Lightning Doesn't Strike Twice!

Chapter 52

-Cailian-

"Is everybody fully recovered? Have you all had a chance to eat? We must be leaving now," Cailian said, talking with all the volunteers and the mess hall. 

Villager 2: Huntsmen: "Yes, we have, and we prepared packs for everyone with supplies and medical kits depending on how long we're going to be gone." 

"Very good. We have been analyzing the area where we believe their base is located. This location is not 100% as they have been known to relocate anytime we get close. We will head there first and see if we can track their location if they are not there anymore." 

"Waymakers, I cannot thank you enough for getting involved in our personal affairs and helping out my Village. Although I have been gone for a few years in the army and was unable to help my people, these last few days that you have entered our small but humble village have sure changed the course of history for us."

-Evan-

We gathered our belongings, took a few horses along with us, and headed out to the bandits' base. We have most definitely learned a lot on this trip, a lot of knowledge that we never had before, and I'm sure there is more to come. 

"Hey Evan, you're doing a lot of spacing out back there!" Becky hollered at me as I strolled in the back of the line. 

Kaysi, you're just as bad. You're in the back of the line. So pick up the pace, also!" Becky joked with both of us. 

I have often been in my own world and had not noticed Kaysi wasn't far from me in the back. I really need to get my act together; there's no way I can protect her if I'm not paying attention. I took my hands, slapped my face, and jogged ahead to catch up to her. 

"You okay; are you getting tired?" Kaysi asked with a cute head tilt of concern. I think because I smacked myself to wake myself up. "You're not having any side effects from the monkey demon, are you? As you know, Micah had her's sealed, and Josh technically has control of his. But I don't know how you would handle things. 

"You really don't have any memory of the things that happened, do you? You somehow were able to extract that thing from my body and destroy it." 

"What...? No way! How did I do that?" Her surprise look told me she really had no clue what had happened. 

"I will be sure to talk to you more about this later. Cailian is waving us down. I think we need to go up there. All I can say right now is I'm sorry that I put you through so much trouble." 

"I am just glad to have you back to normal," Kaysi said as she hugged me and ran over to Cailian. 

"There is a small group of bandits down this hill by the edge of the river, and they are filling up their water canteens. We will follow them back to the main heart of their base of operation. That should be where my grandmother is located."

"So what's the plan once we get there? How are we going to go in calm quietly to get the elder?" Kaysi asked. 

"Becky, since you have the ability to create shields with your ice and can shield yourself and my grandmother, the Chief Elder. For your protection and hers, should go ahead and go in." 

"That sounds like a decent plan, but how do I get in?" Becky pondered. 

"We're going to get you close by, and then I want you to be captured. We will be standing guard, and you'll have a phone with you." 

Becky looked, and a light bulb went off in her head! "I see! This is part of why you want me to go; I can protect both of us in case something goes wrong." 

"Precisely, if that is okay with you as a woman, you would come off as less threatening or having any suspicious reason to be there. So you'll have the advantage and ability to get the job done most effectively." 

Once at the base of the operation, he says he suspects there was a larger group of people but nowhere near as picking back up. They won't be as expecting more like a couple of hundred, but this band was made up of a group of minor pests, almost 40 or 50. 

Becky played the plan off well. She acted like she was in the wrong area at the wrong time. She asked one of the guards where she might find a nearby horse that got away and may have run over in this direction. 

Of course, they didn't buy her story. They believed that she was a spy and took her into custody to question her further. "Yes, she played the plan off." It was as if she was trespassing on new government soil, but the village people owned this land. 

-Becky-

"I'm inside, guys," Becky said through the phone. "There's nobody else around here that I can see. The guards have left me alone. They don't get too many prisoners because the jail cells are empty. 

"Do you see where they may have taken my grandmother?" Cailian said.

"No, not at this time. Hold on, I hear some of the guards talking outside. They're saying something about getting rid of the old hag before they pack up and leave again."

