“That won’t be necessary,” Samia said, dismissing the suggestion. “Follow me close like my shadow. With a bit of luck, you’ll pass by unnoticed.”
Quinn rolled her eyes in disbelief. “This will make us— blend in— invisible?”
“Precisely,” Samia said, putting her helm back over her head. “Those are what the recruits wear— that’s why they aren’t very pleasant.”
“Who would want to be a recruit for these decrepit—“
“Quiet!” Abbott said to Quinn as a cluster of guards approached. If her eyes were knives, they’d cut his jugular right now.
“Stay close.”
Tension ran high within Quinn. Samia led her down passageways unfamiliar to her, and those rose warning signs. It wasn’t like she hadn’t spent enough time trekking through these halls to know which way as to which. Was this guard leading them to their doom? Quinn fretting relentlessly the deeper they went. Samia didn’t take kindly to her directional suggestions either. “Shouldn’t we be going down the western tunnels?” she’d say. Samia would ignore her. “You’re taking us the wrong—“
“Act accordingly,” Samia said, cutting her off as she saw a guard from the other side of the hall. “Remember, my shadow— keep your heads down low.”
The guard approached the trio. “Can you believe it, the warden has ordered an official execution for the escaped prisoners? We are to report to the End Hall for the post. Shouldn’t those recruits be in the barracks?”
“These recruits are to be taken to guard Brina’s chamber with me. Orders from Eldritch himself. Wants them to learn what it takes to capture escapees. Thinks it’s a good character builder.”
“Good thinking. These little thieves could be anywhere by now. If you ask me, they're as good as gone. There’s no way out of here. Eldritch has all the exits sealed off permanently until they’re found.”
“I share your opinion. My duties call,” Samia said, motioning to pass the guard. “Farewell—“
“Those two,” the guard’s eyes sharpened through the small gap in his helm. “I’ve not seen these ones before.”
“A new class!” Samia stated as the guard closely examined Quinn and Abbott in their recruit uniforms. “Fresh from the forest.”
“Hm… they look an awful lot like— and their skin is—“
“We must carry on to our post. Eldritch’s orders were to be undisputed.”
“Of course… I apologize for the scrutiny,” the guard said before dismissing himself down the hallway.
“That was close,” Abbott said.
“Too close,” Quinn repeated.
“We’re nearly there.” Samia verified to see if the hallway was empty before leading Abbott and Quinn down it. “There shouldn’t be anyone in this area to trouble us.”
“Thank Soren for that,” Quinn said.
“It’s just over there,” Samia said with a sigh of relief. “The warden is not expected to be there at this time.”
“And how do you know that?”
Samia turned to Quinn, “I was her personal guard at a time.”
“And what do you propose we do about those two?” Quinn said disgruntled. The notion of the passageway being unmanned was abandoned. She witnessed two guards approach the post suited in full defenses.
“I think I can take care of them.”
“I sure hope so.”
“She will,” Abbott assured in faith.
Samia instructed Abbott and Quinn to stay covered as she approached the door. The entire scene felt drawn out to Abbott as if in slow motion. Here he was relying on someone he didn’t know to do something for him that would save his life and in turn his fathers. He waited nervously next to Quinn as Samia addressed them.
“I have orders from The Warden. You both are to be relieved from your post and guard the great hall.”
The guards chuckled in unison at Samia’s orders.
“That’s an order! Didn’t think it was meant to be funny, yeah?”
“We don’t take orders from you.”
“As a higher ranking—“
“It is odd that you say this now. Eldritch foretold you would. You traitor.”
“How dare—“
“Traitor!” the guard bellowed as he reached for a hollowed horn slung around his hip.
“You leave me no choice.” Samia drew her spear and wedged it deep into one of the guard’s chest. “Quickly! Get inside.” The remaining guard swung at Samia’s head, missing in the process.
“I can’t wait to turn you in for this,” he sneered as he strikingly lowered his spear. “You dishonor us all. How could you help such vermin?”
