by Zora Marie
Wulf fumbled with the blade for a moment as he tried not to move his shoulder, then he awkwardly drew his arm across the blade. “I swear by the old and new gods that I shall rule my kingdom in fairness and wisdom, seeking council from those who have shown they are both wise and trustworthy. I shall give aid and shelter to any who seek it. I shall not myself persecute any who wield magic nor shall I allow any subject of my kingdom to persecute anyone who wields magic excepting only if someone uses magic to harm or control another. This I so swear.” The flames flared again, as though pleased by Wulf’s oath.
Zelia glanced at Donequen, at the fingers he curled just behind the hilt of the sword he kept at his side. She’d have to ask him what all magic he knew when they were away from prying ears. “Thank you for being willing to swear an oath.” Zelia took the dagger from Wulf and burned the blood from the blade with her magic before giving it to Donequen to put away.
“Well that was… unimpressive,” Jones said and they all turned to face him.
“I thought I told you to stay with Luxly?” Kilian said.
Jones shrugged. “He said that if I didn’t watch so I could tell him about it, he’d come himself. You know how he is.”
Wulf sighed and dragged Jones back to Kilian’s quarters. “I thought we talked about this, Jones.”
“What?”
“This falls under the getting into trouble category,” Wulf said before the two disappeared from sight.
34
Zelia worked the tension out of her muscles as she woke to a dark, cold room. She hated the emptiness of the room, the lack of light, the lack of Linithion. She hated to admit that she couldn’t stand being without her. Zelia wasn’t sure if it made her weak, or what it made her, but she needed her Elven princess. She rekindled the fire in the hearth with a thought and sat up. She wasn’t sure what time it was, but judging by the sound of Koin’s humming somewhere above her window, sunrise wasn’t too far off. Stretching a bit more before donning her armor, she slipped from the room.
There was a guard in the hall, facing towards her room. He tried not to appear nervous as she met his gaze, but the way he tensed gave it away.
“How do I get to the roof?”
The guard swallowed as he pointed to his right, at a dark hallway. Zelia followed it to a set of stairs leading up. The steps were worn and uneven. The moment the guard was out of sight, she lit a flame in her hand. She made the little fire hover where it warmed her without hurting and where it lit the way up the spiraling stairs.
“Good morning,” Koin said before she’d even set foot out of the stairway. He quietly patted the empty spot beside him on the wooden bench.
Someone else sat with him, their back hunched slightly with age. They were wearing robes reminiscent of Asenten’s. Kilian, she thought and reminded herself that Asenten and the others were dead. She forced herself to sit, some part of her thankful that Koin had gestured to the spot across from Kilian instead of beside him.
“Zelia?” Koin’s tone was laced with concern, yet she stiffened as his hand brushed her back.
“I’m fine…” She forced herself to relax. “How’d you sleep?”
Koin shrugged. “I’ve never liked sleeping in halls of stone.”
“Hm. Not everyone is so lucky as to make their home in living trees,” Kilian mused.
Zelia nodded slightly. The trees, the homes of Elyluma, were something Zelia would always miss now that her home was with Linithion in the Drakeon Empire. “So, what trouble have you two been stirring up this morning?”
“Luxly and Jones have been chewing over how to admit to Wulf that they both have magic, and more than a little of it at that,” Kilian said.
“And we’ve been talking about the potential need for more new members of your guild.”
“My guild,” Zelia whispered and shook her head. It wasn’t her guild, it was their guild.
“Donequen told me about Starfer’s stone, she’d want you to have it,” Koin said.
Zelia sighed. It wasn’t worth arguing over the fact that she didn’t really want it. Didn’t want the power that would come with it. “So, you think Jones and Luxly might be good fits?”
“That depends. Eleanor and I spoke before I left. She insists that we do things better this time, that only those with good hearts and souls join the guild. People that you, Linithion, and Donequen can trust to have your backs for eternity.”
