by Kelly Carr
“Yes, but Lady Liana, such a violent reaction…it isn’t normal,” said Salim. “It’s too…Human…"
Liana carefully masked her expression. The Avenai Jevar knew nothing of her Human origins, and she wasn’t sure what they would do if they ever found out. Hurriedly, she tried to think of something, anything, to distract them from her own peculiarities. Suddenly, an idea struck her; a crazy, desperate, impossible idea.
“What if we were to ask the Humans for help?” she suggested. Her voice was quiet, but somehow it carried to every corner of the room. Everyone froze. Liana hurried to explain. “Not from the kingdom of Lezar, of course, but what about Humans from somewhere else? Queen Katya has already expressed her intention of taking over all of the kingdoms. That makes her as much their enemy as ours. Surely they’d be willing to lend us their aid in defeating her!”
There was a long, stunned silence before Tahoma finally said, “My lady, we can’t! Humans are brutal, evil creatures, who only ever wanted to take advantage of our magical abilities! We can’t ask them for help. Even if they managed to defeat these strange monsters and the Queen of Lezar for us, it would cause as many problems as it would solve!”
“Like what?” Liana asked. Already, the more she thought about her idea, the more it seemed like the only option available to them if they didn’t want to spend decades squirrelled away in the mountains.
“Coming back into contact with Humans after so many centuries…” the Undine shook her head for a moment, then continued. “If we make contact for any reason, they will want to maintain that contact and exploit us as they did when we all lived side by side. What do you think the end result would be? History will repeat itself, and we will once again have a war on our hands as the Humans fight over how to turn our powers to their advantage!”
“That’s a rather pessimistic view of things, Tahoma,” Liana said, her expression skeptical. “We've come a long way in the past two millennia. I’m sure the Humans have, as well. None of us has left the safety of the forest for centuries, and now that the issue comes up, I have to wonder why. We may not share our land with the Humans, but we all live under the same sky. Who are we to judge them simply on what our history tells us? I believe the only person here who has even met a Human other than those who visited us before the festival, is Elias.”
Liana pointed at Elias, who looked uncomfortable at having all the attention in the room drawn to him. Liana turned to face him. “Elias, what do you think? You’re the one we should really be asking for an opinion on this matter,” she said, looking up into his gentle brown eyes, which were filled with an emotion she couldn’t begin to fathom.
He stared at her for what seemed to be a long time before he answered. When he did, his voice was measured, as though he’d carefully considered each word. “Tahoma is right in some ways,” he said, cautiously. “The Human race is volatile and quick to anger. Their negative emotions can be very intense, and in the past, they turned those emotions on the Trevi with disastrous results.” He paused, then shook his head. “No, I don’t believe the situation is desperate enough yet for this to be attempted.”
Liana’s heart sank. She had counted on Elias to take her side. “Not desperate enough--?!” she started to say, leaping to her feet in frustration, but she moved too quickly and pain shot through her side. She collapsed, and Elias caught her just in time.
“Take her back to the infirmary,” Matias said, waving his hand in dismissal.
“No!” Liana snapped. “I’m not done talking to you yet!”
“Yes,” Matias said, coldly, “you are.”
With that, Elias carried her from the room, struggling weakly, and back down the halls to the infirmary. Halfway there, she stopped fighting. Her mind raced. Something had to be done, and soon, but the Avenai Jevar weren’t going to take any action. The Humans were their only chance, and if the council wouldn’t send an emissary, she would have to go herself.
Chapter Fourteen: Jina
When Jina heard what had transpired at the council meeting, she wasn’t sure what to be most upset over: the council members ignoring Liana’s advice; or the fact that Liana had actually suggested something as ludicrous as going to the Humans for help. She saw her brother’s thoughtful look as Liana explained her reasons and hoped he wouldn’t encourage this ridiculous notion.
