by Ben Hale
“Who are they?” Light asked, casting a faint, curving blade from the light in the room.
“The Order of Ancients,” Jeric said.
“The what?” Water asked.
“They worship the krey,” Jeric said. “Have since the Dawn of Magic. They believe our lives were better under the ancient race, and want them returned to power.”
“You think they are here on Wylyn’s order?” Lira asked, drawing her sword.
“For Wylyn!” the robed figured bellowed.
Water exchanged a look with Light. “I think that answers that.”
Jeric swished his sword as if eager for the battle. “Make sure one is left alive. We’re going to need someone to guide us out of here.”
Chapter 19: Churning
The Order swept across the lake, a dozen, a hundred, and still they came. The foursome spread out, placing the wall at their backs while Water and Lira took the center. Water grimaced, wishing they were above ground. There wasn’t much light down here and Light would be far weaker than he would on the surface.
“How have we never heard of them?” Light asked, rubbing his face as if to wake up.
“It’s a secret order,” Jeric said. “They have members throughout every kingdom and army.”
“The Order must have figured out the ancients have returned,” Jeric said. “Or Serak is part of them.”
“It’s hard to imagine he isn’t,” Water said.
“Don’t let them get behind us,” Lira said, gesturing to the wall behind them.
Water recognized that among the four, and in a battle on the lake, he would be the strongest. Light was weakened and Jeric was an unknown quantity. He’d seen Lira in battle and her skills were impressive, but he doubted she had the ability to fight so many at once.
The dark elves were halfway across the lake, sprinting on the surface as if it was flat stone, sending ripples away from their footsteps. Water guessed they wore water boots, the soles enchanted to turn water solid. Without the lake as a barrier, Water and his friends would be sorely pressed. He pointed to the boots of his friends and water trickled up the slope, binding to the soles of their boots, giving them the same ability.
“What are you doing?” Jeric asked, watching the blue light condensed around his boots.
“If they can run on water, it’s only fitting we can as well.”
“I love it when you do this,” Light exclaimed, growing excited.
“How much control do you have over water?” Lira asked.
He heard the touch of hope in her tone and looked to her. “What do you have in mind?”
She flashed a grim smile. “We are at a beach,” she swept a hand at the sand and dirt beneath their feet. “I think we need some waves.”
He realized what she meant and grinned. He leapt into the water and waded up to his waist, and then began to push himself along the bank. His body pressed against the water like the prow of a ship, and he reached out, gathering threads of water, pulling them along with him. More and more he grasped the liquid, the water churning in his wake.
The strain mounted and he growled, forcing himself to accelerate as he towed boatloads of water, willing it to come with him, to follow his path. White capped waves appeared in his wake as he rotated around the charging dark elves. A small contingent came for him, but the lake had started to rotate.
The dark elves raised a dozen crossbows and fired, but he was moving too fast, the bolts striking the wave at his back. Still he pushed, driving his body around the edge of the lake. The army had all exited the tunnel except for the robed leader.
Water pushed even harder, speeding around the exterior, circling back to his friends just as the leading ranks of dark elves reached the shore. He caught up the water and raised a shield, catching several bolts as he blasted by. The waves in his wake caught the dark elves and carried them along. They fought to keep their balance and several failed, plunging into the water only to be swept into the current.
Several raced up the wave and leapt over to land on the beach. Lira, Light, and Jeric engaged the forerunners, but they were forced to retreat as the lake expanded its borders. The center of lake dropped, the water pushing to the banks and rising.
The dark elves were in shambles, with most spinning around the exterior, many struggling to swim in the churning water. Others raced backward, calling for aid, for direction, and the leader in the mask paced in the tunnel, barking orders that were lost in the din.
One dark elf was sucked into the turmoil of Water’s wake. He fell into the water and the current sent him crashing into the wall, the brutal impact of armor and stone echoing over the groaning lake. And still Water accelerated.
He whipped around the exterior of the lake, each rotation faster than the previous one, each turn pushing the lake to greater speeds. He spotted his friends as he swept by. The beach was nearly gone, so they’d retreated to the mouth of the stream, fighting on the rocks, their blades clashing with the dark elves’. The dark elves that fell were picked up by the expanding lake and dragged along the rocks, drowning as the lake crept up the walls.
Jeric kept a wide shield and turned the other hilt into a spear. He spun and twisted, arcing the bladed weapon to strike at the dark elves, driving them back, towards the expanding lake. Light stood at the rear, pulling the light from the cavern to fight, hurling his curved weapon at the line of dark elves, forcing them to duck to avoid the spinning blade.
Lira darted about, her agility active as she danced across the uneven surface, never turning a stone. A dark elf lunged for her and she swept to the side, the blade passing within inches of her shoulder. She kept the rotation and elbowed him in the stomach before rotating back and catching the extended arm. Pulling the soldier to her, she leaned forward and smashed her forehead against the dark elf’s face. Dazed, he was helpless as she yanked his sword from his grip and hurled it into another dark elf. Then she kicked him into the expanding tide and he was dragged across the rocks, his shouts quickly falling silent.
