Demonkin

by Richard S. Tuttle

  “All of you?” frowned Tedi.

  “Not me,” clarified Eulena. “He is allowing me to stay and help you, but I must leave as soon as my help is no longer needed. I will meet up with the group outside of the city.”

  “I am sorry to hear that,” stated Tedi. “I couldn’t help noticing the change in the people in this part of the city. You and your group will be sorely missed.”

  “I know.” Eulena nodded. “What brings you to this part of the city?”

  “There is trouble within the reeducation center,” confided the Knight of Alcea. “The elven thief who was supposed to tell the children of their impending escape has returned with bad news. Some of the children do not want to leave. They were so adamant in their opposition that the thief fears that they might squeal to their Federation masters.”

  “That must not be allowed to happen,” Eulena said with alarm.

  “I cannot understand it,” frowned Tedi. “Why wouldn’t they want to be rescued?”

  “The reeducation centers are designed to lure our children away from us and into the service of the Federation,” explained Eulena. “They have never been very successful, but some of the children are swayed away from their people.”

  “Will any of them truly reveal our plans? That would be a catastrophe.”

  “Yes, it would,” agreed the elven mage, “and yes, some of them are quite capable of doing such a senseless thing. I must go talk to them.”

  “How will you get in?” questioned Tedi. “Strangler’s man only got the chance because he was called in to fix something.”

  “I will get in,” vowed the elven mage, “but I must wait for nightfall.”

  * * * *

  Thousands of elves swarmed into the Heart of Elfwoods; many of them with heavy packs upon their backs. King Elengal stood on the top of the steps of the royal residence and gazed out over the crowd. Prince Saratoma stood on one side of the king, and Prince Rigal stood on the other.

  “If the Federation was to visit the Heart today,” mused Prince Saratoma, “there would be great bloodshed. There is no way to hide the intentions of our people. It is clear that we are migrating to somewhere.”

  “Why are the people carrying so much?” asked Prince Rigal. “It will slow down the exodus.”

  “What they are carrying on their backs is all that they will ever have,” stated King Elengal. “Do you think that we will be able to return to Elfwoods when this is all done? If so, you had better think again. The Federation is quite capable of burning the entire Elfwoods out of shear anger, but even if they do not, the Dielderal cannot return. Should the Empire of Barouk suddenly throw off the yoke of the Federation, the new emperor would not permit another sovereign nation to dwell within its borders. The Elfwoods is not our land.”

  “I guess I had not given that much thought,” frowned Prince Rigal.

  “It will be doubly worse when the elves attack Despair,” added Prince Saratoma. “The humans will never again feel safe with elves living so close to them.”

  Prince Rigal stared at the crowd and thought about all of the empty villages throughout the Elfwoods. He slowly nodded in understanding.

  “The time has finally come,” King Elengal said, tearing the Glendor prince away from his musings. “Prince Saratoma, I want you to organize the journey to the dwarven tunnel. Our people are to leave no tracks. None. To do so would defeat the purpose of our secrecy. Assign group leaders and send the groups along diverse paths to the tunnel.”

  “You mean to start the migration now?” questioned Prince Saratoma.

  “Yes,” replied the king. “It is already clear to anyone entering the Heart what our intent is. We should waste no time with false pretenses. The women are to be taken to the tunnel immediately. They will also bear the burden of carrying the family’s belongings. The men will carry only their bows, and they will not be going to the tunnel right away.”

  “They will be needed for the war party.” Prince Saratoma nodded in agreement.

  “Which will be led by Prince Rigal,” declared the king.

  “By Prince Rigal?” balked the Dielderal prince. “If we are going into battle, I will lead our men.”

  “Prince Rigal has more knowledge of warfare,” retorted the king. “It is more appropriate for him to lead the warriors.”

  “I will not dispute your statements,” argued Prince Saratoma, “but the Dielderal are my people. I will not flee with the women while you assign our warriors to someone else.”

  “You forget who is king. You had a chance to accept the leadership of our people. You refused. Now, you will obey my orders.”

  “Perhaps,” Prince Saratoma said threateningly.

  “I think Prince Saratoma is quite capable of leading the war party,” interjected Prince Rigal. “He knows the terrain and he knows the warriors and their capabilities. I will take the women to the tunnel.”

  “This is not a matter for discussion,” rebuked the king. “I have made my decision.”

  “I see that the old King Elengal has returned,” came a voice from behind the three elves.

  The three elves turned to see the historian exiting the building.

  “You will go with the women, Legaulle,” said the king.

  “I know my own limitations,” replied the historian. “On that topic you will get no argument from me, but I will speak my mind on your other decrees.”

  King Elengal held up his hand for silence, but the historian ignored him.

  “You cannot protect your grandson by denying him his rightful place at the head of the elven army,” stated Legaulle. “You can try such a foolish measure, but Prince Saratoma has already shown his worthiness as your opponent. He will be in the forefront of the battle no matter what you decree, and I support him in this.”

  “You support him?” scowled the king. “Who asked for your opinion?”

  “No one asked for it,” retorted Legaulle, “but it is sorely needed. There is more involved here than Prince Saratoma’s desire to fight. He is a natural leader, and the warriors respect him. Are you so quick to forget that?”

