Deliverance

by Brittany Comeaux

  When Crystal walked into the meeting room, all of her closest allies were waiting for her. Taryn and Maryn were seating on top of a large barrel and were pushing one another to make room for them. Kerali, the prince of the wood elves and a very intelligent and agile archer, was standing near a group of other elf rebels. As Taryn predicted, Sigurd, the dwarf leader, was already steaming about “that damned elf” waking him up. As usual, when Sigurd became angry, his ears were turning red. The twins often purposely annoyed him to see them turn red and they would laugh behind his back.

  Sigurd was standing next to a tall, middle-aged warrior with long, black hair that he tied back at the nape of his neck. He had a few gray strands that stretched from the front to the back of his head and some gray in his goatee. At forty-five years old, this man was well-trained and strong with a sword. Crystal could tell that he had been training like Maryn had said because his long hair was slightly damp from the rain. His face was stern and serious as usual, but it was the face Crystal grew up knowing and loving. When the man saw her enter the room, he approached Crystal.

  “Good morning, Crystal,” he greeted her.

  “Good morning, Gavril,” she replied.

  “Sorry to have you woken so early, but Thaddeus said it was an emergency,” said Gavril.

  “Well, I had actually just woken up. Besides, since I am the leader here, I am the perfect person to present if there is an emergency,” she responded.

  “Of course, my lady,” Gavril bowed humbly.

  “You do not need to be so formal, faithful knight,” she said, with a slight grin.

  “Maybe not,” he said, “but as you know, I have sworn to serve and protect you with my life.” Crystal smiled. It was then that Thaddeus finally entered the room.

  He was an old man, nearly seventy-five years old, and he was quite experienced in the ways of magic. He wore a tattered old robe and had long gray hair with a long, wavy beard. He carried a scroll as he hurried into the room. He approached Crystal and with his free hand, gave her a slight hug and a pat on the back.

  “Good morning, Master,” she said, hugging him back.

  “Good morning, my dear,” the old mage replied. He then turned his attention to everyone else. “I am sorry to wake you all so suddenly, but I have received troubling news that I think you all should hear.”

  He then rushed over to the old wooden table in the middle of the room, opened the scroll he was carrying, and laid it down on the table. Everyone inched closer and hovered over each other to see it. The first thing they noticed was that the words were scribbled in a strange language that no one could decipher.

  “What is this language, Elven?” asked Gavril.

  “The letters are curved delicately like our language,” responded Kerali, “but no, it is not Elven.”

  “It is written in the fairy language;” explained Thaddeus, “no being except a fairy can read or translate it. Usually mages send messages like this to other mages when they want no one else to read it. The fairy who delivers the message translates it from the sender’s language into their own language, and then the fairy delivers the message and translates it back for the recipient. It is a special precaution used in emergencies like this.”

  “So a fairy delivered it?” asked Crystal.

  “Yes, and she used her magic to translate it for me,” replied Thaddeus.

  “So why is it still in the fairy language, then?” asked Gavril.

  “Fairies only change it into a readable language temporarily. They will only translate for the intended recipient, and then the words revert back to the fairy language after a few minutes to prevent anyone who would compromise the situation from seeing it,” explained Thaddeus.

  “So what did it say?” asked Gavril.

  “I will let the fairy tell you,” replied the old mage. He then made a whistling noise, and before anyone knew it, a tiny blue creature came flitting into the room on graceful, shimmering wings. Her enormous, sapphire eyes looked curiously around the room.

  “Little one?” said Thaddeus. The fairy immediately flew to him. Then he said, “Will you please translate this message for everyone here?” The fairy then bowed and hovered over the scroll. She held out her little hands and waved them around, making the letters on the paper change shape. Everyone watched anxiously as the words began to take the form of a familiar language. Finally, the words came to form and the message on the scroll read:

  Thaddeus, the City of Magi needs the immediate help of the rebels. King Bogdan plans to invade. I cannot give more information at this time. Please send your response with the messenger fairy.

  -Malcolm

  “Malcolm?” Kerali said.

  “He’s your older brother, right Thaddeus?” asked Gavril.

  “Yes, Gavril.” replied Thaddeus, “He knows that we fight Daldussa every day, so when I saw that the king was plotting to invade, I wanted to call a meeting and inform our leader. After all, it is her decision to help them if she chooses. What do you think, Crystal?”

  Everyone turned their attention to Crystal, but she was not listening. She continued to stare at the message, particularly at the name written in it, Bogdan. It was a name that had haunted her for the past ten years. She could still see the empty eyes of the man who mercilessly killed her parents right in front of her. He forced her out of her home and forced her to live as a fugitive. Because of him, the kingdom of Cierith lay in ruin. He was the very reason she fought and led others to do the same.

  “Crystal?” Gavril whispered softly as he rested his hand on her shoulder. She then came back to reality.

  “Sorry . . .” she muttered.

  “Do not feel bad, Crystal. I should have known this may upset you some. It is I who should apologize for not warning you,” Thaddeus replied.

  “No, Master Thaddeus. I have sworn to fight this man until I have found justice for those that have died by his hands, and I will therefore move to go to the City of Magi to protect its people from the invasion,” Crystal responded.

