Legends Of Zyconia Part 19

Selate was distressed once more as she spoke.

“How could something like this have happened? Our entire avian society was pacifists! Why would anything attack us?"

Terrek examined the table. Then something off to the side caught their eye. Another skeleton. Only this one was human. Terrek instantly faced Selate. but this time rage filled her eyes.

“It was your kind. Your kind are the murderers!"

Her body seemed to vibrate under some unseen strain.

“You - you're all murderers."

Selate's wings erupted. a torrential explosion of bluish-green, and with one flourish Terrek was knocked to the ground.

“Murderer!” Selate cried. as anger twisted her face.

She sprang from the floor and flew away through one of the larger breakages in the ceiling.

“Selate wait!" his words fell on deaf ears as Selate immersed herself in the clouds above.

Terrek lowered his head. Why now?

Getting to his feet he stared down at the human corpse in disgust. He appeared to have been pushed back onto his own weapon. It was true it was his kind that had caused this. They had come all this way for nothing. There was no crystal and now they had lost Selate.

ln frustration he pulled back his foot and kicked the ancient decaying corpse into piles of splintered bone. He was about to leave the same way he came, but the human skull rebounding off the pedestal shattered a hidden compartment. A second later a large green gem rolled out onto the floor followed by three small tablets.

Sorrow ruled her mind and body. She exerted every muscle as if the strain would release her mind from torment. Spiraling down from the sky she came to rest on a small hill. How could Terrek's kind be responsible for such atrocities? True. he was a fierce warrior but he was so kind and gentle. How?

No, she realized she could not lay blame on him. In her society it had been different. Everyone in the Sanctuary had been so innocent. They operated almost as a collective mind, one individual could be responsible for the entire group.

The first realization she had of how innocent they were came from the harsh experience she had just escaped from in the caverns. She and a few members of her clan had been scouting the area for a place to set up new colony. A great wizard had captured them and she'd been chained. But the others had resisted. Eventually angered the wizard so much that in a fit of rage he recklessly destroyed both the Avians and himself. The magic had held her there inanimate for what seemed forever. If it had not been for Terrek she would still be there.

Dragging herself back to her original thoughts she made her decision. No. Terrek‘s society is much different. He should not hold any blame for this.

Selate felt a presence at her back and knew who it was. She looked out over the grassland away from him.

"I will rejoin you now, but l can't say that l can ever really completely respect you or your kind in the same frame of mind. Some of you don't have the same souls. They are corrupt and sadistic. It's going to be more difficult for me to trust now."

Terrek spoke gently.

“l'm sorry about all of this. I wish I could change it. But this quest is to prevent evil individuals from dominating Zyconia. Perhaps, as we strike out against them, you will gain some measure of peace in the knowledge that we are stopping men like the ones that killed your family.“

Selate faced Terrek his face soft but unyielding. Selate felt her grudge against him melt away.

‘Thank you."

TO BE CONTINUED...

TO READ FROM THE BEGINNING GO TO: LEGENDS OF ZYCONIA PART 1

TO READ THE PREVIOUS PART GO TO: LEGENDS OF ZYCONIA PART 18

TO READ THE NEXT PART GO TO: LEGENDS OF ZYCONIA PART 20