Leona stayed at Tavus’ for tea and left a little after noon to head home.

She was about to reach the forked road which divided the road between Haikhan and the wilderness when an idea struck her.

I could look for Jarael in the areas between Haikhan and Glavonica, she thought. Maybe I could look around the Fasenpahr for a bit. If I don’t find him, I’ll return home at dusk.

Leona took the dirt road that branched to her left and galloped away to the forest where they had found Jarael.

Some way off, Jarael stopped by the shade of a large tree and tugged his cloak off. He saw the slits at the back stitched together.

“No use flying while avoiding being scorched by the sun,” he said as he started picking at the stitches.

Leona and the couple didn’t know you were a Giraj. A voice from the back of his mind reminded. He shrugged as he pulled the stray threads from the slits. Jarael’s thoughts went back to Leona. He suddenly felt a rush of disappointment and heartbreak like diving into a freezing pond.

In his despair, Jarael punched the tree beside him. His knuckles burned red and left a fist-sized splintered hole on the trunk.

He stared at the hole, waved his hand over it, and brownish-green bark magically crawled over the fractured patch.

“I almost had you back, Shaeryva,” he said to himself somberly. Then his misery turned into frustration, “maybe I arrived at the wrong time or maybe even the wrong place, but there you were! A goddess several hundred years old trapped in the body of a seventeen-year-old mortal oblivious of her past! I have to make you realize…”

He buried his face in his arms for a moment gripping his cloak tightly. Finally, he stood up and draped the cloak once more around his shoulders. His hand traveled to grip something on his neck.

And I even forgot the monocle back in the cottage, he said, frustrated. He breathed heavily.

I just hope Leona wouldn’t find it and come to look for me.

Just then a dark shadow passed directly above him. Jarael heard it brush lightly against the treetops. He looked up but only saw a clear blue sky.

A hawk, probably? Jarael thought. Too big. And it is too fast to be just a passing cloud.

Jarael closed his eyes and his wings rushed from his back. He gave them two powerful beats before kicking off from the ground into the sky.

Jarael gained altitude swiftly. Satisfied that his wings were working properly again, he allowed himself a wolfish grin as he propelled forward at breakneck speed.

“So, my adversaries,” he said quietly, “Let us resume the chase, shall we?”

Leona rested in a clearing several miles from the outskirts of Glavonica about an hour after she altered her course. Now that she was in daylight, she can vaguely tell that she near the heart of Fasenpahr, an old and vast forest that dominated the west of Glavonica and Haikhan.

Nobody tries to stay in the Fasenpahr for too long unless some unfortunate event forces them to. Muggers and bands of thieves, strange and wild beasts were said to prowl its dark shadows.

Leona cursed herself for trying to follow Jarael into such a dangerous place when she had no idea where he was.

Nothing stirred except for a flock of birds taking flight in a frenzied flurry at the sudden noise and her horse looking up at her briefly from the patch of grass where it was grazing a few feet off. The warm sunlight streaming through the trees made her feel drowsy.

Jadedly, Leona took the monocle from her pocket and studied it for a while before she cautiously raised it to her eyes again.

She looked at the birds that flew off in the distance.

At first she saw only the birds shrinking into small dots as they flew farther away, tiny specks of black in the clear sky.

Then, she saw a large black thing swerve around the birds and flew on the treetops around her then vanished as it took a sharp dip.

Suddenly alarmed, Leona’s tiredness vanished to be replaced by a gripping fear in her stomach. Cold flowed to her fingers as a great panic built inside her.

Regaining her composure, Leona stood up, pocketed the monocle hastily, and rushed to retrieve her horse.

She heard some branches snap from somewhere behind her. Leona’s heart started to race again.

“Who’s there?” she called out. No-one answered her. She gripped the horse’s rein tightly as her hand flew to her hip and found that she had not her dagger along. Yolance’s warning echoed in her mind.

“I said who’s there! Jarael, if that’s you; I’ll let you know that this isn’t the least bit funny!”

Leona cursed herself for not bringing any weapon, not that she knew how to fight, anyway. All she could do in danger was to flee. But in the middle of Fasenpahr, escape is as dangerous as facing the threat itself.

