Arien locked gazes with Marzi. After a moment, she responded, “Please get me up if you need me. Otherwise, keep her head cool as best you can. If she wakes, you can give her some of this tea.” She gestured toward a cup sitting on the floor.
With the healer off to her own sleeping pad, Marzi took hold of Elle’s hand. “You’re going to be okay. I won’t let you die.”
Elle shifted her body slightly and moaned.
“I never thanked you for making those boots. It’s one of the nicest things that anyone has ever done for me.”
The deep orange glow emitted by the fireplace barely illuminated Elle’s face, which was bathed in sweat. Marzi wiped it with the damp cloth.
“And, I’m sorry about how I acted—saying those mean things.” She started to make an excuse—her frustration with being held captive and being away from her family. “I had no reason. There is no excuse. I am so sorry, Elle.”
“Mmmm.” Not really a moan—more like an acknowledgement.
“I’m glad Rys didn’t just leave me in the forest. I would not have met you.”
Elle shifted soundlessly.
Silence enveloped the cabin. Marzi stared at the young elf’s face, awash in the subdued orange glow. Everything came down to this moment. The young Azyrean holding the hand of an elf who, at any moment, could slip from this world silently into the next. Marzi willed her to stay with every ounce of feeling she had in her heart. “Please, Elle, stay with me. Don’t leave me.” Hours went by as Marzi alternately wiped Elle’s head with a cool cloth and held her hand.
The hand, hot and clammy with sweat before, suddenly felt cooler… and dry. And then, without warning, the hand squeezed—Marzi felt it and her heart jumped. Another squeeze, this time it held. A hand to the forehead confirmed it—the fever had broken. Marzi wanted to embrace Elle, to hold her tight. Instead, she squeezed the hand in return. Her friend was going to live.
The Azyrean crawled over to Arien’s pallet and shook her shoulder gently. “Wake up. Quick. I think she’s getting better.”
The healer was up and beside Elle in a flash. Checking the bite wound, her head, and listening to the breathing, she nodded. “I believe you are right. The fever is gone, and her breath comes stronger. You did well, Marzi.”
“I didn’t do anything. I just put the cloth on her head like you told me.”
Darkness faded, and a faint glow streamed in under the cabin door. The night was over. Marzi suddenly felt exhausted and overwhelmed. It occurred to her that she’d been up most of the night. “I’m going to try to sleep now, if that’s okay.” She stretched out on her pad and pulled her parka over her chest and shoulders, since Elle still had her blanket.
“Marzi, Arien was right. You did well tonight.”
But you healed her, didn’t you?
She could feel Valyn smile. “No, my child. I did not. Your love and care did it. But most important, you asked for help. That is not an easy thing to do sometimes. And it is even more powerful when you ask it for someone other than yourself.”
Marzi considered what she had been told, none of which she really understood. But, she was tired and wanted to sleep.
“Before you go, there is something else I must tell you. In the dark days to come, you must not forget our earlier conversation. Attempting to decide who or what is worthy of life is an exercise fraught with peril to your soul. You will see death, but you have seen it before. You will be in a position to decide life and death. Know that the taking of life, while sometimes necessary, should be viewed only as a last resort.”
Marzi didn’t want to hear any of this. She didn’t want to discuss the days ahead. The night she’d just endured was dark enough for her. Darker times than this seemed unimaginable.
Chapter 51: Marzi
Over the next several days, as her friend’s strength returned, Marzi’s fear for Elle morphed into a more generalized terror of the coming days. Dark times, death, and decisions—these notions did not sit well with her. Those concerns were never far from her conscious thought.
On the fourth day of being crammed into Rintaur’s small abode, the lord consort called a formal meeting. “I thank you all for your patience.” He gestured around the single room that comprised his cabin. “These are not the most spacious or comfortable accommodations. These structures are meant for two or three at most, perhaps, but certainly not for a party of seven. You have been most considerate during these days; however, the time draws near for our departure and we must discuss our plans.”
Marzi sat back somewhat from the group and watched the others. Elle seemed tired, which was not unexpected. She had gotten better with each passing day but still seemed to be exhausted with simple tasks. Would she be able to make this journey in her condition?
Ryshara had become increasingly nervous. She checked outside almost every hour, coming in to give the group a report on the weather, the trail, and the absence of any other life that she could see.
Ran was just bored. He sharpened his sword… and then sharpened it again. He went outside a few times to practice his swings, after which he once again pulled out his sharpening stone.
Arien divided her time between quiet conversations with her father and caring for Elle. If she had other concerns, she didn’t let on. She went about her business with the quiet grace that had come to define her.
Saryn, though, seemed pre-occupied. Between cups of tea, he paced the room. Once a day, he went for a walk in the snow-encased woods, although by his own admission, he kept close. Mostly what struck Marzi, though, was that he kept his thoughts to himself.
The others had occupied their time with walks in the forest, collecting and stacking wood for the fireplace, and doing whatever needed to be done in and around the cabin. Now, as the group listened to Rintaur, each of their demeanors became an exaggeration of what they had displayed in the previous days. Saryn, most notably, appeared agitated, as though he was suspicious or distrustful. But he continued to keep silent.
