The village Elder thought on Vienda’s words before nodding with reluctance. “Perhaps you are right,” he offered before returning to his focus. “But any lives saved would still be offered in payment for that seed. In the end, despite any protest I may have, the survival of that seed is paramount.”
“Above even your own life?” asked Vienda.
Talcoros nodded. “Especially my own life,” he replied.
“I can never forgive you for what you have let transpire today,” said Vienda.
“Nor can I,” uttered Talcoros.
As silence threatened to prevail again, Kaysa spoke once more. “What are they doing to our home?” she asked.
Talcoros sighed. “You have seen the world outside of our forests, Kaysa. You know the truth. Our land, what remains of it, is a treasure trove for outsiders. It holds a worth beyond any riches of gold or silver. Everything will be taken until our home shares the same fate as the rest of the world, for this is the world without Tharador.”
“Then hope has been extinguished,” whispered Vienda.
Talcoros shook his head as he pointed to Kaysa. “Not while that seed still lives. We must ensure its survival at all costs. For only with it can we hopefully see the end of these dark days.”
Going to his chosen, Khey took her hands and kissed her softly before speaking. “Then what must we do? What is our destination now?”
“I do not know,” stated Talcoros.
Lokus looked up from Kaysa. “What do you mean that you do not know?”
“I simply do not know anymore,” replied Talcoros firmly. “I have not seen the world outside of our borders in some time. I have no idea what aid would remain to us, or if we would receive it. For all I know we are very much alone in our plight. The only thing that I do know is that we must be free of this place. And that is all I can state with any type of certainty.”
“So we are venturing forth blind then,” said Vienda, still shaking with her anger.
“Yes,” said Talcoros. “The only light left is Tharador’s seed.”
Vienda wished to rush at the Elder, but Khey held her at bay. “I do not wish to hear any more of that seed or your vain hopes,” she said. “I wish you to give our people the consideration they deserve, for your response has been utterly heartless.”
Talcoros stood slowly then, approaching Vienda and Khey. Both could see the pain in the Elder’s eyes as he spoke with a tremble in his voice. “If you think I do not feel every bit of our loss, you are mistaken. I feel and endure it even now. But if I faced such a thing fully at this moment, I would surely be lost to the anguish,” he said. At this, Vienda said nothing more, finding some solace in the Elder’s response.
The next hour was dominated by silence as the group continued to process and regroup from the assault on Quenthell. Finding the strength at last to rise, Kaysa helped Lokus gather what useful items they possessed in their hideout as they readied for travel. Every now and then, Kaysa stumbled, for she could still feel the agony emanating from her home. Yet as she stumbled, Lokus was there to catch and support her.
“This is it,” whispered Kaysa, shaking her head. “Everything we know is gone. Our friends, our family. They are all gone.”
“We still have each other, Kaysa,” offered Lokus.
Kaysa squeezed his hand then, clinging to her childhood friend. “You are my family,” she stated. Lokus nodded to her softly before both went back to their preparations.
Not long after this, Talcoros spoke again. “We must leave soon. I cannot keep this veiling spell going much longer on my own,” he said.
“Where shall we go?” asked Khey.
“Away from our enemies,” stated Talcoros. We will continue in the direction away from where they have swarmed and take our chances, for we have little else in alternative.”
“What you are saying is we are alone and being thrown into the darkness,” observed Lokus.
“Everything is darkness now, child,” said Talcoros.
“Silence yourselves,” said Vienda as she drew her sword. “We are no longer alone.”
The group hushed themselves as they grew alert. Kaysa quickly roused and gathered her staff and bag. Lokus armed himself as well while Khey and Talcoros set their focus upon the hideaway’s entrance. In the silence, the group could hear the sound of conversations and footfalls.
As Kaysa and the others waited, these sounds increased. Numerous voices could be heard, foreign voices scouring the forest in search of stragglers. Kaysa exchanged glances with her comrades, gripping to her quarterstaff. She found no encouragement in their eyes as they faced inevitable discovery. Kaysa could feel energy swelling in Talcoros as the voices outside grew nearer to the tree.
