Her hands were still warm in the coat, but the fire in her veins had settled.
“Yes. They all knew.”
Rolin’s calm words and soothing tone relaxed Gobi as well, and he took a seat next to Rolin once again.
“Why didn’t they tell you?” Rolin asked earnestly.
Kamo clenched her fists and took a deep breath. She didn’t care that Rolin and Gobi knew she was a Fire elf, but the next sentence stuck in her throat.
“They thought it would be safer that way,” she croaked. “Maybe they thought that if I didn’t know who I was, I’d be protected by ignorance.”
“Protected from whom?” Rolin asked over a sudden crackle from the fire.
“My father,” she swallowed, “the king.”
Gobi’s jaw dropped. “I’m sorry, what?”
“It’s sort of a long story,” she said. “The king is married to a Fire elf, and they have a son together—the crown prince. But before, he was married to a Sea elf named Mara. My mother, apparently,” Kamo winced. “Mara died either giving birth to me or shortly after that. Not even Pacha knows why they sent me away after that, but she has some assumptions.”
“With you out of the way, the king could pursue a Fire elf and keep his line pure. Perhaps have a strictly Fire elven heir,” Rolin reasoned aloud. “That’s why you’re more dangerous than a traitor. You’re a princess.”
Kamo nodded her head.
“All those attacks, all those lives that were lost, he was searching for me, to kill me.”
“And now you’re headed straight to him.”
“That about sums up the plan, yes,” Kamo said quickly.
“That’s the worst plan I’ve ever heard,” Gobi shouted. “Why not just go as far away from him and this mess as possible?”
“Because, Gobi,” she yelled back, “I can’t just let him get away with what he’s done! He ordered their deaths! He killed them looking for me!”
“You don’t know that,” Rolin said calmly.
Kamo took a deep breath.
“You’re right,” she said more quietly. “But if he did, I’ll kill him.” She breathed. “I want answers. I want to know who is responsible for all of those lives, all of those people. And if it’s him, he deserves to die.”
Rolin and Gobi watched her silently.
“And if it wasn’t him?” Gobi asked.
“Then I find who it was,” Kamo answered, “and the king continues his reign.”
“But even if you don’t kill him,” Gobi said, “the king will die eventually. Who takes the throne? Who’s the rightful heir? You?”
Kamo nodded and said, “Yes. At least, according to Pacha. I don’t know how many Fire elves would accept me as a ruler. Let the Fires have their precious prince. I have no one left to protect.”
“That’s not true,” Gobi replied. “Pacha. Philip and Rima. Poco. You would be a queen to them.”
Kamo twisted her hands in their pockets. “I guess I hadn’t thought of that,” she said. “Pacha mentioned peace… Something about uniting the elves as one people, but it seemed so outrageous at the time… But she said something else, too. She told me that to get to the king, I need to get close to Elesun.”
“Right, by introducing yourself at the celebration after the festival,” Rolin said.
“Right… but after you left, she said there might be another way,” Kamo said. “The festival includes a competition of magic between the Fire elves. So now that I know I have magic, maybe I could compete.”
“Not to put a damper on that idea,” Gobi said, tilting his head, “but you hardly know anything about this fire in you. How are you going to compete with someone else? I had to get you practically yelling just to light the campfire.”
“Pacha said that if I want to learn, I’ll find someone to teach me,” Kamo said. “But, that doesn’t seem exactly helpful now that I’m saying it to you.”
“If you compete and impress Elesun, does that get you in his good graces?” Rolin asked.
“I’m sure it wouldn’t hurt, in any case,” Kamo answered. “It would demonstrate that I am a Fire elf of royal lineage. And if he’s as close to the king as Pacha says, he probably has a lot to do with the festival. But I suppose I can’t think about that right now. This whole conversation will be irrelevant if we don’t make it to Ferena in the first place. We’ve made good time, but we have to keep moving at this pace if we want to reach the gates before they disappear.”
“Don’t worry,” Rolin said, “we can continue to move quickly. We have a few more days to travel before we enter giant territory.”
