Elf Doubt

by Bryant Reil

  “Merker?”

  “Digan I fight. He trap me.”

  “Yeah. I don’t know what I should do about him.”

  “He bad, but young. Maybe change. Heff change, and he is old.”

  Heff snorted.

  Kyla leaned toward Lug, careful to keep her hand in place. “I’d give you a hug, but I can’t let go of this rock. You’d fall apart anyway. I’m wearing Dunkin’s ring.”

  “Dunkin is bad dwarf who want to kill you?”

  “Yeah.”

  “He still chase?”

  Kyla frowned. “No. A human lady from Whitehall killed him.”

  Lug looked about at the fallen rocks that had been a Digan chief only moments earlier. “What you do now?”

  “Not sure. I think we could just lock each of the boulders in separate rooms, so they can’t come back together.”

  Lug nodded. Heff translated to the gathered Digans, who nodded and wordlessly began rolling boulders out of the chamber.

  “That’s power,” Heff said. He seemed impressed. “You say it, and it gets done.”

  As the Digan’s hauled the boulders, Kyla regaled Lug with her escape from the cavern, and the assault on Equinox by the Avowed of Erebus. She left out the part where she confronted and trapped the god of darkness: he was one person she did trust, but Hajar was listening.

  Even with all the hands it was several hours before the work was done, and all were gathered back in the chief’s cavern. Kyla’s boulder, instead of being hauled away, was wrapped in chains against a side wall where it rumbled and struggled to escape as soon as she let go of it. Kyla found its presence disturbing, but the Digans amused themselves by tossing pebbles at it.

  “Cathartic,” Heff explained.

  As Kyla prepared to leave, the Digans surrounded her. Lug, more fluent than Heff, took over as translator. “They want you say something chief-like.”

  “Oh. You want a speech? Uh…good job, everyone! Time to go home!”

  There was some murmuring. One of the larger Digans spoke to Lug, who turned to Kyla. “He say you should take throne.”

  “Throne?”

  “Pile of soft.”

  Kyla looked at the great mound of cloth at her feet, which was yet only a small portion of the chief’s collection. “Tell them they can share that among themselves. I just need this pair of pants.”

  Lug translated, and there was a great cheer. Kyla blushed. “Yeah. I’m great. But I can’t stay, so I need one of them to be in charge.”

  The Digans fell silent as Lug relayed the message. They looked at her quietly until she spoke again.

  “Maybe you could be chief, Denzig! Or Heff?”

  The dragon and the minotaur shook their heads.

  “Already have a job,” Denzig said. “Don’t want to lose my benefits.”

  “Fine. Lug, tell them that there’s a black stone with some writing on it in the lair of the Grootslang. First one to bring it to me can be in charge when I’m gone. Oh, except that weirdo who kidnapped you. I’m not leaving him in charge of anything.”

  Lug translated once again, his voice drawing wearier as he spoke. The translation was led by more cheers, and a mad scramble for the exit. Several of the Digans simply bored their ways out through the stone wall, sending flecks of shrapnel flying back. Kyla shielded her eyes until the dust settled. She pulled out her yo-yo and stuck her finger through the loop.

  “Now I should finally have a few minutes to practice.”

  Chapter Nine

  Hearts and Minds

  “Good to see, you, Elial! How fares Equinox?” Bremnos plastered on his most amicable expression and dropped into the chair opposite Elial’s desk. Elial held up his hand to refuse the offer of silage he knew was coming. Bremnos shrugged and placed the container back in his purse. The elf had no taste for quality.

  Elial smiled, though it was tainted by dark rings around his eyes. “Fine, on the teaching end. Small classes this term, you know. But the students who are here have been through terrible trauma. I have five students from Monarch who lost their families in Erebus’ attack. They’re only here now because they had nowhere left to go. So, they need a bit of extra attention.”

  Bremnos nodded. He had seen the remains of many towns and villages that had fallen in the raids. Most had been distractions to sow chaos and hide Erebus’ intentions. “It’s grim out there. Trouble is festering through insurrections and doubt. Erebus has fallen, or so we suppose. At least his forces have lost their power and scattered.”

  Elial leaned forward, his index fingers pressed together at the tips. “No one knows who did it? It wasn’t Oberon.”

  So Elial was savvy enough to see through the propaganda. “I can’t talk about that, but I’m also not denying it.”

