to do maximum damage to the creature so Jericho didn't bother trying.
Standing his ground, Jericho easily protected himself from the blast as he remained motionless. The demon rampaged towards him, leaving damaged trees in his wake. From its massive size, towering twice his height, Jericho gauged its age. The demon would be a formidable adversary. Razor sharp talons and lengthy canines made close combat an uncomfortable venture at best. Black eyes glared at him with the malevolent evil possessing the beast. Not all demons were evil, but this was one that had lost any semblance of the sanity that made it possible for it to co-exist with other beings.
As it neared, it found itself abruptly wrapped in the one of Jericho's lesser magical traps. Angrily thrashing, the demon roared again before Jericho directed a bolt of pure magical energy at him. The force hit him square in the chest, rendering the Sarphal momentarily dazed.
Recovering more quickly than Jericho expected, a jarring wave of power from the demon’s hand sent Jericho sprawling backward to the ground. The stinging burn washed over his skin like acid, and small holes began to form in his flesh. When it freed itself, Jericho quickly threw up a field of energy to stop the advancing demon from edging in too close to him.
Cunningly, the demon stopped short of the electrical pulse and stood just outside it. Pulsing waves emanated from the creature, each battering touch to Jericho's force field, wearing away at its strength.
Knowing the demon would attack the moment the shield went down, Jericho obscured himself behind a smoky cloud before he levitated upward in the blink of an eye. At the same moment the barrier dropped, giving him a clear shot at the demon from his position. A brilliant light arced from Jericho's hand and connected to the demon’s head, sending the demon to the ground in a twitching ball of agony. As much of a risk as it was, Jericho maintained the magical flow, and sunk it deeper into the demon, seeking its source of energy to drain.
A black stream of power from the demon hit Jericho and a sudden heated radiation flooded through him, short circuiting his ability to respond to the attack. Abruptly, Jericho fell from the air, hitting his head on a protruding branch before he slammed into the ground.
"Brilliant move, wizard, but not good enough." The gravelly voice of the demon pierced through the dazed fog surrounding Jericho. Tree roots shot upward from the ground, staking Jericho’s body, and the sudden rush of pain burned hotly through his body. When he looked up, he saw Daren shimmering into sight not too far from the demon. As the demon stood, Jericho struggled to free himself from the spikes, irregardless of the pain.
Daren reacted quickly, a swirling mass of brightly colored energy covering him before the force shot forward to envelop Jericho. The magician had no time to spare to think, he had to allow the power to fill him. Daren was his source, his connection to the overwhelming power residing in the depths of the planet. In this state, he couldn’t protect both of them without his chosen’s help.
As the energy swarmed around them, its field excluded the demon with a bone shattering blow. The Sarphal flew backward, the force half embedding its body in the thick oak tree trunk behind it.
Daren quickly reacted, unsheathing Jericho’s sword from its scabbard. As the demon struggled to free itself, he caught it off guard with a series of slashes. Each one found its mark and blood poured from the wounds.
The massive overload of power flowing unrestrained through him was more than Jericho could handle, and he had to force himself in a concentrated effort to rein it in. Already the demon was back on his feet, trying to get to Daren.
With unexpected skill, Daren kept himself out of reach of the potentially damaging blows aimed at him. Nimbly keeping out of its way, he landed several more hits with the sword.
Pain ravaged Jericho’s body with the additional exertion of harnessing the wild flow of energy surging in him, and by sheer will he controlled the power. Directing it at the demon, a blinding flash lit the area before the demon slammed back against the trunk. The blast incinerated the creature, leaving only a black mark in the indent of the tree.
Waves of blackness washed over Jericho and dragged him under. The last thing he heard was Daren screaming his name.
A feeling of numbness intruded on Jericho, and he opened his eyes to the sight of a white washed ceiling. It required a moment more for his mind to connect with the present. Glancing quickly around, he saw Daren seated in a chair beside the bed, his bowed head propped up by his hands.
"Daren." Jericho whispered his name softly as he lifted his hand, reaching out to him.
Daren’s head jerked up and Jericho could see his tear stained face. Swiftly, he stood from the chair before settling at the edge of the bed. Taking Jericho’s hand, he entwined their fingers and rested their hands against Jericho’s chest. "I was so afraid you wouldn’t come out of it."
The strained words brought a reassuring smile to Jericho’s lips. "It would take more than a Sarphal demon to kill me, Daren."