“We should get a head start tomorrow morning,” Kamo said. “Gobi, I know you hate waking me up, but will you please? You’re a lot better at it than some people,” she said, eyeing Rolin accusingly.
“I will,” Gobi promised, “as long as you’ll sing me to sleep again tonight. I haven’t slept like that since I lived aboard the elves’ ship.”
“Sounds fair to me.”
Chapter Thirteen
The following day broke with wind and chill. Gobi stood outside Kamo’s tent door, gently calling her name, but she curled tighter to stay warm in her bedroll and blanket.
“Kamo, I know you’re awake,” Gobi shouted more impatiently, “I can hear you rustling the blankets. Come on outside. We need to get moving.”
Kamo reached a hand out from under the blanket to retrieve her hair ribbon and felt the first icy sting of the morning in the air.
“I’ll only be a moment,” she fibbed, “I’m just getting my boots on.”
She snuggled back under her blanket and braced herself for the cold morning travel. She heard Gobi and Rolin folding their tent into the packs and groaned as she pulled her boots onto her stinging toes.
The sun was deceiving in the sky. It shone with radiant brightness but did little more than serve as a light, the air still frigid and biting with frost and snow. Kamo traveled slowly, keen to keep her hands in the pockets of her warm, fur coat. Pacha was as good as her word. The jacket and hat served as a barrier between her and the unforgiving elements. But without gloves to keep her hands warm, she traveled up the mountain cautiously, only using her hands to climb when absolutely necessary.
Despite his habit of running ahead, Gobi kept pace with Rolin and Kamo and never strayed more than a few feet ahead of them. Rolin acted as a scout, keeping an eye on the trail ahead while scanning the area around them for sounds and movement. Occasionally, he would pause and tell the others to crouch low as he heard something nearby, but for the most part, the journey was uneventful until near the end of the day.
Though the sky had been clear and blue, clouds obstructed the sun, their gray and black shadows wiping out the light of the day. Snow fell in light flakes, and Kamo felt them and saw them whirl in gusts of wind around her body. She was about to pull the tent out of her pack when Rolin shouted and dragged her to the ground. A flaming arrow lodged in the tree where Kamo was about to rest her pack.
Rolin searched for the weapon that had nearly pinned himself and Kamo to the tree. He squinted only for a moment, and then his eyes opened wide in surprise.
“That’s the only warning you’ll get,” shouted the elf behind Rolin, his bow already loaded with another flaming arrow.
“What do you want?” Rolin shouted back, drawing himself up to his full height.
“Our quarrel is not with you, as of yet anyway,” he snarled. “We are interested only in the one you seem to protect.”
Rolin instinctively looked down at Kamo, who was still crouching near the tree, barely daring to breathe.
“Me?” she said, moving from a crouch to a squat. “What do you want from me?”
Unlike the Earth elf gangs they had encountered before, this clan looked civil, sleek even. The man with the bow was clean-shaven, and his clothes and armor clean and polished. Other elves emerged from the trees around them as Kamo stood, and they too looked civil and well-groomed.
“Why are you travel
ing with these heathens?” he said, glaring first at Rolin and then at Gobi.
Kamo took a deep breath. For a tiny second, she forgot that to these elves, Rolin and Gobi looked like Fire elves.
“I don’t know what you mean,” she said slowly. “They are loyal to me and share no blame in my eyes.”
The clean-shaven elf lowered his weapon but continued to glare at the men.
“Who are you?” Kamo asked, standing tall next to Rolin and stepping between him and the elf.
“I am Panchon,” he answered, “and this is my clan.”
At his words, Panchon’s clan began to whoop and cheer. He smiled at them with pride. Kamo’s eyes flickered around, and she took stock of the twenty or thirty elves surrounding her, each armed with at least one weapon, most of them longswords engraved with elven symbols. She guessed the youngest among them was a girl of no more than fifteen, whose hair was cut short above her shoulders. The eldest was a man with green-gray hair and weathered hands that gripped a spear similar to the one Kamo carried.
