The Bell in the Rocks

Jthan raised the torch in his right hand. The bright orange flames were insistent as the rain tried to snuff it out. A narrow path through the darkened forest slowly revealed itself. The king's most trusted knight took Déorah's hand in his and led her one step closer to Berothai. They would have to find their way to "The Bell in the Rocks" where the Guardians of Berothai lived.

"The child is hungry," she said.

Jthan seemed not to hear as his pace quickened almost dragging the Queen behind him.

"Wait," she cried. "The King will not be pleased if you let the heir to his throne go hungry."

"There is no more throne, Déorah," Jthan shouted through the torrent rain. "Not even a kingdom for him to rule."

Déorah bowed her head. The knight sighed and looked the other way.

"We must find The Bell in the Rocks," he finally said. "The Guardians will have food and perhaps a horse for us."

"And if they decide to kill us instead for trespassing upon their sacred land?"

"They won't," he assured her.

Their journey continued. The fire of the torch grew stronger and brighter the closer they walked to Berothai. If they strayed to the left, or to the right of the narrow path, the flames diminished.

Suddenly, a fierce snarl came from above them. Jthan looked up to see a daughter of Nyx perched on a branch. She was dark and beautiful and for the moment the knight was mesmerized.

"Look away, Jthan," Déorah commanded. "She is death."

The knight did not speak. Déorah walked slowly around him till she stood face to face. But he could only see her. Déorah knew the power the daughters of Nyx had over men. Their alluring eyes could steal their breath. She took the torch from Jthan's trembling hand.

"Keres," she whispered. "God will not let you tempt his own without bringing judgment upon you."

The daughter of Nyx smiled wickedly and hovered close by the knight, her sharp white teeth gnashing in the light of the torch. He was marked for death. It was his blood she wanted-her hunger. Déorah dropped the torch as Keres violently shoved her out of the way. The spirit of death caressed Jthan's bloody face with her long claws. He managed to avoid the gaze of her black eyes but she brought him to his knees, nonetheless. He struggled to breathe as he felt life fading.

Then the cries of a child seemed to bring him back. He saw Déorah try to comfort KBehrszhen who was now exposed to the rain. His eyes met hers and he remembered why his life was worth living. Though it was forbidden, he loved her still.

Keres could almost taste the blood of this knight but unexpectedly he unsheathed his sword and thrust it through her cold heart. Her arms flailed as her claws cut deep into the flesh of his face. Even his chainmaille could not withstand her wrath as she slashed through to his chest. But the knight did not let go of his sword. She screeched a loud and horrid cry, yet she could not free herself from his blade till he slowly pulled it out. Her body convulsed in the mud and mires. To ease her pain the earth swallowed her whole and swept her down to the depths of Hades.

Jthan rested on the hilt of his sword. Déorah helped him up.

"We must hurry," she said.

He touched her bruised face and gently kissed her forehead. "I am sorry," he whispered.

"You are forgiven," she said with a smile. "We must go now."

He nodded as he retrieved the torch from the watery grounds. "Amazing," he whispered. "Nothing quenches it."

Again, he ignored the pains of his wounds as he followed the light of the torch that lit the path to Berothai. He would remember this time to let Déorah dictate the pace. It would do them no good if she could not make it all the way.

Soon the path meandered up the slopes of a steep mountain. The trees were farther apart from each other and the air was thin. Their steps were labored now, but neither would rest till they could see "The Bell in the Rock."

Finally, when the rain turned into a mere drizzle, a blue sky appeared through a majestic rocky archway. Near the base of the arc, hung the Guardians' bell. It would still take the strength of a righteous man to sound the bell. And even if it rang out the sweetest chimes it was no guarantee that the Guardians would let them pass beyond their mountain to the Kingdom of Berothai.

Jthan climbed each rock that led to the heavy iron bell. He stopped a few times to breathe in the wealth of fresh air-something he had not been able to do since the start of this journey. When he stood right below the bell, he steadied his weight, reached as high as he could and placed his hands upon it. He barely reached but he pushed with all his strength.

The Guardians heard the deep reverberating clangs of their bell. They gathered their bows and arrows, their swords, and their horses and marched toward "The Bell in the Rock." Only the strength of a knight could sound the bell but they would make sure it was a righteous knight.

Jthan returned to Déorah and took her child into his arms. When the Guardians were seen across the valley, he lifted the child unto the heavens for them to see. The Guardians raised their swords as if in victory-a sign that Jthan and Déorah were given permission to pass.

(Click here for Chapter 1, Chapter 2)