  “The elves are behind you all the way,” said Kerali.

  “As are the dwarves,” added Sigurd.

  “Don’t forget us!” said Taryn and Maryn simultaneously.

  “And of course, as always, I will defend you to the death,” said Gavril.

  “As will I and all of the others here that have sworn to do,” added Thaddeus. All of the rebels in the room then raised their weapons and shouted:

  “For Cierith!”

  “Thank you all,” she said, quite humbled, “I know we can win this war if we all fight together. Now let us go to the City of Magi and show that joke of a king that we will take our kingdom back.”

  ****

  The team began their journey to the City of Magi that same day. It was decided that Crystal and the other lead members of Deliverance would leave first and then the other troops would take alternate routes at different times. As Crystal had explained to them earlier, it would draw too much attention to them if they traveled in such an enormous group. Therefore, they were ordered to all travel in small groups to appear as if they were lone travelers.

  Thaddeus knew the way well and directed them through shortcuts. For the next several days, Crystal and her team traveled north through the terrains of Cierith, avoiding the watchful eyes of Daldussan soldiers by blending into crowds and sending Taryn and Maryn to scout the areas. The cold January air made traveling difficult, but the rebels still pressed forward wrapped in thick cloaks. As they traveled further north, the land was covered in more and more snow.

  The City of Magi was located in a mountainous domain directly between the northern border of Cierith and the southern border of Dwyp, the winter tundra home to dark elves. The city itself was set against a wall of mountains that circled a large area of rocky plains. The wall stretched for a mile or so and a path to the city started just outside of the valley. The wall of mountains stopped on either side of the path and when the rebels walked through the opening, they gazed in awe at th
e beautiful mountain valley. The city was only barely visible from the opening of the valley, and by nightfall on the fifth day after they had set out, the rebels finally arrived at the front gates of the mystic city.

  “Who goes there?” the gatekeeper standing on a walkway atop the gate called. Thaddeus stepped forward and removed his hood.

  “I am Thaddeus Coburn, younger brother to High Elder Malcolm Coburn. My brother has requested the immediate aid of myself and my comrades. May you please grant us entrance into the city?” he shouted up at the gatekeeper.

  “Very well then,” the gatekeeper replied. He then turned around and shouted, “Open the gates!”

  The enormous doors then opened inward to reveal marvelous marble buildings lining cobblestone streets. The streets were lit with glass globes that held small balls of light floating around in each one. The rebels stepped through the gates and passed by several different stores, such as scroll and book shops as well as magical ingredient and herbals shops for potions and alchemy. There was also a shop with colorful robes and other clothing in the window. It not was a sight that the rebels often saw due to their humble living situation.

  Thaddeus beckoned the other rebels to follow him to the Elder’s Hall which was located directly in the middle of the city. As Crystal followed by his side, the others trailed behind them. Messenger fairies of all colors fluttered about overhead. Sigurd shooed away an old, ginger-colored cat that was following him and trying to latch onto his cloak, which was dragging across the ground; this of course got a laugh out of Taryn and Maryn. Kerali hid his chuckle while Gavril tried in vain to help the dwarf, whose ears where turning red again, to keep his cloak off of the ground.

  “This city is enormous! How much further do we have to walk?” asked Taryn.

  “After all this walking, I think my legs are gonna fall off,” Maryn added.

  “And we’re halflings. Our short legs have to work harder to keep up!” Taryn griped.

  “Bah! You complain too much! Dwarves can walk for days without tiring, and our legs are much thicker as well as much shorter,” said Sigurd.

  “They are only kids, Sigurd. They tire much easier than more experienced travelers like you and me,” Kerali retorted.

  The dwarf snorted in retaliation but said nothing more.

  “We are nearly there, everyone.” said Thaddeus, “However, before we can sleep, we must hear details of the situation and decide what our plan of action will be.”

  “We must inform the high elder that many others will be arriving and that we have given them a special code phrase to use with the gatekeeper,” said Crystal.

  “Do not worry, Crystal. I am certain that my brother will see to it that they enter the city without a problem,” replied Thaddeus.

  Soon they reached the steps of the Elder’s Hall. The hall itself was well more than five stories tall, and the front steps took up an entire story. The hall was built on a large, rocky hill that had apparently been carved away to add the hall, for the walls on the sides of the building were covered in rock and the steps in the front of the hall had been carved into the hill.

  Once the team reached the top, they were amazed by the tall, white marble pillars lining the front of the hall. The entrance was a tall archway that nearly reached the ceiling. Thaddeus stepped in first and then the others followed. It was then that Crystal saw the seven elders lined up in the foyer waiting for them.

  Crystal assumed that the old man in the middle was the High Elder not only because he resembled Thaddeus, but also because his robe was different from robes the other elders wore. Each of the other six elders wore a light gray robe with silver trim, but the High Elder wore a white robe with gold trim.

  The High Elder approached them first. “I am grateful that you came on such short notice, my brother,” he said. Thaddeus put a hand on his shoulder and held out his other for a handshake, which the high elder accepted and returned the gesture.

