Summoned (Khemi) Part V, final chapter
“I will ****ing rip the throats of everybody here if she is not alive!” Ferron said in a tone that left no room for debate.
Imoteph looked up from Elyssa and shouted “She is alive!”
“There is nothing wrong that we can't fix, we are here for the good of both our people.” Derellas argued visibly annoyed by the situation.
Shiva studied Elyssa. Maybe she was wondering why this infidel to a woman was so important to the two noisy men.
“Then give us Elyssa and we will talk this over!” Calidius demanded persistently.
“Now! I won't ask again. Stand down.” Derellas shouted heatedly.
Gazed at both Calidius and Derellas and then back to Elyssa, Ferron putted the aim down with a sigh. They had come to a stalemate.
“Now, your arrows will not slow me down peasant.” Calidius returned, his voice thick with emotions. His moved a step closer to Imoteph and Elyssa to show that he would not bow down.
“I will let her blood bless this floor if you do not stand down!” Imoteph shouted impatient.
“No, but we will.” Derellas answered. “Your friend is smart enough to listen to reason.” He motioned to Ferron at Calidius side.
Ferron slowly moved the bow on his back while eyeing Derellas for any sudden actions. He took a few leaves from a small pouch and started to chew them while eyeing Elyssa and then Imoteph. He chewed the leaves slowly.
“Are you willing to sacrifice your girl for your own selfish goddamn pride?” Derellas asked with skepticism. He kept his arrow aimed at Calidius' chest.
“It’s not my pride you foolish man. Ill rather lose my life then have her taken” Calidius said defiantly as he boldly looked Derellas in his eyes. His look left no room for misinterpretations. “So let her go or ill cut down all of you before you have me dead.”
Imoteph said in a low voice to Shiva. “My love, move behind me...” The pregnant woman moved behind him with grace. “Calidius...listen”
Derellas looked at Ferron and raised his eyebrows. “Is he your friend? We’re trying to respect our truce but he's making it -damn- hard.” Ferron glanced at Derellas with lazy eyes, chewing the leaves slowly. He ignored the question in total.
Imoteph pulled his dagger a bit harder to Elyssas throat, showing his intent to sacrifice her if necessary. Elyssas head fell backwards and rested at Imotephs thigh.
Calidius looked at Ferron and gave him a hint to aim at Imotephs head. A light clad woman walked in the small alcove behind Calidius, she immediately drew her daggers when she saw the stand down. Treizi motioned her to take position beside Derellas. “Seichan, cover the exit” she said shortly.
“If I wanted her dead, she would have been” Imoteph said mockingly.
Ferron moved his hands to the hilts of his weapons. “I am ready to die here.” He had his eyes locked at Elyssas motionless body when he spoke.
“I was to release you...weaklings from Sets gaze...But now...what is this?” Imoteph asked looking from Calidius to Ferron. Blood was slowly dripping from the blade he had pressed at Elyssas throat. Luckily she seemed totally unaware of her situation and lay in a pile of limbs at Imotephs feet.
“Then let me speak to her and know she’s ok” Calidius pleaded.
“But are you ready to kill Elyssa?” Derellas first looked at Ferron and then Calidius, trying to stress the seriousness in the situation.
Ferron spited the leaves to the ground, kept his hands on the hilts of his weapons and looked at the group of people. “Aye... Let us check her then...”
“She is weak, my presence is to mighty for her! She has fainted...she will be alright, IF you back away!” Imoteph demanded instant obedience. He was beginning to get tired of these infidels taking up his time.
Seichan eyes switched from one man to another, licking her upper lip with excitement.
Calidius addressed Imoteph directly. “Imoteph, tell your men to stand down and you, I, Elyssa and Treizi will solve this.”
“We won't back away.” Ferron stated in his usual stoic manner.
Shiva looked calm at the situation from behind Imotephs back.
“You are in no position to make demands. Lower your weapons and we'll do the same. We don't want Elyssa dead, you don't want it either. There is no need for you to have your weapons aimed at us.” Derellas voice grew edgy.
Ferron shrugged, keeping his hands lazily at his weapons hilts. He glanced around. The number of new people coming into the tavern worried him. They were soon to be outnumbered by the believers of this Stygian abomination.
