The Black Stone of Elu

by Darrin Long

  “I wonder if I could see her dreams as she saw mine,” He thought.

  He reached out and traced the mark on her forehead and a tingling sensation shot through his brain. But he did not want to pull away; he wanted to know if he could see her dreams, so he waited as the tingling sensation began to increase. Suddenly, he was standing in a great hall surrounded by many blue-skinned people. He could hear someone yelling angrily and then he heard a cry.

  “Iri,” he said as he made his way through the crowded hall towards the cries.

  Finally, he saw her standing between two soldiers, who had a hold of her arms. Then he saw himself standing across from her.

  “I am already in her dream,” he said, “There are two of me.”

  He listened to the man who was yelling. He was obviously the king, for on his head was a silver crown.

  “It will not be,” he yelled, “I will not allow it. Take her from here; she will not see him again.”

  The soldiers started pulling Iri towards the door.

  “Neilan,” she screamed, “Neilan.”

  He saw himself try to get to her, but several soldiers stopped him and pushed him down onto his knees.

  “You will leave our land,” the king said to him. “There is nothing for you here.”

  Neilan watched himself get up from the floor and make his way through the crowd with tears in his eyes. Suddenly, Neilan opened his eyes and he was back in the cave and Iri was still struggling in her dreams.

  “Iri,” he whispered to her, “Iri”.

  She opened her tear-filled eyes and looked up at him then, she pulled him down and held him as she cried. What could he say that would fix such a thing? He couldn’t believe what had just happened. Was she really considering the two of them? Did she really feel for him the way he was feeling for her? He didn’t want to let her go home; he wished he could convince her to stay with him. Then, she would never have to face the king in real life like she did in the dream. No one would ever take her away from me if she chose to stay.

  Iri loosened her grip on him and he looked into her eyes.

  “I’m ok now,” she said, “just a bad dream.”

  “Are ye sure that yer ok?” he asked her.

  “Yes, I’m sure,” she said, “We will talk in the morning, Ok?”

  He nodded then, went outside to get some air. He was so full of emotions and some of those emotions were anger.

  “How could they do such a thing?” he asked. “Do they not care for their people?”

  He took a short walk to cool off and calm down. They would talk in the morning and he would convince her to stay with him and he would even fight for her if she wanted him to.

  “No one has the right to tell ye who ye can or cannot love,” he said, “no one. But it was just a dream, it wasn’t real”

  He was tired of people trying to tell him what he can and cannot do. His mind was made up and the finality of his decision seemed to calm him enough that he returned to the cave. When he entered Iri looked like she was sleeping, but he was sure that she was not. He was sure that like him, she too was full of wonders and strange feelings. He hoped that her feelings for him were as strong as his feelings were becoming for her, but he still was not sure. That night the dreams returned, but he did not care. The magical people called out to him and he yelled back at them.

  “Why would I help ye? So ye can take Iri away from me?” he asked.

  None of them seemed to hear him at all; they were only aware of their horrible situation and their inevitable deaths at the hands of that evil creature. Neilan made himself turn away and he wiped the tears from his eyes.

  “This is not my problem,” he said, “I cannot help ye and Iri leaving me would not help ye either.”

  He walked away from the cages and would not look back. He could hear the screams, but he would not let her go. He had never known anyone like her and he knew that he never would again. The dream ended and Neilan awoke. He lay there staring into the fire.

  “I made the dream stop,” he said.

  Never before was he able to stop the dream, but never before had he just walked away. He felt the heavy weight of guilt on his chest, but what good was he doing them anyways if he could not help them. It just made no sense for him to feel responsible for their pain when he couldn’t do anything to change their situation. He rolled over and went back to sleep, but this time he did not dream. For the first time in over a year, he did not dream at all.

  Chapter 4

  Finding Purpose

  When morning came, Neilan rolled over and stretched his arms. For the first time in a long time, he felt well rested. He sat up to see if Iri was awake because he wanted to tell her that he had stopped the dreams. He was so excited, but his heart sank in his chest as he looked over at the empty blanket. He didn’t move for a moment, frozen in disbelief and fear.

  “Would she have just left?” He asked himself. “Would she not say goodbye?”

  He listened to see if he could hear her outside, but he did not hear anything. The realization began to set in; she was gone. He stood up and walked outside, but he knew he wouldn’t find her there.

  “I know it was the dream, but how could she just leave?” he said. “How could she just go and not at least say goodbye?”

  He sat down on the bench and stared out over the Glen.

  “It’s because I’m human,” he thought “and Dragoine cannot be together with humans.”

  He remembered this feeling; the feeling of loneliness, for he had felt it his entire life. Even with all his mum’s efforts, it still ate away at his heart bit by bit, and he was sure that one day he would have no heart left in him.

  “What kind of man will I become then, living out here all alone?” He said as he put his head in his hands.

  Suddenly, he heard the sound of wings close by and looking up he saw a large bird flying towards the cave. He stood up, unsure if it was Iri or another of her kind. He braced himself, just in case he had to run into the cave for his bow.

  “If it’s a fight they want,” he said, “then they can have one.”

  The bird came to rest on the ground about two meters away and transformed.

