by Lana Axe
* * * * *
The king had just sat down for dinner when a page burst through the door.
“Your majesty, sir,” the out-of-breath page said as he kneeled on one knee. “Magister Utric has found an answer to your riddle, umm, prophecy, sir. He is gathering his documents and said you can expect him straight away.” The page was still breathing heavily. Obviously, he had run to the king's chambers all the way from the Tower of Learning.
“Thank you for this information, young man. You may go.” Aelryk motioned at his cupbearer to pour him some wine. His appetite had been waning but his thirst had not. He sipped at the wine impatiently.
Once again the door opened, and Aelryk looked up anticipating the magister. However, it was Queen Lisalla who entered the dining room followed closely by her maid.
“Good evening, my lady,” Aelryk said, standing. As she approached, he reached out for her hand and kissed it.
“Good evening, my lord,” she replied as she took a seat at the table. Quickly, the king's cupbearer poured her a glass of wine. She sipped the wine and asked, “Is there any news? I saw the page running in your direction.”
“Yes, I believe there is. I'm just waiting for Magister Utric to make his way here. Supposedly, he has figured out where it is I need to go. With any luck, he has also figured out what it is I need to do.”
“It's a long walk from the tower, dear. Perhaps we should go ahead and eat.” She motioned the servants to bring their dinner. Right away, each of them had a small hen and vegetables placed before them. The queen proceeded to eat, but Aelryk was preoccupied in thought. He sipped at another glass of wine and tapped a finger against the surface of the table.
Finally, Magister Utric arrived accompanied by his apprentice. Both men carried books and scrolls in their arms. “Forgive me, your majesty, for interrupting your meal. I thought you would like to know what I have found immediately.”
“Indeed,” Aelryk said. “Tell me what it is you've found.”
“Of course, majesty. I have found these ancient documents stashed away. I believe they were somehow spared from the great fire that destroyed the Tower of Learning around four hundred years ago. They tell of a land of eternal spring and of a long forgotten group of elves who lived in the area. I believe, based on the description of its location, that it is within the Westerling Vale. The Blue River flows through it and actually has its source in the mountains just above the Vale.”
“You're certain about this?” Queen Lisalla asked. “That is quite a long way to travel.”
“Yes, my lady, I am quite certain. I will of course confer with the other historians, but I didn't want to hesitate to inform his majesty.”
“Thank you, magister. Please gather the others immediately to discuss this finding. Send for Orzi as well.” King Aelryk felt relieved. In his heart, he knew that this was the answer. To the fabled land of the Westerling Elves was where he would be traveling. As a child he had heard tales of them, but they were surely just a myth. These were elves out of legend that had not been seen by any man now living.
Chapter 7
Hammers rang in the darkness as sparkling gems were pulled from the earth. The miners worked without speaking. If the guards caught them chatting during work hours, they were beaten. Those who dropped from exhaustion were taken away and not seen again. Rumors began to spread through the camps that they were being used for experimentation. Some said they were being transformed into monsters. Others said they were being drained of their life essence and used to power dark magic. Whatever the case, the miners preferred not to find out firsthand.
Tu'vad inspected the tables which were covered with small dark gems. Some of them were so small that they would be completely useless once they were cut into the proper shape. Many, however, were large enough to suit his master's needs. Unfortunately, none had yet been discovered that warranted immediate attention. Master Ulda would need some very large gems as well, but they were quite rare.
Tu'vad would simply force the workers to dig deeper and deeper and provide them fewer hours of sleep. That should speed up the process and make his master happy. Tu'vad would not be blamed for the lack of larger gems as long as he was pushing the workers to their limits. Three mines were currently in operation, so with a little luck, larger gems would start turning up soon.
Two female workers began clearing the tables. They sorted the gems by size and placed them in chests. The tiny ones, no doubt, would be ground into dust and used for medicinal purposes. At least, that was their traditional use in Al'marr. The medium sized ones were formerly used for jewelry, but they would soon hold the source of power for Master Ulda's enchantments.
The ladies loaded the chests into carts which would then be taken to the gem cutters. Each gem would be cut and polished to Ulda's precise specifications. The facets had to be just right for the magic to work. A few of the gem cutters had already provided Ulda with perfectly cut gems, and Tu'vad hoped the new cutters would do the same. If not, they wouldn't be given another chance to fail. He would see to them personally.
“Guards,” Tu'vad called. Two guards appeared immediately at his side. “Escort these women and their carts to the jewelers at the palace.”
“Yes, my lord,” one guard replied, and both of them obeyed at once.
Tu'vad walked over to inspect the mining camp. The overnight workers were either sleeping or having a bite to eat. Tu'vad wanted to inspect the food to be sure they weren't overeating. The cook was stirring a stew over the fire as Tu'vad approached. “A heavy stomach makes for a lazy worker,” Tu'vad said. “Add some more water to that stew and only issue half-size slices of bread.”
“But sir, the workers aren't eating enough as is!” the skinny cook protested.
Tu'vad immediately grabbed his throat and pressed his knife under the man's chin. “No one talks back to me. If they do, they die or worse. I'm going to excuse you this once. Disobey me again, and you will have my promise fulfilled.”
