Beneath a Desert Moon

by Mary Hamilton

  And then Marzi remembered. This is exactly what Valyn had tried to tell her.

  Chapter 52: Crystal Sands

  The war, such as it was, seemed a distant and abstract idea to Marzi. Scouting parties went out each day, sometimes the humans, other times the elves, and oftentimes together. The ogres came and went—back and forth between the main encampment and their kraals. Klunk, who spoke for the ogre chiefs, had little to say. Kharla practiced relentlessly with her club on a target dummy. Tovi’s leg healed and he accompanied some of the patrols, especially the elven parties.

  But for a war, things seemed pretty peaceful, at least to the young Azyrean girl. She visited the empress, Elondiel, and Saige but usually found them busy, pre-occupied. The conversations all seemed stilted and forced. It was as though there were nothing to talk about and yet everything to talk about. Maybe they were just biding their time until either the sky or the portal opened up and the storm began to rage.

  Marzi sat beneath the trees at the oasis, convinced that it was time to go home. They didn’t need her after all. Maybe Dredwyn had given up and was content to stay back in Ebon Hills. The ogres didn’t seem very concerned. And for the elves, well, they never said much anyway. Valyn remained silent. Perhaps there was just nothing new to say.

  A shout brought her out of her thoughts. She turned her head to see Tovi, half-running and half-hobbling across the sand toward her. “Marzi! You better come quick.” By the time he reached her, he was out of breath.

  “What is it?” She stood, smoothing out her tunic.

  “It’s that elf lady. She’s talking to the ogres. Telling them that we don’t need to fight. She says she can talk to Dredwyn. You need to come.” He nodded his head in the direction of the encampment.

  Marzi shook her head as she left the cool shade and stepped into the late morning sunshine. So much for nothing to talk about. She stifled the urge to run. In fact, she wondered why she was going at all. There was nothing she could do about it. Saige—presumably it was she—could say whatever she chose. Marzi had no control over her.

  She arrived at the gathering just as Saryn, Ariessa, and Elondiel joined the crowd. Aside from shock and alarm on their faces, Marzi could see nothing that indicated they would intervene. They watched, their eyes focused on the center of attention.

  “Why spend life needlessly? It hurts us not at least to attempt a peaceful negotiation. While I respect and applaud the courage of our allies, the humans, along with my fellow elves, we have not yet exhausted peaceful means. How many ogres must die before we find a way to forge a just and lasting peace?”

  Kharla, sword in hand, stepped forward. “The human invaders have already spoken. Their swords carried words of hatred. They killed my papaw. They killed others. They did not come and ask us for a just and lasting peace.” She stepped to within a meter of Saige, staring with fire in her eyes at the elven speaker.

  “I understand your grief and feelings about your papaw. Our people have suffered losses as well and we grieve for them. But war will not bring them back. It will only add more names to the list of those who perish.” Saige turned from Kharla and spoke, more loudly, to the assembled ogres. “The choice, of course, is yours. You can choose war and death if you desire. I simply offer you a chance to resolve this with no further loss of life.” She smiled and bowed her head, stepping back from the crowd.

  Silence descended. The ogres stared at the elf. Ariessa and Elondiel both appeared to be taken aback. Their eyes betrayed anger and yet they held their words. Saryn stood shaking his head. He also remained silent.

  Marzi understood. The agreement that had brought them together guaranteed that each of the leaders could make their own decisions. Saige was exercising that right. But there was nothing that prevented the Azyrean from speaking her mind. She stepped forward, shouting to be heard. “You have heard her words. You heard the words of the demon Dredwyn. You see the assembled elves and humans, here from their own realms to help you.” She had no idea where these words were coming from. Valyn maybe? “You have also heard the words of Myhrren. You have seen the death and destruction that the minions of Dredwyn have visited upon you. What do you believe? Why does the demon send his forces to your lands? Does he come in friendship? What does he seek here? He certainly does not offer peace.”

  A murmur rumbled through the ogre ranks. Out of the crowd, an adult male stepped forward. “You are not of our world. The one who came warned us about you. You and your brother have brought nothing but trouble and sadness to our people. Now you ask that we sacrifice more. And for what? You ask what he wants. What do you want?” He gestured toward the elves and humans that had gathered to watch the spectacle. “What do all of these outsiders want? The only thing they talk about is fighting and death. The elf woman speaks true. If there is a chance for peace without the death, then I say we should at least try.” He glared at Marzi with what looked like pure hatred.

  Klunk, silent until this point, stepped forward and confronted the belligerent man. “Your words, they are not words of peace and kindness. Marzi and Tovi are our friends. Tovi has fought at our side as these invaders have spread their death. He has suffered injuries. He carries scars to prove his loyalty to us.”

  Marzi searched the crowd but could see no sign of Saige. She had apparently slipped away during the heated discussion. Turning her attention back to the ogres, she spoke in a quieter voice. “I do not want a war. I didn’t ask for this and neither did my brother. Kharla’s papaw didn’t ask for it. The elves who died to the human invaders in Menalor didn’t ask for it. And these humans who have gathered here, these rebels, they didn’t visit any death upon you. The only one who brings war is Dredwyn. I cannot force anything on you. But I can tell you that if you make common cause with this demon, he will bring you more chaos, pain, and sorrow than you can imagine.”

