Chapter 20 (Going Home)

Wow, Chapter 20! If every chapter was a year, this book would be seven years older than me! And this is the last chapter too! *sniff* Nooooooooo!

Chapter 20

Ben nibbled on a piece of bread as he vacantly looked out the window at the people down below. Hans was whittling something besides him, and Tristan was taking a small cat-nap on the floor.

"Here," Hans said, handing Ben a piece of wood and a knife. "Why don't you carve something?"

Ben briefly nodded and accepted them. He took one last look out the window. And then turned away. Wait, did I saw who I thought I saw? He looked back again and leaped up in surprise.

Making their way through the traffic were Kaela, Lindsey, Erithnae--and Yeshua!

He rushed down the stairs, narrowly avoiding stepping on Tristan. Hans looked after him. "Hey, Ben? Where...what on earth?"

Figuring that the cause for Ben's excitement was somewhere outside, Hans glanced out the window. And nearly screamed in delight.

"Tristan! Tristan!" he bellowed, shaking the sleeping boy. "Wake up! It's Yeshua!"

The other followers heard Hans yelling, and then the whole house was alive with joy. Ben had never come so close to crying as he did then, but not because he was sad. Yeshua's alive! he kept on repeating to himself. Yeshua's alive!

After the hubbub had died down a bit, Yeshua smiled. "I'm sure everyone knows what comes next!" he exclaimed. "A feast!"

Josh was about to ask where the food was, when Yeshua waved his hand at the table. Instantly it nearly disappeared under food of every kind! Bread, meat, fruit, vegetables, salads, souffles, puddings, pies...every food imaginable was there.

He was wondering where he should start, when Yeshua came up to him, holding something behind his back. "Care for a suggestion, Joshua?"

Josh sniffed. "Something smells familiar...yeah, sure. What's that behind your back?"

Yeshua pulled his hands out behind him and waved a livercream pie in front of Josh's face. "Care for some livercream pie?"
--- --- ---
The feast lasted for several hours. Everything, as Lindsey noticed, tasted so much more real then other food. The fruit was more juicy, the meat more tender; she wondered if it had anything to do with the fact that Yeshua made it.

When everything was finished, Yeshua gathered everyone around. "Ben, Kaela, Lindsey, Josh--you're time in Elandai is over."

Lindsey sighed. "Man, that was awesome! Thank you so much, Yeshua!"

Josh looked a little worried. "Will we ever come back?"

Yeshua smiled in a reassuring way. "All of you will come back someday. But even when you aren't in Elandai, I will still be with you, though you won't see me. And soon after you four go, I also will go up to my father, Adonai. So say your goodbyes now,"

Ben turned to Tristan and slapped him on the back. "Well, see you, Tristan."

Tristan patted him in return. "Have fun in your world, Ben."

They all said their goodbyes to the followers, and then stood in front of Yeshua. He smiled at each one, and then suddenly--

--Ben, Kaela, Josh, and Lindsey were standing beside their creek, back in their own world.

Lindsey blinked. "Wow," was all she could say.

Josh couldn't manage much more. "Were we...dreaming?"

Kaela grinned happily. "No, we weren't. And that's the best thing about Elandai; it's all one hundred percent real!" She turned to Lindsey. "So, are you happy you guys came to the creek with Ben and me?"

Lindsey smiled sheepishly. "Definately. And I'm really sorry about the way I acted. I would understand perfectly if you hated me for life."

Kaela smiled back. "Oh, that's okay. You certainly aren't like that anymore!"

Ben waved toward the creek. "Well, I guess we'd better be getting back to the house now, guys. C'mon, this way."

He led his sister and his cousins back across the creek and onto the other bank. When they had finished, Lindsey took one last look back.

"Do you know if anyone else has discovered Elandai?" she asked. "It would be so easy to find; all you have to do is walk across the creek and you're there!"

Ben shook his head. "We do know that Mom and Dad had at least one adventure in Elandai, but other than them, we don't know."

Josh suddenly started. "Hold on. We were gone for weeks! We'd better get home now!"

"Oh, don't worry," Kaela assured him. "Elandaian time is different from ours. In Elandai, weeks for them would only be a second in our time. See?"

She held her watch under Josh's nose. "The time's exactly the same as when we crossed over. It's 9:24 AM."

Josh could only shake his head.

"When do you think we can go back?" Lindsey asked her cousins.

Ben shrugged. "It really depends. It was nearly a month after our first adventure that Kaela and I were summoned into Elandai again. But for you two it could be different--maybe a few days, or maybe a year. But we might want to go back now, this is a good season for snakes."

Kaela shuddered. "Righto. Come on, guys, let's hurry. You really don't want to run into snakes around here!"

The cousins turned and walked away. But as Ben left the creek, he knew that it wouldn't be very long before they would have another adventure in Elandai.

The End

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Whew. That was a complicated book. Some people may think it's easy to write an allegory, but it's not really. Because you want it to be theologically correct, but you don't want it to just be an exact copy of the Bible. But they're so fun to write!

Thanks for reading this everyone. Comments and suggestions are greatly appreciated. I'm never too busy for comments!

Izori

Chapter 19 (The Surprise at the Tomb)

Okay, I'm going to try and wrap this up in the next couple of chapters.

Chapter 19

The next days passed in a blur. Josh got up every day, hoping that there had been some mistake, and then Yeshua really wasn't dead. But soon it became obvious: Yeshua was seriously, honestly, unmistakably, dead.

It had been three days since that day when Kaela tapped Lindsey on the shoulder. "Hey, Lindsey?"

"Yeah?" Lindsey looked up from where she was drawing on the dusty floor.

"I'm going down to see the tomb. Wanna come with me?"

Kaela's cousin shrugged, but stood up. "Why not. We just have to watch out for Ogres, though. They haven't been particularly friendly toward us followers."

Kaela pursed her lips and nodded. Ben had just recently had a close encounter with an Ogre guard, and now the followers stayed at home almost all the time. Not like it's particularly pleasant outside; nine tenths of Mahal are celebrating, and one tenths are trying to keep a low profile.

Kaela walked over to the wall of her room and put her head-covering on. She had begun wearing it so that none of the Ogres would see her face. It seemed that the Ogres knew whether or not you were a follower by looking into someone's eyes. At least, that's what Ben had observed. Kaela had also taken to wearing traditional Elandaian garb; a long tunic with a cloak over that, and the women wore head-coverings.

Lindsey also covered her head, and Kaela grabbed her sword, concealing it under her cloak. Then they set out for the tomb.

Taking the back-streets and alleys, the girls avoided the main traffic. They arrived at Erithnae's house fifteen minutes after they had started out. Erithnae met them at the door when they knocked.

"Erithnae, just telling you, we're going to visit--" that was all Kaela said before Erithnae put his finger to his lips.

"Shhh. Some officials came by yesterday and posted guards around the tomb!"

"What?" Lindsey asked, in a low tone. "You're joking, right?"

"I wish I was, but I'm really not. They said something about making sure none of the followers removed the body, or something crazy like that."

"Do you think we can still visit it?" Kaela questioned.

Erithnae shook his head. "They won't even let me get near it, and I'm the owner of the property. I doubt they'll let you girls get close. I guess you could try...but I wouldn't if I were you."

Kaela couldn't have cared less, even if Erithnae had just said that the tomb was guarded by a two headed, fifty foot long, poisonous snake (and snakes were one of her big fears). "Well, I'm going to try to."

Lindsey stared at her cousin, shocked. "Really? Kaela, are you...um..."

She grinned wryly. "Don't worry, I'm perfectly sane. I'll be right back."

Kaela gathered up her tunic and strode determinedly, yet quietly, down the path leading to the tomb. For some unknown reason, her heart was racing much faster than it ever had.

She reached the bend in the path that if she rounded, she would have been in sight of the tomb. Cautiously, she peeked around the edge--and froze.

There were no guards, although there were swords with the official seal of Daran lying on the ground. And that wasn't what frightened Kaela.

The tomb was open.

Kaela distinctly recalled how the followers had closed the tomb; it had taken all of them, straining and grunting, to move a huge boulder into the mouth of the tomb. And that boulder was now rolled several feet away from the opening. From where Kaela stood, she could see one more very important detail.

The tomb was also empty.

She came closer, all her senses on the alert. Then she jumped back.

A man was standing by the tomb, his back toward her. He looks so familiar, Kaela thought. She hesitantly addressed him. "Uh...sir, there was someone I knew in that tomb. Do you know know if someone took their body away?"

