by Lana Axe
His words generated a bit of interest in the new arrival, but the general sentiment was calm. Father and son took seats near the council house.
“I have discovered what is causing the illness,” River said. “An ancient elf was murdered here. Her spirit was bound by her lover, and she has dwelt here for many centuries. The miners disturbed her rest, and she awoke with a vengeance.”
“Do you know how to stop her?” Ryllak asked.
“There is an ancient artifact, an opal, that I must retrieve. It lies at the bottom of the ocean near the Sunswept Isles.”
Ryllak was too stunned to reply at first. After a moment, he asked, “How will you retrieve it?”
“Swim,” River replied with a shrug.
Ryllak took a deep breath. “You can make it safely to those depths?”
“Of course I can,” he replied. “The Spirit has said so.”
“The Spirit may have this capability, but you have the body of an elf. We are not indestructible.”
“All will be well, Father,” River said reassuringly.
Galen emerged from a stall behind the smithy and was surprised to see Ryllak had come. He approached the pair with a wide smile on his face. “Good morning,” he said. “Any news?”
“I thought you were still sleeping,” River replied.
“I woke early and saw that you were gone. I decided to help Trin set up for the day’s work. Rune carving is truly quite fascinating.”
“Sounds like you’ve finally found something interesting to study,” Ryllak commented.
Galen shrugged. “It’s certainly not something I can learn in the Vale.”
“What of Lenora and Kaiya? Are they still inside?” River asked.
“They were when I left,” he replied. Stepping onto the porch, Galen peeked inside the council house. There was no one to be seen. “I guess they got up early too.”
“Lenora will be with her patients,” River said. He had no doubt as to where she would be. Her dedication to the ailing dwarves was absolute. River admired her compassion and desire to help the sick.
“Kaiya could be anywhere,” Galen remarked. “She probably went back into that cave.”
River looked concerned. “I hope not.” Kaiya had been unsettled by their last encounter with the entity, and she was impatient to find a solution. Her magic was strong, but she could not expel the presence alone. Without the opal, neither of them could hope to accomplish such a task.
“We’ll have to find her. I want to tell her what I’ve learned, and then I need to be on my way.”
“Wait, you’re leaving?” Galen said, shock registering in his voice.
“I have to retrieve the artifact to free Indal. It’s the only way to end the plague.”
“I’m going with you,” Galen said firmly.
“You can’t,” River replied. “I’m going to the bottom of the ocean. You won’t make it, I’m afraid.”
“I don’t care,” he replied, shaking his head. “I will wait on the shore. You’re not going by yourself.”
Glancing back at his father, River’s mouth opened to speak, but no words came out. Ryllak smiled slightly and lifted his eyebrows. Though Galen had difficulty finding focus in his life, he was a true friend to River. He may have been a troublemaker in his youth, but Ryllak knew he would stand at River’s side through good or bad. There was no better person to accompany his son, and he was happy to hear Galen so determined to travel with him.
“Don’t bother arguing,” Galen said. “I’ll only follow if you try to leave without me.”
“I will be pleased to have your company,” River admitted. “We should let Lenora and Kaiya know before we leave.”
Rising to his feet, Ryllak said, “I’ll be waiting for you in the Vale, my son. Safe journeys to both of you.” He hugged River tightly before turning to leave. Though he still felt some worry, his mind was more at ease. River seemed confident in his abilities, and Ryllak did not doubt him. Hopefully, he would be seeing his son again soon.
Chapter 26
Sitting quietly behind a tree, Kaiya focused her mind on the wind. The breeze was light that morning, but its voice was strong. Tiny sparks danced on her fingertips as the wind gently caressed her hands. Tell me how to release Indal. She projected her thoughts to the wind, hoping for an answer. The voice on the wind seemed to reply, but she could not make out the words.
“I don’t understand,” she said to herself in frustration. Placing her head in her hands, she sighed. The wind tousled her hair, tickling the sides of her face.
From behind, she heard a mournful cry pierce the air. Hopping to her feet, she turned quickly to see a dwarf woman and child standing outside the hospital tent. They were clutching each other tightly and sobbing. Another life has been lost, she thought. She closed her eyes and felt her heart grow heavy. This has to stop. Whatever it takes, this must end.
Hoping that River had learned how to free Indal, Kaiya set out to find him. Her mind was made up. No more families should have to mourn a loss. If Indal could not be freed peacefully, she would have to be forced out. Kaiya felt sorry for Indal’s suffering, but if she refused to relent, Kaiya would use any means necessary to be rid of her. She might not succeed in an attack on Indal, but she would gladly give her life in the attempt.
Near the council house, Kaiya spotted River and Galen. A third elf appeared to be walking away. Wondering who he might be, she quickened her pace until she reached the pair.
“Who was that?” she asked, pointing at Ryllak.
“My father,” River replied. “He was worried and wanted to give me some advice.”
“Did you speak with your Spirit?” she asked.
“I did,” he replied. “I must travel to the coast and enter the sea. The artifact we need is there.”
“And you’re sure this will be the end of it? No more dwarves will die once you have this artifact?”
“I am certain,” he replied.
