Chapter 37: The Journal

Ace rapidly descended the stairs till he reached the kitchen where Tomas was seated at the table. Tomas looked startled up at his sudden appearance.

"Get up," Ace instructed.

Tomas looked down at the plate in front of him with disappointment.

"I'm eating," he said flatly.

"Now you're not," Ace returned briskly, "Come with me,"

He turned back out of the kitchen just as abruptly leaving Tomas trailing dejectedly behind.

"Hurry!" Came an irritated voice at the top of the stairs.

Tomas followed upstairs reluctantly. He found a door open in the hallway illuminating the passage with warm spring light. Tomas went inside the office. He found Ace sitting at the desk tapping it impatiently.

"I need you to go find Veretta." Ace's eyes were set outside with an expression Tomas had never seen before. He almost looked uneasy. "Tell her it's time and bring her here,"

"What? Why? What for?" Tomas ejected in a fluster.

Ace slammed his hand against the desk. Tomas flinched but remained standing with a frown.

"JUST...do as I say!" Ace barked.

"What if she refuses?" Tomas asked in a subdued voice.

"Then tell her I'll kill her, that should get their attention," Ace responded with an annoyed smile.

"You want Errik to come as well?" Tomas sighed.

"Yes, he needs to come," Ace suddenly rose.

"If I try to force him to do something he doesn't want to do, he'll kill me," Tomas's jaw clenched.

"No, he won't." Ace answered as fished out a book from the shelf. He set the book down on the desk and slid it across to Tomas. "If things go wrong, just give Errik this,"

Tomas stared down at the small brown book. It was an ancient-looking journal bound up in a tight leather fastening. Tomas reached across the desk and lifted it towards him. He started to unfurl the fastener when Ace sharply tapped the table.

"It's for his eyes only,"

"Are you serious?" Tomas looked up with irritation.

"I'm always serious," Ace returned with unusual austerity, "people just don't take me seriously,"

"Who would dare to not take you seriously?" Tomas said fearfully.

The general's dark eyes flickered up.

"Aside from you?" Ace's composed smile returned, "you'd be surprised. I wasn't always so...impressive,"

"No?" Tomas inspected Ace summarily, "what were you then?"

"Stupid," Ace answered briskly, "now, no more questions. Go get Veretta. I'll expect you back by the end of the day. And Tomas, if you fail, you'll find out just how impressive I've become,"

Tomas stumbled unceremoniously out of the manor. He looked down at the book angrily.

"I should just read it," he muttered under his breath.

However, despite his words, Tomas shoved the journal in his pocket and started walking. An hour or two passed before he reached the woodland path that took shelter between patches of land.

He took off down the narrow pathway surrounded by a grove of trees. He began to walk slowly down the path. He could have easily flown, but it was a pleasant day. The little path was interspersed with soft light and a warm breeze fluttering through the trees. It was quiet. And that was just what Tomas needed - Time to think.

What should he say to Veretta?

Should he ask why she did what she did? Well, he already knew the answer to that. The general was right, she had nothing to lose. Well, except him, but perhaps she didn't even consider that now that she had Errik.

Tomas shook his head with a sigh. Could he even trust the general in the first place? Why did he send him not Yona? Surely, this couldn't be what he meant by finding a purpose for him. Tomas had never really given much thought to what the purpose of his life was. He left home because he didn't want to be the person his parents expected him to be, but the great wild world hadn't given him more inclination to his purpose than if he had stayed at home.

All he had thought is 'I want to leave'. Then he did. He thought 'I want to learn magic'. So he did. What now? Was this really the purpose of his life? To fight and die to get revenge or to stop someone else from getting theirs?

Deep in thought, Tomas took a tumble over an overgrown root and fell flat on his face. He let out a groan as he pulled himself up. Just as he raised his eyes, a hand appeared stretched out before him. He reached out to take it then paused. His eyes spanned up to its owner.

A pair of cool blue eyes lay into him. Tomas flinched and started to draw back his hand. At that moment the green general gripped his wrist tightly and pulled him to a stand. For a moment he stood in quiet disbelief at her strength. Her ruby lips drew up in a smile.

Today the general was dressed all in regally red riding suit and pants. She tilted her head to one side inspecting Tomas.

"I know you," she said sweetly.

