by Mussie Haile
Suddenly, Eldana’s eyes snapped open, and her mind was reinvigorated. There was purpose, there was intent, there was hope.
She got to her feet and stepped back from the edge of the water...
Thokk!
Just as an arrow stuck into the ground in front of her. Eldana turned alarmingly to her side. And saw a native of the island. A man, short, and thin. He nocked another arrow and shot. Eldana had to twist this time around to evade the shot. The man was good.
As the man reached for the quiver strapped to his hip, Eldana enclosed herself with a ball of air, and then knocked the man into the ground with air. She heard a shuffle behind her, and then turned to see a woman coming at her with an axe held high. Eldana took control of her mind, and ordered her to drop the axe, and return home. The level of hatred Eldana felt in the woman was enough to make her suck in air through her teeth and lean back in alarm. It was not the intensity of the hatred that baffled her most of all. It was the fact that the hatred was geared at her.
But why? Eldana asked herself. She had gone into the woman’s mind too sharply and had come out almost in the same manner, and because of that had not had enough time to go through the woman’s memories to determine the cause of the things she felt.
It occurred to Eldana that the man struggling at the beach floor was also a native.
There had to be a pattern here, she told herself.
She walked up to him and poked into his mind. She searched through his memories until she found what she was looking for. Scheming heretics, she thought when she was done with the man.
Sinto and Lord Taboon had spread propaganda concerning her through to the entire Toas. Using their skillfull tongues, they had subtly roused the people against her. And it did not require too much effort. The people were already weakened, and with already so much lost. They were battered by battles and natural disasters. They could only overlook so much when they were fed information about the girl responsible for their plight. Information magically spread by birds singing atop the trees, or of winds whispering in the ears of people. She knew now that the natural disasters and the disastrous yields of crops, the nations battling nations and brother turning against brother were pretty much the gods throwing tantrums.
Eldana cast her eyes around the beach. Having made certain that no one else was present, she stood and walked hurriedly back to Shewit’s. As she walked, she felt a psychic presence nudge at her mind.
One of the things Eldana had done during her stay with Shewit was to fortify her mental defenses. That way, she could keep intruders out of her head. But this presence nudged at her in a cryptic manner that she found familiar. She lowered her defenses, and she heard Shewit’s voice.
Do not come back to the house, Shewit said. Stay where you are, I am coming to get you.
Eldana looked around. She had just left the beach. There were palm trees all around her, spaced equidistantly from each other. The surrounding did not offer a proper hiding spot. Eldana walked close to a palm tree and leaned on it. She stayed at a vantage point that offered her a wider sighting angle for any person coming into the beach.
Run towards the river, Shewit commanded.
Shortly after Shewit’s instruction, Eldana heard the roar of a boat, growing louder by the moment. Eldana sprang from off the trunk of the palm tree and began to race towards the sea. Just then she spotted movement from the corner of her left eye. She turned to see a boat making its way towards her.
Hop in, Shewit said, having caught sight of Eldana’s approaching figure.
Soon enough, Eldana saw the reason for the sudden trouble. Shewit had a company of boats, and ships on her tail. They were filled with roaring orcs, and Middle warriors, all on the ready. Eldana even spotted a few boats that held what appeared to be the natives from the island, distinctive with their scanty dressing and the marks they made on their bodies. The sight of the pursuing company took Eldana down memory lane. This was exactly how she had lost her friends. But she brought herself back together instantly. This was no time to dally or fall into sulking, regret, or self-reprimanding. She increased her pace, and then manipulating the air around her, boosted herself up and onto Shewit’s boat.
“Where did they come from?” Eldana asked, as soon as she came on board.
“The natives,” Shewit said. “They called them in.”
“Those damned people!” Eldana cussed. “I had to disarm two of them only moments ago. One was such a good shot with an arrow. He would have shot me.”
Eldana heard a thud behind her and turned to see a spear sticking out from the boat.
“They are onto us,” Eldana said. “Could you go any faster?”
Shewit chuckled. Teleporting would have been the easiest way out, but she could not teleport with Eldana. The gateway in the fabric of the universe could only be accessed one being of chaos and balance at a time, she knew. She had tried to go back for some others like her, but she had been unsuccessful, largely because of this.
“I did not have the time to stall just so I could pick the best boat. It was either get to you in haste or get to you in a really good boat. But if you are still bothered about the boat, then I can turn back, and get a good one?”
Eldana rolled her eyes and moved to the back of the boat.
“Keep your hands strong and firm.” She told Shewit.
Shewit chuckled and tilted her head. Eldana stared into the ships giving chase, and she felt a surge of anger. For being separated from her friends. For her friends who were suffering such terrible, unknown tortures.
With one hand, Eldana caused a wave to erupt from the water, raising one of the ships high into the air, before dashing it down on top of another.
“Are we just running, or do we have any place in mind?” Eldana turned, to ask Shewit.
“I have a place in mind,” Shewit replied.
“Where?” Eldana nodded.
“We will just keep going forward,” Shewit said.
