| The Defiler Chapter Nine It had been a quiet trip since the three had escaped from the camp. Sie was thinking of the Pollyne that had sacrificed himself so that they might continue their holy quest. San and Sor were thinking of what they had witnessed at the camp. How the young Insectorr had everyone mesmerized with his words. There was room for doubt when their quest had begun � but now they knew that he was indeed the chosen one. �Is everything alright?� Sie asked. The two monks snapped themselves out of their trance and landed on a nearby branch. �We are fine. How are you holding up?� Sor replied. �Me? I�m okay.� He replied as he landed on a smaller branch before them. �Something is bothering you.� San commented. �It�s all this talk about me being the chosen one. I am just one of many children. I am no savior.� Sie stated seriously. San and Sor sat down on their branch. �If you are just one of many children � why go on this quest?� Sor asked. �I don�t know.� he replied. �In our sect � only five have sought the prophet. You are the sixth.� San commented. Sie looked at the two monks and didn�t like the way this was starting to sound. �So what? Others from other sects might have tried.� He retorted. �That is possible, but what about what happened back at the camp? Pollyne are sworn enemies to our sect. They would sooner give us over to C�an than speak with us � yet after you spoke � one willing sacrificed himself to aid you. How can you explain that?� Sor asked. �Goodness sees through hate.� He answered. �How about how all of those there? When you spoke � none moved.� San asked. �People want to hear the truth.� He answered. �Then why are you denying it? We will be the first to admit that we didn�t believe our sage when he said you were the chosen one � but after seeing you at that camp � after hearing you talk � neither of us has any doubt that you are the one.� Sor admitted. Sie wanted to argue but merely turned away. �But the chosen one is said to be the one that leads our people out from the darkness and back into the light of the apostles � I don�t think I can do that. I just want to help my people.� He muttered reluctantly. �That, Sie, is what a good leader does.� San added. �But don�t stress yourself out yet Sie � you can�t do anything until you find the prophet. Until that choice meeting, pray to the apostles � ask the first children for guidance. I have no doubt in my mind that when the time comes � that you will know what you must do.� Sor concluded. Sie slowly turned and faced the two. �You � you really think I�m the one?� he asked. �There is no doubt in my mind and heart that you are the one.� San answered. �The same holds true for me.� Sor added. �This � this isn�t what is troubling you.� San commented. �Why do you say that?� Sie asked. �Deceit is not your strong suit. You are troubled over the death of the Pollyne at the camp.� San continued. Sie looked up at the canopy above him. In his mind he could still see the happiness on his face. �He believed in me � I know in my heart that he perished at the hands of the C�antora. The apostles only know how many others perished beside him. I am worried that others will die if they believe in me. I fear that it will happen to both of you.� He said quietly. �Sie, we have lived our lives following the decrees of the apostles and the teachings of the prophet. If we are to meet our end � trying to save our people � trying to aid the chosen one � that is a fate that we can live with. The burden of this shouldn�t be on your shoulders Sie. Always remember � that those that are true to the teachings of the apostles will rest with the first children and earn the apostles� blessing.� Sor reminded. �In my mind I know that is true � but my heart tells me otherwise.� Sie said. �That � is what sets you apart. I think we should be on our way.� San commented. They got up and continued to fly in the direction that the first children had guided them. *** Almost two days later, the three had continued in that direction. Only twice did they stop for a brief rest, something to eat and of course meditation and prayer. As the sun kissed the sky on the third day, they stood ready to travel again. �I wish that the place we sought was near. All this travel is tiring me.� Sie said. �It tires us all � but this journey will test our bodies as well as our devotion.� Sor pointed out. Sie shook his head and relaxed on a branch. �It is not my devotion that is tired � it is the rest of me.� he replied. The two monks laughed at the comment. Almost as if against his will, he began to laugh to. Just then a chill ran down his neck. He stopped laughing and quickly stood up. Seeing the youth so tense caused them to stop laughing as well. �What is it?