When War Calls(101)

‘What whisper?’

Jaden laughed. ‘Just me going crazy, I think. I keep imagining a voice speaking to me, but maybe it is just stress.’

‘No,’ said Alyssa softly, ‘I think I’ve heard it too.’

‘What does it say?’

Alyssa began to mouth words but only made some audible, going through her memory for the words she thought she had heard, ‘Ice. Icy. I seek ... sense. I seek presence ... rue you. Through you. I seek presence through you. Go on while ... no, child, with you. I seek presence through you, go on, child, I’m with you.’

Jaden felt a chill run down his spine, as if a ghost had just touched the back of his neck. ‘What do you think it means?’ he asked, doing his best to sound unaffected.

Alyssa shook her head. ‘I don’t know.’

‘Are you scared?’

‘A little, but I think it is safe, or I am going crazy, too,’ she said, looking at him with a faint smile.

Jaden reached out and held her hand, smiling back, hoping to comfort her.

‘I almost jumped off a cliff, but the whisper told me I had to stay alive,’ said Jaden, now realising how glad he was that he hadn’t.

Alyssa turned to him again. ‘You were going to end your life?’

‘I was not myself, the attack had ... I was devastated. I lost everyone. I didn’t know you had survived.’

Alyssa was silent. She was looking forward, now seemingly in a faraway place.

‘Sorry,’ said Jaden, ‘I don’t mean to remind you, it’s just hard...’

‘I know,’ said Alyssa, squeezing his hand a little, ‘I understand.’

Jaden could see the tears welling in her eyes. He knew she was thinking of her recent loss. She and her father had escaped, but only temporarily. Jaden had mostly evaded the Alliance scouts, but her father had not been so fortunate. Knowing the pain she felt all too well, Jaden stopped and embraced her. It took a moment for the others to realise they had stopped, but soon the two Daijuar were walking back to them.

‘Why have you stopped?’ asked Adonis.

‘We need rest,’ said Jaden, careful not to speak too loudly next to Alyssa’s ear. ‘This is far enough.’

The Daijuar exchanged glances before nodding and setting about making camp.

The forest had become thicker over the previous miles, making it difficult to find a place in which to rest. Despite Jaden’s protests, they had to walk another mile, with him half carrying Alyssa, before they found another stream. Blair lit the immediate area with his endobraces, just enough so that Tarsha was able to collect what firewood was available, while Adonis called for Jaden to follow him to gather more from around the area. Adonis led the way, keeping the immediate area alight as Blair had done. They kept the light low to avoid confrontation with any Alliance scout wandering the area, and used strong bursts only when they were needed.

Jaden watched silently as Adonis scanned the area with the endobraces, sometimes using them to move rocks out of the way and clearing scrub. When they were almost ready to return to the others, Jaden paused.

‘You saved Alyssa,’ he said.

Adonis gave a quick nod, but continued searching around the area.

‘I want to learn how you did that.’

Adonis now stopped what he was doing and turned to Jaden. ‘It takes years of practice.’

‘Can you teach me?’

‘If there is time,’ he said with a smile.

‘We have a long way to go,’ said Jaden. ‘You can teach me along the way.’

Adonis seemed to consider the thought for a moment. ‘Do you have the dedication?’ he asked.

‘I want to be able to protect Alyssa.’

‘The Daijuar protect more than just one.’

Jaden knew what Adonis was asking him and was thoughtful. In truth, he wanted only to know how to use the Daijuarn arts so that he could make sure both he and Alyssa were always safe from any danger, but to be trained by the Daijuar would mean he would have to abide by their code. He would have to use his powers to protect the innocent in wars as well as Alyssa. He began to think of what life would be like lived in such a way; being unable to call a place home, to be always needed somewhere, and to knowingly place one’s self in danger in hope of ensuring safe passage for others. War had already taken his home, so he was bound to no place. If he could be sure Alyssa was safe while he was away, it was a small sacrifice for being able to save her life in the way Adonis had earlier during the day.

‘I will do what it takes,’ said Jaden.

Adonis seemed satisfied.

‘We will start training tomorrow. This is enough wood,’ he said, and began walking back the way they had come.