by Darren Lee
Adanna looked upon Elintae in fear. He knew she was the goddess, although he had never laid eyes upon her before. The Goddess he had believed was nothing more than a bedtime story.
Elintae looked at all the Elves. “I command you all to bow to me! Bow now or face your death at my hands!”
Oryn gasped and quickly shouted, “Bow, you fools!”
The Elves all kneeled before Elintae. Sarath and Kane approached Lian. Kane lowered his head at Elintae’s presence. Sarath looked down to Kane. “You’re bowing?” Kane glanced up to Sarath and growled. Sarath quickly kneeled. “Fine, fine.”
Shinaugra let out a roar and perched on a half crumbled building. He too bowed his head in the presence of Elintae.
Adanna trembled in fear but remained standing. “Why? Why should we bow before a god that has forsaken us for one thousand years?”
Shinaugra roared viciously. “Bow before the Lady of Death!” the mighty dragon snorted. “Or don’t, and I shall devour you for your insolence.” Shinaugra laughed in a low and dark tone.
Sarath glanced up to Shinaugra and said to herself, “Not only is it a talking dragon, but a talking dragon that has a dark sense of humor.”
Elintae glanced to Shinaugra. “That will not be necessary.” She returned her angered gaze to Adanna. “He will bow.”
Elintae held out her hand. The same wooden staff Miss Eva had carried all those years ago appeared in it. Lightning shot from the sky and struck the staff as Elintae pointed it at Adanna and projected green lightning upon him. He let out a terrible scream of pain and fell to his knees.
Elintae lowered her staff. “Now, Adanna, I have witnessed your crimes. The soul of the child you murdered! She left the nourishing cradle of life only to be embraced by the dusk.” Elintae pointed to Adanna. “Her soul, so innocent, so pure, could only tell me of the cries and pleas of her mother. The valiant attempts by her father to save her life.” Elintae turned to Elinar and Teelia. “Mother and Father, rise.” Elinar and Teelia looked to each other. They stood slowly looking upon Elintae. Elintae nodded to them. “Approach me.”
Elinar and Teelia spoke in unison, “Yes, my Lady Dusk.”
Elinar and Teelia approached Elintae and stood before her. Elintae held out her free hand and formed a dagger carved from jade. She handed it to Elinar and Teelia. “Blood will be paid with blood.”
Teelia took the jade dagger. “Thank you, my Lady.” She turned to Elinar. “Come, Elinar. Let us make him pay.” Elinar nodded as they turned and approached the kneeling Adanna.
He looked upon the two vengeful parents. “Please! I only did what I believed--”
Elinar let out a grunt and struck Adanna’s mouth, knocking him to the ground.
Teelia kicked his face repeatedly while she watched his blood splatter. She snarled and screamed, “You believed what? That killing our daughter was right!” Teelia erupted into tears.
Elinar grabbed Adanna’s hair and raised him to his knees. “Now, you will pay!” He looked to Teelia. “Do it, Teelia! Spill his blood just as he spilled our daughter’s!”
Teelia’s lips quivered and the tears dripped from her cheeks. She lifted the dagger to Adanna’s neck, watching the blood drip from his face. Teelia took several deep breaths before she screamed and slowly lowered the dagger.
“Teelia?” Elinar asked softly
Teelia turned to face Elintae and approached her. She handed the dagger back to the goddess. “He doesn’t deserve the peace of death.” She turned to face Adanna. “He deserves to live with his crimes. You deserve to bear the weight of my daughter’s life. The weight of every single elf who has lost their life because of you… For all eternity!”
Elintae nodded and spoke with a soft voice, “Teelia, face me.”
Teelia turned to her. “My Lady Dusk?”
The jade dagger within Elintae’s hand turned to dust, then to light. A small orb of green light floated just above her palm. “This is the soul of your daughter. She misses your warmth, your compassion.” Elintae smiled. “In sparing Adanna’s life, you have shown great compassion.” Teelia looked upon the fluctuating ball of light. She smiled through her tears. She could feel her daughter. Elintae took a deep breath. “I have never bestowed such a gift on anyone before. I hope that you will cherish your daughter for as long as you both may live.”