However, the more she thought about it, the more she began to realize that Liana might be right. They were backed into a corner with no other way out, but if the Avenai Jevar had rejected the idea, there was nothing to be done unless… She kept a close watch on Liana over the next few days. She gave every appearance of having accepted the council’s decision, but her eyes were bright with excitement, and she threw herself into the exercises the healers gave her to bring her back up to full strength. She spent many hours talking in low voices with Valeria on the rare occasions when Elias left her side.
Jina could see what was happening and confided her worries to Davu. “She’ll leave as soon as she’s up to the journey,” she said.
Davu nodded. He knew she was right.
“Pack a bag. Be ready. I want you to go with her,” Jina said.
“You’re not going to stop her?” Davu sounded shocked.
Jina’s expression was torn. “I wish I could. I wish she could be safe and happy forever, but everything changed the moment those ‘Genvu’ walked into our lives. Everyone else is frightened into immobility, so if Liana is prepared to take action, I’m prepared to support her, no matter my personal feelings on the subject. However, I’m not willing to send her and Valeria off on their own. They’ll get themselves into trouble before they even leave the forest. Since I’m unable to travel, you’ll have to go in my place. Besides, I know you’ve always been curious about Humans. I thought you’d jump at the chance to travel among them,” Jina said, attempting to lighten the mood.
“I’d go in a heartbeat, but I won’t leave you when you’re not yet healed,” Davu said.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Jina said. “I’ll be well cared for. Liana needs you more than I do right now.”
Reluctantly, Davu agreed.
From that moment on, they kept careful watch, waiting to see when Liana would make her move, but even with all their care, she almost managed to give them the slip.
Jina was woken one night by the quiet sounds of someone dressing in the dark: the rustle of fabric, the clink of a belt, and the muffled curse as a missing boot was sought under the cot. She came wide awake in an instant and shook Davu until he opened his eyes blearily. She placed a finger to her lips and pointed towards the place where he had hidden a pack filled with the essentials for a long journey. He nodded and retrieved it without a sound.
When Liana left the infirmary, Jina allowed Davu to slip a shoulder under her arm and support her out of the room. They caught up with Liana several corridors later.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Jina said, keeping her voice low.
Liana whirled around, her eyes wide, her expression guilty, but determined. She relaxed slightly when she recognized Jina and Davu in the shadows. “You know where I’m going,” she said. “I have to, Jina, for all our sakes.”
Jina limped over to her, unsupported, and wrapped her arms around her, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “I know, dear,” she said sadly, “but you’re out of your mind if you think I’d let you go off on your own.”
“I won’t be on my own,” Liana said. “Valeria is coming with me.”
“You’ll need more protection than that,” Jina said.
Liana shook her head impatiently. “I’m not taking an entourage. They’ll only slow us down,” she said.
“Perhaps,” said Davu, “but you’ll at least be taking me.”
Liana’s brow furrowed. “We were going to fly as far as the edge of the Cliffs of Kerval,” she said. “With you, we’ll have to go on foot.”
“Then you’ll go on foot,” Jina said firmly.
Liana looked as if she was about to
argue, but Jina put on her sternest expression. “You’ll take Davu and go on foot, or I’ll wake the Avenai Jevar this second, and you won’t be going anywhere.”
Liana’s expression went from fury to resignation, and at last she sighed. “Fine, hurry up then. I hope you’re prepared for a long journey,” she said.
Davu hefted his pack and nodded.
Jina insisted on seeing them as far as the mouth of the cave that led out of the mountain. They met Valeria just around the bend from the exit.
“Where have you been?” she said anxiously. Her face fell as she spotted Jina and Davu. “Well, I guess that’s it then,” she said dolefully, dropping her pack.
“No, you’re still going on a journey,” Davu said. “I’m coming with you.”
Valeria was incredulous. “You? But we’ll have to walk!”
Jina repeated her earlier assertion. “You’ll take him and walk, or you won’t be going at all. And so help me, if either of you lets the Humans harm so much as a single hair on Liana’s head…” she couldn’t think of a threat severe enough, so she simply embraced each of them. “Take care of one another, and be wary of the Humans,” she said.