  “Prince Rigal is also respected,” countered King Elengal, “and he is a seasoned leader.”

  “I find no faults with Prince Rigal,” agreed the historian, “but when all of this is over, the prince will return to his own people across the sea. You know that Prince Saratoma will be leading the Dielderal soon enough. Why do you seek to start his reign with disgrace?”

  “Disgrace?” snapped the king. “There is no disgrace in leading your people to safety.”

  “Legaulle is correct,” interjected Prince Rigal. “This is a most crucial time in the history of the Dielderal, and Prince Saratoma is a capable leader. By trying to keep him safe, you are showing your lack of faith in him. No elven prince should be treated that way in a time of war. Have you even given any thought that your people might think that Prince Saratoma requested his safe duty out of cowardice?”

  “Cowardice?” balked King Elengal. “Do not be absurd. This is the war that he has been trying to provoke all along.”

  “And you seek to rob me of my chance to stand up for my people,” accused Prince Saratoma. “Grandfather, I know that you love me and that you are trying to protect me, but I have a duty as a Dielderal prince, and I will not forsake it for personal safety. Deep down you know that as well as everyone else who knows me. Why make me defy your orders?”

  King Elengal sighed heavily and nodded in defeat. “You are the last of our line, Saratoma. If you die in battle, the reign of the descendents of Prince Gordana will die with you. The Dielderal will be no more.”

  “The Dielderal exist only within our minds,” smiled Prince Saratoma. “Prince Rigal and I are brothers, as are all elves. We no longer need such false divisions within our race. Besides, I have no intention of dying in the coming battle. Prince Rigal and I have already discussed the battle plan, and it is a sound one.”

  “I agree with that,” interjected Prince Rigal. “I will
lead the exodus.”

  “No,” replied the king. “Prince Saratoma will still lead the exodus. He has a much better knowledge of the Elfwoods. Besides, the journey to the tunnel will be complete long before the need for battle. There is no need for Prince Saratoma to take them through the tunnel. I can do that myself, but you will stay close to my grandson when he leads the attack, Prince Rigal. Promise me that.”

  “I shall be like his shadow,” vowed the Glendor prince. “You have my word on that.”

  The king smiled and nodded at Prince Rigal and turned towards his grandson. “What about the false trail to the Sea of Tears?”

  “I have asked Tomar to head the first group,” answered Prince Saratoma. “He is excited about it. The unicorns will arrive here right after they deposit the children at the tunnel. Milashar will lead the group covering the tracks.”

  “Then you need to get the mages to start moving today,” replied the king. “I want them all in position before the unicorns even arrive in the Heart. There will be precious little time for them to get to the tunnel before the Federation soldiers start pouring into Elfwoods.”

  * * * *

  The dove flew low over the rooftops of the city of Valdo with only the thinnest sliver of a moon to guide it through the night sky. When it arrived over the reeducation center, the bird circled several times, observing the streets below. Only when the dove was sure that no one was around did it dive downward towards the barred windows of the building. The bird chose the window farthest from the front of the building as it landed on the window ledge. From its vantage point on the window ledge, the bird peered into one of the sleeping chambers. The room housed two-dozen children, and they were all sleeping. The only illumination came through the barred window in the closed door to the chamber. The bird waddled through the bars of the window and fluttered down to the floor. In an instant, the bird winked out of existence to be replaced by an elven woman. Eulena moved quietly to the side of one of the older girls in the room. She held a finger to her lips and gently shook the girl awake. The girl’s eyes grew as large as coins as she stared up at the elven woman.

  “Who are you?” the girl whispered.

  “I am Eulena,” answered the mage. “I understand that word has come to you that you are to be rescued. Is this true?”

  The girl nodded. “No one believes it, though. Is it really true?”

  “It is true,” Eulena whispered, “but I also heard that some in here do not want to be rescued. Do you know who they are?”

  “Four of the older boys,” answered the girl. “I do not know if they were serious in their objections, though. Those four always talk about fighting in a war. I suppose they think the humans may give them a chance to do that.”

  “Have they told the guards?”

  “I don’t think so. I am sure that there would have been quite a commotion if they had, and nothing seems out of the ordinary. How did you get in here?”

  “You will see when I leave,” smiled the mage. “We will be coming for you on the night of the new moon. Can you quietly prepare your brothers and sisters for that night?”

  “I will,” promised the girl, “but where will we be going?”

  “You will see when you get there,” Eulena replied with a smile. “Where will I find those four boys?”

  “There are two-dozen boys all in the same room,” answered the girl. “The four boys are among them. They are two doors down the hall to the left, but the doors are locked.”

  “That will never stop an elven mage,” smiled Eulena. “Remember to keep this secret close to your heart. Failure to do so will deprive many of your parents the joy of seeing you again.”

  The girl nodded silently, and the mage disappeared. The girl watched in awe as a dove appeared on the floor. The bird flapped its wings and flew up to the window in the door. It stuck its head through the bars and peered into the torch-lit corridor. There were no humans visible, and the bird leaped off the window and flew along the hall to the door of the boys’ room. Again it landed in between the bars of the door window and peered into the room. Seeing no one awake, the dove leaped to the floor and transformed into Eulena. The mage sought out the oldest boy and stood next to his bed. With a finger to her lips, she shook the boy awake. The boy gasped in fright as he stared up at the mage.