The man turned, and instantly Kaela saw who it was.

"Yeshua!"

Yeshua laughed as Kaela ran to embrace him. Then she said, "We all thought you were dead!"

"And so I was. But now, as you can see, I am not."

"So, is it like Erithnae said? When you died, death was reversed?"

Yeshua nodded. "Yes, daughter. Now that someone who has done no wrong has died in the place of a fallen world, death no longer has it's hold. And Daran now has a mortal wound."

Kaela's eyes shone. "That's so...cool! But c'mon, we need to go tell the others that you're back again!"

The two set down the path, and then Yeshua said, "This is too slow-paced. Come on, let's run!"

Kaela had never felt so energetic as she bounded alongside her Master, both racing down the path to Erithnae's house. They arrived in record time.

Erithnae and Lindsey were standing by the house, talking in low tones. For a moment, they both stared at Yeshua.

"Well...?" Yeshua eyed them joyously. "What are you standing there for?"

Erithnae moved first. "Master!" he yelled, and then ran to him. "How in the world...? You're alive!"

Lindsey moved more slowly towards Yeshua. Looking into his eyes, she all of a sudden felt imperfect compared with him.

To her utter surprise, Yeshua opened his arms. "Come here, daughter."

Lindsey came. "I'm awfully sorry for being so..." Before she could go any further, her words were muffled by Yeshua's gigantic hug.

After the first greetings were over, Yeshua, Kaela, Lindsey, and Erithnae began the walk over to the followers house.

Kaela couldn't wait to tell Ben the good news.
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There. Optomistic writing is more my style.

My arm is so sore! We moved boxes from our storage unit back to the house yesterday, and then I played this earlier version of a Wii at a friends house. You have this sword thing, and then you have to chop up Ringwraiths and other Lord of the Rings stuff on the TV. It takes a surprising amount of effort.

Chapter 18 (No Happy Ending?)

I'll try writing good, but I'm really bad at sad books.

Chapter 18

The wagon-driver halted the horses when they were still a good distance away from the temple. "Better get off here," he said. "It will attract less attention. By the way, my name's Erithnae. We've been in such a rush I haven't heard your names."

Tristan told Erithnae all their names, and then the six crept toward the temple.

Erithnae lead them towards an inconspicuous side door with such certainty that Ben wondered if he didn't know the temple inside out. They slipped inside and rapidly made their way towards the platform-altar at the other end of the large hall.

The other followers, with the exception of Garian, had already gathered around the altar. They looked up when the others approached.

"There you are," greeted Hans. He had circles under his eyes, and looked decades older. "Who is he?" he asked, pointing to Erithnae.

"I am Erithnae, a follower of Yeshua," Erithnae introduced himself. "I have kept silent about my faith for some time, but now I will not. I have a tomb in the garden behind my house we can lay Yeshua in. We might as well, because Daran will not spare such honors on him."

"Yes, we had better," Hans agreed.

Hans, Ben, and two other followers climbed onto the altar and reverently picked Yeshua up. Lindsey silently looked on. He sure looks dead.

The group quietly slid Yeshua's body onto the wagon, and then they set off for Erithnae's house. The followers walked on the side of the wagon, and Erithnae drove. Lindsey sat next to him.

"Erithnae, do you know much about Adonai and Yeshua?" she asked at last, breaking the silence. "Because I have a question."

"Ask away. I will try to answer, but I know little more then you, probably."

"Alright." Lindsey was silent for a second, and then burst out, "I thought...well, Yeshua was powerful, wasn't he?"

"Yes."

"And more importantly, Yeshua was Adonai, wasn't he?"

Erithnae nodded. "He was."

"So...why did he die? Couldn't he have stopped Daran? From what Ben and Kaela said, Yeshua could just squish him."

He took a deep breath. "Well, remember on the way to the temple, when I said that by letting Daran kill him, Yeshua was really killing Daran?"

"Yeah, but I guess I don't get it. Daran may die later, but Yeshua is dead."

"Is he?"

Lindsey looked very confused. "Um...I think." She looked back at Yeshua's body in the back of the wagon. "He--he looks dead."

"So maybe you don't remember what I said. Death itself would be reversed, you know. If you would just read the Book of Prophesies..."
--- --- ---

The followers put Yeshua in Erithnae's tomb, and then wearily went home to the place where they had stayed yesterday.

Un-energetically, Kaela climbed into the bed she shared with Lindsey. How in the world is this going to work out? she wondered before she drifted off into a restless sleep. I thought stories had happy endings. But maybe this one's different.
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Izori

Chapter 17 (The Wagon-Driver)

I guess I'd better finish this thing up. This isn't the last chapter, but we're getting close.

Chapter 17

Lindsey flung herself across the street, barely managing to make it in front of the wagon. The first Ogre chasing her, however, wasn't so lucky.

"Probably won't get up for a while," the wagon-driver said as he stopped the wagon and climbed down, referring to the Ogre. Then he turned his attention to Lindsey. "Are you alright?"

Lindsey nodded, still a little shocked.

The driver had to bend to get to her eye-level (not that Lindsey was short, but Elandians were taller than people from her world). "Why was 'e after you, missie?"

Lindsey gasped out her story as much as she could, not knowing why she was. After all, if she told it to the wrong person, she could get executed. However, when she finished with, "And I think there are still some more Ogres after me, so I'd better go!" the driver smiled.

"Hop onto my wagon," he suggested. "They won't find you there."

Lindsey wearily climbed onto the back of the wagon and crouched beside the produce. She was next to a basket filled with some odd fruit. They looked a little like a mango or an apple, but when Lindsey felt them, they were fuzzy like a peach.

The driver noticed her interest. "You can have one if you would like."

She bit down into the fruit. It tasted like a cross between a peach and a mango, only better. And as far as Lindsey was concerned, it had to be pretty good to be better than a mango.

They rode through the streets, this time more slowly, until Lindsey suddenly noticed Tristan, Josh, Ben, and Kaela, all huddled into a group. Crawling up next to the driver, she asked, "Can we stop? My friends are in the same trouble, too."

"But of course." The driver stopped and waved the children over.

"Lindsey!" exclaimed Josh at seeing his sister. "How in the world...?"

"Shhh!" Lindsey shushed him. "There are some Ogres over there. Get into the back, quick!"

They climbed into the wagon and started down the road again. Once settled, Ben warily asked, "Why are you doing this for us?"

The driver clicked his tongue at his horses to hurry them up a little. "I am a follower of Yeshua, also. Only I have not shown that I am until now."

"Where are we going?" Tristan questioned.

This time, the driver did turn around. "We are going to the temple."

Ben jumped, and Kaela put her hand on her sword hilt. "Are you sure you're a follower?" Kaela challenged. "My sword is sharp, you know."

The driver laughed. "Put thy sword away, maiden. I am positive I am a follower. We are going back to bury him. It's all we can do for what he did for us."

"What did he do for us?" Josh looked a little confused. "I'm not saying that he did nothing for us, but..."

"I know what you mean," the driver replied easily. "He gave Daran his mortal wound."

"Well, I'd hate to say it," said Ben. "But from where I stood, it looked like Daran gave Yeshua a mortal wound."

"Have you ever read the Book of Prophesies? If someone pure of heart, Yeshua dies to ransom a fallen world, Elandai, then death itself will be reversed. When Daran raised his sword, he was giving a wound to himself."

Kaela recalled Klii's words in the dwelling under the ground, long ago. He said something along the lines that Ben and I had come to Elandai to temporarily defeat Daran (which we did), but that it wouldn't be permenant. It would take someone better to rob Daran of his power. Someone like Yeshua.

She sighed. But Yeshua's dead.
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To make up for chapter 16 being so long, this one's a little short.

I wouldn't have been able to write this one without reading "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" by C.S. Lewis (although I'm sure everyone knew that :)

Izori

Chapter 16 (Yeshua's Death)

I'm hoping to make this chapter rather long, for a change.

Chapter 16

Lindsey blinked as she and the others slipped out the door leading into the great throne room of Daran for two reasons: one, because she had grown used to the dimness of the cell, and the throne room was much more brightly lit (it looked a lot like the Lincoln Memorial). The second reason was it was full of people. And no one had been expecting that.

Tristan gasped, and they all immediately flattened against the wall, trying to remain unseen. However, everyone seemed to be looking in one direction, the throne. Or rather, the platform that the throne was on.

