He bobbed his head, then smiled and stepped away.
Klara immediately grabbed onto Sarah.
Abelard looked at Skuntz. “Complete your mission and keep them safe, elf.”
At the words, the elf straightened. He crossed his arms and gave a short bow.
Abelard looked around him before waving his hand in the air. His comrades roared and applauded. They stomped their feet and beat their chests.
While the farewell symphony played, Abelard shot one last smile in Klara’s direction.
“Goodbye, Da.”
The old dwarf didn’t respond. Starting from his feet, a light coating of earth formed, hardening around him. Slowly, the earth moved farther and farther up his body, until he had become another statue.
“From earth we are born,” Klara whispered, “and from earth we return.”
There was a moment of silence. Everyone bowed their heads.
Finally, those surrounding the cemetery’s perimeter began their exit.
Sniffling and wiping at her eyes, Klara peered around her. Sarah mimicked her movements, narrowing her brows when she saw a line of young men standing aways.
Why weren’t they leaving with the others?
“One moment,” Klara said. She untangled herself from Sarah and approached the men.
Stepping beside Sarah, Skuntz said, “He was brave enough to know death was coming and still face it. It wasn’t on the battlefield but it was courageous.”
Sarah gave a heavy sigh, still watching Klara speak with the waiting dwarves.
“That’s one thing we can agree on. Thank you, Skuntz, by the way. I know this wasn’t part of our rescue mission an—”
“Missions don’t always go to plan.” He shook his head. “We had to be here. And he was important to you and Serwa.”
She smiled. “Very. More reason to get Serwa and Alexander back. I won’t lose anyone else.” She placed all her determination into those words. An oath.
“I said ‘no,’ David!” Klara stormed away from the men. Fuming, she marched past Skuntz and Sarah. Her hands were fists at her side.
“Stupid men,” she hissed. Her orange hair was on edge.
“What did they want?” Skuntz asked.
She rolled her eyes. “To marry me. I told them no. I am not promised to anyone and Da made it very clear what I had to do. Tonight we rest. Tomorrow we head to the Whispering Wall.”
She met both their eyes before wiping her own and storming from the cemetery.
“It’s not what I expected,” Sarah said to Klara the next morning.
The dwarf smirked. “What did you think? I was going to fall the ground and start chatting with all of Lyrica?”
“That’s exactly what she was expecting,” Skuntz laughed. “Look. It’s written all over her face.”
Sarah glared at him, before focusing on Klara once more.
“Ignore the idiot. I wasn’t sure what to expect, just not…this.” Sarah held both her hands out, gesturing to the space around them. The Whispering Wall was actually three walls, each with a collection of holes precisely burrowed in even columns and rows. The holes in the bottom row were all labeled. The higher rows—the dwarves had ladders to reach these spots—did not have the same bronze plaques.
At least from what Sarah could see. The rows continued up beyond her eyesight.
“Sure, sure. Of course you weren’t.” He sent Sarah a wink.
She could feel the blood rushing to her cheeks. Skuntz was such a pain.
“Well, whatever you may have thought doesn’t matter now,” Klara said, adjusting the shiny axe on her back. She had made sure to polish it before they departed that morning.
Looking at Sarah and Skuntz, she placed both hands on her hips.
“There is a Cavern Hole that we have to use. Any messages sent there will be delivered to all dwarves. But,” she held up a finger, “we don’t want to disturb anyone else, meaning we must stay quiet.”
An elderly couple walking by made it a point to frown at Sarah and Skuntz. Shaking their heads, they continued walking and Sarah realized the problem.
“If we’re not quiet, messages can overlap?”
Klara bobbed her head.
“Skuntz should stop laughing like a cackling hen, then?” Sarah said. “That’s fine by me.”
“I do not—”
“Shhhh.” Both women held a finger to their lips.
He scowled.