“Good. I’ll come with you.” She straightened her back to stand as tall as she could. This mission was as important to her as any other, and she would not be held back from it.
Galen grinned at River. “Looks like it’s a party.”
“Of course you can come,” River replied.
“I didn’t ask permission,” she said casually. “This is my fight, and I will see it to its end. If your plan fails, I will find another way, no matter the cost.”
“Let us hope the plan succeeds,” River said. “There is no need to bring harm to Indal. This opal can free her from her suffering. After that, she will have no more cause to harm your people.”
“She has no cause to harm them now,” Kaiya argued. “She must be stopped, peacefully or not.” Her words were true. She would go to any length to prevent another dwarf’s death. She could not bear the sight of another devastated family.
“Let’s hope River’s plan works,” Galen commented. “Indal may prove much harder to destroy if it doesn’t.”
“She is an ancient,” River replied. “If this opal doesn’t work, there might not be a way to stop her. All we can do is hope.”
Kaiya knew his words made sense, but she was tired of hoping. Now was the time for action. “Let’s be on our way,” she said.
“I need to tell Lenora we are leaving,” River said.
The trio headed to the medical tent where Lenora was busy with patients. More had arrived seeking care. Dozens of cots were now occupied, and there was little room for more. Kaiya bowed her head, wishing she had the power to heal these dwarves.
Lenora gave a weak smile and tried to smooth her disheveled hair as River approached. “You bring news?” she asked.
“We are leaving for the coast to retrieve an artifact,” he explained. “I hope it will result in the end of this illness.”
“I wish you success,” she said. “I’ll be here tending to these dwarves until you return.”
Boldly, River leaned in and kissed her lips. She was surprised, but the kiss was not u
nwelcome.
“I will see you again soon,” he said, his eyes shining brightly.
Lenora nodded. To Kaiya, she said, “Take care of these guys for me.”
“I will,” she responded.
The three of them exited the tent without looking back. Their mission was clear, and it was time they set out.
“We can stop by my parents’ farm on the way. They have food we can take, and I know of a path that will lead us to the coast. If we move quickly, we can be there in two days’ time.”
“Lead the way,” Galen replied cheerfully.
They followed Kaiya down the rocky path between the village and her home. The countryside gave way to green pastures nestled under the shadow of the mountains. Doozle greeted the party as they approached the farmhouse. He stretched playfully with his head low to the ground, his wagging tail high in the air.
Darvil took notice of their approach and looked at the elves with distrust.
“These elves are our friends, Papa,” Kaiya said, reading his expression. “They’ve come to help us cure the sickness.”
Darvil looked confused. “Elves?”
River stepped forward to shake Darvil’s hand. “Greetings,” he said. “You have an exceptionally talented daughter.”
Kaiya blushed despite herself. “This is River,” she said. “And this is Galen.”
“Pleased to meet you,” Darvil grumbled, still unsure what to make of the visitors.
“I’m taking them to the coast to retrieve an item that will help. We need some supplies.” Kaiya headed inside where her mother was knitting.
“Kaiya,” she said, standing. “You were gone all night.”
“I made some new friends,” she replied. “We had dinner at the council house and spent the night there.”
Kassie peered curiously out the window at her husband and the two elves. “Those are interesting friends,” she commented.
“I’m showing them the way to the coast. We need some food and blankets to take with us.”
Pulling herself away from the window, Kassie said, “Of course.” She hurried into the kitchen to collect some food items from the pantry.
Kaiya grabbed three blankets from her room and rolled them into bundles. Kassie handed her a shoulder bag full of dried meat, nuts, and fruit.
“I’m not sure what elves eat,” Kassie remarked. Grabbing a fresh loaf of bread from the table, she added it to Kaiya’s bag.
“Thanks, Mum,” she said before hugging her mother.
“You be careful,” Kassie replied. “Don’t be afraid to use your magic if you need it.”
With a nod, Kaiya stepped outside to rejoin her friends. She was surprised to hear laughter between her father and the elves. Darvil was not the sort of man to trust quickly, but it seemed he was charmed by River and Galen. No doubt River’s ability to bring calm to a situation had helped.
“I think I have everything,” Kaiya said.
“Take care of my little girl,” Darvil said to the elves. “She can be a handful, but she’s a good daughter.” He chuckled quietly, his eyes gleaming.
“I will keep both eyes on her, even if I trip over a rock because of it,” Galen pledged, placing a hand over his heart.
“She will be quite safe,” River promised. Believing the journey would be uneventful, River made this promise easily.
With Kaiya leading the way, the trio turned away from the road and crossed the green pasture. The path to the coast was rarely used, and few dwarves had knowledge of it. Though Kaiya had not made the journey since she was a child, she remembered the way. With the wind as her guide, she could see the path that had formerly been cut through the short mountain grass, but she failed to notice the eyes that were watching her from a distance.
Chapter 27
After leaving Yiranor’s tower, Telorithan decided to pay Sirra a visit as well. Her presence was not wholly intolerable, and she had her moments of brilliance. If she couldn’t provide real assistance, she could at least be useful in spreading the news of his success. He did not personally wish to be bothered with questions, so she would be the perfect person to carry the news of his triumph to the world. Once he managed to bind a god, he would no longer need any other elf. Until the process was perfected, however, he would be wise to seek counsel from other accomplished sorcerers.
