"Please." Peace looked up at the man pleadingly. He pulled off the heavy cloak as he closed the door. His shoulder pads and breast plate bore the sign of the king.
"Don't." Peace felt the hot tears as they began to gather in her eyes. It was just the second time -- how Peace wished it had never happened at all, and yet how clear it was. It'd been almost 27 years and she could see and feel everything as if it was happening. Or was it happening?
The man reached up and grasped Peace's chin, turning her head this way, then that, to inspect her face. There was no mercy in his eyes; only the burning desire for satisfaction. His rough-gloved hand snapped down pulling Peace's simple dress top along with it: exposing her slender 14-year-old form. Peace gasped and pulled her dress back up, holding it up with her cold and slender fingers -- only to realize the only thing in her hands was her bedroll. The fingers weren't so slender as they had just been, nor was she.
Peace sat up, a cold sweat running down her body. A dream. She brought her glove hand to her forehead and wiped away the sweat. No, not a dream, a memory. It had been so many years since she'd had these nightmares, and longer since they'd happened. Yet here she was, waking with fear, hate, and desperation running through her. Why now? After all this time, why was she remembering now? She had tried so hard to forget, to let go, but she never quite could. Now something had triggered her memory again; a face, a sound, this land in general perhaps…
Peace pulled her knees close to her and grasped them. She noticed now that the sun was beginning to rise in the east: casting a gray pallor across the land. The dust clouds were rather thin here, which was odd, as the grass was also. There must have been very little wind, sparse traffic, and some moisture recently. Peace looked down at Yevish and stroked the sleeping head. She prayed he would never have to suffer through the horrors she and her brothers had.
It was two mornings after their meeting with Strife. They hadn't seen any signs that they had been followed, but they were still cautious. Peace realized now how odd it seemed that she, Peace, should be seeking the man, Strife, to end a war. She supposed though that if one's character followed ones names the world might be an easier place to make sense of. Zeal, Justice, and Strife began to stir. They would all be setting off soon. They would eat as they rode, then rest during the hot afternoon. It was then that Peace, her brothers, and Yevish would study God's guidebook. Despite the fact that Yeshua's name hap peaked the Stranger's (as Peace still called him) interest, he held no belief in their God. After their study they would set off again and ride until late at night. It felt like living two days in one day's time, but it kept them safe from the consequences of too many hard hours under a hot sun.
"Sister." Peace turned her head to look at Zeal, who had gently placed his hand on her shoulder. Peace hadn't realized it before but she had wrapped her arms back around her knees and had been slowly rocking back and forth, a distant light clouding her eyes. "What's wrong?" Zeal knew her well enough to see that whatever was playing her mind was not pleasant.
"Do you remember, during those last years before I left, those nightmares I'd have?"
"Yes." Zeal nodded as he sat down next to her.
"After I went to Arthea and was taken in by a family, they faded. I hadn't had one for ages. At least 22 years now..." Peace trailed off, the images from her sleep flashing through her mind.
"You had one again?" Zeal asked, deeper concern jumping into his eyes. She had never told him what these dreams were of, but he knew that they had haunted her deeply. Peace nodded distantly in response to his query. "We'll pray over this, but for now we must get going. Are you able?"
Peace looked back at Zeal. He'd always been considerate. "Yeah, I'll be fine." Zeal nodded and helped Peace to her feet. It was a new day that would continue to draw them towards their goal.
Strife had decided on a heading: a small city called Chiff. It would take some time to get there however as it was nearly on the other side of Barakdethen. He had said that he had a band of men there that had always been loyal to him. They had served with him under the king and had never doubted or failed him before. They were also well trained and he believed that they would be well-suited for the job.
Peace walked over and shook Yevish gently. He rolled onto his back and started rubbing the sleepers from his eyes. He smiled up at Peace and sat up; obviously ready for the new day. Peace wished she had woken with his spirit that morning. “Get packed up, we’ll be riding out soon.”
Yevish nodded and started to ramble out of his bedroll. Peace stood and turned; however, her awareness was much lower than it had been in a while, and she found herself tripping over Yevish’s bedroll and falling. Suddenly a pair of hands, firm yet gentle, grasped her arms, catching and supporting her. Peace gasped and drew back. It was the Stranger, simply wishing to assist her. Something about his touch though… it made Peace afraid, as if she’d just fallen into hands… hands strangely vile and unfriendly.
“Peace?” Justice called out with brotherly concern, having noted her abrasive reaction to the Stranger’s help. He and Zeal stepped forward while Strife stared down at Peace in confusion. Yevish stopped rolling up his bedroll and looked up at the scene. He had felt the strangeness of it. Peace rubbed her arms and looked down a bit, turning slightly and shaking her head as she did so. Why did his arms fell that way to her? He was just another warrior. One they’d never met before. She had no reason to feel that strongly towards his touch.
Justice came up behind Peace and held her gently by the shoulders, gazing sideways at Strife with suspicion. “You all right?”
Peace shook her head distractedly. “Yeah, yeah. I’m fine.”
“What happened?” Justice had a right to be concerned, but the honest confusion in Strife’s eyes and the strange reaction on Peace’s part gave him reason to believe that Strife was innocent on any wrong.
“I… I don’t know. I tripped on the bedroll, and he caught me and then… I…I…” Peace stopped, how did she convey what she had felt. It had been so strange, so unreasonable. “I just had a rough night… that’s all… that must be all.” She felt like some sort of sick patient who was slowly losing her mind to disease.
“All right.” Justice nodded his thanks to Strife, who nodded back as he came out of his confusion. “Let’s move out, we’ve quite a ways to go and not as long as I’d like to get there.”
The little group started moving again and within a few minutes everyone was packed, saddled, and ready to ride. A thin trail of dust was soon following the five riders across the thin plains, adding a slight dust film to the strangely clear air.
