A Trial of Souls

by Brian D. Anderson

  He leaped forward, striking with his sword just as a clawed hand was about to seize Linis by the throat. Shockwaves ran up Lee’s arm as if his blade had hit solid rock instead of flesh and bone. No matter. The creature wailed and turned on Lee, its deformed face contorted into a vicious snarl. Its arm, severed at the elbow, was hanging by a single piece of white flesh. Black smoke rose from its wounds, and the air was filled with the putrid scent of death.

  Bevaris stepped up from behind, swinging his great blade. It stuck halfway through the beast’s neck, sending it to its knees. More acrid smoke spilled out as the knight kicked it in the back, freeing his sword. The scrape of steel on bone sent shivers up Lee’s spine.

  The smoke continued to rise, driving the men back, coughing and wheezing. Lee rolled the creature onto its back. Through the haze he could just make out the glint of something metallic buried in its chest, just above the heart. It was round and smooth, about the size of a silver piece. He reached down to grab it, but the second his fingers made contact he fell to his knees, as if struck by lightning. Linis and Millet rushed to his side.

  “That is what has changed him,” Lee told them, steadying himself. “Pry it out with your knife. But don’t touch it.”

  Linis pulled the dagger from its chest and dug the object out. Tearing off a piece of cloth from his shirt, he carefully picked it up. A second later the creature’s body began to convulse. Millet pulled Lee to his feet and led him away. They had only gone a few yards when the body burst into flames. Everyone stared with a combination of horror and wonder as the white-hot fire shot up, forcing them even further back. Slowly, the flames died away leaving nothing of the creature but a small pile of gray ashes.

  Bevaris immediately began treating the wounded while the others gathered the bodies of their fallen comrades.

  Linis held up the cloth containing the metal object with the tips of his fingers. “What is this?” he asked.

  “I’m not sure,” replied Lee. “It’s different to what I encountered years ago. At least, it feels different. The object I saw then was…” He hesitated. “Well, I guess you could say it had a mind of its own. It possessed a half-man and drove him completely mad. But with this thing, I feel nothing but malice and fury.”

  “What should we do with it?” asked Dina.

  “It’s too dangerous to take with us,” said Lee. “I don’t know what it could do to me.”

  “Can we destroy it?” asked Millet.

  “We have no tools,” replied Linis. “I think we should bury it.”

  Lee nodded in agreement. “Yes. But be sure to mark where it lies. I will return and destroy it later.”

  Linis walked a few yards north and dug a hole with his dagger, leaving a small piece of the cloth wrapping sticking out of the ground.

  After retrieving their mounts, they covered the fallen men with stones and said a few reverent words of prayer before continuing south. Morale was low and nerves were shaken. Lee decided that they would risk going into a town once they’d left the valley. He looked at Jacob and smiled inwardly at the bravery of his son in the face of such a dreadful encounter. It was Jacob’s dagger that had slowed the beast and saved Linis’ life. As much as he feared for the boy’s safety, he was also truly happy to have his son by his side.

  His mind drifted to Penelope, and the sight of her lifeless body in his arms. At that moment he was grateful that the Dark Knight was not there to tempt him with an offer of a quiet life with his family.

  He might well accept it.

  Chapter 12

  The moment they crested the southern slope of the valley, Lee felt a blast of warm air wash over him. The entire company sighed with relief and began packing away their blankets.

  Bevaris spurred his horse forward to pull alongside Lee. “If you still intend to take a short respite, the city of Molsans is less than a day south of here.”

  Lee thought for a moment. “Yes. I’ve been there. It’s large enough for us to pass unnoticed.” He glanced back at the men. Their shine and polish was gone, replaced by the tatters and ravages of a long road and a hard battle. “Molsans is almost due west of Dantory,” he continued. “We can re-supply and perhaps gather information. Several desert towns trade there, though not usually at this time of year. Still, we may get lucky.”

