by Lana Axe
“The spots will take time to heal, but you have done well,” the dryad said.
Lenora smiled sweetly and brushed a hand over the leaves. “Earth magic is truly a wonder,” she said, standing.
“Earth magic has no room for selfishness or corruption,” the dryad replied. “What you have learned will help you as a healer of all living things.”
“I believe you are right,” Lenora agreed. “I have learned many things here among your kind. I was not born with a talent for earth magic, and I had no idea I would ever learn any of it. You’ve truly opened my eyes to new possibilities.”
“There is much more you will learn in time, Lenora,” the dryad stated assuredly. “There is much still ahead of you, and there are other magical creatures willing to teach you.”
Lenora was intrigued by those words. From a young age, she knew she wanted to be a healer like her mother. Her mother, however, focused only on potions and basic spells. Lenora yearned to learn from other schools of magic and to incorporate those skills into the healing arts. Because they were not susceptible to disease and had almost no contact with the outside world, the Westerling Elves had forgotten many of the skills necessary to heal the sick and injured. Lenora was determined to learn what had been lost.
At the sound of approaching footsteps, both Lenora and the dryad halted their conversation. Amid the deep-green foliage of the forest, they saw the outline of a dark-haired elf.
“Hello there,” Galen said as he pushed his way past a low limb.
River emerged behind him, his eyes falling past the dryad and onto Lenora. His heart fluttered for a second as he looked upon her. She wore a simple apricot dress, which was easily outshone by her bright-gold tresses. The sight of her slender, shapely form silhouetted against the sunlight nearly took his breath away. Her pale eyes returned his gaze, and she smiled politely.
Galen glanced over his shoulder, making sure River was still there. Looking back to Lenora, he said, “We’ve come looking for you, Lenora.”
With surprise, River looked at Galen, wondering how he knew this woman. Theirs was the only remaining village of Westerling Elves, and he could not recall ever meeting this lovely creature before. He did not believe it possible that he hadn’t noticed her earlier.
“What do you need of me?” Lenora asked.
“You’re a skilled healer, and there is some trouble in the village.”
“Surely my mother can deal with it,” Lenora replied, a little confused.
“Mother?” River asked, stunned. “You’re Myla’s daughter?” His heart dropped at the prospect.
“I am,” she replied. “I’ve been away studying for some time, so it’s no surprise you don’t remember me.”
River felt ashamed to have met Lenora previously and not remember her now. She was captivating, and he yearned to know her better. Finding no words, he remained silent.
“Your mother wants nothing to do with the matter,” Galen said.
“There is an illness affecting the dwarves in the mountains,” River explained. “One of them fell into the river and drowned. I believe the illness might have a magical origin, and it might have something to do with water.”
Galen glanced at him, wrinkling his brow. Apparently River knew a bit more than he was sharing with his cousin.
“It sounds interesting,” Lenora admitted.
“Will you come with us?” Galen asked.
Lenora turned to the dryad who nodded her approval.
“I will,” she replied. “I am due to return for my Coming of Age Ceremony anyway.”
River held his breath as she came nearer, unable to take his eyes off her. She blushed a little, noticing his gaze. Galen was not unaware of his friend’s actions either. He shook his head and suppressed a laugh.
“So,” River began awkwardly, “you’re coming of age this year?”
“Last year, actually,” Lenora replied with a laugh. “I’ve been too busy studying to bother with it.”
“Fantastic,” Galen broke in. “Another bookworm among us.” He elbowed River playfully.
The trio marched quietly through the woods, the soft grass making little noise beneath their feet. River struggled in his mind to find some words to speak to Lenora but feared he might trip over his own tongue.
Chapter 8
After spending the past several days intensely studying the ancient scrolls, Telorithan and Yiranor were ready to attempt the forbidden magic. They had discussed the technique repeatedly as they pored over the texts, eagerly drinking in their forgotten lessons. The scrolls contained more information than Telorithan could have hoped for. Everything he needed had been locked away inside his former master’s library.
“We’ll be needing a test subject,” Telorithan declared. “The question is, who can we use?”
Yiranor swallowed and took a deep breath. The idea of soul binding had always fascinated him, but he was hesitant to test it on a live subject. “Perhaps a rodent,” he suggested.
Telorithan laughed, tossing his head back. “No, that won’t do. It must be an elf.”
A quiet knock came from the door before a young elf woman entered carrying a bottle of wine and two silver goblets on a tray. Yiranor motioned her to come in.
“Leave it on the table,” he ordered her.
“Yes, Master,” she replied. Hesitating at the door, she turned and asked, “Will you be coming down for dinner or shall I bring it up?”
Yiranor glanced at Telorithan, who was ignoring the woman. “I’ll send for you when we’re ready to dine,” he replied. The young elf gave a polite curtsy and closed the door behind her as she left.
Telorithan eyed the closed door, a contemplative expression on his face. “There is someone we could use. Someone no one would miss.”
“Not the maid,” Yiranor protested. “She’s a sweet girl and always does as she’s told.” His heart raced, fearing he might have to stand up to his former student. He wasn’t sure he would have the strength, and in a fight, Telorithan was sure to win.
