The Guardian Crusade

Volume III

  Chapter 11

            “The old ones?” Rayne replied confused after Nick had got done telling her and Nalia what went down in Kalica.

“We’re being lied too.” AJ said as his fingers strummed along the table.

“Lied to? Why would Pixca lie to us?” Rayne said looking at him.

“She’s lied about everything else, she made herself out to be some great creator but really she’s just one of them.” AJ replied.

“I still can not fathom that she is a demon.” Nalia spoke up.

AJ looked over at Rayne; she sat quietly staring at the table.  “Beautiful are you alright?” He asked but she didn’t answer him.  “Rayne?”

“Pardon?” She replied looking up at him.  “Oh, yes I’m fine, just thinking.” She said with a light smile.

“I just do not understand.” Nalia spoke.

“We need answers.” Nick said looking at AJ.

“Well there’s only one place to get them.” He replied.

Nick, Nalia and AJ got up from the table and headed out the doors but AJ stopped when he realized Rayne was not with them.  “Go to the park, we’ll meet ya there.”  The two nodded in agreement and headed down the hallway, AJ went back into the meeting room and saw Rayne still sitting in her chair staring at the table.

“Rayne?” AJ spoke as he sat beside her.  She looked up at him.  “What are you thinking about?”

“She created us, all of us, she created the Elvanns from the soil of this land, she created the Dwarves from the rocks of the mountains and she created us from the waters of the rivers…she…she” Rayne stopped and he watched as she swallowed hard and closed her eyes.  “She made me.  I died, I had become the Dryad but she brought me back…what does that make me Alex?” She said as she looked at him. 

He saw fear in her eyes, sadness in her eyes and confusion in her eyes.  He frowned and reached up touching the side of her face gently.  “You think on your own, you do as you want, you’re still my wife, you’re still a Guardian, and you’re still Queen Rayne of Sarila and Winnol, just with some extra stuff.” He said with a light smile.  “We don’t know all the facts yet, let’s hear what she has to say and go from there.”

They both stood up from the table and AJ held the door open for her as they left the meeting room.  They made their way through the castle and out into the city, saying hello and greeting the Elvaan citizens’ as they walked towards the park.  When the couple entered the park they could hear Nick yelling, so they picked up their pace and hurried towards the loud voice.

“We want the truth Pixca!!” Nalia shouted at her as AJ and Rayne walked up behind the couple yelling at Pixca.

“We deserve that much.” Rayne said as AJ looked beside him at her.  He looked back at Pixca, the Elvaan like woman looked at all for of them and he could tell she was taken a back by the bombardment.

“No more lies, no more false stories, how did you end up here, why did you create this place?” AJ asked.

“I come from a world of war, a place where lives meant nothing, where I meant nothing, just another body on a battle field.” Pixca told them.  “I made my way up in the ranks and doing so it allowed me to plan my escape.  When I saw the records of all the worlds we had conquered I saw this place.  There use to be life here, there use to be Elvaans, Humans, and Dwarves but they were all killed when my world came rolling through.  They destroyed every last piece of this place and then left never giving it another thought.”

“But why lie about it?” AJ asked.

“I never thought they would find me.” She then looked at all four of them.  “We call ourselves the Drak’nor, they don’t care where they have been only where they are going.  So I brought this world back, brought back the Elvaans, the Dwarves and the Humans, I found a way to lock this place so they would never get in.”

“But what about the Guardians?” AJ asked. 

“After I had re created the people of this world, I knew I and it would need protecting, so I took one from each race and took another human, you see Humans are powerful on their own but when you have more than one they can be unstoppable.” She said as Nalia and Rayne looked at each other.  “My first Guardians were, Jamial, Sarsa, Hexal, and Rotosa,” She then paused and AJ saw her eyes went else where for a moment.  She then took a deep breath. “They protected me and this world, with each life cycle new Guardians came and went and then the war started between the Humans and the Dwarves.  The Dwarf Guardian Genua for whatever reason I still do not know, told the dwarves about the tree, how it was more than a symbol, it was a doorway.  The Dwarves destroyed it and that is when the Drak’nor realized where I was.”

“It caught their attention?” Nick asked.

“Yes” Pixca nodded.  “Ti’Hort came, he was the Hunter sent to find and kill me, when he found Ignis who was furious about the destruction of the tree and the death of Silvnia, he was easy to manipulate, Ignis sided with the humans and began to destroy the Dwarves but then the war ended as quickly as it had started, they retreated back to Tokia with not another mention of what had happened.”

