Chapter Three

Chapter 3: All Things Have Their Beginnings
                  And Their Ends




Cevlon - High Officer Lounge:  


   “Kade you can’t really be dong this!”
He sighed and threw his head back in an exaggerated motion to Sonera behind him.
   “I have to! It’s an order! It’s written right here in black and white. Read it for yourself.”
He pulled out the scroll with the orders to take the Outsider’s life, and handed them to the woman beside him. She snapped it open in a single flourish, with pain and annoyance written all over her dark skinned face.
Her bright blue eyes flashed over the lines so quickly they became a blur to Kade. Once she had finished she still didn’t look satisfied as she handed the orders back.
   “But it’s just not right! They wont even let the girl have a fair trial! She’s no more human then you or I!”
   “She’s a Magi! A Magic Bearer! That makes her a threat to Haven. And as an Elite Warrior you took an oath to protect Cevlon at all costs! And today, that cost is letting me kill an enemy to Haven with out a trial. You will stand behind me in silence, or so help me Sonera! I will make you silent.”
Sonera didn’t believe in what Kade was doing. But he had played his cards well.
She knew she could not go right out and defy the Warrior Oath. And by reminding her of that, Kade had already won the battle. But then he rubbed it in by making her stand by him as he murdered a surly innocent child that couldn’t be any older then her younger brother!
That was what made her furious. Her icy blue gaze didn’t back down as she met Kade’s violet, almost murderous eyes. She knew in her heart that Kade was a good man. A fine man in fact. One her mother would be proud to have as a son-in-law, but there were times, when he flat out scared Sonera. And right now was one of those times.
However, Sonera was not known for backing down. She never backed down easily. Which is what allowed her rise higher in ranks quicker then others. But she had finally met her match in Kade. He too, was not easily persuaded to do something that was against his training, and his mindset. And for so long he had been trained to accept orders, whatever they may be. So this situation, to him, was no different.
The main difference between Sonera, and Kade, was that Sonera stood by her beliefs in the Antiquity Promises in all that she did. She did not allow herself to veer away from them, and though Kade was also a strong follower of Eleyos, he let his duty for his country, come before the duty of his deity. And that was one thing Eleyos stated very clearly, was never a good thing.

Kade knew she wasn’t happy with his decision, but she submitted to him eventually after a deadly game of ice cold glares. But he knew she wasn’t going to be very cooperative with him also.

She spun out on her heel and picked up her sword on her way out of the lounge room shared only by the high ranking officers.
   “Sonera, wait.” He grabbed her by the elbow to keep her from walking away.
She turned to him and he was startled by the amount of emotion shown in her eyes. Emotions that ran deep, and ones that were aimed towards him.
   “That’s all I’ve done Kade.” She started. “waited for you. Every time I think you’re going to change, something makes your heart turn to stone on me again. And it takes me forever to chip away at it. So I’m done waiting. Okay? Call me when you’re ready to listen.”
She yanked her elbow out of his grasp and walked out of the lounge, the dawn sun glinting off her curved sword as she placed it back in its rightful place across her back.

Outside, she took a deep breath of the crisp clean air and as usual, it cleared her mind up instantly.
   “Eleyos, please guide me with my decision making. I know I usually make very rash decisions, but this one...This one I am very sure about. So I take that as a sign from you O Father. But please help me through the trials that are sure to come.”
As she prayed, she walked swiftly through the Warrior compound that offered a home to all of the Warriors and trainees that dedicated their every fiber to a distant dream of one day becoming a great hero worthy enough to be retold of in the Stories past down from one generation to the next.

The courtyard was ringing with the sound of marching footsteps, sparring practices, and constant chatter.
However, most of it stopped as she walked briskly by in a manner that told everyone she was not in a good mood, and she was probably up to no good.
But today, her decision would affect her, and only her. And no measure of begging would get her to change her mind.

For years the job of an Elite Warrior had weighed down her mind and soul. She knew one day she would crack. But she didn’t expect it to be so early, and when she was so high up the chain.
But she knew now, that with Kade’s decision to murder this poor girl, Eleyos was telling her it was time to take a different road. One where hardly anyone had ever trod before.
Sonera was up for the challenge, and due for a change.

She marched up to the control center, where all of the leaders on the Warrior Council debated things that involved the Warriors, and how to go about keeping the peace that had rained for eons. She doubted, that when the time came where they had to bare arms against a foe of some admirable esteem, they might forget how to command an army all together.

The other Warriors and trainees immediately stepped aside when she passed by and even the guards in front of the doors, didn’t hesitate to back off when she walked up the steps with determined strides.
Sonera hesitated a moment before pushing open the heavy oak wood doors wide and stepping into the dimly lit room.

