by Lana Axe
River held her close and sighed. “I wish we could stay this way forever.”
Those words troubled Lenora, who sensed he meant more than he was saying. He was still unwell, and she feared he would have a difficult time in his travels. “Perhaps I should come along to tend to your health while you march,” she suggested.
“No, my love,” he replied. “You must stay here and tend to Rogin and the others.” After a pause, he added, “I am selfish and have no desire to be parted from you.”
Puzzled, Lenora asked, “If you don’t want to be parted, then why shouldn’t I come along?” His statement made no sense.
Slowly, River said, “Having you along would complicate matters. Though I’ve cherished every moment of the last eight-hundred-and-forty years, I fear I will not be able to do what has to be done if you are beside me.”
Lenora felt a cold chill on her spine. Lifting her head, she looked into her life mate’s sapphire eyes. “What has to be done?” she asked, feeling a lump rise in her throat.
“There is a difficult decision to be made, and I would choose you above all things.”
Feeling a heaviness enter her heart, Lenora began to understand his meaning. For the first time, she realized she may never see him again. This mission to end evil might well claim his life. As she tried to speak, she found herself stumbling on her words. Nothing seemed an appropriate response except for the tears that were streaming down her cheeks. Pressing her face into his chest, she allowed herself to grieve the loss that was yet to come.
For several minutes, they held each other in silence. Sensing that the moment of departure was near, River leaned in to kiss his life mate. Lenora welcomed his embrace, feeling the warmth of his lips against her own. If only she could hold him close to her forever.
Isandra approached, not bothering to hide the heaviness of her boots. The pair looked up at her, their faces showing acceptance.
“We are ready to march,” she announced. “The rest of our army awaits us in Na’zora.”
River stood, followed slowly by Lenora. She squeezed his hand and did her best to steady her breathing.
Isandra looked upon her mother with concern. “I will look after his well-being,” she promised. “You need not fear.”
Lenora bit her lip, forcing herself to remain silent about her fears. Wrapping her arms tightly around her daughter, she said, “Come back to me, child.” As she stepped away, her eyes once again filled with tears.
“You have my word on it,” Isandra replied with confidence.
The trio headed back into the village, where the majority of the army was mounted and ready to ride. The rest of the soldiers would travel on foot, spurred on by the magic of the forest until they reached Na’zora. Each elf would dedicate his own supply of magic, no matter how small, to giving speed to the army. Too much time had been lost already, and Ulda must not be allowed to ready his defense.
The Vale’s remaining citizens gathered at the center of town to farewell the soldiers. Alyra stood among them, but moved to her mother’s side as she spotted her returning.
Kneeling down next to his young daughter, River said, “Stay close to your mother, and help her when you can. You mustn’t try to follow us. You are too young to encounter such evil, and there is much left to do in your lifetime.” Clutching the girl next to his chest, his heart filled with both sadness and joy. Leaving her was a bittersweet moment. He must go to ensure she would have a future, but he hated the thought of leaving the child behind. There was so much she could learn from him, and it was uncertain whether he would be able to teach her.
Choking back her tears, Alyra could only nod. Hoping to show her father that she could indeed be strong, she refused to cry, though her heart was about to burst. Trying desperately to follow Isandra’s example, she wanted to show courage rather than sorrow.
Choosing to walk rather than ride, Mel marched toward the river to provide crossing for the rest of the troops. Kneeling next to the bank, he reached into the earth and summoned a thicket of interwoven vines to bridge the water. Satisfied with his work, he turned to find Kaiya standing with her arms crossed.
“I see you’ve managed to impress yourself again,” she said with a laugh.
Shaking his head, Mel did not respond. She slapped him on the back and strode at his side across the freshly constructed bridge. Waving to the others, she let them know it was safe to cross.
Telorithan chose a large black steed to carry him into battle. Riding outside the formation, he made his way across the bridge and stopped far away from the others. He had no intention of going near the humans, believing their kind to be lowly and uncivilized.
