Maw’thryn smiled at her for a moment, then stared toward one wall, seemingly at nothing and apparently lost in his own thoughts. “You know, I am reminded of a story—a part of our lore from days of old…. It is of Nelwyn, I think her name was, an elf maiden, young and pure of heart. She led the elves into battle against the humans and was slain on the battlefield.” Maw’thryn was quiet for a few moments before he came out of his reverie.
◆◆◆
Later as Marzi moved across the sky terrace, headed for the home of Lothran and Ryshara, she saw what looked like shifting shadows in the High Council meeting hall. Thinking it might be the empress, she detoured to the doorway just in time to see Saryn and Arien engaged in what appeared to be a heated argument. As the young Azyrean entered, they fell silent and faced her.
Saryn turned toward Arien. “We will discuss this later.”
“There is nothing to discuss.” With that, Arien rushed past Marzi and out the door, leaving Saryn behind.
“What was that about?” Marzi had never seen the two cliff elves argue.
“Nothing. It was nothing.”
Chapter 88: Marzi
Marzi tried to sort out her feelings. As the band approached the Ruins of Koror, she felt a sense of dread, of darkness approaching. Once there, a ray of hope broke through the despair. For there, in those ancient ruins, Valyn would create a portal. True enough, the portal would take them only to another realm on Kronos. But if the goddess could create a portal to the desert, then surely, she could make one to take her home. If only she could get through the coming days.
Empress Ariessa had left Rintaur at the Bough, in charge of organizing the dark elves into an army. Saige had dispatched Saryn to the cliffs to put together her forces. And finally, Elondiel had sent his son, Andu’lar, back to the Quel’dethain Mountains to provision the frost elves for war. The three leaders, along with an advance guard, moved quickly to the ruins in preparation.
Arriving in the late afternoon, the company of elves raised the camp, made fires, and cooked dinner with the same silent efficiency that Marzi had seen in her prior visit to the ruins. After dinner, the three leaders gathered off to themselves. The others milled about idly, checking and rechecking their packs, sipping on tea or nectar, or quietly pondering what awaited them through the portal.
Less than an hour later, Ariessa, Saige, and Elondiel rejoined the party. The Empress remained standing while the others sat. “There are a few details that we must address before the bulk of our forces arrive. The first order of business is leadership. I stress to you that each of the groups retains the right to make their own decisions should they feel the need. That notwithstanding, though, we have decided that Corhymin will exercise strategic command of our combined battle forces. She will make the decisions regarding deployment of resources and coordinate tactical decisions between the various groups. All of the elven people are charged to honor this position and follow her direction. We—Saige, Elondiel, and I—will continue to monitor the larger issues, especially with regard to relations with the other races.”
The announcement was music to Marzi’s ears. This was the first positive statement that served to take the weight of this adventure from her shoulders. Her joy turned out to be short-lived.
Ariessa continued, “We also need to give careful consideration to Marzi’s role. We were all there for Valyn’s visit so we know, beyond any doubt, that our young visitor has a purpose. We know not what that is. In my conversations with Marzi, I come away with the distinct sense that she does not know either. So, what we are faced with is the knowledge that her presence will be important. We, all of us, must be constantly aware so that when her role does become clear, we do not miss it or mistake it.”
The empress sat, and Saige stood. “In preparation, we do have one task that must be completed. According to Valyn, there is a large blue crystal wrapped and buried beyond the far end of the pavilion. We must uncover it and bring it, still wrapped, to that pedestal.” She gestured toward a marble platform standing near the obelisk off to one side.
◆◆◆
The small force from the cliffs arrived first, barely two days after the advance group. The next day, Rintaur brought the dark elves from the Bough. Three days later, the frost elves marched in. What had been a cozy, comfortable camp turned into a mass of compressed bodies, each maneuvering to find a place to sit, eat, or sleep, until they were spread out beyond the ruins’ environs.
Late in the afternoon on the day following the arrival of the frost elves, the army in its entirety, assembled as a group for the first time. As the rustling and mumbling died down, Commander Corhymin mounted a tree stump and faced the crowd. “Welcome and thank you all. My name is Corhymin, a frost elf of the Quel’dethain Mountains. I have been given the responsibility and the honor of leading this army into the coming battle. I am sure that you all understand that what we undertake here today will shape the future of all elves in Menalor, possibly for centuries to come. I am humbled to stand before you today. We know not how this will play out, but I offer you my word of honor, I will give everything I have to this noble cause. I make this pledge in complete confidence that you will do the same.”
The army erupted in cheers, many of the warriors raising their swords into the air. Before the upswell of enthusiasm had a chance to run its course and die down, a greenish glow gathered beside the new commander, and the aroma of jasmine, lilac, and lemon filled the air, pleasantly overtaking the earthy smells of the ruins.
Out of this cloud, the goddess Valyn appeared. Her gaze sought out the leaders. “You have done well, accomplishing much in a short period of time. We have now only to travel to the Crystal Sands and begin the campaign. Sadly, you will not be able to plan in any great detail until you arrive there and assess the situation. Commander, I am prepared to open portals. How do you propose to organize the transfer?”
