My two friends and I leaped over some puddles at our feet. We were running with feverish haste, fearing that we had missed the ferry, for the hour was late and we wanted to reach the city and join the revels happening there.
“Hurry up, Teegs!” I shouted, not bothering to look over my shoulder.
Lardian, who ran at my side, said, “If we lose him, we would have less baggage.”
I smirked at that. “We would cover more ground too!”
“I heard that!” shouted Tegerian.
I looked over my shoulder and was amused at the state of my friend. Even in the dead of night, one could see how miserable Tegerian was and it was blatantly comical. Looking forward however, my friend forgotten, the torch light by the river banks now held my undivided attention.
“We will make it!” I said, relieved, seeing the Ferryelf leaning on what looked to be a tall staff.
“It’s the Karnaea,” replied Lardian. “The Ferryelf will be here all night. Just as I had said.”
“Do you think he sees us?”
“Most likely not. It is as dark as the Betrayer’s heart over here.”
Suddenly, we both heard a plop from behind, followed by a curse from Tegerian’s unfiltered tongue.
Both Lardian and I stopped in our tracks and turned. Growing irritated by the delay, I shouted, “What is it?” I got no reply and so Lardian and I both stalked slowly towards our slow-poke friend and when we found him, our hysterics became uncontrollable.
Tegerian lay flat on the floor and while he struggled to get up from the damp ground, myself and Lardian struggled to contain our laughter, using each other to stable our balance.
“What happened?” I asked, tears falling from my eyes.
Tegerian was now on his feet, looking down at how wet his clothes were, his cheeks puffed up as he attempted to suppress his anger. “There was a damned ditch!” he complained.“It was filled with water! I thought it was just some shallow puddle!”
That made us laugh even harder.
“We are in Asher Rise, Teegs,” said Lardian.“What did you expect? It always rains in this place.”
Tegerian stood there like a great starfish, his long dark hair hanging drenched passed his broad shoulders, his rounded face vexed but no less enjoyable to watch. Just now, he flung up his arm and shot a finger towards the city that stood behind us.
“Well the damned Deacon of Asher Rise should pitch more lights here. I haven’t been able to see a thing!”
I staggered towards him and threw an arm around his shoulder. “Well, if you stop slowing us down,” I said,“You may still have the opportunity to offer your complaint when we enter the Deacon’s city.”
The Ferryelf looked as tired as anyone would at this hour and quite remotely, he allowed us passage over the river once his fee was met. But though revealing himself a recluse, Lardian sought to make conversation with him, enquiring over how the elf’s night had gone so far with no condusive responses that would encourage further discussion. As for Tegerian, he was happy to gain respite from the run and while the rest of us stood upon the boat as it shifted through the water, Tegerian very uncaringly plopped down on his rear to catch his breath.
Once we reached the other side of the river, I had eyes only for the great city that stood magnificently before us. Evennal was alive with torch light, the loud echoes of festivities riding the night time winds, beckoning us forward.
“I don’t think I have ever been more excited for anything in my life,” I commented, while the three of us took a moment to appreciate the end of our journey and the start to a highly anticipated few days of absolute celebration.
“Do you think we have missed the arrival of the Elder?” Tegerian enquired.
“Maybe,” replied Lardian, adding with a tone of indifference, “who cares if we have? We will see him when the Karnaea begins. Just now, I want to be a part of whatever revels are happening at this hour.”
Off the three of us went, unable to stop or retract our pace, which I assumed Tegerian resented, for very quickly, he fell behind again. It didn’t matter, I told myself, still running, pulled by the allure of what possibilities awaited behind those city walls.
Such was my vitality, that when the wet and soft grass became a sandy causeway that led to the city’s gate, I nearly ran right past the weeping elvess who I very suddenly, noticed was sitting there in the dark beyond the limits of the torch lights.
“Wait, Lardian,” I said, coming to an abrupt stop.
