War's Ending

by A J Park

  “It’s time for her to share our secret,” Allemi said gravely. “We will speak more when you return.”

  Shalyrie pulled on her jacket and followed Kalleck back down to the stables. They mounted and rode out of the gate.

  “Where are we going?” she asked.

  “You’ll see in a few moments.”

  They rode up onto a ridge and Shalyrie saw a towering wall of rock surrounded by thick forest. The path turned from the ridge into the forest toward the base of the cliff. Kalleck followed it as it wound through the trees. It was quiet there, except for the muffled sound of the horses’ hooves. The air was still and fragrant. Ferns grew between the trunks of giant trees. Rays of the late afternoon sun shone through the branches.

  The hush was so pronounced that Shalyrie didn’t dare speak. The trail curled through the trees until she could see the base of the dark cliff looming in front of them. They came abruptly out of the deep shade into the sunlight.

  Before them was a pool of water, a spring so clear that she could see down into its depths—she couldn’t tell how far. It looked very deep.

  “What is it?” she whispered.

  “This is the Sacred Spring of Akur,” he answered. “The water has a special virtue. It brings strength, health and vigor. We guard it always, so that nothing can defile its waters. You are the only one of the sea-folk ever to see it.”

  “It’s beautiful.”

  “Would you drink?” he asked, dismounting and offering his hand.

  “May I?” she asked eagerly. She was curious now. Would it taste like normal water? Could you feel the strength and vigor right away? She was so busy thinking about what the spring water might be like, that she forgot exactly how high up she was and she slid ungracefully out of the saddle. She would have fallen if Kalleck had not caught her.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t fall,” he said, making no move to set her down.

  His arms were strong and she felt safe there. She looked up at the dark eyes that were the only part of his face she had ever seen.

  Finally, he set her on her feet and led her to an altar at the edge of the water. A stone bowl rested on its smooth top. Kalleck took the bowl and filled it with water from the spring. Then, he offered it to Shalyrie.

  “You must not spill or pour any of the water on the ground and, once you have taken it, you don’t pour it back. You must drink it all. The atoh is the symbol of the sacred spring. The design each person wears is unique, but they all contain the figure that represents the spring. It is the center of our culture.”

  Shalyrie uncovered her face and took the bowl from him. It was heavy, and the stone felt cool against her hands. She lifted it to her lips and drank. The water was very cold. As she swallowed it, she noticed that it was pure and sweet, and seemed to have a touch of some other flavor she couldn’t identify. She had been thirsty, and Kalleck had not filled the bowl so full that it would be difficult to drink it all. Soon the bowl was empty and she handed it back to Kalleck. He dipped it back into the spring and drank as well.

  “The Yalkur are sworn to protect the water. I have shared its secret with you and you must keep it. You are Yalkur now. You have drunk from our Sacred Spring, and tomorrow Allemi will conduct the official ceremony to recognize your oath. You must speak of it to no one, except other Yalkur.”

  “I promise,” she said. “The water is your secret?”

  “Yes,” he answered. “Your oath will be not to speak of it to anyone outside our people. Never to lead anyone here and to be loyal to our people. That is what the atoh represents.”

  Water? She wasn’t sure what she had expected their great mystery to be, but not that. It seemed too simple. And it was strange that the Yalkur didn’t speak of it, on pain of death. How could it possibly be that important?

  “The water gives health? So if you gave it to a sick person they would recover?” she asked.

  He nodded. “I cut my leg once when I was a boy. My horse threw me and I landed in the rocks. The cut was infected and I had a fever for a while, but it healed. We used the water often then.”

  “That’s the only time?”

  “Until that poisoned dart. All of our people drink from the spring,” he said. “No one is really ever sick in the way that I’ve heard the sea-folk can be.”

  “None of your people are ever sick?” She was astounded. Almorians enjoyed good health most of the time, but there were always some people who were ill. That was just a part of life. Could anyone simply drink this water and recover? Her knees felt weak and she sat down abruptly. The secret of the Yalkur was bigger than she had thought at first.

