Silent Snow: Tales from Ancient Ieda 01

by Sarah Thomie

  The warriors all sobered up.

  I turned and smiled at her. “Did you get to talk with your sister?”

  “Yes, and again, thank you, Snow.”

  “Any time.” I looked up at the sky, before going back to Raven. “We need to leave.”

  He looked up and saw the same cloud as I did. “Agreed.”

  Bunny handed me a pouch. “Here is something for you to take back to your Elder and Grandfather. I also added something in there for you, as a thank you for everything you have done for me.”

  I put the pouch into the pocket I had asked Xerinae to sew into my pelt. As I got close to her, I said, “You will heal. It will take time, but you are strong enough to not let what happened break you.”

  She nodded.

  Raven grabbed my shoulder. “Come on, Snow, before we have to walk through your namesake.” We waved to the Water warriors and Elder and headed back to the Moon Clan village. “Will she truly be alright?”

  “She thinks she is weak because she could not stop what was happening,” I said, “but I know that she will be able to overcome it one day. I told her how, and she has already started to heal a little. She was less shaky around the warriors than she was before.”

  He did not say anything until we came within sight of the village. “The Elder said that if we needed her warriors to liberate the City Elves, she is willing to send them.”

  I stopped. “She said what? But I told her that I was not even asking our own warriors to help.”

  “Apparently, our Elder and the Elder of the Star Clan have decided that when the time comes, we will fight for the City Elves’ freedom. So, when the Water Clan Elder signed the document, she agreed to assist as well.” He turned to look at me, and when he saw the tears on my cheeks, his eyes widened.

  He whistled to the village, and Howling Wolf jogged over to us.

  “What did you do to her?” he growled at Raven.

  Raven put his hands up in submission. “I just told her that the Elders have decided that we would help the Matriarch and her with the City Elves. And on that note, I am going to leave before you snap at me.” He ran away from the two Enforcers.

  Howling Wolf swept me into his arms. “The Elder decided on it when he heard that the Star Clan warriors are willing to fight for your people’s freedom. He made sure to let the Matriarch know before she left, so she could carry the alliance documents with her. She cried, too, and I think Lynx had the same reaction Raven did to it.”

  I sobbed into his shirt, warring emotions between relief, joy, and fear for my Clan’s warriors getting hurt hit me all at once.

  “Let me get you home, so you can warm by the fire while you let your emotions out.” He carried me to our home, before he helped me out of my clothes, down to my linen top and bottoms.

  He started to walk out to leave me to my emotions, but I stopped him and said, “Stay with me a little bit longer?”

  He kissed my head. “I would love to, but it is about to snow, so I need to check on everyone first. Then, I will get us something to eat and come back.” I went to get dressed, but he stopped me. “You stay here and get warm first. It should not take me more than ten minutes to check on everything Then, you can help warm me up.” He kissed my cheek, before leaving our home.

  I walked over to the bed and flopped on it. I grabbed my pillow and let my dam of emotions to erupt. I allowed myself to hope that everything would be all right, that none of those I cared about would get hurt, and that we would save all the City Elves. I allowed myself that hope, because reality would crush it the first chance it would get because even with the best laid plans, there are always casualties in a war.

  Chapter 20

  “That is another Clan who has agreed to help us,” the Matriarch told me while we were updating the map of who all agreed to help. She bounced in excitement. “We have most of the Wood Elf Clans agreeing to help us, but it took entirely too long to get this far.”

  “It has only been ten years since we started this quest. That is quick when it comes to our lifespans,” I replied. “We can only move so quickly without drawing the attention of the humans. I mean, we have been able to do raids on slave holding areas, but without getting the laws changed or stopping it at its source, there is only so much we can do.”

  “Matriarch!” One of the City Elf males came running into the room.

  “Yes?”

  “We received news that the humans have captured a Wood Elf Clan!”

  She and I stiffened at the news before she sprang into action. “Go get Lynx to grab First Son and Howling Wolf, then send our Courier to the Star Clan to get Cristata and Ursus.”

  “Get Sparrow, too, and tell her to bring healing herbs.”

  “Yes, Matriarch, Enforcer!” He ran back out of the room.

  “Goddess Above, they really did it. Those idiot humans really went after a Wood Elf Clan,” she mumbled to herself, so I did not reply to her.

  I looked at the map, then rolled it up. It would not take long for them to get to the settlement, so I wanted to be ready. “I will get the message and see where it came from.”

  “It should be at the Courier’s office,” she told me. “I will start gathering things we will need for this meeting. I have a feeling it is going to be a long night.”

  I left her to her duties, heading to the Courier’s office.

  The City Elf male behind the counter saw me and handed me the letter he received. He was maybe a couple inches taller than me, which made it easy to read his face.

  “How bad?”

  He shook his head. “It was bad, Enforcer. The Wood Elves who are a part of the slave trade waited until the males were gone and kidnapped all the women and children. When the males returned, the enemy burned the village to the ground. Not many of the warriors survived or escaped. The humans do not understand how the Wood Elves are different than we are. The Wood Elves do not know how vicious humans can be. We thought this day would come, but all of us hoped it would not.”