Teelia looked up to Elintae. “Live… what do you mean?”
The green light floated from Elintae’s hand, it expanded and surrounded Teelia. She gasped as the light was absorbed into her body. Teelia She placed her hands on her abdomen, feeling the warmth of her daughter once more. She turned to Elinar with a smile as tears streamed down her face. “She lives.”
Elinar dropped Adanna to the ground. “What?”
“She lives!” she said. “She lives!”
Elinar ran to Teelia and wrapped his arms around her.
Teelia buried her face into Elinar’s chest while she wept tears of pure joy. “I can feel her!”
Elinar felt tears escaping his own eyes. He looked to Elintae with a smile. He let go of Teelia and approached the merciful goddess. Elinar dropped to his knees while he looked up to her. “Thank you, my Lady. Thank you so much.”
Lian sheathed his sword and returned to normal. He smiled as he watched Teelia and Elinar. Lian motioned Sarath to his side and wrapped an arm around her. “Still think most magic is bad?”
Sarath grinned. “Not at all.”
Chapter 28: Ultimatum
Clouds burdened the moonlight that shined down upon Allendale castle. The town was still, and the taverns were empty. Vacant beds littered the inns. Nothing human remained. Roxees’ twisted creations stood around the castle. They wore the stretched and torn armor of Kynlynn soldiers, and their glowing red eyes gleamed in the night. Gears began to slowly turn, the sound of clanking iron echoing through the empty town as the castle gates began to rise. Enforcers marched from the castle. Once the people of Kynlynn, its merchants, soldiers, mothers, fathers, brothers, and sisters. Numbering in the thousands, they poured into the town. Queen Roxees had completed the construction of her army. Screams of terror and pleas for mercy echoed from the castle’s vast dungeon. Remnants of the remaining population that had not yet met their ascendance cried out.
Roxees sat across her throne, her legs propped on the armrest. She raised a blood-filled wine glass to her lips. Roxees twirled her long black hair with a devilish smile of satisfaction. Kynlynn Enforcers lined the halls of her court. Roxees peered at the entrance, hearing the heavy steps of armor against her stone floors. Dreathous emerged into her court. Roxees stood and kneeled as the monstrous warrior approached. “My Lord Commander Dreathous, to what do I owe the pleasure?”
Dreathous reached Roxees and looked down upon her. “The sword.”
Roxees eyes widened, she glanced up while she began to tremble. “My… My Lord Commander, he has not come yet.”
Dreathous’ eyes glowed brighter. He let out a scream. Dreathous snorted at Roxees. “Stand!”
Roxees dropped her wine glass. The sound of shattering glass echoed through the silent halls. She quickly stood and looked around at her Enforcers. “Leave us!”
The Enforcers nodded and took their leave with haste. Dreathous stared ominously at Roxees while they vacated the throne room. The last Enforcer left the chamber just as Dreathous reached towards Roxees. He grasped her throat and slammed her through the stone throne. Roxees attempted to cry out in pain to no avail. Dreathous raised her into the air and calmly said, “When I release you, you will explain your failure.”
Roxees nodded her head quickly, unable to breathe. Dreathous released his grip slowly and turned away from her. Roxees quickly grasped her throat as she gasped for air. She slowly stood and looked at Dreathous’ back. “I… I have not failed you,” Roxees said.
Dreathous slowly turned to face Roxees. “Is that so?” He removed his faceplate. “Explain.”
“He… he will come. I am ready,” she said. “Ten thousand aw
ait him and more wait for ascendance.”
Dreathous laughed. “Do you think these pathetic creations impress me?”
Roxees trembled while she quickly shook her head. “I… I… made them as you made me!”
Dreathous slapped Roxees to the ground. “Are you so arrogant that you think you can create as I do? I consumed the very heart of Dalron! Your power pales in comparison to mine! These pathetic creatures will not save you!” Dreathous watched Roxees climb to her feet. “I find you masquerading in your human form still. Showing the flesh you had given in exchange for such vast power.” Dreathous glared at her and sternly said, “I should have destroyed you. You spit on the gifts I give. The very first ascended human of this world. A true honor.”