Following behind Klara, they made their way to a hole in the right wall. It was slightly larger than the other and its plaque was in gold instead of bronze. Sarah couldn’t read the actual words on the label.
“Old dwarven,” Klara said when she caught her staring. “It’s not used often for writing anymore, but we do like to preserve some of the old ways. Give me a little space, please.”
Tucking her orange strands behind her ear, Klara placed her mouth beside the hole and raised her right hand over her chest. She began humming.
The noise started low and deep, gradually rising to a more throaty sound. Both Skuntz and Sarah had stepped back when Klara warned them. Yet, at the start of her humming, Sarah found herself leaning toward the dwarf, her ears perking at the odd vocals.
How could any of what Sarah had told Klara about Ellen and Emma be translated into that?
Several moments passed. Klara finally straightened and stepped back. She dusted off her hands.
“I did the best I could with the little information we had. Now, we must wait.”
Skuntz asked, “How long do replies usually take?”
She shrugged. “It depends. Sometimes—”
Wisps of grunts and groans poured from the Whispering Wall all at once. Almost like whispers that were too low to fully hear but loud enough to catch one’s attention—and there were many.
The group covered their ears, waiting for the onslaught to stop. Instead, the responses became more rapid, growing louder and more frazzled.
Others around them stared as the wall shook. Then, finally, the noise slowed, the shaking came to a halt, and there was quiet.
Sarah looked at Klara, eyes wide and bewildered. Klara was giving her the same look.
“What was that?” Sarah asked gesturing toward the hole.
Klara raised her brows. “I think the better question to be asking is who are these women you have me searching for?”
“They’re witches. They were tutored under Serwa,” Skuntz replied.
Klara scoffed. “Well, they’ve left quite an impression on a few of us. And, Sarah, why do they always finish each other’s sentences? It’s apparently very irritating.” She stared at Sarah, waiting for a reply.
Sarah had none.
“At least we know we have the right people,” she replied.
“Ellen and Emma are quite unforgettable,” Skuntz said. “Serwa didn’t usually bring them when she would visit us. I think there was a reason for that.”
Klara sighed. “Well, the good news is I did get a last location.”
“Where?” Skuntz asked.
She tsked. “I don’t think you’re going to like my answer.”
“Wherever they are we have to go. They’re our only clue in finding Serwa and Alexander.”
Klara gave him a sad smile. “We’ll have to travel north into human occupied land. From there, we’ll need to head to the coast…and across the sea to Esmer’s Island.”
Skuntz’s face dropped.
“What is Esmer’s Island?” Sarah asked.
The elf leaned forward and took in a deep breath. He thrust himself straight, huffing out a groan while he crossed his arms and began pacing. Skuntz wouldn’t stop shaking his head.
Sarah felt a prickling of fear. She pushed it away, then turned to Klara.
“It’s an island north of here,” the dwarf said. “It was only discovered about five years ago, after King Alexander improved relations with the merpeople. They had known about Esmer and the other islands for centuries.” She shrugged. “But even the merp
eople avoid Esmer. Rumor has it that the water around the island is freezing. It’s always winter and nothing grows.”
Sarah blinked. “An island where it’s always winter? But how…no, that’s not important.” She ran a hand through her hair. There was only one how that mattered.
“Klara, if no one has ever traveled to Esmer, how can we get there?” asked Sarah.
Skuntz stopped pacing, planting his feet perfectly between his two companions. He met Sarah’s blue eyes.
“People have gone,” he said. His gaze faltered, and he looked away. He swallowed down whatever was impeding his words.
Barely a whisper and through gnashed teeth, he said, “But no one has ever returned.”
That prickling of fear came back and spread all over Sarah, tightening her skin.
“What Skuntz says is true,” Klara added. “If Ellen and Emma traveled to Esmer, they may be—”
“No!” Sarah slashed her hand through the air, narrowing her eyes at Klara. Passerbyers threw their own glares at Sarah, but this time she ignored them.
