Chapter 18
The Seraph's Call
As the morning rose along the foggy and snow covered day. The bodies of the two Daeva were now covered in a thin sheet of snow and soot. A temporary grave for what had happened to them last for that very dreadful night. The rays of sun trickle into the old cabin that held the two warriors of dark and light. As it bleeds in, it hits the eyelids of the woman, her dirt and blood covered white hair covering her face, Haliel eyes squeeze tightly together as she groans. She shuffles her head from side to side trying to shake the sun rays from her eyes. She then stops, feeling that both her legs and arms are bound with rope as she tries to sit up a bit too quickly and winces from the sharp pain of her body and of her wings, which are also bound. She looks to herself seeing that she is bandaged up from her wounds and then She looks at the opposite side of the room glaring at her armor which was stripped but leaning against the wall followed by her weapon and shield and the Daeva man sitting in the corner who is very much awake but ever silent.
"I do hope for goddess sakes you speak common, only she knew to give to all that gift until it was stripped from her." Maz points towards the ground next to Haliel showing a bowl of water. "I would have forced it into your mouth but I feared I'd lose a finger from your teeth so drink it." Haliel doesn’t move and only stares at him with malice. As she stares he just sighs and goes up to the window and peers out to his fallen men "Well, seems there hasn’t been sight of a party or band near to check on your handiwork yet. If you hadn't fallen over I probably would have met the same fate as my men. They fought well and did a number on you. But alas it is true to the tales" He looks to her shield which bears the symbol of The Seraph A red cross with 4 wings adorned behind it. "You are The Crimson Seraph. The Guardians Lap dog of Justice…" He then looks to her but she tsk and stays silent bending over with a grunt to sip the bowl of water. He looks to her then back outside his pointed ears flick as he hears the sounds of huff from the back of the cabin. He looks to her knowing she cant really move he starts to open the front door "I'll be just a moment" He steps out and walks to the back and to his relief it the sound of two Ruined Walkers stabled in the back most likely abandoned from the owners of the cabin before the war reached them. Maz can put them to use. He'd be caught dead from both sides if he was seen alive in this territory for even though he completed his mission in the mines his party died trying, him being the sole survivor. With the Arael woman still alive maybe he can barter for his life if he is caught. Especially with her reputation. He rubs the side of one of the walkers it huffs from its many nostrils and stomps it hooves in response. Now all he needs to do is get that woman to cooperate…
Re-entering the cabin Maz cautiously approaches Haliel "Now I am going to move you if you do not want to re-open your wounds, mind yourself." Maz isn't too keen on carrying her anyways with her being about six foot five she is quite a handful. Fortunately, with her armor removed it lessens the burden. He picks her up as carefully as possible even with her groans and grunting of discomfort, he carries her out to the walkers in the back. Returning to the cabin he decides to leave her blades behind not wanting to get stabbed if she so happens to escape but takes her armor wrapping it in the bed linen and saddling it to the side of the walker. He then goes to the 2 bodies of his fallen men and crouches at each of them examining the carnage that the Arael woman had done. Seeing the burnt crisp of one of them and a hand print mark covering his charcoaled skull he lets out a sigh knowing that mercy isn't an Arael's strong suit but for this woman, she dishes out the worst. "Take care in Twilight, my brothers. I'll meet you there in time." He stands and turns leaving their helmets over their blades as a sign of respect. He heads over to the walker giving the woman a look as she looks away in disgust still without a word. He hops onto the back of the walker and kicks to allow it to start trotting deeper into the forest.
Hours go by an still no search parties on the Arael side. Surely they'd be looking for her right? Maz thought to himself as he watches the cloudy winter skies. Fire seekers would be flying low which gives Maz enough time to see them first if they so happen to fly by. The trees would shake under the weight of the air pushed down by their wings. The duo continues to trek making sure to stay clear of large openings in the snow covered forest. Both Maz and the Walker would stick out due to their coloration but staying under the canopies give Maz the advantage. After some more time a running stream slightly frozen over is spotted and Maz takes that opportunity for a break. Hitching the walker as close as possible to a tree near the stream for it to drink, he grabs a bowl and scoops the very top of the running water and places it near the lips of Haliel. Reluctantly she drinks. Then turns her head away abruptly to motion that she is finished. With that, Maz then begins to drink from it and let's out a sigh of relief as the cold refreshing water enters his system. The walker drinks from the stream as well and Maz keeps watch for a few minutes so the walker can have a much needed rest from carrying two people.
Mid day approaches and the sun bleeds through the grey clouds there is still no sign of any Arael search party any where that Maz could see and his silent prisoner stays quiet, fortunately he checks on her to make sure she is still alive due to that. He is still unsure if she speaks common. Most Arael don't especially the grunts. Only the highly ranked Arael are seen and heard speaking in common. So he'd assume she does as well. But with her silence it is and still an enigma. As soon as he can get into Daevan territory he'll be in somewhat of a clear. Prisoners of War are treated differently by both parties. The Arael Military uses Daeva and Mundah Soldiers as Intelligence, servitude, and bait. While the other, if they are even remotely successful at capturing even one of the Soldiers, uses them to barter for temporary peace or trade. As both Daeva and Mundah are merely surviving this war than more or less winning... Arael seek to take control and wipe out anyone or anything that opposes them. If you so happen to let them subjugate you then they generally leave you alone unless the War comes to you.
Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.
No one truly knows why they started this war. But everyone knows when. During the one thousandth year celebration of the world they attack at full force. So sudden and coordinated many perished as a result of there agenda. luckily a lot of the civilization at that time were predominantly ready and took to hiding and that is why over three and a half ions later we are still fighting. They took most of the capitol cities and turned the main capitol the one in the dead center of our world into their headquarters, Solstice is what they call it and just above that rumored to be is a floating castle, maybe an island or a fortress of white in the clouds. The Island of Aria. A Cathedral of massive proportions. But only seen by a select few Arael. They say that it is where the 5 Guardians of the world reside. The legend says they are the first five children ever created by the Goddess herself. Many assumed they no longer exist... how could they? It's been over four thousand years since they were born. But some say they still live and are kept hidden. Some say they are what brought brutality and war in our world. but as it as always said, it merely is, just, a legend.
Maz arrives in familiar area with the lower elevation the forest converges into a more greener shape they have entered the infamous Geist Woods. Both a jungle and heavily forested ecosystem that the canopies barely blend the light. Perfect for Daeva and Mundah to hide and create tunnel networks for even more seclusion from the winged men and woman of the Arael Military. The many vines and branches make it very hard for them to fly, forcing them to take to the ground. Easier to ambush and hide among the hidden pines and trunks of the forest floor. The Daeva and Mundah wear and dawn colors to match this terrain. While the flashy Arael are spotted oh so easily with there white and silver armor.
Maz reaches a tree and hops off the Walker carefully he checks the Arael woman's wounds once more then with one swift moving places her over his shoulder. He hitches the Walkers to the tree and then knocks on the tree trunk a few times. After a few moments multiple soldiers pop their heads out of the many holes from the ground that were hidden in plain view. they ready their bows and spears but slightly lower them and start to jeer and cheer seeing Maz. One of the bigger and broader fellows stands from the pit he stands as tall as seven feet and laughs with enthusiasm. "Ha ha ha! By the goddess herself you old bastard! You're alive?!" He walks over and give a firm arm handshake to Maz who looks up to him with a smile. "Captain.." The Captain looks to the walkers then to the Arael woman for a moment "Who do we have here" He smirks "You've out done yourself Lieutenant my condolences to your men she must have been tough to handle.. I'm sure those mines are taken care of-" The Captains eye gaze as the emblem she boast and the armor that hangs from the walker and he stops his sentence short and grits his teeth clenching his fist tightly he begins to slightly tremble in anger and disbelief. "W-what?! How.. you... she.."
The other soldiers murmur and gossip them also seeing her emblem and armor. Maz stands a bit straighter and speaks firmly. "My men fought hard... I was down and they dragged me to safety they met there end because of her and I would have too until she collapsed. I did what I had to do to secure her, this 'Victory', isn't my doing." He says to the Captain dead in his eye. "Follow our oath sir, she is a Prisoner her deeds will be judged accordingly." The Captain grinds his teeth as a visible vein protrudes from his face as he bends down and speaks in a lowered tone. "Get her out of my sight Lieutenant, Goddess knows how much blood she spilled from my men alone and yours. The others around will have to hold me back if she stays in my presence any longer..."
Maz gulps but nods as he quickly goes into one of pits and heads to a his quarters of the pits getting multiple glances curses and jeers from the many soldiers, civilians, and refugees of the vast cave system. He places her in a cell like structure of natural stalagmites and stalactites. And sighs rotating his shoulder blade to help ease the strain of carrying her he places her armor far away from her and attaches a thick chain to her legs and tied arms hitched that to the wall so that she can only move within the room. A knock on the wall alerts to his attention. A man in robes and a shaven head enters and approaches Maz. His voice a bit raspy but gives a bit of proper elegance to it as he speaks. "So the murmurs are true you have the Crimson Seraph herself." He approaches her and forcefully grabs her chin and examines both sides of her face. The Arael woman snarls, and jolts her head to free her face from the examination. She shows her teeth with a slight sneer. The robed man raises his hand and stands back up. "How fascinating" He turns to Maz "Has she spoken of anything? Celestial or Common?" Maz shakes his head "Not at all but she is still badly wounded from the fight she had 2 days ago." The man sighs "Well when she does tell me as soon as you can. You have a very high value prisoner at your disposal my boy. Keep your eyes up some of these men are itching to 'have a word with' what she did.".
Maz sighs a bit and nods "I'll see too that. Just try to calm them down Overseer. Only thing she can do now is speak she is defenseless" The Overseer chuckles. "Believe what you want to believe my boy. But- " He points to the woman "her reputation shows she isn't defenseless even if backed in a corner." He pats Maz's Shoulder then walks out the chamber making the grunts that were standing close to move along and to leave the area. Only allowing Two Soldiers to guard the entrance. As night approaches Maz watches the night sky from the small hole in the cave the canopies covers most but he sees the many stars and blue and green bioluminescence that glows along the walls and dirt forest floor. He looks over the woman who is sleeping but is slightly shivering. Though the caves insulate the heat her wounds might've cause her to develop a fever. He stands and grabs one of his many blankets and cover her with it as he turns to walk away he hears the slight whisper, so quiet it almost takes him a back, of the woman who says thank you. He pauses keeping his head facing away he then continues to stare back at the opening before he dozes to sleep.