Letting himself into her tower without knocking, he surprised a female servant with his presence.
“Tell your mistress I am here,” he said.
The elf curtsied before running up the stairs to find Sirra.
“Telorithan?” Sirra said, coming down the stairs. “I am surprised to see you.”
“I was unkind to you during our last visit,” he admitted. He spoke matter-of-factly, his voice showing no hint of regret.
“Yes, you were,” she replied, crossing her arms. “I suppose you have been under stress. I’m glad you have come.” She managed a smile and came to his side at the bottom of the stairs.
Pulling the large sapphire from his pocket, he presented it to Sirra. “Yiranor has graced me with this gorgeous gem,” he said, pride filling his voice. “With this I will bind the water elemental.”
“The elemental you had no knowledge of until I told you about him,” Sirra remarked. Her voice was smug. Telorithan was not quick to show his gratitude, and she yearned for him to appreciate her. Her physical attraction to him could not be denied, and she knew he was attracted to her as well. Getting him to show it was not always easy.
“You did indeed,” he admitted. “Without you, I might still be searching.” He reached for her hand and pressed it against his lips. His blue eyes locked on hers, and she blushed at his unusually tender gesture.
“You are a unique elf,” she said, allowing herself to relax. “Why have you come?”
“Why, to see you of course.” A mischievous grin appeared on his lips. Flattery usually worked easily on Sirra. She was a beautiful woman who loved to capture a man’s attention. Telorithan knew how strongly she felt for him, and he was willing to take advantage of that.
She gave him a sly look as she attempted to read his true motives. “I know better,” she said. “You have never been one to make a social call. Tell me what you need of me.”
“I need your mind, Sirra,” he said, walking away. He took a seat on one of her opulent chairs, tossing a velvet cushion to the floor. Sirra had a flare for decorating, and her tower was filled with too many pillows on too many pieces of furniture.
Taking a seat next to him and pressing her body into his, she said, “I’d love to help you.” Her words were quiet, almost whispered into his ear. She could feel his anxiety, his normal cocky air being strangely absent. Perhaps he wasn’t as perfect as he tried to present himself. He was doubting his abilities and had come to her for reassurance.
“I need practice,” he admitted. “I’ve bound only one elf, and elementals are quite powerful.” He looked at the floor as if speaking to himself. “I cannot fail. I might not get a second chance.”
Sirra ran her fingers over his silver hair and nestled her face into the curve of his neck. He closed his eyes, enjoying her warmth. Her presence was comforting to his troubled mind. Though he normally preferred solitude, Sirra had a way of endearing herself to him at times. Today, he was glad to have her at his side.
An idea came to Sirra’s mind. “You could challenge another master to a duel,” she suggested. “If you win, you can bind his essence.”
Slightly offended, he replied, “If I win? You mean when.”
“Of course,” she said, not wanting to argue.
“The practice is banned. Have you forgotten?” He shook his head at her foolishness. “If I am seen binding the essence of anyone, I’ll be exiled. The entire crowd could turn on me. Even I couldn’t defend against hundreds of attackers.”
“I’ve never seen the process,” she replied. “Neither has any other elf on these islands. How are you so sure they’ll know what you’re doing?”
“It isn�
�t a pretty process,” he said, remembering the agony of the thief. “The crowd will catch on quickly when they see it.”
Sirra thought for a moment. “I guess there’s only one other way, then.”
Telorithan stared at her, waiting for her to finish her thought.
“You’ll have to murder someone.” She spoke casually as if it was nothing. “You’ve taken lives before, so do it again.”
Telorithan briefly remembered the faces of the bandits who attacked his classmates many years ago. He had made short work of killing them. His anger had not ended there, and others were caught in his wrath. This time was different. He would have time to plan rather than acting on instinct. With the essence of another master at his command, he should have enough power to best the elemental in battle. Sirra’s idea was brilliant.
“I would be delighted to assist you,” she said, her fingers caressing his face. “We’ll find someone elderly who won’t put up too much of a fight.”
His eyes narrowed as his anger rose. “You think me incapable of besting a sorcerer with full strength?”
“Not at all,” she said softly. “You showed me that the elemental is on the move. You might have to leave at a moment’s notice, and you don’t want your power to be drained when you meet him. Let me do most of the work, and you can handle the binding.”
Sirra’s calculating mind impressed him. He had not considered his own power stores. It was true that the elemental was on the move, and he had no idea when they would eventually come to blows. “I accept your offer,” he said.
“Good,” she replied. “Now all that remains is to decide who is dead.”
Chapter 28
After a long day’s walk, the group decided to make camp for the night. The sun was setting fast behind the mountains, and the air was growing cooler. They had reached the sparse evergreen forest that sat above the base of the mountain. There was only a small amount of fallen wood available for a fire.
“I can create sparks from the air to make fire, but I’m afraid there isn’t enough wood here,” Kaiya explained. “I think it’s going to be a cold night.” She looked up at the pale, glowing moon.