  “Quiet,” ordered Eulena. “Quietly wake the others.”

  Eulena moved to the door as the boy quietly moved around the room waking his roommates. Each of the boys stared at Eulena as if she were a spirit, but none of them spoke above a whisper. Eulena kept her ears concentrating on the sounds outside the room until all of the boys were awake.

  “My time here is short,” Eulena said softly, “so do not interrupt me with needless questions. On the night of the new moon, you will be rescued from this center. It is important that you do not do anything to alert the guards to what is to come, but you must also be ready to move quickly when the time comes. I have heard that some of you are against the thought of leaving. Who feels this way?”

  No one raised his hand, but Eulena could tell be the glances of the others who the ringleader was. She walked over and stood directly in front of him. “Why do you not want to be rescued?”

  “Why should I want it?” scowled the elven boy. “The Elfwoods is a place of misery. Why should anyone want to go back there?”

  “Our parents gave us up,” snarled another boy. “If they cared for us, we would not even be here.”

  “We can get jobs in Despair,” said a third. “We can be warriors as we were supposed to be.”

  “Who is the fourth?” Eulena asked.

  The three boys who spoke suddenly viewed the elven woman with alarm. It had not occurred to them in their sleepy state that the woman might take offense at their belligerent words.

  “I am the fourth,” stated a younger boy. “I thought the other elf would tell someone about us. Just who are you?”

  “My name is Eulena,” answered the mage. “Have any of you said anything to the guards about the escape?”

  “Escape?” retorted the younger boy. “Do we look like children to you? I do not know what game you are playing, but we are not stupid enough to believe that the Dielderal are coming to rescue us. Why would they?”

  “How could they is more like it,” scowled one of the older boys. “The Dielderal are slaves.”

  “You know too little about your own people,” frowned the mage. “None of your parents willingly gave you up at birth. They were required to, or the soldiers would have killed you and others. Your parents weep every night because of your absence, yet you blame them for not caring.”

  “Are we really being rescued?” asked a young boy.

  “Those who want to be rescued.” Eulena nodded. “For those who do not wish to return to their people, I give you a word of warning. If you speak of this rescue to the guards, you will be committing every other elven child in this building to death. The Federation would rather see you all dead than to have one of you escape.”

  “I don’t believe you,” said the youngest of the four. “This is just some kind of trick to torture our minds.”

  “You think you are wise,” scowled Eulena, “but you will feel foolish two nights from now. At that time, your words will be proven false.” Eulena turned to face the older boys. “You said that the Elfwoods is a place of misery. You are wrong. The Dielderal have long been miserable, but all that has changed recently. For the first time in generations, our people are hopeful for the future. You,” she said as she addressed the other older boy, “said you wanted to be a warrior. Well, the Dielderal are in great need of warriors. Once all of the children are freed, the Dielderal will seek their vengeance on the Federation. You will have your chance to fight. The question you must answer is what side do you wish to fight for? Will you stand with the Federation against your own people?”

  “I wish I could believe you,” frowned the boy who wanted to be a fighter. “I would much rather kill humans, but I doubt your word
s.”

  “All humans are not bad,” cautioned the elven mage. “In fact, there will be humans among those rescuing you. The Dielderal are busy moving out of the Elfwoods. If you doubt my words, you merely have to do nothing. Time will be the proof in itself, but ask yourself why I have taken the time to sneak in here to talk to you.”

  “Who said you snuck in?” retorted the youngest of the four boys. “You probably just unlocked the door and walked in. The guards are probably out in the hall laughing at us.”

  “Try the door,” countered the mage.

  The boy walked to the door and tried to open it. It was still locked. “You probably have the key with you.”

  “I do not have time to stay here and play games with you,” sighed Eulena. “Whether you want to leave or not is up to you, but keep this secret close to your hearts. Failure to do so will haunt you all the days of your life.”

  Without another word, the woman disappeared. In her place was a dove. The bird flew to the window and escaped into the night.

  “Did you see that?” gasped one of the boys. “She’s a mage. We were taught that the Dielderal have no mages.”

  “They obviously lied to us,” said the oldest of the four boys. “I think I believe everything she said.”

  “I do, too,” said another of the four as he glared at the youngest member of the group, “and if anyone says anything to the guards, he will have to answer to me. We are going home.”

  Chapter 37

  Snap of Release

  Kalina opened the door to the suite’s balcony and stepped outside. Garth was already there, the elven scope up to his eye. He did not turn to acknowledge Kalina’s presence, but he knew she was there.

  “The Skate is docking now,” Garth said softly.

  “Right on schedule,” remarked Kalina. “The sun will set within the hour.”

  “And then it begins.” Garth sighed anxiously. “Did you check out the alley?”

  “I did,” replied Kalina. “It is perfect if everything goes well, but very dangerous for both of us if they do not react as we expect them to. There is no way out of the alley if they corner me.”