  “You’re not here to get me involved?”

  “I am, but I can’t share much. Need-to-know basis only.”

  “And how can I be of service?”

  “I just got word there’s a group of elves in Keiel that have formed a band. Maybe more of a gang. Call themselves the Irakim of Kinsel King. They’re preaching a new order free of Oberon’s control. Back to the old days, before we had a global sovereign.”

  “I haven’t been to Keiel in years. I don’t think I have much influence there. And the elves have never been fans of the global sovereignty.”

  “I thought the elves were friends to Oberon.”

  “We support him, for the sake of peace and order. But we’ve seen what happens when an evil king gets too much power. That’s why these rebels call themselves the Irakim of Kinsel King. The second coming of the man who saved us from the last tyrant who tried to rule the world.”

  Bremnos sat up. “Are you calling Oberon a tyrant?” Bremnos appreciated Elial’s candor, but this wasn’t a conversation he would want overheard.

  “Of course not. He has been just, and we have supported his efforts. But he won’t always be in power, and power can be devastating should the wrong person be seated upon the throne.”

  Bremnos winced. “You mean Aethelwyne?”

  “I don’t mean Aethelwyne. It’s the principle. Please understand I’m not voicing my own opinion. I’m telling you the minds of the elves. They’ve always seen the idea of global monarchy, or even the expansion of territory, as a threat. This upheaval – not just with the elves, but with everyone – has been boiling under the surface for centuries.”

  This was news. Bremnos had always thought the elves were fond supporters of the throne.

  “Still,” he pleaded, “I’d like you to come with me. Talk to their leaders. These rebels are mostly the young. They are armed and willing to fight, but untrained. They’re going to get themselves killed.” Bremnos coughed and began to choke. He could feel tears form in his eyes. “I slew an army of fine young Ophilim, Elial. Narrowly averted a bloodbath in Kaussgale yesterday. I can’t keep doing this. I need a peaceful solution with the elves.”

  Elial nodded. “I see. I’ll come with you, but I can’t promise I’ll be able to help.”

  Bremnos stood and bowed. Finding himself unable to speak, he offered Elial a salute and turned for the door.

  ***

  Sophrosyne traced the letters on the surface of the stone with her finger before setting it on the arm of her seat.

  She smiled. “Chief of the Digans.”

  Kyla squirmed. “Sort of. I left one of them in charge. Can’t pronounce his name. I just call him Lumpy.” The thought of being Chief of the Digans sounded nice but Kyla feared she may, at some point, be pressured into living among them, and was hoping people would forget about it. Not likely with Sophrosyne.

  “You did well. And you’ve made a new friend.”

  Kyla sneered and looked back at Hajar, who stepped forward.

  “Pleased to meet you!” Hajar smiled and curtsied.

  “You may call me Sophrosyne. You have been through a terrible lot more than Kyla realizes. I’m sure she’ll soften as she gets to know you.”

  Kyla
stomped her foot. “She kidnapped me! She made me a slave!”

  “Yes, and that was a horrible thing to do. I’m not condoning it. I’m saying she has been through worse things than you. That doesn’t excuse her actions, of course.”

  “She’s a brat. And was hardly much help. Well, I mean, she told us where the stone was, but it was the Digans who got it after that monster almost ate us.”

  “Well, finding the stone was your assignment. I’d say she did the most important part.”

  “By accident! It was just luck Mokosh happened to be the one who hid it.” Kyla bit her lip. Sophrosyne must have known. How could this have been chance? Yet Kyla had to be careful about making accusations, even in her mind. Sophrosyne’s eyes were already boring into her thoughts.

  “She needs a place to stay,” Sophrosyne said. “She can stay with you, can she not?”

  Kyla crossed her arms. “No, I’m afraid she cannot.”

  “I can stay with Heff!” Hajar volunteered.

  “He has a family! Not like he needs another mouth to feed.” Kyla turned to Sophrosyne. “I’m going to take her to Denzig. Then if she acts up, he can have her as a snack.”

  Hajar let out a squeak. “No! You can’t!”

  Sophrosyne sighed. “Kyla, just—” Kyla expected a reprimand, but Sophrosyne cut herself off and looked back at Hajar. “Don’t worry. He’s a friendly dragon.”