Lardian halted and came to me. We both crept away from the causeway, came towards the elvess who just now, had her head buried between her raised knees. When she raised her head and looked up at us, her misery struck me immediately.
“My lady?” I said, stepping closer.
The elvess was taken by the Second Sign of Adonai; which, when remaining still, was to cause one to become invisible to the eyes of any non-Moon Elf folk, while to the Moon Elves, the Second Sign of Adonai merely dimmed the profile.
Just then, Tegerian caught up. He was breathing hard and was bent over himself, apparently unaware of the elvess before us.
“I hate you two so much right now!” he cried. He straightened, looking very displeased. “Did you think to enter Evennal without me? Do you hear me?” He then grabbed my arm. “Jay?”
I shoved his hand away and only then did he take notice of the elvess. “Oh” he said obnoxiously, “Who are you?” Tegerian came in closer to my side, whispered to me. “Why is she weeping?” If that could be called a whisper, for if he had thought to conceal his enquiry, Tegerian had failed horribly, had caused the weeping elvess to now shift as if to hide herself from us.
“Tegerian!” rebuked Lardian.
“What?” he asked, suddenly chuckling guiltily. He looked down at the elvess and in a much more pronounced tone, asked, “Ay, why are you weeping?”
I shoved him back hard and came forward again, kneeling so that the elvess and I could look straight into each other’s eyes. Hers were angled and dark and given her current state, were filled with vulnerability.
“My lady?” I said, softly. “Why are you distressed? Is there anything we can do?”
The elvess sniffed again and shook her head but very suddenly blurted out, “Can you convince those sentinels at the gate that I am no Dead God follower?”
Her sudden outburst took me by surprise; telling me that though the elvess appeared vulnerable, she was no walk over.
“Dead God follower?” I said, slightly taken aback.
“Yes!”
“Why do they think you’re a Dead God follower?” asked Lardian curiously.
His question only riled the elvess further, for she threw her hands in the air, complaining, “How am I to know that?”
I tried to reassure her. “Ok. Tell me what happened.”
Behind me, Tegerian was sniggering. “So, were you kicked out of the city?”
The elvess shot her head up at him, casting him a look of indignation. “I wasn’t allowed to enter!”
That was when Tegerian burst out laughing, earning my annoyance and so I ordered Lardian to get rid of him.
“Where must I take him?” he asked me.
“You two can go on ahead so long.”
“You need me to get into the city,” he pointed out.
His statement worked on my already irritated nerves, which usually wouldn’t have been the case, for it was justified with truth, but due to my sudden desireto to appear authoritative in front of this elvess, I invoked a tone of curt dismissal.
“And are you planning on entering without me?” I asked, turning my head to him. I faced forward and concentrated on the elvess.“I will find you. Now go!”
“My lady,” I said, when sensing Lardian and Tegerian were gone. “You must be cold.” I noticed how thin her cloak was and how amidst the damp floor, she sat plumped in it without so much as a blanket. I removed my cloak and wrapped it around her shoulders.
“Thank you,” she said, emotionles
sly.
Out here in the dark, the elvess’s hair appeared black. It was thick and cut to her shoulders and I could see that she was petite, though possessing some volume and strength in her figure. Her skin was darker than mine, so I imagined that wherever she had grown up, it was not beneath one of Alepion’s notorious forests.
“Let’s get you up from the ground.” I shifted my luggage that was strapped to my back and encourage her up. But, whilst I had meant to grip her upper arm, she independently got up on her own and adjusted my cloak, pulling it tighter around her shoulders when standing erect. I then took the liberty of bending to pick up what seemed like her only travel bag. She took it from me without saying a word and while we stood there together in silence, I couldn’t help but enjoy the different positions the two of us were both in; mine the rescuer, hers the rescued.
I smiled. “So, you are not a follower of the Dead Gods?” I asked, part of me genuinely curious, while for the most part, I just wanted to provoke another outburst from her, which to me, made her incredibly endearing.
I was disappointed. She cast her head down and very dejectedly, shook her head. “No,” she said.
