I knew that his sense of responsibility would make him worry, but the basement was empty. I assumed everyone else was acting more cautiously than I and were all in the middle of the castle. I should be there instead of contemplating running away from home, yet here I was, about to escape through a window.
I held my breath as Sel went first. He climbed the boxes stacked along the wall, and I was amazed that none fell as he scrambled up. He went legs-first once he reached the window, but it was a tight squeeze, and when he reached his shoulders I thought for one horrible moment he would get stuck, but he made it through after a pause to wiggle his shoulders.
After that point, his exit went smoothly, and he dropped out of sight. When his hand appeared over the windowsill and gestured for me, I let out a sigh of relief.
"Come on, there's no one out here. Quickly, we don't want that to change." I shivered as his disembodied voice gave me an intense feeling of unease.
I climbed up the same path I’d watched him take to reach the high window without anywhere near the same amount of grace or skill. My arms muscles strained to pull myself up the foot or so between levels of boxes, and I wobbled horribly, almost losing my balance several times.
By the time I reached the ledge, I was uncomfortably sweaty, with loose tendrils of hair plastered against the side of my face. His hand was beckoning faster, so I reached out with my right hand and grabbed on. It was a good thing he was with me, as I relied heavily on his strength to pull me up. Inelegantly, I wiggled far enough across the ledge until I had my legs over, then I fell headfirst into his waiting arms, almost knocking us both over.
Once I was back on my feet, I gave him a quick nod. "Thanks," I huffed, trying to catch my breath. "Apparently, lifting books doesn't give me upper body strength the way I’d hoped it did."
He bit back a chuckle as he looked around. "I'm sure we'll have plenty of time to work on your muscles, if we're headed to the Library at Abrecem Secer." He squinted, not waiting for a response as he pointed his chin. "Come on, there's a path through the woods at the back of the castle we can use to get to town. I've never seen anyone other than humans use it.”
“Hopefully, the ur’gels will be busy with their attack on the front of the castle, not planning on a double-pronged assault." I swallowed at my words, falling silent as I considered the possibility.
I hoped he was right about the path being secret. If the ur’gels figured out there was another entrance, they might be able to get in the same way we'd escaped. The first stop on my journey was the Low Forest community outside the castle walls. I wasn't sure they’d received word of what had happened.
I vaguely recalled my brother telling me the alarm had been enchanted to ring throughout the entire community in case of attack to rouse as many warriors as possible. Maybe the elves there would be able to help, or at least be prepared to defend themselves. With that thought in mind, I became even more determined to reach my destination.
The reason I headed for the Low Forest community first wasn't just because it was on the way. Over the last few years, I had struck up a friendship of sorts with another elf around my age. Her name was Gwennael Fuur, a wolf-walker. She wasn’t a scholar the way I was, but she was the only elf I could think of who could help me reach the Library.
I’d first seen her when I was much younger and out exploring with my older brother, back when I’d wanted to be just like him. She’d been alone except for a single wolf, and I’d been surprised to see her. It wasn’t common to see someone so young all by herself. I waved, but she’d quickly darted away.
Instead of chalking her up as a town elf exploring the forest as we were, something about her had struck me as sad and alone. Over the following weeks and months, I’d deliberately gone searching for her, sometimes with my brother when he’d been in an indulgent mood, but usually with a servant. In time, she’d stopped running away and we’d struck up an odd friendship in the way that only outsiders can. But even then, she’d been tight-lipped about her reason for living in the forest, away from the other elves. The only thing she would say was that her family was the wolves she lived with.
I felt connected to her because of that oddness. Both of us were apart from society in our own way. I’d seen the looks people gave us when we’d meet at the Low Forest marketplace, and the way her face would fall before she quickly assumed a blank expression to hide her emotions. She usually had an excuse about something she needed to do and left whenever it happened.
