Fireclaws - Search for the Golden

by T. Michael Ford

  Ryliss nodded. “You might think that with the dark elf nation in as bad a shape as we were that we would just skulk back to our forests and lick our wounds. But with all the new access granted by Sky Raven, and thanks to the efforts of its beautiful queen, Maya, the dark elf people embraced the change. Soon orphans were finding apprenticeships and new homes at the other sites. War widows journeyed daily through the portal to work at rebuilding Xarparion, and in the process, many of them found new husbands as well, quite a few of them successful wizards, I would add. Our merchant class took to the seas, taking advantage of the newly-opened sea port and found out that being victorious in business is just as fulfilling as victory in battle. Dark elf children are now being routinely tested for magic potential and are being admitted and taking their place as future wizards at Xarparion itself. In short, five years later, the dark elves are thriving like never before. Now, I have to ask you people of the Canna, what do you have to show for the past five years?”

  “What would you have us do, Lady Druid?” a female voice called out from the group.

  “The world is a very different place; I know, it is part of my job to travel it. So many people were lost to the Lich’s armies, but sometimes with the heartbreak of loss there is also the sweetness of new opportunities. There are vast tracts of land and huge forests with no inhabitants at all; so much potential if only you reach out and grab it! Send your young people out to explore this strange new world. Forge an alliance with Xarparion and Sky Raven as we did and reap the benefits!”

  “But what is the point? The humans breed like rats, they will just rebound in a few years and push us all back to where we started,” Irenth said doggedly.

  “In a world where magic is on the decline, the humans will always prevail, that is true, warrior. But the rulers of Sky Raven have restored the flow of magic to this world; surely you have felt it?” He nodded, as Ryliss continued, “As long as the magic flows freely in a world, there will always be a place for dragons, pixies, and elves to flourish.”

  “Now it is time for us to leave. I am sorry for the damage done to your village and people. Should you ever take my advice and send a delegation to either Xarparion or Sky Raven, I am sure your people will be welcomed with open arms.” Ryliss made a clicking sound with her tongue and the wild animals that had been gathered around her suddenly seemed to wake up as if from a daze. They looked around at all the elves in close proximity and beat a hasty retreat back to the forest, the big cat as well. The root platform on which she had been standing gently lowered her to the dirt and then sunk back into the ground, completely erasing any sign it had ever existed. “It is my hope that we will be allowed to leave as a friend of the Canna, not an enemy, Commander,” she said, eyeing Irenth warily.

  “You are both beautiful and wise, Librarian Ryliss. My men and I have no interest in delaying you any longer. We will consider what you have said; perhaps our years of isolation have been harmful, after all. I will sit quietly and reflect on today’s events with my oldest friend, Chief Aegone, probably well into the evening. Sadly, by then, I’m sure you will be well beyond our borders.” He winked at Ryliss.

  “You have my great appreciation; I wish the best for you and the Canna. Diori, you may release these gentlemen now.”

  The statue girl opened her hands and Aegone looked like he wanted to snatch up a weapon, but Irenth collared him and drew him aside to go sit on a log some ways away. The spirited, not entirely friendly, conversation they were having looked like it might last a very long time.

  Ryliss walked over and whispered, “Kerrik, Daffi, you two are the most vulnerable if they change their minds. I need you to mount up and head out of this forest fast. Head back to where you last saw Andi; I will be overhead keeping an eye on you. We’ll make camp before dark and hash out future planning…now go!”

  Climbing on Daffi’s back, I gently knotted my hands in her long black mane and urged her forward with a quick word and a pat on the neck. I saw Ryliss talking to the statue as we bolted out of the Canna village at a dead run.

