The sun shifted beneath the horizon when Ruth finished levitating the refugees from Septentrio to the island. She panted heavily, it had taken her all afternoon, but at long last, it was done. Sheba grabbed Ruth by the shoulder and beckoned her to look ahead. Ruth gasped as Ember and Shawn entered the clearing, Mikel’s body on her back.

  Ruth and Sheba were at their side instantly. Sheba and Shawn gracefully lifted Mikel’s body and placed him on the ground. Ember morphed back into her human form, falling to her knees in the next moment.

  Ruth was aghast. “What happened?” she signed, the movements frantic and trembling.

  “A Maelim Warlord,” signed Ember. “He calls himself The Butcher.”

  “He took everything we threw at him!” added Shawn, his signs were too sloppy. Ruth had to read his lips instead. “He sent us back here. He’s coming.”

  “He demands we disperse. He’s claiming this island,” signed Ember. “He said we would all be allowed to live if we left.”

  Sheba frowned. “Do you really believe that?” she signed.

  All eyes turned to Ruth, and she paled at their collective gaze. They couldn’t just leave the island to the Maelim! It was their refuge, their sanctuary! They would have nowhere to go, and even if they could find a place, it wouldn’t retain the neutrality they needed! Ruth turned to the island. All the innocent people, not to mention the Godshard children among them. Ruth placed her head in her hands. Part of her wished she joined Mother right now.

  For now, they opted to bury Mikel. Ruth dug a hole quickly with a spell, right next to Elias. The Godshards surrounded them, Shawn, Kai and Sheba gently lay Mikel to rest in the hole. Fiona sung the songs of Terra as Ruth filled the hole, a great stone slab finished the job as a headstone.

  It was the middle of the night after all was said and done. Ruth wanted to be alone, so the rest of them gave her space. She sat in the one singular building they had made, on the bed where Elias had laid dying not a month earlier. It was small, but it was a symbol of their progress, their growth. Now it was being taken away! Her glowing eyes brightened in anger.

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  It wasn’t fair! They fought long and hard to get to this point. And this Maelim, ‘The Butcher’, seeks to swoop in and take it? Never! But what about the innocents on the island? What if this foe proved too powerful, even for her? Her mind kept going back and forth on the matter. How she longed for Elias’ wisdom, Mother’s wisdom, maybe even Adam’s! What would they do right now?

  A shadow on the door announced Sheba entering. Her face was soft and concerned. “Are you alright?” she signed.

  Ruth shook her head. “I don’t know what I’m doing,” she signed back, her arms barely mustering the strength to rise. “No matter what, we lose.” Her eyes watered and the tears came down. Sheba took a seat next to her, wrapping her arms around Ruth and holding her close.

  “I believe in you,” Sheba signed, their closeness barely gave her the space to gesture.

  “I’m glad somebody does.” Ruth’s glowing eyes flickered in contemplation. “Tell Megan to gather the elderly and children. They cannot stay here. Tell her to go south, stay on the coast, and hopefully they’ll avoid the Maelim.”

  “What about you?”

  “I will stay. If anyone wishes to remain with me and fight, they can. But no one is bound to stay, they can go with Megan if they wish.” Ruth caressed Sheba’s face, bringing her other hand and locking it with Sheba’s, whisper signing in her palm, “I want you to go, too.”

  Sheba shook her head. “Like I told you all those years ago,” she whisper signed back. “Where you go, I go. Where you stay, I stay. To the underworld and back.” Their faces were inches apart. Her dress shone like moonlight against her skin, and the matching headdress twinkled like the distant stars, far above their heads. Mother had turned her into a walking goddess. Neither one knew what to say or do. There was a fascinating mix of anticipation and longing simmering from Sheba’s micro expressions. It was always there, it had been there for years. It was true that they harbored feelings for each other deep down, but with so many obligations and other matters, neither one fully knew what it meant or how to grapple with it.

  Sheba closed her eyes and kissed Ruth on the lips. Just like that, the floodgates were opened and Ruth returned the kiss. A decade of unspoken passion came to ahead as their lips touched. They stripped off each other’s robes. Ruth blushed, Sheba truly was without flaw. Her body was full and taut, as if it was sculpted out of marble. She could see Sheba’s cheeks reddening similarly.

  As their lips met once more they knew it was going to be a long night.

  Neither of them noticed Megan sneaking by, a knowing grin on her face as she closed the door on them. The two of them needed privacy, lest the sounds of their passion keep everyone else awake. Especially Ruth.