Calla backed away from her slowly. “Lina?” she asked fearfully.
The Tri-tail’s growling grew louder. Something is not right here, she said. There is something in the air—something very out of place.
Calla stared towards the door of her room. “I don’t hear anything,” she said nervously.
No sooner had she spoken that it was her turn to stiffen with fear. A gentle breeze started blowing through the open window, carrying with it faint voices crying out in despair that Calla was just able to hear; it had been so long since she had last heard such voices it actually scared her. Their cries grew louder in her ears as they shouted out in warning.
They are coming! Run—they are coming for you!
Calla’s heart hammered even harder against her rib cage. “Oh no…”
There was a loud crash from the front of the house, and all hell broke loose. Voices started screaming from all sides at once as everyone in the house was woken up. Servants dashed past her door, someone was barking orders, and everywhere confusion took over. Calla and Lina didn’t move an inch, frozen with fear in their places until finally Calla shook herself awake. She jumped up and grabbed her bag from the floor by the door.
Lina stared at her, a growl still rumbling in her throat. What are you doing?!
“I have a hunch,” Calla replied. “I don’t think we can wait for Hiran to come back anymore, Lina—the Council might have figured out I’m here. If Hiran was right, then I shouldn’t stay for their guards to find me.” She ran back to the window.
But where will you go? Lina sprang after her.
“Up the mountain, and hopefully away from the soldiers.” Calla jumped out the window; luckily her room was on the lower level of the house. Crouching among the bushes, she could hear the soldiers’ cries getting louder as they came closer. “With a little luck,” she continued, “we should avoid running into any more of them.”
Lina jumped out and landed next to her. I hope you know what you are doing, she said.
“So do I.” Calla set off running without another word, Lina at her heels.
They raced across the grass towards the mountain, not daring to look back to see if anyone was following. Calla forced herself to run harder. She never really saw where she was going, just kept running for what seemed like forever. Trees rose up around her and in her path, but she barely acknowledged them as she jumped around them and kept going. The only sound she could clearly hear was her own breathing. The landscape around her continued to change as she ran, trees giving way to rocky slopes as she climbed ever higher up the mountain’s side.
Only when her legs felt like they might give way did she finally stop, leaning up against a large boulder as she caught her breath. Lina was also exhausted, sprawling on the ground next to her with her tongue hanging out one side of her mouth as she panted heavily.
So…what happens now? she asked.
Calla let herself fall to the ground, stretching her legs out in front of her. “I don’t know,” she gasped out. “I just picked a direction and ran. I didn’t really have a plan at the time.”
Lina groaned. You ran up the side of the mountain without any idea of what to do afterwards; brilliant. At least we never ran into any more soldiers. But really, we cannot stay up here forever—eventually someone is going to find us.
“I’m thinking! But we don’t exactly have that many options—”
—You came.—
Calla jumped, staring at the darkness around them wildly. There was no one up on these slopes but them. So where did that voice come from? Calla looked down at Lina; the Tri-tail was up, so she must have heard it as well.
—Over here. This way. — said the voice, even louder than a moment ago. It seemed to be coming from further up the mountain. A bright golden light suddenly began to shine from among the rocks above them. Both Calla and Lina started backing away as they stared at it.
“I don’t like this.”
Me either.
—Come closer, child. Do not be afraid. — The light was pulsing, beckoning for them to follow. Still Calla hesitated, unsure about what was happening now. But that voice sounded so warm and reassuring, melting what fear she felt. Hesitantly she started to climb toward that light among the rocks. Lina stayed back and whimpered at her, then quickly ran after her.
The climb was difficult on such an uneven surface, many rocks crumbling out from under their feet, but they eventually made it up there. They stared at the wide opening of a large passage that extended down into darkness; sitting here at the entrance was a small golden orb—the source of that light they had seen. As they stepped forward it darted down into the cavern ahead of them, driving back the darkness.
—Come. I need to see you— the voice insisted.
Calla looked down at Lina. “Shall we?” she asked.
Lina whined again. I would rather not.
“You don’t have to come if you don’t want to; I understand if you’re scared about it.” Calla paused at the tunnel opening, biting her lip.
Not while you plan on going down there—there is no way that I will let you go alone. With a high-pitched whine she came up and stood leaning into the back of Calla’s leg.
With a gulp Calla walked down the tunnel, Lina following close behind her. The glow of the orb was harsh down here, hurting her eyes. Whenever she came within a few inches of it, it would jump further down the tunnel. She continued to follow it as it led them on, keeping one hand pressed against the wall as she went and feeling for each step with her feet. The air temperature gradually rose as they went on, and the darkness beyond their strange lantern steadily faded away. As they rounded one bend the golden orb abruptly vanished, but they no longer needed it—there was another light source somewhere up ahead of them, lighting the rest of the way forward.