“The old one?” Nick asked.  “The old one had taken control of them.” Pixca nodded to him. 

“His name is Loki, he was my superior.” She told them.  “I have no doubt he was looking for me as well, I’m sure he almost lost his life when the Drak’nor realized I had found this place, I had ran away, they would see him at fault for it.” She then took a deep breath.  “I did not know he was here until you.” She said looking at Nick.

“Me?” Nick replied confused.

She nodded.  “As I connected with you, talked to you, I could feel him in you somewhere.” Pixca said.  “After you four had rescued me I realized he must have gotten in and was in hiding.”

“Why? Why didn’t they just kill you?” AJ asked.

“Power.” Pixca said.  “Imagine how you would feel if you could control an entire world, instead of just destroying it. Ti’Hort he needed me, these were still my people, they were still my Guardians, and he needed my power to manipulate them.”

“What about the old one?” Nalia asked.

“He was most likely waiting to see what Ti’Hort had done, maybe he thought Ti’Hort had killed me, I do not know.” Pixca said.

“Well it looks like he is making a move now.” AJ sighed.  He looked up as he felt someone’s eyes on him and saw Nick staring at him.

“Wait a minute.” Rayne finally spoke up and everyone looked at her.  “You said it was Genua that told the Dwarves of the tree.”  Pixca nodded at her.  “But he was with Adamai, Rayxes, and Alia, they tried to stop Ignis. The two went to save the tale.”

“The three of them tried to stop Ignis; Genua went along to make sure it didn’t happen.” Pixca told them. 

“Just like how they tried to get me too.” AJ heard Nick whisper.

““There never was a tale, I would always inform the races when it was time for new Guardians, that was all Ignis’s story. When the four separated, Rayxes and Adamai went after Ignis, Genua and Alia were supposed to go and rescue me.” She told them.  “But it never happened, Genua killed Alia before they even stepped foot into Ashmourn, Ignis trapped Adamai in the cave behind the waterfall and killed Rayxes, Genua, went back to Tokia and stayed with Loki until his death came.”

“But what about the statue?” AJ asked

“The statue?” Pixca replied and AJ could tell she was confused.

“Yeah it’s how we figured out how to find you, or that it was you we were looking for.” Nick replied quickly.  “Evil has come, Evil has found the lady he wanted, the lady is bound.  Her Guards they hunted and fought but death was all they caught.  The Lady is trapped stuck in a cage, waiting for the return of her Druid, Lock, Warrior and Mage.”

“I…I do not know what that is.” Pixca replied and for the first time AJ actually thought she was being honest.

“How do you know all of this if you weren’t even around?” AJ asked. “And when everyone got their memories back how come they didn’t remember this?”

“Just like Rayne can read the life aura’s of the people, I can read the aura of this world, and it told me the story.” She said.  “And what the people remember is what they were told at the time, the Dwarves said Genua and Alia were killed trying to save the tale but that was a lie.”

“So you lied to everyone to save your own hide.” AJ scoffed.

“I could not tell the people who I really was, there would be doubt in their minds and then, if the Drak’nor ever found this place again, they would use it against me, and war would start all over again.” She told them. “The only ones who knew were my Guardians but then Ignis trapped me, changed the memories of the people and told his own story.  Adamai and Rayxes repaired the life thread but do to the secrecy of who I really was and the damage Ignis had already done, the life thread itself had changed.”

“So why should we believe you.” Rayne said quickly.  “How do we not know you are not some…some…low life demon just trying to save yourself.”

“Would I create this place if I was, would I enjoy watching life live and flourish, would I have brought you back for Alexander if I was?” Pixca said to her.  “ I do not want war or death, I am tired of war and death, it is why I came here.”

“Well looks like you don’t have a choice now.” AJ replied.  “If that Loki guy is here and he’s the one controlling the Dwarves we have to do something.” Everyone stopped talking and took a moment when they realized there would be another war.

“I have a question.” Nick said breaking the silence.  “Why won’t you give Nalia her site back? You created this place, you brought back its people, you created the warriors, Guardians, and you even brought back Rayne but you won’t help Nali? Why?” Nick asked and AJ could hear the anger in his voice.

