Silver River

Why did they bother to sneek away Zaklion told himself. Zeema could hear them even if they made no sound. He could see them even if they covered themselves. His thoughts were interupted when he noticed that his hand was shimmering. Another hand held his, this time gently. And the two became the same. Two silver forms protecting each other. They became one person. One hiding the other.

There is a way, I will lead you there. Glasios spoke with her eyes. Lead my Wood Lady, Zaklion said in his heart. Yet his expression remained that of the Travellor. The one who leaves. The one who has no time for friendship. The one who was trained for the highest duty to North Blue.

" You are coming, aren't you? " he asked. Now that escape was becoming a reality, he dared to hope that they could trully find a place where he could simply be a man and just be with her.

She could not lie. I am not trained to dive. The Deep will take you to where you want to go. If I go I may not ... she turned away her eyes.

" Then I will stay with you. There is no place I want to go if you do not come, my lady..." Zaklion clutched her hand. He felt that she belonged to him. So what if she was the Wood lady. So what if there was a Wood Prince. He was the Travellor. Surely he could find a journey that would take them to freedom.

In the silence of Silver River, Zeema could not see the two happy warriors as the cherished the moments they had before sunrise.

When Zaklion was asleep, Glasios pierced the sky with her eyes. A silver being swooped down soundlessly. It lifted Zaklion with its tallons. When he could see he was dangling over a dark mass. Then he fell and hit the water.

He heard Galsios guiding him. Dive, dive, you must believe. Dive deeper than you can go. You will find the way. He swam steadily. He felt that Glasios was swimming with him.

Then his lungs began to burn . Still he continued with his steadfast belief. " If this will bring me to you, then I must go on.." Until he no longer felt the burning and he began to breath.

The Deep went into him. And he saw her swimming ahead, turning and smiling in her confident way. He forgot all the pain. He closed his eyes . He began to float upwards.

There was no one with him in the Deep. Too late he realized that he was too far down to rise up again. There was no one swimming ahead of him. " Who are you, Wood lady? Why have you betrayed me? " And he floated upwards. All hope had left him. The Deep overpwered with him.