Gobi, who had stopped only feet after Kamo, put his hands up in the air and walked deliberately toward Rolin and Kamo. The cheering clan made no attempt to stop him, but some unsheathed their swords.
Panchon put two fingers to his mouth and blew a whistle to calm the restless clan.
“My mother said you’d be traveling with two humans,” he addressed Kamo, approaching all three of them.
As he got closer, Kamo examined his outfit more closely. He was wearing polished silver armor that bore the Earth elf royal coat of arms.
“Pacha? Pacha is your mother?” she asked.
He’s of royal lineage. He must have magic, too.
“Hard to believe, isn’t it?” he answered.
“If you’re her son, what are you doing here? I thought the gangs entered the mountains in protest.”
“They did,” he said matter of factly. His face was only feet from Kamo now, and she began to see the family resemblance. “We are a clan. We elected to come here when Pacha foretold the coming of the last of the Sea elves.” With this, he held up his sword in both hands and bowed to Kamo. His followers turned toward her and bowed as well. “I’m sure you have already met some of our gangs. They attack those who do not share their beliefs, including my clan, but Pacha believes we will bring you more help than harm.”
“So you’re… here to protect me?” Kamo asked sheepishly.
And teach me?
“Our instructions were to serve you in whatever way you would ask,” he said. “Though, I doubt we’d be better protection than a couple of Fires.” He was still eyeing Gobi and Rolin with suspicion.
Kamo glanced sideways at Rolin, waiting for him to respond. He gripped the longsword at his belt.
“Your people are more skilled than I thought if you mistook us for Fire elves,” he said.
Panchon smiled and shook his head. “Poco’s work, then?”
Rolin nodded.
“Poco always loved dabbling in making herself up,” Panchon replied. “At least she’s put it to good use.”
His clan laughed heartily.
“According to my guard, we’re nearing giant territory,” Kamo said. “If my companions are comfortable with your presence, I’d be happy to have you accompany us ‘til we’re safely through, but please let me discuss it with them.”
Panchon inclined his head cordially and walked toward his clan.
“Rolin? Gobi? Would you rather they left us alone?” she asked them quietly.
“That arrow flew awfully close to us,” Rolin said. “How do we know it isn’t a trap? Pacha never mentioned him to us.”
“It’s true,” Gobi said, “It’s a bit odd.”
“Maybe,” Kamo said. “On the other hand, if they wanted to kill us, they’re either very sporting or very foolish. Besides, seers aren’t exactly known for their clarity and specificity.”
“I don’t mind if they come with us through the giants’ territory,” Gobi chimed in, “though such a big group will be much harder to keep quiet.”
“But if we find ourselves in a brawl with the giants, the more, the merrier,” Rolin said. “What do you think, Kamo?”
“I meant what I told him. I’d be glad of the company. It’s a higher risk of being discovered, with a lower risk of death if we are.”
“Fine by me,” Gobi replied.
“Me too,” Rolin agreed, “let’s set up camp here tonight and get to know our new allies.”
Kamo shouted to Panchon that they had decided to travel together, and he saluted her.
“Shall we stay the night here?” he bellowed back. “It’ll give me a chance to get to know your friends.”
“Yes,” Kamo shouted. Then she spoke in a low voice to Rolin and Gobi. “Besides, who can see through all this snow anyway?”
The remark lightened Gobi’s gloomy face, and they were soon setting up tents and lighting a fire amidst the Earth elf clan.
After dinners were prepared and eaten, Panchon sought out Gobi and Rolin. They were hunched together around the fire nearest their tents when Pachon took a seat right beside them, occupying the space between Rolin and Gobi.
“So,” he demanded, “who are you, and why are you protecting the Sea princess?”
His straightforward conversation caught the two men by surprise, and both were silent in response.
“Our reasons are our own,” Rolin said when the silence grew unbearable.
“That’s not good enough, I’m afraid,” Panchon said. “It is my duty to protect her.”
Rolin stared at him. The fire in his eyes was burning brighter than the flame in the pit. Panchon returned his gaze, his gray eyes flashing silver in the light.