Samia lured the guard from his post enough so Abbott and Quinn could get through the door.
“I guess this proves it,” Abbott said breathlessly back to Quinn as they sprinted towards the door “She can be trusted.”
“TRAITOR!” An orchestra of commotion grew as summoned reinforcements rushed to help. The hallways filled with the light of torches. Traitor was a word dryads took with the utmost discretion, to be label as such meant death. Samia was fully aware of what the words meant.
“How would you like to die?” the guard asked. "I say fire."
Samia dodged advance after advance from the guard’s spear. She knew how this one attacked, after all, she’d been the one who trained him. Samia remembered the fault line in his skill, talking. With a gesture meant to show dominance over her, Samia found her opening. She pierced the guard between wood and fresh. “I didn’t want to do this,” she said, watching as the guard’s eyes went blank. “Your death is a waste.”
Samia ran after Quinn and Abbott. She broke her spear in two and jamming it into the handles of the door. “This should hold them for some time.” A small slit in the door displayed the sea of guards congregating outside.
Brina’s chamber was covered in floor to ceiling drapery depicting her dryad linage. A twin, Brina was the last remaining of her ancestral line. She was alone just like he’d be if he did not find his father in time. The drapery was woven with twigs and colored with dyed clays. Its craftsmanship was to be marveled at.
A fountain gushed violently through a floor channel by a stockpile of cast instruments: a display of weapons, armor, and other foreign instruments. They were clearly the workings of others. Samia explained that the Dryads did not forge their own weapons. They were too afraid of setting themselves on fire by the furnace.
“I’ll be needing another one of these,” Quinn said as she grabbed a small knife and stuffed it into the top opening of her leather boats. “And one of these, and this. Here you go.” Quinn tossed a long knife over to Abbott.
“Don’t throw knives at me,” he stepped aside as the knife buried its nose into the soil.
“Oh, don’t be a wuss!” Quinn continuing stuffing her pockets with what she believed would be useful items along the rode. “In this world, you’re going to need something to defend yourself. Better become familiar with it before your tested to use it.”
The long knife was light in weight and fit nicely in Abbott’s slender fingers.
“Haven’t you taken enough?” Samia said, judging Quinn’s sticky fingers. She marched over to remove a section of foliage from the chamber walls. It uncovered a ladder stretching upwards in the light.
“What’s the purpose of this?” Abbott motioning over to a pillar holding a stone pool of water.
“An altar,” Samia explained. “I’d advise you not look directly in its waters.”
“Why not?”
“You might start seeing all kinds of weird things,” Quinn said as she concluded stuffing of her pockets. “It’s crazy stuff— and it’s written in the field guide, but no time now. We gotta go before this escape effort goes for nothing.”
“You’re one to talk.” Abbott raised a brow sharply at the number of things she was thieving. “How many weapons do you need?”
“Enough to survive.”
“She’s right. You both need to run. Th
e spear won’t hold for long, they’ll go hunting for you. I’ll stay here to give you some time.”
“But they’ll arrest you… or worse kill you.”
“No, they won’t,” Quinn said.
“I know the consequences of my actions,” Samia said dully, “I wouldn’t take back what I have done no matter the punishment. It was the right thing to do. Someone has to stand for right even if the entirety of my people are against it.”
The words held true with Abbott. He was moved.
He grasped her rugged hand and held it on his own. Her fingers were green and wrapped in vines. “I will not forget the kindness you have given us. I hope we meet again— under better circumstances. As you people say, Soren be with you. I, thank you.”
“Yeah, thanks for not killing us.”
Samia didn’t know whether to smile or not. “I’d worry about saving your father’s life for now,” she replied, “the road for you is far more dangerous than what happens to me here. But you have the greatest odds of success I can feel it. Especially with her at your side.”
Thud! Crunch! Thud! The door wiggled as the guards rammed it again and again.
“AGAIN!” echoed the strained voice of Eldritch. The wood began folded under the pressure.