“Come out!” she cried, her voice breaking. Leona could feel her eyes burning as tears began to well up in her eyes. Her horse neighed and reared as someone chuckled from the outgrowth.

Trying to restrain her horse, Leona could feel her knees weakening as her stressed mind and body struggled with itself to prevent her from collapsing.

Leona’s breathing quickened rapidly. She could barely breathe as fear slowly squeezed the air out of her lungs.

A hooded figure came into view, its hood pulled down low enough to hide his eyes. Its hands appeared from the brown robe it was wearing. Each step it took brought him, or her, to Leona.

Leona gasped and stared in awe at the huge figure standing before her.

Wearing the coarse brown robe with brilliant vermillion hair tied back and a similarly-colored beard plaited elegantly in front of him, the King of Ramorgra smiled down at Leona kindly.

“King Ramadak!” Leona exclaimed. She touched her forehead to the ground. Muttering her apologies and dared not look up.

“I’m sorry if I startled you, lass,” the King said in a warm and rich tone like honey. He helped Leona to stand up.

Leona stood shakily in front of him and was suddenly self-conscious. She looked up and found the King smiling.

“Nay, milord,” Leona stuttered, “I should be the one apologizing… for my impudence.”

Ramadak chuckled. “All this formality! It’s getting me down.”

“What are you doing here in the Fasenpahr all alone? Are you with someone? I heard you calling out a name a while ago.”

Leona flushed, “I – I was with a friend. But he, I mean we, lost track of each other.”

Ramadak nodded thoughtfully then said, “Where do you live?”

“Haikhan, you say?” Ramadak said, stroking his vermillion beard. “I passed by Haikhan a while ago. We were following a scent.”

He noticed the puzzled look on Leona’s face. “We were hunting, my child.”

Ramadak continued. “We tracked the scent in Haikhan, and then to Glavonica. Finally, we ended up here.” He waved a hand. “Care to meet my hounds, lass? They are such fine hunting dogs…”

More than a dozen, huge wild-looking dogs with tawny eyes stepped out from behind the trees forming a ring around them. Leona gasped as she saw some of the dogs foaming at the mouth and snarling maliciously.

Leona’s peace of mind disappeared instantly to be replaced by the gripping fear she felt earlier, now worse than ever. Something is wrong here…

“What were you hunting for, milord?” she stammered. Gripping the reins tighter than before and slowly moving closer to her horse in the incident that she needed to escape quickly. She nudged the stirrups so that she could easily mount the horse.

“So kind of you to ask,” Ramadak said delightedly. “Actually, I’m not really interested in game animals of any sort. But this, this scent is what we have been tracking for many, many years.”

Leona tried to laugh nervously, but all she managed was a dry croak. She felt wary of the ravenous creatures around them. “You must’ve tracked down my horse, sire.”

Ramadak threw his head back in a mock guffaw. “I guess I should reward you for providing me with such a chortle,” he said wagging a finger at her as if talking to a small child.

He drew back and looked serious. “You see, we were on a trail of a girl…”

The dogs suddenly stood up and turned into some four-foot-high hooded men with pallid faces and the very same tawny eyes their canine forms had. Short, curled horns framed their faces and, when they bared their teeth, revealed hideous fangs. With a shocking thought, Leona remembered the client Bonn Vedir had in his shop, and the truth came to her like a hard blow to the head.

Ever since I came into Glavonica all those days ago!

And these men are T’lakr and they are working for the King!

Thinking she’ll escape them, Leona kicked her horse’s side and the beast began to run. The horse trampled two T’lakr who stood in its way.

With a resounding twang, she heard the T’lakr fire arrows behind her. Heart pounding frantically, she urged the animal to go faster.

Leona shrieked as a couple of arrows missed her by a finger’s breadth while some pierced through her cloak.

She turned around some bushes and as she tried to confuse the T’lakr scuttling quickly at her heels. Leona wove in and out of the trees hoping against hope that the T’lakr are far behind.

When all suddenly became quiet, Leona stopped and strained her ears for the faintest sound. All she could hear was her own ragged breathing. She led the horse behind some oaks and groaned as she found herself facing a rock wall.

