Runefell: Crossroads

by Shawn Sodman

  “Oh yes,” Evelena says, “I remember wanting to go with them to Elonfar, but they wouldn't let me.”

  “She must have been memorable,” Kel'ana says with a smile, “since you are still creating her image in flames.”

  “Kel'ana!” Evelena says with a sigh.

  “It's alright,” Chance says with a smile. “Actually she was quite memorable.”

  “So who was the other Amazon?” Evelena asks. “If you don't mind my asking of course.”

  “Not at all,” Chance replies. He extinguishes the fire in his right hand. “First, this is Ariella,” he says as Ariella's image once again is formed in his left hand. “She was my first love.”

  “Aw,” Kel'ana says. “What happened?”

  Chance explains, “We were young and in love, but her father didn't approve. We wrote to each other but her father made sure we never got each other's letters.”

  “That's terrible,” Evelena says.

  “That is so sad,” Kel'ana says.

  Chance continues, “It would be three years before I finally gave up. That was when the Dragon Wars ended.” Chance waves his right hand over the fire and it changes to look like Sha'al. “That is when I met her.”

  “Ah,” Evelena says, “That must be Sha'al Ree then.”

  “Yes,” Chance answers.

  “Oh,” Kel'ana says, “tell us how you met.”

  “Well,” Chance begins to explain, “when the armies of Sheathelm and the Amazons of the Silver Moon celebrated our victory over the Dragon Slayers, I saw Sha'al for the first time. There she was, with long blonde hair in a thick braid. She was looking around as if she was trying to find someone. When our eyes met she smiled and walked straight over to me. She told me to stand up, and when I did she looked me over and checked my marks. She said 'Dri'el and La'harn, excellent. You will do nicely.'”

  “Really?” Kel'ana asks.

  Chance smiles as he reflects fondly on his first meeting with Sha'al. “She then announced to everyone around that unless I refused her, I would be hers. She then said that if anyone wished to challenge her claim, they should step forward and face her wrath.”

  “Did anyone challenge her?” asks Kel'ana.

  “No,” Chance answers. “She then grabbed my arm and pulled me away from the crowd. She took me to a place near the floating city that we had just brought down. She found a quiet spot and threw me up against a wall. She said 'I am Sha'al from the house of Ree and together our blood shall unite the three houses.' I tried to tell her my name, but before I could she just backhanded me across my face and said, 'don't tell me who you are, show me'.”

  Kel'ana laughs and says, “I have heard about others saying that to men. I always wondered if it was true or if it worked.”

  Chance smiles and says, “Well, it worked on me.”

  “When did she leave the sisterhood and take her vows?” Evelena asks.

  “To be honest,” Chance replies, “after that night I never thought I would see her again. After all, that is usually how it happens. I thought about her all the time. It was seven months later when a small group of Amazons came to visit Sheathelm. A'ranah was there to visit Arioch, and Sha'al was with her. She told me that she was bearing our child. We spent a lot time together during the week-long visit. Before they left I begged her not to leave. It took some convincing to receive A'ranah's blessing, but soon we ended up taking our vows.”

  “That is so sweet,” Kel'ana says.

  “It was also during that visit that A'ranah would conceive King Arioch's child. Nine months later,” Chance continues, “A'ranah would give birth to Princess Kianna, and because no half elf would be allowed in the sisterhood, A'ranah came and left the infant in the care of Arioch. Sha'al would help care for her baby half-sister. Now my daughter, Ya'leigh, and Princesses Kianna are very close.” Chance ends the fire spell in his hand and says, “I am sorry, I must be boring you with these stories.”

  “No,” Kel'ana says, “you are not. In fact I always wondered about the relationship between A’ranah and King Arioch.”

  “They see each other from time to time,” Chance explains, “but I never really discussed it with him.”

  Evelena asks, “So why can't you sleep?”

  “Well, first,” Chance begins to explain, “there was some movement in my room, and I thought it might be a rat.”

  “Oh my!” Kel'ana exclaims.

  Suddenly Chance feels a sharp pain as Kristieana kicks his leg. Then she whispers in his ear, “If you are talking about me...”

