Later Eliesmore was summoned to a council although he could guess what it was about. Once again, he made his way to the golden hall, walking through the passages decorated with Wekin’s artwork. Wekin had fallen in love with the castle, and although he announced staying in one place was rather boring, he recruited the help of Yamier, Skip, Bruthen and Wyndler and began to paint and draw epic scenes along the halls that led to the great meeting hall. Eliesmore noticed Wekin enjoyed ordering them around as they drew a scene from the journey of the Green Company.
Eliesmore rushed passed them into the wide hall. Idrithar glanced up when he entered and motioned for Eliesmore to join them on the dais. A small round table and a few chairs had been brought in. Arldrine reclined at the table while Zhane stood behind her. Ellagine sat across from Arldrine, the two sat face to face, yet their conversation dropped off when Eliesmore walked into the hall.
“I have asked Sir Regante and Captain Elidar to join us,” Idrithar spoke up as Eliesmore climbed up the stairs to join them. He stood near the table, nodding at Idrithar while crossing his arms.
His gaze fell on Ellagine, and she smiled at him, her eyes just as clear and trustworthy as the day he met her. For a brief moment his frustration toward her melted away, and he smiled back, a warmth tugging on his heart at the sight of her. A flashback of Glashar’s warning came to him. Beware the Green People. They are up to something. It was too late to beware, the old feelings he had for Ellagine fluttered around him, and he considered whether the knowledge he’d learned in Daygone was true or false.
“Why Sir Regante and Captain Elidar?” Eliesmore directed his question toward Idrithar.
“Eliesmore, you have intentions to march toward the Torrents Towers. It will be a lesser battle because there are no Changers to fight. However, we have no knowledge of the Rakhai. We must assume they will show up at one point or another, if they don’t we must hunt them down before they bring more disruption and devastation on this world. Sir Regante and Mattio are from the Torrents Towers as are many others of our company. I believe you have spoken at length with Sir Regante, you know of his history and how things are done there. Captain Elidar,” Idrithar turned to address all of them, “used to run the Torsilo Quarts, a stronghold of the Black Steeds. He is aware of their customs and protocols and can give us an insight into the overhaul of the Torrents Towers. In the meantime, the peace must be kept here in Castle Range, there are villages to the north and wounded Crons and Tiders who will fight no more. If this stronghold is left free, at some point, someone or something will rise to regain it.”
“What is your thinking?” Eliesmore interrupted, facing Zhane. His gaze slide past to Arldrine. “Zhane. Arldrine. I would like to know your thoughts.”
Arldrine’s brows furrowed as she looked up at him. “Eliesmore, you know who we are. You understand our intentions. Why would you ask?”
“Because no one asked me if I wanted to be the One,” Eliesmore’s voice dropped, and he intentionally did not glance at Ellagine. “Things might have turned out differently if they had. I was told, I was ordered, and I don’t want you to step into something as life-changing as becoming the Rulers of the West if you have no desire to do so.”
“Eliesmore,” Arldrine reached out a hand toward him before letting it fall back on the table. “I’m sorry you felt as if you had no choice,” she whispered the last phrase, remorse seeping through her voice although it was not her fault.
“I saw white crowns in your heads,” he glanced from Arldrine to Zhane. “I saw your strength when you stand together and the power that flows through you. You have something unique which attracts the love and respect of those who surround you. I see the way the Therian look up to you and the Tribes of Minas. They want to be like you. I don’t know what you did in the mountains to gain their loyalty, but if you can turn their hearts, how much more can you do as the Rulers of the West?”
“I have traveled for ten years,” Zhane spoke up. “I have been homeless and luckless, and we are not Crons. We can live without adventure. Our desire,” he reached over and took Arldrine’s hand, turning it over and kissing it gently, “is to stay here and help the people groups recover and step into their own with confidence. If we do so as the Rulers of the West, so be it.”
Zhane’s hand fell to his sword hilt, and for some reason, Eliesmore glanced over at Idrithar, who stood with his arms crossed and his expression closed. It was in that moment that Eliesmore saw hints of jealousy in the eyes of Idrithar, and a dark thought plunged through his mind. Surely Idrithar did not want to rule Castle Range?