  “Anything to help, Malcolm,” he replied.

  “It has been so long, Thaddeus,” Malcolm said to his brother. He then turned his attention to the elders behind him and said, “These are the elders elected by the people of the city. I am sure that you recognize most of them, my brother, but I believe they would like to introduce themselves to your comrades.”

  Malcolm then stepped aside and motioned to the first elder, a shy, short, plump man. The round little man timidly stepped forward and adjusted his round glasses. Under his arm, he carried a stack of papers and parchment. “I am Elder Bredewig,” he said in a weak voice.

  As the round elder stepped back, the next elder stepped forward. He was the polar opposite of the timid Bredewig. Standing well over six and a half feet tall, this elder’s rugged appearance hardly gave away his magical talents. He had long, ragged, dark gray hair that covered his shoulders along with thick sideburns and eyebrows. His dark skin and eyes only added to his brutish appearance. “Elder Halmez, at your service,” he said in a loud, rough voice.

  The following elder was a thin, aging woman. Her long silver hair was tied in a loose bun high on her head. Her facial features were bold and sharp. “I am Elder Orwynn,” she said in a soft voice.

  Next was a tall, thin man with gray hair that was slicked back out of his face. His pale features were sharp and thin and his gray eyes were sunken into his head and had dark circles around them.

  “I am Elder Saitar,” he said.

  Next was an elf. Though he appeared to be no older than twenty-five or so, he was well over four hundred years old. Capable of living for nearly a millennium, elves aged even slower than halflings and dwarves. This elf had long, platinum hair that was tied on the ends with a ribbon.

  “I am Elder Ydon,” he said in a calm, soothing voice.

  Next the final elder, a tall man with gray hair and a mustache, stepped forward. He removed his pointed hat from his head and tipped it to the rebels.

  “Good day to you all. I am Elder Leldor,” he stated.

  “I am pleased to see you all again,” said Thaddeus, “It has been far too long since my last visit.”

  “We are thankful to have you return, especially under such dire circumstances,” said Malcolm.

  “Well now that the elders have introduced themselves,” said Thaddeus, “I am sure that our leader and the others would like to make their introductions.”

  “Is it not you?” asked Saitar.

  “I beg your pardon, Elder?” Thaddeus replied.

  “My apologies, Thaddeus,” replied Saitar, with an embarrassed smile, “I was under the high elder’s impression that you were the rebel leader.”

  Thaddeus chuckled.

  “No, my friend.” he said, “I am not.”

  “Oh well, no matter. Who is the leader then? Where is he?” asked Saitar.

  “She is right here,” replied Thaddeus, motioning to Crystal who was standing next to him. She then stepped forward and bowed slightly.

  “My name is Crystal, dear elders.” she greeted, “I am the leader of Deliverance. Allow me to introduce my closest comrades.”

  She then turned and motioned to Gavril.

  “This is my second in command, Gavril Fletcher.” she stated, “Despite his age, he is an adept warrior and teacher, and if anything were to happen to me, he would take my place.”

  She turned to Kerali. “This is Prince Kerali Gladomain of the wood elves. The elves have respected the royal family for generations, as did the dwarves.” She then motioned to Sigurd, “And the leader of the dwarves, Sigurd Olvirsson, is a dear friend of mine as well.”

  Sigurd straightened up in a proud manner. Then Crystal gestured to the twins.

  “The halflings have also aided us and Maryn and Taryn Acker here are very skilled rogues.”

  Malcolm then stepped forward. “I am pleased to meet all of you, and I wish we could have met under better circumstances, but we must retreat to my study and speak in private immediately,” he said.

  “Yes, sir,” Crystal replied politely, “P
lease lead the way.”

  The rebels followed Malcolm and the other elders down several corridors of the Elder’s Hall. Crystal heard Orwynn whispering to Leldor briefly about how she was surprised how young she was to be a leader. Crystal didn’t think much of it and continued walking. An enormous staircase led them to the different floors of the structure. Taryn and Maryn struggled to climb the stairs while Sigurd growled, “Suck it up!”

  They reached the top floor and finally cleared the staircase. Malcolm led them to the right and stopped at the door at the end of the corridor. He pushed the door open and beckoned everyone to go inside ahead of him. He held the door open, standing to the side as, one by one, elders and rebels entered the study.

  “WHOA!” exclaimed Taryn and Maryn simultaneously. The study was so enormous and elaborate that even the other rebels stood their ground in awe. The walls were white marble and lined with pillars holding a second-story walkway. The walkway was connected to the floor below by a spiral set of stairs, and several bookshelves lined the walkway all the way around the room. The staircase led further up to yet another walkway with even more bookshelves.

  Also on the top walkway was an elaborate telescope that stood on three legs before a large, round window. On the ground level, an enormous fireplace sat directly across from the entrance, and the chimney ran up the wall and through the ceiling. The floor was gray marble and lined with a rich, mahogany carpet with gold trim. Malcolm’s desk was to the right of the entrance, directly across the room from the spiral staircase. In front of the fireplace, two antique chairs with a small table in the middle welcomed visitors forward.