“The high priestess’s daughter is already making drastic changes.”
He didn’t care much for politics or the workings of the Ael’Shanar, but he couldn’t help but hear.
“She asked that the Varesh be suspended and a new election called.”
“All of the representatives will stand election again?”
“That’s what I heard the messenger from Grey Oak say.”
“How can she do that?”
The shopkeeper handed him a wood crate. “It’s all right here.”
He handed him a few silver pieces. “Thank you very much.”
He headed out and returned to his home on the outskirts of town. His father, Marcus, was in the workshop. He spent most of his time there, fixing ploughs, wagons, and anything else that was made of metal. The town thought of Marcus as a blacksmith, but he preferred to be called an inventor. Aiden enjoyed helping his father, spending countless hours in his workshop, learning everything there was to know about his father’s trade.
He set the crate on the workbench and peered over his father’s shoulder. “What are you working on?”
“I’m not sure,” he replied after a moment, clearly distracted.
He moved to the side to get a better view. His father had configured a metal wheel with a handle. It was attached via a small rod to a chunk of ore. Around the ore were several circles of copper hammered into thin strips. The strips nearly met at the top with a gap between them.
“The rocks from some of the most recent iron ore shipments we’ve received have some strange properties. I’ve noticed that very fine pieces are attracted to iron. I’m not sure what causes this.”
“So why circle it with copper?” he asked.
“It doesn’t stick to copper, but since copper allows heat to flow through it so easily, I thought whatever energy inside the rocks might flow through the copper as well.”
He took a spare chunk of ore and inspected it. “Interesting.”
Marcus spun the wheel, slowly at first, then with increasing speed. Soon, sparks, like that from a grinding wheel, shot across the gap between the two pieces of copper.
“Amazing!”
Marcus shrugged. “I’m not sure what to do with this. It does put on a nice show.”
“It might be useful to start a fire.”
“Perhaps.”
“We’ll figure something out. I heard some news about Selandis in town.”
“More political drama?” Marcus asked.
“Vorea is the new high priestess, and she’s replacing the entire Varesh.”
“She can’t do that.”
“That’s what I thought. But I don’t think any of that will affect us here in the woods.”
“I prefer spending time in my workshop more than with people, especially politicians.”
“I’m like that most of the time,” he replied. “But not today. I feel the need to be around people. I think I’ll go spend some time at the inn.”
“Do you want to take the wagon?”
He put his hands on either side of the door and leaned outside, allowing nearly his entire body weight to rest on the frame. He scanned the sky. “The mist has stopped, so I’ll walk.”
He walked the short distance to Ashmar and proceeded to the tavern to see if any of his friends were there. It was late afternoon and he hadn’t eaten lunch, so he decided to order an early dinner. There was no one there he knew, so he sat quietly by the window. He had an excellent view of town, so he ate and observed people as they hurriedly finished their business for the day.
Midway through his meal, a trio of female travelers came into the tavern. He knew they were travelers because they all wore cloaks and their wagon parked outside was full of provisions. He watched as they pulled their hoods back and talked to the innkeeper. One was a middle-aged woman, another was a curly redheaded woman with ample freckles and eyes full of wonder.
At first, he couldn’t catch a good glimpse of the third woman, but soon she turned and scanned the room. Her deep blue eyes caught his breath. Their gaze met briefly, then she returned her attention to the innkeeper.
The three walked away from the bar and looked for a place to sit. There were plenty of empty tables, but most had room for only a couple. He stood and motioned to his table. “Would you like to dine with me? There’s plenty of room here.”
The dark-haired woman with the captivating eyes looked at the other two, then nodded. “Thank you.”
He walked behind the ladies and pulled their chairs out to seat them. The older one and the blue-eyed woman accepted, but the red-haired woman looked at him strangely.
“I was going to sit there,” she said.
He pointed to the seat. “I know. That’s why I’m pulling the chair out for you.”
She raised her eyebrows and took a seat. “Alright then, thank you.”
He returned to his chair and introduced himself. “I’m Aiden.”
“I’m Niv’leana, she’s Frasie, and my… this is Maeva.”
“A pleasure to meet all of you,” he replied. “You’re not from here, are you?”
“No,” Maeva said, “I’m from Selandis, and these two are from Brenloh.”
“Brenloh, that’s quite deep into the woods,” he replied. “I’ve never been there.”
“Have you been to Selandis?” Frasie asked.
“No. I’ve traveled a lot in the plains, and made some supply runs to the mountains, but never made it that far.”
A barmaid brought them three piping-hot bowls of stew.
“That’s good stuff,” he said.
“It looks delicious,” Niv replied. “It’s been almost a week since we had a meal that wasn’t cooked outside.”
“My father and I have that stew at least twice a week. Beats anything I can make.”
Niv blew on a hearty spoonful to cool it. “You cook?”
He shrugged. “I suppose you could call it cooking. If you asked me to make something fancy, you’d be disappointed. My mother died when I was young, so my father and I make do with our meager culinary skills.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Niv replied.
“Where are you three ladies headed?”
“Selandis,” Maeva said.