Inside, gathered among a round stone table filled with maps, markers, quills and inkwells, charts, and scraps of parchment scrolls, stood five men. Five of the greatest men that Haven has ever seen, and each essential to making sure that the Elite Warriors functioned to their highest potential.
The floating orbs of captured sunlight bobbed around the room, every once in a while bumping into each other. They gave off a warm glow that gave the room a cozy feeling. Until Sonera walked in that is.

The wind picked up when the doors were shoved open by strong shoulders. And immediately, all the intense and deep conversations, ceased.
Five heads looked up at her.
And she was met with five pairs of eyes that were wise beyond any she had seen before.
Five weather beaten faces that looked immensely older then they actually were looked at her with both curiosity, but also annoyance.
She took a deep breath and reminded herself why she was here.

Taking a step into the room she cleared her throat as she corrected her posture into a stiff, immobile slab of stone.
   “Cheif Commander Pentaris, sir. Permission to make a request, sir.” She stated in a formal way. She hated talking like this, but it had been drilled into her for so long now, it would be hard not to.
The Cheif Commander stood erect and looked at her with his stern gaze.
   “What is the nature of this request?” His voice was a deep rumble that vibrated through her very bones.
She took a deep breath and hesitated for a moment before answering. Just a moment.
   “A request to secede. Sir.”
Gasps went around the room, but Sonera stood strong and didn’t remove her gaze from Commander Pentaris.
He looked slightly startled, but not too surprised.
   “Do you know what you would be doing? You would not be able to live here anymore, your status would be taken away from you, and you would no longer be able to have the benefits of being a Warrior.”
Sonera nodded. The benefits weren’t that great to begin with, so she wouldn’t be missing much.
   “I’ve made my decision sir. I know what I’m doing, sir.”
One of the men looked up to the Commander with shock.
   “You can’t really let her go. She’s to valuable. She keeps him in line!”
   “Mentis! you will keep your mouth shut or I’ll shut it for you.” Pentaris snapped angrily.
The man shut his mouth immediately and backed down.
   “Sonera...are you sure you know what you’re doing? Leave, and you can’t come back.”
Sonera nodded slowly.
Pentaris sighed and nodded.
   “Very well Sonera. I accept your secede. I relieve you of your duties as an Elite Warrior. Please hand over you medallion, and cape.”
Sonera tugged at a medallion from under her chest plate. The medallion had a simple number on it. Five. Her rank. She took one last look at it before taking it off completely. Then she unclasped her one shoulder blue cape that marked her to others as a high ranking officer.
She hesitated before walking up to the table and setting both down.
   “Sonera, you are no longer an Elite Warrior. You have an hour to remove your belongings from the barracks and to leave the property.”
Sonera made a swift, deep bow before leaving the room in the same, determined way.
Mentis glowered at Pentaris.
   “You just made a big mistake Pentaris. A big mistake.”
   “No. She was bound to break sooner or later. And we can’t have a weak link. But you’ll do well to keep your big gopper shut. Do I make myself clear Mentis?”
Mentis gave a curt nod, with a murderous glare.

Sonera wouldn’t let this poor girl suffer for her leaders’ idiocy. She couldn’t. But what on earth could she do?! She was just a nobody now. She had no rank, no status. She was just Sonera. Sonera the Lost.
A thought struck her so strongly she gasped. She immediately looked up into the rain and turned down the street. Bounding towards the one person that could help her.


.:+:.

Cevlon - High Officer’s Lounge:

   “Lieutenant Kade!”
Kade’s head rose from his callus covered hands, towards the voice that called his name.
A young trainee was standing at the doorway. Sweating, breathing hard, but anxious.
   “Yes?” He asked. “Come in.”
The girl bowed and moved over the threshold.
   “Thank you sir. I just wanted to give my apologies.”
Kade’s brow furled, and he straightened his back. His way of showing interest. Or in this case, confusion.
   “For what?”
Now it was the girl’s turn to be confused.
   “For the lack of support sir.”
   “How do you mean?”
The young girl shifted in confusion. Hesitating before answering again, deciding whether or not to say anything.
   “Well...Sonera quit. Just over an hour ago.”
Kade’s deep purple eyes grew wide and the young girl was scared he’d get mad at her, so she gave a quick bow and left hastily.
   It took Kade a minute to decipher what the trainee had just told him.
But when it hit him, it hit him hard.
Sonera had quit.
Was it because he snapped at her? No she was tough, she could take a beating. But...maybe it was something more...or maybe some things that had been piling up over the years and had just toppled over. Or maybe -
   “Lieutenant Kade?”
His gaze focused in on the Chief Commander that stood before him.
It took him a minute to figure out who it was, and when he did, he jumped up and stood at attention.
   “Sir.”
The Commander sighed and slapped Kade’s strong, well worn shoulders.
  “It’s time son.”
Kade nodded numbly and picked up his broad sword and swung it into it’s sheath at his side.
   “Alright.”

