The Nivaka Chronicles Boxed Set

by Leslie E Heath

  Pasting a smile on his face, Aibek strolled into the parlor. A fire blazed on the hearth at the center of the space, and his visitors occupied four of the chairs surrounding the fireplace. They fell silent as he entered, and he couldn't contain a nervous laugh.

  Vayna patted the chair next to him. “There he is! I don’t know how you managed to keep your cool through that mess of a meeting today. Well done, Mayor.”

  Grinning, Aibek sank into the soft cushion. “Well, I didn’t have much choice, did I? I wouldn’t have done anything but make a fool of myself if I had sunk to his level.”

  “Ooh!” The dark-haired woman, Iriz, leaned forward in her seat. “Did you see how red his face turned when you asked what you should do in his village? That was brilliant, but I’m not sure he got the point.”

  Laughter rang through the open hall, and Aibek joined in with less enthusiasm than the others.

  When the laughter died down, he raised his eyebrows. “What do you all have in mind for the evening? The musicians from Xona will be leaving tomorrow. Maybe we could get them to play a few songs for us tonight?”

  “Hmm, maybe.” Marah tugged at a stray curl at her temple and stared into the fire. “Where? That wind would make the Pavilion too cold to enjoy, and this room certainly isn’t large enough.”

  “Well, there’s a big banquet hall in Valasa’s house,” Wayra offered. “I’m sure he’d let us use it for music.”

  Marah stood and wandered to the bookshelf lining the back wall. “I don’t know that I want to spend another evening with the entire village, though. A quiet night in would suit me very well,” she mumbled to the books.

  “Not a bad idea at all.” Bartel stood and crossed the room, stopping beside Marah’s still form. “A few hours with a good book would do very well, indeed.”

  The slender young man pressed a hand to Marah’s back as he leaned close to the books, and a jolt of jealousy knifed through Aibek, leaving him breathless and angry.

  Wayra glanced over, waggling his eyebrows at Aibek. Kai laughed, but Aibek looked away.

  Struggling to tamp down the irrational response, he turned to Iriz. “What about you? How would you like to spend the evening?”

  A faint blush tinted her plump cheeks as she reached into her skirt pocket and pulled out a partially-carved tree. It was narrow but nearly as long as her forearm, and he frowned, trying to figure out how she had kept it hidden within the folds of fabric.

  “I need to finish this before we leave. I had planned to give it to the bride as a wedding gift.”

  Wayra took the tree from her; he turned it over before handing it back. “It’s beautiful. She’ll love that.”

  She produced a small carving knife and set to work on the tree, flecks of wood flying around her head and landing about her chair.

  “Really, must you make such a terrible mess?” Marah had stopped halfway across the room, book in hand, and stared, disgusted, at Iriz.

  “I always clean it up when I’m done.” Iriz didn’t engage but continued gouging and hacking at the bit of wood.

  Aibek couldn’t believe that such an aggressive process could yield such delicate results, but the finished parts of the tree were detailed down to the veins on the intricately carved leaves.

  He turned to Bartel. “How’s your brother? If I remember correctly, he was badly hurt last year.”

  The young man nodded. “He was. Ended up losing the foot. Doing well enough now, I suppose. Gets around right well with a crutch. Got back to blacksmithin’ this summer.” He stared out the window and smiled.

  “That’s good to hear. I was worried about him. How about you? You took some pretty hard hits, too. Did it take you long to recover?”

  Bartel’s smile faded. “No, just bumps and bruises. Healed up fast enough.” The words were terse and clipped, and Aibek thought it best to change the subject.

  Before he could think of something to say, Marah plopped into the chair beside him, opened her book and tugged on the curl at her temple.

  He peeked at the title and smiled. “That’s one of my favorites. I’ve read it several times since I left the city. It was a great way to learn some of the forest lore.”

  Smiling, she flipped to the last page he had read, pulling the parchment bookmark out and setting it on the table between them. He flushed, realizing which story he had last read.