There were a whole bunch of tall people in the crowd, making it impossible for even Ben and Tristan to see what was going on. They pushed through the multitude, trying to get closer.

In all the bustle, Kaela and Lindsey got separated from the boys. To avoid being separated from each other too, Kaela grabbed her cousin's hand. When she looked up, she gasped.

Without realizing it, the girls had reached the very front of the crowd, and they had a very good view of what was taking place of the platform. Two figures were standing on it. One was Daran. Kaela knew right away, even though she had never seen him before. The evil radiating from him would have tipped her off even if she hadn't even heard of him before.

Her first instinct was to whisper for Lindsey to get behind her. Daran would easily recognize her cousin, but probably not Kaela. Where's Ben? Kaela thought, starting to get nervous. If Daran sees him...

Then something caused Kaela to look harder at the second figure. He was bound, and his white robe had been replaced with some rough, dirty, fabric. He was cuffed and bruised, and someone had mockingly placed a crown of viciously sharp thorns on his head. But she still could immediately tell who it was--Yeshua!

She started violently, and gasped. Yeshua looked her way and saw her. He seemed to smile at her, trying to tell her it would be alright. But it isn't alright! They're going to kill you, Yeshua!

Kaela reached for her sword, ready to pounce on Daran, but something stopped her. Instead, she just stood there, silently watching as Daran smirked at his adversary. Then the evil master spoke.

"Well, we finally meet at last, Yeshua, and it appears you were wrong. I guess you won't be giving me a 'mortal wound' after all. Now I have you tied up, and it's you, not me who must beg for mercy. Will you?"

Yeshua didn't say anything, he merely looked at Daran, who seemed to quail before his steady gaze.

"Don't you understand what I'm saying?" Daran yelled, in a fury over Yeshua's silence. "I'm going to kill you, not the other way around. I won, not you!"

Yeshua was silent.

Finally losing his temper, Daran screamed angrily and shoved Yeshua, hard. He stumbled and fell, lying on the platform. To Kaela's chagrin, the crowd burst into laughter. Behind her, Lindsey gasped. "Why are they doing this?" she whispered into Kaela's ear.

Kaela didn't answer, only felt helpless.

Now Daran was pulling a sword out of it's scabbard, which had been attached to his waist. He held it over Yeshua, who didn't flinch. "Any last words, O king?"

Kaela covered her eyes, but she knew what had just happened by the way the crowd cheered. Daran had just stabbed Yeshua with the sword.

Behind her, Lindsey started sobbing. Daran's triumphant voice rang out above the crowd. "It is finished! The 'great and mighty king' didn't defeat me, after all! Ha, thinks he so powerful!"

The crowd cheered again, and Daran said more, but Kaela didn't pay attention. Ben had just tapped her on the shoulder.

"Kaela, come quick!" he hissed into her ear. "Some guards are after us! They must have noticed our different reactions!"

Kaela forgot Yeshua for a moment and glanced at the crowd. Several Ogre guards were making their way toward them, determidly pushing through the crowd.

"We might want to hurry!" Josh said nervously. His freckles were standing out more than ever, and he was glancing from time to time at the platform where Yeshua's body still was.

Tristan looked like he was in a trance, but he mechanically led the way through the crowd toward the exit. They pushed past the people, who didn't pay any attention to the children.

Ben was looking behind to see if Kaela and Lindsey were still with them when he bumped right into a solid looking man, who had been quietly watching the goings on. "Oh, I beg your--" Ben stopped. It was Hans!

Hans put his fingers to his lips. "Shhh. You must go away, quickly! I saw the Ogres, and all followers will be persecuted once the festivities are over."

Lindsey came up behind Ben, still in shock over what had just happen. "Hans--they killed Yeshua!"

Hans raised his eyebrow. "Lindsey, I am not so sure about that. Remember the prophesy?"

Just then, Tristan and Josh came back to look for the lagging others. "Hurry, guys!" begged Tristan. "The guards have started to cut us off!"

Hans waved them away. "I'll be alright. Now go!"

The children slipped out the exit and scattered. Lindsey ran through the streets of Mahal, wondering in the back of her mind what she was supposed to do now. Even though many people were in the temple celebrating the death of Yeshua, the streets were still crowded.

Lindsey glanced back and saw that two of the Ogres had followed her. They were shoving past the milling people, mindless of whether or not they knocked some merchant's produce to the ground. However, it would have been much wiser to look ahead.

She didn't realize she was in the middle of the busiest street of all until it was almost too late. A horse-drawn wagon was careening down the rough road, and the driver hadn't noticed her yet. To go back was to give herself up to the guards, so Lindsey did the only thing she could do in the circumstance: dart out into the middle of the road--right in front of the wagon.
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There. That's sort of long.

I just got back from piano lessons, and last night we had been visiting a farm, which had goats. I'm wearing the same jeans that I wore at the goat farm. And the same shoes. I wonder, did anyone notice?

Izori

Chapter 15 (Kaela's Sword)

Chapter 15?!?! No way! My, the time flies.

Chapter 15

Ben massaged his temples wearily. It had been half an hour since he had found out that they were in Daran's temple in Mahal, when a sudden thought occurred to him. "Hey, where is Yeshua, anyway?"

Kaela gasped. "That's right! How could we have forgotten?"

Lindsey blinked sadly. "Don't get your hopes up, guys. Remember, Daran told he he was going to kill Yeshua. That's probably what's going on right now!"

Josh pounded his fists into the wall. "I wish we could do something about--wait. What was that?"

A muffled voice could be heard through the door. "Ben, Kaela, Josh? Are you there?"

Kaela called back. "Tristan? Is that you? Yes, we're all here. What happened?"

"One of those Ogres knocked me out in the garden. I guess they thought I was dead. Let this be a lesson to them; never mess with Tristan Oenhelm! Anyway, do you happen to know where the keys would be?"

It was Lindsey who answered. "No. Ben, can your sword cut through the bars? You said it could do a whole bunch of things, right?"

Ben sighed. "I'm sorry, but I dropped my sword in the garden. Even if it could, it wouldn't be any use to us now."

"Maybe Tristan can run back and get it?" Josh suggested hopefully. "Oh, never mind. We don't have that much time; they'll probably be killing Yeshua any minute! We barely have any time to save him."

Kaela hit herself on the forehead. "Oh, how brainless can I be!" she scolded herself. "I do have my sword with me! Here, let's try."

The girl pulled her magnificant, yet not full-length, sword out of it's plain scabbard. Everytime she did it, shivers ran down her back, knowing how powerful it actually was. It immediately began radiating a pure, clean light, illuminating the whole room.

As if in a trance, Kaela walked over toward the door, and then brought her sword down onto the bars with a clang. "It worked!" she cried triumphantly. "I felt something give!"

She pulled it away and gave yet another whack. Now there was a noticable dent it the bars.

Before she could strike it a third time, Kaela felt the blade vibrate. An instant later, it shot out the familiar, white ray of light that easily pierced through the bars. As a matter of fact, it completely incinerated the whole door, which had been made of strong, thick metal.

Tristan looked at the sword, eyes wide. "How in the world...?"

Kaela merely smiled and said, "Adonai."

Josh, Ben, Kaela, and Lindsey filed out of their former prison into the dark hallway. Not dark for long, however, as Kaela's blade glowed again, this time lighting up the hall.

Tristan looked skeptically at Lindsey, but said nothing to indicate he was surprised at her presence. Instead, he turned and broke into a run. "Now let's go rescue Adonai!"
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All my chapters are rather short. I would make them longer, but now I have limited computer time, so I just type as fast as I can and as short as I can, and then go ahead and post it.

Chapter 14 (Tristan's Realization)

Tristan moaned and came awake, finding himself under a berry bush. One of the Ogres had hit him over the head--rather hard--and he had rolled under the bush when he fell to the ground.

The follower cautiously stood, rubbing the black and blue bump starting to appear on his forehead, and looked around. He was the only one in the garden. No Ogres, no Garian, no Yeshua. Ben, Josh, and Kaela were also gone, too.

"Hello?" Tristan called softly. "Ben? Kaela? Josh? Are you there?"

No answer.

Tristan grimaced. The Ogres must have taken them, he realized. But where would he put them?

He pondered this for a bit, and then finally decided that such important prisoners as Yeshua and his followers would probably be kept in Daran's main headquarters--the temple. Then he slipped out of the garden gate and headed for his destination.
--- --- ---
Tristan paused when he reached the temple. Several formidable Ogres were guarding the entrance. No way he could just waltz up and enter.

