The churning clouds had his attention long before he reached the front corner of the stronghold. The way the sash fluttered in place, it was almost as if the storm was a kite. Nothing more than play for whoever held the other end of the string.
Turning that corner, first his chest swelled at the sight of the village and its people. The buildings along the mountain side of the path stood unharmed. The circle, while imperfect in shape, was still there. The women who stood before Calarapan's stronghold now had their backs to it. They held their banners at their sides. All heads were tilted upward, focused on the slow storm.
Joseph searched the outer edges of the group. He couldn't find Tamara. She had to be near the center of the gathering. He and Ernie approached, and those on the outside looked back. Upon seeing Joseph, they broke into smiles. He entered their outstretched hands, letting them tug him into their midst. Ernie was given the same treatment. They had heard of his efforts, because the word had spread from Joseph's mouth.
Slowly, the villagers ushered them toward the center. Seeing their smiles, Joseph thought he could relax, regardless of the storm above. The circle had shrunk inward, bunching everyone together, but when all the arms parted from him, he was introduced to the opened space in the middle.
Tamara whipped about and brightened to his presence. She dashed over and crashed into him. He embraced her, but his attention was on the old man.
Centered among everyone, he held his staff upright. The end where the sash was attached was pointed toward the churning clouds. He stood calm, his shoulders relaxed, but his grips firm. Eyes trained on the other end of the sash somewhere inside the clouds. His expression didn't flinch
whenever the moments of lightning flashed above.
"What's happening?" Joseph asked.
"Calarapan." Tamara said, looking up.
"What?" Joseph whispered. He tried to peer deeper into the clouds, but he could only see as far as he saw the sash, which disappeared as soon as it reached the dark gray mass.
"We have him." Tamara said. "Tried to run. Snagged'em by dah ankle."
So, Joseph thought, trying to escape the same way he arrived. There was still so much distance between the village and this cloud. Calarapan was right there, yet he hid himself.
"The shame of the defeated." Joseph whispered.
"Dah coward." Tamara spat. Then she asked, "Wat you do wid'em?"
Joseph watched the clouds churn. He wasn't here when Calarapan's tornado descended onto his new land, but he was here when Calarapan tried to break out of his cage. The thunderous collisions of a titan, the dismantling of this named land, the exposure of the abyss, the confusion among
allies, in all of it, Joseph only saw Calarapan's face in Chantale's vision.
Was there ever supposed to be a point when he should have met the demon face-to-face?
Not this time, it seemed. Calarapan's conquest was foiled. His pride broken. He would not let his face be seen.
Joseph chuckled inwardly. With all the cunning and tricks and powers Calarapan had, this named land had people tending to it, had guardians adept in spiritual matters and tricks of their own. Calarapan picked a fight with an army.
"Let him go." Joseph said.
Tamara switched her gaze from the clouds to Joseph.
When he didn't look down at her, she asked, "Dat your will?"
Still gazing skyward, he answered. "He knows he's been beaten. He will not try this again."
"But he try somethin' else." Tamara said.
"And it'll end the same way." Joseph responded.
"Well said!" Ernie offered from his side.
Joseph lowered his gaze to find the old man looking right at him. The old man nodded, and lowered his staff. Looking back up, Joseph watched the sash loosen from its curved shape. As it dropped, it folded and curled, fluttering its way down. His eyes on the point where its length was still hidden in the gray, he wondered how many seconds would pass until he saw the end of it.
He didn't get to start counting before the end finally emerged. There were no indications of the material being tattered or ripped. Yet, there were still no signs of Calarapan.
Only an understanding of his disappointed rage. What else was there for the demon to do? Nothing to gain, so the heavy churning clouds ascended. Tucking themselves away, the rest of the storm closed the gap. The rage now smothered, the overcast slowed, no longer influenced by the core.
Joseph didn't quite know the exact moment it happened, but he did catch onto the gradual hush from the sky. No longer a will contrary to the village, but a simple blanket of clouds.
They brightened above the circle first. With the absence of Calarapan came the light. Having been a gap sealed shut, now the clouds wilted under this new illumination. From there, it spread, soaking the sky and drying the clouds at the same time. Taking on this brighter gray, they gave themselves over to white. So saturated were they of this light that there was nothing left of them.
All there was to see was the endless blue sky.
Joseph expelled a sigh. Tamara felt his body relaxing against her. When she looked up, she was delighted he was looking down at her.
She was about to say something, but he stopped her by leaning down enough to plant a kiss upon her forehead. She had closed her eyes, but when he pulled away, she fluttered her eyelashes.
"So…"
They were both startled, because it was Ernie who spoke. He was looking toward Calarapan's structure. "Are they about to argue?"
Joseph looked past him. Others were looking as well. There in front of the collapsed front wall was Chantale. She wasn't facing the circle, but was facing downriver. Her focus was at some point in front of her, but Joseph couldn't see what was there because of those in front of him.
He left the center of the circle, and Tamara and Ernie followed. The villagers parted for him, and he reached the edge of the crowd. Tamara gasped.
Eliska was sitting on the ground, her knees pointed toward Chantale, her feet tucked underneath her. She was resting her hands on her thighs while keeping eye contact with Chantale.
Tamara looked between them both and then looked up at Joseph. He stayed where he was, patting Tamara on the back to let her know of his decision. Understanding, Tamara waited and watched with him.