She almost mused that those requirements counted her out. That she didn’t have a good heart or soul after what she’d done in the cave, but a disapproving tug on her bond to Raven silenced the thought. Then she realized that Koin hadn’t mentioned any of the others. “Why didn’t you include Eleanor, Vainoff, and Multly in your list?”
Koin let out a long breath, as though he’d given something away that he shouldn’t have. “We’re all getting old, Zelia. I’ve stayed longer than I ever thought I would without Leena and I’m beginning to feel a tug towards the stars. Eadon feels it too. As much as we’d all like to think of ourselves as immortal, we’re not. And Eleanor has watched Vainoff and I go without those we love most long enough that…” he trailed off, as though not wanting to sadden her with the thought of losing them all. “I’ll stay long enough for you all to get settled, to right the wrongs we’ve made. When that is done, I will finally join Leena so we can both be reborn.”
Zelia nodded and tried not to think of all Koin had just said. She didn’t want to think of the day he and the others would leave her alone, leave her and Linithion without a family to call their own. She didn’t want to think about the reminder that one day Alrindel and Skylar would also leave them.
“We want the guild to be a second family for the two of you,” Koin said at last. “That’s why I think you should ask Jones and Luxly to come to the Drakeon Empire once Luxly is healed. Invite them to come train with you.”
“I… alright.” She knew arguing and even begging wouldn’t change their minds, even if they could just choose to stay as Eleanor and Vainoff could.
“Hm…” Kilian hummed the note. “Actually, you could help them admit to having magic, if you wouldn’t mind phrasing things a certain way.”
“How so?” Zelia asked.
“You could claim to have sensed their power before inviting them to join you.”
“What powers do they have anyway?”
“They both have a well of power that is… unusual. Jones performs spells without knowing spells and Luxly can summon wind and fire like they’re nothing. They both lost their families because of their own powers. I took Luxly in when he was little. Jones, I didn’t find until a couple years ago.”
“Then… how did they both become so close with Wulf?”
“Honestly, I’m not sure. Luxly and Wulf got into so many fights growing up.” Kilian wore a faint smile as he shook his head. “It’d be best to ask them. Jones and Luxly were up when I left, if you’d like to talk to them before saying anything in front of the others.”
Zelia stared out at the horizon that was just barely beginning to lighten before heading back for the stairs.
“They’ll have the door locked if they are practicing. Just knock three times,” Kilian knocked lightly on the bench, demonstrating the pause between knocks, “and they’ll let you in.”
Jones stared at her warily, the door barely cracked. “Kilian is out right now.”
“I know. I just want to talk.” She tilted her head, vaguely gesturing towards the guard who was not so subtly watching her.
“Come on.” Jones stepped aside to let her in.
A scrub brush moved across the floor on its own and she glanced back at Jones. He just shrugged and went to the little table, where he sat in front of a book with familiar markings on it. Vainoff must have let Kilian transcribe some of the guild’s spells. There was a bit of worry in Luxly’s gaze as he looked from the book to her.
“That’s actually what I’m here about.” She pulled out the other chair at the table and sat. “Kilian told us
. We want to know if you would like to come train with us. Once you’re healed, of course.” She studied Luxly, how he winced as he turned his head to study her. He was propped up into a half sitting position and they hadn’t bothered putting a tunic back on him as his entire chest was wrapped.
“Are you saying you need us?” Luxly asked and gave her a wry smile.
“Stop it,” Jones threw a small cloth bundle at Luxly.
“Hey! Be nice to the poor cripple,” Luxly said.
“I’d have thrown the book at you if you weren’t such a mess,” Jones said and nearly turned beet red as he glanced at her.
“Ignore him, he always loses his wits around pretty women.”
“Me? You’re the flirt,” Jones countered.
Zelia couldn’t help but laugh at their antics.
“I would never. Our lady here is betrothed,” Luxly said in mock offense.
“Oh, Linithion will get a kick out of the two of you.”
