28. Elian

The wind blew against Elian's face as he looked out over the river. As he sat on a boulder to rest, he traced his eyes along the snowy hills of the farmlands. Rhielle and Lou had roused from sleep not long ago, preparing a fire before they set out. The snow had hindered their progress yesterday, and they'd had no choice but to put up for the night. Now, the dawn light was brightening every minute, so he opened Owen's journal and came to the last entry dated the day before his capture in Covehaven:

Those dark creatures came after us. It's like I could feel them, empty and soulless inside. It was frightening, but I warded them off somehow. Colt thinks it was me, but I think it was the power of my dagger that dispelled them. Either way, I don't wish to see them again.

Elian closed the journal and ran his fingers over the worn leather spine, wondering for the hundredth time where Owen and his companions were going, or if they knew what they were headed for. Had they been journeying for Vanhelm from the beginning, or was it these Hunters pushing them there?

The dagger Owen spoke of was particularly concerning. The lad had used it to destroy Elian's Core. The blade had lit up, showing it held some sort of power that connected with Owen. If he was in Vanhelm with that dagger, so close to the Gate…

He needed to reach Owen before Rem and his Hunters did. They had learned from the soldiers searching for Owen's party in Greenwater that Rem and his men had also been seen crossing the river several nights back, which meant they had chased Owen into the woods beyond. They had to make a decision on which direction to go: follow them south or curve to the southeast and hopefully intercept them.

When someone cried out, Elian jumped to his feet and looked around. Making his way to the tents, he found Rhielle outside, holding a knife, while Lou stood holding a scraggly looking young man with his Core.

"Looks like we've found a rat," Lou said. He threw the man down to his knees but kept his Core out, holding him in place, and the man grunted.

Elian knew he belonged to Rem's brigade and cocked his head down at him. "Lost, or just a spy?"

The man sneered. "Fuck you, Wielder."

"I suppose we'll skip the formalities, then." Elian glared at him. "Who is your leader? What is he planning?"

The man chuckled and shook his head. His face was dirty, but green eyes peered up at him without fear. "Eat shit." He spat on Elian's boots.

Lou pushed one of the lines on his Core, and a bloodcurdling scream erupted from the man, so piercing that the crows flew from the treetops at the sound. The torture of this young man went on for a full minute, and when it was over, Elian's eyes cut to Rhielle, who tried to maintain her demeanor, but Elian could tell she didn't like what was happening.

As Lou eased off, the man shrank, his limbs weak and eyes closing. He whimpered, tears streaming down his face, as if what he had just gone through had been the most painful thing he'd ever experienced. No doubt it had been.

"Now, again." Lou bent down in front of the whimpering man. "Who is your leader? What is he planning?"

The man shook his head, his lips quivering. He wouldn't be easy to break. "Fuck you all!"

Lou grabbed his chin. "I can think of worse things than killing you."

"Torture me all you want. I won't talk! Not to Legion scum!"

It took no time for Lou to press the line in the Core again, but this time, the power that surged to the man was much more powerful, emitting electric sparks that shocked him. The whole ordeal only lasted twenty seconds before the man screamed, "I'll talk! I'll talk!"

"Who is your leader?" Lou shouted at him. "What is he planning? Tell me or I'll fucking run this through you for as long as I want!"

The man panted, weeping as he held his stomach. "Rembrandt Smith…" he breathed, "wants to use the lad… to open the Gate…"

The man's eyes closed, and then he fell over into the dirt.

"Hmm." Lou nudged the man with his boot, but he wouldn't stir. Then he checked his neck for a pulse. "Still alive. Probably passed out. Want me to finish the job?"

Elian's brow lowered. "Why? He gave us what we wanted. We're not going to kill him."

"Why not? He's a Hunter."

"We're not killing him."

Lou scowled but sighed and shook his head. He bent down and tied the man up.

Elian sat around the fire with Rhielle, running his mind over all they had been told.

"The Gate," Elian said, warming his hands. "That's where Rem is going."

"Quite the confession," Rhielle said, poking the fire with a stick. "Are we going after him into that territory?"

Elian stared into the flames, imagining the enormous iron Gate in Vanhelm's graveyard. Such a place was old, haunted. It was said that monsters stalked the paths between the tombstones, keeping people out. Spirits supposedly seeped from the cracks in the Gate. If these rumors were true, then whatever lay beyond the Gate must be terrifying.