I recognized the look because I’d felt that way frequently when people interacted with me in the castle. It may have been my slightly more acceptable love of books which made me an outcast instead of wolves, but it didn’t change how alone I felt. Finding someone else who understood had been indescribably wonderful.
Beyond our mutual solitary status, I’d always admired how she never reacted to the disdain others showed her. Her almost magical ability to connect with wolves and live in the forest was something I wished I could do, and the reason I was trying to find her now.
I ducked a branch that seemed to come out of nowhere and winced at my clumsiness. I would definitely need her to come with me to Abrecem Secer if I wanted to get there in one piece. It was a huge ask, as it was at least three hundred miles away from home. It was just as likely she’d refuse to come. But I needed her help to survive. She had practical knowledge of animals, hunting, and living off the land that would be required to get there. Otherwise, branches would be the least of my concerns.
I trudged along behind Sel, thinking about how many times I’d wished I could throw aside my life at the castle, and now here I was. I still cared about what my family thought, but finding Gwen and reaching Abrecem Secer was the most important thing I could do to protect my loved ones from death at the hands of ur’gels.
While I mulled over how I’d reached this point in life, we traveled swiftly. Sel surprised me by unerringly knowing where to step to make the least amount of noise. Each time I stepped on a twig, I flinched. I was an elf—wasn't I supposed to be naturally more graceful?
I doubled down, working on being aware of my steps, and after some time I was happy to notice I did seem to be making less noise, if not as little as him.
The downside to all the walking was I wasn’t used to physical exertion. Soon, my legs and arms were aching in ways I hadn't anticipated. The burning in my thighs reminded me of the time I’d had a fever, and the rivulets of sweat that stuck my tunic to my back were sticky and pungent.
It felt harder than the last time I’d walked to the Low Forest town, but I couldn't remember how long ago that had been. Apparently, the research I’d been doing had left my muscles soft and ill-prepared for what I was now attempting to accomplish. Wistfully, I thought of the drills I’d watched the warriors doing every morning and regretted not trying harder to join them.
I swung my satchel to my back for the millionth time, as it had fallen over in front of me and was impeding my movements again. Sel looked back, noticing my discomfort when I bumped into a small shrub that snugged my pants. I grimaced at the sudden sharpness from a thorn and that must have convinced him I needed a break.
He pointed out a flat spot underneath a large tree beside the path. "We should be far enough away from the castle that the ur’gels won't be near, and I don't think anyone else followed us. Here, have a sip of this."
He threw me a flask, and I was grateful he'd thought ahead far enough to pack food and water. I took a large swallow, feeling even more unprepared that such an important detail hadn't even crossed my mind. What had I been thinking? To pack a small bag with my books, a change of clothing, and head off on a quest to a Library three hundred miles away? With my confidence dropping to my boots, I handed the flask back.
"Thanks. I don't suppose you have any idea how far we are from the Low Forest village?" I felt strangely alone and yet alive for the first time in a way I never had, realizing how much I depended on him.
"Only about another twenty minutes or so, I
think. We’re taking the long way to town, through the forest. If we’d taken the road, we would've been there by now, but I assumed secrecy was more important than speed. Unless I was mistaken?"
"No, this route is good. We made it away from the castle unseen, and no one knows which direction we went. Ur’gel or family." I cracked a small smile, wishing I felt as confident as my words sounded.
He nodded, drinking from his flask before recapping it. "I brought food, but if it's all the same to you, I'd like to get to the Low Forest before we stop for a real meal."
I stood, wincing at the soreness of my muscles. "I agree, better to get there and relax after…" I trailed off. I'd never told him why we were headed there. "I was hoping—"
"That Gwen would join us? Don't worry, no one said anything. I like to observe."
When I narrowed my eyes, he chuckled.
"Not like that. I just meant I watch people. Humans and elves. I’ve noticed in general that the smartest person in any room is the person watching without speaking. I’m hoping to one day be that person. "
He’d never said anything so introspective before, but looking back, it made sense. I’d always thought him quiet by nature, but he was saying he was quiet because he was practicing restraint and trying to learn wisdom, not because he didn’t have anything to say. I felt even more confident in his skills now.
