Talon

by Alice Wade

  * * * *

  Faelwen and her team were concealed in the shadows of the building. They pressed close to the wall remaining hidden behind large storage crates that blocked their detection. All around, stock hands that were moving about so staying hidden was key.

  “Where are these vampires that Talon said would be around?” Tucag asked.

  She turned to look at her warrior. She was going to need this fair-skinned, fair-haired elf. “I don’t know. Keep your focus sharp. They are probably lurking.”

  Nethlhindornien shimmied up to her and touched her shoulder, using his head to motion towards an open window higher up. It was opened to catch the evening breeze, but large enough for them to fit through. “I could try it, Faelwen.”

  She reached out and mentally searched the area around for any creature larger than a mouse. There were only three that she encountered and one of the others was Athradien. “I can sense three beings. One of them is not a threat. He is patrolling the far side of the building, but I can’t get a clear placement of the other one.”

  Nethlhindornien switched his gaze from the open window back to Faelwen. “You said three. Where’s the third?”

  “Athradien. He’s inside almost directly beneath this window. It must be opened for him.”

  The larger male growled softly. “Bastards. This is their twisted way of making him comfortable, no doubt. I’m going in.”

  Faelwen touched his arm. “Be careful. Talon said there are wards concealed in not so obvious places. I bet that window is a trap.”

  He snorted. “I already feel the ward. It is Athradien’s doing; I know how to disarm it. He trained me, so there is not spell of his I can’t detect.”

  “Just be careful. We need you.”

  He smiled at her teasingly, “Don’t miss me too much. I won’t be gone long.” He winked and scaled the side of the building.

  He paused at the window for a fraction of a breath before he slipped through. “It’s clear. Follow one at a time and we can find locations inside.”

  One by one, the twelve elves scaled the same wall and slipped inside. It was dark, rank and reeked of mildew from being closed up year round. All around where walls of crates in varying states of decay. Some looked ready to crumble at the slightest breath and others looked newly stored.

  Faelwen resisted the urge to sneeze and scurried off to squat down near Nethlhindornien off to the right of where they entered. “He’s there. Behind that door,” Nethlhindornien said. He turned his head and looked behind, then up to the window. Everyone inside?”

  “Yes, we’re all in.”

  Nethlhindornien looked back to the door. “I don’t trust this. Not one bit. That was too easy.”

  She nodded her head and touched his arm. “We are elves. We will be ready for whatever these varmints throw at us.”

  Pride filled his chest as he listened to her, and he gathered himself for whatever would come. He knew one thing though—he would not leave this building without his leader, even if it meant his own death. He would not leave Athradien in these creatures’ hands for one more moment. “Let’s go. We’re wasting time.”

  There was a horrible screeching sound as some sort of alarm was triggered. Nethlhindornien looked around and spied a small cat off to the right cleaning itself near the entrance. It wore around its neck an amulet, one that he recognized immediately as a ward of heat. Its sole purpose would be to measure the heat in whatever location it has been placed, and trigger the alarm if the temperature increased one degree.

  “Damn! I should have realized he’d do something like this. Prepare yourselves!” He yelled into all their heads. Faelwen stood from behind the crate and cast a bubble of air to cocoon the creature, blocking any further readings. The cat screeched and clawed at the invisible barrier.

  Nethlhindornien charged the door, crashing into the wood frame and bouncing back. “Barred on the inside. I can feel the steel on the bar holding it closed.”

  Faelwen moved quickly and signaled to Tucag to join them. “Get through this now,” she ordered.

  Tucag touched the door, measuring its thickness, build, and lock, then stood back. A purple haze bled from the cracks and drifted upward towards the ceiling.

  Time slowed for the elves before they were under attack.

  Two vampires whirled into the scene and slammed into Tucag with such force the thin warrior flew fifty feet away. He was unconscious but alive. In a movement that was too fast to see, giving the appearance of a blur, they both struck again. This with Nethlhindornien and Faelwen as the targets.

  Faelwen thought quickly on her feet and a wall of impregnable air appeared. This shielded them from the attack, sending the vampires flying back about as far as Tucag has flown. The force of that collision sent a shock wave through the building, rattling a few of the decrepit crates.

  “Nicely done, Faelwen.” Nethlhindornien commented before he turned to check the spell Tucag had cast. The wood was warping and shrinking, slowly disintegrating into piles of dust at their feet. Through the hole both warriors saw a stunned Athradien sitting up in bed, watching with terrified and very swollen eyes.

  “Go!” Faelwen ordered. “I’ll hold them back.”

  More elves appeared and stood beside and behind Faelwen, enhancing her spell, keeping their barrier intact. Two other elves stalked forward with curved swords, both with calm demeanors. The way their heads tilted to the side and the lazy hold on their swords gave them a dangerous, savage appearance. Both vampires recovered and crouched, hissing like cornered cats as the two elves approached. They weren’t prepared for elves; stupid humans yes, but not this. Between them, they passed a cautious look indicated that this was an opponent that they were not sure they could fight off without assistance.

  One of them flicked his arm with a clicking and a dagger went flying straight at the elf to the right.

