I patted her shoulder consolingly and asked, "Where has he gone?"
"He went to the East, past the Wastelands, and into the Forests of Darkor. He told me he was going to prepare a place for us. A place that could never be lost to a siege of any proposed length. He made it sound so wondrous to me that I'm not sure whether he spoke of this world or the next."
"The Kingdom. He spoke of the Kingdom of Shamayim."
"Yes, I think so," Mayrin affirmed.
"Tell me then, what purpose is there for confronting the Witch if Kuri no longer remains in the valley?"
"He told me to wait until specific changes in Ayenathurim and in the skies above occurred. When I saw the signs I was to know that the end had begun and that I was to leave the Holy Mountains and find you."
"What purpose do I serve other than reconciling this last tribe of your people to the valley?"
"Kuri told me that you would be tasked to gather all those who believe in the Holy Scrolls and the promise of the new covenant recorded down in them and take them to the East."
"Take them where?"
"I do not know, but if I had to say, it would be self-evident in that you now possess a kingdom of your own. A kingdom that lies to the east."
I regarded her closely for a long moment before nodding, "It could be."
"Kuri told me that he would return when it was time, but other than that I do not know what else to do but to be in readiness for that day."
I nodded and asked her nothing more on the matter. The day after next would see us at the Temple. It was time to set all fears aside as there was work to be done and prophecy to be fulfilled.
*****
Susori leaned back against the pillows of the bed in weariness from the day's travails. Her heart was burdened from some unknown source that seemed to steal the joy she should be feeling in this moment. She glanced down to where her newborn son had fallen fast asleep against the warm comforting contours of her chest.
This had been a day of blessing and yet a sense of deep sorrow threatened to overwhelm her in the moment. Quickly she brushed her tears away before they could fall on the baby, which she held a little tighter to her.
She glanced to the window where the last rays of daylight were disappearing from the land. Fear rose up to clench around her heart and something of her inner turmoil transported to the sleeping infant in her arms, causing him to stir fitfully.