“I can’t complain. I was one of the ‘chosen.’” Shadow shrugged. “Each lesson served me well. I made the rank of Master Archer before my century mark. Most elves take far longer to reach that feat.”
I stared at him in awe. I’d heard the stories before, but he still amazed me. Shadow cleared his throat to break me out of my train of thought.
“Sorry. I realize it could be worse…I could be Jack right now.”
“Even I cannot compete with Talisa in terms of teaching methods. I can be harsh when necessary, but it pales in comparison to Talisa’s level.” Shadow shook his head.
He started to say more but stopped when something behind me grabbed his attention.
A young elf stepped into view, bearing a letter in his hand. I knew it was of great importance, as the green tree wax seal of the Elders was easy to see even from here.
“Master Shadow,” the elf addressed him, bowing. “I bear a letter from Lady Clarayne.”
Shadow’s eyes widened, and he quickly recomposed himself. It was common knowledge that he was close to Lady Clarayne. I knew she and her husband had cared for him as a child; they were known for doing that for many of the young orphan elves. I felt there was a resemblance between the two, but the others thought I was crazy to assume they were related.
Perhaps they were right. I wouldn’t think Lady Clarayne would ship off her own blood relative to war, after all. Well, she would protest at least…right?
Taking the letter, he dismissed the elf, and we received a parting bow. Opening it, Shadow silently read the letter and cursed once he finished.
“Shadow?”
“The Elders demand an audience with me tomorrow.”
Demand? “Do you know when?”
“No.” Shadow narrowed his gaze at me. “Don’t even think it means you won’t have any lessons tomorrow, my dear.”
I sheepishly smiled. “I wouldn’t dare dream of it.”
Shadow laughed as he crumbled the letter in his hand. Ignoring my shock, Shadow went to pick up the archery equipment.
“You should return home,” he suggested. “I’ll come for you tomorrow.”
Nodding, I left.
Before I got far, the feeling of something evil coming rose again. Whatever it was, I hoped Shadow wouldn’t be there for it. He’d been through enough already.
ack followed behind Talisa with a smug expression that hadn’t changed since the visit to his aunt. He’d been disowned, of course, and he’d expected it. It didn’t bother him at all, and nothing would ever top the moment when Talisa had roasted the damned woman alive. Jack never felt sorry for her during Talisa’s scolding.
“Wipe that look off your face, Jack,” Talisa ordered. “The time for enjoying your aunt’s fear of me ended the moment we left Ellewynth’s borders.”
Jack’s expression went blank. “Sorry.”
“No apologies!” Talisa snapped. “There are very few instances where one must apologize, and this is not one of them.”
“When are those instances that I should then?” Jack asked. Talisa halted, turned, and smacked the back of Jack’s head. “Hey!”
“No back-sass.” Talisa walked once more. “I won’t tolerate sarcasm until after the first year of my apprenticeship. If you even survive that long…”
Jack inwardly groaned. “How do you know it wasn’t a legitimate question?”
Talisa smacked him again. He mentally braced himself, as he knew the torture was coming, no matter how many times he told himself it’d be well worth the pain.
Packing hadn’t taken Jack very long; he took only a few elven robes and stuffed them in a box with books he snatched from the library. Artemis used to scold him for such deeds, and Jack happily ignored her whenever she did. Stealing them was the only way he’d be able to read the books before being tossed out by the librarian. He cringed at the memory of the old horse face chasing him with her cane.
He should have stolen that too.
Talisa broke the silence. “I have quite the collection of books at the cottage. You didn’t have to bring your own.”
“I wouldn’t dare leave these behind,” Jack explained. “These books hold the contents that interest me most about magic and people of magic.”
“Do they now?” Talisa asked, curious. “Give me an example then.”
“Well…there is one thing I’ve been reading about for several years now,” Jack began. He stopped walking and looked through the tree branches to see the sky. “But it seems more like a myth than anything else.”
“Didn’t anyone warn you that I’m impatient?” Talisa faced him while narrowing her gaze. “Get to the point.”