He released the shaken cook and proceeded towards the camp guards.
“I want every tent searched daily for stolen gems. Anyone caught stealing is to be bound and dragged to the palace dungeons.”
“As you command, my lord,” one of the guards said.
Tu'vad decided that being in charge of the mines wasn't so bad. He would continue to prove useful to Master Ulda, and in time, he would be the richest man in Al'marr. Power was well and good, but he didn't want the responsibility of running the entire nation. Ulda could have that. Tu'vad wanted gold, land, women, and servants to obey him when he spoke. His life could only get better from here.
* * * * *
Ulda stood over a large metal table with an orb in the center. What had once been the king's sitting room was now Ulda's laboratory. Here he could create enchantments much stronger than any carved runes. Runes had their purpose, but with the gems and essences of his victims, Ulda's powers of enchantment had greatly increased.
Extracting the essences of humans is rather easy. Their souls are young and separated from the world around them because they have very little connection with the earth. However, if Ulda could successfully bind the spirits of elves, he would be unstoppable. An elven essence could power frighteningly strong enchantments, but those experiments would have to wait. He had not yet perfected his technique to extract the essence of elves.
There were stories of Telorithan, a sorcerer from the Sunswept Isles, who had managed to bind the essence of a fire spirit. No other living being had ever managed to bind an elemental. Ulda wasn't sure if the stories could possibly be true. If they were, this sorcerer would have immense power. Perhaps someday Ulda would learn from him.
At this point, he was content using human essences. The power he derived from them could be the key to collecting the more powerful souls of elves. That was his goal for now.
A knock came from his door. “Master Ulda, my lord,” a voice said from the other side. “I bring freshly cut and polished gems for you, sir.”
An old man carrying a wooden chest entered the room. He kept his head bowed and awaited instructions.
“Lay it there on the table and leave,” Ulda said, pointing at the table in the far corner.
The old man bowed, placed the chest on the table, and turned to leave.
“Wait,” Ulda commanded.
The old man froze and turned to face him.
“Have you been a jeweler all of your life?” Ulda asked.
“Yes, majesty. I have shaped stones since I was a very young man.”
“Excellent,” Ulda said. “You can personally inspect all of the gems before they're brought to me. It is tedious work that I don't have time for myself. I will trust you to do this, and if I find any problems, I'll know who to punish. You're dismissed.”
“Yes, sir. Thank you.” The old man bowed again and left the room.
The old man was afraid of him, and that gave Ulda pleasure. Fear is a powerful emotion and seems to make a human consciousness easier to bind. Torment works well too. If he left a victim in agony before extracting their essence, the work seemed to go much easier. This bit of knowledge might help him graduate to binding elves. Elves, however, are not easily made afraid, and they can withstand greater amounts of physical pain. On the other hand, mental anguish works just as well, and elven peoples tend to feel more deeply for the things around them.
That did not apply to all elves, of course, as Ulda himself could care less for others. He preferred being left alone to his studies and had little use for companionship. The humans and elves around him served their intended purposes, and he required no more from them. Among his kind, the Enlightened Elves, friendship was not necessary. Knowledge of the arcane sciences was prized above all else. Ulda's intention was to become the most knowledgeable and powerful sorcerer of them all.
Chapter 8
“Adda!” young Alyra shouted as she ran down the hill towards her father.
“Hello there, my sweet,” River said as the little girl reached him.
She threw her arms around him and squeezed tightly. After a moment, she released him and sat on the intricately carved bench next to him. Here, under the boughs of a weeping willow, was River's favorite place to sit and think. Within the gardens near his home that overlook the Blue River, he would peacefully sit for many hours.
Alyra, his youngest daughter, was a beautiful dark-haired child with features similar to her father’s. Her blue dress was dirty at the hem, most likely due to some make believe adventure. Escaping from her lessons had become a hobby of hers. She liked to sneak away and make the short, but epic in her mind, journey to sit with her father beneath the willow tree.
“What did you learn today, little one?” River asked.
“I learned that when Miss Hilla is reading histories aloud, she doesn't look up in time to see me sneak away.”
River smiled.
Silently, they sat together in the beautiful spring weather of the Vale. Birds sang, and the wind blew softly through the trees. The river rushed softly along, filling the air with the scent of water.
Afternoon wore on and Lenora entered the gardens to find her life mate and youngest child. Alyra waved cheerily as she saw her mother approach. She stopped waving, and a guilty look came across her face as she saw Miss Hilla following closely behind her mother.
“There you are, my sneaky child,” Miss Hilla said. Her kind eyes danced as she looked at the girl. It was impossible to be angry with the child just for showing spirit.
“Alyra, you owe Miss Hilla an apology for sneaking away. It was very impolite,” Lenora said. “Now go with her and finish up your lessons for the day.”
Alyra stood and started walking towards Hilla. Suddenly, she stopped, turned on her heels, and ran back to River. She hugged him tightly, and he kissed her forehead. He smiled as she walked away with Hilla.
As he stood, he kissed his life mate's hand and asked, “Shall we walk in the gardens, my love?”
“I'd love to,” she replied, taking him by the arm.
