Elemental Betrayal

by Toni Cox

  “Yes, Father, all arrangements have been made,” Jaik answered.

  Jagaer nodded; he had expected nothing less. Then he turned towards Maia.

  “I expect you to be away longer than your brother, as you are visiting more cities,” Jagaer continued, addressing her. “We have assigned you two materium floats to carry your provisions and gifts for the cities, plus the horses to pull them. Food will be replenished in every city you visit and food for the animals will also be provided.”

  Jagaer paused for a moment and shuffled some papers on his desk. Maia and Jaik watched; they knew all of this already. The simple fact that their father had reiterated something that they were fully aware of meant that there was something else he actually wanted to say, but had difficulty expressing. Maia saw mixed emotions play across his face. She sensed turmoil from his Eläm, his Life Force, and she wondered what it could mean.

  “You both know what is expected of you and I don’t need to lecture you about what needs to be done and what I hope to accomplish with these Good Will missions.” He cleared his throat. “Just be safe out there. More reports of Vampyre sightings have come in and I could not bear it should anything happen to you while you are away.”

  He dropped the papers he still held in his hands and then, in three long strides, he walked around the table and took Maia into his arms. Over her shoulder, Jagaer gave Jaik a meaningful glance. Jaik nodded.

  Spring Feast; it was one of the most anticipated celebrations of the year. It celebrated the end of winter and the beginning of new life. Normally it was one of Maia’s favourite celebrations, but this year she could not find it within herself to be happy; too much had happened in the last few Moons. Nonetheless, she was expected to participate and she was determined to be there for her people. It was important to give the people hope and Spring Feast would give them something other to concentrate on besides the threats they faced.

  A whole host of sporting and cultural events were held each year at Spring Feast and it was her duty, as princess of her people, to present the winners’ trophies as well as a kiss for the victors. Celebrations would last three days during which more than fifty events would be held. People had been preparing and practicing for this during the long Moons of winter. Now it was time.

  Maia rose on the morning of the first day and selected one of the dresses her mother had commissioned to be made for her for this occasion. It was still cool during the day and nights were sometimes still cold enough for a light frost to form on the ground. The garment was made from a thick, yet soft and light material woven from fibres of the downy coat of the Angora rabbit. It had not been dyed and its natural ivory colour contrasted nicely with Maia’s dark mahogany hair. She watched herself in the mirror; the dress fitted her perfectly, its body-hugging top accented her shapely bust and narrow waist, while the flowing arms and skirt made it look like she was dancing with every movement she made. Although it was a plain dress, only adorned along the hems with tiny embroidered leaves, it made her look more like the princess she was, than those dark clothes she had been wearing all winter.

  Saddened, she turned away from the mirror. He was not here to see her like this; what was the point of her looking this beautiful? She wiped the tear from her eye and tried to erase the thought of Blaid from her mind. He was the Death Elemental; clad in superstition and feared by her people; and they would never be allowed to be together.

  The celebrations were for her people and she would have to pull herself together. It did no good to dwell on what she could not have.

  First up were the events for the children, followed later that day with some horse trials and musical events. Shadow Hall had a total of thirty-two children, which was a high number given the nature of Elves. In general, an Elven couple would only ever have one child during their entire lifetime. Twins, like Maia and Jaik, were extremely rare.

  Maia loved the children and she put on a brave face as she sat down on the throne that had been built for the games. The children paraded on the grounds in front of her, each doing their very best in their chosen event and each trying to win her approval. The younger ones fought with staves, swords and knives made from wood. They wrestled, shot arrows and navigated obstacle courses. They performed songs, recited poems and created artful masterpieces out of flowers, clay, or wood. The older ones demonstrated their skills with bow and arrow, knife-throwing, fencing and sword fighting and some even showed off their barely developed elemental powers. Most common was the magic of Earth, but three of the children had abilities with Water and Fire.

  By the end of day one, Maia felt her spirits rising. She had kissed so many children and seen their hope and admiration in their eyes, which had awoken something within her that had been dormant for many Moons. She was smiling when she laid her head on her pillow and fell into a peaceful sleep; Wolf curled on the bed by her feet.

  When she woke the next morning, she was looking forward to the day; excitement coursed through her veins for the first time in many Moons. She selected the second gown her mother had ordered for her. This one was made from the wool of a strange animal that lived far to the south; a llama. Maia had never seen one, but it was often described as a pony-sized animal with a long neck and fluffy coat like that of a sheep. She had been told that they spat when they feel threatened. Their wool could come in a range of different colours and was thick and warm, yet soft and comfortable. Her dress for today was of a light tan colour. It was adorned with small, dark brown wooden beads; carved to look like acorns; that were sown onto her bodice in the shape of a tree; the branches curling seductively around her bodice; and a straight line on the hem of her skirt. Although Maia could not quite explain why, this dress made her feel more woman than the dress from yesterday. She stepped out of her house with her head held high and a smile on her face.

  He caught his breath as he saw her ascend the steps to her throne. She was even more beautiful today than she had been yesterday. Every day he marvelled at her beauty and it took his breath away every time.