Somehow, she had managed to ride all the way to the south where The Fasenpahr met the Rillions, a mountain range that enclosed the whole eastern part of Ramorgra and separated it from the lands of Usch’arell of the East.

Still panting, Leona turned her steed around and found the T’lakr barring her way, crossbows loaded with three arrows each pointed at her ready to shoot. Their tawny eyes alive with the thrill of the chase and a ravenous hunger

Stifling the urge to scream, and tried to outrun them again.

Just then an arrow hit Leona’s horse at its hind legs, another grazed Leona’s shoulder.

The horse reared and bucked Leona off, almost trampling her with its hooves. She lay in a crumpled heap and wincing in agony as warm blood oozed from the wound on her shoulder.

Leona turned pale as she saw her horse riddled with arrows and the T’lakr celebrating at their carnage.

She groaned as she gripped her shoulder to stop it from bleeding. She tried to stand and found that she couldn’t move. Just then a voice boomed over the noise of the T’lakr’s grunts and snarls.

Leona screamed as she saw King Ramadak alight from the air. Two giant black wings protruded from his back and were beating furiously. He had discarded his coarse brown robe and revealed shiny black armor trimmed with intricate golden filigree. The King’s face seared with rage as he unsheathed a massive black sword from his belt.

The T’lakr quailed in his presence and in their resentment rushed to where Leona lay.

The monster gathered around her and pinned her to the ground.

Leona struggled as she tried in vain to keep them away, kicking the monsters as they came too close.

A T’lakr snarled menacingly, unsheathed a dagger and swiped it at Leona’s face.

Leona yelped in pain as the blade sliced her cheek. She felt Ramadak land in the ground behind the brute who hit her. She saw him grab the monster’s head. An angry red light emanated from Ramadak’s hand and blew the T’lakr to bloody smithereens.

At the disarray as T’lakr withdrew from Ramadak’s wrath, Leona took the chance to scream for help.

Ramadak heard her and cursed. He strode over to Leona and covered the distance between them in a few steps. He grabbed Leona by the neck and held her up.

Leona choked and gasped for breath as she heard Ramadak speaking to her.

“Listen, Shaeryva. We want you alive. And I can keep you alive if you come with us obediently.”

His face contorted with rage as he continued quietly. “But if you’re going to spoil our plans again, I am more than ready and willing to kill you. Besides, you guardian is dead. We killed him in this very same forest a few days ago.”

Ramadak held the hilt of his sword with his free hand. “No-one is here to save you, goddess. I do not and would not care if your death brought damnation to our world.”

He pointed the tip of the sword to Leona’s heart. “You had better bless yourself.”

Leona dangled helplessly from Ramadak’s vice-like grip. She waited for the imminent blow as her vision dimmed and blood started to pound in her head. Numbing the pain she felt from her exhaustion and the wounds that throbbed and continued to bleed on her shoulder and face. She started to dig her nails into Ramadak’s leather glove. But despite her efforts, she felt as good as dead.

Suddenly she fell to the ground and felt her body shriek as pain shot freely to every part of her body. Coughing and gasping, she realized she was still alive and the sword had not punctured her heart. Leona crawled towards the safety of the trees.

Leona was surprised to see some T’lakr lying on the forest floor, dead. Frightened for her life and desperate to flee, Leona dragged herself behind an oak tree, but cannot manage to go another step.

The monsters were going berserk. Some were howling in agony as blood flowed from gruesome gashes across their chests, dark smudges that blossomed on their cloaks. Others were scrambling over each other as they tried to climb up the nearby trees. The rest either fled or lay on the ground dead.

Ramadak’s back faced Leona. He was talking to someone.

Someone might’ve come across the clearing and heard me, thought Leona dimly, still dazed at the happenings.

True enough, someone had come into the scene and began butchering the T’lakr. Leona tried with all her might as she listened in on what Ramadak was saying.

“…Thought you were dead, Jarael. Didn’t my T’lakr ambush you a few days ago?” he spoke in a casual tone, like he was only having tea and biscuits with the newcomer.

Jarael stood opposite Ramadak, his ash-brown hair billowing in the wind. He held a sword Leona hasn’t seen when he was at the house. The crystalline blade was stained with slick black T’lakr blood.

And to Leona’s astonishment, she exclaimed quietly, “He has wings too!”

