The Last of the Sea Elves

by R. A. Cheatham

  “Leave your money and your weapons and go. You should still have time to find a healer, though your tall friend will have a rough recovery ahead of him, no doubt,” Rolin looked at the man with the slashed stomach, now lying pale and nearly motionless on the ground.

  “You’re wrong to protect someone of her kind. They’re not human or even civil. They don’t know loyalty, and they don’t know—”

  Rolin lifted the man’s chin high in the air with the tip of his sword. He sputtered and gagged, and a trickle of blood formed above his throat.

  “I said, go.”

  Rolin drew his sword away from the man’s throat. Slowly, the ruddy man got to his feet. He and the man with the daggers dropped their weapons and money bags at Rolin’s feet before collecting their companion.

  As they hobbled out of sight, Kamo looked at Rolin.

  “Thank you for defending me,” she said slowly. “Men like that…” She swallowed. “I don’t know that I could have held them off by myself.”

  “Men like that cause more harm and pain than most armies can in a lifetime,” Rolin replied sadly. “But at least, for now, they are unarmed and less dangerous.”

  “For now,” Gobi echoed. “We should get some distance between us in any case. Are you sure you’re alright, Kamo?”

  “I’m fine. Thank you for your help as well,” she said. “You really do have excellent aim.”

  “Thanks,” Gobi replied. “I’ve been throwing daggers almost as long as I can remember. My grandpa taught me. Though he made me practice with butter knives until I showed some accuracy.”

  Rolin laughed. “Butter knives?”

  “Yeah. Butter knives, spoons, sticks. I can’t say they were exactly helpful in the process, but then again, I still have all my limbs, so maybe he was onto something,” Gobi shrugged and laughed.

  Kamo imagined a younger Gobi, full of energy and eager to learn. Then, she imagined Rolin training as a swordsman, and heat rushed to her cheeks.

  It’s gratitude, just gratitude. Rolin saved my life, and he’s an excellent swordsman. That’s admirable.

  They continued to joke and talk as they walked and were hardly tired when the sun began to set. Gobi was the first to stop on the trail. “Well, should we make camp here?” he asked, moving to set down his pack.

  “Let’s move off the trail,” Rolin replied.

  Kamo followed him and Gobi as they left the dirt trail and headed for a clearing surrounded by fir trees. Rolin roamed its perimeter a few times before setting down his pack and breaking into its contents. He seemed satisfied that they could stay here undisturbed, and Kamo followed his lead and began to unpack her things.

  Gobi set up two small tents, side by side, as Kamo gathered wood and branches for a fire. Rolin took a bow to do some hunting. They brought bread and honey from the inn, but Rolin said there would be plenty of game to hunt along the way. He stayed true to his word and returned with two fat rabbits, plump and full of good meat.

  Kamo and Gobi were accustomed to preparing fish, so Rolin skillfully prepared each rabbit. He even taught Gobi how to skin and roast them so he could be of more assistance the next night. Kamo couldn’t help but admire Rolin for his patience in teaching Gobi a new skill.

  “It just takes practice. You’ll get it soon enough,” Rolin said, as he skewered a rabbit onto the spit Gobi had been wrestling with for ten minutes. He would have let him keep trying, but Gobi was getting more and more frustrated, and they were all getting hungrier with every attempt.

  The rabbits roasted beautifully, and everyone enjoyed the meal. Kamo pulled a small copper kettle from her pack, along with some honey and a few lemon slices.

  “Let’s see what we can do about that hot drink, Rolin. I want to hear your greatest story,” she said. She added the lemons and honey to the pot, along with some water, and let it heat over the fire. Gobi yawned, and Rolin dramatically rolled his eyes.

  “Gobi exaggerates,” he said. “The story is not all that great.” But he wore a mischievous smile, and Kamo knew he wanted to share. He was just a showman building the suspense.

  “No?” she asked, feigning disinterest. “Well, then I’ll have to hear more of Gobi’s adventures. Sailors’ adventures are probably more interesting and exciting anyway.”

  Rolin sighed and threw his hands up in defeat.