“As you should be,” Ellagine stood. “It is why the Iaen have come, for the wedding and the coronation of the Rulers of the West.”
“After you are settled, I will take those who want to move on, and we will travel from city to city, ensuring the days of peace come. Idrithar,” Eliesmore faced him. “I would like it if you would come with me. You are wise. I will need your guidance.”
A flash of annoyance came over Idrithar’s face. “It is not likely you will need much guidance now,” he said.
“The wedding must be soon,” Ellagine steered the conversation away from dangerous territory. “The Iaen dislike to be far from their forests.”
“Five days?” Zhane raised his eyebrows.
Eliesmore nodded. “Five days then. When Sir Regante and Captain Elidar join us, we can discuss the Torrents Towers.”
Arldrine stood. “Ellagine and I must speak with the Mermis. There’s no need for us to join those conversations.”
“Zhane, I would like you to stay then,” Eliesmore suggested. “I know the realm is far-reaching, but I believe you should control the lands from here to the Torrents Towers. The more you know concerning the on goings of the world, the better you will be able to serve the people and control the balance.”
Zhane nodded as Idrithar spoke up, his voice cool. “Eliesmore, there is one matter we have yet to discuss.”
A cold finger touched Eliesmore’s heart, and he knew what Idrithar would say before he asked the question. “What matter is that?”
Ellagine and Arldrine paused on the steps to the dais, glancing back at Eliesmore and Idrithar.
“The Phutal. Has it been destroyed?”
Ripples of annoyance shot through Eliesmore’s body. He fixed his eyes on Idrithar, forcing the honesty to come up. “I will go to Daygone and destroy it after we have seen to the countries of the South World. It shall be my last journey.”
Idrithar nodded as if he was appeased, yet Eliesmore saw something else in his gaze, a distrust, and he wondered what Idrithar had seen in him, and if he questioned whether the darkness was gone.
92
Eliesmore
The great hall was carved and painted with scenes depicting the travels of the Green Company. The floor, of its own accord, turned into a rather golden color. The hall was lined with the Therian, the Tribe of Minas, Mermis, Xctas, and Tiders and Crons from across the Four Worlds. At the very front stood the three Mermis, Indonesia, Sletaira, and Leaka along with those who remained from the Green Company. Ellagine in shimmering green, Visra with a wicked gleam in her eyes, Yamier and Wekin with their weapons shining bright and chests thrust out, Idrithar leaning on a new staff and Eliesmore, with the Jeweled Sword at his side and the Phutal hidden from sight. An aura of awe and wonder hung over the hall.
At the end of the hall double doors opened to the throne room and the Silver Herd and Xctas lined the entrance. In front of the door to the throne room, Lythe sat like a statue, carrying the crowns for the Rulers of the West on his head. An archway rose above the door with worlds carved by Wekin the Warrior in bold, beautiful letters. They read: Rulers of the West.
Thus, Zhane and Arldrine were married, and as they walked through the shining hall up to the throne room, every moral bowed their head in respect as the white light flowed around them. Ellagine left her place with the Green Company and stood beside Lythe. When Zhane and Arldrine reached her, Ellagine took up
the first crown made of silver with jewels that came from the Nigidrains. She put it on Zhane’s brown head and took the second one, of equal beauty, and placed it on Arldrine’s black head.
She took their hands and joined them together before lifting them into the air as Zhane and Arldrine turned to face the people groups.
“Now I present to you the Rulers of the West,” Ellagine announced.
Everyone cheered as they moved into the glorious throne room. The walls were decorated with strange, wild symbols and the room was rather silvery and gold with hues of rainbow light. It was richly furnished with two great thrones resting upon the dais, carved with Idrain symbols. Hand in hand, Zhane and Arldrine walked up the stairs together while they cheered, and the music began. A beat and a chant flowed through the air, and Eliesmore stepped back as a toast was raised to the Rulers of the West.