“Now, are you going to stand down or just make this situation even worse?” Derellas frowned.
Imoteph shouted “My men will keep on coming...you will ALL be my slaves! Hahaahahaha”
Ferron peered at Imoteph and shrugged. “Really now?”
“Seems we arrived at a stalemate, M'lord. This stubborn man wishes to endanger Elyssas life.” Derellas gestured at Calidius and looked at Imoteph for guidance. In his way he laid it up on the prophet to decide how proceed. He kept his eyes on the prophet awaiting orders. Imoteph gazed Calidius for a while before he came to a conclusion. He bowed down and spoke to Elyssa, his gentle words soothing her. “Elyssa...”
Carefully Derellas lowered his bow, showing to all that he truly wanted to end the standoff.
“Wake up...” From a distant a soft voice came and whirled around Elyssa in the warm darkness urging her to regain conscious. She felt her arms being lifted and her body moved without her own effort. Shapes appeared in the corner of her vision. The voice was kind and soft and besotted her.
“See, that wasn't so hard now, was it. Menfyt, stand down.” Derellas looked around him, gazing every Menfyt who might take matters in their own hands.
Ferron kept his hands on the hilts of his weapons. “I hope she is alright... I would really hate to throw away the truce.”
“We're here on good intentions only, no need to threaten our guests now.” Stated Derellas, eyeing Ferrons grip on his weapons. His eyes moved on to Lyon and he frowned. “Lyon! Put your weapons away.”
Lyon obeyed Derellas demand reluctantly. “Yes sir.”
Derellas looked at Seichan. “Stand down”
Seeing the tension relaxing Seichan frowned and putted her daggers away. “No fun”, she mumbled.
“Elyssa do you hear me?” Calidius voice was worried.
Elyssa slowly opened her eyes trying to focus on the voice, demanding her to obedience. Her eyes were unfocused like a blind person, seeing, yet not really seeing.
“Elyssa...wake up now“ Soft, so ever tenderly Imoteph patted her cheek.
Seeing Imotephs gentle touch on Elyssas cheek maid Ferrons inside revolt. Restrained from being able to rush forward and dragging Elyssa to safety he could only watch how the so called “Prophet” caressed her in front of him. He spitted on the floor.
“Maybe she wants to stay here... With Me” The look in Imotephs eyes were smug when he looked up at Calidius. Calidius returned the look with anger in his eyes.
“Maybe the truce is over.” Ferron whispered to himself.
“Elyssa” Imoteph whispered closely to her ear and she moved restlessly. Seeing the intimate scene Ferron readied him and took a more firm grip on the hilts of his daggers.
“Now, Elyssa would never stay here!” Calidius almost shouted.
“I will not release you.” Imoteph whispered. Elyssa stirred and turned her head towards the low voice. Her eyes are opened but still not seeing. She mumbled “Yes....”
“Either Elyssa leave tonight or the truce is over. Your choice!” Ferron stated.
From the other side of the narrow alcove Calidius shouted angrily.” Whatever witchcraft you have put on her end it NOW.”
“Will you stay here? Is this your wish?” Imoteph smiled widely while he spoke. “Stay….I am your friend”
“I have seen some fancy mind tricks...” Ferron glanced at Treizi. “She either goes with us now or the truce is over.”
“Stay... I m not... sure.....” Elyssa fought to find the right words. A part of her screamed in agony, just wanting to lash out in rage. The other part sought to do as the voice told her to do, following its every move with pleasure.
“Ssssh...” Imoteph tried soothing her.
Calidius could not believe what he witnessed. His leader on her knees, helpless. “NOW IMOTEPH YOU STOP THIS WITCHCRAFT!” he shouted. “Release her! Or we will be back and not this few and not so friendly”
A growl came over Ferrons lips and he took a step forward. Treizi blocked his path instantly. “She will come when they are done, Fearghal.”
“Shut up Treizi!” Treizi only smiled in return. Ferron took some more leaves and started to chew them, his gaze turning absent.
“Stay.... I ....” The words came slowly like they were forced and not Elyssas own.
