by David Ekrut
Betrayal.
The word plagued his thoughts. Few could be trusted, and even those few had agendas not of Bain’s choosing. Of his savants, only Lana gave him loyalty. Zeth, Fasuri, and the others craved power above all.
But, who would want to sink Elwin’s ship? Alcoa?
Thirod Alcoa was likely to have informers in the Lands of Justice. Alcoa had an old relationship with Justice. Bain had informers in their lands, so it would be foolish to think otherwise of Alcoa.
Thirod would wish Bain harm, but would he murder his son? The man had the resources. Thirteen elementalists taming Water and Air could make a storm. Though most of them were not of great power, there were elementalists in abundance in Alcoa. In truth, Aloca had more gifted than even Bain had collected.
However, the majority of the guild elementalists in Alcoa were only gifted with a single Element. But, an assembly of thirteen could create enough energy for a storm, regardless of the individual strength of each in the assembly.
That wasn’t likely. Thirteen elementalists had thirteen mouths. Bain had enough ears in Alcoa, and such an assembly would have drawn note.
Jhona?
“No,” Bain dismissed the thought aloud. Jhona would not betray him again.
His brother had betrayed Bain to steal the boy, but he had thought his actions to be in Elwin’s best interests. Jhona had thought he was saving the boy. He would never raise a hand to destroy the very life he had saved.
Besides, after banishment his brother had settled on the western coast of Alcoa, and this storm felt as if it originated in the south. Then the obvious choice came to him.
Donavin. His older son had no limitations. Betrayal was one of many tools in Donavin’s chest.
Bain’s eldest son was on the southern slopes of Alcoa in a coastal city called Dalton. It was the first city Bain had taken from Alcoa and was the main stronghold for his garrison in Alcoa. He had given his eldest son the honor of being Savant of the southern region.
Donavin had the most to lose if Elwin were to join Bain’s army. His eldest son had a thirst for battle that was insatiable, but Donavin wore deceit and trickery like other men wore armor and shield. It was not in his nature to share. After his own failure all those years ago, Donavin would carry a hatred for Elwin for his destiny. Where his oldest son failed, Elwin would succeed.
“Donavin,” he decided.
He could not reprimand Donavin without proof. But Bain would not allow the petulance of his oldest son to destroy all he had worked for. The Father had allowed Bain to see what was to come. Elwin would Awaken the dragonkin, then Bain would become king of them all.
“King of dragons,” Bain said.
That was what the world would call him as they knelt to his rule. He stood upon the rock to get a better look at the dark clouds on the horizon. Lightning rumbled through them as they began to shift north and west toward the coast of Alcoa. It would continue to gather energy as it spun its way up the Alcoan coast.
“Come home to me, son,” Bain said. “Come home.”
For the first time in a long time, Bain allowed himself to feel hope.
Epilogue
Dearest Melra,
Time passes poetically, standing still only in the depths of our minds. The events of one passing life can have the power to alter the lives of all who cross his path. The remaining touch can be as tender as an artist’s brush or as bold as a warrior’s sword. It is a rarity that one life can alter all the world with his passing.
We were not wrong to have shaped his youth. Your heart is in him, and for this reason, I still have hope.
Just as one small stone can cause a tremendous avalanche, so too can this one small life mold the world for good or evil. Is this final twist left to chance or fate? There are those who believe fate is left to chance. And there are those who believe that chance is an illusion created by fate. Are both correct? There are two sides to every coin, but it takes both sides to make the coin whole.
As for me, I am a twig floating down the rapid rivers of life. When the river forks, it is the rapid which chooses my way. Can one call this fate? Well, if it is so, there is one truth that I may learn from fate. When the coin is flipped deciding my destiny, it always lands heads down.
I exist for the few moments my mind is allowed to be my own, and I cling to my humanity with every ounce of my being. I am not sure if seeing you here helps me to hold onto my sanity, or if your beautiful face pushes me beyond redemption. But, I do know that it is because of you I can fight the darkness. And it is for our son that I do not give up.
Forever yours,
Drenen Escari
Soulless One
Feffer opened his eyes. Wood was beneath his face and the floor rocked gently, back and forth.
Natural light came in from somewhere outside the bars of his wooden cell. More entered through a small, round window in the wall. If he laid on his back and stretched, he could touch both sides of his cell.
He sat up.
The aches in his head were gone, and he realized he could see out of both eyes. How long had he been unconscious this time? And what in the abyss had possessed him to jump of a cliff?
Feffer felt as if he had slept all night in his bed, but his clothes were still damp from jumping in the sea. He felt a chill go up his spine as he realized the implications. They must have healed him somehow. That meant they had used the Elements on him. What if it was the Death Element?
He shivered.
Feffer stood and looked out the round window. He could see the waters of the ocean lapping against the side of the ship. In the distance, he could see cliffs moving farther away.
Feffer pried at the portico for a few moments, but it would not budge.
“Curse it all!” he whispered.
Then he remembered the hidden pocket in his belt. His fingers felt beneath the wooden buckle. The compartment opened, and he dug the lockpick out. Feffer moved to the door of his cell and inspected the lock. It was a simple lock, like the one Wilton had trained him on.
Feffer smiled.
Taming the Elements
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
David Ekrut was raised in a small community in Arkansas, where the abundance of nature fostered his imagination. Whether lost in a book, table-top gaming, or roaming the countryside from coast to coast, expanding his mind inevitably led him to the craft of writing. Only in the infinite workspace of heartfelt creativity has he ever felt any sense of freedom. Ekrut holds degrees in Liberal Arts-Theatre from Arkansas State University, both a Bachelor’s and Master’s of Science in Applied Mathematics from the University of Central Arkansas, and a Master’s in Biomedical Mathematics from Florida State University with a Ph.D. in Biomedical Mathematics pending defense of his dissertation. His scientific expertise aided in creating physically believable fiction with rules and structure to bring his universe to life.