� Sor asked. �I don�t know � I just feel as though we are in danger.� He replied. The two monks looked around. Everything seemed to look normal. Nothing was out of place. There were no signs of C�antaris, C�antoras or C�an. �Where?� San asked. �I don�t know. It feels as though it is all around us.� Sie answered. Just then two powerful jaws snapped through the branch Sie was standing on. Had Sie not dodged half a second earlier � he would have lost his leg up to the knee. �Krokos! There must be a nest nearby!� Sor shouted. He took to the air just as two large lizards crawled up to the branch he was on. They were going to fly up � but they saw Krokos on the higher branches waiting for them. �Trapped.� San stated as the three hovered � all around Krokos watched them � just waiting for if one should happen a little too close. �You � in our � territory.� A gold backed Krokos hissed. �Not good. Old ones are very territorial.� Sor muttered. �We apologize for our intrusion. Had we known � we would have gone around.� Sie stated. He hovered towards the Krokos that spoke. Sor and San were going to try to stop him, but doing so would have put them in the reach of the Krokos near them. �Apology � not accepted.� It hissed. �Then whatever fate you wish of me I accept.� Sie replied peacefully. He landed before the large lizard and bowed his head. San and Sor watched as the large lizard prepared to bite the Insectorr�s head off � but something stopped him. �You � would sacrifice yourself?� it asked. �If I must.� He replied. The lizard turned away and looked up at the two Crabytese. Both looked as though they wanted to jump out from their skin. He then looked over at Sie. He seemed at peace with himself � something he had not seen in years. He arched his head and bellowed. All of the other Krokos did the same. San and Sor prepared for the worst, but were pleasantly surprised when the Krokos made their way back down the trees. �Our sages told us of one who would travel after three days of death. He said that this one would be on a holy quest. Three days ago that sage died. A C�antaris hatched near one of our nests. It slaughtered hundreds before it left just yesterday. I don�t know why � but I believe that you are the one he spoke of.� The lizard hissed. �Our great sage said that he was the chosen one � the one mentioned in our books that would save our people from C�an.� San commented as he and Sor landed near the large Krokos. The lizard almost fell of his branch laughing at hearing that. �Your children � are a breed of poets. Our sages make mention of a chosen one too. But he is nothing like this boy. The one that is in our books is a mighty avenger. He descends from the skies � with silver wings. He has the eyes of a warrior. His hands � mighty gauntlets blessed by the apostles themselves. This young boy has the eyes of a sage � and the hands of poet.� He hissed with a smile. �If this is so � why are you sparing us?� San asked. �Just because he is not our holy redeemer does not mean he is not on a holy quest. Who knows? Perhaps � just perhaps he will find that savior that is written in our books. Perhaps he will find the water prophet Parisitica � or some other higher power that may deliver us from our suffering. Go now young one. Take your friends and complete your quest � whatever that may be. All of my brothers and I shall pray for your safe journey.� The lizard hissed. As the three flew away, they heard the Krokos howl again. The howl was followed by hundreds of others. *** A short distance away, they stopped once more. �Sie, I respect the courage of your convictions � but please do not do something that dangerous again. If you parish � our whole world will be doomed to suffer under C�an and his evil minions for the rest of his days.� Sor requested. �I can no more change who I am or what I am than either of you. I understand why you are telling me this, but I have to be true to myself � and something told me that what I did was what I had to do.� Sie replied sincerely. �We can respect that Sie, but try to see this through our eyes. Should anything happen to you � our people would suffer. We are not asking you to change who you are or lie to yourself. We are just asking that you be cautious.� San added. �I suppose you are both right. I will try to do as you say. It won�t be easy � but what on Quagmiria is?� Sie replied calmly. �That is all we can ask of you.� Sor stated. �Do you suppose that the Krokos was right? That the chosen one will be an avenger that will free our people with the apostles� might?