Iarion’s fierce look did nothing to prevent Barlo from bursting into laughter.
– Chapter Forty-Six –
In the Dark
The air was crisp and cool as Golaron rode beside Silvaranwyn. It was good to be riding Vanyar again. One of the dwarves from Dwarfhaven had returned his mount to Belierumar before marching into battle with Lord Eranander.
The journey south was quiet. There was no sign of the Fallen One’s army, other than the blighted patches of land they had left behind. The grassland surrounding Belierumar was churned up for leagues. In many places, the grass and plants had withered and died after falling under the shadow of a passing Forsworn One. The dark army made no effort to hide their trail as they traveled. It galled Golaron to see his homeland so wounded. It would take years for the evil taint to fade.
Silvaranwyn gave him a sympathetic look, as though reading his thoughts. He was still unaccustomed to her changed appearance. Although she had lost her golden light, she was still beautiful in a grim way. It was as though the layers of delicate beauty had been stripped away to reveal the shining steel that lay underneath. The only person Golaron knew who could possibly match her will was his sister. Even then, he had a feeling Silvaranwyn was the stronger of the two.
Linwyn rode at the head of the procession with the other generals and Lysandir. Even Galfidar was riding a white pony that had been found for him at Belierumar. The size of their army forced them to travel slowly. It often felt to Golaron as though they were merely crawling toward their goal. It took them an entire day to reach the Narrow Pass.
There was no living sign of Saviadro’s army, or the warriors of Belierumar and their allies. Only scattered corpses marked their passage. Vultures feasted on their dead flesh. The rotting stench of it filled the air.
Sometimes the body was still recognizable as a dark creature or one of the Free Races. It wrenched Golaron’s heart every time he saw one of his own people, a dwarf, or an elf being ripped apart by the carrion birds. The allies of Belierumar had not given up the pass without a struggle. Silvaranwyn’s face was wan and pale as she rode past, her mouth set in a firm line.
Knowing they could be walking into a trap, Linwyn sent three elves led by Falan to scout ahead while the rest of the army set up camp for the night. Once their tent was up, Golaron and Silvaranwyn went inside with the others they shared it with. They ate a meal of cold rations in silence. In addition to the language barrier, it seemed no one wanted to talk about what might have happened to the army they were trying to find.
The reality of the war they had all committed to was starting to sink in. The dwarves of Dwarfwatch and elves the Fey Wood were far from home. Many of them had never been this far south. They were beginning to realize many, if not all of them, might die without seeing their home or loved ones again. It was a bitter reality. In a way, Golaron felt fortunate the two people he cared about most were with him, although he wished he could keep them from harm.
Once everyone had finished eating, they curled up on their bedrolls to sleep. It was going to be another long day tomorrow. Golaron snuffed the tent’s lanterns and lay in his spot next to Silvaranwyn. He reached out to find her trembling. He doubted it was from the cold. Wordlessly, he curled up next to her, putting his arm around her and stroking her hair in an effort to soothe her.
“I keep seeing them,” she whispered. “All those bodies. What if we find the rest of the army and they are all like that?”
Golaron wanted to remind her she could always turn back and stay at Belierumar until this was all over, but he knew what her answer would be. She was just overwhelmed.
“What does your heart tell you?” he asked instead.
For a moment, Silvaranwyn stilled. Then her trembling began anew. “Oh Golaron, I want to believe they are all still alive and we will win, but I do not know anymore. My connection to the Quenya has almost faded completely.” Even in the dark, Golaron could see a glistening tear sliding down her cheek.
Golaron wished he could understand what she was feeling the way another elf could, but he was only a mortal man. He had no magic or special powers. So he did the only thing he could do: He told her what she needed to hear.
“It’s all right.” He wiped the tear from her face. “We will find them. Then we will be a force to be reckoned with. This is an alliance that hasn’t been seen since the Age of Shadow. Lysandir has returned to us, and Iarion is out there somewhere with the Stariquenya. We will succeed.”