  “Shalyrie?” Kalleck knelt beside her, his voice concerned.

  “Kalleck. The water. Do you mean that it would help someone recover? Even if they have been ill for a long time and even if they were nearly at the point of death?”

  “Yes,” he said. “It can’t do everything, of course. There are still people who are too badly injured to survive. But someone who is ill? It would help them.”

  “Kalleck, my cousin Tel, he’s like a brother to Olthorin and I. We were raised together. He’s so sick. We’ve done everything we can, and he just gets worse. Before I came here, I was waiting every day for someone to tell me that he had died. I don’t want him to die. I promised not to speak of the spring. Did I just promise that I wouldn’t help him?”

  He sat down beside her and put his arm around her comfortingly. “It will be all right. You promised that you would not speak of the Sacred Waters. That doesn’t mean he could never be helped. Maybe he could learn our ways as you have.”

  “But he’s the king’s only son. He should be heir to the throne. How could he—?”

  “He is important to you?”

  “Yes! He’s family,” she said.

  “Then when all this is done, we will find a way to help him,” Kalleck promised.

  Shalyrie threw her arms around him. “Is it possible?” she exclaimed. “He’s so sick. He can’t breathe and there’s nothing more anyone there can do for him. It’s been years and he’s not getting better. No matter what we do, he just gets worse. Maybe he’s already dead.”

  “I hope not,” Kalleck said, holding her. “We will do what we can to help, as soon as we can.”

  She felt tears welling in her eyes. “Thank you, Kalleck.” She pulled him closer. The thought of Tel getting better was too wonderful to express.

  “We will hope for the best. Maybe your brother will soon send us news.”

  “Yes, I hope so.”

  Her cheek was against his chest and she was suddenly conscious of his arms around her. It felt good. He had promised that when she took the oath, she would no longer be an outsider. She imagined him taking his mask off. What would it be like to really see him?

  She had just committed to joining his people. What would Olthorin and Uncle Telthan say? Did it mean that she would stay here? Did she want to stay?

  She knew she didn’t want to leave Kalleck.

  Kalleck got up and helped Shalyrie to her feet. “It’s getting late,” he said. “My mother will prepare the ceremony for tomorrow. We must be ready. We should go back now anyway—the weather’s changing.”

  A wind had come up and was moving in the tall tree branches. They mounted their horses and she followed him back the way they had come. They reached the top of the hill and felt a strong wind. A storm was coming. If she had been sailing tonight, she would have headed for port quickly.

  They rode down off the ridge into scattered patches of forest. Kalleck stopped abruptly and looked out into the trees. There were horses coming.

  Shalyrie recognized Sinnar leading a group of riders. He came up to Kalleck and leaned close, speaking in a low voice. She couldn’t catch the words.

  Was something wrong? All at once, she felt very uneasy. “Is everything all r
ight?” she asked Kalleck.

  He looked at her. “Yes, but we need to return to the city now.” He turned back to Sinnar. “We were already on our way back. The weather’s turning bad anyway. You can send someone to ride with us to the city.”

  Sinnar nodded. “Ren,” he said, nodding toward Kalleck. Ren remained behind as the others turned their horses and disappeared back into the trees.

  What had happened? There wasn’t time to ask Kalleck. He was already moving, and Shalyrie rode after him. She could hear Ren’s horse just behind her.

  They rode in single file, each rider silent for their own reasons. The wind was picking up, and Shalyrie wished she had grabbed a cloak after they had left Allemi’s quarters earlier today. Her jacket wasn’t quite warm enough against the chill of the wind.

  Out of nowhere, several horsemen appeared, converging from different directions.

  “Go get Sinnar!” Kalleck ordered Ren.

  Ren obeyed. He turned his horse and bolted back the way they had come.

  Three riders had already surrounded Kalleck and knocked him from his saddle.