“Ready yourselves, children,” whispered Talcoros grimly. “For now, we face the inevitable and the unknown.”
Outside of the hideout, one of the soldiers probed the veiling spell, calling out to alert the others of his discovery. Talcoros screamed then, drawing the forces of nature to his command. Dropping the veiling spell, the Elder sent forth a rush of wind, pushing back all that had drawn to the old tree. The soldiers cried out in surprise as they were hurled in the air, some crashing against the trees surrounding them.
Talcoros pushed forward then with a vitality Kaysa had never seen from him. “Hurry, my children! Flee this place!” he commanded as he led the escape from the tree.
Kaysa watched as Vienda rushed to the Elder’s side. Lokus drew an arrow from his quiver as he nodded to Kaysa. Khey urged the two children forward as the entire group headed in the wake of Talcoros. Suddenly they were outside again, amidst the danger and tempting of fates.
The next few moments unfolded in a blur for Kaysa. She kept close to Talcoros as the escape resumed. The Elder kept busy himself, keeping pressure upon their startled enemies. Vienda rushed ahead, using her blade upon those soldiers rising to oppose her. Lokus let fly with arrows, firing quickly as they fled. Khey watched them all intently, careful of assaults yet ready to assist the wounded.
Talcoros raised a magical shield around those closest to him, its green hues shimmered against assaults from the soldier’s muskets. Vienda deftly dodged these assaults as she got in close to her enemies, striking them before they could reload or draw their blades. Soon Talcoros offered offensive spells, hurling bolts of yellow energy from his staff. The Elder then struck the staff upon the ground and more vines rose to ensnare startled enemies as Kaysa and the others continued their retreat.
“Vienda, to me!” shouted Talcoros as he continued his barrage of magical assaults.
Kaysa remained close, mystified at his actions. The young elf had never seen such a display before. All of Quenthell knew of magic, for it was used daily, but never before had she witnessed the full ferocity of it now being unleashed. Talcoros had the power of the forest at his command, and he now used it to stymy or outright fell their enemies.
In those moments of fixation, Kaysa almost missed the movement from the corner of her eye. Turning, she saw the advancing soldier, sword drawn, fixed upon Lokus. Lokus did not see him for his sights and bow were trained upon another target. Kaysa screamed for him as she pushed forward. She had only precious few seconds to save her friend’s life.
Lokus turned about to see his advancing opponent too late. As he drew another arrow from his quiver, the soldier’s sword swing was already in motion. Lokus tried to raise his bow but knew it would not be enough. But just as the blade reached him, Kaysa’s quarterstaff halted its advance. Skidding between Lokus and their enemy, Kaysa quickly assaulted the soldier, hitting him with two quick blows. Surprised, the soldier gave ground but struck out at Kaysa, knocking her down with a backhanded blow.
Kaysa spun as she was hit, lowering herself as she kept her quarterstaff outstretched. The garnered momentum allowed her to strike at the soldier’s legs and send him falling upon the ground. As both Kaysa and the soldier tried to regain their feet, Lokus leaped upon the soldier with arrows in both of his hands. Lokus
screamed as he drove both arrows into the soldier’s chest. The soldier cried out as he tossed Lokus from him. Trying to find his feet again, the soldier rose only to be met with Kaysa’s staff fiercely upon his face.
As blood spat from his lips, the soldier fell back to the ground and did not rise again.
Taking but a moment to fathom her actions, Kaysa recovered, rushing to Lokus to help her friend back to his feet. The two elves had enough time to obtain Lokus’s bow before noticing three more soldiers advancing upon them. These soldiers trained their weapons upon the two friends as they prepared to fire. Kaysa and Lokus held at the ready, hoping they could avoid the incoming assault.
The two friends then watched the very forest turn on the soldiers, for the ground opened beneath them. The soldiers fell and scrambled to escape, but the rock and soil swallowed them almost completely. In seconds, all that was left of them was a single trembling arm and a discarded sword. Kaysa gasped at the ferocity as she turned to see it was a spell wrought by Talcoros. Soon, he and Vienda gathered with Khey as they beckoned the younglings to follow them.