A few steps later the tunnel ended, opening onto a massive cavern. Its far walls were blurred, barely visible from swirling haze. It was hot down here, causing sweat to pour down Calla’s body and making it difficult for her to breathe; Lina just collapsed in place, the heat hurting her more. The light in this place came from somewhere below them. Calla cautiously peered over the edge of the platform they stood on and saw the fires that raged down below. The mountain’s heart was alive with a vast lake of molten magma.
“Where in the world…?”
—You are almost there. Just this way. — The voice echoed around the cavern, making it difficult for Calla to pinpoint where it might be coming from.
As she looked around she saw a stone bridge extending partway into the cavern; the very end of it hung out over the molten lake. The entire length was supported by a series of thin pillars, apparently formed naturally by the liquid fire as it had receded to its current level so far below. The whole thing looked somewhat stable, yet Calla couldn’t help but imagine the worst possible scenario of what could happen once she set foot on the stone. A vision crossed her mind of the entire structure breaking apart, crumbling into the abyss below. As one step followed another her fears slowly melted, until she finally reached the end: a wide, circular platform with nothing that even closely resembled a rail to line the whole space. Calla turned to look back the way she had come. The ledge where she had been before was distorted from the waves of heat rippling through the air.
Now what? Lina shifted her weight between her paws. While I do like warm weather, this is a little extreme.
“I know.” Calla turned around repeatedly, seeing no creature of any kind that could have spoken. “I don’t understand any of this.”
—Your people have a phrase: ‘Ask and you shall receive.’—
Calla looked back towards the center of the main platform she stood on. She was no longer alone there.
Standing behind her was a woman, wreathed in flames.
XXV
Elenia
She watched the girl’s face as she took in what she saw. Calla just stood there with her mouth hanging open slightly, the shock visible in her eyes. Elenia felt hersel
f smile and checked herself—it wouldn’t do to come across as menacing. She thought taking a more fiery form would go over a little better here, making her fit with the current environment and save some time that would have been spent on lots of tedious explanation.
But as she looked on this girl she couldn’t ignore the wave of sorrow that coursed through her. Old memories started floating up, trying to pull her focus from the now, memories from a life of so long ago. She fought them back down into the shadows of her mind. She couldn’t think about that past right now, it was too distracting. She wasn’t ready to deal with that when the girl was standing in front of her—not yet.
Something behind the girl growled loudly, out of fear rather than aggression. She leaned over to one side, trying to look around Calla at the creature. The large wolf-like creature stared back at her with wide golden eyes, its three tails twitching nervously. A Tri-tail wolf, a female judging from how high she stood and the odd blue color at the end of her middle tail. Tri-tails were rare in this world now, seen only every once in a while. For one to turn up now, and to act as the girl’s companion…
Calla had grown to be the one she needed indeed. Only those as gifted as she was could earn the company of such enchanted creatures.
Calla was still staring at her, light green eyes wide. Elenia saw her body was shaking, uncertainty written on her face. She would have to play this very carefully if she didn’t want the girl to run back down the mountain and potentially be caught by the Council’s soldiers.
Elenia reached out with her mind to touch Calla’s thoughts. –You are afraid of me, no?—she asked.
Calla jumped; apparently she had never experienced such a connection, even though she was able to keep a similar kind of connection with the spirits and animals that lived in the world around her. The Tri-tail shrank behind her even more.
Elenia laughed slightly. –It is all right if you are; I did not expect any other feeling from you. — She reached one hand out and beckoned for her to come. –Come closer child, and let me get a better look at you.
Calla approached hesitantly, wary of her intentions. Elenia wasn’t surprised—so much had happened to her in such a short amount of time she was probably in no hurry to trust her right off. She extended her right hand towards Calla’s face, the illusion of flames flickering around her fingers. The girl stopped instantly, every inch of her body trembling. Elenia felt herself scowl in frustration: she could project her own thoughts into the girl’s mind, but even this close she could not search it to get any kind of reading on her, not without hurting her.
But she had certainly grown these past few years.
She sighed as she lowered her hand. –Ah, we have so much work ahead.—
Calla’s nerves were clearly getting to her, but she continued to hold her ground. “Um, who are you?” she asked, her voice so quiet Elenia could barely hear her.
The question itself was surprising. –You do not know me?—
“I’m sorry, but no.”
—You have travelled with one of my servants far from your home. You have heard my name from several people you have met along the way, good and foul alike. Even this mountain and the city below share my name. How can you not know who I am?—
The girl just stood there looking sheepish, letting her eyes drop to the floor.
Elenia sighed. –It does not matter now— she said, shaking her head. –I will not be angry with you just for not knowing my name. There is nothing to gain from that when we have so much that needs to be done.—
Calla glanced back up at her, while the Tri-tail continued to shuffle her feet and flick her tails nervously.
Calla, she said to the girl, I do not like this. I do not think we can trust this…creature. We should not be here—I sense something wrong about her.
Elenia chuckled quietly to herself. Tri-tails had always been the most cautious of creatures, meeting everything—new and old, usually—with great suspicion. Still, things would perhaps go better if there wasn’t so much tension between them all. Maybe now would be a good time to lighten the mood some.
