Zelia's Lost Path

by Zora Marie

  “Let us fight for you for a change.”

  Linithion’s father, Erolith, slid from his horse and gave her a boost before hopping on in front of her.

  “How did you know?”

  “Scouts.”

  He rode until they caught up with Alrindel and Orvi.

  “So, would one of you like to tell me what happened?”

  Zelia dismounted to walk with Orvi, but she faltered and sank down in the snow, her body tired of the constant abuse and screaming for rest.

  “You’re as stubborn as your mother,” Erolith muttered the words, but Zelia stared up at him. “You still don’t know? Skylar’s grandfather had a sister, she’s the one who bore you. We may have created you, but you didn’t just appear from thin air.”

  “What happened to her? Why have I never heard of her before?”

  Erolith’s expression saddened. “I’ll tell you about her on the way home.”

  20

  Erolith jumped down from his horse, letting him pick his own way back as he helped Zelia to her feet. Alrindel and Orvi had stepped to the side of the path to let the riders pass.

  “Before you were born, there were eleven Wizards of the Guild so there would always be someone to break a tie. Your mother, Starfer, volunteered to bear you. We tried to convince her to let us find someone else, but she insisted it be her saying her relation to Yargo would protect her. She was Skylar’s great aunt, a granddaughter of Yargo.

  “Starfer was a fierce warrior till her last breath. She refused to stand by during the Old War, even though she was pregnant with you.” There was a catch in his voice, and he swallowed hard. “We didn’t know you were weakening her, absorbing her power. A Wizard of the Guild had never been pregnant before. She was attacked, and her magic couldn’t protect her. Eleanor and I were too slow to get to her. She stayed with us long enough for us to bring you into the world, but she never even got to hold you.”

  They continued in silence for a while before he added, “You look so much like her.”

  “Alrindel.”

  “Hm?”

  “Did you know?”

  “No, not until…”

  He stopped and stared at her, his expression solemn.

  “Until?”

  “That day on the mountain… I snuck out and followed you all. I… I saw.”

  “It was your scream I heard mix with mine?”

  “I had to stop him from running into the explosion to save you,” Erolith said.

  “I figured out why Eadon adopted you not long after.”

  “Why did Eadon take me in?”

  “Vainoff, Eleanor, and I wanted you to grow up in a loving home in hopes you would flourish. We knew Eadon and Eleanor would love you unconditionally. After what happened to Starfer, we knew Eleanor could never risk bearing a child. So even if she and Eadon were to get together they could never safely have children. Besides, it was obvious Eadon would not be able to resist teaching you as much as he could, he had already begun proving that with Alrindel.” Erolith smiled at the thought.

  Zelia caught something moving in the trees above them and stopped. Erolith followed her gaze, then pinched the bridge of his nose.

  “Linithion, I thought I told you to stay within the walls,” Erolith said.

  Linithion jumped down, the snow crunching under her feet.

  “I believe I also asked you to stay inside the walls,” Zelia added.

  “Actually, you asked me to help my father and find Multly, which I did,” she gave Zelia a mischievous grin and turned to Erolith. “I know you asked me to stay within the walls, but Vainoff snuck out sometime this morning and did not tell anyone where he was going.”

  Erolith sighed. “I’m sure he has a good reason. Come on, we will be back home soon enough.”

  They walked for a few minutes before Zelia and Linithion ended up a little way ahead of Erolith and Alrindel.

  “So, who’s this?” Linithion asked, walking beside Orvi.

  “Kniteoff’s daughter, Orvi. For better or worse, she’s in my care now.”

  “You’ll do fine taking care of her, besides, it’s not like you’re alone.” Linithion hooked her arm with Zelia’s and leaned against her. “We’ll make sure she gets the best of care together.”

  Zelia forced a sad smile and Linithion intertwined her fingers with Zelia’s.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “I just, I don’t want to hurt you. Besides, you know we can’t be together.”

  “Let me worry about Father.”

  “You know it’s not just that, Linithion.”

  “I know, but I want to enjoy the time we do have.”

  Zelia glanced back at Erolith and sighed. Telling him would only make Linithion more determined and maybe even make her resent him, which isn’t what she wanted. But that dream, she couldn’t let that happen, she couldn’t lose her. Then again, she hadn’t seen the dream since the one time, so maybe it wasn’t meant to come to pass anymore.

  “So, what happened? Why are you back so soon without the others?”

  “The Guild happened. I’ll explain when we get back.”

  The path curved around a large tree, and the wall of Drakeon came into view.

  “Please tell me that’s it.” The baby dragon’s thoughts sounded exhausted.

  “It is, but we need to go a little further than the front gate if you want dinner.”

  “Zelia?” Linithion sounded confused.

  “Orvi,” she nodded to the little dragon following close behind. “She’s tired.”

  Linithion giggled and walked shoulder to shoulder with Zelia, “As I’m sure you all are. If you want, you can go lie down and I’ll bring you food.”

  “If I lie down first, I won’t be eating. I should try to eat first.”

  “Fair enough. What about you, Orvi?”

