Zelia's Lost Path

by Zora Marie

  “Where is Skylar?” Alrindel asked as he cleared the side of the boat, giving the knots of the villagers a glancing inspection.

  “With Nikolas. He’s not doing so well. He wasn’t just seasick.”

  Zelia had Alrindel’s full attention.

  “Take me to them. Saria!” he called over his shoulder.

  “Yeah?”

  “Nikolas needs us.” He waved her to follow. She whispered something to Kafthry and grabbed her pack, then bounded off the ship.

  Zelia nearly ran into Stron as she turned around.

  “These your healers?”

  She nodded and Stron spun on his heels.

  “Out of the way! Ya can ask them questions later.”

  A horn blew behind them, sounding from the edge of their ship. Zelia glimpsed Dotch gathering people’s attention with Vainoff at his side, while Stron led the healers into the village.

  Stron opened the door to his home and gestured for them to enter. “I best get back as people will be looking for me. If you need anything, send this one,” he gestured to Zelia, “to get me.”

  “Thank you, Stron,” Linithion said as Alrindel and Saria continued inside without pause.

  “Eh, you’d do the same.”

  Zelia and Linithion entered the house, pulling the door closed behind them. Nikolas lay on the floor, the blanket tucked around him, and a damp lump of wool piled on his forehead. He was unresponsive as Alrindel and Saria checked him over.

  “Would one of you warm up some water please?” Saria asked as she rummaged through her bag.

  Skylar swung the pot that hung over the fire out and scooped up some water with a hollow horn.

  “Here.”

  Skylar held the horn as Saria sprinkled herbs into the water and then tied her leather pouch closed. They watched over Nicolas anxiously while they waited for the herbal mixture to steep. With the horn in one hand, she lifted Nikolas’ head and forced him to drink the herb infused water.

  “He’ll need meat when he wakes up, but this should help keep him stable and in his human form for a while,” Saria said.

  “I’ll go get him something to eat, but we need to decide who will stay with him while the rest of us dine with the villagers and answer their questions,” Zelia said.

  “I’ll stay with him, he’s not the first wolfblood I’ve helped,” Saria said.

  ~

  People had packed the dining hall by the time they arrived. The villagers had called for an early dinner. They were curious about these newcomers. Dotch sat at the head of the table with Fifthry at his right hand. Vainoff and Kafthry were seated to his left when Zelia and Linithion entered.

  “I’ll take food for Nikolas and bring the others here. You go sit,” Linithion whispered before heading for the fire where the food was prepared.

  Zelia sat across from Dotch, and he slid a plate of food across to her.

  “How is he?” Dotch asked.

  “Saria will make sure he recovers. I’m sorry about the scene we’ve made, none of us knew he was in such terrible shape.”

  “No one was hurt, and that is all that matters. Besides, he can’t be any worse than some of our dragons.”

  “Gulepia torches one person and you just can’t let it go, can you?” Fifthry said.

  “Well, if Zelia could die we would be having a different conversation now, wouldn’t we?” Dotch said.

  “She can die,” Vainoff said it loud enough the entire table heard. “The blood magic Xander is using could kill her and Rogath, that is the other reason we are here.”

  Zelia could feel the gazes of everyone at the table, and she was reluctant to meet them.

  “You mean, temporarily where she’s just trapped again, right?” Kafthry asked.

  “No, as in there is no coming back for either of them.”

  “Please don’t look at me that way, death is natural and what I am is not. The fact that I’m caught up in all of this is not why we are here. We are here to save everyone in Mineria and Hyperia, because breaking down the gateway to Fregnar’s realm and releasing the dead would be chaos. It would throw generations of Elves, and the races of men, into war against the dead.”

  When she finished, she realized the entire dining hall had grown silent and the rest of her group stood in the entry to the dining hall.

  “And that is why both Skylar and I are going to Hyperia to speak with Yargo,” Linithion said.

