Enemies in the night

The boy was as pale as a sheet in his face, and looked around in the darkening room.

"Do you have some food I can have the next days? I’ll travel over the mountains - I know them well, and could easily get away there."

"Don’t be too sure that they don’t know the mountains just as good as you. But you’ll get all the food you want from me. But hurry - they’ll be coming soon. This evening or tomorrow morning."

"It isn’t much left of the evening." The boy shrugged and grabbed his coat. The old doctor went into the kitchen and found some food for the boy. His hands were trembling. This help could cost him far too much. Of course he didn’t want to tell them anything before they asked, but if they asked the way they used to, he probably wouldn’t manage to disobey. He could of course hope that he died before he could tell them where Thamonu were, since he was an old man and his health became worse every day.

"Thank you." The boy smiled nervously as he took the bag with the food.

"It isn’t much," the doctor said, "but it will keep you alive for some days. If you want to."

"Thank you again. I don’t know what risk you’re taking right now, but if I ever get the chance, I’ll pay you back."

"Don’t worry about that. I’m only glad to help."

"You look more scared than glad, but I won’t argue about it."

"You’ve been a good friend for me many times, Thamonu. Everyone will remember you with joy. Get away, now. Remember all you’re taught about travelling in the mountains. And good luck." He followed the boy to the door and gave him a hug. "Let’s hope your wound is healing well, then."

"Yes. But - one more thing - how do you know the Kamal-Therion? How do you know so much of them? I thought they were a secret, something no-one else knew about?"

"Yes, they are. No-one else than themselves and now you and me knows about them. And I know about them because… well, some years ago I was one of them. Go now. They’ll be coming soon."

Thamonu looked shocked, but did as the old doctor said and started to walk towards the door. He thought of going home to tell his parents where he was going, but remembered that home was the first place Kamal-Therion probably would search for him.

His feet ran softly over the grass in the meadows which surrounded the village. He hurried now. Everyone would be able to see him here. The sound of his heart were loud in his ears, much louder than anything else.

Suddenly, he realized that there was also a voice there. Between his heartbeats there was a whisper that gradually became louder. At first he thought he was becoming so afraid that he thought he heard things that wasn’t real, but then he realized that it really was a voice. He tried to hear what the voice said, but it was hard. Anyhow, it seemed like the voice became stronger and clearer when it realized that he was listening.

"You can’t get away," the voice suddenly said, louder than everything else. "We’re coming after you. We’re in the mountains, the forests, the lake area, the meadows, the plains, the coast, everywhere. Every Kamal-Therion is looking for you. We knew that the old fool would tell you. He was not worthy enough to be one of us anymore. We can see you right now. We know exactly where you are, and when the moment is right and you have ran so far that you’re exhausted, we’ll take you. If you sit down, we’ll come and take you. If you try to take your life, we’ll stop you. No matter how you choose to be captured, we will make you beg for mercy within minutes. You can’t get away."