"Legion guards are supposedly there," Elian said. "But I heard some months back that there has been a rise in supernatural activity in the graveyard. Several soldiers have died, and many have retreated. The Gate is stirring."

"Then there may be no one there," Rhielle stated, her green eyes wide.

"It's possible. Given that Rem is pursuing Owen, hoping to use him to open the Gate, coupled with complications at the Gate as of late… it's very possible Rem could take on any Legion soldiers there and force Owen to open it."

"What would be this man's motive?" Lou asked. His eyes looked red from lack of sleep, but he was as alert as ever. "What does he gain from such a thing?"

Rembrandt Smith.

Elian mulled over the name. He'd heard it somewhere, he was sure. And then it clicked. A detail that Amias had shared with him once, a long time ago. Back when Elian was in training to be a Wielder, and he often ate and talked with Amias.

The sudden realization pulled a gasp from his throat, and Rhielle and Lou both looked over in surprise.

"What is it?" Rhielle asked.

"Rembrandt Smith… was a Legion soldier for a short time." Elian eyed them both. "Twenty-three years ago, Rem's detachment got hold of an Astran in Luthien. They tried to Cleanse him, only to find that he was Shadowborn. Amias told me about him, about how he knew Rem for a short period of time. He was peculiar, and he talked often about the Gate, which the Legion was not comfortable with. Eventually, the Legion forced him to leave the creed."

Lou crossed his arms. "And you just happen to know all this information?"

"Bits and pieces, from a conversation a long time ago. But I retained what I thought was interesting." Elian tapped his temple. "Hearing about those who had to take a leave due to their ideologies? That's worth knowing, don't you think? But that's where I know his name from. Amias didn't call him Rem, though. That's why it took me a while to put the pieces in place." Elian got to his feet and shook his head.

"If Rem is after Owen to force open the Gate," Lou said, "then we can intercept him first."

"But shouldn't we alert the officials in Luthien?" Rhielle asked. "Then we can have aid."

"It could take too long for something like that." Lou crossed his arms. "If we go ourselves, we can reach the Gate in time and kill Owen for good."

Kill Owen for good.

That was what Elian wanted, wasn't it? This was why he had crossed the whole country of Avathon, trying to find Owen's trail, trudging through shady villages and towns full of incompetent soldiers. While word had spread to Luthien of Owen's escape, no one knew the young man had ventured into Vanhelm. But there was no time to go back and send a party to the Gate to intercept them. It would take them days to ride to Luthien, and then days to ride back with men equipped to take down Rem and his Hunters, and whatever else they found in Vanhelm.

But he had to keep the world from being endangered from a malicious god trapped away in the netherworld. He laughed, seeing how it sounded now. This was ludicrous. But it had to be real. Why else would the Legion take control for so long, taking Astran power to ensure peace and safety? Elian was stuck in a war between what was just and what wasn't. Not only was Owen Shadowborn, but he'd left a trail of death in his wake, the first being the High Scholar in Alacor. No, Owen hadn't killed the man, but Amias had, all because Owen existed.

Owen's companion Colt O'Malley was in just as bad of a position as Owen and Amias. He had cut Councilman Silas down effortlessly. Each of the men would be thrown in prison for their crimes. Yet Elian was entertaining the idea of pursuing Owen himself, without Legion soldiers backing him. It was extremely dangerous. Even if he chose the right strategy and intercepted Rem at the Gate…

Would I be able to kill Owen and end this once and for all?

He thought of Rose, about how her death had changed him. He didn't want to kill Owen, but his duty as a Wielder offered no other choice. Perhaps he could kill Rem and let Owen get away…

No, Elian was still part of the Legion. He would never allow Owen Greene to live. He had to intercept them.

"What's it going to be?" Lou asked.

Elian glanced from him to Rhielle, who looked uncertain about all of this. But he had no other choice. Nodding, he said, "Rhielle, take the Hunter and ride hard to Luthien for reinforcements."

Rhielle nodded, but there was a hint of uncertainty in her eyes. "What about you?" she asked.

"Lou and I will intercept Rem at the Gate, and hopefully put an end to this once and for all."