"That sounds like something I need to practice." I laughed for a moment, before returning to his original statement. "I was hoping to find Gwen because she’s brave, confident, and knows how to survive in the Low Forest. I'm just not sure she'll want to come on this mission, especially since I haven’t seen her for a while.”
I looked away from him into the trees so I didn’t have to meet his eyes, then admitted my weakness in a quiet voice. “I wish I were more like her. Maybe I wouldn't let everyone push me around so much." I tried to hide it, but I could hear the sadness leaking out.
He put a hand on my shoulder and patted it reassuringly. "Nonsense, you’ve got your own kind of bravery. That’s a big part of why I came with you. I have to say this is the craziest scheme you've ever come up with, but I trust your reasons. If I help you get to Abrecem Secer, you'll stand a good chance of achieving your goal. Which, based on the timing of the attacks, I’m assuming is to find a way to stop the upcoming war everyone is worried about?"
"Yes, it is. If I could just figure out a way to lock Dag’draath back up in his cage, the way Onen Suun did after the Dark War, I think we could end what is promising to be another era of devastation before it begins." I looked at him, pressing my lips together as I considered the fate of my world if I failed.
He stared into my eyes for a moment before he stood. "Then I guess it's time for us to get moving. Are you ready?"
With my aching muscles protesting, I got to my feet with difficulty and followed him through the narrow cow-path through the forest. The break had helped, but I shivered as the cool breeze dried my damp clothing. Luckily for my poor, deconditioned body, he’d been correct when he’d told me it was only a short distance away.
I’d never entered the Low Forest town from the forest path before, having always taken the main trade route with a caravan of traders, on foot with my brother, or in my parents’ luxurious traveling coach.
When we arrived, the town was quiet. From the way the sky had darkened, I imagined everyone was tucked into their houses, eating supper with their loved ones after a day’s hard work. I wondered how my family was doing. I bit my lip to hold back a sob, hoping that they were safe from the ur’gels, trying to brush my worry aside. There was nothing I could do for them back there, but if I was able to get to Gwen and the leader of the Low Forest elves, perhaps I could still help them.
He halted abruptly, causing me to nearly collide with his back. He held up his hand without turning as he continued to peer blindly into the darkness behind us. "There's something out there." His voice was barely a whisper.
I tensed. "What do you mean? Aren't we safe here, within the town?"
He tightened his lips. "We're still on the outskirts, nowhere near where we need to be to notify anyone important of an oncoming attack. I can feel something in the woods, something that wasn't out there a little while ago.”
He looked worried but at his words I relaxed. The only creatures I knew who could be so quiet and who hung out in the area we were currently approaching were with the very elves I wanted to find.
I turned, looking into the darkness falling around us. "Gwen? Are you there?"
"Shush! How do you know it's her?" He glared, looking at me as if I’d gone crazy.
"I don't, but I can't hear anything. If you can feel something we can’t hear, it probably means there're wolves nearby."
Sel scowled. I'd never seen him angry before. It wasn't a good look for him.
"You don't know you're right," he muttered, crossing his arms.
I turned and glared at him. "Look, if there is somebody or something out there who wanted to kill us, they already know we're here. We’re standing directly under the lights. If it’s Gwen and her wolves, they know we're here as well. Either way, I don't think it's going to change anything if we announce our presence." I gestured at the houses we were passing. "If nothing else, someone might hear us and help us if we are attacked. Assuming they hear us, which they won’t if we don’t say anything."
He relented, but I noticed his shoulders remained tense. "Fine. But the next time you feel like shouting into the forest when we're trying to be quiet, don't."
I suppressed a smile. Yelling into the wilderness could have been suicide. I probably would have been too frightened to do it if it hadn’t been for one small thing he hadn't noted. A tuft of grey hair, just behind the tree to my left, which was the exact same color as Gwen's bonded wolf, Swift.
