When War Calls(23)

‘Grandfather, enough.’

‘What? Am I not allowed to observe my surroundings as you do?’

Jaden laughed at how nearly convincing Vennoss had been as he had asked the question, as if he were a badly treated child that had finally learnt to stand up for his rights.

Vennoss smiled and his voice became deep and kind once more. ‘How have you fared since my departure?’ he asked.

‘Good, and bad, and … I’m not sure.’

The childish look came over Vennoss again as he grinned in delight. ‘Ah, a riddle then … it seems I have returned just in time. Walk with me. Come. Come! Tell me all there is to know.’

Jaden fell into step beside him as they walked away from the waterfall and back toward the village.

‘We lost this piece of land,’ he started. ‘Is-dimmer-than-post threw a rock and hit my leg. I was almost there … it should’ve been our game. The elders didn’t see what he did, so they awarded the victory to the Pioneers.’

‘Tragic … tragic,’ said Vennoss, his tone still in a mock strain. ‘It is a sad day when we cannot win in a sport to keep a piece of dirt. Absolutely terrible.’

‘It was serious. They were counting on me…’

‘And they will count on you again, if they have the chance.’

Jaden stopped walking. The tone Vennoss was using had suddenly lost its playfulness.

‘What do you mean?’ he asked.

Vennoss signalled with a nod. ‘Keep walking. I will explain on the way.’

Jaden followed, his head now down as they walked.

‘It is not good news, I’m afraid,’ Vennoss went on. ‘Our land is no longer safe from certain “threats”, you might say. The Resistance is not holding so well, though it remains intact, for now.’

‘The Alliance?’

‘Is gaining in strength by the day. Their forces are growing. There is rumour of new allies, among those that have sworn neutrality in these matters. Now it appears all are under suspicion, and the Resistance has no means of knowing from which side it may be attacked.’

‘What does this mean for us?’

‘It means, my child, that you may be seeing your brother sooner than you think.’

‘I'll be going to the wars?’ asked Jaden.

‘Yes, I know it is not something you wished, or at least, not in this way. However, there may still be hope yet.’

‘How?’

‘I have been roaming the land in search of support, and I have found it in the great city of Waikor. Some friends are in high places there. They have agreed to do everything they can to assist us. Unfortunately, they will not send their military here … we will have to go to them.’

‘And leave Callibra?’

‘It may be our only chance to survive,’ said Vennoss. ‘But, do not trouble yourself with such matters yet, I am merely telling you now so that you do not place so much importance on a game when there is so much more to the world.’

Jaden bowed his head. ‘I understand.’

‘I know. But, that is enough of all that is wrong. Today is as good a day as any to rest and ponder on all that has occurred.’

Vennoss had stopped outside a home not too far from Jaden’s. He opened the door to go inside, saying over his shoulder, ‘I will come visit you on the day four nights away. I have not had the pleasure of an easy rest in quite a while.’

‘Grandfather,’ said Jaden, ‘there is something else.’

‘Oh?’ Vennoss took a step back out of the door.

‘I have had … dreams. But they are not dreams, they are real.’

‘I see, and they are good?’

‘No … bad. I feel something moving around me and pulling me into the ground. I can’t explain it too well, it just … the pain … it hurts. I can’t sleep.’

Vennoss’s thick eyebrows curved upward together. ‘I see,’ he said. ‘In this dream, if this movement were to be one, would it be ahead of you or behind you?’

‘Ahead at first, then behind … no, I can’t say.’

Vennoss nodded slowly. ‘I will think on it. I will tell you my thoughts four nights from now.’

Jaden bowed as Vennoss went inside and closed the door.

In the past, there was nothing he couldn’t ask his grandfather and get an answer to. He had hoped it would be the same now, but knew that this was not as simple as his other problems had been. No one had ever told of feeling awake while sleeping in all Callibra’s past. It was pointless to go to one who studied medicines. Even the elders would have no knowledge of what the cause might be. Vennoss was his only hope.

Jaden breathed out, trying to forget what it could all mean. Alyssa would be back soon. He could meet with her at the stables as she arrived. It would be the perfect distraction from an otherwise clouded day. But as he neared the stables, even this was soured. Ardim had got there before him, and Alyssa was already back. Ardim had his arm firmly around her shoulders. All Jaden could do was stare in disbelief. As fate had dictated so many times in the past, his chance would be lost for yet another day, week or even month.