  They followed the trail south from the valley. By midday they came to a well-traveled road leading southeast. They passed a few merchants and tradesmen along the way, but their wary eyes told Lee that conversation was unwise.

  “It would seem things have changed here as well,” remarked Millet. “I remember the people of the Eastland being far friendlier.”

  “Yes,” agreed Lee. “We can only hope that we do not run into trouble before we leave.”

  They arrived in Molsans just as the sun was sinking below the horizon. The warmth had lifted their spirits, and the promise of a soft bed, a hot meal, and good wine helped considerably. The city itself was small by western standards - not even a quarter the size of Baltria or Althetas. The gates were open wide, though guarded. After a brief discussion with the sentry, together with the bribe of a few coins, they were allowed to pass.

  Most of the buildings were single story and constructed of a dense red brick. The cobblestone streets were clean, well maintained, and lit by a series of oil lamps held high by wrought iron poles. The merchants and vendors had already closed for the day, so the streets were populated mostly by those returning home or heading out to seek entertainment. The casual dress of thin cotton shirts and trousers worn by the local men was typical for warm climates, though the multitude of bright colors reminded Lee of the elaborate silks woven in Dantory. The women wore mostly short dresses or loose fitting pants and blouses, and kept their hair tucked beneath round cloth caps.

  They made their way through the city to an inn with a large oval sign that read: “The Wandering Pilgrim”. As Lee dismounted, a young waif of a boy approached.

  “Stable your horses, sir?” he asked.

  Lee took out a silver coin and handed it to him. “See that they’re well-tended.”

  The boy whistled loudly. Within seconds, three of his friends promptly rounded the corner of the building. Lee sighed and gave a coin to each one of them.

  “You never could say no to a child,” said Millet, smiling.

  “Let’s just hope this inn has enough rooms for us all,” remarked Bevaris humorlessly.

  The inn was indeed large. In fact, the main room was as spacious as anything most lords could claim to have in their house. Sturdy tables and chairs were lined up in neat rows, and a hearth burned brightly on either side of the room. Dozens of brass lanterns hung from thin chains on the ceiling, illuminating the hall with a cheery glow. The few locals scattered about immediately took notice of the newcomers.

  A comely young woman holding a round wooden serving tray quickly came up to them. Her mouse brown hair was tied in a loose ponytail, and her bright blue dress was stained with ale and wine. She smiled happily, setting her tray down on a nearby table.

  “Welcome strangers,” she said in a voice so high that it twittered like the chirping of a finch. Her eyes opened wide as the rest of the band filed in. “So many.” She shrugged. “No matter. We have room enough for all.”

  Once everyone had been allocated a room, they all sat down for a tasty hot meal of roast pork and carrots. The wine was good too, and soon the men were thoroughly relaxed. Lee was pleased to see smiles and laughter becoming the order of the evening.

  Linis, Dina, and Millet were sat with Lee, while Tristan and Bevaris had placed themselves among the soldiers.

  “I just hope we can get to Dantory without more trouble,” said Millet.

  “I wouldn’t count on it,” said Lee. “If the elves have chased these Soufis out of the desert, we could run into more of them.”

  Linis scowled at the mention of the Soufis. “Slavers! I can only hope they slaughtered the lot of them.”

  “Actually,” said Millet, “we
can use this to our advantage. That Angrääl would recruit such allies may sway the Eastland to our side.”

  Lee nodded. “They may well fear enslavement more than the Reborn King.”

  “It’s hard to imagine that these people could go unnoticed for so long,” remarked Dina.

  “The desert is vast,” replied Lee. “There have always been rumors of the people who dwell there. Some claim to have seen them firsthand, but no one dares to venture very far into the emptiness of the sands. The people of Dantory and the other towns that border the desert trade with the west, so they have no reason to look east to lands so inhospitable.”

  “In fact,” added Millet, “they have always taken comfort that the desert was at their backs. No army would dare try to cross it, so it served as a natural defense.”