  He saw it laughed wickedly while he stepped easily to the side and chanted a word, causing the dagger to freeze mid-air at his eye level. The look on the vampires face was priceless, bringing on a smirk which made chanting the second word difficult. He accomplished it and stood back to watch the effect. The dagger glowed white, turned 180 degrees and shot off toward the assaulting vampire as if launched from a crossbow. It hit him right between the eyes. It happened so fast that the vampire didn’t know what happened. That white glow spread, dragging an agonized scream from the vampire as the elven magic raced across his body and within seconds, he was dead.

  The second vampire watched all this with stuck motionless with terror. What just happened shouldn’t be possible for that blade was worked with enchantments to be harmless to vampires of their coven. The fact it did awoke a primal fear that they were faced with the magic of the elves in addition to their insane fighting skills. He was outmatched.

  Then he took another look at his opponents. Tall, lean, angelic creatures with their freakish pointed ears. “Elves!” He suddenly shouted through his mind link to a few of the coven, Kaen included. “Elves are attacking the warehouse!”

  He didn’t get much time to say anything else. There was an elf approaching him from behind in stealth. Before the vampire could think another thought or take another breath, the elf grabbed his hair at the crown in a smooth motion and yanked back. His other hand slit his throat, discarding the vampire to writhe in agony as the elven magic consumed him.

  Faelwen watched with pride as her two most skilled warriors easily dispatched the vampires. Her wall dropped and she rushed to assist Nethlhindornien as he tried to unbind their friend.

  She touched his face tenderly before she did anything, though, “Athradien?”

  His head listed in the direction of her voice, “Faelwen?” His speech was mumbled for his mouth was swollen like his eyes. He dared not hope. This could be a game but it didn’t stop the single tear from escaping.

/>   “Aye, my friend. We’ve come to take you home.”

  It was real. They had come. Athradien sobbed and tried to help them, but his injuries were severe. His movement caused him to cough, spitting out a mouthful of blood. The look of despair on his face said it all. He was useless and he knew it.

  Faelwen touched Nethlhindornien’s arm for him to cease trying to work the locks and waved her wrist. Nothing happened. The locks binding Athradien were set by his own hand and her magic didn’t work. Working metal wasn’t her strength. She couldn’t get him free, but a look at her companion saw he still evaluated the device closely. He hadn’t given up.

  “I’ve been trying to determine what he did but can’t see what he did,” he hissed.

  “Remember cattails?” Athradien mumbled, trying to keep himself upright without assistance, but Faelwen lent a hand for him to lean on. “Can’t cast spell…too weak,” he whispered.

  Nethlhindornien’s face brightened with understanding and suddenly the metal locks fell off in one unified snap, dropping to the planked flooring in a clatter. “You’re clever, Ath, very clever. I would have missed that.”

  Faelwen watched the doorway, “I think those vampires called for help, so we need to get him out of here.” She realized that meant now and knew the only way was to teleport him. “Adwen, I need you in here now.”

  Within a heartbeat, the larger elf appeared and took in the scene in one breath. “Take him to Cuilwen. Now.” Faelwen ordered knowing he was the only elf in their company at the moment that could teleport.

  Adwen gracefully and with extreme care, draped Athradien over his shoulder and turned back to look at Faelwen. “What about you?”

  “We’ll be fine. Go!”

  Adwen nodded sadly, realizing he could be leaving his friends to their death and disappeared. Nethlhindornien sighed now that Athradien was rescued, but they were not yet safe. They had a fight on their hands if a call was indeed made.

  The sound of defensive spells exploded within the warehouse, causing them to duck in reflex. As one they spun just as the crates topped in a horrendous avalanche. The contents shattered amongst the debris and sent shards of pottery, metal and glass flying in all directions.

  Nethlhindornien looked to his colleague and grinned in anticipation, “Looks like the fun has arrived. Shall we go show these vampires why they shouldn’t dance with elves?”

  She returned his grin showing her teeth, “By all means, lead the way.” Together they strolled as if going for a casual walk out of the room and walked right into the fight, smoothly engaging in the battle that waged just outside the door. Around them it was chaos, but the two of them didn’t even notice. They only saw their targets and ignored the debris and tangled bodies that wrestled for control.

  There were twenty-five vampires attacking. It would appear that the odds were in their favor, but Faelwen knew better. They fought a small band of elves and which made it an uneven fight. With a wicked snort, she assessed this was child’s play.

  The vampires had no chance. Faelwen and her men cut them down in a matter of minutes using a combination of spells and enchanted weapons that the vampires had no defenses for. She stood in the center of the room, surveying the charred bodies that littered the floor. It was done. Now they could get out of here.

  * * * *

  Cuilwen had just closed her door after Dace left when Adwen’s yell blasted through her mind, “Cuilwen! I have Athradien!”

  She practically flew down the stairs to the largest of the halls in this building and found a group huddled around the couch. She sucked in a breath when she pushed her way through and saw her friend for the first time.

  He still had the collar and chain around his neck.

  Her anger flared when she leaned down to see about rectifying that and get that damn leash off his neck.

  “Cuilwen?” his tortured voice was barely audible, but she stopped and looked at him. “I feel you, is that you?”