  Zelia looked to Vainoff for his objection, but he pursed his lips, as though holding his tongue for later. She sighed, she didn’t want to argue with Linithion over this, but if Vainoff couldn’t convince her, she would have to try.

  Linithion strode across the dining hall and sat beside Zelia. “Have you figured out where we are going from here?” Linithion asked.

  “No, but we have what I believe is a star map,” Zelia said.

  “You make star maps?” Linithion asked, her question directed to Dotch.

  “Apparently, that’s what my Grandfather was making. We’ll show you after dinner.”

  “We were hoping you could decipher it,” Zelia said. “That’s something I didn’t learn before…”

  Linithion gave her hand a comforting squeeze.

  When she looked back at the table, the others had joined them. As she glanced around at everyone, she noticed Johnol staring at Linithion.

  “Johnol, is something the matter?” Zelia asked, causing him to blush and look away.

  “I think he liked you,” Linithion whispered in her ear.

  Zelia furrowed her brow. She hadn’t thought of him that way but looking back perhaps he had. If she were honest, she hadn’t thought of anyone that way. Well, not until Linithion. The thought startled her, but she shied away from admitting, even to herself, how much the princess meant to her.

  “Perhaps we should all return to eating. We can discuss things further once Linithion has examined the map.”

  Dotch nodded his agreement and raised his mead horn. “To friends, new and old alike.”

  A wave of cheer rang out from their table like a ripple in a pond, and the chatter she remembered from her first visit returned.

  ~

  After the meal, people drifted to the firepit on the shore. It was a ritual for the chief to light the flames, but tonight the crowd murmured for Zelia to light it with her powers.

  “Zelia,” Vainoff warned as they made their way through the crowd.

  “I know.”

  Dotch stopped at the edge of the firepit, and Zelia grabbed his hand before he could raise it to silence the crowd.

  “I can’t use my powers, so don’t even think about it.”

  Dotch’s brow furrowed.

  “Your people would be in danger if the wizards knew where we are. If they insist on one of us doing it, have me do it as a royal visitor or Vainoff. He has powers, though they are not the same as Zelia’s.”

  Dotch nodded his understanding, and Zelia stepped to the side. The crowd grew silent as Dotch raised his hand.

  “I have heard your wishes, but Zelia will not be lighting the fire tonight. Instead, I ask Vainoff to light the flames.”

  Zelia studied the subtle surprise on Vainoff’s features, but he nodded and stepped forward, allowing Dotch to whisper something to him. Whatever Dotch said turned Vainoff’s surprise into a spark of joy.

  Vainoff turned to the crowd and announced loud enough for all to hear, “I am, or would be honored to light the fire, but first, would everyone take a step back?”

  The front of the crowd shifted back a pace, and though there was plenty of room behind those in the back, they seemed reluctant to move back any further. Vainoff turned to the pit. Zelia couldn’t make out the words he muttered, but a flame swirled around the stone in his wooden staff. The flame grew bright, and he plunged the end into the kindling, ignit
ing the entire pile at once. As the flames shot into the sky, they took the shape Dotch’s dragon, Stardust, and just before the flame could fizzle out, it shot off white sparks that shimmered like stars.

  As the cheers settled, the usual music and dancing began. Zelia stepped closer to Linithion as someone brushed past.

  “I’m going to check on Nikolas,” Zelia said.

  “I’ll go with you. Then we can look at the map afterwards.”

  Zelia nodded and began the challenge of weaving between dancing groups of villagers. At one point, Linithion nudged her and pointed to Skylar as a village woman dragged him into a dance, refusing to take no for an answer. With a giggle, Linithion dragged Zelia into the line of dancers. Zelia wasn’t fond of dancing, but after a moment, she realized what Linithion was doing. As they circled around the outer edges of the ring, Linithion hooked her other arm in Skylar’s and the three of them broke away from the ring of dancers.

  The woman who had dragged him in stared at him over her shoulder as someone else took his place, and he gave her a sheepish smile.

