A Story Of River

by Lana Axe

  Mi'tal stared at River in amazement. “How did you do that?” he asked.

  “There is water everywhere. I just asked it to join us.”

  “It is much appreciated,” Aelryk said.

  There was little time for hunting, so the travelers began eating the trail rations they had brought for themselves. Perhaps the opportunity for better food would present itself later. For now, they were content just to have full bellies.

  Mel took a seat next to River and asked, “Do you have the gift of foresight?”

  “The Spirit shows me things when there is something I should see,” River replied.

  “Tell me the truth,” Mel said. “Will we make it to my village in time?”

  “We will make it in time to save many lives. However, we will not arrive at our destination before our enemy does.”

  Mel nodded and remained silent.

  Chapter 31

  Ulda's army of over ten thousand men and elves stood gathered before him in the courtyard. General Fru stood at his side. Ulda had decided it was best not to bind Fru, since he needed the general's military expertise. He didn't want to interfere with military strategies, and Fru's insight may come in useful in battle.

  “Soldiers!” Ulda called from his balcony. “You will be the fiercest army Nōl'Deron has ever seen. You will demolish your foes, and you will show no fear!”

  The men cheered in response. They had no idea what fate awaited them. For now, they were inspired by their leader and his seemingly glowing compliments of their skill.

  “Soon we will set sail for Na'zora,” Ulda continued. “We will crush their armies and lay siege to their royal palace. When we have finished, Na'zora and Al'marr will be one kingdom.”

  Again the crowd cheered. Ulda lifted the oval-shaped amethyst above his head and began chanting as he stared into the gem. His necklace flashed, giving him the extra power he required to accomplish such an astounding feat of magic.

  Suddenly, his troops began to feel intense pain throughout their bodies. Many of them doubled over, while others fell to their knees.

  Someone cried, “He's killing us!”

  Fear spread throughout the ranks. Some of them ran towards the gates, but they had been locked tightly. They were made of thick metal which was nearly impossible to break through, and they were far too tall to climb.

  Their fear helped power Ulda's enchantment. It was just the extra boost he needed to facilitate this incredibly difficult spell. As the people below him worked themselves into a frenzy, Ulda continued to chant. A loud boom and a blinding flash emitted from the gem, drawing the attention of the terrified soldiers below. A soft purple light spread over the crowd, and silence and calm overcame them. Ulda had succeeded.

  He lowered the gem and clutched it close to his chest. Bending forward slightly, he leaned against the front rail of his balcony. The magical drain was exhausting. Never before had he performed such an immense magical task.

  “Are you alright, your highness?” General Fru asked.

  “Yes, but I need to rest,” he replied. “Send a small group to attack the Wild Elves of Viera. Elven souls will come in very useful when we invade Na'zora.”

  “Right away, my lord,” Fru replied.

  Ulda headed back inside to his throne room. He placed the gem on his seat cushion and decided to return to his quarters to rest. Sleep came over him instantly as he lay down upon his bed.

  * * * * *

  Morning arrived, and Ulda realized he had slept away almost an entire day. Having regained his magical prowess, he felt rejuvenated. His energy level high, he headed back to his throne room. General Fru was already waiting for him.

  “General,” Ulda said. “What news?”

  Fru bowed before his king. “Your majesty, a small group has been sent to attack the elves as you requested. I have some plans for the invasion ready for your review.” He laid a scroll on the small wooden table next to Ulda's throne.

  “Is there anything else?” Ulda asked.

  “There is one matter, my lord,” he began. “It has come to my attention that there is a substantial store of gold being kept hidden from your majesty.”

  “Yes, Tu'vad is mining some gold for me. So far, he has not reported finding anything substantial.”

  “My lord, this is a quantity that has already been mined. It is stored within a cellar near the fourth gem mine.”

  “What are you saying, Fru?” Ulda's eyes narrowed as he scooted forward in his seat. “Are you saying that Tu'vad has betrayed me?”