Moved by compassion, I said, “Good. Then let us see how we can get you into the city.”
I noticed her frown. She did not look at me, but said, “The only way to do so would be if someone vouched for me to the guards.”
“If you are insinuating that someone be me, I must disappoint you.” I laughed when she raised her head suddenly, shooting me with a very unappreciative look. “If they are convinced that you are a member of the Old Way,” I explained, “then they might just think I am too.” I then grinned at her mockingly, “But then at least you won’t be alone sobbing here on the floor.” I gestured to where she had been sitting, willing her to smile. Instead, she huffed a humourless laugh, completely without mirth.
“Well that sounds perfect,” she said, completely miserable.
I was enjoying her disposition and said, “Luckily for you,” cocking my head towards the city walls, “My friend over there, was born with a particular power that will get us all into the city.”
“The rude one?”
I laughed. “No. The other.”
She took a moment to speak again, seemingly contemplative. “Why not just enter through the gate?” she asked me, her tone teemed with scepticism whilst in her eyes, I saw the dawn of new found hope.
“Because it is a tedious affair suffering the inspections of guards. And if you are telling the truth that you are not of the Old Way, then perhaps we too might be mistaken for Dead God followers. Besides, our way is simpler.”
She smiled for the first time and when she sniffed I saw her body relax. “My name is Stasanda.”
“I am Jaydan.”
Her smile widened. “Well… lead the way, Jaydan.”
We kept to the shadows of the night to evade the watch at the gate and those sentinels patrolling above the walls. We followed the length of the wall until we found Lardian and Tegerian skulking. Tegerian’s voice was giving their position away, annoying me tremendously; for to get caught sneaking into the city where the Elder was about to appear would have dire ramifications for us.
Both Lardian and Tegerian looked at the elvess; Lardian seeming indifferent, while Tegerian looked unsurprisingly, amused.
“So, Jaydan,” he said,“We have picked up a straggler? Will her Dead Gods help us over the wall?”
I ignored him, as I believed was prudent to do when faced with his obnoxious tendency to provoke.
“This is Stasanda,” I said.
Very shyly, she greeted my friends. “Hello.”
Lardian nodded his head but very promptly, faced the wall of the city, more set on getting inside than with pleasantries.
“Let us get going. We have wasted enough time. We still need to organise our bookings at the Inn before we can join the festivities.”
Lardian placed two hands flat against the wall and very suddenly, there was a great surge of distinct heat. I guided Stasanda behind Lardian. Both Tegerian and I put a hand on his shoulder and when I looked at Stasanda, she did the same.
“Now walk,” Lardian instructed.
We walked straight through the wall. Inside its bricks there was utter darkness, but forward was our course and eventually the darkness was gone when met by the bright lights and noise of Evennal.
“That was fun,” gleamed Stasanda.
I looked at her. Mine was the only gaze not taking pleasure in the city, for just now, seeing Stasanda revealed in full, I saw that she was more beautiful than I had expected while still on the other side of the wall.
Very suddenly, Stasanda removed my cloak and handed it me. “Thank you, Jaydan,” she said, decisively. She then looked at my friends and nodded conclusively, saying again, “Thank you all. It was fair and well to have met you.” She made a final glance at me and then swirled, finding the street and heading north.
All three of us looked at each other, perplexed by her sudden exit. But once more,Tegerian sniggered. “I suppose she was late for a Dead God gathering.”
Chapter 3
I knocked on the door continuously with a trembling hand, afraid of what the outcome of this night would be when at last, the door opened, revealing the face of Alardia’s somnolent form, her expression marred by fatigue. I couldn’t help the tears that then began to swell up in my eyes.
“I am not a Dead God follower!” I immediately said.
Alardia frowned. “Stasanda?” she said, in between a wide yawn.
“Yes. Please, Alardia!” I begged. “You must believe me! I hold fast to the Whispers! I swear it!”