  “Iri,” he said, “I thought ye had left me. I mean, I thought ye had left.”

  “Neilan,” she said, “I have things that I must tell you.”

  “Ok,” Neilan said, seeing the serious look on her face.

  He motioning to the bench and they sat down. Suddenly, Neilan could hear more wings in the wind and every muscle in his body tensed up. He was about to run in and grab his bow, but Iri stopped him.

  “Wait,” she said, “I asked him to come.”

  Neilan couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

  “Ye asked who to come?” he asked.

  Just then the bird landed and transformed into the old man that he had met in the mountain cave.

  “I haven’t flown in quite some time,” the old man said as he stepped closer.

  Iri went to greet him, “Kaylu,” she said then, turned back to Neilan.

  Neilan was not sure what was happening, but he was going to find out.

  “Yer the cause of all of this” Neilan said.

  Kaylu smiled at Neilan, “You must have a lot of questions” he said.

  “Yes, I do. Like, why do I have these dreams?” Neilan asked, “and what did ye do to me in the cave that day?”

  Kaylu sat down on a pillow that seemed to appear out of thin air.

  “I understand how you must feel Neilan, so I will start from the beginning,” he said “from your childhood.”

  “My childhood,” Neilan said “what about my childhood?”

  Kaylu tilted his head and smiled at Neilan. Instantly, Neilan remembered seeing the old man when he was a child.

  “Y…ye came to our home when I was a boy,” he said.

  “Yes,” Kaylu replied, “I had a message for your mother.”

  “From my da?” Neilan asked.

  Kaylu shook
his head, “No, I am sorry. The message was from the king of the Dragoine.”

  “From my father?” Iri asked.

  “Yer father?” said Neilan “yer da was the king?”

  “Well, not really,” Iri said “my parents are both dead. He took me in when I was very young.”

  “So, was yer coming here on purpose?” he asked Iri.

  “No,” she said, “I didn’t know about you, I swear.”

  He believed her, but he still had a lot more questions.

  “Let me continue,” Kaylu said. “The message for your mother was about you. The King insisted that your mother not tell you about your father. You were the forbidden child; a child born between a Dragoine and a human. At first, the council wanted to have you destroyed, but I did not let them. I knew why you were born, but they were not ready to accept that, so I kept an eye on you as you grew.”

  Neilan remembered seeing the old man in a field where he had gotten into one of his many fights with two boys who were making fun of his birthmark.

  “You grew up fast and you grew up strong, but you also grew up with a lot of hate in you,” Kaylu said, “So when the time came and our people were in desperate need, I sent you the dreams.”

  “Ye sent the dreams,” Neilan said angrily.

  “Yes,” Kaylu answered. “You needed to be prepared for what would be asked of you. But you were not strong enough to understand the dreams and they became a torment to you instead. I came to the village to find you, but you had already left and for some reason, I could not feel where you had gone. Your anger had blocked you from me, but in time your anger subsided and I found you again.”

  “The cave,” Neilan said.

  “Yes, the cave. I lured you there with the birds. I knew that you were ready to understand, but you needed a gift.”

  “Oh ya,” Neilan said “a gift for a gift.”

  Kaylu smiled, “Would you rather continue with the dreams as they were before?”

  “No, no I guess not,” he said, shaking his head.

  “Neilan, your father did not understand that what he was doing was actually a fulfilment of one of my own prophecies. All he knew was that he was in love and no one was going to keep him away from her. But, in the end, he could not deny his responsibilities to the king and to his people. It broke his heart to leave you and sadly, only five years later his magic faded and he died.”

  “Of a broken heart,” Neilan said.

  “Yes, no one could understand how such a strong man could die so young, but I could see it and I watched the life drain out of him.”

  Neilan wondered if Iri would do the same thing; leave him because of her duty to her people. He wouldn’t blame her if she did, not really, especially now that he knew she was a princess.

  “My mum said he was nothing to her, just a good memory,” Neilan said.

  “Ah, yes,” Kaylu said, “your mother asked me to remove those memories from her. She could not bear to carry that pain around with her, so I left her only a few pleasant thoughts of him. The memories would have killed her too and you needed her to be strong, we all did.”

  “So, what do ye want from me?” Neilan asked.

  “Well, that is a good question” Kaylu replied. “I guess to be straightforward with you Neilan; I want you to save our people.”

  “What? Save yer people? How am I supposed to do that?” he asked.

  Kaylu shifted on the pillow, “you are the only one who can” he said.

  “So, this council, they sent ye to get me?” Neilan asked with a laugh.

  Kaylu looked down with a frown. “No,” he said “The council does not want you involved. They believe magical matters are not for men.”

  “So why are ye here?” Neilan asked.

  “Because, I have seen the outcome of their plans Neilan and it will lead to the death of us all. Caudee cannot be destroyed by a magical. Our magic only feeds his magic and makes him stronger.”

  “That’s what that thing is called, Caudee?” Neilan asked.

  “Yes,” Kaylu replied, “he was once a Dragoine.”

  “I saw him killing yer people,” Neilan said.

  “Yes, but he will not kill them all,” Kaylu said, “he needs them alive so he can feed off their magic.”

