TBC: Chapter Thirty-Eight

The black wings of the Tritum-Xflashed into view from the east side of the mountain as the pilot jetted the ship into the valley of the Three Peaks.

Jump to the ridge, Master Lorcan, Jalena said as she stood beside him at the small, open doorway stationed at the back end of the ship.

Lorcan nodded and jumped, using his charisma to steady his landing on the jagged ridge.

In the same instant, Jalena dove from the doorway without hesitation. Light emerged from her eyes, increasing her momentum as she closed the gap between her and Brogan. She grabbed both of Brogan's hands and slammed herself into him, wrapping her arms and legs around him tightly. Brogan's eyes opened and gasped as Jalena's energy flowed through him.

The two disappeared in midair seconds before they hit the ground.

As they reappeared in the air near a small ledge on the same mountain, Jalena loosened her grasp to prepare to land, but Brogan instinctively cocooned her in his arms and turned his back to the mountain just as they missed the ledge. They slammed hard into the hillside and the two flew apart.

Teleport Brogan!Jalena shouted as they both tumbled down a steep incline of snow, rocks, and scattered trees. She disappeared just before slamming into a large trunk.

Brogan reappeared on the ridge beside her seconds later. Both dropped their hands to their knees in fatigue.

Jalena gasped deeply and placed a hand on her chest. After several seconds, she looked at Brogan. "Sorry," she said in between breaths as she attempted to wipe the mud from her face. "You fell off the mountain…I barely made it in time. The momentum from your fall was too much to slow after I teleported you," she took another breath, "and I missed the ledge."

Brogan pushed himself up and gathered Jalena in his arms. He hung onto her in silence for several moments until his breath slowed.

"Uh, Brogan," Jalena said in a muffled voice, her face still pressed into his chest.

"Sorry," he said as he released her. "It all was so fast—I—I just needed to steady myself." He backed away and bowed. "Thank you, Master Jalena."

Jalena let out a surprised laugh. "I think we are past formality for the moment, Brogan."

He grinned for several seconds before his expression fell. He grabbed his chest. "Valora," he stated in alarm. "I can't feel her. She's not dead is—?"

"No," replied Jalena. "You would know if she was because the feeling overtakes all of your senses." She frowned. "Akila has taken her."

"What—when? I mean, why just her?"

"I don't know for sure," answered Jalena. "I don't think she wanted her dead or she wouldn't have bothered to take her. It happened quickly, and the ship escaped. Sade went to track them, but he must remain hidden until we send reinforcements. We need to clear it with headquarters and gather more warriors before we retrieve her." She began the short climb up the mountain. "Let's get to Master Lorcan. I think he has found Master Hoshi."

Brogan remained quiet as he followed Jalena to the top of the mountain where Lorcan was, knelt over a large pile of broken boulders, lifting the pieces away one by one. Brogan and Jalena scrambled over the large rocks to help him.

"Hoshi's pinned beneath here," Lorcan called to them, "but she is okay. She just regained consciousness."

Hurry, guys—my leg is pinned, Hoshi told them. I don't think I will be able to walk for a bit, but I think it will heal fast.

The three removed the rest of the rocks, and Brogan lifted Hoshi from the rubble.

"Hey, is everyone okay?" a voice called out from the lower on the ridge.

The warriors turned and saw Sarkan waving his hand back and forth below them. He was standing in front of five spear warriors. All had long auburn hair and blue eyes similar to his. Dressed in black tribal gear, they each carried spears with blades. Black circular markings painted each warrior's chin and jawline. An additional singular black line appeared on the forehead of one Spear warrior, who was slightly taller than the rest.

The light warriors made their way to Sarkan. Brogan moved cautiously over the loose terrain as he carried Hoshi. They introduced themselves and bowed to the spear warriors.

"This is my brother, Saldon-Fa, leader of the Sethian Spear warriors," Sarkan stated. "This is the group you saw along the mountain, Master Hoshi. I have told him why you are here."

The warrior who had the line across his forehead came forward and stood beside Sarkan. He stared with an untrusting gaze at the light warriors in silence.

"Let's return to my home where it is warmer and discuss what you came to see him about," Sarkan said.

"Thank you, but I'm afraid our meeting will have to come at another time," Jalena said. "One of our team has been taken by the star witch, Akila. We cannot delay any longer in going after her. Our ship is waiting for us."

Saldon moved forward and stopped directly in front of Jalena.

Jalena returned his gaze with unflinching silence.

Saldon studied her for several more moments and then made a sweeping motion with the tips of his fingers across his forehead. After, he made the same motion across Jalena's forehead and stepped back. "You have my trust," he said to the warriors in a thick, gruff accent. "The witch has made her threats known by entering this land and bringing harm to those here. She cannot win."

The spear warriors slammed the end of the spears into the ground once and bowed deeply.

"I will relay your message to the rest of the Order," Jalena stated with a nod of gratitude.

The light warriors bowed again and made their way as quickly as possible down the mountainside and into the Tritum-X. The ship lifted off and the warriors strapped themselves in. Hoshi rested in the adjacent medical compartment on a small bed. Brogan sat with his head down and his elbows on his knees, both hands clenched before him.

Jalena joined the others after several moments. "Our pilot has retrieved your lumrays already, so they are in the compartments below. Sade reported that Akila has entered Androsa with Valora and is now on his way back to Solara, as are the other teams. We will meet there and then form a unit to retrieve Valora."

"I still can't feel her," Brogan said in a quiet voice without looking up.

"We will get her back, Brogan," said Jalena in a definite tone. "I already know."

Brogan nodded and looked up suddenly. "I feel her. She's awake now." He opened his mouth to say more, but his words were lost as his face contorted in pain. He grabbed his stomach and doubled over—blood immediately spread across his face as a long cut appeared across his right cheek.

"Brogan!" Hoshi exclaimed as she scrambled off the bed and limped into the middle compartment.

Brogan gasped. "They are…torturing her."

Lorcan stood, and Jalena rushed to Brogan's side.

"Torturing who?" asked Lorcan, his brow furrowed in concern.

Brogan groaned and grabbed his head—a trickle of blood seeped through his fingers.

"Valora," Jalena answered. "Their connection as twins must mean that Brogan is experiencing what they are doing to her." Jalena's eyes and hands began to glow. She reached to place them on Brogan's wounds.

"No," Brogan said as he grabbed Jalena's wrist. He took a deep breath and wiped the blood away from his forehead. "Thank you, but no, Master Jalena." He lessened his grip and slid his hand to grasp Jalena's. "I will not leave her alone in this." His gaze turned fierce and his voice dropped to a whisper. "Whatever they are doing to her, I will go through it too."

Jalena nodded in understanding and stood. She returned to the cockpit to address the pilot. "As fast as the ship can go, Sir. We must get to Sir Malik immediately."