  I thanked him for the message. “We will get them back, along with the rest of our brethren.”

  A look passed between us, and I knew what he was thinking before he said, “But how many of them will be the same after the experience?”

  I left him there, leaving both of us to our thoughts.

  I went into the larger meeting room and opened the map. Then I read the letter and marked on the captured village and the Wood Elves responsible on the map. After the Water Clan sent my warning to their allies, those Clans forwarded the threat to other Clans, until there were only a couple of Clans who continued to dabble in the slave trade. It was not long until First Son, Howling Wolf, Sparrow, Cristata, and Ursus arrived, the Matriarch escorting them, holding food and drink for the long night.

  I explained to them what the letter said and watched as they became angrier with each word I said.

  “We have to go after them,” Ursus growled.

  I shook my head. “We need to get rid of the last two Clans who refuse to stop capturing slaves. If we do not stop those two, then they will continue to prey on the weaker Clans.”

  “You are talking about leaving Wood Elves in the hands of humans!” he roared.

  “Yes.” I stood up to him. “I do not like it either, but we have to stop more from being taken. I have seen your race and the resilience you all have.” I let out a shaky breath. “But if more become enslaved, then we have other things to worry about.”

  Cristata touched Ursus on the arm before asking, “What do you mean?”

  I looked at the Matriarch, both of us hoping to never have had to explain this.

  She answered for me, “If more become enslaved, especially partners of warriors, then humans gain leverage over the Wood Elves they are fighting. Think of it this way, if you were captured and Ursus was told that the only way to keep you safe was to capture other Elves, what would he choose?”

  The Wood Elves looked to each other.

  “I do not know,” she finall
y answered.

  “There is a reason City Elves do not love. They used to be able to control us that way, but through the generations, we lost that ability as a way of self-preservation,” I explained. “Next problem is that with more Wood Elves captured, the higher likelihood that they will be killed. Right now, Wood Elves would be the jewel in the crown of whoever owns them because they are still rare. If we do not stop the Clans who are working with the slavers, Wood Elf slaves would become more common, so they would be more likely to get killed if they rebel. Literally, the only thing that kept me alive for so long was because of how rare my silver hair is.”

  “What do you suggest?” First Son asked.

  “First, we need to send messages to all the Clans we are allies with, explaining that if they are enslaved to not fight them. I know fighting is bred into you all, but it is imperative that none of the Wood Elves get hurt or killed,” the Matriarch told them.

  “Second, we will hunt down the slaver Clans and slaughter them. I already warned them what would happen if they chose to continue with the slave trade,” I spoke next.

  “Third, we will talk with our human ally family to make sure they spread the message that the Reckoning is coming, so the City Elves can prepare the newly enslaved Wood Elves,” she continued.

  I gave them a smile that sent shudders through them, “Finally, we go get our brethren. We stop the slave trade at the source.”

  Sparrow spoke softly. “You are talking about starting a war.”

  Howling Wolf kept his eyes on mine.

  “No…” The Matriarch smiled.

  I let them see the dead look in my eyes. Howling Wolf and First Son were the only ones who had seen it before. Sparrow, Cristata, and Ursus gasped as they understood.

  “We are talking about ending one that they started the day they first captured City Elves, then escalated with the Wood Elves.”

  Howling Wolf took a shuddering breath in. “Then, let us get started.” He used the map to help us plan out how he would suggest we go. “Ursus, First Son, Snow, and I will go to the village that was captured first. We will send them back here, where the Matriarch and Cristata can explain to them how we are going to get their families back, while they recover. Sparrow, we will need you here to help them heal. Then, the four of us will go to these two slaver Clans. If we find any captured Wood Elves, we will send them back down here. We will return, after you talk with your human ally family.”

  He continued, “Then, we gather up our allies and get them here to neutral ground. With our combined forces, we will leave some warriors to protect the settlement, while the rest of the warriors start our campaign to liberate the City Elves. Use your human ally family to tell us where they are located, and to warn the humans they trust to release the Elves in our care. We will send them back here with more warriors to make sure that our people are protected with the might of our alliance. Finally, we will take a small group to liberate the Elves who live in the Capital City.”

  I added, “While in the Capital City, I know where the City Elves will be held.” I looked up to the Matriarch. “Do you trust your ally family with your life and the lives of your people?”

  She nodded. “I do. Given the chance, they would abolish the slave trade completely.”

  “We better hope so. Because I have a feeling they will be the only ones who will stop a slaughter,” I said.

  “All right, let us get going, then,” First Son told us, as he copied the map piece that we needed. “Keep Lynx here and send Couriers to our allies with the plan.”

  “Stay safe, my friends,” the Matriarch said before we headed outside.

  I gave Cristata and Ursus privacy, as well as First Son and Sparrow.

  “Are you ready for this?” I asked Howling Wolf. “There is a chance we will not make it back alive. Especially, you and I since we will be the first on the field to fight.”

