“I am certain it stings the nostrils at that range.” His father laughed. “The sun should warm the air enough to keep you from freezing, and the river is not far. Just a short walk to the south. It curves around the south side of this glade and then doubles back southwest over a sharp waterfall. Just do not fall over.”
The young guardian listened to his father. “Fine. You will keep watch and protect the others?”
“Yes, they will be all right,” Kellen assured him. “Your mom has just been spooking them is all; they are not used to her sensitive perceptions and her abnormal tendency to describe things so mysteriously. Go on.”
Faolan nodded and moved away from the campsite toward the south. He pinched his shirt again and brought it to his nose to sniff. Disbelief struck him as he wondered if he had smelled so horribly all this time. The oblivious guardian felt sorry for his companions and their noses. The stench was quite awful, though he would not have known dragons smelled so dreadfully. Rotting dragon blood was a new and unpleasant sensation.
As he walked south, he removed his cloak and folded it up into his arms. He breathed a heavy sigh and tried to relax as his father had wished. So much had changed since their time as scouts in Darnum, and they had traveled so far from what he considered home, he was still in a bit of shock. Part of him wished he could return to the uncomplicated life of a scout. He missed smelling the fresh air of the open plains from atop the boulder field and basking in the midday sun. It was a time he hoped to return to after the seals were protected and the ominous cataclysms thwarted.
A part of him knew he was not ready to be a Shadow Guardian; the responsibilities and stresses of the position were more than he wished to bear. In reflection, he realized that before their group reached the Scar, he had not stepped up to be the leader he should have been, but since then he had been pushing himself to be more and to be better. The lives of those he traveled with depended on him. The others looked to him for direction, and he knew if he were to hesitate in a dangerous situation, it could mean the loss of someone’s life, maybe even his own. The fact was unacceptable to him, and he was determined not to fail them in a time of need. He would not forsake them or allow them to fall due to his shortcomings.
The guardian stepped through a small area of dense flora and emerged onto the bank of a decent-size river. It looked to originate from the Tri-Peaks farther west and flowed east toward the waterfall. The water was crystal clear, highlighting the sandy bed. The soft dirt bank sloped steadily into the river and dropped suddenly into a deeper-flowing center channel a couple of dozen feet out.
Trees lined both sides of the river as far as he was able to see. Faolan looked around for a long branch that was not far off the ground so that once he had washed his clothes, he could hang them to dry in the warming day’s heat. After some time of searching, he found a suitable branch sticking out toward the river with a flat leaf bed where he could lay his clothes out in direct sunlight.
He walked to the river’s edge and removed his boots and pants, leaving only a simple undergarment around his waist. He knelt down and began washing his rather heavy cloak. A dull red hue filtered into the water and expanded as the dragon’s blood drifted downstream. It took him a substantial amount of time to wash his guardian’s uniform of the dried blood. He hung the clean pieces over the old branch, which dipped lower under the weight of the wet clothing.
Once all the parts of his guardian uniform were washed, the air had warmed, and the direct sunrays were pleasant. Faolan glanced at the pristine river and figured he would immerse himself in the beautiful stream. It was quite a scenic locale, and he wanted to take advantage of the brief respite on their journey.
The young guardian waded into the river and let the refreshing water rise up to his chest, though he found it intriguing that the water felt warmer than the fresh mountain air, which was unusual. He wondered if its oddly elevated temperature was due to the trials in some way. Whatever the reason for the warm water was, he was grateful as he rather enjoyed the feeling, almost as if he swam in a lukewarm hot spring.
After a moment of enjoying the warmth, he took a deep breath and submerged his head. He listened to the quiet beneath the surface and cleared his mind. While soaking in the silent serenity of the river, he released all fears and concerns. Emptying his thoughts into carelessness, he let himself drift with the slow current and found tranquility in the silent solace.
A few moments passed as he listened to the water’s flow, and he wondered if he would ever return to Darnum and the comfort he once knew with his parents. Part of him yearned to return to the simpler time when there was no doom and gloom because of seals and mages, yet another part of him knew he would never forfeit the friendships he had developed with those he had traveled with over the past weeks. And then there was Aili.
He believed that, if they survived all that was bound to happen with the seals and safely return to Lesley, he would ask to court her.
Faolan felt the need for air and pushed off the riverbed so he could rise to the surface. As he quickly emerged from the river, he heard a sudden scream behind him. He was startled and turned around to see who cried out. He saw Aili sitting down on the shoreline.
She started laughing when she saw who had startled her. “Faolan, you scared me! I thought you were some monster come to get me!”
“I am sorry, I did not intend to frighten you. I was just relaxing underwater for a moment while my uniform dried,” Faolan assured her.
“Oh, it is quite all right.” She laughed in embarrassment. “I was unaware of your presence. I noticed your clothing farther upstream but thought you had left it there and did not imagine you would be in the water so far down river.”
He chuckled with her. “Yeah, well, I was without clothes and figured I would take advantage of the stunning river and peaceful silence.”
