The Destroying Angel - Chapter 1 (Part 2/2)

Lin looked up at Tancred. Tancred’s placid mask could do nothing to conceal the wild energy and hope that burned fiercely within his eyes, brighter and stronger than the rays of the Sun.

Promise me, Lin.

Lin nodded, a crooked smile plastered upon his face as he pushed himself to his feet.

“Just need a few moments,” he said. “I’ll be right back.”

He left, picking his way through the undergrowth. The grassy floor glowed underneath the soles of Lin’s boots with each steps he took, briefly tracing his path for a few moments before fading to darkness once again.

When Lin was sure that he was far enough from the camp but still within range, he leaned against the trunk of a tree. The rough bark dug into his back. He closed his eyes and tears burned against the back of his eyelids.

Although Tancred had spoken of home countlessly, almost obsessively, for as long as Lin could remember. Home had been in Kytos when Lin’s family was whole: his mother and father cooking together in the evenings; playing in the grasses with the other human and Elven children in the little clearing; the lessons in the tiny roundhouse that had been his school. The Imyoshi war had robbed them of their parents, siblings and their homes, leaving only them struggling to survive. Hundreds of entire towns and villages throughout the six Imyoshi provinces had been razed to the ground by the mad Emperor Toros' Flameriders. It had been over five years since the Emperor had declared the regime, vowing to purge the realm of those who opposed him, plunging Imyos into a bloody two year war. Aided by the leader of the fallen angels, Kolanzo, millions of civilians had been executed without trial under the name of the Emperor and many more had fled to the nearby former Elven province of Ashara. The war had caused unrest amongst the Faeries although the Nessiviki remained silent and closed off as they had always done. Many of the Elves had long ago left for the distant lands of Nyesia across the Emerald Sea towards the East, out of reach of the war and safe from Toros' and Kolanzo’s swords.

Promise me you’ll live for me.

Lin’s stomach wrenched sickeningly in a flail of guilt and he shook his head wildly. Tears prised through his eyelids and slid down his cheeks, coating his eyelashes in beads. A sob burst out from between his lips and he slid to the ground. His body convulsed as he wept and clutched at his silver hair. It ran through Lin’s fingers like water, silky soft. He had the same hair and eyes as him, the parts of him that lived on... He could barely look at a reflection of himself without being reminded of him, of the pain and the guilt that ensnared him and mercilessly gnawed away at him, bit by bit, morsel by morsel through day and night.

A part of Lin knew that he had been away too long and that Tancred would be looking for him by now. But Lin couldn’t...he couldn’t let Tancred see him like this. To lose face to Tancred and the many gods was unspeakable. The shame would be unbearable and unthinkable. Lin couldn’t bring himself to forgive himself. It was his fault. If only...if only...

Then before Lin knew it, Tancred was there, cradling him in his arms and holding him close and pressing Lin’s head up against his chest. The thuds of Tancred’s heartbeat boomed and echoed through Lin’s ears, yet somehow the sounds were soothing and comforting.

I’m sorry, Shi. Please forgive me…