The borders of the lake had risen thirty feet, the water turning with frightening speed. Water sped by the robed figure, now just twenty feet above him, and couldn’t resist smirking at his foe. The leader came to a halt, her eyes boring through the mask.
“You cannot stop the krey from rising!” she shouted.
“You cannot stop us!” Water called back. Then he noticed the dark elves.
Most had retreated to the center of the lake. They stood on the water that was mostly smooth, allowing it to carry them around a slow circle. Their weapons were at the ready but they made no move to advance toward the outer edges of the lake, where the hurtling speeds were more dangerous. Water realized they were biding their time, hoping he would tire.
Coming around the lake towards his friends, Water leapt from his path and released his magic. He landed on the rocks behind the last dark elf, distracting him so Jeric could dispatch him. As the body fell Jeric used his spear to point to the lake.
“You put them in a cage,” he said. “Now what do we do with them?”
“Too many to fight,” Light said, leaning against the wall for support.
Water noticed he had several injuries. Lira had a cut along her arm and her armor on her stomach was damaged. Jeric had a wicked gash along his shoulder to which he calmly pressed a bandage.
“We don’t need a victory,” Lira said. “We just need a guide.”
“Perhaps we could get some answers as well,” Jeric mused, pointing to the masked leader still in the tunnel.
“Then get ready for a ride,” Water said.
Jeric grinned and took the lead, jumping onto the water. He’d braced his body well and didn’t lose his balance as the water swept him away. His excited shout reverberated off the interior of the cavern. Light shrugged and followed, and Lira jumped onto the spinning lake with Water.
Water landed on the surface of the spinning lake, the current yanking them around the exterior of the cavern. He had to lean away from th
e wall to keep from being launched into the stone, and he ducked a protrusion of stone that nearly took his head.
They streaked around the exterior and Jeric leapt, changing his sword to a whip that he used to catch the rock. The lake carried him past the protrusion and yanked him upward. He flipped in the air and landed in the mouth of the masked one’s tunnel. Surprised by his sudden appearance, she went down from a quick blow, and Jeric moved to bind her hands.
The dark elves howled in dismay and charged, abandoning their previous patience. They sprinted up the slope, fighting to keep their balance as the water carried them around the cavern. The smarter ones timed the rotation, allowing them to get close enough to wield their hand crossbows.
Water raised a wave to absorb the blows and then used a surge of water to launch himself off the surface of the lake. He alighted in the tunnel. Lira landed at his side and bled away her momentum before coming to a stop.
“That was exhilarating,” she said with a laugh, ducking as a volley of crossbow bolts clattered off the wall.
Light jumped for the tunnel but fell short. He managed to bounce off the wall and land on his feet, but the water continued to slow, carrying him towards the horde of dark elves. He had time to cast a pair of swords before they closed the gap.
“Stay here,” Water said.
“Not a chance,” Lira said, dropping down with him.
They landed on the spinning water and sprinted to Light. Water cast his favorite staff and sprinted across the water, racing with the current to strike at the pack of dark elves. Water spotted the blades cutting into Light’s body and anger pooled in his belly.
“Have you no shame?” he roared, his voice gaining a dark timbre.
He called on the lake and great jaws appeared. As large as a wagon, they widened, the teeth sharpening into shards of aquaglass. Dark elves scrambled away but the jaws clamped shut, devouring a foursome about to strike Light’s back.
With Lira at his side, Water attacked the remainder. Their blades spun in unison, working in tandem as they cast aside the dark elves. In the heat of combat Water glanced to Lira, feeling a unity he’d never felt with anyone. Lira slipped through a gap, slicing a dark elf’s leg and allowing Water to leap over the falling dark elf. Water cast a shield and bashed another, sending him tumbling into her blade. Their eyes met and she smiled, obviously feeling the same kinship.
They collected Light and retreated, fleeing before the horde of dark elves. Water reached down and cast a quartet of giant horses, leashing them to the edge of the lake. Then he gave them a single purpose. To run. With the water at their chests they charged, pushing the water around the exterior as Water had done, and the lake continued to churn. Water then cast a pillar to lift himself and his companions to the mouth of the tunnel.
“That will give us a few hours,” Water said as the dark elves howled anew, falling and tumbling about.
Lira nodded in approval, and Water noticed a glint in her eyes that went beyond respect. “Well done,” she said. “I think I just may have to keep you.”
“Can we please go to the surface now?” Light exclaimed.
“Lead the way, princess,” Jeric said, poking the masked dark elf.
She scowled and turned into the tunnel. Water and the others fell into step behind the captive, and the woman led them away from the cavern. As the turn in the tunnel took the spinning lake from sight, Water realized their foes were mounting, and they were still no closer to stopping the krey.
Chapter 20: The Ear
Water stepped into the sun and breathed a sigh of relief. The dark elf had sought to lead them the wrong way—twice—but Jeric had a knack for discerning the truth, and for manipulation. The dark elf scowled and came to a halt when they reached the surface.
Light leapt out of the cave, pushing past Water and launching himself skyward. He flitted about like an excited sparrow, drinking in the illumination until his skin veritably shimmered, and his cry of delight echoed over the water.
