The Heiur Blade (Part 8-10)

Teyh tried to open his eyes but they felt like bricks had been placed on them. Moving was out of the question, even his thoughts made no sense.

What’s that?

Voices swirled around in his head, he could not make out any words but the voices sounded familiar.

Ari? Dustan? Is that you?

“He is only unconscious! And we cannot just leave him here!”

“He has been out like this for three days! And his condition has not improved! We don’t even know if he is even there!”

I am here guys! I am here!

~~~~

Ari looked over at Teyh, they had been in Iyun for three days and his condition had not improved. He had been unconscious the whole time and every time she had tried to read his mind she could not find any wondering thoughts inside him.

“Let me try one more time, that’s all I ask.” Ari asked desperately, she was not about to leave him, helpless.

“Listen I am sorry, you have tried already and you said it yourself you could not find anyone in there!” Dustan argued, they had stayed in this place long enough.

“Dustan, I am not about to leave him here! He has information that we need, we can’t leave him! Now we need supplies, if I cannot get anything out of him by the time you return then,” Ari sighed heavily, “we will leave.”

Dustan nodded, “You have until I return.”

“Thank you.” Ari replied, gratefully. Dustan left without another word.

~~~~~~

Teyh could not make sense out of the voices; they were going too fast for him to process.

Come on guys! Quit fighting and help me!

All of a sudden they stopped, Teyh tried to open his eyes but he was stilled unable to open them, let alone move any part of his body to let them know that he was still there.

Suddenly a strong force pushed against his mind. Breaking through his mental barriers easily.

I am here Ari. I am here!

~~~~~~

Ari easily brushed by his mental barriers and into his mind. It was the same as before…blank.

Until suddenly a single thought broke through to her.

I’m here…

Ari released her hold on his mind pulling away from Teyh’s mind.

Yes!

~~~~~~~

He was there! Ari looked down at Teyh. His eyes were still closed and his head lay to the side. Ari looked around the small room.

Please wake up!

Ari shook Teyh gently back and forth. If he did not snap out of it soon…

~~~~~~~~~

Teyh tried to move but his limbs felt like they were tied down. He could not hear Ari anymore.

Come on!

He tried desperately to move but nothing happened. He was frustrated, he felt like a caged animal trapped in his own body.

Finally!

Ari stopped what she was doing Teyh had opened his eyes! Ari never thought that she would be this excited to see his deep purple eyes.

“Where….what….” Teyh slurred, his tongue felt numb and stiff.

“We are in Iyun and you barely made it.” Ari said helping him sit up. “Now you need to rest, something tells me that we have a long ride ahead of us.”

Teyh sighed, he felt awful. His body felt numb all over, except for his back. Every time he took a breath a sharp pain ran across his back.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dustan wandered through the streets making his way back to the inn. They had been in Iyun for far too long. He had already found where Faizah lived, over beyond the mountains. They had to leave today with or without Teyh. Vengeance was so close and Teyh was only keeping him from it.

The crowded streets were stressful, Jheuri stopped and pawed at the ground. The cart in front of them had fallen over, the young man that was pulling it scurried around trying to pick the contents of the cart before they were crushed. Dustan kicked Jheuri forward; they leapt over the boy and his cart smoothly and continued down the narrow streets.

Finally, the inn was in sight, Dustan dismounted and handed Jheuri over to the stable hand and made his way inside, back to their courters.

~~~~~~~~~

Ari spun around, Dustan walked in and looked over to where Teyh was sitting on the make shift bed.

He’s awake?

Dustan stared at Teyh in disbelief. “Well I hope you are well enough to…”

“Ride, go gallivanting around the land with you two to save the world from Faizah and to rescue those who are trapped in his foul castle?” Teyh smiled, “Yes I believe I am.”

Dustan glared at Teyh, he did not like him interrupting him.

“Let’s go then.” Dustan turned and walked out of the door, and made his way to the stables.

Ari turned to Teyh and helped him up; he nearly collapsed because of the pain in his back. Teyh regained himself as they made their way out of the inn. The pain was almost too much for Teyh to bear.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Everything was dark….and quiet…too quiet. Teyh shifted uneasily in his saddle, his back had started to heal nicely. Gaeso felt his master’s uneasiness; the stallion sped up catching up with Zyrian and Ari. A sharp pain ran across his back, he winced that one almost brought him to tears. Teyh tried desperately to hide his discomfort.

Ari looked over at Teyh; he was trying to hide his pain, but it did not work. Tears formed in the corners of his eyes.

“Teyh you need to rest-“

“No…I am…fine” He interrupted; he was not going to slow them down, not now.

They kept moving, the trees started to thin a little, they were about to leave the forest. Dustan slowed Jheuri to a halt.

What is that?

He pushed Jheuri into a canter, Ari and Teyh followed. Teyh’s back burned like fire but he did not show it. Suddenly they reached a river. Its sapphire water glistened in the sun light. They dismounted and filled their canteens with the fresh water.

Dustan un-tacked Jheuri, “We will stay here for the night.”

Teyh was relieved, he carefully took the saddle and bridle off of Gaeso, placing them neatly on the ground, his back continued to burn. He lay down on the lush grass, closing his eyes for just a few moments. Dustan started a fire while Ari passed out their rations. Teyh sat up and thanked her for the meal.

Darkness quickly consumed them, as the sun was replaced swiftly with the moon. Teyh couldn’t sleep the pain in his back was burning worse than before and he could not shake the discomfort he felt.

He had been following them for days…the man they called Dustan held the key to his success. The dagger was kept carefully around Dustan’s waist, there was no way he was going to be able to grab it tonight…but when the perfect moment presented itself…

~~~~~

Teyh sat up quickly, trying to ignore the pain he felt. He listened…but everything was quiet.

Someone’s watching I can feel it.

Teyh looked around, Ari was sleeping soundly and Dustan was leaning against a tree, his eyes closed. A small breeze disrupted the eerie silence, a twig snapped behind him. Teyh turned around, there just between the trees, two green eyes, one was more blue than green, watched them intently before disappearing in the night.

~~~~~~~~~~

“Dustan! Wake up!”

Dustan jumped up, knocking Teyh to the ground. Teyh’s back screamed in pain, tears streamed down his face. Dustan helped him to his feet.

“Are you-“

“I’m fine…someone is watching us…we need to leave.” Teyh replied catching his breath.

Dustan quickly grabbed his things and retrieved the horses. Teyh ran over to Ari’s place but found that she had disappeared; he looked around looking for any trace of her.

“Ari!” Teyh yelled, waiting for a response but none came.

Dustan ran over to Teyh, “What happened?” He demanded.

“She’s gone, I cannot find her.” Teyh replied breathlessly, the pain in his back had returned.

Dustan took off into the woods, Teyh followed closely behind. Suddenly, they came to a clearing. A figure stood holding a knife to Ari’s throat. The figure’s face was covered by hood, the only thing Teyh and Dustan saw were his eyes. Both were green but one had a blue tint to it. This was what was watching them earlier that night.

“If you want her to live, give me the Heiur blade.”

Teyh looked down at Dustan’s waist, the blade rested securely in its sheath; Dustan placed a hand on its hilt.