“Not her,” Telorithan said. “You said you caught a thief prowling outside your home weeks ago. He still resides in your dungeons, does he not?”
With relief, Yiranor replied, “Yes, he does.” Though the elf was a criminal, Yiranor was hesitant to use him as a test subject for dark magic.
“And he deserves to be punished,” Telorithan said, attempting to persuade the old elf. “I can’t think of a better person to use.” He rose from his seat and grabbed the wine bottle on the wooden table nearby. Filling both glasses, he handed one to Yiranor, who slowly pressed it to his lips. Telorithan stopped for a moment to admire his reflection in the silver goblet. His stunning blue eyes sparkled with delight at the sight of himself.
After a moment’s contemplation, Yiranor nodded. “It seems almost too harsh a punishment,” he declared. “The scrolls say that the soul lives on in torment once bound.”
“Then it’s a perfect punishment,” Telorithan replied, setting his goblet down hard. “Let’s get started.”
Hesitating for less than a second, Yiranor led his former student down the winding staircase to the lowest level of his tower. A thick iron gate barred the way into the cellar, where many of the master sorcerer’s experiments had taken place. It was true he had practiced magic on elves in the past, but they had been his apprentices and were willing to undergo experimentation. This was different. He was about to engage in a forbidden act, torturing a living elf in the process.
With a wave of his hand, Telorithan unlocked the gate. The spell was simple enough to cast, and he did not have the patience to await his former master’s final attempt at stalling. Swinging open the door, the two entered the gray-stone underbelly of the tower. It was surprisingly bright due to the excess of torches lining the walls. Yiranor was of advanced age and required the extra light to look upon his work.
Chained to a far wall was a dark-haired elf with large purple bruises all over his body. He made no movement at the sound of the
two men approaching.
“My apprentices have been using him to train various spells,” Yiranor admitted.
Telorithan nodded approvingly. He moved in close to the prisoner, looking him up and down. The thief shifted uneasily in his chains, sensing the danger he was about to face. Telorithan met his gaze, and a wicked smile spread across his lips.
“This should be fun,” he said.
The chained elf began to breathe heavier, his chest visibly rising and falling. Telorithan was amused by the elf’s fear, but Yiranor was having second thoughts.
“Perhaps we should—” he started to say.
Throwing up a hand to silence the old elf, Telorithan loudly commanded him to hold his tongue. “I will take care of this. You can go and hide if you need to.” He had lost all patience with his former master. No one would deprive him of this opportunity to practice.
“Release me and fight fairly, at least,” the thief stated boldly. “Or are you frightened of me?”
His words angered Telorithan, and he lifted both hands, sending flames through the shackles that held the thief to the wall. As the metal changed from cool gray to red, the elf screamed in agony. The metal soon liquefied and dripped to the floor, forming two small silver puddles. The thief sank to his knees, cradling each wrist in turn. His skin was blistered and darkened where the shackles had been.
“You may resist if you can,” Telorithan said with a huff. From the pocket of his robe, he pulled a pale-purple gemstone that was nearly the size of a walnut. Holding it tightly in his left hand, he extended his right palm forward toward the thief. A beam of purple light emitted from his hand and quickly surrounded the kneeling elf. Yiranor could not contain a gasp as he stepped backward away from the magic.
A cry of agony pierced the air as the thief was lifted from his feet. Excitement rose in Telorithan’s eyes as he concentrated on his target. His left hand trembled slightly as the gem called for the essence it desired to contain. Opening his left hand to allow the magic to pass, the beam dissipated from his right hand while the glow released its hold on the thief. The elf crumpled lifelessly to the ground, leaving only a small circular light where he had once knelt. The light drifted slowly toward the gem in Telorithan’s hand and flashed brightly as it entered its prison. The spell had been successful.
Telorithan held up the gem to examine it. His eyes gleamed as he beheld the swirling mist of light inside the stone. The thief’s essence had been contained, and his power now rested fully under Telorithan’s control.
“Remarkable,” Yiranor whispered as he stepped forward once more. “You’ve done it.”
“Of course I have,” Telorithan replied haughtily, sticking the gem back into his pocket. “Why would you ever doubt me?”
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” Yiranor replied apologetically. “That thief had been down here for weeks, though. You might find a stronger enemy more difficult to contain.”
Telorithan wrinkled his brow and stared at him. “You think I can’t handle a real sorcerer?”
Concerned for his own safety, Yiranor quickly replied, “No, I only mean you may need more practice. This was only your first attempt on an elf.”
“You could be right,” Telorithan admitted. “Are you volunteering yourself?” He laughed, knowing that his former master feared him.
Yiranor could not hide the embarrassment on his face. “I will do what I can to help you,” he said. “You know I will.”
“Good,” Telorithan replied. “I may have need of you again. For now, I’ll be going. There is much I still need to prepare.”
Yiranor nodded and watched as his former pupil headed back up the stairs of his tower. The Sunswept Isles will never be safe with him around. His heart is dark, and this new skill will only make him worse. For a brief moment, Yiranor regretted his involvement in aiding Telorithan to learn this dark magic. He would be partially responsible for any deaths that resulted. Still, he could not help but feel pride in the young elf he had once nurtured. His ambition had already taken him far, and now with the ability to extract the life essence from his opponents, Telorithan would be unstoppable. His dream of trapping the soul of a god might not prove so far out of his reach.