Corhymin stepped forward and bowed her head briefly. “My lady, I propose to send two scouts through the first portal with instructions to assess the immediate arrival area for threats and assets. Because we cannot hear back from them, we will assume that they will complete their mission within two hours. After that, I would request the opening of more portals to allow an advance squad to travel, with the purpose of selecting and organizing a campsite for the bulk of our expeditionary forces. The final set of portals should open tomorrow morning at first light, if that pleases you.” She finished with another nod of her head.
“A sound strategy. Are your advance scouts ready to travel?”
“Yes, my lady.” Corhymin turned to the assembled forces. “Lar’donal and Ran, report.”
Two young elven warriors leapt from the group to stand before the commander. Ran spoke for them, “Ready to travel, Sir.”
Marzi thought it strange, calling a female leader sir. She’d never heard of a woman being called that.
But, if Corhymin took offense, she didn’t show it. “Very well.” She turned to Valyn. “Our scouts are ready to travel when the portal is available.” Returning her attention to the scouts, she spoke in a more conversational tone. “Remember, stay close. Your job is to secure the area around the portal, nothing more. No heroics. Do you understand?”
“Yes. Sir.” The two spoke as one.
Valyn smiled. “Very well, then, we shall begin. If you could, please unwrap the crystal on that pedestal.” Two elves from the mass of bodies came forth and untied the binding straps, allowing the jute covering to fall away. In the darkening sky, the full moon shone brightly. The light shining through the crystal emerged as a brilliant sapphire color, and a swirl of blue light began to form. Within a few moments, the portal stood ready. “Enter whenever you are ready.”
With a wide grin on his face, Ran jumped out in front and disappeared into the swirl of light followed by an equally eager Lar.
Chapter 89: Marzi
Reality hit hard. Ran had gone through the portal. Marzi thought of all the things she had wanted to say to him. She reme
mbered taking offense when he first called her a little rat. Now she could only hope that she would hear him call her that again. The portal stood, silent yet menacing, for a moment before it faded and was gone. It’s okay, really, Ran, you can call me a rat or whatever you want. Just don’t get hurt over there.
Two hours later, the advance squad traveled through a similar portal, brought forth by Valyn in a similar fashion. And then it too faded and was gone. Fifteen elves, counting Ran and Lar’donal, had disappeared in the swirl of light. Before first light the next morning it would be her turn, along with the entire elven expeditionary force.
As the blue light faded and the cover replaced on the crystal, Valyn floated to Marzi’s side. “We will speak again in the morning, but tonight, there is something I must tell you. Tomorrow you travel to the Crystal Sands, the land of the ogres. There you will find danger, strange beings, and a world unlike anything you have ever seen. Most important, though, you will find your brother, Tovi.”
Marzi’s heart skipped a beat. “Tovi? Tovi’s in that portal? Is he okay?”
Valyn laughed the softest, most beautiful laugh that Marzi had ever heard. “Yes, of course he is okay. Tovi makes company with the ogres and has become fast friends with them. He is doing what he was sent there to do, much as you are doing here. He has brought the different ogre groups together to face this danger. And much like you, he has often had a strange voice in his head, that of Myhrren, the god of the ogres. But he will relate all this to you in time. I just wanted you to know that you will soon be rejoined with him.”
Marzi could hardly contain her excitement. She would see her brother again. “Will he be there when I go through? Right there when I come out of the portal?” She would hug him or maybe slap him for taking that blue beam. But if Valyn was to be believed, the blue beam for Tovi, her green beam, and the red beam for Jarek, or whatever his name was, all happened exactly as intended.
“That I cannot say for sure. He is there near where you will emerge. Whether he will be right beside the portal, that will depend entirely upon him.”
◆◆◆
The eastern sky had just begun to lighten, and the full moon had nearly completed its nightly journey to the west when the force assembled. Valyn stood by the pedestal in silence until all was made ready. “You must make haste if you are to travel this morning. The moon will retire shortly.”
Corhymin stepped out in front of the army and bowed. “We are ready to travel, my lady.”
“Very well, one moment. Marzi Gloam, would you step forward, please?”
Marzi made her way out of the crowd and stood in front of the goddess. “Yes?” She felt funny calling Valyn my lady. It sounded really too adult.
“You have a weapon at your belt. Draw it forth.”
Marzi reached down and took the dagger from its sheath, holding it up for Valyn to see.
“This is a finely crafted piece made by the elves of the Twilight Bough, and I understand it was crafted especially for you on request by your three friends. But it is more than a weapon. I charge you with this, Marzi Gloam of Pangrove. This dagger is not intended to take life, but rather to save it.” With that, the goddess reached out and touched the tip of the knife, which then took on a brilliant emerald glow. “My spirit resides within this weapon and will be with you through all of the dark times ahead.”
Marzi stared at the glowing weapon, not sure what to make of the order that had been given her. How could a combat weapon such as this be an instrument to save lives? “What do you mean? How will this save a life?”
