Elf Doubt

by Bryant Reil

  Aspen might have thought Aura was angry at them. Yet when Aura was angry, she was nearly opaque, and now she was almost invisible. She not only had to marry Calam but had now been told she was to remain in Aeolis.

  “When you come get your things, at least!” Eunoe pleaded. “Stop by. I’m right across the hall.”

  Aura finally stopped, and as Aspen caught up she saw that they were several feet from the glass floor’s end.

  A gust burst from beneath Aura’s flowing dress. “My servants shall fetch my belongings. If…when you see Kyla again, tell her I shall continue to pay for my half of the room until she can find a suitable roommate. In fact, tell her I’ll pay for the whole room until she finishes school.”

  “I just want to talk to you!” Eunoe’s eyes were turning red. Aspen could feel a mix of frustration and desperate sadness. The two had not been particularly close, but Eunoe saw a future of abuse and misery in Aura’s marriage. Aspen agreed, though she didn’t know what could be done about it.

  “There is no time to talk,” Aura said. “If you wish to say something, pass a message when my servants come for my things. Thank you for coming. Now goodbye.”

  Eunoe stammered out a few more words but they were soon carried off in the wind as Aura evaporated into the air. She turned to Aspen.

  “We need to stop this from happening.”

  “Stop what? The wedding has already happened.”

  “Yes, but the marriage can’t continue. We have to break it up.”

  Aspen put her hands on Eunoe’s shoulders and tried to look in her downcast eyes. “We could start a war between the houses if we do that. Kyla tried to break it up and see what happened.”

  “Kyla did it wrong. She tried talking to Ukko and Calam. We need to talk Aura into reason. She can just leave.”

  Aspen squealed as a pair of air spirits coalesced next to her. She recognized them only as the air spirits that had been assigned to Kyla as servants on the first day.

  “She cannot leave,” said the first.

  “She is not free,” the second chimed in.

  Then they both spoke together. “She is our Master but lacks the freedom of a servant.”

  The first air spirit again spoke alone. “We must do as she says during our hours of service.”

  “But her service never ends,” whispered the second. “And her Masters are ever demanding.”

  The air spirits drifted upward and returned to their invisible state as they once again spoke in unison. “Her happiness in this life has finished. If you wish to keep yours, leave.”

  And they were gone, with Aspen unclear if they meant for her to keep her happiness, or her life.

  ***

  Kyla blinked twice and rubbed her eyes. She had nearly dozed off, and looking back, Zen and Herleif already had. She crawled over to Zen, who was closer, and slapped him across the thigh. He jolted awake.

  “A boat!” she hissed. She crawled over to Herleif, who was snoring softly. She raised her hand to smack him as well, but he opened one eye and glared at her.

  “I heard you,” he growled.

  She took her place again lying on her stomach on the stony outcropping. Zen crawled next to her, smelling a bit musky. Herleif didn’t bother to hide at all and stood with one leg forward as he surveyed the scenery.

  It was a few minutes before the boat was close enough to see in detail. It was broad, and short, with a flat bed. It carried open metal bins that glinted in the red glow of the magma. She counted four crew: three demons, and one ogre, who was lying on his back and staring upward. A fat demon with broad ox-like horns, who she took for the captain, spotted them watching. He stared at them until they were within earshot, and then he bellowed.

  “Keep off, bandits!” As he spoke flames wreathed his body and a tower of flame shot from his outstretched hands. “Stay back or be burned.”

  Kyla twisted the ring on her finger. It had protected her from the fire elemental in the ciguapa temple but did not seem able to protect her from regular old fire. She didn’t want to risk getting scorched. But Herleif seemed calm. They were close enough, now, that he could freeze them anytime, but he was probably waiting until they were close enough to try and board the boat.

  “I warn you!” the captain shouted again as the boat sailed closer. He shot another flame, aimed at Herleif this time, but it dissipated into the air several paces short of striking him.

  Again, Herleif did not budge. It made him seem especially tough and brave. Kyla, deciding this was a good opportunity to look brave as well, rose and stood next to him with her arms crossed.