  “All right, all right, you got me. I’ll tell you,” Rolin said, yawning a little himself. “You do know how to take the fun out of a tease, love,” he said as he smiled and caught her eye. They were staring at each other, and Kamo’s pulse quickened as her cheeks and ears turned red. Rolin must have noticed because his eyes flicked from her ears to her cheeks and back to her eyes. Kamo had to concentrate on the gold flecks in his eyes to keep from blinking, too stubborn to look away before he did.

  Gobi rolled his eyes and cleared his throat. He shook his head and started pouring the lemon and honey drink into small cups from Kamo’s pack.

  “Anyway,” Gobi said as he returned the kettle to the fire, “Rolin, start with the tigers.”

  Chapter Five

  They traveled quietly and without incident for several days and quickly fell into a routine. They would walk during the day, stopping along the way for lunch, and set up camp when it became too dark to keep moving. The routine gave Kamo a sense of purpose and peace. Rolin hunted, Kamo built a fire, they cooked dinner, and sat at the campfire exchanging adventurous tales and embarrassing moments. Like Gobi, Rolin seemed genuinely interested in hearing Kamo’s memories of her family. He loved hearing about games she played with Kali and the odd but effective way that Sheelo had taught her to read the stars as they sailed from island to island.

  Kamo was reminiscing about Sheelo when Rolin interrupted her thoughts.

  “Which of the islands is your favorite?” he asked.

  The question caught her off guard for a moment. She furrowed her eyebrows and began to think. It took her a few moments to reply.

  “I don’t know that I have a favorite,” she said. “Each island has its own unique beauty. Bellia has the most beautiful waterfalls, but Croma has the most exquisite rainbows, and it’s constantly raining there, so you can see them almost every day.”

  Kamo trailed off, closed her eyes, and imagined her home. She could smell the forest trees and ocean spray, and she could feel the warmth of the sun beating down on her skin.

  “I think I would enjoy those islands,” Rolin replied, a little longing in his voice. He stared at Kamo as if he wanted to join in her memories.

  “Everyone enjoys the Sea elves’ islands,” Kamo sang, still lost in her daydreams. “I’ll take you there, someday, if you’d like.”

  “That would be amazing!” Gobi said. His voice brought Kamo back to reality, and she laughed a little as she opened her eyes and saw his face wide with a smile.

  “Well, then it’s settled. As soon as we finish our business with the Fire elves, I will take you to the Sea elf islands.” Her voice fell a little as she remembered her islands were just as lonely as she without their elven inhabitants. She grimaced. “Just don’t expect to meet… well, don’t expect to meet anyone like me. They will be pretty empty, population-wise.”

  Gobi looked away from Kamo and stared into the fire. Rolin shuffled his feet, also showing a sudden interest in the fire.

  “I think even when the Sea elves were there, there was nobody like you,” Rolin said softly. He looked up and continued. “By the way, I thought all Sea elves had blue eyes. Is that just another quirk of yours? Did any of your sisters have brown eyes?”

  Kamo laughed. “My sisters? No, no. They had the most beautiful blue eyes. The Rana women have always had eyes like the sea and storms. They used to tease me about my brown eyes, except Kali; she said my eyes were like copper and chocolate and fire.”

  “An apt description,” Rolin said absent-mindedly.

  Kamo blushed. “Thank you.”

  Reminiscing about her sisters, she gazed up at the stars. Rolin stared in he
r direction for a moment, then returned his gaze to the fire, occasionally stealing a glimpse of the stars himself. It was quiet for a few minutes as they all stared into the heavens or the flames, contemplating silent dreams and ideas. Gobi broke the silence.

  “We’ll be at Blosso tomorrow. I’m going to get some rest so we can head out early,” he said. In a sturdier voice, he added, “I suggest you do the same.” His eyes flickered from Rolin to Kamo, and they took his suggestion as more of a command.

  “You’re right, Gobi. We should get some rest,” Rolin said as he stood up and began pouring a bucket of water onto the fire.

  They had all grown accustomed to the sounds of the forest as they traveled. Birds, rabbits, and occasionally deer would cross their path, but they had not grown accustomed to other human travelers. The path to Blosso was generally untouched because so few people dared to venture into the Pennifold mountains, so it surprised Kamo when she saw the light of a small fire in the distance behind them as Rolin doused theirs.