Jericho could feel no remnants of pain, and he seemed to be in one piece, more or less, already healing from the wounds inflicted during the battle.
"I brought you to the temple in Nenua, Jericho. I didn’t know what else to do." Closing his eyes, Daren burrowed in against his chest, his cheek rubbing to Jericho’s bare skin. As Daren nuzzled against his chest, Jericho lifted his hand, slowly stroking over the downy curls of his hair.
Before Jericho could say anything to Daren, a knock sounded at the bedroom door, and he called out. "Enter."
When the door opened, one of the temple priests stepped inside. "Forgive the intrusion, Lord Jericho. Lord Erain wishes to see you."
Scowling, Jericho opened his mouth to speak but Erain pushed past the priest, coming into the room.
Instead of denying his brother entry, Jericho growled out, "If you’re here to see me on my death bed, you’re too late, Erain."
His twin stilled with the words and said, "No, I’m here to beg your forgiveness."
Knowing who Erain was, Daren glared at him as he stood between them to shield Jericho from his brother. This man was responsible for keeping him from his Lord.
"For what? For making sure I wouldn’t find my chosen? As you can see you failed."
"Again, no. For believing you kept my chosen from me." Gesturing towards the door, a young woman entered and moved to Erain, slipping her arm around his waist.
Uncertain what to make of his brother’s statement, Jericho stared at him before he said; "I did no such thing to you."
"I know that now. But before your tarquel, the Dungeon master fell ill and I had to take care of his duties. When I examined the prisoners, I found Kir. She’d been imprisoned in the dungeon for almost a year. I interrogated the guards and was told she’d been sent there on your orders." Pausing to draw a deep breath, Erain continued a moment later, "After I found out, I ordered the doors of the temple locked. I knew your chosen would be coming for you."
Bewildered, Jericho could only shake his head. He’d done no such thing to his brother.
"Jericho, Mother told me the truth. After Father died, she admitted he was the one who locked Kir away. And if I hadn’t stopped your chosen, he would have found his own way to do it."
"But, why?" Jericho didn’t disbelieve Erain, but he struggled with the reasoning behind everything.
"He was the head of the House of Hernal, and he feared one or both of us would take it from him."
"Neither you or I were ever ambitious enough to do that." Jericho frowned heavily, eyeing his twin.
"You knew that, and I did too. Father didn’t believe it. Stopping our chosen from finding us weakened our power considerably. Ever since I found out, I’ve been trying to find you, Jericho. When I heard you’d been brought to this temple, I came as quickly as I could."
Daren looked between them, trying to understand both he and the young woman had been pawns in a game he barely understood. Glancing over at Jericho, Daren could see his Lord believed his twin.
Jericho slid to the edge of the bed to stand up. He was clad only in the rich white loin cloth the temple had provided. Barefooted, he walked towards his brother, holding his hand out to him. Gratefully Erain clasped his fingers beneath his elbow and drew Jericho to him.
The brothers hugged each other as Daren and Kir watched them.
"We have much to talk about, brother." Erain murmured as his grip on Jericho tightened almost painfully before he finally let him go.
"That we do, Erain." Smiling, Jericho stepped back. Any real anger at his brother hadn’t had time to fester in him. Completely believing his twin, Jericho had no doubt their father had been fully behind both of their troubles.
"When you are ready to leave here, you will return home with me?" Erain phrased that as a question, and Jericho could see the hope in his eyes. It was then he understood their separation had been as hard on Erain as it had been on him.
"Aye. Daren and I will return home with you and Kir."
Grabbing his arm, Erain pounded him playfully back on the back. A bit of a smirk played over his lips as he slipped his arm around Kir. "We’ll leave you alone since I know you've just recovered from your wounds."
Chuckling, Erain turned with his chosen and headed for the door.
"Aye, like you aren’t just as anxious to have your chosen to yourself, brother." Jericho had to laugh as he moved to shut the door behind the two.
Jericho smiled slowly as he turned to face Daren. Both he and his twin’s lives would be completely fulfilled by their chosen. He could ask no more of the goddess or life itself.
Jericho is on a mission. To save the people of Nar-Pel from a malevolent demon, he must travel to the forbidden Irewin Forest. His journey becomes far more completed when he unexpectedly saves a slave from the Priests of Hernal. Short story 3431 words.
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