  Chance smiles and says, “Then, there was just this awful smell too.”

  “You better ask for your money back,” Evelena says as she stands up. She says to Kel'ana, “Well, I think I am ready to go to sleep now.”

  “Yeah me too,” Kel'ana says as she yawns.

  “Thank you for everything,” Evelena says.

  “Thank you for the company,” Chance replies.

  Chance stands up, and Kristieana whispers in his ear again, “You are going to pay for those remarks.” She punches him in the back. The thump is loud enough that it is heard by Evelena who stops and looks at Chance who tries to hide the pain he is in.

  “Are you alright?” Evelena asks.

  “Yes,” Chances says, through gritted teeth. “I tripped on the chair. May your dreams guide the two of you safely to a new day, and good luck.”

  “Thank you,” Evelena says as she climbs the stairs and heads down the hall to her room.

  Chance looks around for Kristieana when he hears a door opening upstairs. He looks up at the door to his room and can see Kristieana as she removes the hood of her cloak. She gives Chance a grin and softly says, “If you don't like the room, Chance, then you can sleep out here.”

  Chance hurries up the stairs as she closes the door. He reaches his room and can hear the door latch. He checks his pocket for the key but it is gone. He tries to open the door, and just as he feared, it is locked. He knocks quietly, and so that he doesn't disturb anyone else, he softly says, “Come on Kristieana, open the door.”

  Then from the other side, Kristieana answers, “Say please.”

  Chance smiles and with a sigh says, “Please.” Then he waits and listens for a response.

  After a moment Kristieana says, “I think you can do better than that.”

  Chance swallows his pride and says, “Kristieana, would you please open the door for me? I am very sorry.” Chance listens and soon he hears the door unlock and the door opens. “Thank you,” he says to her as he enters. Chance closes the door and locks it and as he turns around he is met with another slap across the face from Kristieana. “What was that for?” He asks.

  Kristieana just smiles and says, “For calling me a rat, saying that I smelled, and because I liked the way it felt when I slapped you earlier.”

  “So you like to be rough?” Chance asks with a grin.

  “I think you already know the answer to that one,” She replies. “Chance,” she says softly, “I had no idea that Sha'al had said those same words to you.”

  “You couldn't have known,” Chance replies as walks over to the bed and lays down. “I lied about who I was, remember?”

  “Well,” Kristieana continues as she sits at the foot of the bed, “I am sorry if I brought back any painful memories.”

  “The only memories you brought back were good ones,” Chance smiles. “The bad ones took place much later.”

  “I must say,” Kristieana says as she crawls over to her side of the bed, “I never knew how fast you and Sha'al fell in love. You only knew her for a week's time.”

  “Well,” Chance looks at Kristieana and says, “I guess I just know when I find someone worth fighting for.”

  Kristieana's face begins to blush as she smiles and looks away. “Chance...” she begins to say.

  “Don't worry,” Chance says, “I'll stay on my side of the bed.” He turns to the candles on the table and with a wave of his hand they go out.

  In the darkened
room Kristieana is facing Chance's back as he lies on his side. She reaches for him but hesitates just before placing her hand on his shoulder. Instead, she roles over on her back and replies, “May your dreams guide you safely, Chance.”

  Chapter 19

  Day 6

  Stirring Passions

  The sun begins to shine through the window in Chance's room at the Pick Ax as Kristieana rolls over to find that she is once again alone. She gets up and begins to get dressed. She is about to grab her cloak when she finds a letter addressed to her. She opens it and begins to read:

  Dear Kristieana,

  I am sorry for leaving you without saying goodbye, but as I sit here writing this, I simply cannot bring myself to wake you. You are so beautiful as you sleep and you look to be at such peace. I do not wish to disturb whatever dream you may be having.

  No matter how much I have tried I have not been able to fall asleep tonight. I do not know if it is because of the orcneas or if I simply cannot fall asleep next to you. Whatever the reason, I am going leave now and follow the northeast pass. It should be the same path that Sven will take the others across. I plan to scout all the way across the range and make sure that it is safe for them. If there is no army waiting on the other side, I will head southeast to Northwind and join King Arioch.