  He stood on the Parade Ground with a group of other young men and women who were registered for the novice sword fighting class. He had been training right through the winter and although he was far from accomplished with the weapon, he wanted to prove himself against the others and to show Maia that he was capable of learning and, most important, that he was able to protect her. He felt a little silly all dressed up as if going to war, but if he had to be honest with himself, it did make him look good. He was tall and lanky and the sparring uniform made him look like he had more muscle than he actually did. It gave him confidence.

  The class he had signed up for was for beginners only and the others were as inexperienced as he was. They had the advantage of their natural elven speed and strength, but he reckoned it would come down to determination who would be the winner in the end and therein lay his strength. Besides, the changes within his body were becoming more noticeable with every Moon that passed and he was now stronger, faster, and fitter than he had ever been on Earth.

  Maia had taken her seat now and a speaker announced the class. She nodded to each contestant in turn and he noticed her hesitate as her eyes met his. He held her gaze for just a moment and his heart beat frantically within his chest.

  “Aaron Nightingale, short sword,” the speaker announced.

  Aaron smiled at her and she blushed, making him smile even more. He had not told her about his training or about his desire to compete in the games. The fact that he had been able to surprise her pleased him greatly.

  Now it was time. The competitors were divided into four pairs. The winner of each would go on to the next round and so on until there were only two left to compete in the final. Aaron concentrated on his first opponent and, feeling Maia’s eyes on him, went to it with determination. The fight was over surprisingly quickly. He had incapacitated his opponent with a heavy blow to his shield, which had jarred his opponent’s arm to such an extent that he was unable to continue. At the end of round one, t
he four victors stood in front of the throne and they bowed to their princess. Maia graced them all with a smile, but Aaron fancied that she smiled brighter when she looked at him.

  After a short break of drinks and songs, the fighters assembled for round two. This time Aaron was paired against a girl. She was maybe the same age as his daughter, was of slender built and looked too fragile to hold a sword. However, his eyes had deceived him. Once the gong sounded, she surprised him with a fast technique and flighty movements. More than once did her sword connect with the padding on his arms and legs and although the training swords were blunted, he knew he would go home with a few bruises tonight. He had to think quickly to keep up with her, panting with the effort it cost him, but in the end, it was sheer luck that he came out of the round victorious. She stumbled slightly during her attack and he ducked just in time to avoid the sword aimed at his chest. As he ran under her outstretched arm, he swung his sword to keep his balance and accidentally connected with her Achilles tendon, sending her sprawling on the ground. He was standing over her, sword to her throat, when the gong sounded.

  Again, the victors bowed to Maia and this time he was sure he saw admiration in her eyes as she nodded to him. It bolstered his confidence.

  The final round began. He stood opposite a tall Elf, who looked very sure of himself and held the sword with what seemed like practiced ease. Aaron worried for a moment, but after the initial bout, he realised that, although his opponent could strike with much force, he was slow in the turn due to his inexperience. Aaron took advantage of this and danced around the Elf until an opening presented itself and then dealt a hard blow to the thick padding that protected the kidneys. Almost immediately, the gong sounded. Had they been fighting with sharpened swords and without the sporting padding, the blow would have been fatal.

  The crowd erupted into cheers. Aaron’s ears glowed red. The tall Elf bowed to Aaron in congratulation and walked off the grounds. Aaron was then led to the front of the stage, where he was presented with a small scroll that pronounced him winner of the novice class. He held his breath as Maia rose from her throne. Gracefully she walked up to him and presented him with a tiny silver statue of a warrior holding a sword. He took it with shaking hands. Then Maia leaned in and kissed him on both cheeks; he could smell her breath, of mint and honey; and he shivered as she whispered in his ear.

  “May the victorious be blessed with the joy of life.”

  The soothing rhythm of Fire’s smooth stride was lulling her into a semi-sleep. They had been riding all morning, travelling north along the Trade Route that followed along the edge of Grildor-Bron Forest. The weather was mild today; the sun rising in the east in a milky-blue sky and a hint of warmth on the breeze that promised warmer weather. It was easy to forget the reason for this mission – the brutal attack by the Vampyres and the senseless killing of over one thousand Elves – and she kept her eyes half closed, trying to hold the peaceful mood that had sprouted tentative roots in her mind.

  “An acorn for your thoughts, My Lady.” Riker interrupted her trance-like state with the old adage.

  Reluctantly she opened her eyes and fought the disappointment of being brought back to reality. She knew Riker was not trying to be rude, but was simply making polite conversation; it was, after all, his responsibility to make sure she had everything she needed on this trip.

  “I was just thinking of the reason we are doing this. It saddens me that so many had to die and no matter how hard I try, I cannot shake the feeling that I could have prevented it.”

  She suppressed the urge to clap her hand over her mouth after she had said it. He had caught her unawares and she had told him more than she would have liked. Not even Silas knew her true feelings, her shortcomings.

