Chapter 36
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
ALINA
The next day, Hanoch himself delivered the news about the evacuation rehearsal.
I was about to search for Frid in the village when I saw him walking straight toward me.
He called me by my nickname, and I stopped, waiting patiently for him to close the distance between us.
His brown hair looked disheveled, as though he had not rested in a while.
I noticed a slight resemblance between him and his younger brother; something in the lines of his nose and jaw was vaguely familiar.
Looking at him made me long to see the original so badly it almost hurt.
Hanoch agreed to practice the evacuation later that day, understanding how vital it was for everyone.
He looked pleased when I updated him on the progress we had made in such a short time.
"Great! When I handed this part of my duties over to you, I never imagined everything would go so smoothly.” He paused, then added.
“Now I see why he’s so taken with you. The real question is, why would you need someone like him?
” I stared at him, surprised, and he laughed.
“I’m joking. But, seriously, if you ever do anything to hurt him, I will make your life unbearable. ”
I looked up at him, noticing another side of him that I had not seen before. Underneath the mask of a competent leader, was a caring older brother.
“Don’t worry, I know what you mean. I have a brother too, and I would do anything to protect him,” I said.
“I’m glad we understand each other.” He nodded.
Suddenly, there was the sound of tiny feet on the gravel, and the next moment a child attached himself to Hanoch’s leg.
“There you are, buddy.” Hanoch picked the boy up and placed him on his shoulders.
I looked back, noticing a beautiful young woman, with long curly hair the color of wild honey, walking toward us with a gentle smile on her lips.
“Where are the other three?” Hanoch turned toward her and his face immediately softened.
“They’re playing,” the woman responded, but her eyes lingered on me.
“I don’t think you two met. Aly, this is Emma, my wife. And this little fellow is my son, Toby.”
“Nice to meet you,” I said, extending my hand.
“I’ve heard so much about you. I just wanted to tell you that you did a fantastic job organizing everything.” She smiled.
“Thank you.”
Hanoch walked in front of us with Toby still sitting high on his shoulders. Toby was squealing with excitement every time Hanoch bounced him up in the air.
“I wish I could offer you help,” Emma said.
“You have too much on your plate.” I looked back at her.
“It’s a lot, but it makes me so happy. I thank the gods everyday for everything I have.”
My thoughts went back to Tynan.
Would he be a good father? Would he want to have children?
There were so many things we never discussed. I had no idea how he saw our future.
Was I a part of any long term planning?
I turned my gaze back to Hanoch and Toby, realizing that seeing them together stirred thoughts in me, things I had not even known I wanted.
It came to me right then – as clear as the morning sun.
I wanted a family of my own one day, a home that was warm, messy, and loud.
Where every night I would feel completely spent, exhausted, and incredibly happy.
Shortly after we parted ways, I continued walking through the valley, but my thoughts relentlessly pulled me back to Tynan and the others.
Two days had already passed. I desperately needed to know if he was alright, the worry was almost unbearable.
My imagination painted grim images of an undead beast with its rotten, decaying belly, turning its head and spreading its wings.
"He’s alright,” a voice came from somewhere below.
“Excuse me?” I turned my head.
“Your man’s alright.”
I looked down, and finally noticed two feet sticking out from behind a neatly stacked pile of wood on the side of the road.
Carefully, I moved closer, spotting an older man dressed in tattered pants and no shirt. His body looked battered and malnourished, but his face held a content expression, and he even smirked when he saw me approaching.
“You’re a beauty. I understand him better now,” he said.
“Do I know you?”
“Only if Tynan talked about me.”
“Sage?” I squinted my eyes.
“So, he did.” The man laughed quietly.
“Why are you . . . here?” I hesitated.
“Celebrating the end. As you probably know already.”
“You know. You saw it.”
“Of course. I’m a seer, as much as I would love to not have this gift.” He smirked.
“Then you probably know that this time, we’re going to be prepared.”
“Are you familiar with the concept of destiny?” He lifted himself up on one elbow.
“Are you talking about what is meant to be will come true no matter what?”
“How would I know? I’m only a city drunk, not worth listening to.” He chuckled.
A sudden buzzing filled my mind. I wanted – no, I needed – Tynan here right now. I craved his touch, that sense of safety. In that moment, everything we had accomplished felt pointless and naive.