“We will,” Liana promised. “Here, take this.” She handed Jina a small scroll of parchment.
“What is it?” Jina asked.
“A letter, explaining my intention of seeking help from the Humans and stating that you have the authority to act as leader of the Trevi in my absence.”
Jina’s mouth dropped open. She tried to give the scroll back. “I can’t take this!” she said.
Liana refused to take the scroll. “Yes, you can. You taught me everything I know about leadership. You’ll probably do a better job as leader of the Trevi than I ever could. Now go on back to the infirmary before we’re missed. I don’t want the Avenai Jevar to know you were in any way involved in my defiance of their orders to remain in the mountains.”
Jina, still dumbstruck, nodded and limped slowly back down the tunnel, using the wall for support. She looked back once, before she turned the corner, for a last glimpse of her family, and wondered if she would ever see them again.
Chapter Fifteen: Valeria
“Now then,” Davu said when he had watched his sister disappear around the bend, “how were you planning on getting past the guard?”
Valeria snorted in amusement. “That idiot? Already taken care of.” She said, jerking her thumb towards the exit.
Liana and Davu carefully peered around the corner at the mouth of the cave. There, in the torchlight, a young Undine lay awkwardly on the floor, snoring, the remains of a small loaf of bread in his outstretched hand.
“Men will eat anything,” Valeria said with a shrug.
Davu grumbled slightly, and Liana stifled a giggle.
“We’d better be on our way, though,” Valeria warned. “I was waiting for you for a while, and I don’t know how long the effects will last.”
Liana nodded, and together they stepped out under the stars. It was a clear night, and the moon was full and bright enough to light their way.
“What direction are we going?” Davu asked.
“South,” said Liana. “Torvain is the largest of the kingdoms and will have the most soldiers to help us.”
“Its capital is also the farthest away from us,” Davu pointed out.
Liana didn’t dispute this. They had learned enough by listening to Human travellers over the years to have a rough idea of where most of the major Human cities were located. The capital of Torvain was, indeed, the farthest away, but Liana remained firm.
“South,” she said simply. And that was that.
“South it is, then,” said another voice unexpectedly.
All three of them turned, their hearts in their throats, to find Elias leaning casually against a tree behind them. He’d been standing so still that they hadn’t noticed him.
Valeria knew the game was up. Liana had told her Elias had sided with the Avenai Jevar in the decision not to go to the Humans. They’d been caught before they even really left.
Elias stood and came towards them, leaning on a heavy wooden staff. Valeria glanced at Liana. Her friend appeared surprised, but not alarmed. She simply looked him in the eye. “Are you going to try and stop us?” she asked calmly.
“No,” Elias said, lifting a pack onto his shoulders. “I’m coming with you.”
“You too?!” Valeria said without thinking. The others shared her surprise.
“I thought you disapproved of the idea of going to the Humans,” Liana said.
Elias scowled. “I do, but I also know you, child, and I knew the Mother of Magic before you, and neither of you were the sort to submit meekly once you’d set your mind on something. I knew what you would do, even as I advised otherwise.”
Liana had the grace to look ashamed for a moment, then she frowned. “But why do you want to come with us?” she asked.
“I may disapprove, but if you’re going to ignore my advice, then I’m not going to let you walk amongst the Humans without me by your side to protect you,” he said.
Valeria shifted impatiently. “Let him come or make him stay,” she said, “but make up your mind quickly. We need to be far away from here before that guard wakes up and sounds the alarm.”
Liana looked at Elias for a long moment, then shrugged. “Let’s go, then,” she said, and turned, walking away to the south without a backwards glance. With relief, Valeria broke into a run, bounding ahead to lead the way.
They made for the Human trade road, knowing that the other Trevi wouldn’t dare come after them once they reached it. It was also the easiest and most direct route to the Cliffs of Kerval, which marked the southern edge of Trevi territory.