  Chapter 16

  Ryliss

  Several hours later found our group sitting disconsolately around a small fire in the former bivouac area used by Verledn’s men. It was a treeless swale just under the ridgeline of a row of hills. By the number of campfires and amount of horse apples, I estimated at least fifty horsemen had stayed here for several days. Even more discouraging were the deep footprints I found. Most of the horses used in this region weighed something on the order of fifteen hundred pounds and their hooves barely made an indentation in the hard-packed earth. But whatever had created the deeper sets of prints had to weigh four to five times as much as a horse. I shook my head at the thought; it was probably as heavy as or heavier than King Alex in his armor!

  Kerrik and Daphne sat shoulder to shoulder on a log roasting a couple potatoes that we had retrieved from the bottom of my bag of dimensions. Naurakka had amused herself hunting marmots for a short while and was the only one of us corporeal beings feeling pleasantly sated. Diori stood frozen, as she seemed inclined to do whenever she was not actively engaged in conversation. I rapidly took stock of the situation. Kerrik had returned my map, bag of dimensions, the magic neck scarf, and my bone dagger with the tip and an inch of the blade snapped off. I had heard the story of the demise of my protection amulet, and I certainly couldn’t fault Kerrik for making good use of it.

  My eyes lingered for a few moments on the wizard and the pooka. The two of them were behaving like a couple, exchanging meaningful glances and smiling at each other for no apparent reason. Yes, I had seen it many times before but had never been a participant. A small part of me, the part that felt the loneliness of the lifestyle I pursued, mourned yet another possible mate being stricken from my list. But deep down, I knew that Kerrik and I would never have made a real relationship. I am too busy and he has issues left over from the war, not the least of which is a deep distrust of all things dark elf. I smiled just thinking about introducing him to Ollis, my doting father, who already thinks there are very few men good enough for his daughter; no, that wouldn’t have turned out well.

  So I sighed and reached down into my being and stuffed any feelings toward Kerrik into a small heavily fortified box in my mind, then threw away the key. How could I process feelings like that? Easily, as I had promised myself something more in life, something frankly better. I had watched Alex and Maya carefully on my first trip to Sky Raven and, of course, many times since, both before and after the wedding. They had seemed like an enchanted storybook tale, each living for the other’s smile, caress, and laughter. There were times when I wondered if they realized the rest of the world existed at all.

  That was the kind of love I wanted, that was the kind of love I deserved. Not King Alex obviously, but someone cut from the same fabric, a man I could commit my entire being to loving. That was the dark elf way and the Ryliss Tancreek way, as well.

  “Are you finished justifying your lack of a suitable mate yet, Mother?” Naurakka purred from the other side of the campfire, where she lay half on her side studying me lazily. “Humans and elves make life too complicated. You find a big, robust male and grrrrrr…”

  “But you Jag’uri mate for life, aren’t you in the least bit picky in selecting a mate?”

  “Size, strength, and attractive smell, my Mother. That’s all you need when you only come together for a few minutes every three years or so…it makes life simple and good.”

  “Sounds lonely.”

  She growled softly and licked a paw diffidently. “I cannot speak for the male’s motivations, but a proper she-puma’s life revolves around the cub and only the cub.”

  I mulled that piece of information over while Kerrik ate. I would sneak off later and find a marmot or two of my own…

  “There are two other matters that should be brought to light,” Rakka said.

  “Ok, what?”

  “The trail of the horse warriors, and assumedly the cub you call
Andi, heads north, not to the southwest. I followed it for several miles and it deviated not. They do not seem to be returning to the wizard’s castle, at least not yet. So there is something besides Andi that they seek.”

  “Dammit. Which begs the question, is she just along for the ride or are they using her to find whatever it is that they desire? She warned me that if she ever fell into Verledn’s hands again, it would not be good. I swore an oath that I would see her dead before that happened.”

  “If the cub was of no consequence on the journey, would not the gargoyle have flown her directly back to Verledn? Yet its tracks are plainly with the horsemen…” Naurakka snarled with intent, she did not like the thought of creatures more powerful than she, especially magical ones, possibly impervious to her claws and teeth.

  “I will think on this some more, but ultimately, I will honor my oath if it appears we cannot free her. What was your second matter, my four-footed daughter?”