After the wedding, a great feast was held with music and dancing, drinks, and food, which lasted far into the night. Eliesmore drifted away from the merriment, recognizing the need to celebrate yet preferring time alone. Their presence was a consistent reminder of what had transpired and what his life had turned into, an endless quest. Finding an empty room, he settled on a chaise lounge, pouring a glass of liquid as he leaned his head back.
“Eliesmore,” the voice he longed to say his name drifted to his ears, and he jerked his head up, standing as Ellagine walked into the room. Memories danced through his mind as a sudden uneasiness gripped him.
“You shouldn’t be here,” Eliesmore frowned.
“Why not?” her eyes grew distant, guarded as she watched him.
“I can’t talk to you.” He stood and turned his back on her, intending to end the conversation.
“What’s wrong?” a thread of worry hummed through Ellagine’s musical voice.
Crossing his arms, he faced her. “You didn’t tell me who you are. You weren’t honest with me.” The words from the book floated before him, and he waved his hand in front of his face as if the physical act would make the metaphysical words disappear.
“I was,” this time it was her turn to frown. “I told you. I am Ellagine, three-fourths Green Person, one-fourth Tider. I am the great-great granddaughter of Legone the Swift. I told you. I was honest.”
He pursed his lips, shaking his head even as she spoke. “I can’t do this right now. You hide secrets from me. You tell me partial truths. Please. Leave me alone,” he turned around. “The pain is too fresh, too raw.”
“Eliesmore,” she spoke his name tentatively.
“No!” he snapped, putting a handout, stopping himself before a wave of power blasted out of him.
She sighed. He felt, rather than heard, her move toward the door.
“It’s not because I don’t love,” he huffed, looking over his shoulder. He didn’t know why the words came out, why he said it, but he couldn’t stop himself. “I do. It’s because I love you.”
“What kind of love is it?” Ellagine folded her hands in front of her, tilting her head toward him.
He didn’t mean to, but he practically yelled at her, unable to explain what he meant in his frustration. “I want to love you, but I can’t. Not like this! It’s because of what you’ve done. My feelings toward you burn. I want you, but I can’t tell the difference between love and hate.”
Ellagine’s face changed, and her eyes grew cold. The warmth faded out of her voice although her tone still rang calm. “If you can’t tell the difference, it is not love at all.”
“I’ll be the judge of that,” he argued, clenching his fists.
“Goodbye Eliesmore.” Ellagine turned and walked away.
Eliesmore stared after her retreating form, knowing he’d used the wrong words, uncertain how to ask for her forgiveness.
Eliesmore could not sleep that night, knowing he should have made peace with Ellagine before she left. He paced the passages of the castle, intentionally losing himself in the intricate designs. When he went to look out, to ask about the Iaen, they told him, she left that evening, riding on the back of a Xctas. The Iaen would come again no more. He blinked as he stood on an outpost, watching the sunrise from the east. He faced the long road that led toward Daygone, and as he did a vision blinked into his thoughts.
Sarhorr leaned on the stone westward wall of one archway of the tower. His arms crossed as he faced Shalidir. Her lips moved, asking a question. Sarhorr moved, holding out a hand to her. He cupped her cheek in on hand, lifting her face to meet his eyes. “Why? It is because I love you. That’s why I changed my mind. If this is what you want, to leave the Four Worlds to their folly, to start fresh, to start anew, then we shall go. The path we walk has never been easy, and this next bit of deceit will be more difficult than anything we have ever done. Our children will die.”
“Our children are evil. They have always been doomed, but I don’t understand. How can you speak of love? Your life has been consumed with power. I did not think Changers could love.”
“Oh, I have the strongest power in all the land, stronger, even, than the power of creation. Power is not equal, it encouragers the bearer of power to do different actions based on how much they believe in their power. Love, in and of itself is the greatest power in the universe. Look out there, the stars have spoken, they tell me there are worlds beyond worlds, there’s life out there in the universe if only we can escape from here. But what will lead to our escape, what will help us is love. It’s simple.”