“Yes, I was warned.” Jack sighed. “Elementals, the vessels of the goddesses. Do they really exist?”
Talisa smacked the back of his head yet again. Before Jack could retort, she gave him a stare that shut him up. “Get used to that, especially when you ask stupid questions.”
“But—”
“But nothing!” Talisa yelled. “Elementals are as real as you and I. They’re only considered a myth because several centuries ago they chose to seclude themselves from the rest of the world. And I certainly don’t blame them.”
“Really? Why though? They can teach others so much about magic!” Jack flinched as he saw Talisa’s hand rise again, and grew relieved when she only moved it to fix her hat.
“Indeed they can.” Talisa was saddened. “You have to remember that not all share the value of learning that you have, Jack. Elementals are direct links to the goddesses. If a goddess chose to walk among us, she could easily inhabit an elemental. Can you imagine what would happen if an elemental was kidnapped? By wizards, of all people? Can you imagine the pain one could inflict on them if they refused to become slaves?”
“They left to avoid being taken advantage of…” Jack realized. He was sad, yet he understood. “Seclusion can be stifling, though.”
Talisa chuckled. “Yes, she said the same thing…”
“She?” Jack raised an eyebrow. “You actually know one?”
“Perhaps,” Talisa answered. “Perhaps not. You’ll have to earn the right to know the many secrets I keep.”
Yeah right, Jack thought.
“Now let’s dispense with the chatter. I want you to study your surroundings, because after tonight, you’re on your own when it comes to finding my cottage.” Talisa smiled.
Jack sighed again, doing what he was told.
Talisa surprised Jack that day with the gift of freedom until the rise of the full moon; he was told to cherish the spare time he had left in his life.
He spent the time settling in his new room, which had formerly been Artemis’. The next time he saw her, it would take a lot of self-control to not laugh in her face; “girly” was the last thing he had ever expected Artemis to be.
Seeing the full moon in the sky from the window, Jack frowned and shut the book lying across his lap. He stared at his reflection in the mirror and heard Artemis’ voice in his head, telling him to fix his messy hair. Jack chuckled while running a hand through his dark hair.
“Yeah, I miss bothering you too.”
“Talking to yourself already?” Jack jumped at the sudden sound of Talisa’s voice in the doorway. “I haven’t even done anything to you yet.”
“Is this yet another thing I have to get used to?” Jack asked, trying to calm his nerves. “You appearing out of nowhere?”
“Perhaps.” Talisa inspected the room. “Perhaps not. Master anticipation and maybe I’ll decide to ease up on you.”
I doubt that somehow, Jack thought.
“Maybe I’ll even teach you how to sneak up on others.” Talisa winked. Taking another glance at Jack, she frowned. “On second thought, perhaps not.”
And there’s the Talisa I expected, Jack frowned.
“Well, shall we begin?” Talisa asked as she flashed him a sickly sweet smile.
“Yes, let’s,” Jack answered as he flinched from the glare he received for usi
ng sarcasm.
Jack followed Talisa away from the cottage for what seemed like an eternity, but he didn’t dare complain. He also kept silent throughout the trek; Jack was surveying the area in case he had an opportunity to sneak out and explore on his own. Since Talisa knew an elemental, Jack was convinced she wasn’t far away from the cottage. He would find her, even if it took the entirety of his apprenticeship.
Jack nearly bumped into Talisa after she stopped without warning. There would have been painful repercussions if he had, he just knew it.
“Welcome.” She held out her arms as if to present something of value.
Jack was confused. They stood in a quiet grove of ash trees; there weren’t any odd patterns or other magical sensations to note.
“It’s just a grove.” Jack wrinkled his brow.
Talisa smacked him. “Not everything is as it seems!”
“You know, I won’t be much of an apprentice if I suffer from occasional head trauma,” Jack warned.
“Interesting that you feel that way,” Talisa answered as her smile grew in a slow stretch, “because if I wanted to you to suffer from head trauma, you would.”