� Sie asked curiously. San and Sor quietly laughed. �Sie, each sect has its own beliefs as to what the chosen one is like. The Pollyne believe that the chosen one will be one of their exalted sages, the Krokos believe the chosen one is a mighty warrior, our people believe the chosen one will be a prophet and I am positive that the Ecoseeds and Swamplops have their interpretations as well. But my stance on the issue is this � so long as our people are saved � so long as we remain in the light of our beloved apostles, it really doesn�t matter who the chosen one is.� Sor replied. �Did you believe that the chosen one would be Crabytese?� he asked. �It was a possibility we were expecting, but what difference does it make who saves us � so long as the deed is done? Our role in this was to follow the decrees of the apostles and should the need arise � aid the chosen one in his quest.� San answered. �Do you think the children were able to convince the prophet?� Sie asked. �That I don�t know. All we can do is hope and pray. As wounded as his pride must be � as hurt as he must be feeling � what does he gain by ignoring our pleas?� Sor replied. Sie looked around the area they were in. compared to most of the swamps around, this place looked relatively peaceful. �I sometimes forget how beautiful our world is � seeing places like these help remind me how lucky I am that I was given life here.� Sie commented. San and Sor looked around. Only a fool would have disagreed with that. �This place is pretty amazing. You can barely tell it is a swamp.� San added. �Indeed.� Sor stated. Sie was going to comment when an unholy laughter echoed through the trees. All tensed up. There was no doubt as to whose voice that was � it was the unholy voice of C�an. �Sie, you must go. San and I will do what we can to buy you some time.� Sor whispered. Leaves fell from the higher branches as something big raced overhead. More laughter caused them to freeze up. �You don�t have much time � please � do as we ask this once.� San added. Sie did the sign of the apostles to the two monks. They returned the gesture. Sie said a quite prayer for the two and then flew away. Within seconds of his departure � a large creature smashed through the trees above and landed on a branch parallel to the two monks. �I was told there were three � where is your friend?� the metal skinned creature squealed. San and Sor were barely able to keep in the air after hearing the wretched voice of C�an. �Whoever told you that was misinformed � we the only ones here.� San stated. �Lies � won�t � save him. Where is he?� C�an demanded. �In a place you can�t get him. By the will of the apostles � I will not let you harm him!� Sor shouted. San watched as his friend charged towards the personification of evil. Sor wound up and punched the demon as hard as he could. C�an laughed at the effort and knocked the monk aside as though he were a falling leaf. �Your apostles � can�t save him � and they won�t save you.� C�an squealed. �Deceiver!� San shouted. The two charged at the demon. C�an tilted his head to the side and watched as the two monks prepared to strike. Then, in a blur of motion � he struck out at them. his balled up fists punched right through San�s chest and Sor�s head. The two monks spasmed for a few seconds, but died before the monster dropped their bodies to the swamp below them. �Deceiver indeed. You did not stop me. none of your weak breed can. I will find your friend and slay him if he is lucky. If not � I will make him my slave and corrupt every belief that he holds dear.� C�an hissed. He quickly hopped up into the trees and quickly hurried away. Once he was gone, Sie slowly pushed his way up from under the fungus covered water. He looked over and saw the dead bodies of the two monks that had aided him in his journey. �San � Sor. Why did you do this? We could have run away.� He asked quietly. He leaned against a tree branch that went under the water and fungus. At first he was willing to do this quest alone � in fact, he was a little resentful that the two monks decided to tag along. But now that they were gone � he wondered if he would be able to finish the quest. �I can not leave you like this.� He said to himself. He flew around and gathered small branches leaves and fungus. It took him a little while, but he managed to properly bury the two monks. He knelt before the two mounds and quietly prayed. As he did, the two mounds slowly began to sink into the swamp. Once the two mound had completely vanished, Sie drew the sign of the apostles where the two had been buried. �May the apostles blessing be on you both.� Sie whispered. He then looked up to the heavens where he knew the two monks had to be. he smiled to them and flew off in the direction the first children had sent him. |