Aegeus' Story Page 9

  Aegeus was strong again. He was himself again and he was prepared to move forward, to finish what he started so long ago.

  The wind whipped up around him, sending shards of ice through the air to bite into his skin. It was as though they were guarding the cavern ahead of him, trying to prevent anyone from getting closer. As he approached, he hazarded a glance up to see how much further they needed to go and noticed the dark silhouette of a person in the gap of rock. The image gave him new strength and he pushed on, pulling his cloak more tightly around himself to protect his body from the assault of the ice and snow.

  Finally, he was only steps away and he could hear the breath of those around him deepening as they pushed forward through the last short distance. He lunged forward and felt himself move beyond the falling snow and swirling ice into the dry warmth of a cavern filled with the glow of a raging fire. He straightened and looked at last into eyes that he thought that he would never see again. They were older now, worn and filled with sights and memories that he would never be able to overcome, and yet they were the same.

  Casimir reached out a hand toward Aegeus so their palms flattened against one another in traditional Mikana greeting.

  “Aegeus,” Casimir said. “My friend. You have finally returned for me.”

  To be continued…