He picked up a decent-sized rock from the edge of the road and hurled it at a stack of spears on the other side of the guards. The spears fell with a loud clatter to the ground, and the Ogres turned toward their disturbed weapons.

That was all Tristan needed. He dashed across the open stretch of ground and disappeared into the entrance before the Ogres even noticed him.

Looking around, he could see that he was in the huge, dim throne room, where Daran usually was. Tristan was about to flee before the dark master could see him, but then he realized: Daran wasn't there.

That's odd. Where is he?

Tristan began looking for anything that might tell him where to find Yeshua and the other followers. Finally he found a thick, wood door that had runes carved on it. He, being a native Elandai, could easily see that they read, "Dungeon".

Well, that's where I have a suspicion I'll find them. He entered the door and began walking down a dark, long flight of stairs. There was no railing, and it was beginning to make Tristan a little queasy. Then he had a horrible thought.

Oh, how could you! he scolded himself as he picked up the pace as much as he dared down the stairs. It's in the Book of Prophesies! Why couldn't you see it!

Tristan began to run. It was prophesied that Yeshua would be Daran's undoing. And naturally, if Daran had Yeshua as his captive, he would see that he wouldn't be able to defeat him. And that also explains why Daran wasn't on his throne; he's overseeing the execution of Yeshua!
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This chapter is a little short.

Izori

Chapter 13 (The Betrayal)

Chapter 13

Tristan led the way through the twisted back-alleys of Mahal--the quickest shortcut for reaching the gardens. Behind him stumbled Josh, Ben, and Kaela, not yet acquainted well enough with the city, especially with it being almost completely dark.

They stopped when they could see the garden wall. Kaela scanned the scene, noting how peaceful it looked. The moon shone off the wall, and she could see some of the lush fruit trees inside. It's almost too peaceful for a betrayal. Maybe we were wrong.

Then she heard the unmistakable voice of Yeshua from inside the garden. "I know the reason why you brought me here, Garian. Do what you were going to do."

He knows? Why doesn't he do something?! Kaela screamed mentally. Daran's going to kill him!

Evidentially, Tristan was thinking the same thing. "Charge!" he yelled, and the four dashed into the garden through the gate.

It was too late. Garian gave a piercing whistle, and the next instant, Ogres and Vakir, winged bat-like creatures that had human faces, jumped or flew over the wall and landed inside the garden. Two immediately grabbed Yeshua by the arms. To Ben's surprise, his master didn't even struggle. I guess I'll just have to take care of those pesky Ogres for him.

He aimed his sword at one of the Ogres and waited for the beam of light to shoot from its tip and fry the disgusting thing's brains. But nothing happened.

Ben waved his sword in the air, and then re-aimed it. There was no familiar pure white light. What's going on? Ben thought frantically. Why won't it shoot?

Another Ogre snuck up behind him, and then pounced. Ben barely managed to hold on to his sword as he was knocked to the ground. "Yaaagh! Get off!"

The Ogre merely grunted and pinned Ben's arms to his side, forcing him to drop his sword. Even though Ben was tall and strong from his age, he was no match for an Ogre. It pulled him to his feet, and Ben saw that Kaela and Josh were in similar positions. There was no sign of Tristan, and he wondered if the follower had gotten killed.

The Ogres were talking ot each other in a language that sounded as close to "Goog gaa oogenbog" as Ben had ever heard. They seemed to be talking about their prisoners, because a few seconds later, the one who seemed to be the leader gave a command to the Ogre holding Ben. It grunted, and then everything went black.
--- --- ---
Ben woke up and found that everything was almost as dark as when he had been unconscious. HE was lying on his back in what appeared to be a dungeion--dark, cob-webby, cold, and dirty, with stone walls, just like in books--with the only illumination a single torch on the wall.

"Hi, Ben."

Ben sat up very quickly, and then regretted it. His head felt like it would burst any second. Groggily, he glanced around the dim room. "Who called me?"

"I did. Me, as in Lindsey."

Astonished, he turned around to behold his cousin sitting with her back to the wall. "What are you doing here?" he asked.

So Lindsey told how she had wound up in the same prison. Then she said, looking rather gloomy, "Kaela told me what's going on. You know, Yeshua being captured by Daran's Ogres and all that."

Ben unenergetically drooped his head to one side. Then he realized what Lindsey had said. "Wait. You care?"

"Ben!" scolded Kaela, sitting beside Lindsey. Josh was next to her, with his head in his hands. He too had a splitting headache.

"Er...that's not what I meant. I meant...are you a follower now?"

Lindsey's face lit up. "Yep. I thought you guys were crazy until I became a follower, too. I guess seeing how bad Daran really is made me see how awesome Yeshua is."

"And speaking of Daran," added Josh, finally looking up. "Gues where we are?"

"Where?"

"In the dungeons of Daran's temple in Mahal."

"What?
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Chapter 12 (Garian)

Now I'm bursting with ideas! Good ones, I hope!

Chapter 12

Ben stared out the window of the house the followers and Yeshua were staying at. It was evening, and the crowd outside was thinning. The sun had just sank beneath the hills to the west, and the brilliant red and gold had given way to purple and blue. What he was looking at however, was not the beautiful scenery, but the four Ogre soldiers nearby--too close for comfort.

Is it possible that Daran may have got wind of Yeshua being in Mahal, and sent those soldiers to capture him? Tristan, Hans, and once Klii, told me all about how my Master is going to eventually kill Daran. One of the Ogres shifted and turned it's gaze to Ben in the window. It smirked, and the boy rolled his eyes, moving further into the room. Ogres brought unpleasant memories of sword-fights below grounds. Ben was a rather tranquil person, and he got an odd feeling thinking about all his narrow escapes.

He turned as Josh entered the room. "Hi, Ben," his cousin said, with a concerned look on his face. "Notice the Ogres?"

Ben nodded grimly. "Yep. I hope they won't be a problem."

Josh peered out the window at their 'guards'. "It's so odd."

"What is?"

"A week or so ago, I never would have imagined I'd be transported into another world, hear of livercream pie--" Josh grimaced at the thought. "--and meet Ogres!"

"Well, at least you have me and Kaela to explain everything to you. Our first time I thought I had gone crazy or something. And Klii, Learka, and Yev couldn't really explain it from our viewpoint well. I was confused for a long time."

Without warning, the door burst open, and Kaela and Tristan charged into the room. "Ben! Josh!" cried Kaela. "Come quick!"

"What? What's the matter?" Josh and Ben exclaimed at the same time, confused by the way Kaela was hopping up in down.

Kaela and Tristan took turns explaining. "A little while ago, I saw Garian talking with some of Daran's soldiers in the streets," began the boy follower. He looked pale, despite his tanned skin. "I could hear things like 'Yeshua...kill...betray...garden'."

"And a few minutes ago," Kaela took up the story. "Garian wanted to show Yeshua some things in the Isancaa Gardens, which is near the center of Mahal! They just left!"

Josh gasped. "Are you saying that Garian's going to betray Yeshua?"

Kaela grabbed her sword from where it was leaning on the wall. "Yes! Come on; we've got to stop him!"

Ben picked up his sword, too, while Tristan and Josh selected their dirks. Then the four of them rushed outside into the deepening night.
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Despite it's not being very long, it took me a while to write this chapter. Probably because I kept on being interrupted by certain family members who wanted the computer.

Izori

Chapter 11 (Captured)

Sorry for the delay. I still don't have any clue where I'm going with this...

Chapter 11

Josh gazed around in wonder at all the people in Mahal. They were standing in a marketplace, with all sort of smells, sounds, and sights all around them. One man was selling some kind of pie that looked so good, Josh asked Tristan, a young follower, what it was.

"Oh, that's livercream pie. It's very good."

Josh winced. "Livercream pie?"

"You know, you take the liver of a calf, and then you puree it, and then you mix cream that's gone sour with it...you've turned green, Joshua,"Tristan observed innocently.

Needless to say, Josh didn't ask any more questions about Elandai foods that day.
--- --- ---
Lindsey was having her own culinary adventures, too. She was looking at leaf shaped candy in a vendor when someone came up behind her. "Do you know what that's made of?" she asked the someone, thinking it was Josh or Ben. She was surprised when Yeshua's strong voice answered.