  “Unfortunately, it would seem so,” Fru replied. “The miners have been finding gold for weeks now and refining it secretly under Tu'vad's orders.”

  “Bring him to me,” Ulda said flatly.

  Within minutes, Tu'vad stood before him. “My lord, how may I serve you,” he said.

  “You can bring me the gold you've been hiding from me,” Ulda said.

  Tu'vad glanced at Fru, who raised an eyebrow inquisitively. “There is only the gold I've mined for you, your majesty. Nothing has been hidden.”

  “Really?” Ulda said. “You haven't had a secret stockpile set aside in a cellar? You didn't order the miners to silence? So far, you have claimed only to find dust!”

  “Your majesty, I can explain-,” Tu'vad began desperately.

  “Guards!” Ulda interrupted. “Take him to my laboratory and have the Soulbinders administer my potion. I will show this traitor what happens to those who steal from me!” He turned to General Fru and said, “I should have known better than to trust the man who betrayed his own king. How could I expect him to be loyal to me?”

  “I am sorry, your majesty,” Fru said.

  “He will never disobey me again,” Ulda said. “Have all of the gold melted and we shall dip the traitor inside it. I will bind his will and have a soldier of pure gold. With the souls of a few citizens, I can enchant his golden armor with the strength of steel. He will be my prized soldier.”

  “As you command, my lord.” General Fru bowed and headed straight for the refinery. The men inside were already hard at work preparing the gold to Tu'vad's specifications. “Halt whatever you're doing,” Fru commanded. “All of the gold is to be melted down immediately.” The workers scrambled to obey.

  Having swallowed Ulda's potion without a fight, Tu'vad was dragged into the refinery followed by Ulda. “Please, my lord,” Tu'vad shouted. He flailed wildly trying to free himself from the guards.

  Ulda began to chant and held forth a medium sized purple gem. As Tu'vad's will came under his master's control, he stopped struggling and stood calmly. “Release him,” Ulda told the guards. “He will never again try to escape. Is the gold ready?”

  “Yes, your majesty,” Fru replied.

  “Let's hope my potion is enough to keep this one alive for the procedure. Tu'vad, I order you to bathe yourself in the melted gold.” Tu'vad obeyed without any sign of hesitation. The potion did its job to protect his skin, and he was not burned by the molten metal. He emerged, and the metal began to cool.

  “Remarkable,” Ulda said in amazement. “Now it's only a matter of enchanting the gold. I will have to repair any problems with his movement, and he will certainly need to be strengthened. This may take a few days, but I believe he will be the most spectacular soldier that ever existed.” He turned to face his general. “Take him to my lab and have my Soulbinders tend to him,” he said. “Oh, and see that five or six prisoners or whoever else is at hand are taken to them as well. They are going to need souls to complete this task.”

  “Yes, my lord,” Fru replied. He hurried to complete his master's instructions. He had seen what became of those who were disobedient, and he had no desire to join Tu'vad in disgrace.

  Ulda beamed as he headed back to his lab. His new soldier would make an excellent addition to his army. If nothing else, his very presence would strike terror in the hearts of his enemy. The invasion of Na'zora could not come soon enough. The anticipation induced a wild ecstasy in Ulda.

&n
bsp; As he entered the lab, he called out to his Soulbinders, “A golden gift is coming! It is your task to make it useful in battle.”

  His students bowed in reply. Ulda checked the orb on his table, and noticed a faint blue glow. “What is this?” he asked. He was answered with silence. “No one is using this?”

  “No, your majesty,” a fair-haired Soulbinder replied.

  Ulda peered into the orb, and placed his hands on either side of its smooth surface. Inside, he saw water. It flowed down from the mountains and splashed to the rocks below. For miles and miles it flowed, undaunted by the forests and fields. It sped on until it reached the palace of Na'zora. Ulda looked up from his orb, his face grave. “A water elemental has joined forces with Na'zora,” he said. “How is this possible?”

  The Soulbinders did not respond. They looked from one to the other and shrugged, not knowing what to say.