“Abbott,” Quinn said reaching for his hand. She had already begun ascending the ladder towards her forested freedom.
“I do hope we meet again. Good-bye.” He let go of Samia’s hand and disappearing behind Quinn.
“Be smart!” said yelled up the hole before she replaced the foliage covering the passageway.
At that moment, the doubling doors burst open and in flooded guards followed by Eldritch’s menacing and defeated face. “What have you done, Traitor?”
“What was right.”
Samia knew the words were true.
24
Illumination departed from the window ports of the volitares along with the aroma of roasted herbs that wandered leisurely until meeting Billy’s nose. Until this moment, he had paid no mind to Faelar’s dinner invitation. And given that, he wondered what came of Rose and her broken cart wheel? He’d wholly forgotten about her as well.
Time was passing by quicker than he could comprehend.
Billy questioned whether Rose needed his assistance to fix the wheel, and with him nowhere to be found, he could only imagine her frustrations. But the thought of Rose being upset whilst he finally explored, died. All he could think about was what he saw in the basin.
He had brand new set of eyes.
The river elves were a group of refugees no less. Their lands had been stripped away from them, and those who survived had vacated to the river banks for the promise of a better life. It was the only place where they were left undisturbed. An enemy had taken pleasure in pillaging their culture and slaughtering their heritage. He was filled with grief when he thought about it.
The basin painted a clear picture. It was Billy who was to blame for these acts of violence. It was his face he saw in the helmets of the pillagers. He did not know what this meant and he did not dare talk about it with Lyra. A part of him knew it was dangerous. Why had she brought him there in the first place? It was not a coincidence. Was there a purpose?
Lyra and Billy arrived at Faelar’s volitare in silence. The front door was swung open and inside Faelar sat with Ralnor smoking from a pipe of whittled driftwood. Ralnor opened his arms and Lyra ran into them.
“About time you gnat. We’ve been waiting here for you,” Ralnor looked at Billy’s man-flesh and smooth gingery skin and spat on the ground. “Does he have to join us tonight? I’d have him dine outside with the others.”
“Might I remind you Ralnor, it was he who came to our aid when you could no longer help.” Faelar nodded his head at Billy and motioned for him to take a seat. “Our reserves are now overflowing with food for his selfless act. Might I suggest you pay him a bit more kindness?”
Ralnor crossed his arms in protest. He was the eldest brother and to be talked down like he was lesser than, infuriated him. But there was truth in Faelar’s words. Regardless of who helped, the notion of his full belly during winter was a thought that remedied his discomforts.
Lyra ventured to the kitchen where the other elves labored to put dinner together. As she entered the kitchen, Lyra was introduced to Rose who was over a hot flame searing light-colored meat.
“Nice to see you turn up again,” Rose said poking her head around the corner when she heard Billy’s voice.
“I cannot say sorry enough for the troubles I may have caused you,” Billy said standing up from his chair. “I just…”
“Nonsense,” Rose said dismissing him with her hand and removing the sweat from her brow. “I had the matter squared away before I even noticed your absence. Your friend Faelar was very helpful.”
Faelar bowed his head and took another puff from his pipe. “Kindly, I was only returning the favor to a few generous travelers.” The exhale from his driftwood formed a sequence of rings before they dissipated into the air. “Is it almost ready? I’m starving?”
“Mind your manners. We’re nearly done,” called a feminine voice.
Ilyana, Faelar’s beloved, entered with two enormous plates of steaming fish and a complimentary platter of roasted, what vegetables. She was closely followed by Pyria, Ralnor’s wife. Ilyana was shorter in appearance than Lyra but with much more on her older frame. Her peachy ear tips stuck up from her dark brunette hair that waved like the river’s waters. There was a large mark that ran across the lower portion of her jaw. It almost resembled a smudge of dirt to Billy. It was a birthmark no doubt and it caught his attention. He’d never seen one so large before.
“I was born with it, if that’s what you’re wanting to ask,” Ilyana said as she caught Billy’s gaze.
