Chapter 49

In the end, it was decided that we would go with Uruk’s suggestion and travel south. Showing them Chaya and that the Dorians had joined our cause could only boost the morale and help bring more people to join.

I sighed. So we were preparing to ride to Tarnis. And they hoped that I would lead them to victory. I stared at the ground. What did Veena want me to do? How could I believe I was someone that I wasn’t? If that was our only chance to stand against this darkness, what hopes did we have?

I glanced at Chaya walking behind me. Aki had already taken her under her wings and was happily chatting about something I couldn’t hear. Why wouldn’t the Dorians help us? If they knew what it was, they could have joined the fight instead of sending a girl.

I sighed. We hadn’t had time to discuss what had happened, and I didn’t even know what to tell the others when we did. Chaya had hinted that the Queen had talked to them, too, but I didn’t know what she had told them.

I tried to focus on my bare feet against the ground, but even that couldn’t dispel the thoughts creeping up. The only way to defeat the darkness was to believe I was Goddess. It was doomed to fail.

“Halt”, Uruk called.

I turned. He was crouching next to Chaya. She was sitting on the ground, with Aki holding her hand.

“It’s okay. We can rest”, I heard her say.

I frowned. Was she already tired? I guess she wasn’t used to walking, even if we hadn’t gone far yet. At least I had been lucky enough to be fit when I arrived. Karim turned to us.

“Let’s take a break”

I sat down, and Selene walked over to her.

“Are you okay?”

Chaya wouldn’t meet her gaze and only nodded quietly.

“Don’t worry, we can go slow”, Karim reassured her.

Aki took some fresh fruits she had found on our way and handed her one.

“Eat. They are sweet, and you will feel better.”

“Thank you”

Chaya smiled weakly and took a bite, and Aki sat down next to her and began to tell her where she could find more if she needed.

I glanced at the others. With Chaya around, we couldn’t discuss our plans as we usually did, but if Aki kept her company, they might take the chance. The others seemed to come to the same conclusion, because they came over and sat down next to me. I braced myself for the conversation, still not knowing what I should tell them.

Karim glanced at us, but it was Uruk who spoke first.

“What did she tell you?”

They glanced at each other before Selene hesitantly said,

“She… spoke about a darkness”

Karim nodded.

“Do you know what it is?”, Uruk asked her.

She shook her head. Maybe Veena hadn’t told us the same thing, because none of them asked for my opinion, and instead, Uruk said,

“Maybe the library in Eldoria could give us an answer…”

Selene shook her head.

“We won’t have time…”

Karim sat back and sighed.

“We can’t defeat it if we don’t know what it is. We’ve lost…”

I glanced at him, surprised by his reaction. Uruk frowned.

“We could divide our forces and march to Saldar. It would draw the Imperium’s attention away from our attack on Tarnis”, he suggested.

“No, we aren’t strong enough. We won’t have enough numbers to retake Tarnis.”, Selene said.

Karim sighed.

“She is right. They haven’t attacked Akka yet, even though they could take it with ease. They want us to come to Tarnis so they can crush us once and for all.”

I felt the uneasiness creeping in.

“How do you know?”, I asked.

“They know how we would respond if they were to attack. We would fall back and force them to take city by city the whole way to the sea…”

“The Imperium don’t want another Great Retreat”, Selene added.

“We’ve been fools…”, Uruk sighed.

They stared at the ground for a moment before Karim suggested,

“What if we sacrifice the north and pull back to Zarion?”

Selene nodded.

“The sun will rise again”

I felt hopelessness spreading. So we were doomed. I didn’t even need to tell them what Veena had said. At that moment, a soft melody suddenly floated through the air. I turned. Chaya was playing a small wooden flute, and the gentle sound made me smile.

When she stopped, Uruk blinked, glancing around.

“What did you do?”

“I told you I would protect you from it as much as I could”, she whispered, staring at the ground.

“But how…? It was just a melody”, Selene asked, confused.

Chaya nodded and then glanced at me.

“Imagine then what you can do if you choose to believe…”

I frowned.

“What does she mean?”, Aki asked, looking between us.

I sighed and Karim put a hand on my shoulder.

“What did Veena tell you?”

I looked up, and his eyes met mine, and I knew I couldn’t hide it from them.

“She told me…”

I hesitated, feeling their eyes on me.

“That if people truly believe that I am her, they will be able to resist the darkness.”

Karim grinned.

“So the victory is ours. After everything you’ve done, no one will doubt it.”

I glanced at them, and my eyes caught Chaya’s.

“She also told me that I had to believe it myself…”