  “Come on, lover boy,” Linithion quipped and spun on her heels.

  “Thanks for the save.”

  “You’re welcome, now let’s go check on Nikolas and get a look at that map.”

  “Why are you in such a hurry?” Zelia asked.

  Linithion stopped at the edge of the village and raised her head to the stars.

  “It’s just, the sooner we talk to Yargo, the sooner all of this will be over.”

  “What’s really bothering you?”

  Skylar seemed to sense this was between the two of them and continued towards the hut.

  “I... I brushed Johnol’s hand in the ring and…” there was a worried glimmer in her eyes as she turned to Zelia, “he’s jealous of me, of us. But that’s not all. Some of the villagers fear what danger we might bring with us, and rightfully so. There is just so much at stake with all of this and we have no idea how long we have before Xander makes his next move.”

  Zelia chewed on the inside of her lip as she glanced away, searching for the right words to say.

  “I understand. You’re not the only one who worries.” She thought back to what Linithion had said in the dining hall. “But please don’t go with Skylar to see Yargo. I just… something horrible will happen if you do. I don’t know what, I just feel it. Just like the day we traveled to the Darkan Mountains. Please, don’t leave me.”

  Linithion’s hands were warm as she took Zelia’s and her breath tickled as it brushed against her face. “I feel the danger too, but there is more risk if I do not go.”

  Zelia pulled Linithion into a hug as she bit back her worry and tears. “Just promise me you’ll come back to me and I’ll promise to do the same.”

  Part of Zelia couldn’t believe what she was saying, couldn’t believe how close they had become.

  “I promise.” Linithion hugged her back. “Now, let’s go check on Nikolas and get out of this wind.”

  The warmth of the fire hit them as they stepped into the hut and out of the wind. Nikolas was up, and sitting by the fire, huddled under a pile of blankets. Zelia noted that his color had returned, and though he shivered, he was no longer dripping in sweat.

  “He’ll be fine, he just needs some time to recover and will have to shift for a while at some point,” Saria said.

  “And put some weight back on. I’ve never seen you so thin,” Skylar joked, though there was a thread of worry in his tone.

  Nikolas muttered something to himself, then waved a hand at her and Linithion. “I’ll be fine. Go look at that map, the faster we leave the less time I have to worry about being skewered by an old lady.”

  “Alright, just get to feeling better,” Linithion said and led Zelia back out into the winter air. “Now lead the way.”

  Zelia sighed and turned down the row of huts, returning to the older structures, where the Chief’s home was. Fifthry sat in the wool covered chair by the hearth when they entered.

  “I thought you two might come back here when I noticed you’d gone,” Fifthry said with an edge to her tone that set Zelia back.

  “I wanted to see the map, everything we do from here rests on what we can learn from it,” Linithion said.

  Fifthry didn’t seem convinced as she continued to stare at Zelia.

  “You know I’ve never cared for the evening ceremony,” Zelia said, “but that isn’t why you’re here.”

  There was a moment where Fifthry glanced between the two of them, seeming to judge their relationship.

  “I’m just concerned for my people. Dotch won’t say anything, but you can’t stay long, or we will be rationing food by the end of the winter and you can imagine how dragons will take to that.”

  “Then the sooner we figure this out, the better. Is this it?” Linithion gestured to a yellowed piece of folded parchment and seeing Fifthry nod, she unfolded it. She spread it flat on the wool rug by the fire and knelt on the floor as she traced the constellations.

  Zelia joined Linithion on the floor and watched her decipher the poorly drawn map.

  “This is where we are and I think this,” she pointed to a faded area that appeared to be an island on the edge of the map, “is where we need to go. It says something about there being magic on the island. He must have been running out of parchment to add on as the constellations leading up to the island are smooshed and deformed.”

  Zelia leaned closer to Linithion as she deciphered the map, trying to guess if she had visited the island before.

