by Lana Axe
Galen’s face lit up. “No need to apologize,” he said. “If I’d known it would win me a kiss, I would have been injured sooner.”
Kaiya looked away feeling embarrassed. It would be difficult for her to deny her feelings for Galen going forward.
River smiled warmly, approving of the match. “Perhaps Lenora will be happy to see me in one piece too,” he commented. “We should head back. I’ve only given you temporary strength. It won’t last.”
The trio began their journey back to the mountains, leaving Telorithan behind on the island.
Chapter 39
Sitting motionless on the sand, Telorithan could sense River and the dwarf moving farther away. It would seem they had no interest in punishing him. I’ve been a fool, he realized. His entire life had been dedicated to the study of fire. What had made him think he could master water without so much as studying? The folly was all his own.
His thoughts turned to binding a fire elemental, the creature he should have been seeking in the first place. Sirra’s knowledge of River’s existence had prompted him to the wrong action. He blamed her for leading him astray. His intention had always been to truly master fire, and a water elemental did not fit into that equation.
No matter how long it took, he would dedicate himself to perfecting the binding process, and he would not make another attempt until he was confident in his ability to succeed. Failure was unacceptable, and he hated himself for listening to the enchantress. She set me up for this failure, and I will not forget it.
Hours passed as he sat upon the lonely island, contemplating his next move. Slowly, his magic stores regenerated as the sun moved lower in the sky. The ship would be returning soon to collect him. Not wanting them to see his disheveled appearance, Telorithan focused his magic to vanity. He removed the blood from his silver hair and concealed the cuts on his hand. After removing the sand and salt from his robe, he stood and looked toward the Sunswept Isles. They seemed smaller and even less significant than before.
Once I have achieved my mission, I will leave these isles.
Idly, he brushed his fingers through his silver strands. He regretted the movement of the ocean, which did not allow him to see his own reflection. As the ship came into sight, he used the small amount of magic remaining to him to cast a trivial spell that would give him a more pleasing appearance. Looking defeated was not an option, especially in front of elves who were so far beneath him.
Shoving his small boat into the water, he rowed past the reef to meet the ship. The sailors lowered a rope ladder for him to climb, and he made his way onto the deck. Without a word to any of them, he took a seat at the rear of the vessel and stared into the distance. The Red Isle lay to the north, waiting for him as always. Soon he would go there, and he would be triumphant. Then he would have his revenge on all those who had humiliated him this day.
* * * * *
Walking late into the night, River and his companions were determined to return to the dwarf village as quickly as possible. River hoped Lenora had the illness under control, but he knew she could not cure it without the opal. As they moved ever closer to the village, he could sense Indal’s presence. Her angry mood had not changed, and he knew she would still refuse to leave willingly.
Galen was the first of the three to tire. His wound had not yet healed, and he needed rest before continuing the journey. Kaiya used the heat from the air to build a small fire before settling down to sleep. River kept watch a while before finally succumbing to sleep himself.
Early the next morning, they awoke to the sound of birdsong. The sun lifted itself over the horizon, filling the sky with pink light. With only a few short hours of sleep, they were determined to press on.
“How are you feeling this morning?” River asked Galen.
His breathing was shallow again, and the pain was evident on his face. “I’ve been better,” he replied honestly.
River laid a hand on the wound, once again filling it with blue magic. Galen’s pain subsided, and he felt rejuvenated and ready for travel.
“Thanks,” Galen said with a smirk. “I’m beginning to like that spell.”
The travelers set out once again, making their way along the mountainside. Kaiya was curious about the spell that had helped Galen. She walked alongside River, trying to figure out how he had accomplished what she could not.
“Is that elf magic?” she asked. “Or is that something I could learn to do as well?”
“From what I’ve seen of your abilities, I’m convinced you could learn anything,” River replied. “I am only willing the magic to pass to him and give him strength. With practice, you should be able to do it as well.”
“Feel free to practice on me whenever you like,” Galen said.
Kaiya shook her head and looked at the ground. “You have magic too Galen, but you don’t seem to use it often.”
“I don’t have skills like River,” he admitted. “I’m not as good as Lenora either. I do have a few talents, but I reserve them for special occasions.”
“Galen is a master of the archives,” River said proudly. “He’s highly respected among our people.” He glanced over at Galen, who pretended not to notice the exaggeration.
“Archives?” Kaiya repeated. “You’re a writer?”
Galen nodded. “I mainly write histories.”
“You’ll have to teach me some of your language,” Kaiya replied. “Maybe Trin could teach you some of our ancient dialect.”
“I’d be delighted to teach you,” he replied. “And Trin has already shown me a few things. His work with runes is intriguing. Our people rarely write spells. They aren’t normally spoken word, but rather something that is done silently in one’s mind. The idea of etching a spell onto an item is fascinating.” His voice revealed his sincere interest in the topic.
“I’m sure he’d love to teach you more,” Kaiya said. “He could probably learn a few things from you as well. He’s something of a loner, but I don’t think he’d mind having you around.” Her words revealed more about herself than Trin. Their journey was nearing its end, and she did not look forward to his departure back to the Vale.