  “Tree sprites?” She grinned and flipped the page. “Those are just a children’s story. Surely you can find something more realistic to study in this volume. See? Here’s a bit on emrialk. You should definitely read more about those.”

  Wayra and Kai exploded in laughter and heat flooded Aibek’s face. Determined to ignore his friends, he feigned interest in the drawing of the colorful creatures depicted in so many storybooks. Weren’t emrialk stories reserved for young girls? They were said to be fluffy dog-like creatures with an ability to grant wishes.

  “You should definitely learn more about those! You need to help my sister get her wishes,” Kai said between guffaws.

  “While you’re at it, get a few wishes for Calolli,” Wayra chimed in. “She’ll want them when she’s bigger.”

  Aibek laughed, struggling to ignore his friends, and waited for her to turn the page once more.

  “Oh, see? This is helpful.” She paused on a page covered in drawings of various leaves and berries. “Dangerous plants of the Tsari. It even has pictures.”

  He laughed but examined the drawings at length before feigning a yawn and excusing himself. It had been an eventful day, and he needed some quiet time to prepare for his trip to Kasanto.

  5

  Kasanto

  That night, a cold rain pelted the windows, and a howling wind ravaged the village. When it hadn't stopped by morning, Aibek rescheduled the trek to Kasanto until after the trail had a chance to dry out. He knew he had made the right decision when the storm persisted through the next three days. He spent the time socializing with his visitors and catching up on news from Xona.

  Once the forest trails were passable, Aibek stood at the South Entrance and waved the visitors on their way. A heavy ache settled in his chest as he watched them go. Vayna had become a trusted friend over the past year, even though he courted the girl Aibek had been interested in, and he genuinely liked Bartel. The others he needed to spend more time with, but he could work well enough with them. All except Kaskin. No one could possibly work with him. The man acted like he was the king and his word was law. How could any council function with such a mayor?

  The last visitors drifted down the stairs, and Marah stepped up to Aibek.

  “Thank you for the hospitality. I’ve had a wonderful time and can’t wait to see you again in Kainga.”

  "It was a joy to have you here. Please feel free to visit anytime." Aibek smiled at his own awkwardness, battling the butterflies in his stomach at her grin. While he searched his mind for something witty to say, she leaned in and grabbed him in a close hug.

  Shocked, Aibek stepped back, breaking the embrace without returning it. Heat flooded his face, and he laughed. "I'm sorry," he murmured so only she could hear. "Have a care for your reputation. The whole village is here, and you've spent these last two weeks under my roof."

  Her laugh echoed through the trees, and his face flushed hotter.

  “My reputation will survive. Take care, and I’ll see you in Kainga.” She grabbed his hands and squeezed. She turned and strolled down the path with her head held high. Her brothers rushed to catch up as she disappeared into the morning mist.

  Aibek stared until the visitors were out of sight, turned on his heel, and went to find Serik. He often found the old man on his favorite bench in the Mayor's private courtyard, and today was no exception.

  Aibek cleared his throat, perching on the bench beside his friend.

  "Hello, sir. It sure is quiet here without all the guests. It's been nice to have some time with Ira and Noral, though." Serik bobbed his head in greeting and shifted to face Aibek. "The rains hav
e stopped, and the visitors have gone, so when do you want to go to Kasanto? I don't think we should put it off much longer."

  “I agree. We’ll go tomorrow morning. I need to hear concerns from the people this morning. I’ve avoided it while our visitors were here, but they cannot be neglected any longer.” He turned to leave. “Serik?” He waited until the old man met his eyes. “Thank you for all your help these last few weeks. You’ve worked as hard as anyone to keep things running smoothly.”

  Serik dropped his eyes to the wooden floor. “Of course, sir. That’s my job.”

  "Well, you're very good at it." With a grin, he turned and strolled into the house, heading out the main door on his way to the Meeting Hall. He couldn't help noticing how quickly the leaves fell compared to the previous autumn. There had only been about a week of bright color before the browns of winter had taken over the forest. A cold wind cut through him, and he tucked his cloak closer to his chest, picked up the pace, and hurried across the Square.