“So, why exactly do you want us to come train with you?” Jones asked.
“Well, Luxly isn’t wrong. We need more guild members, people we can trust to do the right thing with the guild’s power.”
“So, you really are a member of the guild then? Where’s your power stone?” Jones’s eyes shone with his excitement and curiosity.
“I don’t have mine and if that book is any indication, you probably know more of those spells than I do. Elemental magic is my specialty, not spells.”
“Why don’t you have your stone?”
“Because of Xander.”
The moment she said his name, the brush on the stone floor stopped. She wasn’t sure if it was merely his name or perhaps it was Jones’s reaction to her tone. The longer she was away from Linithion, the more alone she felt.
Luxly threw the little bundle that smelled of lavender back at Jones. “Stop asking stupid questions and use that head of yours.”
“Sorry…” Jones gave her an apologetic look.
“It’s alright. It was just a harmless question. So, would the two of you be interested in learning with us? In finding out if we can all stand each other?”
“You make yourselves sound wonderful,” Luxly said.
“Well, guild members do have to deal with each other for a very long time. Supposedly they can live longer than the Hyperians.”
“Supposedly?” Jones asked.
“As far as I recall, they’ve all died in one battle or another before reaching five thousand. Of course, my knowledge of the guild is fairly limited. Linithion may be able to tell us differently.”
“Well, if being good with those spells is a requirement, then count me out,” Luxly said.
“How come?” Zelia asked.
“Because he can barely do the simple spells from this book,” Jones said.
“You know, you’re actually not supposed to be able to do most of those spells without a power stone? And I’ve not even trained with that sort of magic, so I don’t see why you couldn’t be a member, Luxly.”
“All I’m really good with is fire and wind…” He held up a hand and fire twirled around his fingers. She understood the look in his eyes as he stared at the flames. She knew how it felt, the loathing yet dependence on that burning fire.
“I understand.” Zelia lit a similar flame in her own hand. “Fire and ice are my specialties. It’d be nice to have someone to learn with who has similar skills. Someone who can relate.”
Luxly’s steady gaze told her enough about his past to know he’d understood the undertone in her words. She wasn’t sure who it had been or what happened, but Luxly had killed with those flames and it ate at him, as her past ate at her. As much as it hurt, it was good to be weighted by that guilt. The guilt meant that there was still something left in them worth redeeming, even if it was hard to feel like it at times.
“I’ll come,” Luxly said at last, then looked to Jones.
“Me too, but what about Wulf?”
“I could help you tell them about your powers before I leave, if you like,” Zelia said.
“No. Wulf is like a brother to us. We should be the ones to tell him,” Luxly said and put out the flame that wreathed his fingers.
“If it’s any consolation, you’ll both be able to return here once you’re trained.”
Luxly gave a vague nod, like he understood that joining her meant watching his friends grow old and die around him. Instead of dwelling on it though, he returned to teasing Jones and she left them to do whatever it was that they had been doing before she interrupted.
35
Farewells with Wulf had been blissfully short and sweet. Koin walked out with them to where Raven waited. Zelia had noted that he hadn’t said goodbye to anyone, and she hated that he wouldn’t be coming with her now. Knowing his time here was coming to its end made her dread leaving him. If Raven hadn't been hurt, she would have asked him to come with them. But even without Raven’s injury he was needed here to help form plans.
“I’ll bring Luxly and Jones with me as soon as they are able and things are set up here.” Koin laid his hand on Raven’s side.
“I’m fine, we’re just making a straight flight home.” Raven’s wings rustled as though she might use them to push Koin away.
“Oh hush, let us fuss over you every once in a while,” Zelia said.
Raven glared at Donequen as he held back his smile.
“She should be fine to fly. Just avoid getting blasted again for a while.
