“Perhaps you should do as he wants,” Sayia suggested in a low whisper.
Jayden gave her a small nod. His mother had taught him many elf melodies, and at her insistence he was often coerced into performing at festivals and celebrations. In spite of this, he had never much cared to sing in public. This, though, was an extremely awkward situation.
He looked up at the drunken man and smiled. “Of course. It’s your birthday, after all.”
Cheers erupted from the crowd as he rose and approached the flautist.
“Do you know ‘The Maiden of Longshadow’?” he asked.
The man nodded. “It’s not really an elf song, though.”
“It’s close enough,” he said.
Quite by chance, “The Maiden of Longshadow” had a melody that was virtually identical to an elf song, “Elinor of the Vale,” that his mother used to sing to him as a child. It had remained his favorite tune throughout his life.
He closed his eyes and listened as the flautist played the opening notes. Gradually the crowd hushed.
In winters past I saw her weep,
Tears of joy and sorrows deep,
I was afraid to hear her name,
It called for me to stay.
Through years untold
The bitter cold,
I see the gates of hell,
The loving hand which once held mine,
Sweet Elinor, farewell
For you are lost within the flames
Your essence weak and frail
T’was I who sent you to the depths,
Elinor of the Vale.
He continued through several verses before nodding to the flautist that he was finished.
The crowd was quick to show their approval. A cacophony of boisterous shouts, stomping of feet, and banging on the tables quickly rose up at the end of his performance. Jayden smiled and nodded his gratitude.
Upon returning to his table, he found that Sayia was no longer there.
“The lass seemed upset,” said the drunken innkeeper, who had remained beside the table throughout. “I guess your song wasn’t to her taste.” He slapped Jayden on the shoulder. “Don’t you worry, I liked it just fine, and so did everyone else.”
Jayden surveyed the room, but there was no sign of her anywhere. Hastily, he pushed through the crowd, receiving several words of praise along the way. Back in their bedroom he found a note lying on the bed.
Jayden,
Do not be concerned, I just need to be alone. I will be back before morning.
Sayia
He stroked his chin while wondering what had upset her. It couldn’t have been anything he had done. After a few minutes of pondering on this, he decided to return to the common room. There was nothing else to do. Whatever it was that had disturbed her, he would have to wait to find out.
He sat at the bar listening to the music, though at times it was quite difficult to hear over the raucous laughter of the party goers, especially that coming from the increasingly drunken innkeeper. He thought it astonishing that the man was still capable of standing.
Before long, tiredness began to creep up on him. He was about to return to the bedroom when he spotted two elves sitting at a table not far away from where he was seated. He hadn’t seen them come in, but they had clearly noticed him.
Both were clad in hooded robes that were stained with mud and worn from travel. The slight bulge at each of their waists told him they were armed. He suddenly felt exposed and vulnerable. As their eyes met, one rose from his seat and walked over.
“We were wondering if you might care to join us,” he said.
Trying hard to appear calm, Jayden stood and gave the elf a respectful bow. “Actually, I was just about to turn in for the night.”
“Please,” he pressed. “We won’t keep you long.”
Jayden forced a smile. “Very well, then.”
He took a seat opposite the two elves. One poured him a cup of wine – an empty third cup that they’d seemingly had at the ready, with him in mind.
“I am Mavri,” said the elf to his left. He was thin, with sandy blond hair and dark eyes. His companion was thicker in build and sported close-cropped bright red hair – unusual for an elf. “This is Havlion.”
“I am Jayden.” As he spoke, it occurred that using his real name might not be the best idea. Not that there was anything he could do about it now.
“From where do you hail?” Mavri asked.
“Across the Abyss.”
He raised an eyebrow. “A long way to come all alone.”
“I have a companion.”
“Would it happen to be the woman we saw leaving a short while ago?” asked Havlion.
“It is.”
“She seemed quite put out.”
Jayden nodded. “She can be…difficult.”
Both men laughed.
“For one so young, I imagine all women can be difficult,” remarked Havlion. He paused. “You say that your name is Jayden?”
He nodded, but said nothing.
“There are rumors flying about. They say that the followers of Saraf are seeking someone going by that name. They even say there are fell creatures about, aiding their search. Creatures that should not exist. You wouldn’t happen to be that Jayden, would you? I only ask because he is said to be traveling with a woman.”
Tension gripped him. “No one is looking for me. Certainly not the followers of Saraf.”
“Be at ease,” said Mavri. “We’re only curious. In fact, we could possibly help you.”
“In what way?”
The elf smiled. “Before I tell you, there is something I must know.” He held out his hand and nodded for Jayden to take it.
He leaned away. “What is it you want?”
“A test,” he replied. “You see, we’ve also heard that Jayden is a newbreed.” He shrugged. “Most likely it is nothing more than a nasty rumor spread to enlist the elves in their search. However, if it did happen to be true, such a being would be a most unwelcome sight. Wouldn’t you agree with me?”
Jayden’s heart began to pound. “Can’t you sense my presence?” he asked.
“Yes. But you did not sense ours, and that makes me wonder. Perhaps you have found a way to…hide your true nature?”