  “I don’t understand, My Lady,” Riker said politely, but with worry in his eyes.

  Fire snorted and suddenly pranced beneath her as he felt her mood change. She laid a hand on his neck to calm him, but her hand was shaking. How could she explain to Riker that, had she heeded the visions and dreams of Death before the war, the war might have been prevented? What would he think of his princess and Life Elemental if she were not even capable of interpreting the signs the Mother had given her and thus had let so many people die? She knew, in her heart, that, had she listened to the warnings, she could have saved her people.

  The Spring Feast celebrations had temporarily brought her out of her depressed mood and she had actually enjoyed herself. Aaron had surprised her by participating, and winning, in the games and the general mood of the people had lifted her own. On the third, and last, day of the celebrations, Fire had won stallion of the year and four of his foals had been nominated as best young horses of the year. Now the depression hit her again with full force. Would she ever be able to forgive herself? She took a deep, steadying breath. Her hands were still shaking and Fire snorted, shaking his head.

  “I am sorry, Riker, I did not mean to burden you with my worries. As a Life Elemental, I seem to feel the loss of the people more deeply and it still troubles me. I will be all right now.”

  She smiled at him to put him at ease. His ears turned pink and he turned away from her to hide his embarrassment, putting his handsome features into sharp relief against the bright sky. She wondered about his embarrassment, but did not feel anything obvious from his Eläm. He was Guard; one of the best warriors Shadow Hall had to offer; and talking to his princess should not put him ill at ease. Maybe it was the topic of discussion.

  “How far have we come? Do you know where we will be making camp?” she asked him to change the subject.

  His face brightened almost immediately and he explained in detail their route and campsites for their trip, no doubt relieved that the subject concerning the worries of a Life Elemental was closed.

  “We left at sunrise this morning and have been travelling along the Trade Route at a steady pace for almost four hours now, covering close to sixteen miles. Because the materium platforms can only move over this rough terrain at the speed of a walking horse, it will take a little longer. Once we reach the plains closer to Thala Yll, our travelling speed should pick up. We will make camp at sundown at the Featherstone Inn.” He smiled crookedly at her, which was surprisingly charming. “We sent a pigeon ahead and My Lady’s dinner tonight will be mushroom ragout.”

  Riker positively beamed with the good news he brought her. Maia rewarded him with her brightest smile and she watched in amusement as his ears turned pink again. Mushroom ragout was her favourite and she wondered where Riker had acquired this information.

  “That is very thoughtful of you, Riker Moonswain. Thank you.”

  They rode in silence for a moment. The new topic of discussion had eased not only Riker, but Maia as well, and Fire was now walking calmly again, striding out smoothly with his strong legs.

  “The journey to Thala Yll will take us five days at this pace. It is possible, of course, to cover the two hundred and twenty-five miles in a time shorter than that, but we are heavily burdened with the gifts for the people, as well as our own accommodations. I believe they have provided every luxury and convenience for you for this trip.”

  He smiled at his princess, happy to be the bearer of good news again. Maia graced him with another smile, but on the inside, she was fuming. She did not like to be treated differently. She was sure her travelling companions would all have the standard travelling tents and provisions. This would have sufficed for her as well. She was sure that it was her father who had insisted on the extra luxuries and conveniences Riker was talking about. She would see tomorrow night what these entailed, as tonight they would stay at the Featherstone Inn, but she was sure she would not like them.

  The Trade Route followed the shape of the forest that clung to the Grildor-Bron mountain range like a blanket. During the morning and mid-day, the road was bathed in sunlight and the day was pleasantly warm. However, as the sun moved further west, the road was plunged into the shadow of the mountains and the temperature dropped considera
bly. Although summer was on its way, it would still be a few Moons before the days would be so warm that, even within the mountains one could walk without a coat.

  Maia shrugged into her black leather jacket and immediately felt warmer. The inside was lined with mink fur and was wonderfully soft and warm. They stopped at a small stream to let the horses drink and to allow the travellers a chance to relieve themselves and stretch their legs. Maia marvelled at how busy such a small group of people could be and how much they disturbed the perfect peace of their surroundings.

  Overall, they were a group of thirty-four people and, within moments of their arrival at this spot, the wildlife in this area had retreated far into the forest and Maia was only faintly aware of their Eläm. She knew that the animals would return once they had carried on with their travels, but it displeased her that she did not have the time to speak to the animals beforehand, so that they would know they meant them no harm.

  In the city, the animals of the forest lived in harmony with the Elves. So many generations had charmed the city, that it was often seen as a safe haven for animals. It was strictly forbidden to hunt within a ten-mile radius of the city. It was not uncommon for a family of deer to graze on the Gathering Grounds and some polecats, squirrels and hares had permanent homes within the city. In the beginning, her Human family had marvelled at the multitude of animals within the city, but had also been worried about rodents and insects within their home. Maia had laid their fears to rest; although the animals were allowed within the city, the Elves’ combined elemental magic had evolved over time, so that no animals, whether mammal or insect, intruded into any home unless invited in.