They journeyed throughout the day, hurrying with every step.
“We should be nearing my house,” Kaiya informed the others. “If we continue at this pace, we should be there a few hours after sunset. We can spend the night there and head for the village at first light.”
The air grew thinner as they ascended higher into the mountains. The way was as rocky as before, but their steps felt lighter as they walked. Before, their journey had been full of questions and uncertainty. Now, they knew their destination, and they were returning in victory.
Near midnight they arrived at Kaiya’s home. Doozle barked cautiously as they approached, but his expression turned to joy as they came into view. He greeted the trio excitedly, wagging his tail and licking their hands.
“It’s good to see you too,” Kaiya said, scratching him behind one ear.
Darvil heard the commotion and left his bed to see who was outside. On seeing his daughter, he rushed to meet her. Squeezing her tightly against his chest, he said, “I’m glad you’re back, girl.”
Squirming to release herself from his grip, she said, “Let’s all get some sleep. We have a big day ahead of us tomorrow.”
Chapter 40
Returning to his tower, Telorithan realized that nothing had changed. No one was aware of his failure, and the world carried on as normal. After a bath, he intended to begin studying right away. Another visit to Yiranor’s library might be in order. There were many fire elementals present on the Red Isle. His failure against one of them might result in retaliation from the others, which meant he needed to learn how best to defend against them. If he succeeded, he expected the others would accept him as one of their own.
He had no intention of making the mistake of rushing into it again. Determined not to make another attempt until he was fully prepared, he dreaded the thought that it might be years
before his goal was achieved. In addition, he would need to learn to wield the elemental’s power before he could attempt the binding of the fire god. That could take even longer, perhaps centuries. He was not a patient elf, and the thought of all the work ahead of him was distressing.
As he ascended the spiral staircase to his library, a thought occurred to him. Two elements had come together to defeat him. He felt certain he would have succeeded in binding River had the dwarf not interfered. This gave him hope that he did indeed have the power to subdue a single elemental, but getting one alone could prove difficult. He had no idea why air and water would come together as allies, and he wondered who might come to the aid of a lone fire elemental. It was a possibility he intended to prepare for.
After a few hours of poring over scrolls, a knock came from his door. A servant poked his head inside, waiting for permission to speak.
“What is it?” Telorithan asked impatiently.
“It’s Mistress Sirra,” the servant replied. “She’s come for a visit.”
Annoyed, the sorcerer turned back to his scroll without saying a word. Suddenly, an idea came to his mind. He rose and proceeded to his laboratory to retrieve an item that could possibly save him years of study. Searching through a drawer, he smiled as his eyes fell onto the item he hoped to find. Inspecting it carefully, he slipped it into his pocket before making his way downstairs to greet his guest.
Sirra sat casually upon the velvet chair in Telorithan’s sitting room. A goblet of wine dangled in one hand, and her raven hair fell loosely upon her breast. “I’m glad you didn’t come to any harm,” she said, a seductive smile on her lips. “I don’t know what I would do without you.”
Telorithan gazed at her with contempt. “I went unprepared,” he replied.
Sirra laughed. “That’s something of an understatement.”
Not taking kindly to the comment, the sorcerer said, “Would you care to enlighten me?”
“Well,” she began, “obviously this elf has true elemental powers. His form isn’t holding him back at all. You may as well not have bothered.”
Feeling his anger rise, he did his best to suppress it. “You expected me to fail?” Sirra was the one who had suggested he try binding this elemental, and now she was mocking him.
“You weren’t able to trap an elderly master, so it stands to reason you couldn’t trap a demigod,” she replied. “It was a difficult task. It’s to be expected that it would take more than one try. Next time you might do better.”
“I intend to,” he replied coldly. He fidgeted with the amethyst in his robe pocket, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
“Come and sit,” she said, patting the seat next to her. “We can discuss your next move if you like. Or we can do something else.” Pursing her crimson lips, she blew a kiss his direction.
With a half-smile, he sat next to her and reached for the wine bottle. After pouring himself a drink, he took a sip and settled back in his seat. “I will not fail when it comes to trapping fire,” he declared. “I’ve already figured out exactly what I need.”
“Do tell,” she said, feigning interest.
“You see, it took two different elements to subdue me. Water would not have succeeded without help from air. Their combined powers were overwhelming. I was not prepared for it.”
“So you’re planning to master a second element?” Sirra asked. “That will take a rather long time.”
“No,” he replied, sitting up straight. “A true mastery isn’t necessary. I simply need to have it under my control.”
“Which element did you have in mind?” she asked.
“Earth,” he replied with a smile. Leaning forward, he kissed her lips. She welcomed his caress and moaned with pleasure.
“A wise decision,” she said. “You happen to have an accomplished earth enchantress right next to you. Of course, I’m going to require payment for my services.” Setting down her goblet, she leaned in to kiss his neck.
“A hefty price indeed,” he replied.
“And it isn’t something to be learned quickly,” she said. “We’re going to be spending a lot of time together.” She laughed playfully, pulling him in close.