“As it is mine,” Rolin said.
Kamo stared at him. She had never seen Rolin this fiercely protective. It suited him.
The silent battle between him and Panchon escalated as they stared at one another, the light of the fire flashing in their eyes.
“How can I be sure of your loyalty to her?” Rolin asked. “Pacha gave no warning that you would be here.”
“Well, for one thing, you’re not dead.”
Gobi snickered.
“And for another, my clan knows her true identity,” Panchon said. “We are loyal to the Fire king during his reign, but the time will come when his reign is over, and we will show our support for the true elven heir. Pacha taught us well to be loyal.”
He bowed his head in solemnity as he spoke of his mother and leader.
Rolin considered him and finally extinguished the blaze in his eyes. “In that case, we will protect her together,” Rolin said, extending his arm to Panchon.
“Hold on,” Panchon said, folding his arms, “my mother may easily accept your journey with the princess, but I’m afraid I’m a bit more skeptical. What’s in it for you? Why protect her?”
Gobi answered first. “There’s nothing in it for me,” he said, “only the adventure.”
Panchon tilted his head and raised an eyebrow at Gobi.
“Okay, fine,” Gobi added, “I can’t get closure for my past. If Kamo can get the answers she wants, there’s nothing that will stop me from helping her.”
“And you?” Panchon turned to Rolin.
“I want vengeance.”
Panchon shook his head.
“And you need her for that?”
“More like, I recognized a kindred spirit,” Rolin answered. “The Fire elves caused her pain and loneliness, agony. I can relate most intimately. That would have been enough on its own,” Rolin cleared his throat and glanced at Kamo, and she felt her cheeks grow warmer, “but Kamo has a way of getting under your skin… Quite simply, she’s worth protecting.”
Rolin smiled softly at her. Almost instinctively, she began to reach for his hand.
“Princess Kamo,” Panchon said.
His words stopped her in a heartbeat, and she tucked her hair behind her ear.
“You inspire loyalty. A useful quality for a
royal leader.”
Rolin looked disappointed and sat straighter on the log.
“Please, call me Kamo,” she blushed. “I am used to Kamo. I only recently learned my entire heritage, and I’m afraid I’m not quite accustomed to the idea yet.”
“Understandably so,” Panchon said, “mother told me that you might not be aware of your true nature and calling.”
Kamo grimaced as she thought of all her family had kept from her. She clenched her fists and placed them hastily in her lap. Rolin glanced at her, studying her expression.
“She only just told us,” Gobi said to Panchon. “It does add a whole new level of terror to the journey.”
“The journey? Or the destination,” Panchon asked.
“Both, I guess,” Gobi said, “but I’m sure you have ways of getting us through this journey safely.”
“I’ll tell you just a few if you’d like.”
With Panchon distracted in his conversation with Gobi, Rolin moved closer to Kamo and gently put an arm around her waist. At his touch, Kamo relaxed slightly. She took her hands from her lap and aimed her open palms toward the warmth of the fire.
“Are you all right?” he whispered as Gobi got animatedly louder.
She sighed and nodded.
“It’s just hard,” she murmured. “I don’t like this title, I don’t like this secret. I don’t like that I get angry thinking about my family.”
“I know,” Rolin said. “You feel betrayed or belittled, somehow. Like they should have trusted you.”
The words cut her deep, and she bit her lip.
“I’m not helping, am I,” he whispered again.
“Not really,” she said. “But thank you for trying.”
“For what it’s worth,” he leaned imperceptibly closer, “I think that once you can come to terms with this, you’ll make a great leader. Just as Panchon said, you’re inspiring.”
His breath felt warm on her cheek, and she was tempted to lay her head on his shoulder.
“Oh yeah? Why is that?”
One hand was still resting lightly at her waist, and Rolin reached his other hand toward the fire, his outstretched fingertips only inches from Kamo’s.
“Princess Kamo,” Panchon’s voice interrupted the quieter conversation, “I apologize. Kamo, what is your plan once you reach the Fire elves?”
The Last of the Sea Elves Page 11