Finding Ellen and Emma, stopping the humans, ending the war! That was all more important than any silly message being sent. The dwarves around them were just ignorant of the fact.
Klara gave Sarah a sad smile. “I’m not saying they are…passed on. I’m saying it’s a possibility.”
“And I’m saying I don’t believe it,” Sarah spat. Her skin continued to tighten, the fear sending multiple what-ifs through her mind.
Ellen and Emma couldn’t be dead.
Abelard was already gone.
Alexander and Serwa could be on their way to death as they stood there speaking.
If everyone was going to die, why did Lyrica bring Sarah back?
“A possibility is still a strong enough reason to go.” Skuntz looked between the two of them. “We don’t have any other options.”
The young women nodded.
“I made a promise to my father,” said Klara. “If both of you think Esmer should be our next destination, I’ll follow you. We must work together.” She gave Sarah an even look.
Sarah’s body tensed, prepared to go on the defensive. But she caught her fists at her side and released them before nodding. Klara was right.
Turning to Klara, Skuntz said, “We’ll need to get some proper clothing for Esmer.”
“I know a shop,” she replied. “They’ll have some winter clothing placed away and we’ll get a good discount because they’re friends of my da.”
“All agreed then?” Skuntz raised a brow.
They bobbed their heads.
“To Esmer.”
Chapter 17
Sarah felt like she was walking on eggshells.
When she, Klara, and Skuntz had returned above ground, they had immediately started north. The trees there felt familiar. Though they had long left Gan and the elves behind, remnants of the Great Spirit could still be sensed. If Sarah focused, she could trace the tree’s energy, feel it wrapping around her like a parent’s arm.
Then they crossed the river. Sarah sensed less and less of the Great Spirit, less and less of Gan. Their loss acted as a reminder: they were in enemy territory.
Perhaps in the village with Gan she could feign blissful ignorance. But not while traveling north in lands occupied by humans. Especially not with a tall green-skinned elf and orange-haired dwarf carrying a battle axe almost twice her size.
If they were spotted, they would have to fight.
Klara had suggested their path lean slightly west to decrease the likelihood of running into enemies. Sarah and Skuntz had agreed. Farther east would mean crossing into Serwa and Alex’s kingdom, which was overrun.
The plush forests had started thinning, and flat, rocky land with mountain peaks in the distance had appeared.
Sarah gritted her teeth. At some point, they’re going to come.
“I’m surprised.”
The sound of Skuntz’s voice took a moment to register. Sarah already had her hand raised, her palm coated in a thin layer of ice.
Klara chuckled. “Easy now, Sarah.” She grabbed her hand and lowered it. “We might need him.”
“Might?” Skuntz peered down at her. “Definitely is the word you’re searching for.”
She scoffed. “Keep telling yourself that.”
They laughed. Sarah attempted to join in but the effort felt half-hearted. She was completely on edge. Did Skuntz and Klara know when the Great Spirit’s energy left? Could they feel its absence the way she could?
Or was she completely lost in her own world?
“Do you travel back home, Sarah?” Skuntz said.
He was on Sarah’s left side, while Klara was on her right. They both smiled at her.
It must be only me.
“Uh…no. Only to and from school. Sometimes into town to shop.”
Skuntz eyed her rucksack. They each carried one to store all their supplies, especially with the additional winter clothing.
“Honestly, I thought everything would be too heavy for you. But you haven’t asked for a break once.”
Sarah glanced back at everything she carried. The very top of the rucksack peeked over her head. Attached to it was anything they could carry ranging from food to weapons to small skillets for cooking. The straps dug into her shoulders but they didn’t hurt. She had carried heavier loads on the farm.
She looked up at Skuntz. “My parents and I have a farm. I’m used to the exercise.”
He gave her a once-over. “I’m impressed, Sarah.”
Her brows slanted. Why would she care if he were impressed?
Before Sarah could start her retort, Skuntz laughed—probably noting the shock she wore—and strolled ahead of her and Klara.