Shewit kept the boat in place, while Eldana tossed, and slowed the boats as much as she could. Sometimes, she encountered counter magic from one of the boats. But ultimately, her will prevailed. If there were mages in the midst of the attacking ship, none of them were a match for a being of Balance and Chaos.
They had long since left Piece Island behind. And were speeding across the Ocean Wall. A smile was beginning to grow on Eldana’s face. The gap between them and the pursuing ships had widened considerably. At the pace they were going, they would lose them entirely in an hour or two.
Suddenly, Eldana heard a grunt behind her. She turned. Shewit was standing, her hands gripping the boat’s wheel, but Eldana noticed a weakness in her posture. A weakness that was growing rapidly and causing her to slouch.
“Are you okay, Shewit?” Eldana asked.
Shewit collapsed. She was dead before she even hit the floor. It was then that Eldana saw the shaft of an arrow, sticking out from Shewit’s chest. it was an enchanted arrow from the presence Eldana felt around it. Her lips trembled when she saw a circle of blood was beginning to bloom from the point of entry. Eldana’s lips began to tremble. Her eyes grew teary.
“No,” she muttered. “No, no, no.”
Just then a circle of space opened in the air before her. And something flew out of it, fast. Instinctively, Eldana rolled to the side, and with one guttural cry, sent a streak of flame into the portal. The portal vanished, and just at the same time, one of the ships behind her burst into flames. But Eldana was not there to see her latest score. She was by Shewit’s body, crying, tears dropping on Shewit’s still body, and mingling with the blood on her dress.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
One Last Time
There were seven of them in a semicircle. Nobody moved. Swords drawn, faces grim.
She was here. The elite warriors of the Middle had her at last; the princess Eldana.
A
vast expanse of vegetative land sentinelled by a small body of water, which separated it from the Mountains of Sinora at one side and spilled into the ocean at the other. The ships had not stopped after Shewit’s death. Eldana never expected them to. She was the one they were after. On getting here, she had left Shewit’s body and fled inland. But she was soon surrounded. Hemmed in by orcs, and soldiers. Lord Taboon, Sinto, and five other guards stood in front. This was a re-enactment of the fight in the clearing at Kleas. Only that this time, they came with far more manpower than they needed.
“Scared that I will beat you all to a pulp, huh?” she challenged.
Lord Taboon smiled.
“Impetuous girl.” He said. “We are not taking any chances. Even if you do not have any more helpers.”
“This is over, Eldana,” Sinto said. There was impatience in his tone and stance.
“Yes,” Eldana replied. “Yes, it is.”
“Stop this, and give yourself over willingly. What you have done has been foolish, and selfish. And you know that. It does not have to end this way, but if I have to, I will fight you with everything I have.”
Eldana smiled defiantly.
“You have done that before. All seven, or rather the seven of you. I would like to see you try again.”
Lord Taboon and Sinto were well aware of the probability that Eldana’s powers would have grown following the time succeeding their last fight.
“You do not have to go this way, Eldana,” Sinto warned.
“I can go anyway I want, Sinto,” Eldana said. “You of all people should know that. Because you had imbibed it in me.”
Sinto smiled sadly. “I was wrong.” He said.
“Enough of this, Eldana.” Lord Taboon spit out. “The world is caving in on itself because of you. Hand yourself over peacefully.”
Eldana laughed. “All lies!” She conjured a ball of flame, and then staring at Lord Taboon, tilted her head to the left, and smiled daringly.
Lord Taboon gave a grim smile of his own, and then clicked his fingers.
Suddenly, the men behind him broke ranks, and four figures were dragged out haphazardly and flung to the ground.
The ball of flame fizzled out. Eldana’s eyes widened as she tried to make sense of the people kneeling before her.
They were all there. Looking battered, and spent, but they were there. Siem, Hermon, Mikko, and D’rmas.
Eldana gasped, and tears rolled from her eyes.
“Hand them over.” She said, looking at Sinto. “Please.”
“I cannot do that,” Sinto said. “Only if you give yourself up.”
“Do not do it! Eldana!” Siem yelled.
She got a boot to her mouth from Lord Taboon.
Eldana made one step forward, her fists bowled in anger. But Lord Taboon waved his finger at her, cautioning her to remain still.
“Their lives are in your hands. Whatever choice you make next is up to you,” Lord Taboon said slowly.
Eldana stared at her friends. Their eyes were steely with resolve, but she felt the exact opposite. She was so helpless that all the vigor and strength housed in her moments ago, had evaporated.
“Just give up, Eldana,” Sinto said soothingly.
Eldana shut her eyes. This was the end of it all. She knew that for certain. Many people had already been lost because of her. And she did not know how many more would die. She considered herself selfish enough to have let her friends go through all this pain for nothing. There was still something she could do to save their lives and the lives of everyone else remaining in the world. Maybe in 100 years the next one will stop this madness.
I can be selfless, just for this last time, she thought.
“Eldana, no,” Hermon yelled as Eldana rose both her hands in surrender, and began to step forward...
Siem struggled against her bonds, glaring at Eldana.
“I am sorry,” Eldana said. “But I cannot let any of you die for me.”