“Elyssa...I am your friend, do you want the dreams to go away?” Imoteph stroke away a strain of hair from Elyssas face while he whispered a few inaudible words. “Do you wish to stay here? It is safe here.” Imoteph leaned close to Elyssa.
A shape in the darkness crawled near her and resolved into a giant serpent rising before her. Her unseeing eyes were quickly filled with fear. “Make it go away...!!!!”
Seichan grinned widely seeing the tension rising again.
Elyssa mumbled. “The eyes... The gaze... Light of Gods...”
“So you wish to stay and maybe the dream will go away?” His voice was sweet and whirled around her making her confused. A part of her still struggled and refused to bend down. In a desperate last attempt she tried to reach out with a cry for help before she was engulfed in the blackness.
Elyssas pledge for help reached Calidius on ways only known for those scollared in the ancient secrets and paths of Asura. He did not hear it, he felt it with his whole being. It vibrated and overpowered all his senses. Rapidly he shuted it out. But now he knew, she is alive and she is fighting back.
“Elyssa….Tell Calidius everything is fine...Tell Calidius not to worry. Tell Calidius to go away, we do not need him now” Imoteph intensified his tricks, making it harder and harder for Elyssa to resist.
“I’m ... fine.....not ..... worry” Elyssas voice barely carried the words to Calidius.
“I’m goanna count to 3 and if she’s not back to her real self again, I ill bring hell to this tavern.” Calidius interrupted rudely. It was time to end this and he braced himself.
“Tell Calidius to go, this is your wish. All you want is to be left alone.” Imoteph voice caressed Elyssas being and dragged her deeper in to the nothingness.
“I .. want .. to be ...left alone” Elyssa mumbled.
More Menfyt arrived down the stairs. One of them spoke, eager to get into play. “And the rumors were true! General, Captain? What’s going on, people outside the Tavern were talking about a heated fight over at the alcove here?”
“These two gentlemen are threatening our lives.” Derellas pointed at Calidius and Ferron. The Menfyt simply laughed in reply. “Take up the general’s position... General?”
“Mannus ...take position behind these two...” Treizi motioned at Calidius and Ferron.
Shiva studied Ferron from her safe place behind Imoteph. She looked pleased.
Having a firm grip of his weapons Ferron returned her gaze. “I do not care. She will come with us.”
“Against her will?” Shiva asked bemused.
“Aye, if that’s what it takes.” Ferron added in a plain tone.
Calidius looked around him, estimating his own chances. Two against four Menfyt and some Seties, with more on the way. He sighed over the odds not being in his favor. I hope you can forgive me for the things I have to do to get you out of this, Elyssa. He kept a firm grip on his polearm and closed his eyes for a brief while. It was all it took for him to concentrate on the light of Elyssas essence. Seeking within himself he reached out and touched her being. He gave it a little push only so little to make it go out of phase.
Elyssa blinked and her surroundings wrapped itself back and she regained her balance in time and space. The black hole filled with horror and burning eyes following her everywhere were gone and she looked up at Imoteph. He still had a firm grip in her collar. There was surprise in his eyes, even though he tried to cover it up. She held out one hand, mumbling ancient words of protection. Imoteph released his grip and let her go. Anger was growing in his eyes, she was supposed to be week. Not offer him any resistance. She rose still holding her hand in front of her. She desperately tried to remember the words to complete her prayer. “Aingil amhaín a fhéachann roimh chéimniú dóibh. Choíche arís, ná dearmad choíche Asura.” Imoteph took one step back and looked at her calmly.
“There will be another time, Elyssa.” Imotephs eyes were following Elyssas every move as she backed out of the Tavern, followed by Calidius and Ferron. The Menfyt stayed back with their prophet and did not engage in any pursuit.
They traveled back to Conarchs Village in haste. Being back on familiar grounds the men had lowered their guard and sat enjoying themselves in the Tavern. Ale was flooding and she could see Calidius moving towards the keeper, barely walking and shouting for ale. She smiled. For him this was over. He had done what was required of him. She on the other hand was afraid, that her payment was just going to begin. She gazed down at the open area beneath the tavern with absentminded eyes. In the light of the fireplace her shadow twined and for a mere second it formed itself to a large serpent gazing down at her.