by Ben Hale
No one spoke until the pirate ship faded into the darkness behind them, but Seath and Thacker sat huddled in the back of the boat, silently communicating their joy at being freed. Taryn watched the father and son, feeling a tightening of his heart at the sight. Looking back at his life he wondered how things would have been different if he could have known his father. Would his father have trained him? What else could he have learned from him? Would he have had a home?
Swallowing hard at the intensity of the ache, he looked away and found Liri’s eyes on him. Her expression pierced right through him as their gaze locked and after a moment a simple understanding passed between them, easing the heaviness in his chest. He forced a sad smile and looked out over the water, still wondering.
By dawn everyone was back on board the Sea Dancer, and sailing north. Although some of the sailors were a little irritated at the short stay in port, their disappointment couldn’t hold against the sheer joy being displayed by the reunited members of Thacker’s family. The few grumbling men were soon smiling with everyone else as they sailed north to the Blue River.
Erix had decided that with the previous night’s activities it would be better to leave as soon as possible to avoid any retaliation. Since his next voyage meant crossing the Blue Lake to the eastern capital city of Terros, Trin’s home, it would be faster for him to hitch a ride than take the overland route across the southern kingdom. Taryn and Liri would go with them until Tallendale, and then disembark to head for Azertorn. For some inexplicable reason, Maemi had said she wanted to travel a little before returning to Azertorn and had elected to stay on the ship until Terros.
Taryn, confused by her statement, was surprised at the dark tinge to her expression. Although he’d always seen the short elf as reserved, he couldn’t recall ever seeing her angry, but the brief darkening of her eyes had been unmistakable for bitterness. Liri then caught his eye and raised a quizzical eyebrow. He just shrugged, unsure of the reason why. Reminded again of his previous thoughts of her past, he considered the possibility that whatever had caused her such pain might still be in Azertorn. Why else would Mae not want to return home?
It didn’t take them long to reach the outlet of the Blue River and turn inland. The flow of the current slowed them considerably, although the steady sea breeze kept them moving upstream.
“How is it possible that we are sailing upriver?” Taryn asked in astonishment.
“Ah, now that is an interesting feat of engineering,” the captain replied, leaning against the rail. “Many centuries ago, the southern kingdom decided that if they could establish a trade route from the Blue Lake to the sea it would increase profits for their merchants—” He grinned wide. “—and the taxes on the merchants as well.” He turned and pointed south. “The merchants of the age had to travel an overland route from eastern Talinor to Keese that took well over two weeks, so the king asked the southern guild of earth magic to figure out how to slow the current of the Blue River enough so a ship could sail up to the lake.”
“I doubt that could have been an easy task,” Taryn said.
“Exactly,” Erix replied, “but the head of the guild was a smart one, and devised a plan to use some kind of hardening mixture to fortify raised barricades on the bottom of the river. He figured that if he could force the water to turn back on itself every few feet it would move more slowly. The enchanted mixture also draws energy from moving water to strengthen itself, causing the river to slow even more.”
“Wait, every few feet?” Taryn asked, his eyes widening. “How long is the river?”
Erix smirked and spread his arms wide. “Over thirty miles, and it took the guild more than ten years to complete it. The bottom of the river is like a snake, turning back on itself so many times it almost stops its flow. They called their work the Danre, from the elvish phrase meaning ‘To pass in safety.’ It has been said that before the Danre was built, the river was fast and treacherous, taking the lives of many who tried to cross its deadly current.”
“Incredible,” Taryn said.
The captain nodded with a wry smile then turned away when someone called for him. “Aye, I’m on my way.” He shrugged at Taryn and left him to gaze at the view around him.
From where Taryn was standing he had a good look at the immensity of the river. At the outlet it was more than six or seven times the length of the Sea Dancer. Thick forests of tall trees stretched away endlessly to the north of the river while to the south the trees only grew along the bank. The water was so blue and clear he could almost see the bottom. Fish swam upstream alongside them, and deer could be seen furtively drinking in the shallows. Birds of different sizes and shapes flew overhead in lazy circles. The lush green world alive with animals presented a stark contrast against the few trees on the south side, which quickly gave way to plains.
It was no wonder that the river was the dividing line between the elven kingdom and the southern human kingdom of Talinor. It seemed so wide that it would be easily defendable from attack from either side, and the forests would be a perfect home for the elves. He smiled at the turn of his own thoughts. Battle readiness had been so deeply instilled in his thinking that even with such a view before him, he still found himself considering defensive strategies.
Liri walked up the stairs to join him. “It’s amazing, isn’t it?”
“I can’t believe how green the forest is,” he exclaimed.
“The plant magic of the elves only has effect as far as the river,” Liri replied. “Some elves are so dedicated to the trees that they wander the forest, growing and nourishing them like beloved children.”
“Do you think we could stop to take a deeper look?” he asked.
“No humans are allowed to enter the forest at this point. There is a bridge and a road up ahead that allow the other races to enter the forest. It’s one of the few overland routes to Azertorn from the southern kingdom.” She pointed off to the south where a caravan could be seen in the distance on a winding road leading away from Keese. “That road will split a couple of miles ahead. Heading north will take you to the elves, heading east will take you to Tallendale, and heading south will take you to some villages and eventually the southern capital.”