Valyn smiled and started to respond, but the Azyrean interrupted her.
“Never mind. I will know when the time comes.” She had heard the line too many times already.
“You are wise. And know that I send you forth not as a warbringer but as a peacemaker. Now go. The world awaits you.”
And with that, Marzi took her place in line, stepping into the portal of blue light.
Chapter 90: Tovi
Tovi squinted into the rising sun. The air was already beginning to shimmer as the cool of dawn gave way to the warmth of morning. Later, the heat of midday would reign. Beside him stood Klunk and Kharla. Myhrren stood several steps to the east and, beside him, Mathias shuffled nervously.
The young human from the realm of Caravast broke the silence. “When do I get to go back?”
The old man chortled. “When this is over, Master Grenham, when it’s over. But if it makes you feel any better, I have a feeling that your human companions will soon join us.” He looked around the horizon. This is where the battle will be joined.” He turned to Tovi. “And, unless I am terribly wrong, you may soon be reunited with your sister.”
“Marzi? She’s coming here?” Even as he spoke, Tovi saw movement where the sky met the land. He could make out figures trudging toward them, backlit by the just visible sun. “There, is that the human army?”
“No, my friend. That is our first set of allies—the kraal two hours walk from here.”
Tovi strained his eyes and could see the hulking shapes of the ogres as they grew nearer. And to the side, he saw another tiny set of silhouettes—the next band of ogres. And then another. He turned to the west to see several different groups approaching.
“How did they know to come this morning?” Tovi knew the answer, though, before the words came out. Myhrren, the voice, could speak to anyone anywhere.
And of course, the old man knew that Tovi knew and didn’t bother to answer.
As the arriving forces gathered, the Azyrean was overwhelmed by the size of the army. He had visited all of the kraals, so he knew, or sort of knew, how many there were. But seeing them all together like this made it seem so much greater.
The leaders of each kraal greeted Myhrren with a bow. And, to Tovi’s surprise, each of them also bowed to him. He felt overwhelmed. He felt a part of what was going on in a way that he had never felt a part of anything. Pride surged in his heart, along with something else—something that made him feel, at the same time, very small and yet very large.
The arriving forces began to form up. Klunk, having reverted somewhat to his jovial self, broke into song.
We gather here
to face the dark
The sun arrives
to light the spark
Our hearts are full
Our spirits high
We turn and gaze
into the sky
Humans come
to join the fight
Elves as well
We swell with might
Army of light
assembled here
Friends forever
Comrades dear.
No sooner had Klunk finished, when the air in front of the army began to swirl and glow, first a pale blue and then deeper cobalt. Then, within the center of the blue portal came a flash of emerald green. Within seconds, a portal stood fully formed and, to everyone’s surprise, two figures tumbled out. Tovi stared at the strange creatures. Taller than humans, they had long hair—one jet black and the other as white as midday clouds. But what struck him most were the ears—long and pointed.
The first one through the portal was the dark-haired one. Tovi watched as the tall being stood and dusted himself off, looking around at the landscape until his eyes came to rest on Tovi. The newcomer had a look of recognition and a grin on his face as the two stared at each other.
Epilogue
The muted green cloud gave form to the goddess Valyn’s face. “It is set in motion.”
Aristan, his deep ochre cloud brightening to a more brilliant red, retorted, “I notice that no one has told these beings of their fate. How convenient the oversight.”
Valyn brightened to an emerald shade. “We know not their fate. We, the three of us, know what hangs in the balance. But what will happen to any one being is beyond our sight.”
The brilliant red subsided and a smirk uttered forth. “Right. But predicting the outcome for the young ones is of little challenge. T
he girl will stagger under the weight of trying to make peace among three races, each with their biases and beliefs, not to mention creating a humane peace with the invading humans. She will likely die for her efforts. As for the boy, of course, he will most certainly not survive.”
The deep midnight blue cloud brightened to azure as Myhrren spoke. “You do not know that. His challenge will indeed be fraught with danger, but he has spirit and he has friends to help him. There is a chance that he will emerge unscathed.”
Aristan’s sarcastic tone softened. “My friends, I understand the gravity of the situation in which we find ourselves. And I understand that using these beings gives us the best chance of success. But I urge you both to reflect on what you have done. These are innocent beings from another world who have been whisked away from their homes and families most likely to die for something that is not really their problem. That is all I ask. That you understand the moral implications.”
The other two remained silent. They could not dispute the truth of Aristan’s words. After a few moments, Myhrren’s voice emerged from the deep azure cloud. “The third one, at least, will be safe.”
Aristan responded in a thoughtful tone, “Yes, that is true. But his future is even more complicated than the other two. Should they survive, they will return home to their family. The one they call Jarek faces a more uncertain fate, one that is tied up not only in events but in his own heart.”
Valyn broke the uneasiness that had settled over the trio of gods. “Yes, well, given all of this, I suggest we get back to our worlds and make sure that those two children do not get hurt.” And with that, the emerald cloud vanished.
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