Chapter 9
Darkness settled over the mountains. The stars hid themselves behind the clouds, but the moon’s glow fought its way through the thickness, providing a dim, hazy light. The wind gently rustled the leaves on the trees, and the creatures of the night sang softly to the sky.
Kaiya lay awake in her bed, unable to put her mind at ease. Earlier in the evening, her father had expressly forbidden her to go anywhere near town, thanks to the hostility the pair had encountered. No matter her age, he would always think of her as a child who needed his protection. She was the youngest of his children and had no husband, which gave her father the excuse he needed to carry on in the role of her protector.
She understood her father’s need to protect her, but it wasn’t necessary. Kaiya was not an average dwarf girl who was expected only to have children and run a home. Her magical powers were strong, and she had spent her life honing her talents. Without the distraction of friends and their silly childhood games, Kaiya was able to spend her days practicing magic and teaching herself to harness the wind. She was not helpless. She was a strong woman who could look after herself.
As quietly as she could manage, Kaiya rose from her bed and headed for the front door. Her urge to discover the presence in the caves was far stronger than her need to listen to her father’s warnings. She did not fear the miners. Their weapons were nothing compared to her powers. The magical being within the cave, however, was something unknown. She could not decide whether it was malevolent, and she wanted to know if it was the source of the illness that had been spreading among the miners.
As she tiptoed to the door in the darkness, she reached out with her hand to avoid tripping on any unseen obstacles in her path. To her surprise, her cloak had been hung on the doorknob, and a wooden torch was propped against the door as well. Mum, she thought. Somehow her mother knew she would be going out tonight, even before Kaiya herself had made up her mind to do so.
Stepping out into the night, she quietly closed the door behind her. Her magic could provide her with excellent night vision, but she decided to light the torch instead. She did not want to waste any magical energy that she might need later inside the cave. Creeping across the yard, she hoped Doozle would not bark and wake her parents before she could reach the dirt road that would lead her to town.
The nighttime air in the mountains was cool despite it being early summer. She pulled her cloak a bit closer to her skin, but the chill she felt had more to do with her nerves than the weather. She could sense the magic emitting from deep inside the cave and felt compelled to investigate.
Her pace quickened as her eyes adjusted to the dark. The torch in her hand provided enough light to save her from tripping over the rocks along the path. Images of monsters from childhood tales flashed in her mind as she tried to prepare herself for what might await her in the cave. Never in her life had she encountered true evil. Ignorance and prejudice had presented themselves, but not evil. The monsters were not real, but something real was in the caves, and she feared it might be the true cause of the illness.
Reaching the edge of town, she doused the flame on her torch to avoid being noticed. Being after midnight, the town was deserted, and all the dwarves were safely tucked away in their homes. If this night proved dangerous for Kaiya, there was little chance of assistance from her kinsmen.
A single night watchman stood guard outside the cave. More security was not necessary, since most dwarves did not easily turn to a life of crime. Severe punishments, including loss of limb, had been used in the past, and that had deterred most criminal behavior for centuries. The watchman was responsible mainly for keeping out vandals and teenage lovers looking for a bit of privacy.
The silver-bearded dwarf stood at the ready with no sign of drowsiness apparent in his posture. T
aking great care to stay hidden, Kaiya slowly lifted a hand and closed her eyes. A gentle gust of wind passed by the guard, gaining momentum as it traveled. In the nearby mining camp, a cart began to roll and quickly crashed into a rickety wooden table, overturning both in the process. A loud clang was followed by a crash as used dishes toppled from the table to the ground. A little too much, she thought, promising to hold back a bit next time.
The guard readied a large hammer in his hand and trudged off to investigate the disturbance. Kaiya made a dash for the cave with only the moonlight to guide her path. Safely inside the cave, the sound of dripping water filled her ears. Proceeding deeper within, the light became dimmer and dimmer, until she was forced to use magic to see. Her eyes sparkled with silver as she willed herself to see in the pitch-black surroundings.
The walls shimmered and reflected the light from her eyes. An overwhelming sense of foreboding came over her, and she hesitated in her steps. Taking a deep breath, she knew she would have to continue to find the source of the magic. Her heart pounded in her ears, but her feet kept moving forward.
She paused again deep within the cave where a rock formation resembling a large basin glistened white among the gray interior. From the ceiling, a second white formation descended, providing a rain shower into the tub below. The water rushed forth with great strength, and the sound echoed loudly from the walls. Directly behind the tub, a clear pool lay motionless. As she peered into the pool, she saw the reflection of the ceiling, which made the water appear to delve deep into eternity. She glimpsed her own face among the water and smiled slightly, amused at the sight of her eyes as they sparkled with magic.
A white light started to form at the edge of the pool, circling inward and becoming ever brighter. The apparition of an elf maiden in a white dress appeared, hovering above the center of the pool. Kaiya lifted her arm to shield her eyes from the sudden light.