“We are getting off at Tallendale, right?”
“Yes, it’s the closest spot to Azertorn. Tallendale sits on the southern side adjacent to the river and the lake. In many ways it is similar to Keese. Goods usually travel through Tallendale to the sea. Erix will make a stop there to give his men a longer shore leave before continuing to Terros. We will cross the river there and travel north to the Giant’s Shelf and Azertorn.”
“How long ’til we get to Tallendale?” Taryn asked.
This time the captain responded, striding back into view, “Two days at the most. It depends on the wind. This time of year it’s usually fairly steady.”
A little girl’s giggle carried to them, and they turned to look at the source. One of Thacker’s daughters, who looked to be about ten, had “pinned” a struggling Trin to the deck.
“I win again!” she squealed.
“That’s not fair!” he protested. “You are stronger than me.”
She laughed again and pretended to let him stand up, but pounced on him the instant he had his feet under him. Taryn wasn’t the only one to smile at their antics.
“It’s good to hear a little one laugh,” Erix said to himself.
His tone was so serious that Taryn caught his eye and raised an eyebrow.
Seeing his expression, Erix said, “There were no children playing or laughing at Keese.”
“Hey, I noticed that too,” Liri said. “I remember a lot of wide-eyed young ones last time I was there.”
He shook his head with a sad expression spread across his leathered face. “Every time we stop there, they are playing on the docks, getting into mischief and the like.” He nodded towards Liri. “They love to catch sight of the other races, which normally are not a rarity at Keese. This time though . . .” He shrugg
ed and looked away.
Everyone remained silent for several minutes. Taryn assumed they were all thinking about what Rezko had talked about. He’d almost forgotten about the strange tale of fear being so prevalent in the city. As he looked at the view and pondered the various possible solutions, each more improbable than the last, he noticed Mae looking towards the forest to the north. Something about her stance told him she wasn’t just enjoying the sight, so he excused himself and moved to join her.
When he reached her side he purposefully leaned with his back towards the forest, watching Trin and Thacker’s daughter playing.
“Are you happy to see your homeland after so long?” he asked in an undertone.
Her eyes flashed at the same time her lips tightened. “A home isn’t always happy Taryn.”
Her words stung more than he would care to admit, but he didn’t want her to see it. The glimpse into her past was a rarity, but revealed little more than he’d already guessed. Then an idea crossed his mind that caused him to cringe. Mae wasn’t the only one he knew little about. Liri? Murai? He’d been too preoccupied with his own issues to want to know more. Was he a bad friend? Too self-centered to notice the lives of others?
He winced, sensing there was more truth to the thought than he would care to admit.
“We're being watched,” Mae said, pulling him from his brooding.
Resisting the urge to turn around and see for himself he asked, “By whom?”
“Elves. At least a score. They are following us through the trees.”
Taryn started to relax, but Mae saw his reaction and her voice gained an edge. “It’s a war party.”
“What?”
“They are heavily armed, and there are several with bows trained on us at all times. Every few minutes a few of them will run east and take up position ahead of us.”
Mae just looked at him and shrugged before walking away, leaving Taryn to ponder alone. After waiting an appropriate amount of time, he turned around and pretended to enjoy the vista. With his elven vision, it didn’t take long to spot what Mae had seen. Dark shadows of thin figures darting through the woods as silent as thought— each one with a purpose. Their behavior made it look like they were defending their territory, but there was no attacker on the south bank . . .
—The elves were preparing to defend against them, he realized.
They expected to be attacked by their ship at any moment. He turned away before he gave away his knowledge of their watchers and strolled back to the helm. Liri must have seen something in his eyes because her expression turned questioning as he approached..
Taryn subtly pulled her aside and explained the situation. She nodded at him and asked him loudly, “Care to take a look up top?”
He smiled and followed her up the ropes to the nest. When they were both settled in, she leaned out over the rail and began pointing in different directions, describing different things about the area they were passing. Catching on to her act, he joined in and responded to everything she was saying. Despite her light conversation, he could see her eyes scanning the trees for movement.
After a few minutes of mild conversation she said in a hushed voice, “I see them, and I agree. They aren’t just curious about us. They are soldiers prepared for battle. The question is, why are they scared of us?”
Something in the way she phrased the question sparked his memory to Rezko. “They are scared the same way the people in Keese were frightened.”
She cocked her head to one side, her brow knitting together in thought. “So someone—or something, is causing nearly everyone from at least two different races to be afraid?”
Taryn shook his head. “I don’t know, but whatever the source, we definitely need to keep an eye on our watchers.”
“I’ll go inform Erix of our friends. You can stay here and let me know if they do anything.”
He nodded soberly and watched her descend. Settling into a comfortable position, he looked to the north and tried to imagine what could cause the elves and the humans to be so on edge. More than once, uncomfortable thoughts about what type of friend he had become drifted into his awareness. Each time, he tried to convince himself that there were more pressing issues to address, but the disturbing idea kept creeping back.