“You have a long journey ahead of you, and in miserable weather at that. I hope the snow holds off until you arrive.”
“Niv’s going to join the Ael’Shanar!” Frasie announced.
“Impressive,” he said. He snuck another peak at Niv when she was taking a bite. He let his gaze linger a bit too long. Her eyes caught his again. He quickly diverted his attention to Frasie.
“What an amazing opportunity to see the big city.” He finished his last bite. “Have you heard the news from Selandis?”
“About the High Priestess’s death?” Niv asked.
“Well, yes, but, I mean about the Varesh.”
Maeva held her spoon over her bowl in suspense. “What happened?”
“Vorea has called for new elections.”
“She can’t do that!” Mae replied. She put down her spoon and leaned closer to him. “Are you sure? Where did you hear this?”
“I overheard some people talking about it. They received word from a messenger from Grey Oak.”
“And Vorea is the high priestess?” Mae asked.
“That’s what they said.”
The color drained from Mae’s face. She excused herself and left the tavern. Niv got up to follow, but he stopped her. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset her.”
“It’s nothing you did,” Niv replied, then left.
Frasie looked out the window. “I’d better go see after her.”
“I don’t understand.”
“High Priestess Vella was Mae’s sister.”
Chapter 14
Niv put her hand on Mae’s shoulder. Mae turned and quickly dried her tears. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean disrupt your dinner. I—"
“You didn’t.”
“I have tried t
o focus on the threat.” She looked away as more tears came. “But I’ve shoved my grief back as far as it can go. She ended my sister’s life and now, with her new position and power, she’s on the verge of causing such destruction and misery.”
She held Mae in a comforting embrace. Frasie stood at the tavern door. She gave an empathetic nod and went back inside.
“I am so sorry,” she said. “I wish there was more I could do.”
“Oh Niv, you are doing all you can.” Mae pulled away from her, dried her face and straightened herself. “I promised I would control my emotions better than this. You two need me.”
She took Mae’s hand. “We need each other.”
Mae smiled. “You have your father’s strength. I’ll be alright. I just need a few minutes to myself.”
“Of course.”
“Don’t keep that handsome young man waiting.”
“If you need me, let me know,” she said, then returned to her table with Aiden and Frasie.
“I saved your stew,” Frasie said, pushing her bowl to her.
“Thank you,” she replied.
“She’ll be alright, won’t she?” Aiden asked.
“Yes. You are kind to worry.”
“I’ll be right back,” Aiden said, then went to the bar.
“She’s going to be fine,” she said, both informing Frasie and reassuring herself.
Aiden brought them each a cup of tea on a tray. He took a small container of honey and offered it to them. “I like honey in my Elvemon, don’t you?”
“It’s my favorite, Aiden, thank you,” she replied.
“I hope they have Elvemon tea in Selandis,” Frasie said.
“It only grows on the forest,” Aiden replied. “But I’ve delivered wagon loads to Grey Oak. I’m sure some makes it to the city. How long are you staying in town?”
“For the night,” she replied. “We’ll head out tomorrow morning, as long as it’s not raining too heavily.”
“It’s been raining so much here that I think I need to open a roofing business.”
“Same in Brenloh,” Frasie said. “I’ve never seen so much rain.”
Niv set her spoon beside her bowl. “So, you’re a carpenter?”
“I’ve done nearly every kind of work imaginable. I mainly help my father in his workshop. He repairs tools, wagons, and equipment.”
“That must be interesting,” she replied.
“It is, but there’s only so much work in a town like this. Everyone passes through. No one stays.”
She noticed Frasie gazing at his features – his brown eyes and clean-shaven face. His dark medium-length hair that rested on his collar as it dried from the rain. She supposed he was handsome, but Frasie seemed convinced.
Her friend leaned closer. “Is that why a handsome man like you hasn’t found anyone to marry?”
“Frasie!” she scolded. “His status is none of our business.”
Aiden grinned. “That’s alright. I am single. I haven’t found the right woman yet.”
A moment of uncomfortable silence fell between them until Frasie opened her mouth. “Why not?”
She nudged Frasie. “He could ask the same of us.”
Aiden chuckled. “A great idea. So, Frasie, tell me why you haven’t found the right woman yet.”
Frasie sighed. “Oh, you know what I mean. I, well, uh… “
She laughed. “You beat her at her own game, and now she’s speechless.”
“Boys usually think I’m weird,” Frasie finally replied.
“Ah, but you have the loveliest smile and the brightest red hair I think I’ve ever seen. They surely don’t pass you by.”
Frasie shrugged. “Maybe they don’t, but I’m usually too busy to notice them. I wouldn’t know what to say even if they were to talk to me.”
“You’d figure something out. And you, Niv’leana?”
“Please, call me Niv,” she said. “For me, well… Brenloh is small, and I’ve had my head in books so much that I haven’t stopped to notice anyone.”
“I have read everything in our library at least three times,” Aiden said.
“Neither one of you has answered the question,” Frasie said. “Reading too much is not a valid excuse. Boys thinking you’re weird is.”