I saw the shroud of sleep was eroding from Alardia’s face and suddenly she displayed a more fixed expression, her attention undivided upon the delicate situation that was now confronting her.
“How did you get back in the city?” she asked uncertainly.
I shivered. The hallway I stood in was bereft of warmth and out there in the city, searching for the Landa Inn, I had been subjected to Asher Rise’s cruel winds and muddy streets. I was cold, exhausted both physically and emotionally, and I felt dirty; my slippers caked in mud.
“I met these elves,” I explained.“They used power.” I shook my head, feeling the how was irrelevant. “The truth, Alardia, is that I am no Dead God worshipper. I swear it! I give you my solemn oath.” I came forward, appealing to her for compassion and a chance. Just one chance.
Alardia frowned in clear contemplation. I understood her difficulty. To trust me and be wrong was to jeopardize her very life. Alardia looked back into the room and then took a step outside, closing the door behind her. She wrapped her gown tightly about her body and asked me, “How can I know for sure? Why would the guards at the gate not let you inside the city? Why, Stasanda?”
I dropped my gaze to the floor, slumping my shoulders in defeat. I shook my head, a couple of tears escaping down my cheek. “I don’t know.” I released an exasperated sigh and looked up at her, feeling utterly hopeless. “It was horrible,” I said, determined to have her see I was telling the truth,“but they were wrong! Please. Give me a chance to prove it to you. If I fail, report me to the city’s sentinels.”
I saw in her green eyes that she was seriously considering taking me in, but there was clear uncertainty and fear there too and again I understood and could not blame her; the War of the Dead Gods had taught her to mistrust as it had taught all the Moon Elves the length to which the Dead God worshippers would go to appease their deities.
“I love the Whispers, Stasanda,” Alardia told me now, her voice a slight quiver from the cold hallway. “If you’re lying to me, I am risking my very life. Dead God worshippers seek out devout Adonai followers for sacrifice in their evil rituals.”
I looked down at the floor again, saying, “I know.” But when I looked up, Alardia’s expression softened, inspiring hope to bloom inside my heart and when I saw her mouth curve, my relief surged.
“But I wil
l trust you not to offer my life to the Dead Gods.” She stepped forward, another of her mischievous smiles shot at me. “Because once the Karnaea is done, we have an entire Realm to see!”
I laughed and cried at the same time, the tears spilling in gratitude, “I would love that!”
Alardia drew me into a tight embrace, but when finally she released me, holding me at arm’s length, her expression took a sterner shape. “We have a problem though, Stasanda,” she warned. “I found another elvess to share this room with me so that I could save coin. We would have to split that cost three ways now.”
I nodded. “Of course. I have already paid my deposit downstairs.”
She drew back slightly, her head tilted. “Already?” she said. “That was presumptuous. What if I had turned you away?”
“Then I would have asked for my deposit back.”
We both laughed at that, but then once again, Alardia became serious. “The other problem, is the elvess asleep inside. You must forgive me, but she heard of you being refused into the city.” She gave me a scrutinizing look, “You can’t blame me for telling her, it was a good ice-breaker.”
I shook my head. “No, I understand. Will she not want me to stay with you two?”
Alardia raised a finger, “She will, but only if we do not reveal to her that you are the elvess that I met in the line. Let us say that we met inside the city and that the place you were originally planning on staying at was too expensive.”
I nodded. “Ok. But did you not tell her my name?”
Alardia smiled. “I did not. Adonai’s intervention I would wager. He knew you would need a place to stay. Now,what Inn were you ‘apparently’ planning on lodging at? We need to get our story straight.”
I smiled, “The Daughter’s Inn.”
Alardia frowned. “Is that a real inn here in the city?”
I laughed. “Yes. The most expensive, trust me. It was originally named the Inn of Clouds. But apparently a few Daughters of Alepion stayed there once, so the name changed, and it became the most expensive Inn in the city.”
“Which Daughters were they?” Alardia asked, guiding me inside.
The Broken Rose Page 2