For the next few hours, Taryn watched the passing landscape while casting unobtrusive glances at the elves shadowing them. Although they continued to follow, they stayed out of sight in the darkness of the tall trees—until they came to the bridge.
The bridge could only be described as enormous, spanning the wide river in a long arc and high enough to allow ship masts to pass by underneath. Massive stones anchored the foundation on both sides with smaller ones shaping the arch. Worn carvings of dwarves, elves, and humans in furious battles with strange beings could be seen in the few sections of stone not covered by moss or creepers. Many sections looked to be well worn with age, with other pieces crumbling or missing. Despite its ancient appearance, no defining cracks marred its surface. On the north side of the overpass a stone wall had been built, shiny compared to the old bridge, complete with a gate and battlements—and it was occupied by a full contingent of battle-ready elves.
“Taryn!” the captain called in a rising tone when he spotted the warriors. “Get down here! Frey, take his place.” Without hesitation Taryn jumped over the rail and caught a rope on the way down. Landing heavily, he joined to the captain and his other friends at the helm.
When he arrived, Erix was speaking. “Liri, what in the name of Skorn is going on? That wall wasn’t there a few months ago, and there weren’t elves armed to the teeth either.”
Liri answered with heat in her tone, “I don’t know what is going on; the elves have always been peaceful!”
“Relax, it’s not the elves we have to worry about,” Mae spoke firmly. “It’s whatever is frightening them that we need to fear.”
“We’ve already talked about that,” Erix spoke in frustration. “We know something is scaring everyone.”
“No!” Mae spoke again, uncharacteristically forceful. “You don’t understand. There is something deeper going on here. Whatever is causing this is using fear to divide people—and at the same time to join people.”
“Wait, you lost me,” Trin said, shaking his head. “How can fear divide and unite?”
Mae responded patiently, as if she were teaching a child, “Fear makes people divide into groups they trust. In this case, the elves are gathering themselves in, just like the humans in Keese—”
“—and the pirates!” Taryn cut in when he finally understood. “They had joined together as well, which is something they never do.”
“That’s why when you captured the captain, no one killed him,” Trin added.
“—and why the elves are ready for a fight,” Liri said.
“—and why the people in Keese were acting so strange,” Erix exclaimed.
Mae smiled in acknowledgement, but didn’t say anything.
Erix nodded confidently. “So the elves probably don’t want a fight.” He turned to some of the crew that had begun gathering swords and bows. “Put your weapons down, and go about your business as normal mates.”
Trin burst out laughing, drawing shocked looks from the crew. “Don’t mind the elves that could kill you without a second thought.”
No one laughed at his comment, but at least most of them relaxed a little.
Taryn stepped to the rail to get a better look at the approaching bridge. During their conversation they had moved to within a quarter mile of the crossing and the elves that had been following them had all joined the ones at the wall. It looked like two score on the battlements, and at least that many would be behind the wall. Looking towards the opposite side he saw there was a short dock that extended into the river on the southeastern side of the bridge. Besides the elves on the north side, no one else was in sight.
“Liri, do you think it would be a good idea to talk to them?” Erix asked the elf maid at his side.
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She considered it for a moment, then said, “Maybe, but it would have to be just elves.” She glanced at Taryn with an apologetic look.
He gave a tiny nod and smile to let her know he understood why she didn’t include him with her race, hoping the twinge he felt didn’t show on his face.
“Whatever you do, you had better do it soon,” Erix said as he pointed towards the elves.
They all looked up to see even more elves on the battlements, and a contingent of the lithe fighters armed with longbows streaming out of the gates to line up along the bridge ahead of them. Taryn quickly guessed that there were now over a hundred ready to fight—many of them with arrows already notched.
Liri’s expression became determined as she bounded to the front of the ship—with Mae right behind her. Calling out, she addressed her people, “I am Liriana Allasse Tel’Runya of the House of Runya. We have completed our training on the island of Sri Rosen and are returning to our homeland. May we pass in peace?” She finished her formal request and bowed to indicate her respect.
No one spoke on the bridge or boat until the Sea Dancer closed the gap to a mere twenty feet. Then one of the elves on the bridge stepped out of the throng of archers and responded in a voice of steel, “You may pass, Lady Liriana of the House of Runya and your sister companion, but know this . . . any non-elf will be destroyed for setting foot in the Forest of Numenessee.”
Despite his assurance that they could pass, not a single elf lowered their bow even a fraction. The normally happy elves watched stone-faced as the ship and its occupants passed underneath them into the shadow of the bridge. For a few minutes the creaks of the ship and dripping water echoed in the tunnel until they emerged on the other side to find the elves already watching them—with bows still drawn.
A turn in the river finally put the disturbing sight behind them, and several people breathed easier without it in view. But Taryn noticed that, just as before, they were still being watched from within the forest. His brow furrowed at the continued vigil as he considered the ramifications of the odd exchange. Mulling over the event he felt like there was something he was missing, something in what the elf had said. Despite his efforts, it refused to come to the surface. Sicili