Silvaranwyn snuggled against him. Her trembling eased. “Thank you,” she whispered. She fell asleep in his arms.
Golaron woke with stiff muscles the next morning. He opened his eyes to find Silvaranwyn still lying beside him. He had stayed in the same position all night. She was already awake, watching him, and lying still so as not to disturb him.
She gave him a small smile. “Good morning.”
Golaron smiled back. He never wanted to move. When they were lying together like this, he could almost forget everything else. Then a sharp cramp in his leg brought him back to reality. With great reluctance, he rolled away from Silvaranwyn and stretched. She sat up, running her fingers through her long, darkening hair before starting to gather her things.
“Where is everyone?” Golaron asked with a frown once he realized they were the only two people left in the tent.
“They are all having breakfast. The scouts came back and the pass is clear. We are to move out as soon as everyone is packed.”
This news got Golaron moving. He quickly packed his things and went outside with Silvaranwyn for some breakfast. The morning air was cool. He could see his breath. If the unusual weather got much colder, there would be frost soon.
He and Silvaranwyn joined the others to eat some of the food that had been brought by wagon from Belierumar. It wasn’t much, but it was better than the dried rations they had been living on.
Golaron was impressed by how quickly everyone worked together to dismantle the camp and get moving. With such a large group, it should have taken longer, but everyone was curious to know the fate of their allies.
A quiet tension spread through the army as they began to move south through the Narrow Pass. Many seemed to suspect the empty pass was a trap. It was the perfect place for an ambush. As he rode in front of Silvaranwyn with the Jagged Mountains rising on both sides, Golaron strained to hear or see any signs of the enemy. The rocky trail held no clues. What had become of Belierumar’s army?
As the day wore on, the tension became almost unbearable. Golaron wasn’t the only one looking over his shoulder at every sound. They had to go through the pass in single file, and it took almost all day for the army to get clear. Every time a bird flew overhead, elves, dwarves, and men would look up with their weapons raised, expecting a Forsworn One. But no attack came.
When Traitor’s Road finally emerged from the mountains to the open grassland of the Adar Daran, Golaron forced his tense muscles to relax. He could see Mar Arin in the distance to the west. Numarin’s tower still looked empty since Lysandir had sealed it. It felt as though it had happened years ago.
While they waited for the rest of the army to clear the pass, Linwyn sent the scouts out once more. They returned, reporting a large army, camped not far to the south. The open grassland made it impossible for them to get close enough to get any details without being spotted.
The sun was beginning to set. The other army lay directly in their path. Linwyn would have to make a decision concerning their next course of action soon. She turned in her saddle and gestured for Golaron to join her. Golaron gave his horse a nudge and rode up to the front of the line.
“What do you think?” she asked him.
“Haven’t you asked the other generals?” Golaron said.
“They are both in foreign territory. They have decided to cede to my judgment.”
“And Lysandir?”
“He is nowhere to be found. I have sent runners to look for him. No one has seen him.”
Golar
on frowned. Why would the Learnéd One go missing at a time like this? He had given Lysandir’s loyalty no further thought since he had helped them escape Mar Valion, but now Golaron wondered.
“Well, we still haven’t found any sign of the rest of our missing army,” he said. “Either this army is them, or they are the ones who killed them.”
“Normally I would not want to reveal our position so soon, especially when we know how much larger the dark army is, but I don’t think we have much choice. By dawn in this open area, we will be visible for leagues in every direction.”
“So you want to engage them.”
“We’ve taken it fairly easy. I think we have the wind for it. If we’re going to do it, rather than sitting here and waiting for them to come to us, we need to do it tonight under the cover of darkness. I also think we need a good skirmish to remind everyone why we came, and to avenge our fallen comrades.” Linwyn chewed her lip. “Besides, we came to help Iarion by taking a stand. We might as well start now.”
“That sounds like solid reasoning.” Golaron shrugged. He could tell Linwyn had already made up her mind.