  “Though apparently, not as good a defense as they thought,” said Linis.

  Millet was about to reply when the front door flew open and two tall figures wearing white turbans and thin, tan cotton robes stepped inside. The white scarves covering their faces revealed only deep blue eyes. At each of their sides hung a long, curved blade and a water skin. They scanned the room for a moment, then removed their scarves. Even with the turban still covering their ears, Linis knew at once that they were elves.

  “How did they enter without me sensing them?” he muttered. Jumping to his feet, he quickly made his way to the door.

  The elves smiled when they saw him approach.

  “Greetings brother,” said the elf on the left. “I am Milu and this is Lolin. It is good to see an elf of the west at last.”

  The young barmaid approached, smiling brightly. “Are these more of your friends?”

  Linis turned, suddenly aware that the scarf hiding his own ears was slipping back. “Indeed they are.”

  “Wonderful,” she replied. “I’ll see to their rooms right away. And, as it seems they carry no packs, I will have food brought.”

  Linis motioned for the two elves to follow him back to the table, where he introduced them to Lee and the others.

  “I would advise you be cautious,” whispered Linis. “Humans here are not yet accustomed to the company of elves.”

  Milu laughed. “I have already noticed that. Though we are told such is not the case further west.”

  “So you are from the desert?” asked Lee.

  “We are,” affirmed Milu. “We were sent to scout ahead of our march west.”

  Linis took a moment to look at the newcomers closely. With a satisfied nod, he then told them about their encounter with the Soufis, as well as what the Vrykol had said.

  Milu and Lolin both sneered. “The Soufis fought fiercely and many elves lost their lives. But they were no match for us, and our army is not significantly diminished.”

  “Where are they now?” asked Dina.

  Milu eyed her curiously and reached his hand across the table. Dina at once withdrew.

  “Why do you pull away?” he asked. “Do you fear I will discover that you are half elf?” He let out another loud laugh. “Then ease your mind. Darshan spoke of you to our people. The name Dina is well known to us. Weila is the Sand Master I follow; she told us of you, and others such as the half-man, Lee Starfinder.”

  “I am Lee Starfinder,” said Lee.

  Milu and Lolin exchanged glances.

  “Then fortune is indeed on our side,” said Lolin. “Darshan spoke of your courage and wisdom.”

  “I assume you mean Gewey,” remarked Lee.

  “Yes,” Lolin replied. “He is also known by that name. And to answer your question, my people have gathered north of the human city, Dantory. We await word from Darshan to begin our march from the sands.”

  “Then your wait is over,” said Lee. “Our enemy is on the move. If your intent is to aid us, now is the time.”

  “It is our intent,” said Lolin. “We will fight alongside our kin and restore ties long forgotten. Our destiny is at hand and we meet it gladly.”

  “Your aid will be most welcome,” said Linis. “In the morning we will ride east to meet your people.” He leaned forward. “But I must ask how you managed to approach the inn without my sensing your presence.”

  “I think you will find we are different in some ways,” explained Milu. He told them of his people’s rejection of the flow and their long life.

  Linis and the others marveled when Milu told them that he was nearly seven hundred years old.

  “Until we spoke with Darshan and Aaliyah,” he continued, “we did not know that this was unusual. And whatever the reason is for it, we did not perish once we left our desert home.”

  Having only recently heard about the desert elves and their powers from Linis, Lee was both curious and keen to meet them. “How many are you?” he asked.

  “By the time we return, our number will have reached at least forty thousand,” replied Lolin.

  “It’s hard to imagine so many elves hidden away for so long,” said Dina.

  Lolin smiled. “We were not hidden. Just unsought.”

  “Our stories tell of the lost tribe of exiles,” said Linis. “But I thought it was just a legend. Of course, much of our lore has been forgotten. Only the scholars know the tales in full, and even their knowledge is incomplete.”