Rintaur continued, “We discussed earlier the possible routes. The common way into the Quel’dethain Mountains is through Lorrin Pass. To access that, we would travel south retracing your steps. Depending on Elle’s strength and the weather, that is a two-day trek. From there, it is another three days to our destination. The advantage of this route is that our leader, Saryn,” he nodded toward the young elf, “is already familiar with it. Since it is also the most commonly known route in, our approach would not appear threatening.” He paused, as the assessment of the southern route sank in.
“There is a northern route that would get us to the high seat of the frost elves in only two days. It is a harder trail, with some elevation gains and treacherous pathways. The final stretch would be through Icethorn Crag, which is a canyon that cuts through the ring of ice that isolates the kingdom on this side. So, the point that recommends this way is the shorter time. I cannot say definitively whether the shorter distance equates to less overall effort. What we gain in time, we will expend in energy traversing the route.” He paused again, this time allowing his gaze to come to rest upon Saryn.
“We can discuss the relative merits of each, but might I suggest that, in the end, our leader will make that decision.”
Saryn’s face conveyed inner conflict. He remained quiet for a moment, looking alternately at Elle and Rintaur. When he spoke, it came out as a sigh. “Were it not for Elle’s condition, the northern route would be the more logical one. I fear, though, that the arduous journey might tax her beyond her capacity at the moment.”
Elle snapped at him, “I am fine. I will go where the group needs to go.”
Marzi, sitting behind and to the young elf’s left, put her hand gently on Elle’s arm.
“I’ll be okay. I promise.” The words came out softer.
Saryn nodded. “Then, unless there are other concerns, we will proceed by the northern approach.”
Silence, which Marzi took for assent, greeted his decision.
Rintaur stood. “It
is settled then.” He turned to Saryn. “I will tell you what I know of the route so that you can organize the trek. I suggest that we spend the day tomorrow readying ourselves and giving Elle one more day of recovery.”
As the meeting disbanded, Marzi approached Rintaur. “Can I talk to you for a minute?” She glanced at the door. “Outside?”
The two sat on the stoop in the dark, their hoods up and their coats pulled tight. “What’s on your mind, Marzi?”
“I don’t know what I’m supposed to say… or do when we get there. I don’t really know that much about the frost elves, other than what Maw’thryn told me.”
The lord consort chuckled. “What did Valyn tell you about it?”
Marzi rolled her eyes and smirked. “I don’t know. I mean, I ask these questions and she says things, but I don’t understand them. And then she doesn’t say anything else. She is very vague.” She grew even more exasperated as she spoke.
“Who among us can know the mind of a god?” Rintaur folded his hands on his knees. “But, from where I observe, there are two possibilities here. The first is that Valyn is answering your questions but you are not understanding. That means that she has faith that, at some point you will have enough context and perspective to discern the meaning. The other possibility, and this one is more likely, in my estimation, is that she simply believes that it will be better if you find the answers for yourself.”
“That’s stupid. Why would she come and talk to me and tell me to do all of these things and then force me to find my own answers? That doesn’t make any sense.”
“Because, Marzi Gloam of Pangrove, when you find the answers for yourself, you will have complete confidence in them and you can relate them to others from your heart. Otherwise, you would simply be repeating words that had been given you, which you may or may not believe.”
“Okay, but where do I find the answers?” But Marzi knew, of course, that Rintaur could not give her that information.
“They will come to you. Some you may see as events unfold. Others may spring up inside you at some point in time. I am at a loss to be more specific. But I will tell you this for certain. You must keep your mind open at all times, for the answers may come at the most unexpected of moments.”
Chapter 52: Marzi
The elevation gain started barely an hour after their departure. At first, the trail followed an easy ridgeline. The relentless wind battered them head-on, although their clothing mitigated the cold. The worst part was the effort it took to hike into the breeze. The landscape on either side of them dropped off gradually, with low brush covering the ground.
Marzi divided her attention between watching Elle, who trekked in front of her, and the ground beneath her feet, which was icy and slick in patches. She kept her balance with the help of a walking stick that had been fashioned for her by Ran.
About three hours into the journey, Saryn signaled the group to a halt. “We are starting to gain more elevation. The ridge is steepening and, as you can see, the fall-off to either side is getting more dangerous. Make sure that you stay just on the side of the trail where the sharp rocks come up through the ice. Stay away from the center, which is slippery. We cannot afford for any of us to slip and fall.”
He shed his pack and rummaged through it, pulling out a coil of rope. “Just in case, we will tie ourselves together. Should one of us slip, the others must break their fall.”
The line was just long enough to connect the seven travelers, while still allowing space between them for comfortable walking. Marzi peered to the left, taking note of what looked like about a twenty-meter fall if she lost her footing. The scrub on either side of the trail had vanished, to be replaced by rock and ice.
“Okay, grab a quick drink and we go again.” After taking a drink, he turned again to address the party. “We should stow our water inside our jackets to keep it from freezing.”