  “He seemed fine when I met him.” Hajar’s voice became soft and sad. “So did Mokosh, in the beginning. Maybe the dragon’s a dear until he gets hungry! Why can’t I stay with Kyla?”

  Sophrosyne returned to her seat. “I’m sure you or one of your friends at Equinox can put her up for a few days, Kyla. Ask around.”

  “No!” Kyla protested. “I can’t be around her anymore.”

  “Why not?” Hajar looked as though she were ready to cry. “I can sing for you! You like my music. Please, I don’t want to be left alone anymore. I’m sorry I tricked you.”

  “You made me into a slave! I would have been trapped forever if Heff hadn’t come looking for me.”

  “Yes, but…” Hajar stopped talking and started breathing heavily. Tears began to roll down her cheeks.

  “Fine. You can stay at Eunoe’s tonight. Then she can decide.” This seemed satisfactory. Eunoe wasn’t the sort to want a stranger sharing her room.

  Sophrosyne leaned back in her seat. “You’re such a child.” She looked at the stone. “You do, however, accomplish great things. I’ll give you a few days’ rest, but we need to continue procuring these fragments. Put a team together. You’ll be heading to the jungles of Laenith this time, so equip yourself appropriately. You’ll want to invite your friend Aspen, as it seems the trees in the region are having trouble. See me when you’re ready to leave.”

  “Oh, crab-apples,” Kyla muttered as she turned to the exit. She beckoned Hajar to follow. “Come on.”

  ***

  Titania scratched the little baku behind the ear. The fur was silky, though she suppressed the thought of making baku coats and blankets. Not only were the little creatures too adorable to imagine skinning, but they were spirits that existed outside the mortal cycle. This one was named Chiazu and was one of the more affectionate of the creatures, at least toward Titania. Many of the others were shy and would only allow Myam to pet them. Chiazu wrapped his trunk around her wrist and gave a gentle squeeze. His throat hummed with pleasure.

  The door opened and Myam entered. She jumped a bit as she saw Titania, but quickly composed herself and bowed. “Your Majesty. I wasn’t expecting you just yet.”

  “It’s been a slow day, so I thought I’d come visit the baku. Lovely creatures.”

  “I, too, find them stress-relieving. I have something to report.”

  “Oh?”

  “Yes. I have sought the dreams of Kyla Nim and her friends, but they are among those we have not been able to penetrate.”

  “Yes,” Titania nodded. “The Seers have expressed difficulty with them as well.”

  “She is being protected by Nyx, I assume. Should we have her questioned?”

  Titania picked up Chiazu and stroked him as she paced across the room. “She’s been away from campus on assignment for a mysterious patron. Suspicious, as Equinox has kept no record where she went, or for whom, yet both Anh-Bul and Elial Ciana have insisted it is part of her program.”

  “Stories say Nyx has power to hide, steal, or even change memories. She may be controlling Kyla and erasing the memories of those with whom she associates.”

  “Perhaps. It’s a serious accusation, even if Kyla is an unwitting dupe. Many will call for her head if she’s found to be in league with Nyx. I would like this to remain unofficial. I can’t have my regular operatives bring her in. It needs to be off the books.”

  The little baku in Titania’s arm started squirming, so Myam gently took it and set it on the floor. It turned into its spirit form and fled through a wall. Myam turned back to the Queen. “Yes, Your Majesty. I shall learn what I can.”

  ***

  It was after midnight when Kyla and Hajar emerged from the portal in Equinox. Kyla spent the walk to Haven Hall avoiding Hajar’s many questions about the campus. Soon they were back at the large wooden doors of the dorm, and Hajar helped Kyla heave open the massive entrance.

  As they walked up the stairs, Kyla finally decided to give Hajar a run-down of her friends. “Eunoe’s an alseid. She designs animals. Her best friend is Aspen, who’s a dryad, but she’s a dryad of a cherry tree, not an aspen, only her tree died in a fire and now she’s attached to Eunoe. We’re here on the second floor. Eunoe lives right across the hall from me. Oh, and my roommate is Aura. She’s a Daughter of the Air. That’s a high-class air spirit. Maybe we should take a bath before we go see them. I’ve got so much dirt on me, I’m practically a Digan. Oh, you know what, she won’t care.”