  “I’ll take you up on that so long as there is a warm fire for me to curl up in.”

  Zelia translated for Linithion.

  “In?” Linithion raised a brow.

  “She hatched in the forge.”

  “Okay… I’ll uh, I think the fireplace in the room we set up for you is large enough.”

  “Orvi, just remember to warm up slowly after being out here for so long.”

  “Fine.” Orvi huffed.

  Linithion stopped in front of a stone building that stood by itself, away from the others, and opened the door.

  “You’ll stay here. I’ll bring you something to eat soon.”

  Orvi plopped down by the fire, her nose almost touching the flames.

  “Slowly,” Zelia reminded as she and Linithion closed the door and continued toward the dining hall.

  “I take it Orvi has given up?” Alrindel asked.

  “You could say that.”

  “Just as well, I didn’t have time to warn everyone that you were coming back with a baby dragon.” Erolith glanced at her and Linithion as they held hands, but didn’t say anything as he continued into the dining hall.

  There was an awkward silence as Zelia and Linithion sat to the left of him. Two Elves brought them all hot bowls of vegetable soup, and Zelia warmed her fingers against the bowl.

  “I had hoped Vainoff and Multly would be here, but—”

  “What’s this about me?” Vainoff walked in through the door and took his seat to the right of Erolith.

  “Where have you been?” Erolith asked.

  “Do you not remember what today is? I always do something in remembrance.”

  “Forgive me, I forgot that was today.”

  “What was?” Zelia asked.

  “She knows,” Erolith said.

  “Your mother died on this day.”

  Zelia wished she could feel some of their sadness, but thinking about it just left her hollow. She had never w
ondered where she had come from until the wizards forced her powers to emerge. Even then she had decided that perhaps she didn’t want to know, but now she wasn’t sure.

  “I loved your mother. She’s the one who introduced me to Eleanor. Without her, I would not be here.”

  Zelia nodded and stirred her soup.

  “That’s a lot to take in. I just can’t focus on the dead anymore. I need to focus on the lives that are at stake.” Her stomach growled, but she still set her spoon down. “What do you know about the origins of the Darkans?”

  Erolith and Vainoff stared at one another as if silently debating who would speak.

  “Eat, I’ll have the scrolls brought to you,” Erolith said.

  “Why won’t you just tell me?” She stared at him and he nodded towards her food, his stern demeanor making it obvious he had no intention of answering. She ate a spoonful and shivered as the soup warmed her, though it was almost too warm as her core was still cold from using her powers.

  “So, what happened?” Erolith prompted.

  “One of the elder wizards is dead. I’m not sure who, as Kniteoff killed him. Kniteoff’s last wish was for us to protect his daughter from them. Have you found a way to keep them from using me? I can’t fight their spell. They used me to kill Kniteoff. Whatever you did made it so they have to get near me, but if I can kill him like that, no one is safe.”

  “We found one way, but…” Vainoff trailed off.

  “It is not an option, though we have added wards to your bed chambers, so you may at least rest easy.”

  “Erolith, I was in another realm when they did that to me the first time… I almost killed Yargo and Zivu. Rogath hates me because of what I did.”

  Linithion squeezed her hand. “One day he’ll understand. Try not to let his feelings for you bleed into your own.”

  “You don’t understand, I think they are…” she struggled for a way to describe it, “I think his emotions are caused by the wizards trying to gain control of him.”

  “We will look into that possibility. For now,” Erolith glanced down at her fingers, where the cracks had almost vanished, “you need to rest.”

  She rubbed the backs of Linithion’s delicate fingers, then picked up her spoon.

  “You may not have Rogath, but you have all of us,” Alrindel reminded.

  “And how lost I would be without all of you.”

  She glanced around at them all and managed a smile.

  “Now eat your food before it grows cold.”

  “First, where is Multly?”

  “He’s probably in the woods somewhere talking to the animals. Why?” Vainoff asked.

  “Just wondering.”

  She continued eating her bowl of soup, finishing it as an Elf with his hair pulled back in a long plait came to Erolith’s side and bowed.

  “The Darkans at our border have been taken care of with only minor casualties which are being tended to now. The guard on the southern border has also been increased and scouts have been sent to ensure the others return safely.”

  “Thank you, make sure everyone enjoys a well-earned dinner.”

  “I shall.” The Elf bowed his head and rejoined his warriors at another table.

  “I’m going to grab something for Orvi and go lie down.”

  Zelia stood stiffly, after sitting still for the first time in a day. As she straightened, her muscles pulled on her broken rib and she held her side, pushing against the soreness that tormented her.

  “Have a healer look at your ribs, when you are ready.”

  “Father, may I stay with Zelia this evening? I believe Alrindel may have more to report on his own.”

  Erolith stared at Linithion for a moment and glanced at her hand as it sat on the table next to where Zelia’s hand had been.

  “Yes, but then I need to speak with both of you separately,” Erolith’s tone was almost a warning and Zelia gave a slight nod.

  Linithion stood and pushed her chair in. “You go ahead, I’ll get food for Orvi. Just meat, right?”