  Shalyrie didn’t have time to scream or run or decide what to do next before something struck her, driving her to the ground. She was too dazed by the impact to do anything to stop her attackers as they tied her hands behind her. Someone covered her head with a hood, blinding her.

  “Kalleck!”

  When she called for him, the only response she got was a blow, so she said nothing more. Hands lifted her up to someone on horseback, who threw her across the saddle. They galloped away.

  Her heart was pounding frantically. What was happening? Her bound arms pulled at her sore shoulder and she was in pain, but the fear was worse. Where was Kalleck? Had they hurt him? Would they kill both of them?

  It felt like they rode for hours. Shalyrie could feel the air growing colder around her. Keep going! As long as they were riding, she was alive—and maybe Kalleck was too.

  The horses stopped. Oh, no…

  Someone pulled her roughly down, dragged her some distance and shoved her onto the rocky ground. She couldn’t see anything.

  “Let her see,” a voice said. “I want her to see death coming.”

  She knew the voice even before they uncovered her eyes and she saw a black cape trimmed with feathers. Farak.

  Shalyrie didn’t know where she had been taken. There were mountains all around them, towering peaks of bare rock coming up out of lower slopes covered with dark green forest. She saw no buildings or signs of other people. The last light of evening was fading fast. They were in an open area surrounded by tumbled boulders. On one side of them, the land rose in sheer rocky cliffs, and the other side fell off sharply. She could hear the roar of fast-moving water below.

  Two men were dragging Kalleck. His hands had also been tied. They forced him down on his knees in front of Farak. Several men surrounded them. They were all heavily armed, but Kalleck wasn’t even wearing his armor.

  Farak drew himself up, and spoke clearly and formally. “Former First Guardian Kalleck, son of Gallidack, it is an unfortunate part of my duty to judge Yalkur oath-breakers. I do not enjoy it, but our sworn word must be kept.”

  “It is your duty to bring these cases before the Council, not to some remote place in the mountains,” Kalleck protested. “Our law requires that a sentence be pronounced by a majority of the council members. And you have no more authority! Allemi has cast you out of her order.”

  “But these are desperate times,” Farak said, pacing in front of Kalleck. “Even what the High Priestess said cannot remove the oath I took as Yalkur. I swore to protect the Sacred Waters. I could not afford to hesitate. There is no time for a regular trial. We are at war. And you, our First Guardian, dared to take one of the cursed sea-folk to the Sacred Spring and drink together as if you were lovers. It is disgusting! What defense could you possibly give? Do you deny that you took her there and drank with her?”

  “No,” Kalleck said.

  “Oath-breaker!” Farak yelled. His men were shouting too. They surrounded Kalleck.

  Shalyrie was reminded of the ocean when the sharks were preparing to feed. Not Kalleck! Why had he done it? He had explained the law to her so carefully. It was their law to destroy oath-breakers. But not him!

  She struggled to her feet. She couldn’t just stand by and watch it. “I gave him my oath,” Shalyrie said. “And I keep it. I will keep it. Your law is satisfied.”

  Farak turned and struck her face, knocking her down. “Your word is nothing!” he screamed. “How dare you speak of our law? You’re not one of our people. Kalleck will die for his faithlessness.”

  “No!” she cried, struggling back to her knees.

  “Farak, stop!” Kalleck commanded. “This is not really about her. You have been waiting for any opportunity to destroy me. Leave her alone.”

  Farak turned to his men. “You see the pathetic attachment he has to her. His dangerous obsession? He would do anything, even break his oaths for her.”

  “That’s not true,” Kalleck said.

  “No?” Farak asked. “Then cast her aside. She will die for what she has seen. There is nothing you can do to prevent that now. Nothing! You must abandon your obsession with her. Kill her. If you kill her, I will see it as a renewal of your own faith, and I will spare your life.”