.:+:.


The service was silent, but Kade could almost feel the anticipation and excitement of the people for the death of this young girl.
He was disgusted by that. He could see why Sonera had flown off the handle. It was very disturbing, and nothing a follower of Eleyos would do. Yet, they were doing it anyways. Just like the drinking the night before, for his and Sonera’s party...
Thinking of the party, made him think of Sonera, and then he was reminded of the time he had snapped at her a few hours before. Which in turn made him feel guilty.

The slow death march drums almost made him fall asleep, but he kept his eyes on the girl walking before him. She held herself with dignity despite what she was. Her shoulders were held back, her head held high, she looked to be at ease with everything. Though sad as well. - Which was to be expected - but Kade was surprised by how calm she was, despite her up coming death that was just moments away.
   Her light ginger hair bounced around her shoulders as she took sure steps. The chains that bound her hands jingled as she walked, and he felt a feeling stir in the pit of his stomach. But he ignored it and refused to think of the girl as a human being and just thought of her as an order only.
It was his way of removing all emotion from his missions. And nothing was different here.
Or so he told himself.

The service went with out a hitch. Elite Warriors patrolled the roof tops, and the ground. Just incase anyone got any ideas. Thought that was about as highly unlikely as someone from Falion ending up in Haven.
But then again...that had happened so...one never knows now.
  The young girl had been able to choose her way of death, which - apparently - was the least the people of Haven could do. They wanted nothing to do with someone from the World Below. Rumors went around that one look from her would make you un-pure before Eleyos. So most people spat at the ground she walked on, some were even angry - or scared - enough to curse her. But Kade was shocked by how well she handled it all.

The girl chose Death by Light.
Which Kade thought was appropriate. For a lady, and for this girl in particular.
   They both stood on a temporary dais. Kade in front of the small girl, and a priest behind him with the bowl that held her death.
Two guards stood behind her, to keep her from running away - highly unlikely - but they were mainly there to catch her when the life left her body.
The priest handed Kade the bowl and nodded for him to speak the words.
They had rehearsed this, so he knew what to do.
   “Being from the Earth Below, Magic Bearer, and a criminal of threatening the peace that Eleyos has blessed us with on Cevlon. Do you repent from your crimes?” His tone was stiff and formal. But the girl cut through his heart of stone, by giving him a tender look that made him feel like he didn’t know anything at all. She shook her head, and gasps and protest rang out from the crowds.
Kade expected this. So he nodded once and continued with his formal speech.
   “Any last words?”
She nodded, and moved her bangs out of her deep green eyes that he could get lost in if he wasn’t careful.
   “Yes I do. If I may?”
Kade nodded, in a gesture for her to go ahead.
   “You accuse me of being a criminal for stepping foot in this city. And yet, if any of you stepped foot in my home town, you would be treated the same.
Has any of you stopped to think that maybe this is wrong?” She paused to let her words sink in for a moment. She turned her head to the priest. Much to his detest.
   “You study the Antiquity Promise books correct?”
The priest nodded stiffly.
   “And anywhere in those Promises does Eleyos say that He only loves the people from Cevlon, or only the ones from Falion?”
The priest shifted nervously, and hated to reply, but did.
   “No.”
  “Then why do we hate each other so? That is all I have to say. For there is nothing more to say.”
What she had to say in that one moment, moved everyone listening in an instant, for the rest of their lives.
Kade swallowed hard before handing her the bowl.
She met his eyes and gave one last smile, before she drank the liquid.

   “They say....That when you die, you see a tunnel of light. And it’s when you reach that tunnel, that your life flashes before your eyes...Though I can’t say much flashed before mine. For I hadn’t lived very long, so therefore hadn’t had much of a life.
But what washed over me most, was what I could have done. And what I didn’t do. I had never made it past apprenticeship. Or gotten my gem that would have sat atop my staff when I past the final tests. I also had never fallen in love.
I think...maybe...I had felt something close to it...but never really fallen in love. Not with a human boy that is.
I fell in love with Eleyos of course.
And I suppose...he’ll always be the first true love anyone shall ever have...”