  Even though we have only just met, I feel as if I have known you for much longer. When I look into your eyes I can see the fire and passion that burns inside you. For many years I have lived without the desire to be with someone, but from the moment we first touched, I could feel something stirring inside me that I have not felt in a very long time.

  If circumstances were not as they are, and if you feel for me even a fraction of what feel for you, last night may have been much different. In another life I would have fought for you, however, I know that in this life, because of who I am, you cannot be with me.

  I do not know if we will ever see each other again. If we do not, I want you to know I will always remember our brief encounter. In the short time that our paths have met at the crossroads of life, you have left an everlasting mark on my soul.

  I wish you well in watching over our sisters on their journey. Good luck.

  Forever grateful,

  Chance

  As Kristieana finishes reading the letter she says to herself, “Oh no, Chance Na'Moon.” She puts the letter in her small backpack and puts on her cloak. She opens the window and as she climbs up on the window sill she says to herself, “It does not end like this.” Then, just like Chance, she transforms into a giant eagle and flies out the window.

  Later that morning out in front of the Pick Ax, the seven sisters are just getting underway with their guide Sven. They are all dressed for cold weather and are wearing furs, with the exception of Kel'ana who is dressed lightly. Sven asks, “Are you sure you don't want to wear something a little warmer?”

  “No, I am fine,” Kel'ana answers. “I have a spell that keeps me warm. If I wear too much I will not be accurate with my bow.”

  “Oh,” Sven replies. “Very well then, if everyone is ready now you can all follow Sven.”

  As they exit the town gate, Lyra, who even reads as she walks, calls out, “Hey everyone, you are not going to believe this.”

  The group stops for a moment as Lyra explains her findings in her book. “We all know that Chance Na'Moon's mother was Shar'on, a second generation Dri'el. She was killed in the first orcnea war.”

  “Yes,” Evelena says. “What else did you find?”

  “Well, according to the records,” Lyra continues, “Chance's father was a thirty year old male from the La'harn bloodline.”

  “Did you find him?” Gelana asks. “How closely am I related? He is not by brother is he?”

  “Will you let her finish?” Yentroc says.

  “Well, Gelana you are not his sister. In fact you are a distant relative to Chance,” Lyra says. “Rehma, however...”

  Rehma looks at Lyra and asks, “What is it?”

  Lyra hesitantly says, “According to this there was only one male La'harn that matched that age at the time. Knowing that it was easy to find which La'harn gave birth to Chance's father.”

  “And?” Rehma impatiently asks.

  Everyone looks at each other waiting for the answer. Lyra smiles nervously and says, “Chance's father was your mother's twin brother.”

  “I don't believe you!” Rehma says.

  “It's true,” Lyra says, “Chance is your cousin. In fact, other than your younger brother and sister, Chance is the closest relation you have.”

  “It doesn't change anything,” Rehma says as she starts walking away. “The next time I see him I am still going to break his nose again.”

  Gelana turns to Yentroc and says, “See, I told you he wasn't my brother.”

  They laugh as the group resumes their journey.

  Meanwhile, on the other side of the Northwind Range, Chance is crouched on top of a very large rock and is looking down on a small orcnea encampment. The orcneas are around a fire trying to stay warm in the cold mountain air. There are five orcneas and one ogre. They are cooking something on the fire for breakfast. There are two very crude shelters made from some type of hide. Chance cannot tell if there are more orcneas inside or not.

  Chance decides not to wait any longer. He slowly stands on the rock and begins to cast a fire ball. He channels more magic into it and it grows larger and larger as he uses both hands to control it. Soon, he aims it at the very center of the campfire the orcneas are gathered around. He releases it and as the spell hits the ground it explodes violently. The shock of the explosion kills the orcneas immediately, but the ogre, though badly hurt, is still alive. Chance casts another fireball and hits the confused ogre. The colossal beast is slain and falls to the ground. Soon after, two more orcneas run out from one of the fur tents. Chance easily picks them off one by one as his fire spells rain down upon them. Then he throws two final fireballs at the tents catching them on fire.