  As they neared the outcropping the captain let loose a battle-cry and sent another stream of flame at them, only this time the flame didn’t dissipate. Instead, it froze in the air, only a few feet away.

  The boat was about twenty paces away from the outcropping. The rear part was raised, and stacked with metal crates and barrels, but the center of the deck was clear except the ogre, frozen in a stupor.

  “It’s too far to jump,” she noted. “How are we supposed to get over there?”

  Herleif shrugged. “Didn’t think about that. My job’s freezing time. I thought you were supposed to be the smart one.”

  Kyla snickered. She had nearly gotten herself killed a dozen times. Only Sophrosyne’s foresight kept her alive. “Yeah, that’s me, alright. Zen?”

  Zen joined them on the outcropping, holding up the glider. Kyla had forgotten he had it and neglected to ask why he brought it.

  “Sophrosyne gave me this,” he explained. “She said you’d know how to use it. Something to do about flying?”

  “Yes, but…I mean, how did she…did she tell you why?”

  He shrugged. “She hasn’t told me much. Just met her a few days ago. She handed it to me and said we might need it.”

  Kyla rubbed her head. “She always seems to know what’s going to happen. Does she see the future?” She murmured the last part aloud, not expecting a response, but Zen seemed to have one.

  “Don’t know, but she met with the High Seer before we went to Aeolis. He may have told her.”

  Kyla’s eyes glued to Zen’s. “She’s friends with the High Seer?” Perhaps he was the mastermind, and not her. Did he know her identity? Was he working against the King and Queen, or with them? Did Queen Titania already know about Sophrosyne, and Kyla was worried to death over nothing?

  Herleif snapped his fingers between their faces. “Get on the boat before another one comes. You can chat later.”

  “Right.” Kyla held up the glider. “Help me get these loops over my arms. Now, I’m not really an expert, so if it doesn’t work out, could you freeze me in time before I hit the magma?”

  Herleif spat into the magma and watched it sizzle. “We’ll see.”

  “Do your best.” Kyla turned to Zen. “If he drops me, avenge my death.”

  Zen smiled and nodded. “As long as I can have your stuff.”

  “Sure.” Kyla turned to face the boat. Though her heart pounded she was exhilarated as she leaped from the rocky outcropping, spread the wings on her back and glided to the ship. She landed exactly where she had planned, just before the supine ogre so she could use his great belly as a stopping cushion. She pulled her arms from the glider and jumped and cheered.

  “I made it!” she waved. “And I have witnesses!”

  “Great!” Zen called back. “Now what?”

  “Oh, yeah,” she muttered, looking at the glider. She doubted she could throw it back. “How far can you jump?”

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Flames of Wrath

  Saul was led - somewhat forcibly - down the street outside Lili’s barracks. A right, a left, a left. He needed to remember the way. He was brought to a larger building with a heavy metal door. Two guards sat inside, looking out through barred windows. Saul’s escorts didn’t say anything. They approached, flashed a parchment, and one of the guards nodded and the door creaked open.

  He was shoved inside and pushed to
the floor, where the guards wrestled him out of the armor he had made from the exoskeleton Aspen had given him.

  “Hey! No! You can’t take that!” Saul tried to wriggle free as his helmet and gauntlets were pulled off, but this earned him a heavy kick in the back. They struggled unsuccessfully with his greaves and breastplate, which was humorous as Saul had designed the latches to be easily and quickly removed.

  Frustrated, one of the guards swatted him across the side of the head. “Remove the rest, or I’ll start taking fingers.”

  “Fine, fine,” Saul muttered. The demons released him, drew their swords and stood between him and the exit. There was another door behind Saul, but he could tell by the moans and screaming he didn’t want to go that way. Of course, that was very likely where he was going to end up.

  He flipped the latches on his armor to emphasize how easy it was. As soon as he removed a piece, a guard grabbed it and tossed it into a pile at the side of the room. He stood before them naked, though this was not an uncomfortable state for a satyr. Still, he wished to have something between their blades and his skin.

