Dawn’s light crested the horizon in shades of reds, oranges, and golds. Exhaustion filled the group. One last, remaining large rock stood in our way to the mortal realm. We sat gathered on rocks and small stones while some children played on the inside of the trees and others slept on the small patches of soft grass that was free of rubble. Naloud slept in Marren’s arms—a sight that made my heart swell. Ildir and Raden discussed a plan of action for getting the rock out of the way and the possibility of a fight waiting for us on the other side.
“Jiren wouldn’t risk that kind of exposure. If he isn’t here, he’s there, and more importantly, he has a plan,” Marren interrupted.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“Either he knew he wouldn’t get away with taking Naloud or he purposefully made himself known. I think he wants us to believe he’s trapped us here but understands we will get through. My thoughts are he’s expecting us to get through. Hoping. His plans depend on it.”
As Marren spoke, even I knew his words rang true. Jiren could have taken Naloud, and none would be the wiser. He was capable of it. This was all a part of his plan. “What do we do now?”
“We find out his plan as soon as possible. Until then, it isn’t safe to travel alone. We travel in groups. And we don’t travel in the daylight or in the open. There’s no telling what Jiren has done, and I wouldn’t put it past him to have hunting parties searching for us in an effort for us to step right into his hands.”
“Yer thoughts make sense, though I’m not sure how that is going to help us get this rock out of our way,” Ildir said.
“And what if there is a fight on the other side? He could try to pick us off one by one—lessen our numbers from the start,” I added in.
“She has a point, Marren,” Enid added. “What then? What would you want us to do?”
“Ye must admit,” Raden chimed in, “Jiren is cold and very much heartless. It is exactly something he’d do.”
Marren shook his head.
“No. I think he’s planning on us being cautious and expecting that, so it won’t be there.” Then as several murmurs and groans floated through the crowd, he added, “Jiren is counting on us to try to guess his plans. Why else wait so long to strike again? He’s doing something we haven’t thought of before, and he’s going to make sure we are backed against a wall before he reveals himself. Our best bet is to move the rock and get crossed over. From there, you can all find your families and regroup. We can make arrangements to send word throughout the immortal races if we hear something that will help us find out Jiren’s plan. Until then, survive and be on your guard.”
“Aha!” Ildir shouted, which caused me to jump.
Marren chuckled.
Ildir took his large axe, climbed to the top of the rock, and stood facing the group.
“Catch me, won’t ye?” he asked of no one in particular then raised his axe high above his head and slammed it down on the top of the rock with a loud shuddering blow that sounded as though lightning had struck the rock instead of his axe. Naloud wiggled in her father’s arms at the commotion, just as the rock cracked and crumbled underneath Ildir. The agility of a dwarf would never cease to amaze me. He jumped from the crumbling mass underneath him to a cleared area of ground to the right of the rock.
All that was left was for us to move the new debris and cross.
Chapter 26
Destroyed by Cyrs
Something doesn’t feel right, I said to Marren through our private way of communicating.
I know. I feel it, too.
The last of the rubble was moved by late afternoon. The beginning of fall graced the trees in shades of amber and gold with specks of emerald spotted throughout. The day was warm, but only just. I feared the weather on the other side though it was silly to do so. This realm matched the mortal one so closely that everything stayed in line. Time, weather, the seasons. Everything except for the size and the way human hands hadn’t touched the land and corrupted it into what the mortal realm had been.
I don’t think we should wait any longer. We should move, I said.
I agree.
Murmurs moved along in hushed tones in the beginning and growing into an even hum. Everyone felt it. The time to go neared and anxieties were high.
Marren leaned into me.