“We must keep going,” gasped Talcoros. It was evident the use of such magic was taxing him greatly. “There will be more of them. This way, quickly.”
Kaysa and the others followed the Elder as he kept a brisk pace. Kaysa could see from his staff that Talcoros was using magic to strengthen his aging limbs. Thus bolstered, the Elder was able to move quite swiftly, forcing the others to maintain his speed. Kaysa searched about as they fled, fearful of more soldiers emerging to attack them at any moment.
Talcoros continued to lead them forward, pushing closer to the forest edge. Kaysa steeled herself, unable to forget what awaited them ahead. The forest soon darkened as before, and Kaysa felt the rushing swirl of foreboding before she and the others pierced the veil. Despite the preparation, Kaysa still gasped as her senses responded violently to the desolation that waited for her and her friends.
Khey, the gentle healer that he was, stumbled and was caught by his chosen. “By the seeds of Tharador, this is maddening,” he breathed.
“The time for mourning is not now,” urged Talcoros as he pressed onward and away from the hidden forests of Quenthell. “By your lives and ancestors, press on!”
As Talcoros resumed their retreat, Kaysa’s eyes again absorbed the barren throes of desolation that engulfed her and her group. Dead trees held sigil here and there. Dry and spent soil coughed dust into the air when harsh bursts of stagnant air stirred the landscape. Kaysa searched for any colors beyond the lifeless and dull hues of gray. The utter absence of life was taxing upon her spirit and Kaysa knew she was not the only one enduring such torment.
Through the stifling decay, Talcoros found the semblance of a battered and broken road. The landscape was difficult to traverse, but some ease was afforded upon the old trail. Unimpeded, the group was able to place some distance between them and the veil. Yet the further they traveled, the more Kaysa’s heart hurt even beyond the pain of her burning lungs.
“There they are!”
Kaysa turned her head to see a group of soldiers assembling just beyond the veil. They were not giving chase, but they were preparing themselves to fire their weapons. As they readied for their attack, Talcoros halted, drawing his staff into both hands. Uttering a defiant incantation, he raised another barrier of magical energy to protect them from the assault.
At the command of one of the soldiers, the entire group fired their weapons. Kaysa watched as these shots were deflected by Talcoros’s magics. The Elder raised the staff over his head, straining as he prepared a counterattack. Yet Kaysa gasped as the magical shield before him trembled and faded altogether.
And then Kaysa cried out for Talcoros as one of the shots pierced the Elder and dropped him to his knees. “Talcoros!”
Kaysa rushed to the Elder as he held painfully to his fresh wound. The young elf placed her hands on his back and shoulder where she could see blood escaping where he had been hit. As the enemies in the distance reloaded their weapons, Talcoros grunted as he found his staff and feet again. Drawing magic to himself once more, Talcoros uttered pained words of an incantation as he kept his eyes on the soldiers before him.
As the soldiers prepared to fire again, they found themselves suddenly assaulted. Kaysa watched as their enemies shielded their faces as a torrent of rock and sand burst upward from the ground to rush over the soldiers. Soon the soldiers’ cries could be heard as the small bits of rocks battered them mercilessly. Their uniforms were quickly littered red as the blood curdled their pained screams for help. The assault continued until every enemy soldier fell to the ground, silenced by death.
And then Talcoros fell to the ground as well, utterly spent from the exchange.
As Kaysa turned Talcoros over, Khey rushed to his side. Kaysa rested the Elder’s head upon her knees as the Quenthell healer set about his work. Running his hands over the wound, Khey whispered a healing spell. Slowly his hands shimmered with green light as Khey willed the energies upon Talcoros.
To everyone’s horror, the energy faded, and nothing happened.
Khey shifted nervously as he tried once more receiving the same results. “I don’t understand,” he breathed, shaking his head nervously. I’ve done this spell countless times.”
“It is Quenthell and the forests,” croaked Talcoros. Our magics are drawn from them. Without their life to bolster us, there can be no magic.”
Khey shook his head clear of his horror as he fumbled for his bag of supplies. “Then this must be done with more traditional means,” he said, procuring bandages.