"Yes, we met. Or rather I saw you in the red general's home," Tomas answered reluctantly.

"Yes, you were the child he was trying to hide from me," she replied, "What is your name?"

"Tomas," he answered, trying to conceal his growing desire to run.

"I'm Cora," the green general smiled.

Tomas gave a quick nod and tried to pass. Cora began to trail along beside him.

"Where are you going?" she inquired.

Tomas glanced over apprehensively. He should have just flown...

"To see a friend," he answered shortly.

"Do they live near here?" Cora gave a small smile.

"It's another few miles," Tomas sighed.

"And what is your friend's name?" Cora added.

Tomas froze in place, "Why are you asking me that?"

"Is there a reason why I can't?" Cora skipped ahead gleefully.

"It's just a friend who used to attend the college. It's no one special," Tomas inhaled deeply and continued walking.

"Are they friends with Ace too?" Cora glanced back with a smirk.

"No," Tomas answered quickly.

"Hmmm," Cora gave a slight nod. "So he really listened to me. He kicked you out?"

"Who did?" Tomas's brow furrowed. "The red general?"

"Ace didn't tell you to leave?" Cora's expression became dark.

Tomas's jaw clenched, "No, he did. He told me to get lost."

At that moment, Cora stopped abruptly. Tomas wondered if it had been enough to make her believe him. Suddenly, she threw her head back with a wicked cackle. She spun back around to face him with a wide savage grin.

"No, he didn't," she strolled up to Tomas.

"What do you mean..." Tomas began hesitantly.

"He never does anything I tell him," Cora cut in, "The red general never does what anyone tells him. Not even Silthus. So what you just said right now, it was a lie, wasn't it?"

Tomas swallowed uneasily, "look, I'm not involved with anything the two of you have going on. I'm just trying to mind my own business and visit my friend so..."

Cora's hand flew out as she gripped Tomas's throat and thrust his face towards her. Her starling blue eyes widened ferociously.

"I'm going to ask you a question," she said, "if you lie, I'm going to kill you,"

Tomas inhaled sharply, but he remained still with her fingers still wrapped around his throat.

"Is there anyone else? You must know," she demanded feverishly.

"Anyone... else?" Tomas stammered, "What do you mean?"

"How long have you been his lover?" Cora interrogated.

"It's not like that!" Tomas argued, "I just know him through school. "

"Well, you were in his home. Who else has he got hiding around him?" Cora tightened her grip, "Tell me where they are and I'll spare you,"

"I...swear I don't know," Tomas faltered. "I never saw..anyone!"

Cora's eyes narrowed. Suddenly, Tomas was thrown to the ground. He stared up baffled and confused. Cora's intensity was overcome by a look of annoyance and disinterest. She let out a long sigh.

"Ah, this is so boring," she lamented. "why do I have to do this? So annoying,"

She dug her foot into the ground and stamped it impatiently. Tomas began to rise slowly. The book slipped out of his pocket and hit the ground. Cora's severe blue eye came back to him sharply.

"What is that?" she asked flatly.

"It's my diary?" Tomas looked up with a hesitant smile.

"Let me read it," Cora grinned.

"I'll pass on that,"

Tomas didn't give her time to catch hold of him this time. He flew up with a burst. From the forest lane below, he could still see Cora staring up at him. She gave a wave. Tomas shook his head in irritation and turned to go. Just as he did, a shadow fell over him. He turned in time to see the massive trunk of a tree hurtling toward him. He ducked out of the way just in time.

From below, he witnessed a terrible sight. Cora was ripping the trees from the ground with her bare hand and throwing them like toys. Tomas barely escape another as it flew at him again. He ducked low this time and sped down the lane. He was gaining confidence that he had gotten far enough away when suddenly a hand gripped his ankle ripping him from the air. He was thrown roughly down out into an open embankment that followed the line of the path. He rolled down the muddy bank just above the flowing stream. His hand went straight into the water. Tomas winced and pulled it back out to rise.

A stone shot out from the other side of the bank and hit Tomas in the stomach. It could have only been the size of a fist, but the moment it impacted, Tomas was sent flying back. He slammed in the row of trees above, hit the ground and did not rise.

Cora hopped across the stream with one graceful bound. She gingerly strolled up to Tomas to admire her work. He was slumped over, his face smeared with blood. She raised her foot above his head and began to press down.