"That is made from the sap of Habanah trees. It's much like the maple candy of your world. Would you like to try it? I already have some like it in my pocket. Except I made the ones I have."

"Fine," Lindsey said warily. Daran had said that Yeshua wasn't to be trusted. Would he try to poison her?

She accepted the piece of leafcandy and bit into it. "Why, it tasted wonderful!" she exclaimed, forgetting her caution in her excitement. Maybe Yeshua isn't so bad, after all. Daran wouldn't be able to give me something as good as this!

Lindsey kept all that in mind when she visited Daran through the 'glass'. To her surprise, when she arrived she saw Garian, a follower of Yeshua who rarely spoke and seemed annoyed a lot, standing beside Daran's throne.

"What are you doing here?" Lindsey asked Garian.

He merely smirked and let Daran speak. As usual, the dark ruler didn't bother to answer her question. "I hear that Yeshua and the followers are in Mahal now." It wasn't a question.

Lindsey, for some reason, started to feel afraid. She didn't like the way Daran was looking at her.

Now he seemed to speak to himself. "Perfect positioning for me to kill him. He's fallen right into the trap; thinks he'll defeat me!" Daran raised his voice as he spoke to Lindsey. "I no longer need you anymore."

Lindsey stared at him aghast. "Wait a minute! You're going to kill Yeshua? But you can't! He's nice! A lot nicer then you, in fact." There. She had said what she had been thinking all along, even though she hadn't realized it.

Daran's eyes narrowed. "I said, I don't need you anymore. Garian, would you do the honors with the new powers I gave you?"

"Certainly, my liege." Garian made a swift motion with his hand, and something flashed red in front of Lindsey's eyes before everything went black.
--- --- ---
When Lindsey woke up, she found herself in a prison. It would have been completely dark except for the single torch in a sconce by the door. Except for the rats running about occasionally on the floor, and the spider that had found its way into her hair, Lindsey was all alone.
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That was an interesting chapter. And I got the idea for the liver in livercream pie when we went on a hike and Mom brought liver paste with us. I tried some, and...well...it tasted what I always imagined liver to taste like. Not very good.

Izori

Chapter 10 (Mahal)

Can you believe it? In the double digits! Wow!

Chapter 10

It was the next day. The followers and Yeshua woke up early, and the sun had only been up for an hour when they set out on the last leg of their journey--to Mahal.

Kaela was surprised to hear Lindsey address her. "Hello, Kaela."

"Um...hi."

Lindsey dropped her voice. "Can I tell you something?"

Kaela looked at her suspiciously, but leaned her head in closer. "What do you want to tell me?"

"Do you really believe what everyone says about Daran? That he's bad and all, you know? Well, he isn't. I've met him, and I can prove it. Tonight--" that's how far Lindsey got before Kaela wisely picked up speed and strode away towards Yeshua.

What do you take me to be, Lindsey? A fool? she thought. I've almost met Daran in person, and Ben's actually fought a duel against him.

She caught up to Yeshua, who was at the front of the group, and walked silently beside him. Then she asked, "Yeshua, you know about Lindsey and--" she lowered her voice. "--her meeting with Daran?"

Yeshua turned to her. "Yes, I do, and I know what you'll ask. Why can't she see what she's getting herself into."

Kaela was hardly surprised that he knew. He's Yeshua. Of course he'd know.

"It's because she's refusing to see." Yeshua explained. "There are many people who don't like to admit that they're not perfect and they don't need a Yeshua, so they close their eyes and continue on trying to not think of how much they need help. Lindsey is one of those."

"Oh." Kaela's voice was small. "Do you think she'll ever change?"

"That is her story, not yours." Yeshua told her. "But there is hope for everyone."
--- --- ---

The followers and Yeshua reached Mahal shortly afterward. Ben took a good look at the city while they were still far away. It looked...normal. Not like the time before. He noticed there were people, bustling in and out.

Then, with a deep breath, he joined the rest of the followers on the long walk down the hill.
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I'm hoping to get to atleast fifteen chapters, so I'm trying to stretch it out. Have you noticed?

Izori

Chapter 9 (The 'Glass' Shard)

Goodness...next one will be Chapter #10!

Chapter 9

As Josh left the room after he talked with her, Lindsey rolled her eyes in exasperation. Brothers! Never want to try anything fun.

Nonchalantly, she reached into her picket and pulled out a dark piece of what looked like broken glass. It was actually much harder though, and it glowed red. Daran had given it to her the first time she had seen him, as well as shown her how to work it.

Lindsey laid it on her flat palm and then passed her hand over it, muttering something, and then tossed it up into the air. It immediately seemed to grow larger, until it was nearly as big as the room. She walked right into it, and it gave, like she was walking into a wall of water. Then the wall shrunk, and Lindsey with it.

She found herself, just like the last times, in a large, dark room (Daran had told her that it was in the table in Mahal). She was standing by a very long table, and at the other end sat Daran, on a sort of throne. His eyes gleamed the same color as the 'glass' had when he saw her. If Ben or Kaela had been here, they would have drew their swords and charged him. But they weren't.

"Greetings, Lindsey," he purred as she approached the throne. "We're you successful?"

Lindsey casually sat down in a chair next to Daran. "Well, I tried. Just like you told me, I asked Josh if he wanted to come with me, but he said no. Oh well. We can try again, right?"

An annoyed expression flickered across Daran's face, but Lindsey was not particularly observant and didn't notice it. "Apparently he was stronger then I thought," he muttered to himself.

"What's that?"

He didn't answer her question; instead he continued. "No, we won't go after Josh anymore."

"Then can we try for Ben?" Lindsey asked eagerly. "I still want to get back at him for bringing us here. It was his idea. Hey, what are you going to do to them when I bring them here, anyway"

"Never you mind. No, not Ben either. He's an old...enemy of mine, and I already know how he'll respond. Next time, go for Kaela."

"Kaela?"

"You heard me. Kae-la! I don't know how strong she is, but I have a feeling Master Benjamin"--this was said sarcastically--"will be willing to pay a very high price for his sister. And use bodily force if you have to, Lindsey. You are dismissed."

Right as he said that, the wall of 'glass' appeared in front of Lindsey, as she stepped through and was once more back at the inn.
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That chapter I had planned out.

Izori

Chapter 8 (Evil for Good)

I guess I'll do a chapter now. I don't have anything else to do. Because I read to much of the fantasy genre (or so Mom says) I'm banned from fantasy until I don't know when. Thankfully I'm not banned from writing!

Chapter 8

Kaela and Josh were just as shocked as Ben was, and all the other followers as well. Even Lindsey was looking at Yeshua strangely.

That night, before they got ready to bed down for the night in the forest, the followers discussed it among themselves. "What does he mean, he's going to get killed?" Enauth, one of the older followers, asked. Like him, everyone else was clueless.

"He's Adonai, isn't he?" Josh questioned. "How can he die?"

And like the other question, no one had the answer.
--- --- ---

After that night in the forest, they set out down the road to Mahal. There was little talking, as everyone was thinking about Yeshua's announcement yesterday.

If Yeshua is going to be killed in Mahal, then why are we heading right toward it? Josh asked himself. If he's going to due, then what'll happen to us, his followers?

That night, they stopped in a small city on their way to Mahal, called Cale'ish, and stayed in a little inn. There were many people there, and it was very noisy. Josh wondered how anyone could sleep like this.

Lindsey was sitting in a corner of the room they had paid for, moodily staring into space. Josh sat down beside her.

"Hi, Lin," he greeted. "What's the matter?"

Steam nearly shot out of her ears. "What's the matter?" she mimicked. "The matter is, you're a traitor!"

"Huh?" Josh asked, while starting to inch away.

"You've gone and joined that Yeshua's team. Don't you know they're the bad guys? They may tell you they aren't, but they're really lying."

"How do you know?" Josh was starting to get angry, too, but not at the followers. Call Yeshua a liar, will you? Argh, sisters!

Lindsey went on. "I know because someone told me. His name's Daran."

"Daran? But that's the real bad guy, Lin! Don't you remember when Ben and Kaela told us about him?"

"Well, like I said before, they were lying. You can't trust cousins, you know. And Daran is really nice! He can make food appear, like chocolates and cakes and ice-cream and cheesecake and stuff like that! Of course, it isn't real (see, he told me that, so that proves he isn't lying), but it sure tastes real. C'mon, why don't I bring you to him?"

Josh shivered. "No thanks! Bye, Lin!" He stood up and walked away, his mind whirling.