River gave Lenora a final kiss, and he lovingly patted the cheek of his youngest daughter. Taking one last look at his home among the silver trees, he mounted his horse and crossed the river. Looking down into its depths, he sensed the emptiness that still resided there, despite Kaiya and Mel’s efforts to clean it. Things will be made right, he said to himself.
Lenora hugged Alyra to her side as she watched the soldiers depart. She lifted her hand, saying goodbye to those who might not return. In her mind, she repeated a single phrase: Goddess watch over them.
Chapter 20
A fresh layer of snow blanketed the Wildlands, leaving the world buried in a sea of white. The army marched on, their feet crunching on the ground beneath. Many of the elves sang songs as they went—songs that reminded them of simpler times. Not only did they sing epic songs that told tales of ages past, they sang simple melodies often learned in childhood. For the most part, the Na’zorans remained silent, listening to the music of the elves.
Watchful eyes peered out from the trees, offering blessings of the forest to the soldiers. Several trees shook their branches, discarding the snow that had gathered on their boughs. This brought smiles to the faces of the elves and wonder to the minds of the humans.
With the combination of elemental magic and the primal powers of the dryads, the soldiers’ steps were hastened, moving them farther ahead than expected each day. The soldiers found their bodies energized and they rarely grew tired, allowing them to march on both day and night.
When at last they stopped for a rest, Isandra insisted they sleep in shifts, leaving two-thirds of the army awake while one-third slept. She believed this would provide enough resistance should anything attack in the night. General Aldryg did not argue. In the short time he had known her, he had come to trust the elf woman’s judgment. She was more dedicated than any soldier he had ever met, and she knew this land better than him.
Kaiya fashioned a ring of rocks and drew heat from the air to light a fire. It roared to life with a silver blaze.
Mel sat down beside her. “Way to draw what was left of the warmth out of the air,” he jibed.
Kaiya placed her hands in front of the fire. “Did you forget to put on your woolen underwear?” she asked, grinning.
“Yes, did you pack any extra?” he joked back. The pair laughed and enjoyed a rare moment of leisure. With battle ahead, it was uncertain how many more moments like this would come.
Looking toward the edge of camp, Kaiya asked, “Why does Telorithan stay so far from us? He’s ridden outside the group since we left the Vale, and I haven’t heard him utter a single word.”
“He considers all of us beneath him,” River said as he approached. Taking a seat cross-legged on the ground, he added, “Lorith has always preferred solitude. It’s best to leave him to it.”
Kaiya looked again and saw a flash of red in the sorcerer’s eyes. Her body tensed slightly, wondering if he might be planning to attack. Reaching toward his mind, she found it heavily guarded. To her relief, she sensed no magic emanating from the man and allowed herself to relax a little. She continued to watch as he turned his back to the soldiers, staring off into the wilderness.
River reached into the satchel he had removed from his horse and pulled out a bundle wrapped in a dark velvet cloth. As the cloth was removed, both Kaiya and Mel s
ensed the presence of power and turned their attention to their friend. Even Telorithan’s gaze turned back to see what was happening, his blue eyes alight with red fire.
“I thought it best to give you these now,” River said. He passed a large white gem to Kaiya and a green one to Mel.
Kaiya turned the stone over in her hand, marveling how its facets caught the light of her fire. “It’s beautiful,” she said.
Mel observed his as well. “What does this do?”
River lifted a larger blue stone from the bundle and held it to the light. “We will need these to defeat Ulda,” he explained. “These stones will magnify our powers while draining his.”
Kaiya nodded in understanding. “One must be incredibly disciplined to use these.” She glanced over at Mel. To River, she asked, “Do you think we’re at that level?” She already believed herself to be, though she had not used such a tool before. It was Mel’s abilities that worried her. He’d had only thirty years to study his craft, while the others had been honing their skills for centuries.
“Yes,” River said with confidence.