  One of the guards opened the door behind Saul. There was a soothing wave of cold, and the light was even dimmer than it was in the guards’ chamber. The wails and moaning were louder, though now he felt it sounded more like cries of hopeless desperation than torture. That was a relief, because Saul felt prepared to deal with hopelessness and despair. He had never been tortured but imagined it to be one of his weak spots.

  He turned to face the two guards that stood between him and the exit. Both had swords drawn with tips pointing at him.

  “Look, guys, I’m grateful for the accommodation but I already have a place to stay. Do you know the Goj family? I’m dating their daughter.”

  “Not anymore.”

  There was no smile, no banter. Just a cold stare. They weren’t killing him, at least, though Saul wasn’t confident they’d bother to feed him. He bit his tongue and marched through the door. He might as well get a good look at the layout, so he could plan an escape.

  A single hallway lined with cells. Walls were stone and the doors were solid metal. Each had a large ring for a door-handle and a sliding plate for viewing. Next to each door, inset in the wall, was a brass mechanism, a three-by-three grid containing nine small pressure plates. A combination lock, probably.

  As the guards stopped Saul in front of one of the doors, he kept the corner of his eye focused on the pressure plates. Though the guard obscured the view of the combination with his free hand, he had pronounced flexor tendons which bobbed as he entered the code. Saul watched carefully to determine which finger was moving, and which way, with each click.

  Saul braced himself to be shoved inside and caught a glimpse as stray light from the guards’ chamber entered the dark cell. Inside stood an elf, gaunt and gray, his wrists and ankles clapped in manacles and strung to the wall. Saul wasn’t convinced he was alive.

  Saul was pushed against another wall, nearer the door. His captors clapped him in chains. One, two, three, four, they snapped shut around each of his wrists and ankles.

  In the few seconds he had to look at the manacles before the door closed and enveloped him in darkness, he saw no sign of a lock. That was discouraging, because it seemed to imply there was no intention of releasing him. Why bother to lock him up at all, if they would never let him go? Why not just remove his head and be done with it?

  He was glad they didn’t go the more sensible route, of course, but it was frustrating to be imprisoned by idiots.

  This made escape even more urgent. If he was going to die, he wanted it to be done at the hands of someone more competent.

  ***

  “Just jump!” Kyla stamped her foot on the ship’s deck. Zen was being especially stubborn.

  “I can’t make it from here!” Zen was pale and looked like he might vomit. They had no time to waste, though – who knew when another boat or patrol might spot them?

  “I know! Just dive out and reach as far as you can. Herleif will freeze you before you hit the magma, and hopefully I’ll be able to reach you.”

  “Are you sure you’re strong enough to lift me?”

  “Well – no. Hey, Herleif, could you unfreeze this ogre?”

  Herleif’s eyes scanning the bulging body of the ogre, frozen on his back. Laying down his belly was as high as Kyla’s chest, and he looked as though he had been caught in mid-breath.

  “You sure?” the gray elf asked.

  “Yeah. I mean, we already said we’d need to interrogate one. Might as well be him. I’m pretty sure he’ll be able to grab you guys onto the boat, too.”

  “You’re nuts!” Zen stepped away from the edge of the protruding rock. “That thing’ll eat you as soon as he wakes up.”

  Kyla looked at the ogre’s face. “He’s already awake. Just frozen. Anyway, he’s an ogre. Can’t be that hard to trick him into helping us.”

  Zen shrugged. “Maybe. But if it doesn’t work, he’ll kill you. Bit of a risk.”

  “Herleif would just freeze him again. Duh.”

  “Don’t count on it.” Herleif frowned as he said it, but he had to be joking.

  Herleif waved his hand and the ogre finished inhaling. He sat up and offered Kyla a mean glare.

  “Who you?”

  “My name’s Kyla. I need your help.”

  “Why me help you? Cap’n! Cap’n! Who dis?”

  “The Captain is stuck. So are your other friends. Frozen like statues.”

  “Why dey stuck? Did you do dat?”

  “No, I didn’t. But I know how to fix them.”

  “Oh yes! You fix dem! Please fix dem.”