Together they strolled along the path leading through the gardens. Blue, purple, and yellow flowers bloomed all along the path. Trees covered with white and pink flowers swayed softly in the breeze. The air was filled with the intoxicating mix of these fragrant blossoms. Yellow butterflies fluttered lazily on the wind.
'Tell me, my dear,” Lenora said. “Has there been any news of the intruders in the woodlands?”
“Rogin and his troops have increased patrols. They are searching further into the forest than usual. Some strange tracks have also been seen, but no other sign of the creatures has been found. Still, we must be vigilant.”
They took a path leading off to the left and down to the river. Lenora sat on a bench overlooking the water. River knelt in front of her.
“Lenora, my love, the attack on the dryad was not the work of a naturally occurring creature. Some dark magic has conjured them and is using them for an evil purpose. Through my visions, I have seen that it was an attempt to trap her essence. The creature wanted to kidnap her, not kill her. She fought much too strongly to allow herself to be carried away.”
Lenora sat silent, stunned. Her eyes widened and she took a deep breath. Her golden hair blew gently in the breeze. After a moment, she spoke. “Is it possible to bind a dryad's essence? And what could someone do with it if they succeeded?”
“I do not truly know. Dryads are born of the woods themselves. It would be like binding the essence of a tree. I'm not sure it is possible, but if someone is trying with creatures...,” he broke off and looked at the ground.
“They are most likely planning to try with people too,” Lenora finished. “Or perhaps they are already doing such a thing.”
“I fear these new creatures have been conjured by binding the essences of men,” River said. “I know of no other way to create a new species. This is very powerful magic, and the world of men will not know how to combat it.”
“Do you think they will come looking for us? It's been centuries since we have had any contact with them.”
“I have seen it, my love. They will come. They need us.”
“Well,” Lenora said. “Let's hope they treat us better than they do the Young Ones. I'm not inclined to trust them, and I am glad your magic has kept them away so long. Our people are better for it.”
“Nevertheless, I know they cannot defeat this enemy alone. If they were to fall, this evil would spread to us next. I do not know if my magic could keep it away. I do not know what we are facing.”
“Let's sit a while and forget these troubles, dear,” she said as she patted the bench next to her.
River took a seat and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. She leaned her golden head on his chest and closed her eyes.
Chapter 9
Morning arrived and Mel and Thinal were ready to head out. The summer air was mild, and the sun's rays shone softly through the trees above. They stood at the edge of their village facing north into the dense forest.
“If they're late, I'm going back to bed, “ Mel said.
He looked over his shoulder and saw Loren, Mi'tal, and their two guards heading down the path.
“Damn,” Mel said with a sigh.
Thinal smiled at him and adjusted the scabbard on her back which held her two-handed sword. She slung her cross-body sack over her left shoulder, making sure the strap was clear of her sword. She did not expect to have need of the blade anytime soon, but she liked to be prepared in any case.
“I could pick them off from here,” Mel said, holding his bow.
The pair laughed. Mel stared impatiently as the group approached.
“Good morning to you both,” Mi'tal said. “I don't believe you've met Byord and Oli.” He gestured to the two guards. They nodded, Thinal smiled, and Mel stared at them blankly.
“There's no chance you'll let us bring our horses?” Loren asked.
“The lady can share mine,” Byord said, a broad grin ap
pearing on his face.
“Remind me to punch you in the throat later,” Mel said. “Tracking from a horse in these woods is nearly impossible. You'll miss half the signs and trample over the rest. Do whatever the hell you want with your horses. I'm going on foot.”
“We have stabled our horses, and they will be well looked after here with your clansmen,” Mi'tal replied. “My friend Loren is a bit overweight, but he will manage the walk.”
Loren looked annoyed but remained silent.
“Let's get to it then,” Thinal said as she turned and headed out into the woods.
“I would like to head to the border village of Enald. There may be some news of the creatures there,” Mi'tal said.
“I know the village,” Mel replied. “We've traded there for many years. It's only about a day and a half walk from here. No one has gone that way for weeks, so any strange tracks should be easy to spot.”
“Thank you,” Mi'tal said. “How do you find the trading at Enald?”
“The people are fair. We usually bring leathers, furs, and nuts. Some of my clansmen trade trinkets, crafts, and bone tools.”
“Mel likes to trade for spices,” Thinal broke in. “He likes the hot ones.” Smiling, she nudged him with her elbow.
“Yes, I do, and I'm not interested in their tobacco or jewels,” Mel looked at her and smiled. “Or in their sweets.”
“I also like their pretty cloth,” Thinal said. “They always have very pretty hair trinkets too, but they're just a bit too delicate for me.”
Mel stopped walking and pointed to a small broken branch. “A deer passed this way about an hour ago. He would have been good for dinner, but he's headed west, not north.”
They walked on throughout the morning. Just after mid-day, they came upon a small clearing.
“Might we stop a moment and have a bite to eat?” Loren asked.
“Seems like a good place,” Thinal said as she removed her bag and sat on a fallen log. She reached into the bag and brought out a handful of dry seeds. She popped one in her mouth and offered them to Mel. He took one, chewed it, and stood up.
