Wednesday, December 7, 2005

   Chapter 18: Flight to University (part 2)
With those words, Pen led Lucifer into the darkness of the forest. They walked together in silence for what seemed to stretch on for hours; the day fell into a magical, starry night. Lucifer felt like he was walking through a dream as the blue moon made everything glow. He soon lost track of where they were going, and he was surprised that Pen seemed to know the way so easily in the darkness.
Snow, hidden at the feet of the trees, glittered in the moonlight. The wind was still, seeming to hold its breath, as the two of them climbed and climbed. The trees finally parted, to reveal that they had traveled to a jutting summit, overlooking a shining lake in its icy valley.
At the very edge stood a shadow, directly in the middle of the azure moon. Lucifer couldn’t see its face, but he could tell that it was looking straight at them. Chills ran down his spine.
This Lethean was much larger than the others, but he looked no different from them otherwise. However, there was an air about him unlike anything they had ever felt. He held himself virtuously and lightly on his slender legs, bearing his long horns like a crown. They could see the detail of his rippling muscles and the proud arc of his face as he moved. His impressive mane and the long fur along his tail were silver flames.
The king of the people of the mountains turned to them, and Lucifer froze in his tracks. There was something mysterious about him that the black-winged angel didn’t want to disturb.
A moment passed, seeming like forever, where nothing moved. In that time, something strange, impossible occurred to Lucifer. The king was afraid. He was too scared to make the next move. In the glittering light of the moon, there was no mistaking the horrible innocence in his eyes.
Pen slowly, even gently, walked up to the king. They stood together silently for a second, before Pen motioned to his friend to come.
The king was even taller than Lucifer had expected, his shoulder so high that the boy would have to stretch to reach it. The creature’s fear was also gone now, although the benevolence still clung to the core of his eyes. He carefully sniffed the black-winged angel and the burden in his arms, then nuzzled him on his forehead. Lucifer’s last remnants of hesitation melted away into nothing.
“Lay Aurora across his back, then pull yourself up by his horns,” Pen told him. “He will carry you to University.”
“But—“ Lucifer started.
“He is the only one who can get you there on time!” Pen exclaimed. “He is the only Lethean with the strength to carry you. Now stop wasting time and mount up!”
Lucifer asked no more questions. He gently slid Aurora up on the king’s back, before swinging up himself with the help of one of the horns. Just as he was arranging himself so that he could hold on to Aurora with one hand and the king’s mane with the other, he heard hoofbeats coming up the summit.
It was Tobas. The huge horse came to Pen’s side and nudged his shoulder. On his head was a leather halter with reins attached to it: a makeshift bridle.
“You’re coming, too?” Lucifer asked his black-eyed friend as he jumped up on the chestnut’s back.
“Yeah,” was the answer. “I need to alert everyone about the Caravan and tell them where they are.”
“Where did Tobas come from?”
“He was hanging around in the forest until he was needed.” Pen gathered the reins and turned the warhorse down the slope. He looked small on the back of the huge creature.
The king followed the horse at a walk until the forest provided better footing. Then, he sprang into a run, his hooves perfect for dancing around the trees. Lucifer was impressed by the grace and fluidity of his gait, despite the irregularity of the path. Tobas followed them, his heavy hooves pounding like the beat of a drum as he matched the pace.
The king cut straight down the mountain, gaining speed as he went. Just as he was starting to get used to the rhythm, Lucifer saw a break in the forest ahead. He suppressed a cry of anguish as the ground disappeared below his feet, to reveal the shimmering foil of water. They were flying!
Then, cloven hooves met the ground with a jolt. Lucifer clung to Aurora to keep her from falling. It was all over; the rhythm of the movement took over again. Behind him, the black-winged angel could hear as Tobas landed heavily.
They had jumped the river.
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