She shook her head. He was such a pain.
Beside her, Klara jabbed out her elbow. She sent Sarah the happiest smile, then walked ahead, as well.
Sarah glanced between the two of them. They had become fast friends apparently.
“I’m coming, Sarah!”
“Jacob?”
“Who?” Klara and Skuntz asked.
“No, I—” Something zipped through her. Sarah could discern their energy. She had been tamping down her magic but now they were so close, there was no hiding.
Skuntz’s face darkened. “They’re quiet. Not quiet enough though.”
Klara dropped her bag to the floor and pulled out Abelard’s axe. No questions necessary.
Their location was not ideal. Not only were they exposed but the enemy had the advantage. Whereas Sarah, Klara, and Skuntz had walked along a flat path with a few trees, the area surrounding them were spread out with trees and rocks to hide behind.
“The path continues farther up. We could try to outrun them. They wouldn’t have any cover there.” Skuntz waited. “What’s the decision?”
“I’m staying.” Sarah dropped her portion of their supplies and unsheathed her sword.
Klara raised her axe. “A dwarf never runs from a fight. It’s time to chop these humans down.”
Skuntz smiled. “Glad we’re all decided.”
A flaming arrow followed his words. Skuntz easily dodged, and the arrow—unable to puncture the rock—fell uselessly behind them.
The enemy still hid.
Bow raised, Skuntz peered at their surroundings. He steadily moved with the weapon, ready to release an arrow at the enemy’s first appearance.
Sarah dispersed her magic. She allowed her energy to spread around them, hoping to determine their enemy’s location. But something stopped her. Her magic was trapped within a short radius of where she stood.
She could only register Klara and Skuntz’s energies. And the absence of another’s like the missing piece of a puzzle.
Sarah glanced at the fallen arrow. She touched it with her magic, yet its presence didn’t register. She could see it there behind her, but all her magic sensed was an empty space where something should have been.
The flame was still burning at the arrow’s tips.
Sarah squinted her eyes; a nagging feeling pulled at her.
Then, she saw the carving on the arrow’s shaft. Serwa would have identified the symbol. She would have been able to read entire texts of its language. But Sarah was not Serwa. All she had was her gut.
“It’s a trap!” she screamed.
Her comrades’ bewildered faces were quickly replaced with fear when a ring of fire spread around them. They each stumbled backward from the heat, cursing under their breaths.
“Back to back,” Skuntz ordered.
They followed his orders with weapons still ready. Sarah’s heart was pounding. The pressure of Skuntz and Klara’s shoulders calmed her. What she couldn’t see, they could.
She wasn’t alone.
Klara huffed. “They wanted us to wait here. Damn it!”
“You’re right,” replied Skuntz. “But we’re here now, so we need a plan. They’re going to reveal themselves soon.”
Sarah peered at the fire. Considering she could create her own flames, being surrounded didn’t really scare her. Yet these flames were different. The odd carving on the arrow’s shaft had told her that.
“They have a witch with them,” Sarah whispered as figures began marching into view. “These flames aren’t from oil and fire.”
Skuntz’s shoulders tensed beside her. He hesitated.
“If we can avoid killing the witch, we will. Otherwise, we have no choice,” he growled. “Th-the mission comes first. Sarah, can you do anything about this fire?”
She had once seen Serwa absorb another witch’s magic. Could Sarah do the same?
“I’ll try. And, if I can’t, I can at least use it and my own magic against them,” she replied.
The humans stood just outside the spiraling flames.
“We’re not going to die.”
Klara scoffed. “Agreed.”
Where the fire had once roared around them, the spirals of orange had now settled some. Smug faces welcomed them.
The first belonged to a woman. She was the same height as Sarah but that was where their differences ended. She was older with choppy black hair and a stocky build. The cupped hand holding fire decorated the woman’s armor.
The Pariah Child- Sarafina's Return Page 15