  Kyla’s heart pounded as she walked up to Eunoe’s door. She heard talking as she approached, and slowly pushed the door open. Inside, Eunoe and Aspen sat on Eunoe’s bed, and Marik sat next to an unfamiliar platinum-haired woman. Aspen watched Marik with a frown, and Eunoe was knitting. The stranger was speaking but paused as Kyla entered. She swung the door fully open to reveal Hajar, who waved energetically.

  “Hi! I’m Hajar. I’m a friend of Kyla’s. She’s told me everything about you.”

  Eunoe, who was knitting on her bed, dropped her needles and jumped to her feet. “Are you alright? What happened?”

  “Oh, right.” The bruises up Kyla’s arm, and the more painful unseen ones, remained from her time with Mokosh. “Nothing. I’m fine. This is Hajar. That’s Eunoe. Aspen’s the one with the reddish-brown skin and green hair. That’s Marik. He works for the Director. I don’t know that one.”

  The platinum-haired woman stood and offered her arm. Kyla clasped her wrist.

  “I’m Carmin. You must be Kyla. They were telling me about you. I hear you’ve been off on an exciting adventure.”

  “Yeah, but I can’t talk about it. Top secret. Are you Marik’s sister or something?”

  Carmin smiled, but Marik’s eyes widened and he set off in a fit of coughing.

  “No. He’s my boyfriend. We’ve been re-united after some time apart.”

  “Oh. He never mentioned you.”

  Marik cleared his throat. “Um, not that I didn’t think about you all the time, love. Just I don’t have the sort of relationship with Kyla that would lead me to discuss my private matters with her.”

  “You’ve been to my house! You’ve met my parents. How much closer can people get?”

  Carmin’s eye sparkled as she smiled back at Marik, who wriggled in his seat, and replied. “You make it sound like we were dating. Look, Carmin, I met her family when I passed through her hometown. We had a bit of trouble with a dwarf that was trying to kill Kyla, and I helped protect her.”

  “Trying to kill her?” Carmin gawked at Kyla. “What in heaven and earth did you do?”

  It was evident Carmin
was trying to be playful. Kyla wasn’t in the mood but had an immediate fondness for Carmin and decided to play along.

  “You should have seen him in action,” she swooned. “He was so brave. It was…well, I thought I meant something to him. I guess not.”

  “You cad!” Carmin pushed away from Marik in mock anger. “Bouncing from girl to girl like a fox in a rabbit’s warren.”

  Kyla couldn’t help but laugh, though a comment from Hajar ruined the moment.

  “Foxes don’t bounce. Though, they are swift.”

  Kyla groaned and rolled her eyes. “It’s an expression. If a fox were in a warren, he’d jump from rabbit to rabbit and never eat any of them.”

  “I don’t think that’s true. He’d eat the first one he caught. And I’ve seen a warren. I don’t think there’d be room for a fox to hop around.”

  Kyla sighed and released Marik. She turned to Eunoe and Aspen, though with Aspen’s disturbed gaze fixed on Marik, she spoke to Eunoe directly.

  “Anything happen when I was gone?”

  “Aspen broke up with Vock.”

  Aspen winced. “For now.”

  Hajar clapped her hands. “You had a boyfriend? How wonderful! I only had Mokosh. He was cruel. I love your hair. Did you know, when I was in charge of my pond, I was a friend of many of the local dryads? They usually don’t speak with anyone, except me, because they loved my singing.”

  “Oh!” Aspen clapped her hands. “You sing?”

  “Yes! We xana are famous for our voices. But, I hadn’t the opportunity for many years because Mokosh wouldn’t—”

  “Whoa!” Kyla leaped to her feet. “Can’t talk about the mission. Anyway, we were wondering if Hajar could stay here, since you have an extra bed.”

  “Yes!” Marik interrupted with suspicious enthusiasm.

  “Sure,” Carmin said. “I mean, if she needs a place to stay, of course I can stay with Marik.”

  “No!” Aspen called out with suspicious panic. “She shouldn’t stay at Marik’s. Eunoe’s already offered Carmin this bed. I bet Hajar could sleep in your room. Aura’s barely home nowadays.”

  Kyla turned to Hajar. “You could stay at Denzig’s. He’s got a huge cave, and lots of neat stuff. And you could visit Whitehall. It’s a human town. They have ice cream.”