  “Oh, I will! But do you see my two friends at the side of the river? I need their help. But they’re too far to get on the boat. If they jump, can you reach far enough to catch them?”

  “I’m not trusting him to catch me!” shouted Zen.

  The ogre clapped his hands. “I can catch dem. I can. But I fink dey can’t jump so far because elves is so weak. Did you jump here?”

  “No, I flew, with this.” She held up her folded glider.

  “Oh! Can I fly too?”

  “Well, it’s not big enough for an ogre. But it’s big enough for an elf.”

  “Oh! Maybe I can frow dat to dem and dey can fly.”

  “Maybe you can! You’re so smart. I don’t think it’ll fly very well, though. It might land in the river.”

  “I put in da box.” The ogre walked to the back of the boat and turned a metal bin upside down, pouring what looked to be rough ore on the deck. “Put in here. I frow da box bery far.”

  Kyla hesitated. The glider was fragile, and she wasn’t confident in the ogre’s competence. He grinned at her and held the bin closer. She sighed and dropped it in. “Just be careful. Throw it hard enough to land on the ledge, but not so hard you break it.”

  “I can frow.” The ogre, holding the bin with both hands, twisted his torso and launched it toward Zen, who stepped out of the way. The metal clanged against the rock far more gently than Kyla expected.

  “Nice work!” Kyla gave the ogre a friendly pat on the elbow. “Good job.”

  “Fank you. I do good job.”

  “You sure do. Okay, Zen, did you see how I did it? Wrap your shoulders through the loops. Pull that string to spread the wings. Yup. You got it.”

  Zen turned to Herleif. “You’ll still freeze me before I hit the magma, right?”

  Herleif shrugged.

  “Of course he will!” she called. “Don’t be such a chipmunk.”

  Zen spent a minute building his courage, extending the wings and preparing to jump before backing away. Herleif paced with his arms crossed, grumbling, and eventually shoved Zen with his foot. Zen lowered his legs too soon, dropping him toward the magma. He froze mid-air with his feet only inches away. The toes of his shoes began to smoulder.

  “Uh-oh. Can you reach him?” Kyla asked the ogre.

  “Oh, yes. My arms is bery big.” The o
gre reached out and grabbed Zen by the front of his shirt, pulling him onto the deck. He toppled, still frozen.

  The ogre gasped. “Your friend is broken, too!”

  “Oh, crab-apples.” Kyla snapped her fingers, trying to feign disappointment. “Now we’ll have to fix him, too. I’ll get the glider off and we’ll toss it back to my other friend, okay?”

  “Okay. I hope your other friend no get stuck.”

  “Me too. Ready, Herleif?”

  Another bin, and another perfect toss, and Herleif was soon decked in the glider. He made his leap with more confidence than Zen had, and sailed gracefully to the boat. He touched down on the deck, needing only a few steps to stop. Kyla had to applaud. He slid the wings from his shoulders, folded the glider, and handed it back to Kyla.

  “You’ve done this before?” she asked.

  “No. I’ll take the rudder. You deal with the ogre.”

  “Don’t forget to unfreeze Zen.”

  Herleif gestured at the ogre with his head. “Can’t now, or he’ll expect me to fix the others as well.”

  “He doesn’t even know you did it.”

  The ogre was looking at them back and forth. He was adorable, in his way. Like a big ugly puppy.

  Herleif sighed and Zen started moving.

  “You fix him!” the ogre gasped. “Now you fix friends?”

  “We’re working on it!” Kyla assured the ogre. “They might take some time. Demons aren’t as easy to fix as elves.”

  “Yeah, not so easy,” the ogre agreed.

  “But you can help us work faster by telling us when we’re coming up to military checkpoints, okay?”

  The ogre nodded, but his vapid eyes told her he didn’t understand.

  “If there are going to be more demons ahead, you have to tell us before we can see them, okay?” She hoped he had at least that much competence.

  He nodded. “Yes. I will tell you dat.”

  The boat lurched forward as Herleif took the arm of the rudder. Zen, who was just standing up, lost his balance and fell into her.

  As far as collisions went, it was pretty pleasant.

  ***