Aiden took a sip of tea. “I suppose she told us. Alright, if you insist, Frasie, I’ll go with my original answer. The right woman hasn’t come along.”
A gust of cool air filled the room as a woman with dark hair and a red robe entered the tavern. She was accompanied by two stocky, armed guards who were holding Mae. The woman carried a staff with a glowing orange jewel. A paralyzing chill ran through her.
“Are you Niv’leana?” the woman asked.
“Yes.”
“Good. We have orders to take you into custody.”
Chapter 15
“Who are you?” asked Niv.
“My name is Lanica. I’m here by order of High Priestess Vorea to arrest you.”
A quick flash of the murder Vorea had forced her to witness passed through her mind.
Aiden took a step forward. “The high priestess can’t give these sorts of orders.”
Lanica raised an eyebrow. “I do not require your understanding or permission.”
“Surely there has been some mistake,” she said.
Lanica scoffed. “No mistake, I assure you.” She held Mae’s arm and motioned for the guards to surround her. “Please come with us.”
“She’s not leaving with you,” Aiden insisted.
“This does not concern you,” Lanica replied. “Step away or I’ll take you as well. This doesn’t have to be difficult, Niv’leana.” She smirked and pointed to her guards. “But I promise you, me and my men can make this difficult.”
“I’m not going anywhere with you,” she replied. “Let go of my mother.”
Lanica stood directly in front of her and rapped the end of her staff on the wooden floor. “You are in no position to give orders.”
“Just do what she says,” Mae said to her telepathically. “We can sort this out later.”
A wicked smile crept across Lanica’s face. “If you want to make this difficult, I can handle that.”
Her heart raced. She did everything she could to keep from visibly shaking. She wanted to heed the advice of her mother, but she had the unshakable feeling that things would end poorly for them if she did.
She narrowed her gaze. “You can do whatever you like, but I’m not going with you.”
Lanica motioned to the guards to seize her. Blood drained from her hands as they squeezed on her arms. They pushed her a step towards Lanica.
“One last chance, Niv’leana.”
She examined Lanica’s expression. A stern determined gaze met hers, but there was something about her persona that revealed a hint of anxiety. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but she knew that if she was even the slightest bit afraid, she had a chance.
The guards tried to make her take another step forward, but she planted her feet on the floor and resisted them. Their physical strength only proved her strategy would be short-lived. Aiden grabbed a knife from the table and slashed the air with threatening jabs as he pointed it at them.
Lanica laughed. “He thinks he’s a hero. Seize him!”
Before the closest guard could take a step, he straightened and lunged forward. Blood streamed from the arrow stuck in his neck. He collapsed on the ground with a painful grunt.
Frasie nocked another arrow and aimed it squarely at Lanica. “We’re not going anywhere.”
Lanica gripped her staff and scowled. The gem on top glowed brightly. “We’ll see.”
Before Frasie could fire, Lanica held her staff by the end and swung it in an arc in front of them, blasting a shockwave of energy toward them at incredible speed. Everyone in front of her was knocked off their feet.
“You fools!” Lanica hissed.
Mae grabbed Lanica’s staff and tried to take it away from her, but she wasn’t
quick enough. The two entered a tug of war, pulling with all their might. Mae grabbed the stone at the end of the staff and closed her eyes. The gem, then the wood, started to glow red. The end of the staff became so hot it smoked. Mae shoved it toward Lanica, blistering her hands and causing her to drop it.
The remaining guard moved to attack Frasie. Aiden grabbed the knife and lunged toward him but couldn’t make it in time. The guard tried to take her bow, but she managed to keep it just out of reach. After a moment of struggle, he overpowered her and grabbed it. He threw it across the room and drew his sword.
Frasie barely missed a powerful swing, then darted away from him. He ignored Aiden and chased after her. Frasie ducked near the staircase.
Niv knew she had to act. Aiden was too far away and didn’t stand a chance against the guard armed with a dinner knife. She shoved aside her fear and doubt and established certainty in her mind that Frasie would be alright. She would do what she had to do to protect her friend, whatever the cost.
She summoned her strength of will and channeled all her energy into her goal – to eliminate the threat posed to Frasie. Her hands burned, and her body vibrated so intensely that she feared she would shatter into a million pieces. The forces within her were so powerful that they yearned to be released. A large ball of flame appeared when she extended her hands toward the guard.
The fireball spun rapidly and warped the air around it with waves of heat. She gathered her anger and flung the fiery orb at the guard, propelling him into the wall below the staircase. The flames dissipated as soon as they hit him, but the room was filled with the acrid odor of smoldering fabric and hair. She staggered after the blast, shocked by the intensity of her magic.
Lanica stood motionless and stared at her fallen guards. “You’ve murdered two innocent men, Niv’leana!”
“Hardly,” Aiden replied. “They had no right—”
“I have every right!” Lanica yelled. She walked over to the guard that Frasie shot and tugged at the arrow embed in his neck. “They had families. Wives at home.” She pulled again, with no success, so she put her heel on his shoulder for leverage. “Kids.” She wrestled the arrowhead free from his spine, then pointed the arrow at her. It dripped with blood. “And you put an end to that.”
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