  “You are different, your scent is different, and your body has changed.”

  “Huh? What are you talking about?”

  “My Mother, you bear a scent somewhat akin to Dawn and Dusk on you now. It is not just a surface odor either; it wafts from your very pores.”

  I explained to her about my near-death experience and how Diori had placed me in an infertile dragon egg to heal.

  “Ahhhh,” the big cat chuffed comically, “that would explain the scales…”

  “Scales? What scales?”

  Before I could demand an explanation, Kerrik interrupted my thoughts by coming over and sitting very close to me. He cast a furtive glance in the direction which Daffi had headed to bury the food scraps and get water. He looked me in the eye somewhat guiltily.

  “Ryliss, I’m sorry if you believe I broke my promise to you about treating Daphne as a sister. I’m sorry if you are disappointed in me for that, but I am not sorry about my feelings. Based on the amount of time spent together, I think I have a strong case for knowing her better than you do. Daffi isn’t airheaded and flighty like a nymph, she is loyal and brave and self-sacrificing…and funny and beautiful…and…”

  I held up my hand to interrupt him. “Ok, ok, Kerrik, I get it, really, I do. I’m extremely happy for you both.” But in the back of my mind I was really wondering if this qualified as mentoring to the Earth Mother. If not, I was going to have some serious explaining to do. Changing the subject, I prodded him to tell me everything he remembered about Andea’s abduction. He was just finishing up when Daphne came back from her chores. She pulled up abruptly when she saw Kerrik and me practically face-to-face in conversation, and I could almost see her wilt in sadness and dejection.

  Smiling, I waved her over. “C’mon, Daffi, this concerns you and Diori, as well.” The pooka approached timidly and was about to sit down on the end of the log farthest away from the wizard. But wisely, he gauged the look on her face correctly. He got up and moved the section of wood so that the butt end was facing me, then took Daffi by the hand and led her over, gently sitting her across from me. He followed up by sliding in behind and wrapping his burly arms around her while we talked.

  The pooka’s dark eyes became misty, but her face was all smiles as she nodded to me and squeezed Kerrik’s arms to her chest gratefully. Diori moved to a spot closer to us but otherwise showed no change in her countenance. I sometimes wondered if she was actually deep in thought when she stood statue-like or just went to sleep somehow. With a sigh, I began.

  “First, I know we all want to charge in and rescue Andi right away, but that’s not going to work for us. We have some major obstacles in our way; we have no weapons and we are low on food and supplies. Also, none of us are warriors, all of which leaves us woefully unprepared to take on fifty heavily-armed troops, a fire wizard, and a most likely demon-possessed, twelve foot tall stone gargoyle.”

  “But we can’t just abandon Andi to them!” Daffi said with real concern in her voice, as she glanced over her shoulder at Kerrik for support.

  “I agree,” I countered, “but we can’t do this on our own. We’re going to need help, really good help. That’s why I need you two to trust me and do as I ask no matter how much it goes against your instincts and desires.” I pulled the map out of my boot and started unfolding it.

  “We trust you, Ryliss,” Kerrik said dubiously, wondering where this was headed.

  “Good. I need you two to travel to Sky Raven and bring back King Alex and whoever else he deems necessary to eliminate the threat. While you are doing that, Diori, Rakka and I will shadow Verledn’s men. If an opportunity to snatch Andi presents itself, we’ll take it, of course, but otherwise we will wait for reinforcements.”

  “But she’s my sister, I should be the one rescuing her…and I can fly!” he protested.

  “So can I, Kerrik, and so can the gargoyle. If you recall, you already lost that battle once. Really, there is nothing we can do to match that beast, and Verledn’s men will be expecting a rescue attempt. Please, I have read countless books on battle strategies and this is really the best way…”

  “I, too, have read the finest works on the subject from the libraries of Anorthosite and my analysis would support Ryliss’ conclusion. We are clearly outmatched militarily and need something to even the odds,” Diori added, her expressions coming to life.