“You are naked?” Aili eyed him with a wayward shift of her eyes.
He lowered back down into the river and said, “Well, I have an undergarment on, so I am not completely naked.”
She caught her inappropriate gaze and changed the subject. “Right. I am sorry for bothering you. I should go.”
He objected before she could stand. “You do not have to leave. You could stay. What are you doing here anyway?”
She glanced down at several canteens in her hands and responded, “I came here to refill our canteens. They were running low, and some were completely empty. I figured this would be a good time to resupply our water stores, since Caedmon and the others still have not returned.”
The young guardian smiled. “You are always so thoughtful, Aili, planning ahead for everyone. Have you always been this kind?”
The fair healer smiled and glanced to the side shyly. “I am uncertain what you mean. I have always planned ahead for my brother and me. This is simply an ordinary precaution for travelers.”
He was feeling extra bold, perhaps due to their seclusion, and he continued. “Humble and beautiful as well.”
Aili blushed in response to the sudden flattery but welcomed it. “Stop it, Faolan. Where is this coming from? Are you still the Faolan I know?”
“Of course. What do you mean?”
“You are much more confident and bold.” She eyed him bashfully.
“I could not help myself and do not know what has come over me. I normally would not say something so direct, but I have found myself thinking about you, Aili. I enjoy being in your presence. It makes me happy,” he explained.
“What are you saying, Faolan?”
He hesitated for a moment as he briefly wavered. “Aili, when we return to Lesley, would you grant me your hand in a courtship?”
She turned bright red and became speechless.
Faolan saw her hesitation, and his confidence lessened. He added, “Though if you are not interested, I will understand. It is all right if you decline.”
Her eyes rose abruptly, and she quickly replied, “No, no, I am just in shock is all. I did not expect such
forwardness from you, Faolan. I agree to grant you my hand in courtship when we return to Lesley. I am interested in you as well, Faolan, and would enjoy growing closer.”
The young guardian grinned in elation but desperately tried to maintain a veneer of calm as he said, “That is wonderful to hear. I look forward to our return.”
“I do as well,” Aili replied. “Well, I suppose I should make my way back to the camp before my brother becomes concerned about my absence.”
Faolan looked down at her hands. “Do you still need to fill the canteens?”
“Oh right.” She laughed. “I forgot about the water. I just need to fill up the last two real quick, and then I will be off.”
It only took her a couple of minutes to fill the last two canteens, and then she glanced up at Faolan with a widening smile. The healer walked away from the river, but she turned back before stepping into the forest and waved at him. He waved in return, and she giggled at his raised spirit. Her light-blue dress whipped in the breeze as she faded into the northern forest.
Faolan was left standing in the river with bottled-up elation, and he waited for a moment before bursting out in a loud, “Yes!”
He briefly splashed around in the water in pure joy before settling back down. Never in his dreams had he imagined that such a beautiful and kind elf maiden would agree to court him. The brief respite from the responsibilities of being a Shadow Guardian and leader had been greatly needed. Now he was overjoyed he could not return to Darnum immediately as he sought a new path for the future.
Once he calmed from his elation, Faolan swam back up the stream toward his drying uniform. He had drifted a fair distance down river before encountering Aili. The guardian glanced around and peered into the silent forest as he grew nearer to his clothing. He had dismissed his mother’s concern about the silent forest, but now it began to bother him too. He could not recollect another environment so devoid of life and sound. There was indeed something peculiar to this forest.
Finally, he reached his uniform lying on its low branch. The sun had successfully dried it even in the cooling air of the Tri-Peaks, which was lucky for him as he did not fancy walking back to the campsite nearly naked and waiting for his uniform to dry next to the warm fire.
Faolan put on his uniform piece by piece and situated it comfortably. As he dressed, he watched as his clothing changed colors from the neutral green to a bright yellow across its entirety. While he knew a question would arise about the bright color of his uniform, he was quite all right with it because he was resolved to court Aili when they returned to Lesley. He had never courted anyone before and was unaware of what to expect, but he eagerly anticipated the experience.
With a light step, he walked back toward their campsite at the edge of the small glade. He trekked through the silent forest at a good pace and emerged from the trees, returning to the small glade outside the cave, not far from the others. Their campsite was settled on the south end of the glade, just inside the trees for shade.
He wondered if Caedmon and the other two mages had returned yet. He looked for the distinct blue fur of the wolf guardian but did not see it. The dwarf and auburn-haired woman were not in sight either.
“Father?” he called out as he neared the campsite. “Have they returned?”
His father turned to see him and immediately raised a brow at his son. “How come your uniform is yellow?”
Faolan sighed at the anticipated question. “I am happy, Father. That is all.”
“Oh?” Treasach slid into the conversation. “And what brings you this happiness?”
Faolan glanced at Aili across the campsite and saw her smiling secretly. The young guardian did not think it appropriate to voice what had occurred between them and said, “I am just happy, and I am traveling with friends through beautiful places.”
Treasach looked at him skeptically. “You do realize we are here because our world might end?”