Rubbing the back of his head, Jack bit his tongue. Observing the grove, he tried to see what was hidden. He grew more confused once he noticed her odd expression. It wasn’t until after a moment that he realized he was being tested.
“Oh goddesses,” Jack muttered. As he cleared his throat, he looked around once more. “I have to show you the way to whatever you wanted me to see.”
“Very good!” Talisa clapped her hands. “Kiare be praised! You’re not as hopeless as I thought. Apprentices in the past took several hours at the most before realizing they were the ones who had to open the pathway.”
Jack bent to the ground while trying to still his nerves. He remembered reading about the veils of the Woodland Realm and figured he had to find one. The veils of the realm were usually a special grove of trees that were able to lead one to a new area hidden from enemies. The Elders of Ellewynth would evacuate the people to these veils, and only Talisa could lift or vanish the entrance.
Or so he thought, until now. Jack never imagined he would be able to do such a thing. He shook his head and tried to get “impossible” out of his mind.
Taking a handful of earth in his palm, he shut his eyes and rid his mind of distractions. Afterward, Jack opened his consciousness to feel any sensation of magic within the dirt. Feeling a slight tingle along his fingertips, he released the earth and stood up. With the remnants of the dirt on his hand, Jack held it out toward the trees in front of him.
“One of you causes the veil to fall,” Jack whispered. “But which one?”
Moving his open palm across the trees, Jack felt a soft pull of energy farther ahead. He heard Talisa follow him, and Jack stopped in front of one particularly large ash tree. He ran his hand along the rough bark, and felt the same sensation as when he had held onto the earth.
“I will admit I’m rather impressed you found the gate,” Talisa said. “But the real question here is, can you open it?”
That’s one damn good question, Jack thought. I don’t even know where to begin.
It was often said that elves could hear the voices of the forest. Jack, however, was not like the other elves. He was different, and he’d always known it. Jack never liked being different, but he also never made the effort to test whether or not he too could hear the forest. Now he wished he had.
Shutting his eyes once more, Jack listened to the pulse of the tree’s life beneath his palm.
Water.
Jack stumbled away from the tree after hearing the word.
“What is it?” Talisa asked, while trying her best not to laugh.
“Th-The t-t-tree! It spoke!” Jack cried. “YEOW!”
Folding her arms after the smack, Talisa shook her head. “For someone with so much promise, you truly are dense! Of course the tree spoke. All trees can, Jack. People nowadays are just too stubborn to stop and listen to them for a change. A shame, really…”
“Well, it wants water,” Jack replied, rubbing his head.
“Of course it does.” Talisa ran a loving hand along the bark. “But as you can see, neither you nor I have any. How will you solve this part of the puzzle?”
Jack huffed. “I have trouble manifesting the elements. Well, I have trouble controlling them.”
“When you limit yourself, you are heading down the path of defeat,” Talisa berated him. “Think, just as you did when you grasped the earth in your hand.”
Jack blinked. “I don’t have to. You just helped me find a solution.”
“I did?” Talisa asked, puzzled.
Jack dropped to his knees and started to dig a hole before the tree. He kept digging until he felt moist soil.
“I learned this trick a few years ago,” Jack explained. “I can’t create water on my own yet, but I have been able to summon water from deep within the ground. Never really knew how it happened, but I can’t complain since it works.”
Jack beamed as soon as he saw water fill into the hole. Moments later, enough water rose to cover the exposed roots. Jack felt another pull of energy from the tree, and he touched the bark again.
Well done, elf mage. You may enter the Grove of Kiare’s Mirror.
The scenery changed before his eyes—there was no longer a grove of ash trees, but a small clearing surrounded by large oak trees. In the center of the clearing was a large rock wall with a well, constructed of multi-colored pebbles that were arranged to display a pattern of rolling ocean waves.
Jack felt Talisa push his jaw shut. He hadn’t realized it was hanging in the first place.