  “You expect me to kill her?” Kalleck said. “She’s done nothing but try to help our people. In the battle at Thell, she stopped a soldier who was about to kill one of our people. She saved the girl’s life. She has already proved her loyalty to the Yalkur.”

  “Maybe loyalty to you, but she’ll never be one of us.”

  “She is the key to saving all our people. You can’t kill her.”

  “Then I won’t,” Farak said. “You will kill her. She’s going to die either way. If you kill her, I will let you live. Otherwise, I will kill you too.”

  Shalyrie looked on in horror. Why would Farak demand this? But he was going to kill her either way. And they were alone out here, surrounded by bloodthirsty men. At least, if Kalleck did as Farak asked, he would live. There must be some way out of this. But what? She looked around desperately, but saw only Farak’s men, still circling them like sharks. There was no one else—no way out. Her stomach clenched. This was it. It was all going to be over soon. She was going to die.

  “Kalleck,” she said desperately. “You should do as he says. Don’t let him kill you too.”

  Kalleck turned and looked at her, shocked. “You would agree to this willingly?”

  Not willingly! But she couldn’t let him die. “If there is no other way to save you,” she said.

  “There is no other way!” Farak said triumphantly. He looked down at Kalleck again. “She’s going to die either way, and she knows it. But you can decide whether you live or die.” Farak took out his dagger and pointed it at Kalleck. “Decide!” he yelled, raising the knife.

  Kalleck looked up at him. “Is that what you really want? You want to see me kill her? And you give your word that if I do, you will let me go?”

  “I said I would let you live,” Farak snapped. “Either way, you will never lead the people again!”

  “And who will you set in my place?” Kalleck asked. “You won’t get the clan leaders to back you. They all agreed to banish you. Every clan is prepared to carry out the sentence of death if you return. Even if you could go back, the clans will support Hannal, and he thinks very much like I do.”

  “It won’t be Hannal! We need someone who will never befriend the sea-folk.”

  “So you need to replace most of the council members in order to get them to see it your way? Will you try to kill Hannal, too? And the High Priestess? She has already cast you out.”

  “It will all be very different with you gone! Now stop stalling and give me your answer!”

  Kalleck took a deep
breath. He shook his head sadly and looked around at the heavily armed men. “I can’t see any other way now. You’re right. I have let myself become dangerously obsessed with her.” He glanced at Shalyrie, but she could read nothing from his eyes. He sounded sincere. “Our people could… could never accept her. Better to let go. It just wouldn’t work to have an outsider among our people. Better to get it over with.”

  Shalyrie’s heart sank at his words. Our people could never accept her. That was exactly what she feared—that the Yalkur would not accept her—that she would never belong. Maybe it was better to just get it over with.

  No! She trusted Kalleck. This was just a plan to get them away from Farak. It had to be. Even though she wanted to believe that, the words still hurt.

  “All right, kill her,” Kalleck said resignedly.

  “That’s not what I said!” Farak yelled. “You must kill her. No tricks. My men will have their spears on you the whole time.”

  Kalleck bowed his head. For a long tense moment, he didn’t speak. Finally, he slowly nodded.

  They pulled him to his feet and three of Farak’s men put their spearpoints against him. One spear was pressed against his neck, one at his side, and one against his back. They held the spears hard against him, and Farak cut his hands free. Slowly, they moved closer to Shalyrie.

  No matter what Kalleck had planned, how was he going to get away from this?

  Kalleck met her eyes.

  Farak jerked her to her feet and held her so she couldn’t move. “Now!” he hissed, holding out the dagger.

  One by one, Kalleck curled his fingers around the hilt. With agonizing slowness, he raised the knife.

  Shalyrie struggled to pull away from Farak. “Stay still,” he hissed. “You’ll only make it worse. It will be over in a moment.”

  Farak looked at Kalleck and nodded.

  Kalleck nodded back and his eyes hardened.

  Shalyrie held her breath.

  “I will not take a life unless I must,” Kalleck said, “but I see now that I have to.”