The cave exited onto a short, rocky beach that bordered the great Blue Lake, the water stretching to the horizon, sparkling in the late morning sun. Clouds floated in the sky, fluffy and white as they drifted east.
Water looked back and saw the dwarven mountains rising in the distance, marking their location as several days east of the Gate Chamber where they’d been buried. He nodded in satisfaction and turned to Lira, who smiled as she watched Light exult.
“The sun on Lumineia always seems brighter than other worlds,” she exclaimed.
Jeric joined them and stooped to lift water from the lake, drinking the cool liquid. “Someday I’d like to see another sun,” he said.
“Answers first,” Water said, turning to the bound dark elf.
“We had a deal,” she said. “I brought you here, and you release me.”
“I never said when we’d release you,” Jeric said with a smile.
From behind the mask her eyes glowed with hatred, and Water reached for the mask. The elf tried to evade but Water caught the edge and pulled it from the dark elf’s head. The woman staring back at him was furious.
“You have no idea what the krey are capable of,” she snarled.
“And you do?” Lira retorted.
“The krey once controlled all life on Lumineia,” she exclaimed. “They gave us everything, even the magic we call our own. And we rebelled against them.”
“What do you know of it?” Lira said, her voice gaining an edge.
“Our memories are longer than the surface races,” she spat. “And we have not forgotten what they did for us. When the krey rise again, you will see for yourselves—if you join Wylyn.”
“That’s not likely to happen,” Jeric said with a laugh. “The foe you face is the Hauntress.”
The dark elf’s eyes registered a flicker of recognition and then hardened. “Even she can be killed.”
Water frowned as he recognized the expression. There was something about the dark elf that was familiar, but he couldn’t quite place where he’d seen her. Still, his memory twinged, wanting to remind him of a past connection.
“Tell us about the Order,” Jeric said.
“I will speak nothing,” she said haughtily. “No matter how much pain you inflict upon me.”
“We’ll see about that,” Lira said, drawing a short dagger.
“No need to get sharp,” Jeric said, tapping the dagger away. “The lady merely needs some encouragement.”
The dark elf sneered. “You think you can get me to talk with your words?”
“Of course,” Jeric said. “The question isn’t even which tactic to use, only which I will find most amusing.”
The dark elf scowled, but Jeric regarded her like he would a fascinating puzzle. Water watched him, confused and curious about the elf’s demeanor. He was a wanderer with a passion for the exotic, probably the very reason he was attracted to Elenyr. The dark elf had refused to give her name or identity in the Deep and he doubted she would now. But Jeric had a strange way of getting what he wanted.
As Jeric continued to study the dark elf, Light cavorted in the water, sprinting about until wings sprouted on his back and he soared into the air, his peeling laughter sending a group of birds squawking and soaring away.
The dark elf glanced at Light and then back to Jeric before fidgeting. “I do not care for your silence. Do what you intend and be done with it.”
“You are one who has served the krey your whole life,” Jeric said. “Yet you live by another name, a face the world sees. Do you keep your true allegiances hidden out of fear? Or envy?”
The dark elf spit and leaned towards Jeric but Water put a hand on her shoulder, keeping her in place. “You think to understand me?” She straightened, her demeanor haughty again. “You know nothing.”
The words clicked in Water’s memory and he blinked in surprise. Was it really her? If so, it explained exactly how she’d come to know about the disturbance in the cavern—and prevented others coming in her stead. Wa
ry of disrupting Jeric’s direction, he glanced to him, but Jeric bore a slight smile on his face.
“Princess Melora,” he said, offering a mocking bow, “second daughter to the crown, and likely never to sit on the throne.”
“My sister is a fool,” she snapped. “She does not deserve to lead our people.”
“And you do?” Jeric asked, sweeping his hands towards the mouth of the cave and the lake beyond. “You have betrayed your people, and secretly joined an Order that follows the darkest of purposes, to enslave the people you are oathbound to protect.”
“My people are vile,” she said. “They squander their freedoms in riotous living, and have forgotten the old ways.”
Jeric sniffed, his expression lit with scorn. “And you don’t understand the new. Your people are evolving, princess. What you despise, they view as happiness, and you would rob them of it.”
“They cannot stop us,” Melora sneered. “Even my mother has no understanding of our Order, or our might.”
“Might?” Jeric scoffed. “Your paltry army below? You wouldn’t last a day against an army of dwarves, let alone the rock trolls or humankind.”
“The Order has members in every city, guild, and government. Captains in the army, princes, even a king. By now they know the krey are here, and they accept the gods the people have forsaken.”
“You lie,” Jeric said. “There could not be so many.”
“More than the entire rock troll race,” she boasted, “and we even have a handful among them.”
Water recalled Bartoth’s comments, and wondered if he was a member of the Order. The rock troll had displayed the same pride, the arrogance, as if he’d known a secret Water could not understand.
Jeric began to laugh at Princes Melora, his tone one of derision. Water glanced at Lira and found her expression amused, but neither spoke. Jeric seemed to poke and prod at Melora’s pride, his words like a knife that nicked and cut, forcing her to turn and retaliate, each time providing another glimmer of truth.