Mel suspected Kaiya’s question had referred to him, but it did not bother him in the slightest. He was well aware of his lack of training. Most of what he knew he had learned on his own, though the dryads in his forest home had been eager to answer his many questions and show him a few of their spells.
Closing his hand around the gem, he felt the energy of the earth radiating through it. His body tingled at its touch, and he felt his mind yearning to open to the power of the stone. He resisted the urge, knowing it was not yet time to use it. Tucking it into the breast pocket of his elk-skin vest, he blocked the temptation from his mind.
“You see,” River said with a smile. “It comes naturally to him. Earth mages are different from other elemental wizards.”
Kaiya tilted her head and wondered if she should peak into Mel’s thoughts. Did he realize the power he could draw with the gem’s help? Probably not, she decided. Though she began to doubt when she saw a spark of green light in his eyes. Maybe he did realize it, and he was choosing not to experiment. He’s more disciplined than I thought. I’ll have to start giving him more credit in the future.
“You really should, you know,” Mel responded with a grin.
Kaiya’s mouth dropped open slightly, realizing he had just used her own trick against her. “I’m going to keep a closer eye on you from now on,” she said, narrowing her eyes.
Mel burst out laughing and leaned his back against a tree. Helping him listen in on a smidgen of Kaiya’s thoughts was only a tiny drop of what the gem could do, and he knew it. River had placed in his hands an object that could provide him with unfathomable power.
“Where did you get these?” Mel asked. He also wondered how much such an item would cost if purchased, and who was capable of crafting them.
“These were gifted to me,” River replied. “The gems were crafted by the gods and given to the Guardian Elementals.”
Mel leaned toward River and wrinkled his brow. “Guardian Elementals?”
“One guardian of each element was chosen by their respective gods. They have served to protect this world and banish the evil that threatened it.”
“Well, I’ve got news for them,” Mel replied. “There’s plenty of evil in this world. It might not all be on Ulda’s scale, but it’s around.” Apparently the guardians had fallen asleep or forgotten their duties.
River shook his head. “They do not interfere in the daily lives of Nōl’Deron’s inhabitants. They protect the elements.”
Mel swallowed, debating momentarily if he should ask the next question. “Why didn’t they protect the Spirit in your river?”
River hung his head, his eyes focused on the gem in his hands. “There were none in the Vale at that time,” he said.
Mel started to speak again, but a sharp glance from Kaiya made his tongue freeze to the roof of his mouth. She placed her hand on River’s arm in an act of comfort, and Mel realized what had happened. At least, he thought he knew. He was well aware that the spirit of an elemental inhabited River’s body. Could it have been the spirit of a Guardian that inhabited him? Was he limited by the elven body, and that’s why he couldn’t save the Spirit? Mel’s mind swam, trying to imagine the possibilities.
River had been away in Na’zora at the time of the attack. Mel also recalled his first meeting with River, where he had sensed his power and mistaken him for the ancient God of Rivers, Mistonwey. If River possessed this gem at the time, perhaps Mel had sensed its godlike power. Shaking his head, Mel tried to put the thoughts away. They were too complicated, and he wasn’t sure he was anywhere close to being on the right track.
Looking back at Kaiya, Mel realized he still didn’t have her permission to speak. Instead, he stretched himself out by the fire and turned his gaze to the stars.
River unwrapped the final stone, its red glow piercing the night. It was warm to the touch despite the cold winter air surrounding it.
“Can we trust Telorithan to use that wisely?” Kaiya asked. “He did crave the power of a god, after all.” She glanced over at the sorcerer, whose eyes had not left the trio since River produced the bundle with the gems.
“We must trust him,” River replied. “There is no other way.”
Kaiya wasn’t sure she liked that response. She considered Ulda and Telorithan to be nearly equal in their levels of evil. Neither would do good had they the power of a god. With a sigh, she thought, At least Telorithan would keep to himself as he’s always done. Ulda brings his evil to torment the people around him. With no other choice, she accepted River’s decision.