It took them two days to reach it on foot, looking behind them at every rustle in the bushes, fearful of pursuit, or worse, another attack. However, they made it to the road without incident and Valeria, Liana, and even Davu breathed a sigh of relief, but Elias remained quiet. He answered when spoken to directly but otherwise kept his own counsel.
Valeria watched him from the corner of her eye with interest. She had never spent much time with Elias. He often travelled with Liana, but he always seemed slightly removed from the lighthearted fun they had on the road, happier to watch than participate. His attention was for Liana alone. Valeria had the impression that if it weren’t for her friend, he would be living like a hermit somewhere far from any Trevi settlement.
Still, Liana trusted him implicitly and set great store by his advice, and Valeria knew she was deeply troubled by his disapproval of her plan. Every night by the fire, Liana tried to engage him in conversation or get him to tell a story as he often did, but he only shook his head. By the fourth night, Valeria was fed up.
“So, Elias,” she said, nodding at the staff by his side, “can you use that thing for anything other than walking?”
Elias blinked, unused to her addressing him directly. He ran a hand subconsciously along the polished wood.
“I can use it,” he said quietly, “but I hope there won’t be a need.”
“Care to give us a demonstration of your skills?” Valeria said, drawing her sword slightly in invitation.
“No,” Elias said firmly. “I will only use my weapon if it becomes absolutely necessary.”
Valeria huffed and sat back down. After a moment, she turned and unrolled her blankets, lying down to try to sleep on the cold, hard ground.
When she woke, it was still dark. The fire had died out, but she could see the dim shapes of her companions around her, their blankets rising and falling gently. All appeared to be as it should, but something troubled her. Maybe it was the darkness of a cloudy night, or perhaps it was the unseasonable chill in the air. Either way, she decided the problem could be solved by re-lighting the fire.
She rose and walked over to the cold pit of ash and crouched beside it. With a flick of the wrist, she conjured a flame in her palm. Its warm, friendly light radiated out to the nearest trees and gleam
ed across numerous pairs of blood-red eyes.
Valeria’s breath caught in her throat as her heart skipped a beat. “Liana—“ she began to say, but before she could finish the thought, the Genvu were upon them. “Liana!” Valeria shrieked.
Everyone else woke at her shout, frightened and confused. They tried to get to their feet, but their blankets tangled around their legs, tripping them. They looked around wildly, trying to remember where they’d left their weapons, then immediately forgot them and began frantically defending themselves with magic, pots, blankets, anything that would hold off the onslaught.
Valeria quickly learned that the monsters didn’t care for fire as she sent flames flying from her hands to coil around them, but while it slowed them, it didn’t stop them. One of the Genvu broke free of her spell and swiped at her with its wickedly sharp claws. She leapt out of the way but was a fraction of a second too slow. She cried out as the claw grazed her face and desperately cast more fire at the monster as it dove at her.
It dodged her attack. For a heartbeat, she thought she was done for, but just then, Elias appeared, knocking the creature to the side with a blow from his walking stick. He didn’t wait to see if she was alright but swung the staff at another of their attackers.
Valeria lay there, stunned, for a moment, but then she shook herself and hurriedly retrieved her sword. She struck at one of the Genvu confidently. Her blade hit home, but the injury to the creature healed over in a matter of seconds. It met her eyes and leered at her, running a forked tongue along its pointed teeth. Valeria shuddered but resumed her attack. Her blows seemed to have little effect until at last she swung her blade at its neck and its head fell to the ground.
Panting, she took stock of their situation. By now, everyone had found their weapons, but they were outnumbered. The Genvu were simply too powerful. Gradually, they were forced to retreat, until finally, they were standing in a circle, back to back, facing half a dozen of the beasts.
Valeria reached for Liana’s hand, certain that they were about to die, but just then there was the sound of hurried footsteps. A group of at least ten men came running around the corner, weapons in hand.