“It’s rude to gawk,” Talisa said while walking toward the well. “It seems I’ll have to instruct you in manners as well.”
“B-But…”
Jack couldn’t finish his sentence. He was in awe of the sacred ground he now stood upon.
“You know of this place.” Talisa smiled. “Good. You’ll become more familiar with it during your apprenticeship.”
“Talisa, this is sacred ground. Kiare’s sacred ground,” Jack noted. “How is this possible?”
“You know the color of my robes indicate that I am a vassal of Kiare. Long ago, I was appointed the guardian of the Grove of Kiare’s Mirror,” Talisa explained. Her nails tapped along the edge of the well. “I have always brought my apprentices here, to test their heart as well as their spirit. If they successfully open the gateway and see into the mirror without being overcome by greed for power, then they are worthy of my tutelage.”
“What happens if they fail?”
“Are you certain you wish to know?” she asked.
Jack gulped and shook his head.
“Never ask the questions you do not want the answers to,” Talisa instructed.
Fair enough, Jack thought. “How did you earn the right to become the guardian?”
“When you serve the realm for as long as I have, even the goddesses learn to appreciate you,” Talisa answered. “No, I will not reveal my true age to you. Get that question out of your mind.” She paused a moment. “All I will say is that I am one of the oldest living servants of the water goddess. She saved me from a future of darkness. I walk the pathways of this world for as long as she desires.
“Kiare wanted someone who would not be corrupted by the power of the mirror. She wanted someone who would use the mirror in a time of need, like war, and she granted me the privilege of weeding out the overzealous bastards from the ones who genuinely wish for my tutelage. It is important to her that my legacy continues in others, for the sake of the Woodland Realm and Arrygn as a whole. The mirror is also used in determining who should join the ranks of the Elders in each elven realm.”
Goddesses, what have I gotten myself into? Jack thought. “So my next test comes from the mirror. What am I supposed to see?”
“The mirror shows the viewer one of many possible futures,” Talisa explained.
“Hence w
hy it must only be used in a time of need,” Jack said, now understanding what would happen if one took advantage of the mirror’s power.
“Yes.” Talisa moved aside and motioned for Jack to look into the mirror. “A warning, however—”
“Not everything I see will be pleasant,” Jack cut her off. He peered into the water. “Yes, I understand that part well enough.”
Jack grazed the surface of the water mirror with a finger, and it responded with a glow.
Tribute.
Jack was startled when he heard the word in his mind, though he should have expected it after his event with the trees. He looked at Talisa, and she tightened her lips. He was on his own again.
He tapped his fingers along the surface, and the glow brightened along his fingertips. An idea for a tribute came to him.
“I don’t suppose you have anything sharp on you?” Jack asked.
Talisa’s brow furrowed. “For what?”
“It would be helpful right now if you did.”
Talisa shook her head, and Jack sighed. He wasn’t one for carrying knives, but he made a mental note to start doing so.
He soon found a few small rocks and struck one with the other. A few sharp pieces fell to the ground after a several strikes, and Jack picked one up to inspect it. Satisfied, he returned to the well and held a finger above the water mirror. He made a clean cut in the tip of his index finger, and a few drops of blood fell into the surface, dispersing in swirls.
Accepted.
Jack dropped the rock shards to the ground, and he pressed his finger against his palm to staunch the bleeding. As he looked into the mirror, he saw images beginning to form. He didn’t even notice Talisa move closer to the well, curious for what was to come.
Before the images were fully formed, the voice of the mirror spoke once more to Jack:
You will see what no other has seen before. Beware the repercussions, elf mage. It could alter the age of peace Arrygn has long been promised.
“Wait, wh—” Jack said.
The images formed and silenced him. Jack saw a woman running in parts of the forest he did not recognize. As he studied the woman, he felt his stomach drop—she had long, dark brown hair, pale skin, and wore dark clothing. Her right shoulder was caked with dried blood.
Child of Blackwen (An Artemis Ravenwing Novel Book 1) Page 8