“I only interfere when I have too.” Pixca told them.  “This place was dead, the people were dead, I brought them back, I needed the Guardians to help protect this place, and I needed Rayne to protect the gateway, the doorway, and I needed You, Nalia and Alexander to protect her, and…” She paused and looked at AJ.  “I needed her because it was only a matter of time before we all lost Alexander as well.”

“But…” Nalia started to say and Pixca finished.

“But Nalia does not need her eyesight, she is a powerful Warrior, given time, she will become and even greater one.  Yes having her sight would be easier but she does not need it, I know it may sound harsh but it is the truth.”

“Well that’s some bullshit right there.” Nick scoffed and AJ couldn’t help but smile a little.

“I am sorry.” Pixca said quietly.  “And I hope I am there the day you come face to face with Rossi.”

“So what do we do now?” Nalia asked.

“I think we should stay in Kalica, I’m betting there will be another attack and we should be there when it happens.” AJ said looking at Nick.

“I agree.” Rayne replied with a nod.

“I should leave now, I still need much rest from my time in Ashmourn.” Pixca told them.

“Nice you go have a snooze while we risk our lives to save your ass.” AJ mumbled and when Pixca’s head snapped to him he realized he wasn’t quiet enough but before she could say anything to him everyone including Rayne had started walking towards the park entrance and he quickly followed, like a child running away from their parent before the scolding began.

The four Guardians walked through the city not saying a word, knowing it would be better to speak behind closed doors.  They walked into the castle and made their way upstairs, stopping in the middle of the hallway about to go their separate ways for a moment.

“We’ll get our things together and we’ll let the gang know we’re all staying in Kalica for a bit, then when they are ready we’ll hop the globe there.” AJ said to Nalia and Nick

“Ok, we’ll head back, get the latest news from Bussa and then get some rooms ready for ya.” Nick replied with a nod.

AJ followed Rayne back to their room, he closed the door behind them, and when he turned around he saw her staring out the open window.  “Everything ok Beautiful?” He asked as he walked over to her.  “Is there a bird talking to you or something?”

Rayne looked at him and lightly smiled.  “No.” She replied.  “Just thinking about what Pixca said.”

“Do you believe her?” AJ asked as he walked over to the bench by the window.

“Do you?” She replied.  “You are the one who knew something was going on to begin with.” Rayne said as she followed him to the window.

“I think I do.” AJ replied.

Just then a bird landed on the windowsill and both AJ and Rayne looked at the little creature.  The bird was looking right at Rayne his head quickly cocking from side to side and then, a gasp from Rayne’s lips brought AJ’s attention to her.

“What did it say?” AJ replied not even second guessing what was going on.

Rayne just shook her head.  “Impossible.” She whispered and then the bird took off as Rayne jumped up from the bench.

“Rayne?” AJ said as she ran across the room, she ripped the door open and it slammed back against the wall.  “Rayne!!” AJ shouted as he quickly got up and ran after her.  When he got out into the hallway he saw her flying down the stairs.  “Damn it woman.” AJ moaned as he took off after her.

“Where did she go?” He shouted to one of the guards as he skipped down the steps.

“Outside sir.” The men replied as they opened the door up for him.

When he got outside he saw her running down the street, and he followed her as best he could.  As she turned down a familiar street he realized she was heading towards the Springs and as he entered the place of healing he heard her yelling.

“Let me see him!” She shouted at one of the Priests. 

“Please your highness what is the meaning of this?” The Priest asked.

“I know he’s in there now let me see him!” She shouted again.

“How…” The Priest was cut off.

“I am a Guardian that’s how, now you will let me into that room.” She demanded.

“Rayne?” AJ said from behind her and the Priest looked up at him.

“King Alexander.” The Priest said with a light bow.

“What’s going on?” AJ asked him.

            “He only arrived a minute ago, some Darlawind fisherman found him, he was sent here once they realized who he was.” The Priest told him.

“Who? Who are you talking about?” AJ asked as he looked to Rayne but she was already sneaking past the Priest who was distracted by AJ.

When she entered the room AJ pushed past the Priest and followed her.  He walked into the cave and as his eyes adjusted to the light he saw Rayne staring straight ahead of her.  His head turned as he followed her gaze and as he saw the person lying in the healing water, rage rushed through him.  His teeth pressed hard against each other and they made a grinding sound the harder they clinched down.

“Im-Impossible.” AJ seethed as he stared at his brother soaking in the water.