By the time the travelers stopped for lunch, the wide trail had become a narrow ledge, with a sheer cliff towering above them on the right and a chasm to the left, of which Marzi could not see the bottom. They sat with their backs to the wall and legs folded in front of them facing the chasm. She turned to Rintaur, who settled next to her. “The frost elves, what are they like?”
“What little I know is from a visit I made to my cousin when I was no older than you. So, my impressions might not be as accurate as one would hope. But there are some things that stood out for me. First, they are grounded in the belief that their survival depends on strength of arms. They focus on the art of war and defense of their kingdom. In some ways, this will make your task easier. They will likely be quick to accept the notion of a threat from humans.”
She recalled Ran’s earlier teasing. “Will they attack us when we get close?”
Rintaur burst out laughing. “No, not hardly. We are an unlikely group of adversaries by appearance. And I think that our blatant approach with no attempt at stealth will work in our favor. How they receive us once we make contact, though, is quite another matter.”
“How so?”
“Well, that brings me to my second point about the frost elves. You are an outsider, even more so than the dark elves, and they will be suspicious. But more than that, you come doing the bidding of Valyn. Whatever the differences between the Bough elves and the cliff elves, they both share a common reverence for her. But she is not a common fixture in the mountains. I recall from my visit that attitudes ranged from a sense that Valyn had deserted them to the more extreme view that the deity never existed to begin with. So, invoking her name is not likely to help you much.”
Saryn’s voice interrupted the conversation. “We need to get moving again. Based on what Lord Rintaur has told us, we have another two hours at least before we find a suitable place to camp.”
Rintaur put a hand on her shoulder as he stood. “I am confident that, when the time comes, so will the words.”
Marzi wished that she could share his confidence. As they resumed the trek, she became more aware of the cold. While her hands had been warmly tucked in her coat pockets, her face was beginning to sting. The wind had abated but the air had become even more frigid. She shuddered as she wondered how she would possibly sleep outside.
By the time they gained a space of level ground, Marzi’s feet had little feeling. The cold had found its way through the heavy boot lining and, fueled by the sweat, assaulted her skin. As the party spread out and set down their packs, she considered taking off her boots and trying to rub her feet warm again. The icy air on her face, still damp with sweat, convinced her otherwise.
“You look troubled, Marzi.” She looked up to see Saryn staring at her.
“It’s nothing. My feet are just cold.” She tried to downplay it. Everyone else had the same problem and they weren’t complaining.
Elle reached into her pack, pulled out a pair of heavy socks, and tossed them over. “Here, try these. Put your boots back on and cover them with your blanket. Once you eat, you should generate enough heat to warm them up.” It was the most that the young elf had said all day.
“Thank you.” As Marzi replaced her wet socks, she felt some immediate relief.
Rintaur distributed sweet cakes. “Eat these with water. I put extra fat and sugar in them, so it should help generate some heat.”
As Marzi munched on the treat, she questioned the lord consort. “When do you think we’ll make contact with the frost elves?”
He unwrapped his own food and took his water from inside his jacket. “We already have. They’ve been watching us for the past hour.”
“Where?” She glanced around furtively.
“From the cliff wall above us. By now, they will have staked out the trail ahead and behind. From here on, we will never be out of their view.”
The group descended into silence and darkness fell with little warning. With no fuel for a fire, it was to be a cold night.
As Marzi huddled beneath her blanket, her legs pulled up so that her feet were covered as well, Elle
scooted over next to her.
“I am grateful to you. You saved my life. Thank you.”
Marzi had not expected this. “I didn’t do anything. It was Arien who made the tea and the salve. I just did what she told me to.”
“No. It wasn’t the tea and it wasn’t the poultice. It was you.”
“I’m not sure about that, but I admit that I am happy you are well again.” She wondered if Elle had heard her apology that night. “And, really, I am sorry about being nasty to you back in the Bough. You were kind to me and I behaved like a child.”
Elle chuckled. “But you have already apologized once. All is well.”
◆◆◆
Daylight found the party adjusting their packs and taking last minute food and drink. “Everyone ready? Let us rope up and be off. Valyn willing, we shall clear Icethorn Crag this afternoon and be in the kingdom of the frost elves before nightfall.
The wind had died completely and the sky, what little they could see of it above them, had turned dull and gray. The air smelled full of snow, although Marzi didn’t know how she knew that. As they trudged along, the first flakes floated down from above, a harbinger it turned out. By what seemed midday, a steady but light snowfall persisted. Lunch consisted of a quick bite and drink while standing, and a resumption of the journey.
Within the hour, though, the light snowfall became a blizzard. The wind picked up and the driving snow obscured their vision. Marzi could barely see Ran, who led the way. She set herself at a comfortable distance from Rintaur, who walked in front of her, and lowered her head in an attempt to keep her face from taking the brunt of the storm.
They had hiked barely another fifteen minutes when Ran signaled the group to a halt. Marzi craned her neck to see what was holding them up. Ahead of the young warrior, she could barely make out the forms of four beings, all clad in white. Twisting around, she saw that the way behind was similarly blocked.
To Find a God Page 18