“Thank you. I just needed to talk it out with someone. I will give the orders.” Golaron nodded and headed back to his place beside Silvaranwyn.
Linwyn waited for it to be fully dark before moving out. The army had emerged from the Narrow Pass and was anxious to see what they were facing. A nervous energy went through the ranks as elves, dwarves, and men gripped their weapons in sweaty palms. Many were likely coming to the realization they might not live to see the dawn, but no one fled. When Linwyn gave the silent order to move out, everyone obeyed without hesitation. They knew why they were there and what the outcome of this war could mean.
Linwyn led the way with Falan and Galfidar at her side. Falan helped guide her through the dark. No one spoke. They had become a silent wave of purpose.
Golaron rode close to the front, with Silvaranwyn beside him. He tried not to worry about her. She was on horseback and her quiver was full. She could take care of herself if need be. Still, he did not mean to stray from her side. He did think it strange they could not see any of the other army’s campfires. They should have been visible by now.
The faint sound of rustling in the grass and the creak of leather armor made the hairs on the back of his neck rise.
They were not alone.
Golaron silently cursed. The night was the dark army’s time. What had they been thinking? All around him, people readied their weapons. Golaron positioned himself between Silvaranwyn and the sounds. His eyes had adjusted, and he could just make out the silhouettes of their enemies. His grip on his sword tightened as he quietly cleared it from its sheath.
The shadows hesitated, as though waiting for something. Golaron expected a Forsworn One to fly overhead at any moment. The shadows gathered themselves and moved forward. Golaron and the rest of the army rushed to meet them. He raised his sword, preparing to bring it down on the first creature that got close enough. The familiar calm and commitment to battle settled over him.
At the last moment as Golaron prepared to throw himself at the closest enemy, a wall of fire sprang up from the ground, separating them.
Golaron’s horse reared in surprise. He spent the next few moments trying to calm him. Once Vanyar was back under control, Golaron looked around. The wall of fire spread for leagues in both directions, effectively separating the two armies. He wondered what new magic this was. The Forsworn were nowhere to be seen.
Everything fell into place when Lysandir walked through the flames to meet Linwyn. At least it explained the fire. But why was Lysandir interfering? Had he come this far only to betray them? Golaron got a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. He nudged Vanyar closer to Linwyn to hear their exchange. If the Learnéd One tried to strike down his sister, it wouldn’t be without a fight.
“What are you doing?” Linwyn demanded without preamble. She lowered the point of her sword toward him.
“I am stopping you from making a grave mistake,” Lysandir said. He seemed unruffled.
“What do you mean? Have you changed sides this time in truth?” Linwyn’s eyes narrowed. “You have been missing for hours!”
“I went to investigate the other army. I couldn’t get close enough while it was light, but I have observed them as they have approached you. Once I realized who they were, I tried to intercept you before it was too late, but both sides moved too quickly. Hence, the wall of fire. I could not allow you to attack one another.”
“Why can’t you let us attack? They were about to attack us!” Linwyn was losing her patience.
“Order your people to stand down and I will show you.”
Linwyn’s eyes darted to meet Golaron’s. Golaron could only shrug. Who knew what Lysandir had planned? It did seem strange he would help them get this far only to thwart them. Linwyn must have come to the same conclusion. She called out the order to stand down.
“If you have betrayed us, I will run you through myself,” she promised the Learnéd One.
Lysandir disappeared through the wall of flame. Several tense moments later, the fire dissipated only to spring to life in the air like many small torches. It took a few moments for Golaron’s eyes to adjust to the shift in light. As his eyes cleared, he could finally see the army before them. They were dwarves, elves, and people he recognized from Belierumar. They stared back, looking just as stunned.
“Lady Linwyn, Lord Golaron!” The general of Belierumar’s army threw himself to his knees before them. “Forgive me. We thought you were the enemy. We did not know you had returned.”
Linwyn took a moment to compose herself before speaking. “We also thought you were the enemy. Fortunately, the Learnéd One has interfered on our behalf. Please rise.”