  “But I saw him,” Neilan said.

  Kaylu nodded, “he is probably trying to put great fear into them, for you see when a Dragoine is afraid their powers increase to protect them. So, he can drain even more power from them.”

  Neilan stood up and walked around. How could he, a boy, kill something so strong? The only weapon he was any good at was the bow and that thing didn’t look like an arrow could bring him down. Neilan wondered if even ten arrows could bring him down.

  “So, this Caudee, how am I supposed to kill him?” he asked as he sat back down.

  Kaylu smiled again, “that is where I come in,” he said. “I have a few gifts for you.”

  “Gifts,” Neilan said, “I’ve seen yer gifts.”

  Kaylu raised his hand, “let me continue” he said. I have developed a few items that can help you.”

  He reached behind him and produced a silver breastplate out of thin air.

  “This will not only protect you but when you wear it, you will be able to run and fight and never grow tired.”

  Neilan reached out and touched the breastplate then, pulled his hand back quickly. “It’s as cold as ice,” he said.

  “Yes,” Kaylu said, “as long as you are in the sunlight, the breastplate will sustain you but, the moment you step out of the sunlight, it will be unbearable to wear; you must take it off immediately.”

  Then Kaylu reached behind him again and pulled out a quiver of arrows.

  “Arrows,” Neilan said, “do ye really think an arrow can kill that thing?”

  “These arrows can,” he said, “one of these arrows alone would destroy him, but you must get him to remove his crown first.”

  “Oh, of course,” Neilan said “excuse me, sir, would ye mind taking off yer crown so I can shoot ye?

  He stood up in frustration and started pacing back and forth rubbing his head.

  “Take some time to consider,” Kaylu said, standing up. “But Neilan, our people do not have long, nor does this world. Iri can find me when you decide.”

  “Kaylu,” Iri said.

  “Don’t worry child, I will tell no one where you are.”

  “Thank you,” Iri said.

  Suddenly, there was a popping sound and Kaylu disappeared right before their eyes.

  “I am sorry,” Iri said, walking back to where he stood. “But when I saw your dreams, I remembered what Kaylu use to say about the boy who would one day save our people. Kaylu told me that Caudee would not stop once all the magical creatures are his. He will conquer the world of men with his magic.”

  Neilan shook his head. How could he, a boy, kill such a creature? Then the words of the old man came back to him.

  “You are the only one who can,” he said.

  “Iri, why did he say that I was the only one who could kill this Caudee?” he asked.

  “Because one must be magical to enter into his hidden domain,” Iri said. “And, one must be a man to kill him. You are both. You are the only one Neilan.”

  He thought about that for a moment, “I am the only one.”

  But he could feel the fear growing inside of him, how would he be able to stand against this creature with such fear inside?

  “Come on,” Iri said, grabbing him by the hand “let’s take a walk.”

  As they walked out into the Glen, Neilan was overwhelmed by the stress of what was unfolding in their lives.

  “Iri,” Neilan said, “I don’t think I can fight someone as powerful as Caudee. I’ve never fought anyone except boys and I’ve never killed anyone before.”

  They walked for a while without talking. Neilan just couldn’t see how it would be possible that he could defeat such a creature.

  “I know how you must feel,” Iri said,
“but, for centuries, the Dragoine have had Dream Criers, who have prophesied about you, Neilan.”

  “About me?” he said, “how do ye know it was about me?”

  “Because, they prophesied about Caudee as well,” she said. “Neilan, the Dream Criers prophesied that you will kill Caudee.

  “Great,” Neilan said, “did they happen to say how?”

  “No,” Iri said, “just that you do, and I believe them.”

  Iri took Neilan’s hand and they continued to walk through the heather throughout the afternoon, talking about life and how sometimes you just have to grab hold of it and take the chance.

  “Like us?” Neilan asked her.

  Iri looked down for a moment. “Maybe,” she said with a timid smile.

  Neilan was happy to hear her say that.

  “Let me make you something to eat,” she said as they turned back towards the cave. “There will be time to think and talk.”

  They went into the cave and Iri pulled out a sack from beside the door.

  “Where did that come from?” Neilan asked.

  “I gathered it early this morning before I went to see Kaylu,” She said.

  Neilan sat down and Iri started preparing some food for them. He did not recognize any of the ingredients that she was using.

  “Where did ye get those?” he asked.

  Iri smiled at him, “there are many plants hidden in the world. Most of them, men cannot see or find.”

  “But I’m half Dragoine,” Neilan said.

  “Yes, but you did not know what to look for or, you might have found them,” she said.

  Neilan sat back and enjoyed the smell of the food cooking in the pot on the fire. He hoped that it tasted as good as it smelled. His mind drifted back to his childhood and he could now clearly remember at least ten times when the old man had appeared to him.

  “Why had I forgotten?” He wondered “did the old man make me forget like he did my mum?”

  He missed his mum a lot and he wished that she was here.

  “Neilan, come try this,” Iri said.

  He moved over to the fire and she lifted the spoon to his lips. It indeed tasted as good as it smelled.

  “That is wonderful,” he said, “is it ready?”