The only way from here was to go forward. Forward meant to do battle and not retreat, which would be akin to heading back to Philanthia right now.
Philanthia was out. So then, that left these child snatching monsters to deal with.
"El Elyon, if it is Your will for me to save these children and stop this war before it truly begins, then I pray that You would help me to find these monsters and destroy them."
No answer came, but even in the absence of confirmation of my expected actions I knew what I wasn't going to do. I wasn't leaving this place until I did have an answer as to how to overcome the enemy. To leave now would be to go to war without the weapons I needed to ensure victory.
*****
I still sat on the boulder staring out into the darkness. I could hear the dim sound of the voices of those gathered about the fire in the distance.
By now, they all must surely think I was insane. I hadn't left the spot of my earlier prayer for many hours now.
At some point one of the recruits had come and gotten my horse. About an hour ago they had made a small fire. Before darkness had descended though, I had noticed the deployment of several night guards. That was good. At least one of them was learning to take initiative.
Hopefully they didn't lose all respect for me sitting out here alone in the dark, an action that was endangering all of us as we still were in enemy territory.
I was mildly shocked that Susori had not come to visit me yet. Susori, it was a strange and yet beautiful name. Memories of the last several days flooded through me and I was gripped by the raw need to leave this self-imposed spot of isolation and go and find her in the dark and make love with her again.
Groaning I dug my hands into my eyes and stayed where I was.
An hour went by and then another and another. It was a fight to stay awake. I kept looking off to the East in hopes of seeing the first hint of dawn, but so far all was still blackness.
I felt his presence then, all of a sudden. I lunged forward at where I thought he was and I was rewarded with the feel of cloth and a bodily form. We both hit the ground.
"Let go!" Urtholan said sharply.
"Not until you tell me what I need to know!" I grunted back, as I exerted all my force against the cloak covered Malachim.