The man climbed back to his feet. “If I may ask, how does Lord Eranander fare? He was carried back to the city gravely wounded.”
“Our father is dead. It was his dying wish I become Ruling Lady of the city. We held the ceremony after his funeral. Until I bear children, I have named Golaron my heir.”
“My lady, I am sorry for your loss. But I am glad for the return of you and Lord Golaron. I give command of this army over to you.” The man saluted with his fist over his heart.
“We have much to discuss,” Linwyn said. “Let us set up camp here for the night.”
“It shall be done.” The general frowned. “My lady, if I may ask, how is it possible you have brought another army of elves and dwarves?”
Linwyn smiled. “I can be very convincing.”
Linwyn, Lysandir, and the generals of all the separate armies, including the dwarves of Dwarfhaven and Dwarvenhome, as well as the Earth and Wood Elves, talked long into the night once they had set up camp. Golaron and Silvaranwyn were summoned to the command tent the next morning to sit in on the war council.
“We have all shared our stories,” Linwyn said. “The allies of Belierumar tried to stop the dark army from entering the Narrow Pass, but by the time they realized what the dark creatures had planned, it was too late. They followed in pursuit in the attack that ultimately killed our father.” After a pause, Linwyn continued. “They managed to catch the tail end of the dark army at the entrance to the pass, but it soon became clear they had been left behind as a rearguard to buy time for the rest of their army to move into the Adar Daran. Now they are camped just south of here, near Melaquenya.”
“What kind of a force do they have?” Golaron asked.
“Close to ten thousand strong.”
“And we have, what, perhaps five or six thousand?” Golaron’s mind reeled. “Linwyn, those are not good odds.”
“We are already committed. No one else is coming to our aid. The people of Nal Nungalid and Nal Huraseadro have been nearly wiped out. The Lesser Men have joined the dark army as allies. If we do not take a stand now, we will become their victims later. If we are to give Iarion any kind of chance at success, we must do this somehow.”
“We do not
even know whether he is alive, never mind whether he still has the Stariquenya!” Golaron threw his arms up in the air.
“I believe that he is,” Silvaranwyn said in a quiet voice.
“Then where is he?” Golaron pressed. “How long must we throw away the lives of the people of Lasniniar in a hopeless battle before he arrives?”
Everyone was distracted by a commotion at the entrance to the tent. One of the sentries poked his head inside.
“I apologize for interrupting, my lady,” he said. It was one of the men from Belierumar. “But there is someone here you need to see.”
Linwyn frowned. “Let them in.”
The tent flap was pushed aside by an elf with golden skin, blue eyes, and white hair tied back in a tail. There was a swift intake of breath as the council members saw the wings protruding form the elf’s shoulder blades. It was Iarasinta, the Sky Elf Golaron and the others had met during the battle for Belierumar.
Golaron placed a supporting hand on Silvaranwyn’s shoulder as she faced one of her Light Elf brethren. She trembled under his touch. Iarasinta made a deep bow in her direction before beginning to speak in Elvish.
“Iarasinta has arrived from Melaralva, where the Lady Golalfia holds court in her parents’ absence,” Silvaranwyn translated. Two elves that had been introduced to Golaron as the Lord and Lady of the Wood Elves leaned forward to listen.
“She has sent him to tell us Iarion has passed through Melaralva with the Stariquenya.” Golaron’s hand tightened on Silvaranwyn’s shoulder. He noticed a faraway look on his sister’s face.
Silvaranwyn took a deep breath and continued. “But Iarion has learned of the presence of the dark army, which lies directly in his path, blocking the way into Melaquenya. He knows we are severely outnumbered, and a direct battle would be disastrous. But the dark army does not know what we are willing to do to stop them. So he asks that we make them believe we are fully committed to meeting them in battle. This will provide him the opportunity to slip through.”
Soul Seeker (The World of Lasniniar Book 1) Page 34