River wrapped the cloth around the blue and red gems, and returned them to his bag. Tonight was not the right time to give Telorithan his gem. That would come later. The white-haired sorcerer turned his back on the trio once more and stared off into the night.
As River slept, Kaiya moved to his side. Placing her hands on his head, she spread silver magic throughout his body. Mel noticed her actions and sat up.
“What are you doing?” he asked, whispering.
“He still isn’t well,” she replied. “He needs help replenishing his magic until we reach the ocean.”
Mel understood. Most elves could recover their supply with rest, but Mel had found it unnecessary. With his feet in connection to the earth, he never needed to worry about running low on magic. It never struck him as odd until now. He wasn’t an elemental, though elementals replenished their magic by coming into contact with the element they represent. Kaiya was the same way. Mel didn’t understand how it was possible, but he accepted his ability gratefully.
The following morning as they continued their snowy march, Mel decided it was time to ask the question he had been holding onto. Striding at River’s side, he said, “I think it’s time to tell me exactly what my role is in all this.”
River looked at him questioningly.
“How are we going to stop Ulda?” Mel asked.
“Your part is to focus only on reaching into the earth and tapping its power,” River replied. “You will do nothing to attack Ulda. Focus energy to your gemstone, and when the time is right, you will know what to do. I swear it. Please trust me.”
Looking at the sincerity on River’s face, Mel decided to drop the subject and trust his friend. His only regret was that he wouldn’t be allowed to attack Ulda, the man responsible for the death of his beloved.
Kaiya scoffed. “Just tell him already,” she said.
Mel’s ears perked up. What was she talking about?
River replied, “He must figure things out for himself in his own time.” Glancing at the dwarf, he added, “As you did.”
Kaiya shrugged. “Fine, but he knows he’s special, and someday he will be infinitely more powerful. He should also be aware he’ll outlive everyone he’s ever known.”
Those words gave Mel something to contemplate. He had planned to join his lost love in the afterlife at some point. Now he was forced
to wonder how long he would have to wait. Making a mental note, he planned to have a real talk with Kaiya once this was all over. She seemed far more willing to explain things than River.
A scene at the corner of his eye broke Mel away from his thoughts. Telorithan, who normally stayed at a distance, had moved closer to the trio. The sorcerer clutched an arm to his midsection, on his face a grimace of discomfort. Mel didn’t know what to say. He looked over at Kaiya, who was staring wide-eyed, her eyebrows raised in surprise. Only River seemed to maintain his ever-calm demeanor. He rode over to Telorithan’s side and placed a hand on the sorcerer’s back.
“It will pass,” River said.
Telorithan looked up at him, a hint of fear in his blue eyes. “Is this how you feel?” he asked.
River shook his head. “My duality is different from yours. I was gifted the spirit inside me. You took yours unnaturally.”
Looking up, his face twisted in torment, he replied, “It was worth it.” He managed to force a sideways smile. After a few more moments, he had composed himself, the pain in his abdomen subsiding.
River looked at him sincerely. “Lorith has been silent in this form far too long. He is ready to rest.”
Telorithan stared at him but did not reply. Though his arrogance would not allow him to admit it, he had many regrets. His life had been a series of bad decisions—trapping an elemental among them. True it had provided him with immense power and abilities he could only dream of, but it had taken its toll on his mortal body. With each passing decade, he grew weaker, nearing his inevitable end.
* * * * *
Days in the snow finally gave way to clearer ground, but the air was no less frigid. Winter was not ready to relinquish its grasp on the land. The army moved at a quick pace, reaching the Na’zoran border in half the normal time. The elves were somewhat familiar with this form of magic, but the Na’zoran soldiers marveled at it. They had felt no difference in their speed. In fact, they believed themselves to be traveling at the usual pace, despite arriving at their homeland much faster than expected.