He met Yeshua in the hall. Josh didn't even have to say anything before Yeshua started the conversation. "What is the matter, Joshua?" By the look in his eyes, Josh figured that he knew everything already, but he told him anyway.

Once he had, Yeshua nodded slowly. "I see. Joshua, let me tell you something. Everything, including what Lindsey is doing, will be turned for good, even if she means it for bad. Be kind to your sister; she's very lonely."

"Yes, sir." Josh said, and then he went back into the room.
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When I started that chapter, I had no clue where it was going.

Izori

Chapter 7 (A Century Old)

Dad led our mini-Bible study last night, and it gave me several ideas.

Chapter 7

Kaela gasped when Ben told her the part about Yeshua being Adonai. "Really? That's so cool! I didn't know he had a human body like this. Last time he just appeared in our dreams." The two of them were sitting on a rock in front of the house they and the followers were staying in. Josh and Lindsey were inside. Probably sulking, Kaela thought.

Ben nodded thoughtfully. "Hans said that Yeshua's purpose of being here was giving Daran a wound that will eventually kill him."

Kaela gasped again, but this time it wasn't a happy gasp. "Daran? He's back? Oh, wait. I think I can figure this out. Klii said last time that Daran wouldn't be defeated so easily. Instead, someone else would come, someone better then you. No offense or anything, Ben."

"Yeah," Ben agreed. "And that's not all." Then he told her that a century had passed since they had been to Elandai last.

"Wow," said Kaela. Her expression was hard to judge as she remarked, "So, I'm a 109 years old, almost 110, and you're about 114! We're really old."

Ben couldn't help but laugh. Until a shadow fell over him.

He started upright, gripping his sword as he whirled. And there stood Josh, looking slightly startled. "Uh...hi. Sorry if I startled you."

Ben and Kaela stared at him, and then looked at each other. This wasn't the Josh they knew all too well. Josh saw their glances and flushed.

"Ah, about my previous attitude," he said as he sat down beside his cousins. "I'm really sorry for that. I didn't even realize I was being that much of a brat--or maybe I did but I just didn't care--until...well, I had a talk with Yeshua."

Kaela raised her eyebrows.

"I can't really tell you what he said." Josh continued. "I mean, it's not like it's inappropriate to tell you, but...it's just so hard to put into words! He made me see how awful I was, and...he's awesome!"

Ben nodded. "I know. He sort of did the same to me. So, you're a follower now?"

Josh beamed. "Yes. It's so exciting. But when I told Lindsey, she just didn't get it."
--- --- ---
Later that morning, Yeshua called all the followers together (including Ben, Josh, and Kaela, and even Lindsey), and said, "We are going to go back into the woods a little bit, so I may tell you all something. And then we will go to Mahal."

Kaela's stomach lurched. Mahal? I thought...

Ben, seeing her confusion, leaned over and whispered in her ear, "I made some inquiries among some of the followers. Apparently the followers in our days destroyed the city after we left, but Daran, after reappearing, built it back up. Many people live there, as it's also the capitol of Elandai (Daran was responsible for that, too). Bummer, huh?"

Kaela nodded.

Lindsey, of course, was making her usual whining heard. "What if I don't want to go?" she demanded, looking right at Yeshua. Kaela groaned and closed her eyes. Cousins...

Yeshua remained unruffled and he looked right back. His eyes were calm and quiet, but powerful. Just like old times, Kaela realized.

"Daughter, you will want to come." That was all he said, and it was all he needed to. Lindsey's mouth dropped open as to protest, and then she closed it and wrinkled her forehead, as if trying to figure out something.
--- --- ---

It took a good part of the day to reach the woods. Ben walked beside Josh, not really knowing what to say. It was great that he was a follower, but it was odd not to think of him almost like the enemy.

When they we're finally in the woods, Yeshua stopped and gathered the others all together. "It will not be long before I am going to be betrayed into the man in Mahal. They will kill me and then I'll rise. That is why we are going to Mahal."

Ben didn't know what he expected Yeshua to say, but that probably wasn't it.
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And now I have yet more ideas for my book (rapidly increasing by the second. The ideas are, I mean) They have no idea what I have in store for them! Hahaha!

Izori

Chapter 6 (A Part of Adonai)

As soon as I wrote Chapter 5 I thought of this one, but I didn't have any time to write it.

Chapter 6

Ben woke up early the next morning, not being able to sleep for some odd reason. He tiptoed out of the room and snuck out the door leading to the village.

He looked around. The sun was just coming over the horizon; the clouds in the distance were a gold/silver/pink. There was dew on the ground, and Ben's sneakers were already wet.

A noise made Ben jump and whirl. There stood Hans, who had just come around the corner of the house.

"Greetings, Ben," Hans said quietly, so as not to wake the people in the house. "What brings you out here?"

"Oh, nothing much. I couldn't sleep." Ben hesitated for only a second before asking the question that had been on his mind last night. "Hans, who is Yeshua. Why do you call him master?"

The older man sat down on the stone steps and motioned for Ben to join him. Then he explained. "He is our Master."

Ben blinked.

"He's the son of Adonai, the great Maker of everything. Because we're sinful, Adonai sent Yeshua to come down to us and make us clean again. Though me, nor the rest of the followers, are sure how he will."

Ben nearly gasped aloud. "Then, Yeshua is the son of Adonai?"

"Well, he is Adonai." Hans told him. "I know, it's sort of confusing. But Adonai promised that he would send his son to save us, and here he is."

"So, Yeshua is the son of Adonai and is Adonai." Ben wasn't quite getting this.

Hans smiled. "Exactly."

"Oh." Ben pondered this for a moment. Then he exclaimed. "I get it! Sort of like, Yeshua is a part of Adonai. Right?"

Hans cocked his head to one side. "Yeah, sort of like that. It's very hard to put into words."

The boy nodded. I need to tell Kaela this. Then he remembered something else he wanted to ask.

"What's going on in this area?" he asked. "Who's in charge?"

"Ah. That...is rather depressing." Hans' smile faded. "But let me explain. Many, many, years ago, a being (I would say man but I don't think he was) named Daran ruled over Elandai. He was cruel and heartless, and Adonai's sworn enemy. But then Adonai raised up two children (their names are lost to history, unfortunately) and through them and a man named Nolan, Daran was defeated. And then Nolan became king over Elandai, under Adonai.

"But Daran was not defeated for good. He never will be until the end of time, and my master Yeshua will give him a mortal wound, and he was only down for a little bit. When Nolan died, his eldest son ruled after him. Even though both were good kings, the son was not half as good as King Nolan (an excellent king, may Adonai bless his memory), and the kings after them got worse and worse. And now king Nefshar is on the throne, and a weaker and more...easily turned aside man there has never been before ruling. Though he is only a figurehead. The real one in charge of everything in the kingdom is Daran."

Ben felt a chill run through him. On their last adventure, Klii had said that Daran would not be so easily defeated. How right the old man had been.

"Daran, under Nefshar's name, has placed his soldiers all throughout Elandai. We are lucky; the only soldiers stationed in this village are humans. Many others are ogres, or other horrible monsters."

"Wow," said Ben heavily. Not that he wanted to say anything, he just wanted to break the depressing silence after Hans had finished talking. "I guess this isn't Elandai's golden age."

Inside, he was thinking. Man, guess I'm going to have to tell this to Kaela, too. Guess this wasn't a good time for Josh and Lindsey to come. This isn't going to get very pretty.
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Izori

Chapter 5 (The Followers of Yeshua)

I could wait a day or two to post the next chapter, but I have the time now (at least, I hope) so I might as well do it.

Chapter 5

Ben slumped against a tree in the forest above the dwellings. He, Kaela, Josh, and Lindsey had just finished exploring the network of tunnels the followers had once lived it. But it was completely deserted, just like the place where Klii, Learka, and Yev had once lived. And Josh and Lindsey's bad attitudes hadn't helped a bit.

"Why are we sitting here?" Josh pouted. "We looked all over the smelly tunnel-thingy and we couldn't find your precious friends, and who cares? Let's go home! I left my cell-phone on and it's probably running out of batteries."

"And I can't find my lip gloss!" shrieked Lindsey, searching her pockets. "If I lost it in the tunnels you'll be sorry, Kaela!"

"Guys," pleaded Ben. "Could you stop being so concerned about your stuff? I'm not sure we can go back. I think it's more of the thing that Adonai has to make it happen. It's not like you can just cross over between the two worlds whenever you like."