What if he was right? What if we were not prepared enough to save the people?
“I need to go.” I turned, hurrying back to the mountain castle.
“Wait!” the old man shouted, but I did not stop.
"What’s wrong?" I asked Frid later when we met in the dining hall.
"I don’t know . . . I guess, I’m just worried about everything."
"We’re ready," I said, watching the castle inhabitants going about their usual routine, none of them looking distressed or anguished.
At least one thing we had managed to achieve was ensuring people knew what to do in case of an emergency – to save their children and themselves. That way, the men could focus on defending the city without constant worry for their loved ones.
“It’s been almost three days. Where is he?” Frid suddenly said.
“I’m sure they’re going to come back soon.”
In truth, I was not sure about anything. I was worried sick about them.
“Attention, please!” Hanoch shouted and the whole room went quiet.
“Today we are attempting to create a possible scenario of an attack on the city. Remember what needs to be done, and do not panic. The event will start after the first sound of the bell. I am not going to tell you when it will take place, to make it more realistic.”
“Great! Realistic is exactly what we need,” Frid muttered.
I smiled and shook my head, but suddenly a loud metallic clang sounded in the room, and despite everything we practiced, people rushed in the opposite direction, unsure of what to do.
“Let’s go!” Frid sprung up on her feet.
“It doesn’t look promising so far.” I stood up, following the tall figure of Frid through the crowd.
“What’s happening?” someone shouted.
“We’re under attack!”
“Are you sure?”
“Monsters are in the city!” a man shouted, and multiple women screeched.
I tried to keep up with Frid, but she was separated from me by the crowd of people. Someone pushed me hard in my ribs and I gasped. The current was taking me to the door and I was afraid I would get flattened against the wall like a pancake.
A massive back slammed into me, and for a moment I could not breathe.
I cried out, trying to push the male away from me, accomplishing nothing.
I was shoved again, and my vision nearly blurred.
I could not get myself out, panic swirled through me like a poisonous snake, choking my breath into uneven gasps. Dark spots swam before my eyes.
Suddenly, everything stopped. I opened my eyes wide, seeing a familiar face in front of me. It was Denis. Denis had stepped in between me and the panicking crowd, shielding me with his body. His hands were on the wall behind me, his wide shoulders gave me the protection I so desperately needed.
“I got you,” he said. “I got you,” he repeated.
At that moment, I was not sure how I felt about him. I had spent so much time avoiding him, resenting him because I remembered what he did, and Tynan did not like him. Yet he turned out to be the only one who had helped me.
“Thank you.” I whispered, just then realizing that my hands were on his arms.
“Get your fucking hands off her!” a voice thundered from behind us and my heart nearly exploded.
“Tynan?” I breathed, too stunned to process that he had come back – that he was standing just a few feet away from us.
His flying suit was torn in the front, a gash visible on his chest. His hair was wet, and his face was painted with blood, a thin streak of it contrasted sharply against his skin like a scarlet thread.
I pulled my hands away from Denis, but it was already too late. Tynan had seen us in what could only be described as an embrace.
“Darragh?”
Tynan said nothing, moving toward us. His eyes were on my face. I could see the fury, the hurt, in the depths of his dark, umber eyes.
“You finally showed —” Denis started to say, but before he could finish, he was shoved aside.
Both men crashed to the floor, with Tynan landing on top of Denis.
“Gods!” I looked around, realizing that the people were leaving the main floor. The room was nearly empty and there was no one who could stop them.
As the men wrestled, Tynan managed two blows right at Denise’s face. I finally found enough strength to get my arms wrapped around his neck, and pulled him away.
“Please! Please, stop!”
Finally, he listened. Slowly, he got up, his eyes stayed on Denis, who remained on the floor. His face burned with menace as a streak of blood oozed from his mouth.
“You’ll pay for this.” Denis hissed, wiping his busted lip with his sleeve.
“Let’s go.” I pulled Tynan away and to my surprise, he followed me all the way up the stairs, back to his room.
We were supposed to join the others in the basement, but I needed to physically separate Tynan and Denis, and that was the only way I could think of.
As soon as the door behind Tynan closed, I lit the lamp. When there was nothing left to delay the conversation, I turned to face him.
“Tynan.”