130 CHAPTER 129

The woman's words made Ham leaned back on his chair, letting the deep thoughts settle over his shoulders. If they attack the palace tonight and captured the machine. What will happen after that?

"What about Nebula?" Matt asked.

"We are not going to destroy it," Kira said. 

She picked up the brown bag and undid the lace. Dipping her hands into them, she started removing the content. It was basically weapons, far different from those used in Anadan. Every weapon looked like a long stick, but having a trigger at the base.

"We are going to disrupt the market, or anywhere the food metals are sold. That's the plan."

"Wait, you mean you are going to follow us to Anadan?" Ham's stomach jutted with happiness and it spread to every side of his stomach when Kira nodded. This is not going to be bad after all.

"We can't over throne Vudga. Not like this. Not until we have the one whom the prophesy foretold." Clare said.

"Can I ask you something?" Matt said. He did not continue until Clare nodded her head. "Lord Vortex, who is he actually."

Kira paused in what she was doing as if remembering something which was meant to remain buried. She continued unpacking, however, when Clare said.

"We often ascribe a male gender to Lord Vortex. But in a real sense, no one knows what it actually is. From the books here in Vudga. Vortex is but a force. Something deadly and unseen."

"If that's true, what are the modalities that it was defeated with swords and weapons." It was Ham who spoke.

Something crept on his stomach when Kira lifted those beautiful gray eyes to acknowledge him. It was a feeling which ran from his spine to his brain, electrocuting his whole body. They had held the gaze for some time before the girl returned her attention to what she was doing. It made Ham wonder if he had the same effect on the girl as she had on him. She was showing no signs of it. He must be the one playing the fool.

"Like I said before," Clare continues. She set down her pipe, standing up from her seat to get the cup and wine which rested on the rack at the west wind.

"I really cannot say for sure. Even though I saw some of Vortex's wickedness, I never saw him or any form of him. The people knew him as a force that tends to distort that which should be."

"It makes sense," Matt said, nodding his head, "I think I understand it now."

"What exactly?" Ham asked.

"The book, Ham. The book of Blood and Feathers. You remember?"

"Of course, Matt," Ham chuckled, "That book is useless. I still cannot imagine why someone will write such a voluminous book on meaninglessness."

"No," Matt raked his blonde hair, "It is not meaningless. The book of Blood and Feathers can only be read by the Blaze."

"The Blaze, huh? So tell me, Matt, how did you read it? The last time I checked, Jeff was the proposed Blaze."

"What?" Clare and Kira jumped, eyes widening on their skull as if they will jump out any moment.

Ham threw a confused gaze at the two. Kira was holding a dagger, but her grip on the weapon was not firm enough. They were shaking. Every part of her was shaking. Even Clare looked as if she had seen a ghost in a shell. Every aura of authority that usually hung on her shoulders were gone, replaced by this frightful look, which Ham had not seen on the older woman before. 

"The…Blaze…" Clare wanted to say, but the words would not form, "you mean you know who he is?"

"Em…" Ham shifted his weight, not knowing if it was wise to disclose sure sensitive information. But what difference does it make? He had been so stupid with his discussion with Matt to mention Jeff as the Blaze.

"Yes," Was all he said after some passing moment.

"Has he found the locket?" Kira said.

"What locket?" 

"The Locket, Matt," Clare's voice wavered, "the locket that he will use to free Lord Vortex."

Silence passed among them. Ham could sense every bit of it as the face of Jeff began to form in his mind's eyes. It's been three and half years now, but it seemed as if it were only yesterday. He could trace Jeff's face on a paper. Those beautiful eyes and dark hair. The round corners of his face and those rich lips. Ham tried to nudge the feelings away, but it had already engrossed him. For some passing moment, he thought he was going to break down in tears. Three and half years had passed, yet he had not mourned either Jeff or Ema. How could he? How could he bring himself to say goodbye?

"He is dead" Matt whispered. 