  “Great, I’m surrounded by armchair theorist generals,” Kerrik growled. “How do you know that we will even be able to convince this King Alex to come with us if we do find him?”

  I smiled encouragingly. “All you will need to do is mention we have a demon problem here, and he will come, believe me!”

  “What do you wish us to do, Mistress?” Daphne asked, her mind already moving on to the mission at hand.

  “As you surmised, there is an agricultural portal in the town of Northfield, right here on the map.” I pointed it out. “Oddly, it’s pretty close to the same direction that Verledn’s men are currently moving; I hope that’s a coincidence. If you travel fast and light, you should be able to curve past them and get to the town before they do, if they even stop there. Once there, you will be able to use the portal to Xarparion, enter the city, and get some directions. The permanent portal station from the mage school to Sky Raven will get you to the fortress instantly. Once there, ask for an audience with the King and Queen and explain the situation to them. I will also send a letter with you to bolster your claims.

  “But how will we know where to meet you?”

  “Start back at this location. I will leave breadcrumbs for you to follow…breadcrumbs that it will take someone like Alex to follow.”

  “But that will cost us days of travel out of our way.”

  “You let him worry about that,” I chuckled. “Let’s just say he’s faster than you would expect.”

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Kerrik

  A fast and somewhat painful day and a half’s ride found me leading Daphne in her horse form through the dirt streets of Northfield. It’s really too bad my pooka can’t conjure up a decent saddle at the same time she changes. Walking past a shop with a large window, I looked at myself in the reflection for the first time, and it wasn’t a pretty sight.

  Not only was I travel-stained, but the clothes Ryliss had liberated from the old farmhouse had never fit me particularly well anyway. Now they just hung on my frame, practically in rags. The disdainful expressions on the faces of the prosperous townsfolk of the farming community spoke volumes. I grinned sheepishly and had to admit it was probably the reason no one would talk to me. I had stopped several individuals to ask for directions to the Wizard Tower, but everyone had just stuck up their nose and walked on. I didn’t even have any money to bribe a street urchin; the only thing of value I carried was Ryliss’ bag of dimensions. She insisted we take it because it was the only way to transport food, plus apparently the enchanter named Rosa would recognize it as further proof of our claims.

  Daffi and I wandered the streets aimlessly, finally happening upon a farmer youth
unloading produce from a wagon into the back door of a market. He was red-haired, short and thickly built, but he seemed well-suited to tossing crates of cabbage. He looked askance at my appearance when we approached, but his eyes were quickly drawn to my horse, and I could see great interest in them.

  “Excuse me, young sir,” I began, “could you give me directions to the Wizard Tower?”

  His eyes flashed sardonically and I could tell he was quite full of himself as he meticulously dusted off his hands. I had watched hundreds of self-important landowners’ sons exactly like him die poorly in the war, if they didn’t desert first. A lot of them did once they found out being a soldier wasn’t all marching around in bright-colored uniforms and winking at the local girls.

  He gave me a measured, half-contemptuous grin and responded, “Now why would someone like you want to go there? You’re certainly no farmer, so that must mean you are a powerful wizard, eh?” He chuckled at his own joke and turned to finish unloading his cargo.

  “Well, I am actually, and I need to get to Xarparion immediately.”

  “Ahuh…right!” His gaze once more fell on Daffi with obvious desire. “I’ll tell you what, Mr. Wizard, I’ll make you a trade; the information you seek in exchange for that sad-looking horse you will no longer need when you get to Xarparion.”

  I already didn’t like this guy at all and that cemented my feelings. Still, he was the first one to agree to help me and make an offer. But I really didn’t like the way he was looking at my girl, even if she was a horse at the time. Perhaps there was a way to bring some justice to the situation, after all.

  “That’s pretty steep payment; a fine, beautiful filly traded for ten seconds of directions, don’t you think?” I countered. “How about you sweeten the offer and give me twenty silvers to help me get a new start in life at Xarparion. She’s worth far more than that…”