“Oh… no, I only meant to—“ Billy paused as he felt the warm blood fill his cheekbones. Rose graced him with a well-placed elbow. He was an enormous apple reddened with embarrassment. “I meant no disrespect.”
Faelar chuckled. “She’s only giving you a rough time there.”
Ilyana’s pink lips stretched into a smirk. “In our culture is fairly common for them. We call them filifirths. It means the mark of royalty. Suppose I have royal blood somewhere along with my ancestry.”
Lyra smirked, “Me too!”
All seven of them sat down respectively next to their spouses. Billy took up the seat next to Rose and Lyra. It was directly across from where Faelar sat. There wasn’t much talking but a few words resembling a prayer said by Ralnor. He explained it was customary for the eldest to always say a few words before a meal even if they were guests. Rose and Billy sat mostly in silence and bowed their heads until the ritual was over. From the corner of his eye, he noticed Rose holding her pendant delicately in her hands while Ralnor prayed. The red jasper’s polished surface flickered momentarily until the prayer was finished.
“Ainulin,” they whispered.
“So did Lyra give you the round trip viewing of Lochwald?” Faelar asked stuffing his face with a mouthful of fish.
“Yes. I was most pleased with it,” Billy said taking a bite sufficient for a mouse.
“And what of the ruins? What did you think of them?”
Ralnor and Ilyana’s ears perked up and watched intently. Billy exchanged a troublesome glance with Lyra. Truth was, they scared him. And what he saw… terrified him to his bones. He slaughtered their ancestors and incinerated their homeland. Armed soldiers in the thousands fueled with malice marched on Lochwald not to conquer but to annihilate. It was a horror as countless met their deaths at his hands. Worst of all, it seemed to amuse him and the master he served. “They were, unusual,” he said, after a brief silence of disturbing images flashing through his head.
“In what way?” Ralnor piped in digging through his plate. “Disturbing?”
“I… the tombs were… interesting,” Billy confessed. “I do not understand them.”
“Understand them?” Ralnor repeated. �
��What’s not to understand? They’re where we buried our dead a long time ago. Does man not bury their dead in the same fashion?”
“How is it one of the tombs was broken from the inside out? Do elves bury their dead living?”
The question hit the table like an unwanted pest. Rose’s eyes widened and Faelar coughed to clear his throat. “An answer lost to a clouded past, unfortunately,” he said removing a bone from his mouth. “Was that… all Lyra showed you?”
Billy could tell where this was leading.
“I’m sure much lighter topics would be appropriate. This kind of talk can wait for later,” Ilyana said noticing the distress on Billy’s face. “We don’t need to pester the boy. Let him eat.”
Lyra rolled her eyes in annoyance. “You did enjoy the ship ride though, didn’t you?”
“I would be lying if I said yes,” Billy smirked taking another bite of his fish. Bitter, he thought. “My stomach will never forget it.” And they all chuckled as Billy recounted his seasickness. Lyra, however, did not say much the rest of dinner joining Rose’s silence.
Billy stirred in his sleep, ridden with cold sweats. He could not forget what he’d seen. His heart jolted and he launched upright, reeking of fear. Rose still lay sound asleep, cradling her pendant in her hands roaring like a lion. The inside of the volitare was dark but a collection of chatter entered the patchwork walls. Billy heard Ralnor’s gruff voice arguing with Faelar.
He crept over to the window to listen.
“We don’t know that!” Ralnor bellowed.
“Quiet! You’re going to wake the entire village,” Faelar’s wife Ilyana said.
“I agree with Lyra,” Ilyana said, grasping her husband’s arm.
“But the secrets are to be kept private,” Faelar said lighting his pipe once more. “That’s how it has always been.”
“Don’t be blinded by your liking for the human boy,” Ralnor barked. “There are reasons why their kind doesn’t travel through here. I could smell it on him the moment he arrived. He’s just like she was. And to think we’ve dinned with the boy.”
The Shadow of Our Stars: The Tales of Evinar Page 18