  “If only I had a large sapphire!” Ulda cried. “I could attempt to bind its essence. What an amazing source of power that would be!” He rushed from the room to visit his jeweler. If only a sapphire large enough could be located, Ulda's chief desire would be fulfilled.

  Chapter 32

  For days the company journeyed on. Their pace was slowed as the forests of the Wildlands became denser. Mel was able to create safe paths for the horses, but he could do nothing to remedy the tightly packed trees that hindered their passage.

  Near sunset, they reached an area next to a small marshland. The cypress trees grew tall, and the scent of wet timber filled the air. The summer's heat lay heavily around them. The marsh flies buzzed past as they sought their dinner, and the mosquitoes whined as they carefully chose the most tender places to bite.

  Aelryk slapped at a mosquito as it bit into the back of his neck. The only one who seemed unaffected by their presence was River. “Why don't these little blood suckers like you?” Aelryk asked.

  “It's as you said,” he replied. “They suck blood, not water.”

  Aelryk eyed him curiously but swallowed the question that was on the tip of his tongue. Some things were better left a mystery, he decided.

  “There's enough dry wood here for a fire,” Mel said. “We can throw on some damp logs to create smoke. That will help drive the mosquitoes away.”

  Though it did not show outwardly, Mel's mind was in deep torment. He knew it was impossible to travel any faster, but he feared how many of his clansmen might lose their lives before he could reach them.

  “Do you think there are any edible fish in that pond?” Mi'tal asked.

  “I'm sure they would taste awful,” Mel replied. “You might catch a frog or two, though.”

  Mi'tal looked away slightly disgusted. The smell of the marsh combined with the thought of eating a slimy frog did not sit well with his stomach.

  Mel harvested some tubers and distributed them among the group. They were crunchy and offered little flavor, but at least they had the freshness that their trail rations lacked.

  As evening fell, the noise from the marsh became almost overbearing. The frogs competed for who could sing the loudest, and the crickets chirped incessantly. As the chorus reached a crescendo, Aelryk could no longer ignore it.

  “Tell of us the dwarves, Lord River,” he said. “A good story will help drive away the noise.”

  “What do you wish to know?” River asked.

  “For starters, I assume they truly exist. You mentioned two of your children were visiting them. To us, the dwarves are as much a fairy tale as you once were.”

  “They live in the mountains above the Vale,” River began. “They're a hard-working, industrious people who mostly keep to themselves. They rarely have dealings with the outside world. Men seldom prefer their mountainous climate, so they are typically left in peace.”

  “Have you ever visited them,” Mel asked.

  “Yes, many years ago,” he replied. “I was much younger then.”

  “What are they like?” Willdor asked. “Are they really as unfriendly and boorish as the tales make them out to be?”

  “They were not unfriendly to me, but I was able to offer them a bit of assistance. They do not often welcome strangers, but they are not a hostile people.” River thought silently for a moment. “They are good people. They live in massive stone halls and enjoy a thick, brown ale. If you are ever given the opportunity to visit with them, I would advise you to take it. I receive them as guests from time to time, and I hope to make the journey to the mountains again someday.”

  Sunset was swift in the dense forest, and darkness quickly followed. Despite the noise coming from the marsh, the company began preparing their bedrolls in hopes of getting a few hours sleep. River sat alone, looking into the fire. After several moments of trying to find a comfortable branch, Mel gave up and descended from the tree. He joined River by the fire.

  “How is your magic progressing?” River asked.

  “The dryads seem to think I'm doing well,” he replied. “It still takes a lot of effort.”

  “In time it will be second nature,” River said. “You've only just begun to unlock your gift. Patience is difficult in your current situation, but you are not alone in this fight. With a word, you've managed to change the plans of a human king. That's a sort of magic in itself.”

  “I didn't actually expect him to come,” Mel replied. “I hoped your people would send aid, and you have. I never thought any humans, let alone a king, would care what happens to my people.”

  “Perhaps this king is different,” River offered.