“There is no time,” rasped the Elder. “We must keep going.”
Khey replied firmly, never taking his focus from his work. “Not until we have quelled your bleeding, for we shall not lose you now.”
Kaysa looked nervously between her friends and the veil. All the soldiers were dead and no more had emerged, yet this brought her no comfort. Before her, Talcoros grunted in pain as Khey covered the wound with a healing salve and bandage. Painfully, she eyed Lokus, who’s eyes were locked on the Elder’s wound. His face revealed he was not optimistic about Talcoros or their chances.
Grimly satisfied, Khey nodded. “That is all that can be done for now. Help me get him up,” he said.
Kaysa supported the Elder’s shoulders as Khey and Vienda pulled Talcoros to his feet. Much color had escaped the Elder’s face and his legs barely supported him. Talcoros made a few steps, intent to lead them forward again, yet his strength failed him quickly. Catching him, Vienda lifted the Elder upon her shoulders. Hooking an arm between his legs, she secured the Elder, motioning to her chosen to fetch his staff.
“Let’s move,” whispered Vienda as she pressed forward away from the veil.
Wordlessly, Kaysa and her group continued down the dead road, passing desolation and meeting further desolation. The barren lands before them instilled little hope, for no end drew to sight. Kaysa kept her eyes darting all about, constantly checking their trail to see if they were followed. Often her eyes went to Talcoros, who rested limply upon Vienda’s shoulders.
In their retreat, Kaysa suddenly paused as the others continued running. Straining her eyes, she could see a dust cloud forming far in their wake. Soon Kaysa could see soldiers riding upon some animal-less carriage in pursuit. Her heart sank, for she understood that they could not outrun such a contraption. “We’re being followed,” she stated between gulps of breath.
“Keep moving,” said Vienda, straining from the extra burden she carried in their retreat.
“We should make a stand,” said Lokus.
Vienda shook her head. “Not like this. Not now. The only thing that awaits us upon that choice is death. Now move.”
At Vienda’s behest, the group continued down the road. The brief respite did little to alleviate the hunger of their lungs, an endeavor made worse by the stagnant air of their surroundings. Kaysa felt the dull thrum of inevitability even beyond the breathlessness that
claimed her. Hope now was as lost as the wastelands that held them.
Rushing before the group, Kaysa noticed something up ahead first. She could make out a small caravan as well as a figure riding upon a mount of some sort. Further detail was lost in the colorless landscape and sporadic dust clouds. Despite her lungs’ protests, Kaysa still gasped as she pointed. “There are more up ahead,” she breathed.
Vienda halted their advance as she looked about. “We must find cover. It’s our only chance,” she said as the warrior searched about.
Khey pointed to an outcropping of rock not far from the road. “Over there,” he said.
Vienda nodded grimly. “Take shelter behind those rocks. There we shall hide and if necessary, make our stand,” she said as the group rushed off the road.
Kaysa retreated slowly, watching the road as the others hurried behind cover. The sounds of their heavy breathing echoed dangerously loud as the group prepared. With Khey’s help, Vienda lowered Talcoros to the ground, placing a blanket under his head. Khey held watch over the Elder as Vienda and Lokus readied their weapons. With his back resting on the wall, Lokus watched Kaysa intently as she joined them in seclusion.
“We don’t have much time,” said Kaysa darkly.
“Did they see us?” asked Lokus in a whisper.
Kaysa shook her head. “From this distance it is hard to tell,” she offered.
“Ready yourselves for anything, and be silent,” ordered Vienda.
Khey fumbled for her hand before kissing Vienda swiftly. “I am with you until the end,” he said for her ears only.
“Always and ever,” said Vienda as she readied her sword.
Kaysa fought to slow her breathing as she and the others prepared for what would come. Near her, Talcoros groaned once before clenching his teeth to maintain silence. Lokus fought to calm his legs that seemed to move from anxiety and anticipation. Khey procured the long dagger upon his belt, nearly dropping it in his nervousness. Only Vienda looked calm as she listened intently.
The Last of Kel'Thara Page 6