  “Then perhaps once our two peoples are reunited,” said Milu, “we can put the pieces of our past back together.”

  Lee knew that there were urgent matters to be discussed, but he allowed the conversation to drift on to more pleasant subjects. Dina moved her chair closer to Linis and they all listened as Lolin and Milu told them about life in the desert, and of how Gewey’s appearance had inspired them to seek out their brethren in the west. As they spoke about the battle with the Soufis, Lee could see a definite look of satisfaction on their faces.

  “Sand Master Weila told us about her meeting with the Vrykol,” said Lolin. “And of its ludicrous offer. It must have known we would refuse. But it became clear when we attacked that it had not warned the Soufis of our intent. They were taken completely off guard. Even so, we were greatly outnumbered, and many lives were lost during the battle. Some had wanted to wait until we were at our full strength to attack, but it was feared the Soufis would march west before that could happen. The human cities would have been defenseless.”

  “That human lives mean so much to you, speaks well of your people,” said Dina.

  “The Soufis are not the only humans in the deep desert,” said Lolin. “Long have we shared the sands and traded in peace. The Creator does not give us the right to decide whose life is important and whose can be wasted. All should live free upon this world.”

  “I wish my kin had held the same understanding,” said Linis, regret and sadness in his voice. “It has taken the threat of annihilation to open our minds and cleanse our hearts.”

  “Then let them be cleansed and rejoice,” said Lolin. “The end times are upon us, and a new world will be born. Old hatreds will vanish, and the world of elves will become one with the Creator’s design. Together we will see that our people never again forget the ties that bind us.” He smiled warmly at Dina. “And we will become parents of a new race. Perhaps one that will have our strengths and leave aside our weaknesses.”

  “I hope you are right,” said Linis. “But before that can happen we must defeat those who seek to destroy us.”

  “Indeed,” agreed Lolin. “We can be with my kin within a week if we press our pace.”

  “Then that is what we shall do,” said Lee. “Do you have mounts?”

  Milu smiled and shook his head. “I assume you mean the beasts I see humans ride. We have no experience with such animals. But do not fret. We can keep pace on foot over this terrain. In fact, I would wager it will be you who struggles to keep up with us. Running over this hard ground is nothing compared to traveling through the deep sands.”

  “Good,” said Lee with satisfaction. “Then we leave with the dawn.”

  They talked well into the night before finally retiring. Lin
is and Dina left the inn for a time to stroll through the city together. The men were more at ease now, and the trials of the long road were like a distant memory - a tale to be told to their children.

  Lee couldn’t help but wonder what kind of reception an army of forty thousand elf warriors marching across the land would get from the Eastland kingdoms. Should such a thing have happened in Hazrah, panic would surely have gripped the city. But that would be dealt with in due time.

  The next morning Milu and Lolin were already outside waiting when Lee and the others left the inn and took their mounts. With Millet and Bevaris having already procured fresh supplies from the innkeeper and distributed them among the men, they were ready to go.

  As they made their way from the city, Linis removed his headscarf, allowing his elf features to be plainly visible. Though it drew several stares from passersby, no one dared to make a comment. Once outside the city, the desert elves immediately broke into a quick jog, leading them away from the main road and into the thin brush beyond. A few sparse patches of trees and bushes were the only things that broke the flat grassland.

  The heat of the morning sun wrapped around them like a blanket, while a stiff west wind cooled their faces. The cold of the hills had been hard to bear, but Lee knew the scorching heat of the desert could be far worse. In less than a week, most of the foliage they saw now would be gone, and the dry cracked earth and blazing sun would start to become oppressive.

  “It has been a long time,” remarked Millet, dabbing his forehead with a piece of cloth.

  “Yes it has, my friend,” agreed Lee. “And we were both a great deal younger last time we faced the desert sun.”

  “I can create a cool breeze,” offered Linis. “The elves from across the Western Abyss showed me how.”