With hardly even a crackle of the dried leaves on the ground, Gwen stepped out from the trees, followed by Swift so close to her left knee they practically touched. He was a large, majestic animal with ice-blue eyes that seemed to look into my soul. I often thought part of the reason the villagers shunned Gwen was because of how wise he looked.
Swift reached just past Gwen’s waist, which was the perfect height for her to rest her left hand comfortably on the back of his neck. She tossed her golden hair back over her shoulder and cocked one eyebrow at me. In that moment, she looked like a savage queen, with her dark green eyes flashing with curiosity.
"Rhin? What brings you out here? And without an entourage." She looked around in confusion until I pointed at Sel. Now she looked shocked.
"Wait a minute, let me get this straight. Princess Rhin—"
"I'm not a princess," I corrected.
Gwen rolled her eyes. "Okay, Rhiniya of the Cliff Elves, daughter of the Lord of the Cliff Elves, is in the woods of the Low Forest with a single human servant to protect her. What alternate universe have I walked into?"
I wrinkled my nose. "Okay, when you say it like that, it does sound a little out of the ordinary," I began, causing Gwen to give me a look. "Fine. Cliffside was attacked. Everyone else is still in the castle. I escaped with Sel and we’re on our way to Abrecem Secer to look for a book in the Library to stop the oncoming war. I have a bad feeling what’s coming will rival the Dark War, and I’m not sure any of our people will make it this time if I don’t do something. I came here looking for you and to warn the villagers to be prepared."
Gwen's expression changed to wide-eyed disbelief. "Are you okay? What do you mean, ‘attacked’? Who attacked Cliffside? I thought the castle was impenetrable."
I took several deep breaths to compose myself as the memory of the alarm going off and the frantic action afterward caused my heart to race the same way it had the first time. I realized I didn’t even know if my family was alive and had to bite back the sting of tears.
"Yeah, so did I. We were attacked by ur’gels, right before we took off. I didn't want to chance getting stuck inside the castle when I know there's information out here that could hel
p us win, help us defeat Dag’draath for good this time. I know it sounds silly, but I can't explain it any better."
Gwen's face shifted, a series of unreadable emotions like storm clouds passing over it. In reality, we didn't really know each other all that well because of the distance between our lives. I knew I was asking a lot of her, but I was hoping she’d find my idea exciting and come along.
Her long fingers tightened in the fur around Swift’s neck, as if she was gathering his energy somehow, and two more wolves appeared from the trees to flank her. They were smaller, and looked younger as well. Gwen smiled down at the wolves, communicating wordlessly with them as I waited.
When she looked at me again, it was with an intensity that made me redden.
"Rhin," she started, pausing to bite her bottom lip. "You’ve got interesting ideas and you love your books almost as much as I love my wolves. If you think there's something in a far-away Library to prevent all of Lynia from going to hell, I'm in."
"Really? I mean, I'd love it if you joined me, but I didn't think you'd say yes, let alone volunteer yourself. I mean, I have no idea what I'm walking into, and there's a huge chance I'm not going to make it home."
Gwen shrugged, exuding strength as she stood, legs hip-width apart in her forest-green leggings and oak-colored tunic, looking exactly how I imagined a goddess of the forest would look. She had a face that on first glance I’d thought sweet and innocent, until I’d noticed the stubborn jaw and warm green eyes that had shadows of pain in their depths.
"Let's face it, Princess. If we don't do anything, no one will have a home to go back to. From what I’ve heard, the last time Dag’draath was free it almost destroyed our planet. If you have a plan to stop him, I'm willing to take my chances with you and your big brain.”
From the corner of my eye I caught Sel shaking his head and muttering something under his breath. It sounded suspiciously like, "She's as nuts as Rhin. What have I gotten myself into?"
Soul Goblet Page 4