Elenia projected her thoughts now into the Tri-tail’s mind, but still kept the connection with Calla open. –Oh yes, because I am always in need of a new fur coat— she teased.
The Tri-tail gave a high-pitched yip and jumped back behind Calla. The girl’s eyes went wide in shock or perhaps fear, and she backed up two steps as she covered her mouth with one hand.
Elenia laughed a little. –Relax, I do not have any real intention of doing that to you, my furry friend; it was only in jest.—
The animal didn’t relax for a moment. I will take your word for it, she said skeptically. Calla started to giggle quietly about it.
Well at least she had found something to help the girl calm down.
Elenia released some of the magic that held the illusion of flames flickering around her; the light around where she stood dimmed slightly. She turned her attention back to Calla. –Do I need to explain myself further? — she asked.
The smile dropped from her face quickly. However much fear she still felt, it didn’t keep her from answering. She shook her head sharply, loose strands of red hair swaying from one side to the other. “I think I know who you are,” she said, a little louder than before. “Are you the lady Elenia?”
Elenia nodded. –Indeed. I am the Lady of Life, the guardian of the natural world and of all who live in it, enchanted or no. I am protector to the Malc, a people among the last remnants of the ancient days. I watch over the world, and help to maintain the balance when called to.—
She had kept the explanation as simple as she could, but already Calla seemed to understand it. Perhaps this would go easier than she first thought.
She blinked and realized she was staring towards Calla’s chest. Calla was wearing a gold chain around her neck that disappeared under the neckline of her shirt. Some kind of energy was emanating from there, a kind that didn’t belong to the girl; it felt more like a Nymph’s energy. Elenia stopped herself at the thought.
Mai…
—Calla, the gem you are wearing around your neck. May I see it?—
Calla looked surprised at the request, but still reached up and undid the clasp. Holding the chain by both ends she pulled it out from under her shirt to reveal the single diamond-like crystal hanging from it. Elenia knew what it was in an instant, even before Calla handed it to her—Mai’s Soulseed.
—My poor Mai, — she said. –I had hoped I would never see the Soulseed of one so young. I should have known better than to expect something other than this. I knew she doubted herself when I sent her to find you—I thought things would go better if I sent someone to you who was closer to your own age. Yet I had my own misgivings about sending her; maybe I should have listened to her fears.
—Keep her Soulseed with you Calla—it is the key to her second life; I name you its keeper. If our world survives the coming darkness you may break the shell and plant the seed that is trapped inside wherever you choose. It must be returned to the earth for her new life to begin. Keep it with you always, until that time.—
Calla just looked confused as she placed the chain back around her neck; the small jewel rested against her chest on the outside of her shirt. She let her forefinger linger on it as she absentmindedly stroked it once more before letting her hand drop back down. The Tri-tail behind her let out another whine and she reached back to scratch her on the head, her back arching as she strained to reach without turning.
Elenia could almost feel time moving past them. It was now or never—she had to know if the girl was willing to go through with this. She could only hope, for Calla was the only chance left for them all. Cautiously she walked towards her; Calla seemed to shrink as she drew closer, but otherwise held her ground. Elenia stopped when they were about a foot apart.
Elenia reached out to touch the girl with her thoughts. –Do you know what it is I am asking of you?—she asked.
Calla seemed to force herself to sta
y where she was. “Some,” she replied.
—I know of the gift you have. I know how it frightens you. But I must ask you to hear me out.—
“I don’t understand.”
—I need you, Calla. I need your help. An ancient prophecy is about to pass: the world will fall if we stand and do nothing. In this time that I have waited I have been backed into a corner with nowhere else to run. The young ruler of the Dead Lands is the chosen champion of the being called Bralon, the dark power responsible for the darkness which covers that place and is slowly spreading. The two of them combined are too much for me to deal with on my own; if I fight one of them the other will simply strike from behind, and I will have no chance. The mortal’s strength has grown so much that he may be strong enough to challenge me.—
“But what does—”
—You are meant to face him in battle—you were born for it. His talents are unlike any magic this world has ever seen; even the Dark One who chose him as champion does not fully realize how powerful he is. This mortal can command spirits from another world, make them do his bidding, draw power from them and use it against others. It is a dangerous talent to lie in the hands of any mortal, for they succumb to its lure so easily and are subverted, driven into madness without ever realizing it; that madness has given him strength.—
“And what about me?” the girl asked after taking a moment to process what Elenia had just said. “What about my…gift?” She struggled to say the last word.
Finally; at least now she had gotten through to her. There just might still be a chance for them. —It is just as old, and just as powerful, — she continued. –If not more powerful. You are tied to the earth itself, to the different elements that hold it together; they are yours to command. It is magic in one of its rawest forms, but it is still quite the potent art. You have discovered some about it on your own, even if it was by accident, so you have some idea of what you are capable of; I sensed how you used it after you had crossed into my domain, even if you were only making a defensive gesture. You are gifted with magic—embrace it Calla. Do not run from it any more.—
The Last Druid Page 14