  A voice echoed through Marzi’s head. “You did well.”

  Valyn? You did give me the words?

  “No, my child. They came from your heart, just as I knew they would.”

  Marzi turned her attention back to the ogres, who had begun to disperse. She noticed them speaking to one another in hushed voices. Klunk made his way to Kharla’s side, putting his hand on her shoulder. But mostly, she saw the hateful glare of the ogre who had confronted her. In her heart she knew this was not over.

  Chapter 53: Crystal Sands

  Marzi sat in silence with Tovi at her side. She felt empty. Nothing made sense. This was not her world. These were not her people. She didn’t ask to come here, and she just wanted to go home. She sighed and turned in his direction. “Your leg’s healed up pretty well.”

  “Yep, it’s practically good as new.” Tovi’s voice took on a quiet, serious tone. “What was it like over in elf world?”

  “Lots of woods.”

  He laughed. “Yeah, I figured that. I mean, what was it like living with them?”

  She didn’t feel particularly charitable toward the elves at that moment. “Not much different from home, really. Mostly adults telling you what to do all the time.”

  “But they seem nice. I mean, ogres are nice, too. Klunk and Kharla are good friends. But, you know….” His voice trailed off.

  Marzi shrugged. The elves were okay. The ogres were okay. And, as far as she could tell, the humans were okay, at least the human rebels. “Maybe this whole thing will just blow over and we can go home. Valyn can make portals. She could probably make one for us to go back if she wanted to.”

  “But what about Dredwyn?” His words carried a touch of alarm.

  She wanted to say that the demon was none of their business. Part of her wished that the elves would just solve their own problems. A part of her wanted to be a child again—young and carefree. But she knew better. Marzi suddenly wished she could take back her angry words and replace them with words of truth—that the elves are wonderful beings, that Menalor was a diverse and beautiful place with the woods, the mountains, and the sea and beach. She was frustrated, th
ough, and hoped that Tovi understood.

  The air shimmered with green light and the familiar scent of Valyn washed over the two.

  “Whoa! What’s that?” Tovi leapt to his feet.

  Marzi laughed. “That would be Valyn, the goddess of the elves.”

  “Awsie!”

  “Greetings, Marzi and Tovi.” The glowing emerald light took form. Golden hair cascaded over Valyn’s shoulders and her clear blue eyes sparkled. “It is time for the two of you to extend your understanding and expand your horizons.”

  Marzi felt the benevolent smile bestowed on them by the goddess, but, also feeling a twinge of resentment, she pushed back. “I thought that maybe it was time for us to go home.”

  “Be easy. This will only take a moment. But be prepared to see things in a way that you have never seen them before.” Her voice echoed, as though in a well.

  The air around them thickened. The trees, pool, and even the distant encampment disappeared. Marzi and Tovi floated in space, surrounded by millions of stars. There was no up, no down, or even sideways. Vague clouds of crimson, emerald, and sapphire swirled around the two.

  Tovi’s voice betrayed a mix of panic and excitement. “What’s going on. What’s happening?”

  A male voice responded. “Do not be alarmed. I am Myhrren and I am with you, as are Valyn and Aristan.” It was then that the children saw the likeness of Myhrren, an old white-haired and bearded but strong-looking man enshrouded in a pale blue light.

  “Yes, I’m here, too.” A voice, deeper than Myhrren’s, sounded bored and irritated. Aristan appeared in a shroud of a soft red and was young, dark-haired, and handsome, enough so to be arrogant, Marzi thought.

  Marzi twisted to see on all sides, but there was so much to take in—more than she could ever imagine—the sky, the stars, bright moons, streams of milky white, and swaths of colored haze, some bright and some pale. “Where are we?”

  Valyn laughed. “You are everywhere. And you are nowhere. In truth, my child, you are not really in a place as you would think of it. At this moment, you are one with the universe. Everything that lives, everything that draws breath or feels emotions is linked inextricably to both of you. It is only in this state that you can see what we need you to see.”

  “And what is that?” Marzi struggled to make sense of what she had heard.

  A globe appeared in front of them, shimmering blue and green in the light of a nearby star.

  “Before you lies a world populated by an ancient civilization. They have long ago moved beyond the need for war and violence. They exist in peace with their neighboring worlds.”

  Marzi focused on the sphere. Even as she stared, her view zoomed in and she found herself on the surface, in a city of sorts. Strange beings, ethereal and wispy, floated about in silence. Very pleasant melodic strains reached her ears… she had never heard anything as beautiful.

  “These beings know nothing of what is transpiring on the world of Kronos. They have no idea what evil the demon Dredwyn is hatching, nor are they even aware of his existence.”

  The scene disappeared and Marzi found herself back in space, surrounded by stars.

  “Now look. This is a new world.”

  Another globe appeared, and then the view zoomed to the surface. Marzi flew over fog and mist-shrouded swamps, forests, frothing seas, and volcanoes forming into mountains.”

  “Life is only beginning here.”