  Emotions she’d been shielding behind her anger finally broke free and a saddened sob ripped from her throat. Cuilwen sobbed hard while she touched his face, careful not to cause any more pain by that gentle caress. “Aye my friend. It’s me.”

  “Cuilwen,” he said again in utter relief before he passed out.

  She wiped her face then looked up to see Talon standing there with Dace at his side, “Where can I put him? I need to perform a healing. I need a quiet space, preferably away from the main hallway.”

  Dace nodded, “Follow me.”

  Cuilwen was about to collect Athradien in her arms when Talon touched her shoulder halting her immediately. “Allow me, First Maiden.” With an emotional nod, she moved aside while she supervised Talon’s collection and followed closely behind maintaining contact on Athradien at all times by either touching his dangling hand or caressing his matted hair.

  No one spoke while Talon climbed the stairs. The only sounds of their passage were the sounds of their light feet or an occasional sob from Cuilwen. She had not mastered her emotions yet.

  The room was small, dark but clean. There was a bed and a couch but not much else. Dace looked around and met Cuilwen’s eye. “It’s close to the bathing room. You should have easy access to water. I’ll have more blankets and supplies brought up to get him cleaned up in here though.” He paused. “What else can I do?”

  “Nothing. I just need time to do the healing.” Then she had a thought. “Actually, food. I’ll need to replenish my strength for this is going to take everything I have.”

  “Immediately. I’ll be right back,” Turning to leave, Dace finally saw the horde that had followed her up, “Everyone out except Cuilwen and Talon. Out!” He hollered when no one moved and had them all scrambling out of the tiny room and the hallway. “If you need me, let me know. I’ll have someone posted outside the door to run any messages.”

  The First Maiden touched her forehead before turning back to Athradien who still lay unconscious on the bed. “Thank you.”

  Her attention focused on the collar and when she saw what Athradien had done to close it, she hissed, swearing in her own tongue. “I can’t break this. I need Nethlhindornien. He knows Ath’s spells better than anyone and this is cleverly set.” The distress in her eyes said it all.

  Talon squatted down next to her to see what she was looking at. It was complex but he could see the lines of power that locked the metal in place. It was a puzzle, one he and Athradien used to play when they were younger to trick each other. “I think I can do this.”

  “What?”

  “He used a puzzle spell that he’s tried on me numerous times. I always could unravel them, so give me a second.”

  Cuilwen held her breath and hoped Talon was right. He was better at these complex spells than she, even though her strength was greater now that she’d fully developed.

  “Breathe,” Talon said while he worked at the collar spell. “I’m almost done.”

  She exhaled loudly and released the air she’d been holding, sitting back on her heels to wait until she heard the click of the catch and jumped forward to rip the damn thing off his neck.

  In a savage throw, she flung the collar and metal leash across the room with such force that it shattered a small section of wood that lined the wall.

  Her attention turned back to her friend. “He’s been repeatedly beaten.” Her hand hovered over his body and traveled from his face all the way to his toes. “Five broken ribs, internal bleeding and he has a very serious head injury.”

  Talon gripped her shoulder in comfort and encouragement, “If anyone can heal him, it’s you.”

  Her emotions broke free again and she wept over the chest of an unconscious Athradien, “Oh Talon, why would they do this? He is so kind-hearted and gentle. Why would they hurt him like this?”

  “Because they are the Dûr Falas.”r />
  She snarled a vicious sound. “We will kill every last one of them. Not one walks away alive. This is criminal. A total absence of honor.”

  “They’ve never had honor.”

  “They will be taught the error of their ways, then.”

  Talon heard the resolve in her voice, and knew her anger would be unleashed when the battle started. Cuilwen when angry wasn’t something to take lightly. “Heal him. I’ll make sure you are undisturbed and food is brought to you regularly.”

  She let the calming peace of her magic flow through her mind, opening herself fully to access a vast amount. The effect sent a glow to creep and spread, covering Athradien’s form from head to toe in a healing illumination She didn’t even hear Talon leave and didn’t register anything for quite some time because she was completely consumed within her craft.

  When Talon arrived to check on Cuilwen and to make sure that food was being delivered, he found her in a state that concerned him greatly. She has changed into a shirt that was sleeveless, and more comfortable pants—both covered in blood from her patient. It was her posture and how she was practically draped over Athradien that sent his concern soaring. First thing that came to mind was that something happened.

  “Cuilwen?” Talon touched her shoulder and she jumped, severely startled out of her intense focus.

  Her eyes were wet and wild, her hair ungroomed. “Talon? What are you doing here?” She hastily wiped her eyes and tried to smooth out her hair. “I just finished the worst of it.” She looked down at the sleeping body with a confused look on her face and moved her eyes back to Talon, “He’s still unconscious, but he’s going to be fine.”

  Relief flooded through Talon at hearing those words and he sat back on the couch. “Then can you please explain what is wrong with you?”

  Cuilwen couldn’t resist another glance back at the sleeping man before an exaggerated exhale announced her defeat. She wasn’t going to be able to avoid Talon. “I honestly don’t know. I’m just…overwhelmed.”