Raven turned on Koin and blew a long stream of hot air out her nose as though to say she hadn’t exactly planned on getting blasted the first time. Koin just laughed and patted her snout before turning to Zelia. Sometimes she forgot that she was nearly the same height as he was, but the hug he gave her then was a solid reminder that it had been centuries since she’d gotten to spend days on end with him. He wasn’t just the Elf who trained her, rather he was her uncle, her Koin.
“Give Linithion a hug for me. I know how close she and Erolith were.”
Zelia nodded and leaned back from their hug to study his face. He did seem older now, not in the way humans did but in his eyes and in the way his Elven glow shimmered around the edges.
“Hey, this isn’t goodbye. Someone has to come whip you back into shape.” Koin gave her too thin arm a light squeeze for emphasis.
“I’m going to hold you to that.”
Koin grinned in that way that meant he’d expect nothing less. “Well go on. If you leave now you can stop at the Kingdom of the Mountains for the night.”
“Hopefully.” She gave him one more hug before climbing onto Raven’s back, where Donequen already sat waiting on Zelia.
Raven nuzzled Koin’s hand in silent thanks for something she chose not to voice. Koin seemed to understand though, as he patted her head a couple of times before stepping out of her way. The next thing Zelia knew, they were in the air, leaving Koin behind.
It was hours before any of them spoke and it was Donequen who broke the tenuous silence. “Spill it. What’s eating at you?”
“Did Koin tell you that they plan to leave us when all of this is done?”
“No, but you know Elves don’t live forever.”
“But Eleanor and Vainoff, they don’t have to leave us.”
Donequen was quiet for a while and she knew he was just debating how to phrase what he wanted to say. “If… if you lost Linithion and you had the option to join her in the afterlife, would you?”
“Yes…” Zelia said and was quiet again for a while, because she would give up her life to join Linithion. “Do you think I’ll ever be able to stay dead? Do you think Linithion would be reborn without me joining her?”
“I don’t know. I think Fregnar is the only one who might be able to answer those questions.”
“So, you truly think I’m related to Fregnar, like Nicolas?”
“Perhaps, though something tells me that Nicolas is the product of one of Fregnar’s more recent flings rather than…”
Zelia si
ghed. It was hard telling how she was related, and how Fregnar would take her existence. She had been lucky thus far with how Yargo had taken the news. Could she be so lucky again? She brushed the questions from her mind. They didn’t help anything.
The moment she cleared her mind, magic thrummed against her skin. Donequen stiffened behind her, clearly feeling it too.
“Raven, stop. Don’t go any closer,” Donequen said.
“Why?” Zelia asked.
“That’s a warning pulse from Tregar. He must know we’re near. He’s telling us to stay away.”
“Why? Is there a way we can ask him?”
“No.”
“Then we go anyway, with a shield up.”
“Are you sure you’re ready for another fight so soon? I saw how yesterday drained you.”
“I’ll be fine. I’m not leaving Tregar in there alone and I have a feeling all of this has something to do with Gregory.” Zelia ground her teeth at the thought of having to depose this king. Her kin had given their lives to save him and his people, Eragon had given his life for them and yet Gregory feared her. She wasn’t sure why, but something in her snapped at that. If he wanted to fear her, to lash out at her, she’d wear that mask Asenten had crafted within her just this once.
“Zelia?” Raven asked.
“We can’t have people stabbing us in the back during this war. Not when so much depends on all of us working together.”
“Alright. Just don’t lose yourself to that… other part of you.”
“I can’t. Because I hate that side of me, but I left Linithion knowing that I might have to be that person to protect her and everyone else. So she, so they won’t have to.”
“I understand. I’ll be with you every step of the way.”
“Thank you,” Zelia thought to Raven and began spooling herself back into that box she hid herself in for all those years, leaving only that bit of her that understood how to make death quick and painless. She wasn’t here to hurt them, just to end the threat.
They were nearly in firing range when Donequen muttered a spell under his breath and a shield of blue light shimmered to life around them. “Save your energy for the fight.”