With a sharp movement, Jayden pushed back his chair. “I didn’t come over here to be offended by you,” he retorted. “And I have no intention of allowing you to test me.”
“I would not attempt to leave,” Havlion told him, his hand drifting ominously to the bulge beneath his cloak.
For a moment, Jayden considered his two options. He could try to make a run for it and hope he was fast enough to escape. That did not seem like a good choice. With so many people packed into the room, he would likely be skewered before he got even a couple of yards. That left only the very risky second option. Heaving a sigh, he leaned forward and held out his hand.
Mavri touched the back of it with his fingers. Several seconds passed by, during which his face gave nothing away. Jayden’s heart thudded as he awaited Mavri’s verdict.
The elf then leaned back in his chair, a smile forming. “You see, Havlion? Rumors. Nothing more. Jayden is as much an elf as we are.” His smile grew wider. “And now that we know this, I hope you will accept our help.”
“What makes you think I need it?” Jayden asked, doing all he could not to let the flood of relief he was feeling show through.
“Because between here and the desert there are dozens of men looking for you,” he replied. “Not to mention what appears to be Vrykol. Which raises the question: Why are you being hunted? And how can there be Vrykol when the Reborn King is no more?”
Before Jayden could respond, Sayia appeared from amongst the crowd directly behind Havlion. After placing both of her hands on the elf’s shoulders, a light wisp of smoke began seeping out from between her fingers. He gasped and winced, clearly in considerable pain.
“As you can see, we can take care of ourselves,” Sayia told h
im. “And if you threaten my friend again, you will be the ones in need of aid.” Her eyes were red from tears, but her expression was cold.
Mavri leapt from his chair, but did not reach for his weapons. “We meant him no harm. You must know this.”
“Could you have still said the same had he turned out to be a newbreed?” she retorted, venom in her tone.
“We seek only to preserve our race.”
“If bigotry and hatred are what dwells in the hearts of elves, then perhaps we are not worthy of being preserved.”
“Please,” Jayden chipped in, touching her arm. “Let him go. He didn’t hurt me.”
By now, several patrons were taking notice of the commotion. With a final look of contempt, Sayia released her hold, leaving behind a pair of scorch marks where her hands had been.
“Come,” she said. “We need to rest.”
As he followed her through the crowd, a voice called out.
“Wait!”
He turned to see Mavri running after them.
“I apologize,” the elf said.
Sayia sneered. “For what? For being closed minded?”
His shoulders slumped. “I cannot help the way I feel. But I do regret threatening your friend. I should not have done that. Please, allow me to make restitution.”
“There is no need,” she said.
“If you are going to the desert, then you should know that you are truly being hunted. I was not exaggerating the danger. Come with us, and I will see that you arrive safely.”
Sayia flicked a hand. “We’ll be fine on our own.”
“There are more than twenty of us,” he added. “Plenty enough to ensure that you can travel unmolested.”
“It might not be such a bad idea,” Jayden remarked. Though he was still angry at the way he had been treated, there were other things to consider. If they really were being sought by a combination of humans, elves, and Vrykol, they could easily find themselves in a situation they couldn’t handle alone.
“Where are the rest of your people?” Sayia asked.
“Most of them are camped a few miles north of the village. We came in for supplies and noticed the two of you. We had recently heard other elves speak of a newbreed being hunted by Vrykol, and –”
“And you thought you would see if it was true?”
Mavri nodded. “And I am now truly sorry. But if others like myself have heard this talk as well, you could find yourself faced with a large number of foes. No one will think to look for you among our group. And even if they did, I doubt anyone would be so foolish as to attack us.”
Sayia locked eyes with him for a long moment. “Very well,” she finally said. “We will join with you in the morning.”
Mavri smiled and bowed. “We will wait until you arrive. And hopefully, by journey’s end, I will have made you think better of me.”
Sayia turned away from him without speaking any further.
Once back in their room, she sat on the bed and waited for Jayden to close the door.
“I am not sure this is wise,” she told him. “It is precisely elves like Mavri and his companions that I was hoping to avoid.”
He moved over to his cot. “Yes, but if what he said is true, then it’s got to be better than getting caught out in the open alone. Besides, they think I’m a full-blooded elf.”
“Perhaps. All the same, you should avoid any idle banter. You were raised more as a human than an elf. Your words might yet rouse further suspicion.”
A short silence developed. Jayden then leaned his elbows on his knees. “Do you feel like telling me what’s really wrong? Why did you run off like that?” He cracked a smile. “My singing isn’t that bad, is it?”
“You have a lovely voice,” she responded. “It was the song that upset me. It brought back memories. My grandfather used to sing it to me when I was a small child.” She returned his smile. “It was nothing more than that.”
“You really do love him.”
“Yes. I miss him terribly.”
“I’m sure you’ll see him again.”
She averted her eyes and took a long cleansing breath. “I hope so. But you do not need to hear about this. We need rest. Elves travel at speed, and it will take all of your strength to keep up with them.”