  “Thirty years ago he led the Na'zoran armies against us. He is responsible for hundreds of dead elves.”

  “Then perhaps it is time he made amends. We change as we grow older, Mel. You may be too young to understand that, but you are already changing yourself. I doubt you thought you would unlock your magical gifts along this journey.”

  “I didn't even know I had any magical ability,” he said. “I also didn't expect to lose Thinal or that my village would be attacked.” From the corner of his eye, Mel noticed movement near the marsh. He looked back at River, who was also looking toward the marsh.

  “I've never seen a cypress dryad,” River said. “Shall we go and have a look?”

  They walked quietly toward the marsh, avoiding the sleeping bodies in their path. Silhouetted in the moonlight, they saw the figure of a dryad crossing the marsh. Aware of their presence, she changed directions to greet the pair. She moved silently, despite being ankle deep in the murky water. Her reddish-brown skin was covered in patches of bright green moss. Her hair was silver and reached far below her waist.

  “She's beautiful,” Mel commented.

  River nodded and replied, “She is a guardian of the woods. You are a shaman, her kinsman.”

  She approached the pair, and a warm smile spread across her face. “Welcome, Mel,” she said. “It is an honor to meet you.” She extended a hand to him. “Lord of Waters,” she said, nodding to River in acknowledgement.

  “Good evening, my lady,” he replied.

  “What brings you two here?” she asked.

  “We are returning home from the Vale,” Mel said. “My people are in danger.”

  “That is troubling news,” she replied. “Please have a seat.” She gestured to a fallen log.

  A mist began to settle over the marsh. The particles flashed as they caught the moonlight. They shifted and swirled in some exotic dance despite the stillness of the air. The lightning bugs floated lazily above the mist, flashing their yellow beacons carelessly.

  “Your mind is troubled,” the dryad said sympathetically.

  “Yes,” Mel replied.

  “I think I have something that can help you.” She rose and headed back into the marsh, disappearing inside a cypress. When she emerged, she held a small pouch in her hands. “The heartwood of a cypress,” she said. “This will ease your burden, and your magic will flow more freely.” She hung the pouch around his neck with a small string of beard moss.

  Mel immediately
felt its empowering effects. His weariness faded away, and he felt as if he had already had a good night's sleep. “I'm most grateful to you,” he said, touching his hand to the pouch.

  “We are creatures of the forest,” she replied. “We must stand together in times of need. Call on the dryads of Viera. They can help you.” She headed back out into her marsh, turning once to wave goodbye to her new friends. The mist thickened, and she disappeared within the dense cloud. River clasped Mel on the back, and the pair returned silently to camp.

  Chapter 33

  At dawn the company once again mounted their horses and proceeded hastily to the Forests of Viera. Mel's heart was still burdened, but the dryad's gift had filled him with hope. Each step brought him closer to his homeland and saving the lives of his kin.

  As they pressed onward through the heat of the day, Mel projected energy to invigorate the horses and give them the stamina to continue. Though domesticated, their ancestors had roamed freely through the Wildlands. He tapped into the untamed spirit that still dwelt deep inside the noble creatures.

  At mid-day the sun's heat was oppressive. The company was forced to stop for fear of overheating the horses. River produced another fountain to provide drink, and lifting his face towards the sky, he called down a gentle mist to cool his companions. It felt as soft and cool as the rain in the Vale. It was a very welcome relief for the weary travelers.

  The following morning offered much-needed relief in the form of cloud cover. The sun's rays were blocked, and the riders continued more comfortably than they dared hope. Mel's village lay just ahead. As they approached, cries could be heard in the distance, and smoke was rising over the tree line.

  The Westerling Elf troop headed to the front and took on a charge formation. Isandra led the way as they galloped into the village. Two sorcerers mounted atop wildcats commanded more than thirty wolfbeasts and at least twenty spiders. Elves were running through the village to get to their weapons. A few of them were already fighting, and those who could not fight were fleeing in a panic.