Genevieve and I walked back towards the battle leaning on each other for strength, both of us tired from the day’s exertions. We found her horse and mounted up, riding back towards the city. The fighting was dying down as night fell over the land, and each side was beginning to withdraw.
“That man called him Reza. Do you recognize that name?” I asked her quietly as our horse trudged back towards the city-fortress.
“Alexander told me it once. It was the name written in blood when they found Daniel and Owen’s bodies. The killer.”
“The man with my face. I saw him in the desert, in a vision. He’s hunting our friends.”
We reached the city gates with no event, and headed for Genevieve’s house after stabling her steed. As soon as we got there Gwen and Zoë brought us both blankets to wrap around ourselves for warmth while we took off our frozen boots and got out of wet clothes.
Zoë sat down in a nearby chair, holding herself as if she was as chilled as we were. “I can’t believe Alex is dead.” Neither of us answered. There didn’t seem to be anything to say.
“I was afraid you were both dead, too.” Gwen said when she brought us hot chocolate a few moments later. I looked up in surprise at this luxury item.
“It’s the powdered stuff, and there’s not much left. It seems to keep alright, however.” Gwen explained in a whisper. I thanked her and sipped the warm liquid slowly, wanting it to last.
“I almost did die.” Genevieve said after a long silence. “I saw it coming. Reza killed Alex and he would have killed me, but Ethan saved me.” She started to cry again, and this time it was Gwendolyn who comforted her.
“It’s okay.” Gwen said, holding her and rocking.
“I’m not a warrior. I should never have been out there.” Eve said. As she said this, I was taken aback. Evidently, she had not noticed how well she fought out there, fuelled by her anger. “I never had a chance against Reza.”
She fell into a silent despondence, lost in thought.
I stood up. “I have to leave in the morning.”
“What?” Gwen said loudly. “You just got here!” I knew that she wanted me to stay, but I couldn’t.
“Genevieve said it herself out there, I have to stop Donovan Reza. That’s my purpose. No one else stands a chance, I’m the only one who can.” I said firmly. I hated to say it. After all, I had been without human companionship for fourteen years. To have but a few days and then leave my sisters was like offering a dehydrated man a glass of water and then pulling it away before he had finished one gulp. But I knew what I had to do.
“Why?” Gwen asked, persisting. “I don’t see why you have to go. He’s been on the loose for years, why now?”
“Because I’m here now.” I said simply. “And you two can’t stay here either. The Citadel troops will overrun the city in days, if not hours. You should head east, while I go west to find him.”
“No.” Genevieve said, finally rejoining the conversation, stirring from her shock. “We’ll come with you. I can’t fight Reza, but I can make Neal pay for all he’s done…”
“Genevieve, no. I’m sorry, but no. These past few days I’ve seen you risk your life enough. And I’m afraid that your rage and thirst for vengeance risks your soul as well.” I said insistently. “I need to know that you are all safe.”
With that, I drew my sword and sliced it through my sister without warning. Its white light pierced her, causing a bright flash, and Genevieve fell to the ground. Gwen let out a startled shriek, and Zoë covered her mouth as she gasped, but when they saw Evie get to her feet they calmed down. Genevieve had been transformed in an instant: the years of wear and tear had fallen away, even the stray grey strands in her hair had vanished. She looked like the gorgeous thirty-four year old she should have been, and not the battle-hardened warrior-woman she had become.
“Gwen, he’s right.” She said calmly, her despair gone. “It’s God’s will. We can go home, where it’s safe. Let Ethan follow his path, and we will follow ours. No more killing, no more fighting, no more living like animals.”
Gwen fell into our sister’s arms and sobbed, accepting that I had to leave her yet again, but clearly not happy with it. Well, I wasn’t either.
No Man an Island 
4 comments
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March 6, 2008 at 4:59 am
Fiona
I may have missed it – how long has he openly been called “Donovan Reza” not Ethan? How did the real Ethan and Genevieve know that name?
Lucy: “I..I think I could be brave enough”
Father Christmas: “I believe you could. But battles are ugly when women fight.”
-C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe , paraphrased from memory.
..but wars are fine when it’s only men…?
March 6, 2008 at 7:19 am
nomananisland
Ethan saw Reza’s name written in blood during his visions with the hawk, basically everything in the chapter “Fallen Empires.” Also, Lamb shouted Reza’s name in chapter 151, prompting him to stop fighting Ethan. Unfortunately I don’t put Genevieve learning that name on the page, but Alex was the first Companion to know Reza’s name, and once Ethan told her it was his doppelganger, she would use it instead of saying “hey, remember that guy with your face?” 🙂
I could easily put in a sentence where Ethan tells her what to call him. Thanks.
I love Narnia! But Father Christmas and Clive are both speaking from an era where it was part of a man’s identity to be a warrior. Culturally, men went to war to defend women. A woman defending herself meant things had really gotten ugly.
Me, I say war is ugly either way. However, I do believe that sometimes it is unfortunately necessary.
March 6, 2008 at 3:59 pm
blue_fleur
“Genevieve said it herself out there, I have to stop Donovan Reza. That’s my purpose. None else stands a chance, I’m the only one who can.”
Thinking that you mean “No one” instead of None.
Conversation between them was very good. You were able to make it read realistically and convey urgency among them.
I am not sure why Ethan sliced Genevieve only and not the other two as well. If the benefits for Genevieve were as dramatic as stated then the others would also have similar need. Would it be that only Genevieve has killed in the war and the other two have not and that is why Ethan is more concerned for her?
Thank you for such a very good daily read. I look forward to each days installment.
March 6, 2008 at 6:22 pm
nomananisland
Thank you for all your comments “blue flower,” they are greatly appreciated.
The power of the sword is primarily subtextual, especially considering no one has really explained it to Ethan. He uses it on impulse most of the time, with the hope that it will work. During battle it turned raging soldiers into nice people, and here it cleanses Genevieve of her bloodlust. So your summary of why he chooses her and not Gwen or Zoe would be accurate.
But in the story, even Ethan isn’t sure why he does what he does. I’m sure, but then I’m the writer.
To the audience: how much subtext do you want to see in comments? Because some of it will be explained, but some of it left as an exercise for readers.