“Leave Leona alone, Ramadak. She isn’t who you are seeking,” Jarael said fiercely, he glared at his foe severely with his once more azure-blue eyes.

Ramadak laughed out a terrible laugh. “Jarael, Jarael, Jarael… Through the centuries you have told me that same, old story. And you expect me to believe that!”

He fixed his sword in his grip and said, “I would rather that I did not, this time. If her memories have led you here, then she is the one. My seers have also foretold that she will turn up here: in this place, in this time. The girl is coming with me dead or alive. And you,” he pointed the sword at Jarael.

With a growl Ramadak charged at Jarael. And with lightning speed he blocked the mighty blow Ramadak delivered.

“You inane old man, you’ll never kill me, and you know you can’t kill her, either. Because if you do, you can say goodbye to Ramorgra and to your beloved immortality as well,” Jarael said, as he fought to hold back Ramadak.

“It’s of no use threatening me, elf,” Ramadak snarled as he lunged at Jarael.

For a while they exchanged heavy blows. Leona felt dizzy just watching them. They moved in an intricate pattern like a dance. And their faces and bodies were just a blur with their speed.

Leona caught Jarael’s eye. And in that instant Jarael parried Ramadak’s blow and jumped into the air.

Jarael’s wings beat hard as he soared higher. With a snarl Ramadak came after him. Afraid to look up, Leona crouched in her hiding place, listening at the clash of weapons overhead.

The exchange of blows between Ramadak and Jarael was fierce. But as time wore on, the King showed signs of weariness as his attacks became clumsy and awkward. Jarael took his chance and hacked forcefully at Ramadak’s side. The man howled, and dropped his sword. Jarael pointed the crystal sword on Ramadak’s throat.

“Leave now before I cut your life short for you, Ramadak.”

The monarch glared at him and his vermillion hair seemed to burn with his anger.

“Your skills have not tarnished, Giraj. But I swear, before long I will have the goddess and your head mounted as a trophy on my wall.”

With that, Ramadak beat his wings forcefully and flew away into the dusk settling on the horizon.

After many long and tense minutes, Leona saw Ramadak’s sword drop from the sky and slice through the earth. A splash of bright red blood came after it with a wild roar overhead.

Jarael finally touched down again. Blood was splattered across his silver shirt and his beautiful face had a long gash hacked on it.

He looked around wildly and called out Leona’s name quietly.

Her side felt bruised where her horse had accidentally kicked her. And the wound on her shoulder was bleeding profusely.

“What are you doing here?” he whispered urgently. Leona took the monocle from her pocket. Jarael cursed.

“You went here in the Fasenpahr just to return that to me!” he said, exasperated.

Leona nodded, tears stinging her eyes.

“Jarael, what did he want from me?” she asked him, tears pouring down her cheeks. Jarael shook his head.

“I won’t tell you now, Leona. I –” Leona cut him off.

“I want to know what is happening around me!” she cried, grabbing Jarael’s shirt in her fists,. “What are you and what do you want? Why did the King want me to come with him?”

“Look what has happened to me! If nothing was wrong I wouldn’t end up like this!” she gestured to her wounds and to her slain horse.

Jarael hesitated, and then said bluntly, “Leona, I am a Giraj: half-elf, half-divine. Ramadak is mortal but he is half-Giraj. He wanted you because he thought you were Shaeryva.”

“Yes, she is the goddess of life, youth, and immortality. To put it simply, with her, Ramadak can have immortality and total control over Ramorgra,” his face hardened.

Leona pondered on this and tried to speak. Jarael put his finger to her lips.

“It is too difficult to explain everything at this point. All I want you to do now is to return to Haikhan and stay there unless it is deemed necessary for you to move.”

“But he knows where I live! I told him I lived in Haikhan!” cried Leona, suddenly fearful for her grandparent’s safety. Jarael stood and quickly told her, “Come I will take you home.”

He then turned into a brilliant white winged-horse with a brown mane. Leona gaped in awe at the marvelous creature when Jarael snapped at her.

“Now is not the time to vacillate, Leona! Your grandparents might be in danger!”

Leona quickly mounted, dried her tears on her sleeve and hung on tight as Jarael ran and took off into the air.