Jayden dimmed the lantern and took off his boots. While lying on the cot he wondered if Maybell and Penelope had ever felt as homesick through the years as Sayia did now. On the few occasions he had been around elves from across the Abyss, they had spoken of their land with great excitement. It must be a wonderful place, he thought. His mind then wandered to his own home and the farm. In a strange kind of way, he did miss it. Seeing the world thus far had not been exactly as he had hoped.
Of course, when he had pictured what it would be like on his adventures away from home, he hadn’t imagined that there would be people trying to kill him at every turn.
Chapter Thirteen
They arrived at the elves’ camp just as dawn was breaking. Mavri greeted them warmly, quickly introducing them to his band of travelers. As he’d said, they numbered just over twenty, evenly split between male and female.
“I have explained who you are,” he told them. “You have nothing to fear while you are with us. Those who hunt you will have to kill us all before they can have you.”
Sayia gave him a slight nod, but said nothing in response.
As expected, travel was swift, but not so much that Jayden could not keep pace. Though it was well known that elves from across the Abyss were particularly strong in the flow, Sayia had thought it best to forgo their lessons for a time. If there were any Vrykol about, she had no desire to draw their attention.
Most of the elves in the group were from the west, with just two of their number originating from the steppes. As with the majority of those who had journeyed to the desert, they were choosing a secluded life away from what they considered to be the downfall of their people. Their general feelings toward humans ranged from dislike to outright hatred. Only a few of the group were young, and it soon turned out that they were there to accompany older relatives rather than having any great personal need to distance themselves from humans. It was true, Jayden reflected, the young were indeed more accepting of new ways. This was what he had heard his mother say time and again when news of the troubles reached their farm.
To his relief, none pressed him about where he was from or why they were being sought, though a few did eye him curiously from time to time. Sayia kept herself close, jumping in to answer the few questions posed before Jayden could speak. Several inquired as to the goings on across the Abyss.
“I had thought about settling there myself,” said one of the young women.
“Why didn’t you?” Sayia asked.
“My brother,” she replied, nodding toward a man a few yards ahead. “Our parents were killed in the war, and we are all that remains of our family. He couldn’t bring himself to leave our shores. Nor could he tolerate living among those who slaughtered our people. So eventually he decided to go to the desert. As much as I wanted to see your lands, I could not abandon him.”
Those who slaughtered our people. The words struck Jayden. He had never made any allowance for this. It was true that human and elf had fought together, but they had fought against human armies. Had the Reborn King led the elves into battle, how would the humans feel? Perhaps they would be the ones heading to the desert?
In the evenings, he found them to be of good nature – a contrast to what he’d been expecting. They seemed excited by the prospect of a new life, hopeful that it would be one worth living. Sayia remained aloof throughout, though her attitude had softened somewhat toward Mavri.
“They’re afraid,” she said to Jayden after the first few days of travel. “It’s impossible not to pity them.”
Camp had been set up for the night on a low rise. They appeared no different to any other group heading for the desert as the elves gathered for their evening meal, though Jayden knew this would chang
e in an instant should he be discovered.
“I bet they wouldn’t seem so pitiable if they knew the truth about me,” he offered in reply to her remark.
“No doubt you are right,” Sayia agreed. “And when I think about the emotion that drives them, I feel it is best that they remove themselves from the rest of the world. If they did not, they would soon be forced out anyway. Change does not tolerate stagnation; they are mortal foes. And change always proves to be the stronger.”
“It makes me wonder what my father intended to do about them.”
She shrugged. “Leave them to the desert is my guess. There they can do no harm. And as the desert elves are far more accepting people, perhaps in time they too will change.”
“I don’t know. My father is a stubborn man. He might have thought he could be the one to change them.”
“Perhaps that is why the gods turned on him,” she suggested.
“I think you might be right,” he replied, eyes downcast in thought. “What’s worse, I’m not totally sure that those who did were wrong.”
Sayia placed her hand on his shoulder. “Even if he was wrong, he did not deserve betrayal.”
Jayden sighed. “No. He didn’t.”
The days passed uneventfully with no sign of their pursuers. The few people they did come across were human travelers, and these did their best to avoid the elves. Jayden feared that his companions, being so far away from witnesses, might take this opportunity to lash out at their perceived enemies, but they did not.
“Do you really hate humans that much?” he asked Mavri.
“Yes, even though I know I shouldn’t. Your friend is right about me. That’s why I am leaving. I have no place among them. Should I stay, I would only give them reason to hate us in return.”
“So you admit that humans don’t hate elves?”
He suddenly had a faraway look in his eyes. This was clearly a subject that he had dwelt on at length several times before. “They fear us. And they distrust us. But no...most do not hate us.” He paused to look over his shoulder. “At home, I thought I was safe. That was before war came to my door and I witnessed the horrors of what humans could unleash. Even after the death of the Reborn King, I soon came to realize that no elf is truly safe, not even among their own kind. The humans will rule this world. They will have dominion over all. Perhaps not today, but someday. It is in their nature. Yes, I hate them. Not for what they did; rather for what I know they will do.”
The Godling Chronicles Page 22