"Well, then, this Adonai-thing you keep on talking about is really--" That was how far Lindsey got before Kaela hastily covered her cousin's mouth with her hand.

"Ahem. Why don't we go to--Lindsey, stop biting!--look for a village or something? We wil need a place to spend the night, after all."

Ben rose to his feet. "Good idea. Come on, let's go."
--- --- ---
It was beginning to be dusk by the time they found a village. They had come out of the woods long ago, and now were on a sort of plain. The path they had been following still continued on, winding away like a dusty snake into the distance.

Ben squinted away to the east before entering the village. "We should have seen Mahal a long time ago," he mentioned to Kaela.

She nodded. "Yes, we should. Maybe it's gone to ruins, just like all the other things that were here when we were last."

Josh and Lindsey, eager for a bit of civilization, were already in the crowd in the village, and Ben and Kaela had to hustle to catch up to them. The people they passed stared curiously at odd clothing--jeans and t-shirts--as they walked.

"Where are we going to sleep, in a barn?" Lindsey asked in her usual manner. "This place is filthy! Call this a town? It's not even as big as the first floor of a mall!"

Ben ignored his obnoxious cousin. "Let's see...we can't sleep in an inn because we don't have any money, I doubt the people will let us stay in their houses--look at the way they stare at us. They look pretty hostile, wonder why--so I guess we will sleep in a barn tonight, Lindsey."

They were about to begin looking for a suitable barn when a man came up to them. He had a short brown beard, and wore the customary robe of the other people around him. "Good day, children. I hear you are looking for a place to stay?"

Ben, as the oldest of the group, was the spokesman. "Well...yes."

The man's smile put his fears at ease. "Would you like to stay with me and some more of my friends? We have plenty of room for all."

"Sure," Ben replied. "Thank you."

Following the man, who introduced himself as Hans, they came to a house on the edge of the village.

"It's only a temporary stay." Hans told them. "Us followers and our master travel the country and beyond. Do come in,"

Ben pricked up his ears at the word 'follower'. Could they possibly be among the company of followers of Adonai? But Hans continued.

"My master, Yeshua, will be very happy to receive you." Hans held the door open.

The cousins entered, and found themselves in a room, filled with several people. When they came in, one of the men stepped forward to greet them. "Hello Ben and Mikaela. Greetings, Joshua and Lindsey." His eyes reminded Ben of someone he knew, but he couldn't place a finger on it...

"How do you know my name?" Lindsey asked defiantly.

The man, Yeshua, turned his eyes on her. "I know many things about you, daughter. More than you would know. Now come to the table, we were just eating."

Later that night, when Ben lay down to go to sleep in the house the followers of Yeshua were staying in, he suddenly recalled who the eyes of Yeshua had reminded him of: Adonai.
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Izori

Chapter 4 (The Deserted Dwelling)

Finally, the long overdue...

Chapter 4

"What?" Josh squeaked. "Who's Elandai?"

Ben and Kaela took turns explaining their last adventure in Elandai--from falling into the follower dwelling to fighting Daran in Mahal--and when they were finished, Josh and Lindsey looked much more pale then they had before.

"That's no fair!" whined Lindsey. "You didn't tell us we were going to Bananai, and I want to go back! Take us back, Ben!"

"Actually, we're in Elandai, not Bananai--" Ben barely caught a smile "--And we aren't going back. Trust me, you'll have fun! All the swordfights, adventure...come on, Josh, don't you like adventure?"

"No," Josh stuck out his lip. "I don't like adventure, and I want to go home."

Kaela rolled her eyes, an action she'd probably do a lot of over the next weeks. "Well, by the end of our time here you'll love Elandai. Now come on." With that, she began marching through the path that led straight on. Ben followed her, and Josh and Lindsey unwillingly took up the rear.

Kaela looked around at the forest they were walking through. This was so different then last time. Her and Ben's first walk was a spooky one; the path had been surrounded by skeleton trees. But then Adonai had made the trees come alive again, so now they were green and friendly. Some had flowers in their branches, and birds chirped from all over. A squirrel dashed across the path, and then paused to look at the humans.


She glanced from side to side. Somewhere...there it was, a highly disguised, stone trapdoor. She and Ben had fallen through it on their first visit. It was the entrance to the dwelling of Klii, Learka, and Yevelina (Yev for short), three followers of Adonai and good friends to Ben and Kaela.

Ben caught up to her and knocked on the trapdoor. "Hello? Klii? Learka? Yev?"

No answer.

He knocked louder. "Guys, open up! It's Mikaela and I, and we brought our cousins. Hello?"

Still nothing.

Puzzled, Ben turned and looked at Kaela. "They aren't answering!"

"Well, maybe they're out or something," Kaela suggested. "And they might have moved back up to the surface once Daran was defeated. Open the trapdoor and we'll see."

Ben pulled on the door and it opened with a rusty creak. Peering inside, he shouted, "Hey guys, it's me!"

He hopped down into the dwelling and stared around him, shocked. Cobwebs and dust were all over the small room, chairs were falling apart, the lamp chain on the table had all but rusted away--everything was a wreck.

"What happened!" Kaela cried as she followed him down. Josh and Lindsey stared down into the dwelling, not very interested.

Ben shrugged helplessly. "They must have left to live above ground. But that would have been a month ago--or less--and this looks as if it had been deserted...years ago!"

"What kind of place is this, anyway?" Lindsey said from above. "People just run off and leave their homes like that?"

"Oh, be quiet!" Kaela shouted back, starting to get annoyed. "You aren't helping much!"

"Well, sorry, your highness! I didn't mean to upset your royal crown," Lindsey had more than a hint of sarcasm.

With an effort, Kaela ignored her cousin and turned to Ben. "But that can't be possible; them leaving their home years ago when only a month could have passed."

"Maybe someone trashed the place," suggested Ben. "Though that wouldn't account for the rust."

Josh stuck his head down the hole. "What are you guys doing?"

"We're trying to find out what happened to our friends," Ben replied grimly. "You're welcome to help."

The cousins cautiously entered the dwelling, squeaking whenever they got dirt on their hands. At one point during the descent, Lindsey screamed, "A spider! A spider! Ewww, get it off! Off!"

She waved her arms around desperately and lost her balance, falling down the rest of the way, taking Josh with her. He was also squealing, "Spider? Where? Oof!" (The last part was when they fell and Lindsey landed on top of him).

Ben and Kaela exchanged glances. Not un-similar to our first landing, Kaela thought with amusement.

Ben walked over to the old, familiar rug on the wall and brushed it (and more cobwebs) aside, revealing the door behind it. The wood had rotted some, and he nearly pulled the knob out trying to get the rusty thing open.

He glanced around inside. "It's dark in there," he reported. "We need illumination."

Kaela had been scanning the room for something, while Josh and Lindsey sat, huddled in the middle of the room, glancing fearfully around them. Then she suddenly exclaimed, "Aha!" and pulled out...her and Ben's old swords!

She touched the purple pommel stone of her sword. These weapons were special; they shot light for all the followers of Adonai, and did many other things. At the end of their last adventure, they had disappeared when Ben and Kaela had crossed the creek back over to their world, and she had always wondered what happened to them. Adonai must have brought them back here.

Handing Ben's sword to him, she drew her own out of it's scabbard. Josh started at the shink it made and looked fearfully at her. "Don't point that at me! It's sharp!"

"I wasn't pointing it at you, and the swords are supposed to be sharp." Kaela explained slowly and carefully, trying not to yell. "You're going to have to get that into your noggin if you're going to stay here, Josh. Now c'mon, we're going down the tunnel."

The cousins followed her and Ben as they stepped into the tunnel. Immediately, Ben and Kaela's swords lit up with the same pure glow as before.

Kaela grinned as they started down the passageway. It's good to be back.
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It's so fun making Josh and Lindsey spoiled. I know, it's sad.

Izori

Chapter 3 (Josh and Lindsey Cross the Creek)

According to the polls, the title of Book #2 is "The Return to Elandai".

Chapter 3

"What?" Josh squealed. "We're going out in the woods?"

The cousins were all standing on the porch. Kaela and Ben had just told Josh and Lindsey that they would be taking a short walk. They hadn't told them, however, that they would end up in another world, knowing that if they did, their cousins would completely refuse to go. As it was, they weren't showing much enthusiasm.

"Yuck!" exclaimed Lindsey. "What about the spiders! And mud! And snakes! And mosquitoes!"