  “I am.” He grabbed me and lifted me to meet his eyes, “I trust that the Goddess and Her Dark Consort will protect us. Moreover, you and I will be together, as we will be fighting at each other’s sides. We are Enforcers, so there is no worthier death than to fight for those we wish to protect. There is no worthier life than to fight for what is right. Just promise me something.”

  “Anything,” I said without hesitation.

  “When we get back, will you become my partner officially and allow us to exchange our vows to spend the rest of our long lives together?”

  “Are you sure? Then you will never get to choose a more feminine, gentle woman.”

  “For the past fifteen years, I knew that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you, not with a woman who cannot throw me to the ground while we fight, despite how cute and tiny she is.”

  “If that is what you want, then yes. When we get back, I will marry you.” I kissed him. “Until then, we have work to do.”

  He set me back on the ground.

  Sparrow came over and gave a kit of healing herbs and bandages to First Son, Ursus, Howling Wolf, and myself. “You all better come back, or I will beat you black and blue.” Her eyes were watery with tears that threatened to fall. “You take care of them, Silent Snow. You bring them home at all costs.”

  I hugged her. “I will. They are in good hands… and claws.” I blinked, the Snow Cat rising from her den. I could feel how tired she was, so I made an internal vow that we would part ways after getting the City Elves free from slavery. She purred against my mind, accepting my offer. I turned to the forest and said, “Let us go.”

  Chapter 21

  We arrived at the burned village a few days later. I grabbed my daggers and held them in my hands just in case we were attacked. “Hello?” I called out. “Is there anyone here?” silence filled the air, until I heard the thrum of the bow string being released. I used the Snow Cat’s speed to block the arrow from hitting Ursus. I ran to the source of the arrow from and found two warriors who were ready to shoot again. “Are you Clansmen of the Sun Clan?”

  “Why do you care, City Elf? Is it not enough that our families were taken because there were not enough vermin like you to buy and sell between the humans?” one of them said, his low voice tinged with pain.

  “I care because we are here to save your families.” I dropped next to him, as my allies came over to where we were. I used my dagger to tear his top, being careful near where his blood had clotted to his shirt. “He is hurt pretty badly.”

  First Son knelt next to me. “I will see what I can do.”

  I looked to the other male, who was shaking from exhaustion. “Here, drink slowly.” I opened my waterskin and helped him drink it. “We are here from the Moon and Star Clans.”

  “Why would our enemies help us? Our Clan is no ally to either of yours,” the injured male groaned.

  “Because we are allies to anyone hurt by the slave trade. You are all Wood Elves, which transcends any petty thing that happened in the past,” I told them.

  Ursus explained further, “We received your letter from the Matriarch of the City Elf settlement about what happened.”

  The male who was drinking stopped. “We did not send a letter.”

  I whipped around, before an arrow buried next to the male I was talking with. “Ambush!” I yelled to my comrades. I watched as one of the slaver Clans came out of the forest. I recognized a few of them as being the ones who had kidnapped two of the Candidates during the Gauntlet. “You…”

  Howling Wolf stood with me. “Ursus, you and First Son take care of these two. We have these bastards.”

  One of the three males who kidnapped the Candidates laughed. “Who knew that this village was under their alliance. It was a good idea to send that letter to that City Elf bitch.” He then saw me. “I remember you.” He moved his top to the side to show where the arrow had hit him in the shoulder. “I have been looking forward to this for almost fifteen years.”

  “If you want to kill me, get to the back of the queue.” I stood there ready for them.

  “Kill the Wo
od Elves, leave the bitch to me,” he told his people.

  I smiled to Howling Wolf. “See you on the other side.”

  He nodded, giving me permission.

  I rushed forward, before the leader could react. I plunged my knife into his chest, between two ribs, before slashing him across the throat. The other slavers stared as I ripped my knife from his chest, until Howling Wolf came for them. I followed his lead, our deadly dance as the two of us moved through their ranks. It did not take long until we killed the last of them.

  Howling Wolf caught my arm at the end. “You are getting faster, even without the Snow Cat.”

  I walked him back over to where the other males were. “She wants release, so I promised that after we saved the other Elves, that I would let her continue to the Underworld.”

  He went off to grab something that caught his eye.

  First Son looked up at me. “Have a little bit of fun there?”

  I smiled. “You know it. Killing slavers brings joy to my cold, dead heart.” I looked at the two fallen Wood Elves. “Will they survive long enough to get back to Sparrow?”

  “We will try. Ursus and I will take them since it is obvious you two will not need us for the slaver Clans. We will meet you two back at the settlement,” First Son said.

  I took out the kit that Sparrow gave me. “Here, you will need more since you will not be able to move as fast with them injured as they are.”

  He took it from me. “Stay safe, you two.”

  “Do not have too much fun without us.” Ursus grinned.

  “This should help a little bit.” Howling Wolf came back with a slaver horse and its covered cage. “I know that it looks bad, but since time is of the essence, it will have to do.”

  I held the horse while they loaded the two fallen Wood Elves into the cage, keeping the door open. “Is there anyone else in your Clan here?”

  The less injured male shook his head. “No, they are either dead, or they were captured.”

  “We will get your Clans mates back,” I promised them.

  “Thank you, City Elf,” the more injured male said.