Aela by Rosalind Hyson Read Free Book Online Page B

the men to walk faster. The next image was a circle of large standing stones of monolithic size with a wooden barricaded wall completely surrounding the structures. There were a crowd of people assembled in the middle of the stone circle. Her eagle eye spied a tall figure wearing a mask, her thoughts were this must be Juno.
    â€˜What do you see Aela and what is the message?’ Eena whispered into Aela’s ear.
    â€˜Croan is taking Rom to the Temple of the Sun to see Juno,’ she replied in a soft whisper.
    â€˜Why, why?’ Eena burst out, eager to know Juno’s plans.
    â€˜Rom is special, special,’ chanted Aela in a low voice.
    â€˜Special, what does that mean Aela?’
    â€˜I do not know. The picture is fading, it has gone,’ replied Aela.
    Eena was mystified and confused but realised Aela was not able to stay in a trance state any longer, so she gently brought Aela down to the present. Slowly Aela opened her eyes, she was no longer flying like an eagle and soaring across a forest.
    â€˜Juno wants Rom and Croan is taking him to meet him in the Temple of the Sun. We must save him Eena. I am worried that Juno will harm Rom, he could kill him.’
    Eena replied, ‘Just as well Ardu is already on the way, but we must warn him of Juno’s plan to take Rom prisoner to the Temple of the Sun. I will send a messenger with the news, where Rom is being taken to and who is involved in the plot. Ardu and his men can sneak up to the Temple to rescue Rom and perhaps find out other information. I must go now Aela, to organise everything.’
    Aela was left alone with her thoughts that somehow she must escape but she realised that she had to plan her moves very carefully.
    In the meantime Brude was pacing up and down outside the Temple thinking to himself why did he have to wait for the approval of the council before he took action. It would be so much better for everyone to obey his orders instantly and without asking any questions. Somehow he was going to achieve absolute power over everyone in the community and if any person didn’t agree with him they would be killed or banished from their clan. He smiled at the thought of all persons bowing to him like a god.
    â€˜Glad to see you are already here to receive the leaders of the clans,’ Uthor suddenly appeared in front of Brude.
    â€˜Start the drums,’ yelled Brude.
    There was an immediate response from within the Temple. A rhythmic sound of drums was heard with the beat becoming louder and louder inside the Temple.
    One could hear sounds of voices were heard at the bottom of the hill, then the scraping movement of footsteps. Soon, it was perceived that a group of people was slowly making their way up the main sacred road to the entrance of the Temple. Brude had already gone inside to receive his subjects, as befitting his role as High Priest. One by one the leaders entered the portal of the Temple, saluted Brude, then quietly sat cross-legged in a circle, each making sure they were placed correctly, according to their rank. With a swift gesture of his hand, the beat of the drums ceased. There was a heavy silence, as each face was lit up by the flames of the torches that were arranged around the inner circular walls of the Temple. Brude deliberately stood still in order to maximise the full effect he was making on all those who were present.
    â€˜I have asked you all to assemble at my command, as there is a need to decide a plan to get the two runaways Rom and Aela back immediately,’ raged Brude.
    Marvo, one of the clan leaders stood up looking straight towards Brude. He was short of stature, stout, a fussy man with a waspish tongue, a gossip who had an eye for minute detail.
    â€˜Why do we have to get Rom and Aela back? They obviously had decided to leave our community of their own free will. Perhaps you have a personal reason for wanting the two back, especially Aela,’ sniggered Marvo.
    There was a general