Roxees’ eyes widened as her amulet glowed. Her human beauty faded. Roxees’ soft human skin became coarse as it darkened. Her black hair faded to white. She dropped to her knees. “Please… please forgive me!”
Dreathous swung the back of his and struck Roxees’ horrid face. “Insolence!” She flew across the room and crashed into the stone wall, then fell to the ground. “Now, with such an army why haven’t you tracked him down?”
Roxees struggled to stand while she clinched her side. “You told me to wait… for him to attack.”
Dreathous glared upon her. “He will attack… and not foolishly.”
“Do you know something I do not?” she said.
Dreathous roared, then screamed, “Yes! While you have been preoccupied playing queen, I have felt disturbances in this world!” Dreathous quickly approached Roxees and pushed her against the wall. “Disturbances you should have felt!”
Roxees took rapid short breaths. “What… What sort of disturbances?”
“He has quickly learned his abilities,” he said. “Each time I felt the shift, he drew more power from this world.”
Roxees’ eyes widened. “How much power?”
Dreathous released hers. “He rivals you. Maybe even outmatches you.”
Roxees shook her head quickly. “Impossible!”
“Is it?” he said, turning to face her. “That same power once rivaled me. You are an insignificant ant in comparison to myself.”
Roxees clinched her fists and shouted, “He could not have become so powerful so quickly!”
“He is far more skilled than his ancestor,” said Dreathous.
Roxees glanced around the room. “I will defeat him! I will bring you his weapon!”
Dreathous turned away and said, “I sentence you to death.”
Roxees’ mouth quivered. With a voice filled with terror, she said, “What?”
“At the hands of Telindell,” he said. “Defeat him and earn your life. Fail and I will not save you.”
Roxees nodded. “I… I understand.”
Dreathous walked toward the exit. He looked back to Roxees. “I will be watching.”
Roxees took a deep breath and stammered, “Yes… yes, my Lord Commander.”
Roxees watched Dreathous make his exit. She stared into nothing while anger filled her rotten soul. She let out a long, continuous shriek, and the temperature dropped rapidly, quickly covering the castle’s interior in ice and snow. Roxees squinted at the Enforcers entering the room. She held out her hand and summoned her staff, thrusting it toward an Enforcer. It pierced his chest and turned him to solid ice. Roxees held out her hand and snapped her fingers. The Enforcer shattered. She snarled and looked to the others. “Ready my army for battle! The enemy will march upon us soon!” The Enforcers quickly turned and left the throne room.
Roxees approached the crumbled ruins of her throne. She clenched her fist as she looked at the coarse, nearly black skin that lined her body. “I will defeat him,” she said to herself. Roxees screamed, “I’ll rip his body to pieces!”
Chapter 29: Allegiance
Clouded moonlight shined down on Alinshahar. The entire city was littered with thousands of funeral pyres. Even the extensive farmland to the north of the city emitted their morbid glow. Lian stood upon a balcony near the top of the Council Chamber that overlooked the city. The cool night breeze caressed his bare chest and fluttered the thin curtains around the doorway. He felt Sarath’s arms wrap around him and the warmth of her skin press against his back.
Sarath laid her head against his shoulder blades. “I wish you’d lie with me.” Lian took a deep breath as he continued to look out over the mourning city. Sarath kissed his back. “Please?”
Lian looked down to Sarath’s warm hands that were clasped around his abdomen. “I know, it’s just…”
Sarath sighed. “Just what?” She raised her hands to Lian’s chest and felt the scars left by Shinaugra’s deadly claws. Sarath ran her fingers over the healed wounds while she took a slow, deep breath. “You’ve already healed… how?”
Lian slowly clutched her hands. “I suppose I have.” He blinked his eyes and lowered his head. “I’ve always healed quickly.”