Shalidir started, her eyes roaming his face, searching for a trick, a mystery. “You don’t sound like yourself, how can it be true? Since I’ve known you, all you’ve wanted is the power of the Green Stone. The power of creation.”
“You still don’t understand?” He prodded her. “You still don’t get it? You’ve studied the same books of knowledge I have. You should understand the depth of this knowledge. The reason we will succeed, the reason we choose the One…I have always desired my original form. I have always desired to be united in paradise. I wanted to destroy the mortals first, but in time, they shall destroy themselves. You want to save your people and see them rise stronger than before…I sought to eliminate those who could rise and destroy me, who would keep me from achieving my goals. That is why we will win because they assume to know what we desire, when they have the wrong perspective. Magdela the Monrage fulfilled her task, the mortals will never guess our true desires.”
“And from all this, we shall gain paradise?”
“Why do you doubt me? You suspect my failures in the past will continue. But what is failure but life’s greatest teacher? As long as we attempt to take this world from the mortals they will rise, stronger than before, and battle us into submission. Nay, that is not the way. Because of my life, I have learned, in time you will see what it means to become all powerful.”
93
Eliesmore
“This feels like old times,” Wekin nudged Eliesmore as they walked along.
“It does,” Eliesmore nodded offhandedly. It was five days after the wedding of the Rulers of the West. The Iaen, Mermis and the Silver Herd left, including Indonesia, Sletaira and Leaka. The Xctas flew with them, and remnants of the army remained in the Castle Range. The Therian struck out for the mountains while the Tribe of Minas went with them, returning to their fortress of refuge, Stronghold.
“Remember when we first set out?” Wekin went on as they walked through the redwoods toward Werivment.
Eliesmore nodded along with Wekin’s persistent talking, somehow thankful for the brief interlude to his introspection. After the wedding, he discussed his plan of action with Idrithar, yet before he left, he decided to walk off his grief with an excursion to Werivment. A smaller company followed Eliesmore to Werivment to rest and relax under the wood. Arldrine had told Eliesmore that the trees she and Zhane set free lived in Werivment and would welcome his presence.
“…And the cooking,” Wekin finished off. Without waiting for Eliesmore’s input, he turned to his companions. Skip, Bruthen, Wyndler, and Treco
n followed him and Yamier with eager faces, hanging on their every word and rushing to meet their every need. “Honestly though, I just want to get back out to the wild seas and sail through Oceantic, fighting monsters, finding treasure. Yamier…”
“Eliesmore,” Yamier chimed in, striding up to his other side. “We’ve been discussing navigation. You see when we were sailing to Sidell, we spent a considerable time trying to find the perfect star to follow. For nights on end, we tracked which stars were always in the skies and their locations. We found the only consistency in the night sky is the Green Stone. It’s the perfect star to follow and the best way to navigate on the high seas. Now, what do you think of that?”
Eliesmore opened his mouth to comment, but his words were buried under Wekin’s.
“The Green Light is perfect to follow if you want to sail north, but the question is, do we always want to sail north? Of course not. There are other directions to travel in.”
“Precisely the point,” Yamier interrupted. “But if one of those storms you are always mentioning comes up, then where would you be? We can’t tell direction, so we look up in the sky and see the Green Light. Aha! It’s to the north, and we’ve found our way, problem solved. As long as we know where north is, we can sail anywhere and never get lost.”
Wekin held up a finger. “Yes, that problem is solved, but what about storing food on a ship? The best food to store would be mocholeach and murthweeld. Which is very good I assure you, but bland when you’ve eaten it for days on end. I tell you, I don’t want to eat any more of that stuff for a year, and if I ever do in a lifetime, I shall be surprised. We could take bacon, yes, suppose we do and run into a storm. Wet bacon will mold, and besides, bacon won’t keep long in the hold of a ship, so we’ll have to make landfall frequently. And if we keep making stops on shore, we’ll never get anywhere or find treasure. You see what I mean? We must have bacon, so we must configure a means to keep bacon safely.”
Eliesmore and the Jeweled Sword Page 37