  “It looks like we may have some company soon,” Kamo said.

  A little confused, Rolin cocked his head, and Kamo pointed in the darkness. Rolin found the small ball of light on the horizon and dropped the water bucket on his toe as he gasped.

  “Are you all right?” Kamo asked him, scooping up the bucket as he hopped around.

  A few embers still burned in the pit, and Kamo caught a quick glimpse of Rolin’s face. Though the water bucket had been heavy with water, he didn’t seem to be in pain. He seemed upset or frightened, even.

  “I’m fine,” he said. “Just a little startled, that’s all. Have you noticed a fire behind us before tonight?” His voice shook, and Kamo shivered. She had never heard his voice waver before. It had always been full of confidence and strength, even when he was unsure.

  “No, I don’t think so,” she replied. “They’re probably just travelers like we are. The Pennifold mountains are home to a lot of fabled treasures and gifts. I’m sure they’re just coming to find their fortune,” she said.

  Rolin took a deep breath, and he regained some composure. But when he took the bucket from Kamo, his hands were trembling.

  “Yeah, that must be it,” he said in a steadier voice. “Gobi, how far back would you say they are?”

  Gobi squinted into the horizon, a calculating look on his face.

  “Maybe a couple of hours,” and his face mirrored Rolin’s in worry. “But Kamo’s probably right. A lot of treasure hunters make their way to the Pennifolds at some point or another… Though I can’t say I’ve heard of anyone returning with treasure worth mentioning.”.

  Rolin doused the rest of the embers, and they crept to the tents.

  “Well, whatever the case, we should still get some rest,” Kamo said, trying to restore some peace. “Good night, both of you,” she yawned as she snuck into her tent.

  “Good night Kamo.”

  “Night.”

  Despite her attempt at calm, Rolin’s sudden fear had shaken her, and she waited a long while before she slid into bed and tried to fall asleep. Her bedroll was warm and inviting, but Rolin’s worried face haunted her vision every time she closed her eyes. She couldn’t figure out why it worried her to see him fret about travelers. Her mind wandered as Rolin and Gobi whispered from their tent.

  “But the army said you were free to leave your post, didn’t they?” Gobi asked quietly.

  “Well,” Rolin paused, “not exactly… The war ended, so I figured I was relieved of duty. I went back home. It’s been so long. I’m sure if they were after me, it would have caught up to me before now. You think?”

  “I guess,” Gobi replied. “I’m glad that we’ll be in Blosso tomorrow, in any case. Let’s try to get some rest. We’ll have to be alert until we arrive in the city.”

  “You’re right. I just hope we arrive there without incident,” Rolin said.

  “Me too,” Gobi said. “Good night.”

  “Good night, Gobi.”

  Kamo turned the words over in her mind. Rolin had been a soldier. In all their exchanges, neither Gobi nor Rolin had mentioned it to her. In a way, the information didn’t surprise her. Rolin always had an air of courage and bravery, and he walked like a soldier, head held high. Still, why hadn’t they told her? As Rolin said, the war had ended long ago. Why would anyone come looking for a soldier now?

  Kamo rubbed her eyes, then pulled her blanket up to her nose. They were climbing slowly to the city a quarter of the way up the mountain range, but even the slight change in altitude they had encountered so far had made the air chillier. Still questioning Rolin’s panic, and seeing the fear in those piercing brown eyes as she closed her own, Kamo finally fell into an uneasy sleep.

  Chapter Six

  “Why don’t we wake her?” Rolin asked.

  “Calm down. She’ll be awake soon enough,” Gobi chided. “I know you’re in a hurry, but let the girl have some peace and quiet. Haven’t you noticed it’s hard for her to fall asleep?”

  Kamo rolled onto her side, kicked off her blanket, and smiled. Gobi reminded her of her mother sometimes. Kulpa pampered her and had her rest when a bout of insomnia kept her up until all hours of the morning.

  “Now that you mention it, she does seem to toss and turn before her snoring starts,” Rolin said.

  Kamo burst from her tent.

  “I do not snore!” she shouted. “Besides, you’re one to talk. Your snoring could wake giants. I’ve never heard anything so loud in my entire life!”