Lord Taboon had a huge grin on his face, lopsided and revealing his browned teeth. Sinto breathed with relief. Suddenly, the air grew into a gale. Sinto cast his eyes up into the sky and saw storm clouds forming.
“Eldana..?” He warned.
“I am not doing anything,” Eldana replied, her hands still up in the air.
Just then, a spear went through one of the men standing beside Lord Taboon. The spear was finely crafted from wood. Eldana found it strikingly familiar. Then, she stood taller, smiled, and put her hands down.
“What are you doing?” Lord Taboon asked, with the smile vanishing from his face.
“Showing you that I am not alone,” Eldana replied.
Sinto cast his eyes around and was about to give orders to the men when a hail of spears dashed towards them. Sensing the whistling in the air, Eldana dove to the ground. Lord Taboon, Sinto, and the rest of the magical guard, the elite warriors of Middle Kingdom, dodged spears. The orcs, on the other hand, got hit by most of them.
From the surrounding green, there was a raucous cry as the elves of the Ciroc burst forth in their numbers. Within a minute, everything was chaos. Both in the skies and on the ground.
Meko slashed an orc in two and dashed to Eldana’s side to help her cut the bonds restraining her friends.
“Old friend.” Meko greeted, “Want some help?”.
“How are you here?” Eldana asked. “All of you?”
“We decided it was time to change the world. You are our best shot at doing that, and so here we are.”
Siem flicked her wrists as she got free of her bonds. Eldana swooped her up in a hug.
“I missed you so much,” Eldana told her.
“And you too,” Siem replied.
“Erm, guys,” Mikko called. “Excellent reunion, but we have a problem...”
Tabeli was heading their way with a company of orcs, warriors of the Middle, and Sandocs.
“Do you have any weapon for me?” Siem asked Eldana.
Eldana shrugged.
“Luckily, I do,” Meko said, pulling out a bow and quiver full of demon arrows from thin air. She handed D’rmas a sword.
“Getting out of this one is going to be tough,” D’rmas said. “Hermon should lead the charge against the orcs. They are no match for his fury. I will take the warriors of the Middle Kingdom, better to be killed by a warrior. Meko can handle the Sandocs.”
“I am counting on that,” Hermon said.
He knew what he had to do, and he did not care about what it cost any more. But before that, his eyes rested on Meko, who drew him in for a quick kiss. Hermon stood stunned afterwards before Meko tapped his back.
“Roar, my beast, roar,” Meko whispered.
Whispering the ancient magical words, Hermon turned full berserker. His eyes were gleaming black orbs.
“Where is Mother?” Eldana asked Meko.
“She is up in the sky staving off Camin and Lowus’ influence in the battle.”
“Good,” Mikko said. “Let us keep the gods out of this!”
“Don’t call them gods,” said Eldana with hate. “Call them Camin and Lowus,” she spit out.
Mikko, confused about what to say just added an “OK” and went into battle.
With a yell from both sides, they crashed into each other. Hermon tore through the orcish fighters recklessly, sundering them limb by limb. He was a righteous incarnation of damage.
The battle raged on fiercely, and then by some forbidden magic of Lord Taboons, the slain soldiers began to rise again to re-join and reswell the ranks of their enemy! Eldana stood still and watched helplessly as it seemed like the people fighting on her side were being overwhelmed. The sky was covered with menacing clouds. There were flashes of lightning from within, a testament to the war being waged within. Camin and Lowus had imposed themselves on Toas as gods and had remained that way be
cause no one could challenge them, and through their exploitation were the only ones that provided peace to a kingdom that was plagued by chaos. However, they had remained unchallenged not because there was nobody to, but because there was no one interested in battling them. Today’s battle proved that.
Fraweyni, daughter of Tessa, the first elf, was more than just an elf. The magic that radiated through her was of a time when the earth was still in its beginning form, before even Camin and Lowus ventured into the picture, drawn deep from the bowels of Toas as well. It was this ancient magic that she unleashed in battling the foreign gods. And would have long defeated them, if they were not still tethered to Toas by Eldana’s inability to key into the magic reserved in the earth. Fraweyni believed in Eldana, but in the meantime, she focused her abilities on keeping Camin and Lowus occupied.
“Hello, girl.” Eldana heard a voice say.
Quickly, she whipped around to face Lord Taboon. She heard footsteps behind her. She turned her face and spotted Sinto coming into place behind her. She smiled.
“So, this is it,” she said.
“This is it,” Sinto replied.
Eldana planned to infiltrate their minds. But she intended to distract them first. As she stretched out her hands to send gusts of wind towards them, she was knocked down by an energy wall. Eldana cried in pain as her sides pressed her into the earth. She flicked her eyes upwards and saw tendrils of black energy shooting forth from both Lord Taboon and Sinto’s hands. Forbidden magic. Eldana was assailed by despair. She had learned no defense against forbidden magic.
Eldana felt her strength waning. Like it was being sucked from her. Instinctively, she went into herself, digging up memories of the pleasant times she had once had. Times with her friends. The moments they had fought together. All the things they had been through. She thought of how privileged she was to have the friendship and support of the elves. And to see Shewit, before she was killed.