That seemed to ease the tension on Clare and Kira's face, for they shifted on their seat, relaxing their tense muscles. Clare's composure had returned. She had filled the glass cup with the orange-colored wine and had walked back to her seat.

"Even if he were alive," Matt said. He was looking at his palms, but Ham could swear he was not seeing them. "Jeff will never free Lord Vortex."

"It will not be in his place to choose." The glass cup clattered in Clare's teeth as she sipped from her wine, "Fate and Actions, remember?"

"No," Matt raked his shaggy hair, "You don't know Jeff as much as I do."

Clare lifted her eyes to meet Matt. The expression on her face said 'thank the heaven's he is not alive' but she did not voice them out. She must have seen how much love Matt had for Jeff. Thinking about it, Ham only knew Jeff for a few months. But Matt had known him all his life. The connection between the two can be seen. Ema on the other hand was not his favorite friend. She really had that wall that created a barrier between her and others. Even though he had known Ema much longer than Jeff, there was still no connection between them. Ema likes keeping to herself, and Ham likes giving people their privacy. One bad lesson his father had taught him.

"The Blaze is the Key to this war." Clare said, "He was the one that had broken the world from the very beginning. Most people believe that he is a part of Lord Vortex. Some elders in the Miens also believes that the Blaze and Lord Vortex are just two people that are inseparable. If the Blaze were alive, he would have done everything within his power to free Lord Vortex."

"You don't know Jeff." Matt gnashed his teeth, "He is different. He is strong and good. Besides, the book of Blood and Feathers said a different story to tell about the Blaze."

"Books," Clare repeated, but remained quiet as Matt continued.

"It said that the Blaze was the one to return the people of Anadan back to a place called earth."

Clare and Kira laughed. 

"Earth?" Kira asked, "Is the Blaze going to rebuild the earth? Because the last time I checked, earth was destroyed by Lord Vortex. Unless your people will have to return to pebbles and dust, then I guess this book of yours is wrong."

"It can't be wrong," Matt said. 

The conviction in his eyes sent a shiver down Ham's spine. He had read that book and there was nothing about prophecy on it. It was just a bunch of genealogy, from the founding fathers of Anadan to the current generation. Nothing mysterious or prophetic about it. But the looks on Matt's face was saying otherwise. Despite the fact that they were firm, they held a belief so strong that Ham doubt, could have been made up.

"Six prophecies," Matt continued, "The book of Blood and Feathers had predicted six prophecies, and four have come to pass. How can you say it is false?"

"Coincidence," Clare muttered, "Predictions can be made with the right calculations. But you see, in sensitive matters like the Blaze and Lord Vortex, many predictions have been made, and many failed. If this book of yours is right, then the world is about to witness the destruction that has never been known since the foundation of the universe."

Ham shifted his weight on the chair. He didn't like the sound of that. If the book Blood and Feather have any link with the Blaze and Vortex, then he will ask Matt later to show him the secrets of reading the book. He must not seat in the dark in such matters.

"Phew," Kira stood, "If you all are done with the talk about apocalypse, then I suggest it is time for us to get ready. The sun will fall soon and we need to act as fast as we can."

Ham bit his lower lips. He studied Matt's face and was surprised to see the cheerfulness returning to his eyes. Before now, Matt would have ended up with a gloomy face whenever the topic of Jeff and Ema comes up. But now, he was just so… different. Maybe he had learned to let go. Maybe he had accepted the fact that he will not see Jeff again in this life.

Ham swallowed, hoping he would do so himself, however hard it may seem.

"I am ready," Matt said, strapping two guns on the side of his belt.

Ham picked up a gun from the bag, and Kira tied the brown bag, using the lace. She flung them by her side, with a warm smile etching the side of her lips.

"This plan better work or I will return to fry your brains with one of my guns," 

"You wouldn't do that, Kira, even if the plan failed." Clare laughed, "But I am positive. Goodbye, my friends. I hope to see you soon."

"I hope so too," Matt shouted as he followed behind Kira, who had taken the lead, "But not so soon." He said.