  “Oh, stop whining,” Gobi scolded her. “You both snore louder than a couple of packs of elephants in a stampede.”

  Rolin laughed, and Kamo shot Gobi an icy glare.

  “Right, sorry,” Gobi said. “I know you aren’t a morning person.”

  Kamo shoved a biscuit into her mouth before beginning to pack her sack.

  “It’s fine,” she said. “I suppose that Rolin is used to early mornings with his old career.”

  Gobi and Rolin exchanged worried glances.

  “You two should really work on your whispering skills,” Kamo continued. “How long were you a soldier?”

  Rolin stared at her.

  “Don’t bother trying to deny it, please. It will only waste time.”

  Rolin hesitated before answering. “Not long,” he said nervously. “I only entered the battlefield six months before the war ended. My time with the army was short-lived, but I made some loyal friends before I left.”

  “And you think some of those friends are trying to catch up with you now, after all this time?”

  Rolin stole another glance at Gobi, who sat still packing up his things.

  “Maybe,” Gobi answered her casually. “But perhaps not. The war ended over a year ago. I think Rolin is overly cautious. It’s not so strange that someone else might venture up here. After all, we’re here for our own reasons. In any case, I don’t think we need to worry about being tracked by old army pals, or anyone else for that matter,” he said, a sense of finality in his voice.

  Rolin shrugged. “You’re right. Of course, you’re right. I’m just being paranoid,” Rolin said, though he looked over his shoulder as he spoke.

  Kamo felt a prickling in her spine as she also checked over her shoulder, but she didn’t see anyone. Rolin’s paranoia was beginning to rub off.

  “How about we just get to Blosso, and then we can watch for any other travelers in the city while we talk with Pacha,” she said. The Earth elves had a very distinct look. It wouldn’t be hard to find any humans in the town.

  “Good idea,” Gobi replied. “Humans will be easy to spot among the Earth elves. How many humans do you know with green hair, Rolin?”

  “Well, just the one,” Rolin answered, “but he’s lost his marbles. He keeps a wig made of kelp.”

  Despite herself, Kamo chuckled at the image.

  “You would know a man with a kelp wig, wouldn’t you?”

  Chapter Seven

  The rest of the trek to Blosso was fraught with
rugged terrain and unruly flora. For the days leading up to it, Kamo had found time to converse with Gobi in Oshia as they walked, sometimes teasing Rolin in their secret tongue or exchanging more sailors’ stories. Now, each traveler focused on the ground ahead of them, carefully placing each foot step and sometimes using their hands for balance.

  The higher they climbed, the more Kamo felt out of place. The trees were thick with needles and pine cones. The grasses had grown over the path, so they would have to pause and search for the dirt road that disappeared in the brush.

  They traveled without speaking for a few hours before Rolin stopped them at a fork in the road. It appeared to be a particularly steep incline on their left that led to a ridge for a lookout point, and to their right, the path continued toward the base of the higher peaks.

  “Just past this ridge is the entrance to Blosso,” he said as he pointed up the hill to their left, a little out of breath.

  “Are you sure?” Gobi asked, his face weary and a little doubtful.

  Kamo understood his confusion. She looked up to the ridge where Rolin was pointing and saw a blue sky on the horizon. No peaks, no trails, just an end of the path. The mountain range looked as though it continued up a path to their right, the opposite of the way Rolin had suggested.

  “I’m positive,” Rolin swaggered as he took a sip from his waterskin.

  Kamo looked at Gobi. His eyebrows were knit in concentration as he stared at the ridge above them. After a moment, he shrugged and gulped some water as well.

  Watching Gobi, Kamo felt a sudden dry aching in her throat. As she retrieved the waterskin from her hip, she could hear a pair of voices. As she listened more intently, she heard them in the direction of the ridge. She had to stop swallowing to listen to what they were saying due to their muffled voices. Her ears perked up, and her eyes flicked to Rolin and Gobi to see if they had heard the same thing she had. Gobi appeared quite unaware, water dripping from the corners of his mouth as he gulped and swallowed. Rolin, however, had gently tucked his waterskin away and stood eyeing the ridge. It looked as though his feet were moving him toward the conversation quite unconsciously and stealthily.