Kaela looked at Ben. Uh, this might be a mistake, she thought. What will Klii or Learka or Yev think of them. And we're related to them! Yikes.

Apparently ignoring their negative remarks, Ben stepped down off the porch. "Well, no need to waste time, guys," he said. "Josh, Lindsey, it'll be really fun. It's not at all what you think it'll be. At least give it a try." He looked pleadingly at his cousins.

Josh refused to budge an inch. "No way. We're the visitors. That means you got to treat us nicely. We don't want to go. Right, Lindsey?"

"Right. We don't want to go." repeated Lindsey. "And you can't make us."

Kaela massaged her forehead wearily. If this is what it's going to be like for the entire visit...we'll be lucky to get out alive. She was interrupted from her thoughts when Josh said, "Well, guess what. Me and Lin are going inside. So too bad for your little plan."

We tried, Adonai. But I guess me and Ben are going alone.

Then, completely out of the blue, Lindsey spoke up. Her words astonished Ben and Kaela. "But Josh, maybe all along they want us to say no. Maybe their tricking us. I wouldn't put it past them."

Josh turned around. "Right." He marched off the porch. "See, we're smarter than you take us to be, Benjamin Matthew Wilson. We know your tricks too, Mikaela Abigail Wilson. We fooled you into thinking we fell for it, didn't you." So, on full name terms, are we?

Lindsey followed her brother off the porch. "Don't think you can trick us again. Now lead on, and no backing out of it!"

They all turned and walked down the hill, through the back yard and into the woods, with Kaela in the rear, shaking her head wonderingly. Wow, Adonai, that was...pretty nifty.
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They continued until they reached the creek, where Ben stopped. "Now we have to cross that." he said as he pointed to it.

Lindsey's reaction was instant. "Ewww, all that muddy water! You're trying to drown me, Ben!"

"No, I'm not."

"The water's probably really deep, and then you'll tell a snake to come and bite me! And then I'll swell up and die!"

"Actually, this is a ford. It's meant for crossing, and in the dry spell we've been having its probably up to your ankles." Kaela pointed out. "See, I'll even go first to demonstrate. It might be a little deeper on me, but that's because I'm a bit shorter."

Stepping into the water, she started to slowly wade across. She had to be careful not to lose her footing or Lindsey and Josh would probably chicken out. Only once did she wobble, and she only did that for a second. Then she was on the other side.

Looking over the water, Kaela could see what she could last time she was in this position. True, Josh and Lindsey hadn't been there before, and Ben had already crossed the time before, but she couldn't see any modern things. They had just simply disappeared.

Now Josh and Lindsey were crossing the creek, going even slower then Kaela had. When Lindsey first touched the water she had squealed, and she still whimpered a little, but at least she wasn't full-out bawling. Josh looked a little like a ballerina, or at least Kaela thought, with his arms spread and his wobbly steps looked a very little like dance steps. She stifled a giggle.

When the cousins reached the shore, they stood around, to dull to immediately notice the change. Then Josh suddenly said, "Hey, what happened to the houses? You could see them a little while ago!"

"That," answered Ben, climbing up the bank. "Is the amazing thing about this. Would you believe me, Josh and Lindsey, if I told you that we, by crossing the creek, had stepped into a completely different world?"

Lindsey stared at him wide-eyed. "What are you saying?"

"I'm saying that it's true. Welcome to Elandai."
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I would have posted this three days ago, but now we have our house on the market, and with all the rushing around, cleaning the house up, sports, visiting friends, and etc. the computer has been sitting dejected in a corner.

Izori

Title for Book 2

Does anyone have suggestions for my book title? It's sort of hard trying to think up names for a book when you barely know what it's about. What about "The Return to Elandai"? Comment on what you think, please.

Izori

P.S. Just realized that this is my 50 post on this blog. Halfway to 100!

I.

Chapter 2 (Listening to Mom)

I suppose I should do another chapter now. So here goes...

Chapter 2

Ben stared at his mom in shock. Josh and Lindsey coming over? At nine o'clock? "Um, I don't remember being told this." he said out loud.

"I'm sorry, Ben and Kaela," Mom apologized. "I put it on the calender but I guess I just thought everyone would look there and see it.

"What time will they leave?" Kaela questioned.

"Well, I think at six or seven o'clock. Aunt Delilah had to drop them off here because she's going to go in for a meeting at work and we were the only ones who could take them."

Ben glanced at the clock above the stove. 8:49. Only eleven minutes. And then they'll be here for a long, long, time after that. Like ten hours. How in the world are we going to fit Elandai in?

The breakfast table had just been cleared and all the dishes washed when the doorbell rang. Ben, dreading the people who were behind it, opened the door.

Aunt Delilah, or Aunt D for short, was standing there with her two children, Josh and Lindsey, beside her. "Oh, good morning, Bennie," Aunt D crooned in a voice that made Ben want to cross his eyes. "My, you've grown a foot since I saw you last, sweetie. I'm here with Joshie and Lin-lin!"

Ben nodded, and Mom made it to the door just in time. Aunt D liked nicknames a lot, and Ben was sure he had outgrown the name Bennie. He hoped no one would call Kaela Mikki; her ears grew red whenever someone addressed her as that, which was a sure sign she was mad.

"Joshie" and Lin-lin", or better known as Josh and Lindsey, stepped through the door and stared at Ben and Kaela. They were twins, both twelve years old, with thin blond hair and small, green eyes. They also had a bit of a "weight-problem" and were spoiled rotten by their parents.

The cousins stood in silence and looked at one another as their parents chatted politely. Finally Lindsey said in a bored voice, "Wow, this isn't such a great house," and pulling out a tiny pink cellphone, she began texting busily.

Josh looked around. "Dude, where's your TV?" he asked Ben. "Is there anything to do around here?"

Ben would have loved to roll his eyes, but with a great effort he refrained from doing so. "We have a TV in the family room, and there's plenty to do around here. Like hike in the woods, play with the cat..."

Lindsey walked by Kaela and Ben and peered into the school room. "What's this--a library? It's pretty messy." Without waiting for either of her cousins to answer, she went on. "Me and Josh didn't want to come here, you know. We think you guys are really boring."

Kaela and Ben exchanged glances. "Oh," hesitated Kaela, not knowing what to say. "Uh...that's nice to know."

Man, this is going to be a pleasant day. Ben told himself.

Just then, Aunt D called from the doorway, "I'm leaving now! Have a wonderful day with your cousins, Joshie and Lin-lin!"

Immediately Josh and Lindsey transformed into perfect little angels, beaming at their mother. "Goodbye, mom. Have a nice day!" Josh replied innocently.

The door closed. Almost like a bell of doom. Ben snorted humorlessly. He turned to Josh and asked, "So, do you want to go up to my room?" It looked as if he and Kaela wouldn't be able to make it to Elandai, after all.

Josh shrugged. "Sure, I guess. Does your TV work?"

Wow, he sure is interested in our TV. "It only works for videos. And the occasional DVD. Now c'mon--my room's this way."

Ben was about to lead Josh up the stairs when Mom held out her hand to stop him. "Ben, I'd like to talk to you for a minute. And Kaela, you too."

Turning to Josh, Ben said, "I'll be right there. My room's the second door on the right, okay?"

Josh nodded and climbed up the stairs.

Kaela came in from the living room where she had left Lindsey. "Yes, mom?"

"Aren't you going to Elandai?" Mom asked, looking from one to the other.

Ben shifted from foot to foot. "Well...we were going to, but now with Josh and Lindsey being over here..."

"Why not just take them with you?"

Kaela protested, "Mom, but they're...well, spoiled rotten! They'd ruin it!"

Mom raised her eyebrow. "Going to Elandai might change them. I know it changed me, and I was a real brat. Compared to what I was, Josh and Lindsey are nothing."

Ben's eyes widened. "You a brat? Come on."

"I really was," Mom persisted. "It's amazing what can happen if you get plunged headfirst into a war. Anyway, I think you should take them with you. Adonai did say that you guys had to go today."

Ben was about to argue when he remembered. 'Listen to your mom.' That was what Adonai said. But bringing Josh and Lindsey with us will be a disaster!

Apparently Kaela had recalled that too, because she said, "Ben, don't you remember Adonai's advice?"

Ben sighed. "I know, I know. So I guess we will bring Josh and Lindsey. But I have a feeling we'll really regret it."
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Comments and questions are appreciated!

Izori