“I intend for us to spend every moment together from now on.”
Placing his hands on each side of her head, he unleashed red magic. Paralyzing her with his power, he projected heat through her skull as she screamed in agony. The purple gem hidden in his hand began to glow. Her screams climbed ever higher as he continued to scald her, the heat penetrating deep into her body. After a few moments, she slumped backwards, a flash of purple light filling the amethyst.
Releasing her from his grip, her body rolled lifelessly onto the floor. He gazed inside the gem to see the sparkling light inside take shape. Sirra’s face stared back at him, her expression one of torment. With a flick of his fingers, he incinerated her lifeless body, reducing her to nothing more than an insignificant pile of ash.
Chapter 41
About an hour before dawn, Kaiya rose to prepare breakfast for her father and the elves. She still couldn’t believe that her mother had gone to town to volunteer as a nurse. Darvil had seemed surprised as well when he informed her of her mother’s absence. Kassie rarely ventured to town, even to visit the markets. She took pride in her home, and that is where she spent the vast majority of her time.
Knowing that her elven friends would not eat any meat, Kaiya prepared millet porridge with a touch of honey to sweeten it. Darvil would scoff at such a meal, so she fried some ham and eggs as well. Though she didn’t have much practice in the kitchen, she managed to make some biscuits that weren’t too flat. They tasted better than they looked, and she knew her father would still enjoy them.
Doozle begged silently at her feet, his brown eyes speaking more loudly than any bark ever could. She gave him a generous helping of ham, which he gobbled up happily. By the time she was finished setting the table, the others had awoken and were ready to eat.
Darvil sat down first. “This looks good,” he commented before beginning to eat. The ham was slightly burned, but the eggs were cooked perfectly.
Placing a glass of fresh milk next to her father’s plate, Kaiya said, “How does it taste?”
He nodded and grunted in reply, his mouth too full to speak.
River and Galen took their places at the table and tasted the porridge Kaiya had prepared.
“It’s good,” River said, somewhat surprised. “This would be excellent with almonds.”
Kaiya smiled at the compliment. “I’m afraid we don’t have any of those.” She proceeded to pour him a glass of milk as well, but paused as the bottle touched the cup. “Do you drink milk?”
“No, but I wouldn’t mind an ale if you have some,” he replied.
“For breakfast?” Darvil said, coughing on his food. “Oh, I like him. He’s my kind of elf.”
“I’ll have ale as well,” Galen said, looking to Darvil for his approval.
Darvil nodded, and Kaiya poured ale for each of them before sitting down with her own bowl of porridge. When the meal was finished, Galen jumped to his feet to collect the dishes.
“It’s the least I can do,” he said. “River gave me another dose of magic, and I have more energy than I need this morning.”
“You should still have Lenora take a look at your wound,” River suggested. “She will know better than me whether it is healing properly.”
Galen shrugged and busied himself washing dishes.
“Does that spell take away from your own strength?” Kaiya asked curiously.
“A bit, but not as much as you would expect,” he replied. “The more one practices magic, the larger his or her supply becomes. With elementals, the practice is less necessary. An elemental possesses far larger quantities of magic than the most learned sorcerers.”
“I guess your friend on the island found that out,” she replied.
“He had a way of draining my power. I’ve never experienced anything like it. The w
ater restored my magic, but if it wasn’t for you, I doubt I would have survived.”
“I sensed you were in trouble,” she said. “I did what I could. That was the strongest spell I’ve ever cast, but I didn’t feel drained afterward. Shouldn’t I have been depleted?”
“You’re no ordinary sorcerer, Kaiya,” he explained. “The air itself rejuvenates you. As long as you can breathe, your power will not diminish.”
“I guess that explains why I’ve never had the feeling of depleted magic. Why don’t all sorcerers study air? It seems like that would be the most beneficial.”
“Air is the most difficult element to master,” he replied. “And mastering it does not mean that your magical stores will be replenished constantly. There is a difference between an elemental and a sorcerer. Sorcerers replenish their store over time with rest. Elementals are replenished by the element they represent.”
Kaiya looked confused. “Are you telling me I’m an elemental?”
“You are unique,” he said. “You are wholly a dwarf, but you have immense power. I cannot explain what I do not understand myself.”
Kaiya sighed in disappointment. “I hoped you would know more. No one has ever given me a reason for my powers, and I’m starting to think no one ever will.”
“Maybe someday,” he replied.
“I’ll have to find a way to contact an air elemental,” she stated with determination. “Surely one of those would know something.”
“If I can help you, I will,” he promised.
“I, for one, have heard enough talk,” Darvil declared, rising to his feet. “There’s work to be done around the farm. Give your mother my regards if you run into her in town. Ask her when she’s coming home. Dinner doesn’t cook itself.” He shuffled out the door to tend to his chores.
Kaiya led River and Galen back along the path to the village. The sky was overcast, blocking out a good portion of the sunlight. As they reached the town, Kaiya was surprised to see so many people around. She had feared many more would have taken ill in the four days they had been away. To her relief, there appeared to be more citizens back at work than when she had left.