  * * *

  The day passed in a flurry of mundane tasks as Aibek mediated disputes among the villagers and met with the council. He had spent so much time over the past weeks playing host to the visitors that his regular duties had fallen behind. The tedium made the time pass slowly, but soon enough the day ended, and he headed for his bed.

  Serik joined Aibek for breakfast in his sitting room, as had been their custom since they arrived in Nivaka more than a year before. When they had eaten their fill, Aibek swung the pack filled with bread, jerky, and full water skins onto his back, and they made their way to the South Entrance and descended into the forest. Serik set a small flag at the top of the stairs to alert passersby that someone was on the ground, a system Valasa had developed after he'd locked Aibek out of the village the day after he'd arrived in Nivaka.

  The dry leaves crunched underfoot, and Aibek inhaled the crisp morning air, coughing at the musty odor carried on the breeze. The sickly patches covering the bark of the sacred Shadow Trees overwhelmed the crisis. The elves knew much more than the Nivakans about how to care for the forest–surely, they would know how to heal the trees. The alternative was unthinkable: he couldn’t sit back and watch the forest die.

  Aibek mulled over the problem as they walked through the forest but kept a close watch on their surroundings. It didn’t take him long to find the spot where the hidden trail passed near theirs, and he stopped and waited. A frog croaked nearby, and before it fell silent, an elf stepped out of the trees.

  “What do you want, tree dweller?” The tiny person dressed in the colors of the forest, with dried leaves attached to his hat and clothes. On his back, he carried a bow and a quiver of arrows.

  Bowing, Aibek slipped into the stiff formality that the ground folk preferred. “We need to speak with the King and Queen on urgent business.”

  The elf regarded them suspiciously and turned, disappearing into the dense underbrush. Aibek and Serik waited for the watching elves and dwarves to obtain permission to escort them into the village of Kasanto. They had gone through this several times the year before, as they had prepared to fight Helak’s army for Nivaka’s freedom. Back then, the elves and dwarves had agreed to help them but only by alerting the villagers of their enemies’ presence. Their help had been invaluable in that battle, and Aibek had worked to improve relations between the villages in the intervening months.

  Several long minutes passed before the queen's servant, Aylen, stepped out of the brush and leveled his spear at Aibek. He wore the traditional elven tunic covered in leaves and vines to blend in with the forest. Aibek blanched at the anger etched on the elf's face.

  “You may follow me, tree-dwellers, but I don’t know why they’re letting you in again.”

  Aibek glanced over at Serik, but the old man showed no reaction to their guide’s bitterness. They hurried along the muddy side path, and Aibek had to watch where he set his feet to avoid slipping. It would be best not to give his enemy that kind of advantage over him, though he didn’t think they would attack while he was unarmed and asking to meet with their king. Though he had only seen Aylen, others would be close by. They never traveled alone, especially when the villagers were out in the forest.

  As they traveled, Aibek focused on the sounds and smells around him. It felt…off…somehow. A musty, moldy smell that made his nose itch had replaced the normal, fresh scent of the woods. The sounds of birds, monkeys, and squirrels were muted as if the small creatures moved with more care through the trees. That made sense, considering how slippery that patch on the tree trunk had been a few days before.

  As the sun crested overhead, they reached the ivy wall marking the outer edge of Kasanto. They passed through a hidden gate and into the miniature village beyond. They continued past the little homes without stopping, but the abandoned streets had an eerie feel. None of the villagers were outside. They had always stood in their doorways or sat on their benches watching the tree-dwellers whenever Aibek had come before.

  Where is everyone?

  The procession passed through the other end of the village and on into the forest once more. Aylen led the group to the door under the great Shadow Tree that had unnerved Aibek the first time he'd seen it. It looked even more threatening now, with the enormous tree covered in green slime. Even the unmarred bark had an odd, grayish tint to it. Aibek's stomach turned as they passed through the door and down the packed dirt staircase into the cavern below. The air smelled of stagnant water and rotting vegetation, nothing like the fresh earthen scent from his previous visits. He fought the urge to gag as he hurried along the narrow stone corridor to the large cavern of the king and queen.