Sarath smiled slightly. “I shouldn’t be surprised. I’ve seen you defy possibility so many times already. I’ve seen you float in the air. You even drove back a dragon’s attack by holding out your hand.” She squeezed him tightly. “You just showed up and ended a war. You’ve already saved so many lives.” Sarath let out a sigh. “Even mine…”
Lian looked up to the partially hidden moon in the clouded night sky. “But how many have I lost…”
Sarath looked up to his shaggy hair. “You can’t save everyone.”
Lian took a deep breath. “So many faces… how long until…”
Sarath squeezed him tightly. “Until what?”
Lian pulled away and turned to face her. “Until you join them.”
Sarath took a step back and slowly shook her head. “Join them?”
Lian closed his eyes tightly and clenched his fists. “How long until I’m haunted by your face. Just as every face I failed to save haunts me. I see them almost every time I close my eyes. In moments of silence, in my dreams.”
Sarath frowned and shook her head. “Lian, I’ll never haunt you just like you’ll never fail me. You already succeeded in saving me.” Sarath squinted as tears escaped from her eyes. “If this is my last night alive…” She clenched her fists tightly. “I will die with happiness in my heart, having spent this night with you!”
Lian slowly shook his head with closed eyes. “How could you be happy?”
Sarath glared at Lian. She gritted her teeth and quickly approached him. Sarath pushed him back against the balcony railing. “How could you say that?” She turned away from him. “You saved me from myself! It doesn’t matter if some monster kills me!” She looked back to Lian. “It matters that I’m with the light that drove away the darkness. I don’t care about your powers, how everybody… even a god revels before you and believes you’ll save the world.” Sarath walked to the unmade bed and sat on its edge. She glanced up to Lian before lowering her head. “I care about you. The kind and gentle man that showed me compassion and kindness where I deserved none.” She looked up to Lian. “You saved me from myself. I escaped a life of servitude and objectification just to dive into a new life of the same garbage I had always known.” Sarath slowly smiled while she wiped away her tears and sniffled. “You showed me something more. Something better.” She stood and walked toward Lian again. “I’m with you. Life or death. I’m not going anywhere.”
Lian looked upon Sarath and gave a slight smile. “You know, you’re probably the craziest person I have ever met.”
Sarath sniffled and let out a brief giggle. “I’m not the one who jumped off a dragon into a war zone.
Lian closed his eyes and shook his head while smiling. “I guess I do crazy things, too.”
Sarath stepped close to Lian and placed her hands on his chest. She looked up into his eyes. “We do crazy things…”
Lian wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her against him. He felt the warmth of her chest against his. “Like being here, with me?”
Sarath took a deep breath an
d whispered, “We only do the craziest things for those we love…”
The moon sank below the horizon as the first glimmers of dawn shone upon the landscape of Alinshahar. Oryn watched the sun rise from a broken window within the Council Chamber. Councilor Stala, Elinar, Teelia, and Command Sorceress Alisia all sat around the council table. Lian, Sarath, and Kane entered the chamber.
Oryn glanced to the three. “Excellent. Now, we only wait for the Lady.”
Lian looked around at all those present. “She isn’t here?”
Sarath smirked. “She’s probably waiting for a dramatic entrance.”
Oryn turned to face Lian with a stern glare. “No, she has not arrived yet.” Oryn shifted his gaze to Sarath. “It would be most wise not to criticize Lady Dusk.”
Lian glanced to Sarath. “Perhaps you should listen for once.”
Sarath shook her head and crossed her arms. “Shut it.”
Teelia leaned over to Elinar with a smile and whispered, “Definitely together.”
Councilor Stala shook her head at Teelia from across the table. She looked over to Sarath. “I trust your accommodations were satisfactory?”
Sarath smiled and nodded to Stala. “They were.”
Lian nodded as well. “Yes, thank you.”
Elinar studied Lian and Sarath closely. He smirked at Lian. “What would your mother say?”
Lian returned his smirk. “She’d convince me not to kill you.”
Teelia looked to Elinar with a teasing smile. “You win as far as looks go, but he does outmatch you.” Teelia glanced to Sarath. “As far as combat anyways…”
Alisia sighed and looked across to Teelia. “Can we please change the subject? There are more pressing matters.”
Stala looked to Teelia as well. “Yes, I agree. Please?”