“Stop giving him a hard time,” Gavina said from the far side of the campsite. “Let him be happy if he is happy.”
“Where is Mother?” Faolan asked.
“Not long ago she found some footsteps at the glade’s north end, though none of us have been that way,” Kellen said. “She is still investigating the area, as far as I know.”
“Should I join her?” Faolan wondered, hoping to escape any further questions about his uniform’s color.
“If you would not mind. She tends to get absorbed by her tracking,” his father replied gratefully. “Her time as a Shadow Guardian continues to affect her some days, though not as often as it once did. It would do her well to have you with her.”
“Then I shall go find her.”
“Thank you, son.” Kellen patted him on the shoulder.
The guardian took off toward the north across the glade and glanced at the tall cliff wall above the cave’s entrance. He saw no change and could not fathom what the three were enduring down below; part of him wondered if they would return at all. His concentration shifted to his environment. The glade seemed peaceful and undisturbed as the grass flowed with the gentle wind. His eyes scanned the forest perimeter, but nothing seemed abnormal. Leaves flickered in the wind and branches swayed as the sun began to descend.
He slowed as he neared the northern tree line and called out, “Mother?”
The guardian waited a moment to see if he would get an answer in return, though one did not come. He slowly entered the forest and kept his mind sharp as he peered through the dense trees. Small glimmers of sunlight radiated through the canopy, providing a dim glow in the understory. The northern forest was denser than he had imagined. The southern forest, which he had walked through in order to wash his clothes, was brighter and not as thick. He would not have figured they would have been so different when the two were not that far apart.
“Mother?” he called out again.
He listened for a reply, but one still did not rise.
The guardian stopped walking and watched his surroundings with great focus. A branch snapped to his left, deeper in the forest, and his gaze quickly shifted in its direction, though he could see nothing. He leaned to the side and watched for movement while listening for any other sounds.
“Mother?” he whispered with caution.
Something moved in his peripheral vision, and he shifted uneasily as he peered in its direction for any sign of the shadow’s identity. He waited a moment and then saw another shadowy motion from a different direction in the corner of his eye. He tensed, shifted again, and unhooked his swords from his belt, remembering Caedmon’s dire warning of Drey’kan being near. The guardian waited anxiously, though he was not sure what he truly saw, if anything at all. He figured the glimmering light might be playing with his senses as he heard no sound accompanying the indistinct movement, although he could not recollect any noise during his previous encounter with the Drey’kan right before its strike either.
A hand grabbed Faolan’s shoulder, and he jumped in fear, whipping around with his swords raised. He saw his mother’s face and sighed in utter relief.
“Mother, where have you been?”
Auvelia placed a finger against her lips and said nothing; instead, she waved her hand for him to follow.
Faolan noticed she had her bow drawn with an arrow nocked. He was not sure why she would not speak but knew it was best to listen to her. She turned and began moving lightly to the southeast, so he followed close behind her with similar soft footsteps. They wove through the trees and listened to the soft patter of leaves flickering in the wind. As he watched the glimmering light, he felt a great eeriness to the forest, nothing like the forest back home. He felt as if a presence was there that he could not see, though it was a feeling more than a knowledge. The light played on the ground, and trees, refracting through seemingly unoccupied air in odd patterns, created an unnatural glow through the forest.
“What is wrong with the light?” he whispered.
She glanced back and saw what he referred to, but
instead of answering, she placed a finger to her lips once more.
His mother stopped abruptly and peered forward. Faolan followed her gaze. She turned back and pointed forward, slightly off toward the right. It took him a moment, but he saw a Drey’kan staring back at them through a narrow space between tree trunks. The creature’s metallic eyes were honed in on them. Faolan felt the hair on the back of his neck rise. The being realized by their sudden change in behavior that it had been spotted, and it slowly faded into invisibility once more.
After it disappeared, the light glimmered wildly through the forest, and they knew the Drey’kan had moved to a different position. Auvelia motioned for her son to follow her once again as she started moving back toward the southwest. They carefully wove through the forest and watched the eerie light dance around them. Tense moments passed as Faolan wondered if the Drey’kan planned to attack them. He knew his group was truly defenseless against such an adversary without Caedmon by their side.
The two of them emerged from the trees and reentered the glade surrounding the trials, and after a few dozen feet, they turned back and watched the tree line apprehensively.
Auvelia looked to her son. “It is not safe here. There are many of them in the forest, though it is not clear if they can enter the glade. I have not seen their footsteps in the grass, and the light does not glimmer out here as it does in the dimly lit forest.”
“Should we tell the others?”
She shook her head. “It will do no good and only cause them fear. We will not see the Drey’kan coming if they do attack, and there will be no way to prevent it.”
Faolan was not entirely in agreement but listened to her greater experience. “Then we will keep quiet on their presence for now.”
His mother nodded.
“You should take a break, Mother. You have been keeping watch all day. I will take over from here.”
She glanced at him and resisted. “You have not slept since Lesley. It is not healthy to go so long without sleep. I am not even sure how you remain as awake as you are.”
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