  “Here, this is North,” Linithion pointed away from them, towards the fire and the island she’d pointed at was in the far-left corner.

  “I think that might be Fairy Island, which would explain it mentioning magic.”

  “Well, maybe we should talk to them. They might know something about a portal.”

  “We can take you there tomorrow,” Fifthry said. “With the faster dragons it is only half a day’s ride if the wind is in our favor.”

  “What about Orvi?” Linithion asked. “Where is she now?”

  “She went with Raven. She’ll keep an eye on her. As for tomorrow, I’m not sure as she’s not ready for that kind of flight. If she is willing, maybe Johnol and Seabloom can keep her company. Johnol has been acting a little weird since you got here.”

  Zelia glanced up to see that Fifthry was looking at Linithion instead of her, and her thoughts turned to Orvi and Raven.

  “Alright, then we’ll head for Fairy Island in the morning. We should go let Vainoff know,” Linithion said.

  “You go ahead. I need to go talk with Raven.”

  “Want me to come?” Linithion asked.

  Zelia was about to turn down her offer when Fifthry stood. “Why don’t you two go deal with your dragons and I’ll let the rest of your people know what’s going on.”

  Linithion nodded her thanks as she pulled Zelia to her feet. “Any idea where they are?”

  “Raven, Linithion wants to see Orvi. And, can we talk? Please?”

  “We’re on the edge of the village,” Raven said.

  “They’re not far.”

  Zelia pulled her cloak tight around herself as she followed Fifthry outside and turned away from the shore. She followed the line of houses until the street opened up to a snow-covered field. There was a large spot around the base of a tree where the dragons had melted the snow away and that’s where they, their breath steaming in the night air. The villagers had built a wall around the north side as a windbreaker and Orvi sat closest to it. Most of the dragons around the circle slept, but Raven and Stardust sat talking with Orvi.

  “I’ll be here if you need me,” Linithion said and passed Raven on her way to see Orvi.

  The wind bent around the wind break and Zelia shivered as she stopped in front of Raven.

  “I understand why y
ou left.”

  “Still, I’m sorry for leaving you like I did. I didn’t realize we were bonded.”

  “We’re not. Not fully, anyway.”

  “How? What does that mean?”

  “It means you didn’t accept the bond when it happened. But I knew when I first met you that you wouldn’t be able to. You were too broken. But you’re healing, I can feel it. And she,” Raven looked at Linithion cuddling Orvi over her shoulder, “is a part of that.”

  Zelia watched Linithion scratch at the last of Orvi’s loose scales and couldn’t think of what else to say.

  “Raven. I want you to come with me. For Orvi, if not for me.”

  “That right there is why our bond is still incomplete. You underestimate your own worth.”

  “I’m sorry, I just—”

  “Zelia. I know why. I feel the ache in your heart, how your mind tears you apart. It’s time to let all of that go. You need to accept where you are and where you have been so you can move forward. If you do that, for me, I will come with you.”

  She nodded, though she wasn’t sure how to do what Raven asked. The pain, the suffering, it seemed to be a part of her and she wasn’t sure how to let it go.

  “Now, the two of you should go get some rest. I hear that we have a long ride ahead of us tomorrow.”

  Raven nudged her as Orvi did the same to Linithion.

  “Sleep well, Zelia,” Raven said.

  29

  Zelia stirred as the embers of the fire that warmed their room crackled. Starlight still shone through the window, though she knew morning wasn’t far. Linithion breathed softly. The tension from their journey was gone from her face, and her Elven features glowed in the starlight.

  “Is it time?” Linithion asked, her eyes still closed.

  “Not yet, but it will be soon.”

  Zelia rolled from under the wool blankets and shivered as she dropped another log in the fireplace. She snuggled back under the blankets before the chill of the night could bite at her and Linithion rolled to her side, her green eyes studying Zelia.

  “You have an elven soul, if not the body,” Linithion said.

  Zelia pulled away, taken aback by the statement.