  The narrow tunnel wound through the underground caves until they stepped into the open cavern that had been so majestic before. The stench of stagnant water overpowered his senses, and Aibek took a moment to gain his composure. His eyes watered and he covered his nose before he sought the source of the odor. The waterfall had disappeared, replaced by a slimy green trail down the far wall, and the stream had settled to an algae-covered pond.

  He turned tear-filled eyes to his hosts. They sat at the end of a long table. The large, comfortable chairs they had enjoyed on previous occasions were nowhere in sight. Queen Idril, the leader of the dwarves, reclined in her seat, wearing a robe of purple velvet with dark fur lining–perhaps from the bear pelts the villagers had given the residents of Kasanto after the battle. The Elven King, Turin, wore the colors of the forest without the leaves and bracken which helped the other elves blend in with the brush.

  Aibek waited in the doorway, silently urging the rulers to invite them in. When his legs ached from standing, he broke the silence. "What's happened here?"

  “Why don’t you tell me, tree-dweller?” Queen Idril’s cold glare cut into Aibek, and he shrank back before he could stop himself.

  “I don’t know what you mean, madam.” Aibek took a deep breath to steady himself, eyes tearing from the stench before he continued. “I’m here to ask for your assistance in healing the forest. We’ve been unable to figure out the source of the illness, and none of the treatments we’ve tried have helped at all.”

  “Maybe, that’s because you continue to poison the trees with your toxic glues and harmful devices.” Venom dripped from the queen’s voice.

  “But that’s impossible.” Surprise broke through the stiff formality, and Aibek paused to collect himself before explaining. “The glue is only condensed, cured Shadow Tree sap, and the collars have a cushion of bark between them and the wood. We took every precaution to protect the trees and the village.” Aibek shook his head.

  Serik stepped forward before the queen spoke again. “Please, may we sit and discuss our options with you? No one knows the forest like you and your people. Your ways are ancient and mysterious, and we come seeking your aid.”

  The silence dragged as the queen glared at the visitors.

  Turin stood and waved them in. Aibek released the breath he hadn’t realized he held and inhaled a lungful o
f the rancid air.

  "Tell me, what did you put in that glue?" Turin said. "And you say you cushioned the devices? How exactly did you do that?" The Elf King scowled, and Aibek wondered what he thought. He had always been the friendlier of the two rulers.

  “As I said, the glue is pure sap from the Shadow Trees. We allowed it to cure until it was sticky, then used it to affix the collars to the trees. We wouldn’t have done that if we hadn’t feared that the enemy would use spikes to climb the trees into the village, which would have caused significant harm to the trees.”

  “And the cushion?”

  "Shadow Tree bark. We used strips that the carvers had prepared and lined the insides of the collars with bits of Shadow wood so they wouldn't cut into the trees. We did everything we could think of to protect the ancient beings that support and protect our village. We would never harm them."

  “If what you say is true, then how do you explain the fact that this disease began the month after your battle and has steadily worsened throughout the year?”

  “I was not aware that it had started so long ago. It was only brought to my attention this past week.”

  Idril stood and slammed her hands down on the table. “How could you not have noticed the destruction of our beautiful forest before last week? Trees are dead and dying all around us, the animals are beginning to leave our section of the forest and head deeper into the heart of the wood, and even the very water that flows down from the eternal mountain has abandoned us!”

  Dropping his eyes to the floor, Aibek considered how best to respond.

  How did I miss the signs for so long?

  He had been distracted with Faruz’s wedding and the running of the village, yes, but that didn’t excuse such a profound oversight as this.

  “I wish I had a satisfactory answer for you, fair queen,” he forced himself to meet her gaze. “I have no excuse for my ignorance in this matter.”