  The view zoomed in more, and even more. Then Marzi saw them, tiny globules, bulging at the sides and swimming around in whatever the green and brown gooey muck beneath her was.

  “They know nothing. But one day they will walk this land. They will learn about their world. They will love, and they will have families.”

  And then they were in space once again.

  “Marzi and Tovi, in addition to the three races you have recently met, you serve these as well. I could show you other worlds. You could gaze upon life in Pangrove. But of course, you know what that looks like. What you must understand is that all of this life depends on you. Should Dredwyn succeed, he will seek to dominate every corner of the universe. No world will escape his eye.”

  It was as though the words punched Marzi in the stomach. Her words escaped in a panic. “Then why don’t you stop him? You all are gods. He’s a god. Why pick on me… on us? Why make the elves, humans, and ogres fight him?”

  Sadness permeated Valyn’s words. “Marzi, to answer your question, you must first understand the nature of the gods. We are not physical beings. We are concentrated power—comprised of all of the energy and force found in our realms. Should one of us be destroyed, that power would be released as a destructive force. While it is difficult to describe so that you understand, I can tell you that such an event would destroy all worlds, all life in that part of the universe. Your world, Azyr, is not that far distant from Kronos. Should we destroy Dredwyn or he destroy one of us, most of the worlds you can see from here would be annihilated with the force. And your home, along with those of the humans, elves, and ogres, would cease to exist in less than the blink of an eye. No, my child, this universe cannot afford a war between the gods. No matter who won, all would lose.”

  “So, you are going to send Tovi to stop him. That’s stupid!” Marzi’s anger replaced the panic.

  “Yes, but not in the way you imagine. Tovi will never confront Dredwyn directly. Even if he could, it would be to no avail. The demon has no weakness that a sentient being could exploit. We will explain what must happen before your brother goes. But for now, know that he will not go alone.”

  The words brought her no comfort. The tree, the pond, and the desert reappeared. Marzi could feel the future of the world hurtling forward and knew that she was powerless to stop it.

  “But you can change the outcome of this conflict, my child.” Valyn’s voice was bathed in sorrow.

  Chapter 54: Ebon Hills

  With Ben on his way and CeCe more or less dressed in the tunic, the waiting began. Jarek had told the boy not to travel the open roads or move during daylight after he ditched the wagon. So, best case, he would return sometime during the next night.

  Meanwhile, CeCe’s condition worsened. The bleeding had stopped, but she drifted in and out of consciousness. Then the fever hit. He checked her wounds and, as he expected, they had become swollen and discolored—ranging from deep red to a sickly yellow—infection. And he hadn’t a clue as to how he should deal with them.

  He took off his shirt and tore it into strips. Washing it in the stream, he cleaned the wounds again and applied fresh dressings. After that, he used wet strips of cloth to keep her cool. He didn’t know what else to do.

  Jarek sat beside her, occasionally whispering encouragement but mostly just watching her struggle for life.

  “Perhaps I underestimated you, Master Whit.”

  Jarek ignored the god. He was in no mood to banter.

  “You are determined to save her.” It came to him as something between a question and a statement.

  She was determined to save us.

  “Indeed, she was.”

  It only seems fair that I do no less.

  “She has an infection.”

  I know.

  “You will have to cure that if she is to survive.”

  You’re telling me things I already know. Don’t you have anything useful to add? Jarek was rapidly growing weary of this conversation that seemed to be going nowhere.

  “Young Ben should return after dark. Perhaps he knows of something that will help.”

  Don’t you know of something?

  “You need to rely on those around you.”

  She could be dead by the time he comes back.

  “I should think not.”

  The words hit Jarek hard. Had Aristan just given him a guarantee?

  “Guarantee is not the right word. But, since you have little else working for you right now, that seems a reasonable assumption.”

  Thank you. The words were sincere. For the first time
, he was truly grateful to the god with whom he had maintained an ongoing argument. He turned his attention back to CeCe.

  She moaned softly and shifted her body. He felt her forehead—it was burning hot to the touch. After wiping her brow with a cool, wet cloth, Jarek took her hand in his and sat, waiting.

  ◆◆◆

  He must have nodded off. Jarek came awake with a start as a hand shook his shoulder.

  “I’m back.”

  The Azyrean shook off the sleep. “Everything go okay?”

  “Just like you told me. I ran the wagon into a boulder, left the shirt, and circled down the south then back around. I didn’t see nobody.”

  “Good. I figure that they’ll locate the wagon in the morning, if they haven’t found it already. Since the army will have to cross the bridge to get down there, we’ll know about it.”

  Ben dropped down and sat beside him. “So, what do we do then?”

  “One thing at a time.” The truth was Jarek wasn’t quite sure. “Say, do you know anything that will cure an infection?”

  “A what?”

  “Infection, you know, like when you get a cut or something and it gets a lot worse—makes you burning hot and gets all red.”

  “Oh, yeah, that. It happened to me a bunch. What Bart used to do was put some stuff on it. He used plants and roots that he’d crush up together and add a little water to. He spread it on the sore place and then covered it up with a wet cloth. It stunk something awful, but I guess it worked. I always got better.”