  Zelia was too tired to argue. She nodded then made her way across the now crowded dining hall and into the cool winter air. She took a shallow breath and walked the paths back to the stone building that sat off to itself. Orvi was curled up in the flames of the fire, her nose sticking out the tiniest bit. There was a clean set of clothes on the bed and she debated if it was worth the pain to change. With a sigh, she gingerly pulled her shirt over her head and washed her face in the water basin. Her side was black and blue, and there was a bump where one of her ribs stuck out a bit.

  The door opened, and she held the clean tunic to her front as the icy air hit her.

  “Orvi,” Linithion said and tossed the hunk of meat she had carried into the fire.

  “Thank you!” Orvi’s voice bounced in Zelia’s head.

  “She says thank you.”

  “You should get that popped back in place.”

  “Not yet, it’s too brittle right now.”

  “At least let me wrap it so it doesn’t move more, then.”

  Linithion fished a bandage from the bottom of a drawer and wrapped it snuggly around Zelia’s chest, then helped her into the silky tunic.

  “Good, now come on.”

  Linithion led her by the hand to the soft bed and soon all she could think about was Linithion’s soft humming.

  21

  Zelia woke first, and couldn’t help but think of what the future held for them as she lay there listening to Linithion’s heartbeat.

  “How long have you been awake?” Linithion asked.

  “Awhile.”

  “What’s on your mind?”

  “Everything, mainly what’s coming.”

  “Have you had any dreams?”

  “No, even if I did, I’m starting to think the wizards used my dreams to manipulate me. They can control my powers, what’s to stop them from playing with my dreams?”

  “I can ask father about a block for you.”

  Zelia shook her head. “I don’t want to close the door on Rogath. That would truly be leaving him to the wizards.”

  Linithion shifted, pulling Zelia into a hug, and her soft lips pressed against her forehead.

  “We’ll sort all this out.”

  Linithion’s warmth soothed her and her worries washed away. Some small voice in the back of her mind warned that she shouldn’t get this close, but she needed this even if only for a little while.

  There was a draft of chilly air, and someone cleared their throat. “Glad to see you’re both awake,” Erolith’s voice was devoid of the usual elvish cheer.

  Zelia pushed herself up, away from Linithion.

  “Linithion, would you take Orvi to find something for breakfast?”

  Linithion ran up and hugged Erolith, which seemed to surprise him as it took him a moment to return her gesture.

  “Please be nice,” Linithion said.

  Erolith swept her hair behind her ear. “Go on.”

  Linithion’s shoulders dropped as she called Orvi to follow her. Orvi stretched, half in, half out of the fire.

  “Zelia? Father told me not to trust the Elves. They betray their own.”

  “Linithion is not like the others, her presence will protect you here.”

  “Alright.”

  Orvi stepped from the fireplace and followed Linithion out to the path cleared in the snow. Erolith closed the door and watched them through the window.

  “She is falling in love with you, but you can never be together. Do you know why?”

  “She’ll never be safe with me and she would never bear children, forever ending your family’s line.”

  She no longer watched him, but she could feel his gaze had turned to her.

  “I do not want you to think I am suggesting you should do anything rash. You
may be adopted, but you are my kin and I only want what is best for both of you.”

  “Erolith,” she paused, debating if now was not the time to ask and to reveal what she had learned.

  “Yes?”

  “You seemed to have known something at dinner last night… I understand you wanting me to read the scrolls myself, but there isn’t time. The Darkans are dying, that’s why they are helping the wizards. They believe the power from Yargo and Zivu’s deaths can make one of the sunless realms habitable for them. Can that be done?”

  Erolith fidgeted and then paced the room. She had never seen him do that before and it concerned her.

  “I suppose it could be possible if it weren’t for the fact that Xander would want to use Yargo’s powers to bring back Athren.”

  “Athren? Why do I know that name?”

  “She was a Wizard of the Guild. If Xander is going after Yargo’s power, it is not for the Darkans.”

  “Is he just using the Darkans as he has me? And why do the others go along with him? He has been sending them to their deaths.”

  “He may have promised to bring them back, and he has always been adept at swaying minds. It does not surprise me that he has tried to use you to access Rogath’s mind.”

  “Using me?”

  “If they are manipulating him, they are using your connection to get to him. He’s too far away otherwise.”

  “But Rogath is blocking me. All I feel from him now is his hatred of me and I don’t blame him.”

  “You may not blame him, but you cannot accept his hatred as your own, or even his. We have all done things we are not proud of, but we have to grow from them, not close ourselves off because of a wrongdoing. Now, are you ready for me to pop that rib back into place?”

  She shrugged. “I guess.”

  He did what was needed and looked at her sternly.

  “Try not to move too much for a few days or it will pop back out.”

  She nodded, and another thought crossed her mind. “Do you think Xander could be influencing my dreams? I’ve had dreams like Eleanor, but they’ve been more frequent since Yargo freed me. Sometimes I wonder if I’m not playing into his hand, he wanted Kniteoff to die, and he used me to do it.”