  He watches for a little while making sure there are no more orcneas are inside before he comes down from the rock. He takes out his sword and makes sure the orcneas are dead by piercing their hearts. As he finishes the last one, he hears Kristieana's voice say, “You are leaving quite a path of destruction. Rehma is going to be very upset.”

  Chance turns to see Kristieana standing several paces behind him. “You really know how to sneak up on me,” he says, as he leaves the carnage behind and approaches her. “What are you doing here?”

  “You have some nerve, Chance Na'Moon,” she says holding his letter. “This is how you say goodbye? You write me a letter and then just leave?” She walks up to Chance with the letter holding it up in his face.

  “I thought it was a great letter,” Chance says, “Do you know how many times I re-wrote that to make it right?”

  “I am not mad about the letter,” Kristieana replies.

  “Then what?” Chance asks. “What do you want me to say?”

  “I don't know,” Kristieana answers as she puts the letter away and starts to rub her arms trying to get warm.

  “Are you cold?” Chance asks.

  “Of course I am cold,” she snaps at him. “Aren't you cold?”

  “No,” Chance calmly explains, “I have a spell that keeps me completely comfortable in cold weather. Would you like me to warm you up?”

  “Yes,” Kristieana says sounding angry. “Please.”

  “Alright then, since you asked so nicely, come here,” Chance says as he puts his arms around her. “There, is that better?” He asks.

  “A little,” she replies. Then after thinking a bit she asks, “Is holding me part of the spell?”

  “Spell?” Chance questions. Then with a smile he adds, “Oh, you wanted me to cast the warmth spell on you.”

  “I see,” Kristieana says smiling back, “you just wanted an excuse to hold me again.”

  “Well,” Chance replies, “you are the one who just flew across an entire mountain range to
yell at me about writing you a letter. If I didn't know any better, I would say you are just using it as an excuse to see me again.”

  “Don't flatter yourself,” Kristieana says, “I am just scouting ahead like you.”

  As he stands there with his arms still around her, he looks in her eyes. Then he leans in close and softly asks, “So, are telling me that you didn't feel anything special last night?”

  “Nothing at all,” she says staring back at him.

  “Then why are you still shaking?”

  “Because I am cold,” she answers.

  “No, you aren't,” Chance says with a smile. Then he leans in even closer and whispers in her ear, “I have already cast the warmth spell on you. The air should feel the same to you as a spring day.”

  “Oh,” She says as Chance rubs his cheek against hers, “so you have.” Then they slowly turn their heads to face each other. With their foreheads press against each other, they both stare into the others eyes. Kristieana finally asks, “So, why are you still holding me?”

  “Oh, I am sorry,” Chance says teasingly. “Would you like me to let you go?”

  “I didn't say that,” she whispers, as she brings her hands up to Chance's face. Then with both hands she gently takes the back of his head and holds him close.

  “You are so difficult to understand,” Chance says, as he now brings his hands up and runs them through her hair. “First you want me to stop teasing you. Then when you find out who I am, you say that you cannot be with me. Now here you are once again in my arms. Please, Kristieana, if this is some sort of test or game...”

  “I am not testing you or playing any games,” she says as she continues to look into his blue eyes. “I admit when I first found out who you were I was upset. I was angry that you didn't tell me yourself, but since then I have come to terms with who you are.”

  Both of them are breathing a little harder and their hearts are beating fast. Chance asks, “Now what?”

  “What do you mean now what?” Kristieana says intensely. “What the hell are you waiting for? Just kiss me and—” Pulling her towards him, Chance leans in as their lips finally meet. No longer fighting their attraction to one another, they break only for a second, gasping for air before they become lost once again in each other’s kiss. Kristieana starts to push Chance back against a large boulder. As she traps him against it he quickly reverses their positions and as they continue to kiss fervently, he presses her back against the stone. She reaches down and unbuckles his breastplate. He quickly pulls it over his head and tosses it aside into the snow. She grabs him again by the shirt underneath and begins to pull it up as well.