When War Calls(169)

Outside, Vennoss, Ryan and Tarsha were all looking around desperately searching for Jaden. When they spotted him, they ran toward him. Jaden stopped and waited as they approached.

‘You must return to your bed, brother,’ said Ryan. ‘Please, come with us.’

‘I am fine,’ said Jaden sharply.

‘You—’

‘Don’t push,’ interrupted Vennoss, silencing Ryan with a wave of his hand. ‘He knows what is best for him.’

Jaden lifted both hands and checked over them carefully. When he was confident he had assessed the damage, he looked at all three.

‘I am leaving,’ he said.

‘Where are you going?’ asked Ryan.

‘I am not sure.’

Ryan was about to say something in protest, but seeing Vennoss glaring at him, decided it was better not to. ‘Then I hope I will see you upon your return.’

Both Tarsha and Vennoss nodded to Jaden, and he walked through them, down the slope, heading toward zone three.

‘Brother, wait!’ called out Ryan, running to catch up with him. ‘This came for you. It’s addressed to “The Young Sentinel”.’

Jaden took the yellow envelope from his brother and opened it. Inside, there was a handwritten letter.

‘I did not want to open it in case it was private,’ said Ryan. ‘It’s addressed in our language. Who’s it from?’

Jaden was silent as he read the letter, leaving Ryan to wait patiently. He then turned and looked around all that he could see of Corsec.

‘How did you win?’ he asked.

‘Why?’ asked Ryan.

‘We were outnumbered. We shouldn’t have won.’

Ryan shrugged. ‘It is a bit of a mystery. There were jets that came to our rescue.’

‘What colour were they?’

‘Black, with blue fire out the back.’

Jaden nodded. ‘You have General Alkon Zaccarah to thank, once general of the Alliance. Now he has returned home.’

Jaden handed the letter back to Ryan and then turned to continue on his way west. As Jaden left, Ryan read the letter:





To The Young Sentinel,





In show of my gratitude for aiding my escape, I have sent the Royal Air Force of Arinta to now aid both you and the Resistance in defeating the Alliance. With our forces combined, I trust the Alliance will retreat. I knew of their plans to be rid of the Diadon fleets. I heard they were successful. I am sorry I was not able to contact them sooner, but I ordered their return to your shores when I could.

If this letter finds you alive and you wish to find a new home, know that your welcome in Arinta will not expire. When you arrive, request to see me by name. They will notify me and I will come and find you.

I hope to see you soon.





For peace, Sentinel.





General Alkon Zaccarah of Arinta





Ryan lowered the letter, watching as Jaden walked away.

‘Come back soon, brother,’ he said, more to himself as Jaden was too far away to hear him, and then he turned and made his way back to Vennoss, handing him the letter.





* * *





The ring light shimmered in the gentle ocean currents, waves lapping against the shore of white sand. The leaves of the palm trees rustled in the breeze as the last of the clouds were blown away, a starry night sky unveiled with a crescent moon rising in the distance. Jaden stood silently watching, waiting. He had walked since morning from Corsec to be here. It was a place of little significance, but one where he could feel at peace. There was no one else near for miles in each direction, the shore of white sand extending as far as his eyes could see with no civilisation upon it. It was what made this place perfect for his purpose. She would find him wherever he was, but he wanted to be sure he could speak with her alone.

He waited with his back turned to the forest, hoping to sense her arrival through the ground, but she was one he was blind to. If not for her making her presence known by draining a little of the colour from his surroundings, he would not have known she had arrived.

‘I wanted to apologise,’ he said without turning.

Raquel moved from his left to his right, circling him as she remained at five yards away.

‘For everything I said,’ he continued. ‘I was confused. I didn’t know.’

Raquel came to stand upon the edge of the white sand, looking out over the water as he did.

‘I knew you would find me here,’ said Jaden.

‘How?’ asked Raquel, her curiosity seeming genuine.

Jaden turned to her. It was the first time she had asked him a question that she didn’t already know the answer to.

‘Because I am what you have been looking for.’

Jaden paused and waited for her to make eye contact with him before he continued. ‘I thought it was by accident that I kept meeting you. We were both going north. But you were going north because I was.’