Airel - Aaron Patterson [44]
Yamanu did not look his age. He had a full white beard and a bald head that shone in the moonlight. He was lean, just as he was as a kid, and a dark aura hovered around him; a shadow. “I have been waiting for this day,” he said, breaking the silence. Both of them still looked ahead at the stars, not at one another. “You come with haste.” Then, Yamanu turned to regard his old friend and said, “I know why.” He took a long drag from his pipe and looked back up to the heavens, regarding the stars.
“Do you, indeed?” Kreios looked at him. “My daughter is in great danger, old friend, and we must take her to the mountains of Ke’elei.”
Yamanu turned, looking with wonder at Kreios. “The City of Refuge.” He sighed. “This is more than I had imagined.” He paused again and looked at the ground. The smoke was pooling at their feet, fusing itself to the shadow that clung to him always, in symbiosis. “Tell me, is it true that your wife is dead?”
Kreios had to take a moment. His hands were trembling as he nodded, “It is true.”
Yamanu reached a hand to Kreios’s shoulder, touching him affectionately. The tears around his eyes mingled with a furrowed brow. “I am sorry, my old friend. She was a pure heart.” There was only a moment more of silence and consideration until a fire was lit within the eyes of the Shadower and his decision was made.
Yamanu stood. “We must go.” He descended the rickety steps and began walking briskly in a little circular track that signified nervous energy. “I can feel your urgency,” he said; then paused, looking to the west. “With that westerly wind, I fear the Seer is closer than you might have guessed.”
Kreios stood and came close. Yamanu moved behind him with agility and spoke in a whisper, “I will fight with you to the death, my friend.” Then he added playfully, “I will also beat you into the sky!” Yamanu was a rocket, gone in an instant, leaving Kreios looking up at his light trail with a smile. Kreios bent his legs, launched, and shed a sonic boom almost instantaneously.
It was the beginning of the end, they both felt that. Even as the world slept, unaware of the existence of the monsters and incredible beings living amongst them, Kreios knew that what was destined to happen would change everything.
Chapter XXIV
Boise, Idaho. Present day.
Kim and I sat in the third row of the bleachers under the mild late-September sun. The football team was running drills for an upcoming game. Borah liked to win more than anything else.
Coach Dennis was a machine. If he had his way, the football team would practice all year long. Football was his life. He was short and pretty fit for an old dude. The man had arms the size of most men’s legs... gross.
He stood with his feet spread apart like he was gonna swing a sword or something. Every once in a while he blew a whistle, commanding the attention of everyone on the field, as well as a few in the stands. He barked out a few orders and the guys began running wind sprints.
I watched the bigger ones lag behind the other guys, like James and Michael, who seemed born for it. I wondered, as they killed themselves for their conditioning, why guys pushed themselves so hard for a game. It was just a stupid ball. They fought and clawed their way up and down the field over it, thinking they looked impressive, then what?
I had to admit I didn’t get it, but it was kinda fun to watch all the same. I tuned Kim out—she was talking my ear off–and watched Michael run the field back and forth, up and down, in perfect rhythm to some hidden clock that he alone could feel. He moved like a cat, light on his feet; and quick–much quicker than the rest of the team.
“Did I tell you that James asked me out the other day? We’re going to see a movie. Oh, no wait... maybe that’s not such a good idea.” She looked at me as if I was made of glass. “Well, he said he had the perfect place in mind for dinner. I hope it’s that new Brazilian place. I hear that you need a reservation just to get in. Gosh, he’s so strong! Just look at him run!” She gave a lovesick sigh