"So you're saying they're talking about leaving and getting rid of my grandmother? Why was she supposed to be used as a bargaining chip for them? What about the deal where we give them everything?" 

"I don't see how that could be possible. They said something about abandoning the land development program because the employees are not getting paid enough." 

"So that's why these people have been harassing us this whole time. They want to convert our land into more property for them to use." 

"Yes, so it would seem. They also said that they were told that there are jewels here that would make them rich." 

"There is, but they will never find it. We don't reveal that information to anyone; only the chief and I know the location." 

I understand. It would make sense to limit the knowledge to keep everyone safe. 

"They're coming back in with your grandma." 

(Bandit guard): You sit right here, you old hag, the guard said as he tossed the old lady into the jail cell next to me. 

"Are you okay, chief?" I bent down to help her up off the floor. 

"Oh, you're one of those children that came to help us. What are you doing here?" 

"It's been in the plans your grandson had me infiltrate so we can get you back. Come with me so we can get out of here? I have plans to move out soon. I believe they're going to leave and abandon us here." 

"Darling, I am much too old and fragile. I won't be going anywhere; it's very much time for me to retire."

"What are you talking about? We came here to rescue you." 

(Bandit guard): Men, it is time to head out. Sterilize the area, and let's roll it out. 

Sterilize. What did they mean by that? 

(Bandit guard): Takes his gun and fires at the jail cells, shooting at the prisoners. 

The elder jumps in front of Becky and shelters with her body. She covers her mouth so she doesn't scream to alert the men. Keeping Becky safe until they leave the area. 

"Becky....Becky, what is going on? Cailian's voice spoke across the phone again. 

"Your grandma, she's been shot multiple times. She shielded me with her body. I am sorry I didn't have a chance to react. I failed to save her." 

"Is she still breathing?" Cailian said in a panic. 

"Yes, child, I am still alive, but my time is fading evermore faster now." 

"I am almost there. When I heard the gunshots, we went ahead and charged in. We already apprehended all the bandits in the area," Cailian said as he broke through the door and ran to his grandmother's side. "The place is on fire, and we must get you out."

"No, Cailian." Grandmother said that she put her hand on his face to comfort him. My time has passed; it was passing before, and I know this is where I would lay my bed." 

"No, don't, not yet. Cailian cried, I am not ready. I just got back. I was gone for so many years to try to help you in the village. A demon infected our entire village, and many of them were attacking each other. I would have come for you much sooner. But without intervention, I don't believe they would have survived." 

"I am proud of you. You will make a great chief. You took care of your people first before your own personal wants." 

"But you are important to me too," Cailian said as tears streamed down his face.

Evan came into the room and told Cailian about the building. The fires were multiplying, and we needed to leave soon before we became trapped. 

"My child, the village was attacked because I went against my better judgment. Be not angry. I know as long as you were in the army, you never spilled any blood." 

"It was I who was talking to the men about purchasing the land to help provide income for the rest of the village people. They said they would work our people to help build the new city. And I had a change of heart and backed out." 

"I started the rebellion amongst the people. In an attempt to stop them, I offered them money to leave. But they became greedy what I could offer was not enough. Then I told them about the village treasures. When I did not deliver, they began to take from us. I am sorry, but I cannot turn back the hands of time." 

"As I pray for forgiveness, I have another thing to offer you. Take the waymakers inside the treasure chamber and show them the document. It would be crucial to their purpose. There are seven manuscripts, yet this is only a minor portion of the prophecy."

"You want to protect the world from what's coming, right? Once the veil starts to fall, there is no going back. But you can stop things from happening. I leave you with this final bit of wisdom. Please apologize to my people and family and tell them I love them." 

She closed her eyes, and her hand fell from Cailian's face. Cailian kissed her forehead, and he placed her hand down beside her. 

"Everyone, we must leave now. We will have the huntsmen take the prisoners back to the village. They will remain in our custody until I call the authorities to come to get them and take them back to their own country." 

"I must do as my grandmother's last wishes asked. I need to take you to the manuscripts."