“Too bad, because I am pretty happy with myself.”
“Fine, can you please land and let me on your back so you can take me back to my unit.”
“If you wish.”
“I do.”
Aegyn released him, letting him freefall towards the ground, but she dropped her nose and guided gently underneath him, securing him safely on her back.
“What is wrong with you? I have had enough of this!” he yelled at her when he caught his breath.
They didn’t say another word as she flew in the dark night until they were nearing Voll’s unit.
“Just drop me…no set me down below that ridge before the unit. The last thing I need is my unit putting arrows into you, leaving me to pull them out again.”
Aegyn descended and glided to a soft landing near a draw where a small winter stream began to show its first water of the season. Voll dismounted and patted Aegyn on the neck. “One deed complete.”
“Yes. Just call when you are ready for the next favor.” Aegyn stood up on her hindquarters, spread her wings, and showed her teeth. “But don’t take too long, I don’t like being indebted, especially to a human,” she said and then jumped up and flew south, away from Voll, the humans and the elves.
Chapter 17
King Jaerick stood on top of the tallest tower that looked over the entire kingdom. The tower was so tall that on a clear day he could see for miles. To the north, he could see the Valerian Sea, and to the southeast, he could see the small calm waters of Lake Aalararae.
The vegetation smelled wet and fresh from the recent intermittent rains. However, the heavy rain clouds rolling in from the south had made Jaerick’s worries feel more foreboding than normal. He could not put his finger on why, but his intuition told him that something was wrong. His son, Greynim, and Naemyn were both overdue. He had made Greynim the commander of the elven cavalry, who had taken two squads with him on a routine scouting patrol. These routine patrols were necessary due to the periodic human raids on outlying elven villages. Greynim did not always go on these patrols, but he did go on them more frequently than Jaerick was comfortable with, especially with the intensity of his nightmares of late. He was still having the recurring dream of Traelyn’s betrayal and Greynim’s demise, and with each dream, he felt it was more realistic, and more prophetic than a nightmare.
As he watched the dark clouds roll in, he wondered if he had actually put events into motion that would make the dreams a reality. Now, because of the dreams, he felt renewed feelings for Traelyn. Feelings that he had not felt since before she left.
“It wasn’t my choice,” he muttered under his breath, and then cursed his father.
“There is nothing you can do, Jaerick,” King Keiyann had told him from his council chambers so many years ago. “We have to let her go.”
“But I told her I would come for her.”
“Jaerick, this is just as hard on me as it is for you. I promised her father to make sure that she would be safe, and it is because of that promise that I am sending her away.”
“But you’re the king, you can proclaim her life equal to an elf and no one can harm her.”
“It is not that simple. Many, mostly the Sor elves that believe in keeping the elven race pure, do not follow or trust the prophecies of Val Eahea. They struggle with the fact that we Val elves are impure and do not belong here. Therefore, they strongly believe that the disgusting, impure humans will bring down the elven kingdom. They will do anything to refuse the humans a chance to seize even the smallest foothold, even though prophecy says that we must first endure the humans before we prosper.”
“Then they should realize that we do this only so that we will rise again stronger than ever.”
“Yes, but the Sorae will always remind us that there are too many forks that lead to and away from that path.”
“Father, then take charge of the path you believe to be right, and make it happen.”
Keiyann shook his head. “To do this will bring about Traelyn’s death and you have to realize this.”
“No, I refuse to believe that. I will protect her.”
“How? You cannot watch her every minute of her life.”
“Then I will go with her to wherever you send her.”
“No! I will not allow that.”
“You can’t stop me from being with the one that I love!” Jaerick said clenching his fists.
“You’re right. I cannot stop you, but you won’t go, because if you do, not only will you lose everything, but both of you will be hunted down and killed by those who want to thwart the prophecy, fearing that a half breed baby will be born.”
“She is already pregnant with my child.”
Keiyann paused, his face already flush with anger from having to confront his son, turned bright red. “Who else knows?”
“You and I are the only ones who now know.”
“Then we must not tell anyone else, and more than ever, she must never return.”
“We will never return,” Jaerick said taking a few steps backward to the door.”
“No son. You have to realize that If you leave, both of you will die.”
“I have to take that chance. I love her too much.”
“You’ll never find her,” he said waiting for his words to sink in.
Jaerick froze in his steps then walked back to his father and pushed his father’s shoulders so hard that Keiyann was forced to take a step back in order not to fall.
“You must tell me where she is!”
“To save your life and hers, I will not.”
“Father! You cannot withhold this information all of your life.”
“I will do exactly that, if for no other reason than the promise I made to her father and I will do this to save both of your lives, your throne, and our people.”
“Father, no -” Jaerick pleaded.
“It must be this way. There is no alternative.”
“No!” Jaerick shouted, and he left the room and the castle in search of Traelyn. He spent a week searching for her in all of the elven hideouts, encampments, and even the military posts throughout the kingdom, and found nothing.
Jaerick remembered how he returned through the castle gates heartbroken and disheveled, and now, centuries later, he saw his son and his squad charging through those very same gates with purpose.
He knew by his urgent arrival that Greynim had found something. Jaerick ran down the tower and through the length of the castle to the entryway to meet Greynim and his squad. They were already tearing down their horses’ tack and equipment when Jaerick arrived. Greynim saw his father approach and walked briskly over to him to report. As he did so he pulled off his green tinted helm. His shoulder length dirt-blond hair stuck to his head from the sweat collected under his helm. Greynim was very slender, even for an elf, a product from his mother’s side.
“Father, we found a large massing of humans just north of the Dragon Cross Mountains,” Greynim said as he tousled his hair with his left hand and held his helm with his right.
“That’s not too surprising. That’s where their villages are.”
“Not this big. We saw somewhere near two thousand men. They have never attacked with more than a few hundred.”
Jaerick motioned Greynim to follow as he turned and walked away from where no one else could hear their conversation. “Did you see Naemyn, or any signs of him?”
“No. But they are near where Naemyn would’ve traveled.”
“Or would be traveling upon his return,” Jaerick concluded.
“If they haven’t slaughtered him already. The huma
ns are closer than they have been for years, especially with a force this large.”
“What were they doing?”
“We watched them for two days, and they did absolutely nothing. I think they are rallying there, maybe waiting for an even larger force.”
“Then I think it is time that we take the offensive.”
“I can muster five hundred elves in one hour.”
“Good, but we need to muster more. I will arrange for an additional thousand, and set up five hundred more for a support group and possible defensive rally station in the forest near Fort Stone-Elf. We can ambush them just south of there.”
“Then I’ll get busy. How soon can I lead this force out of here?”
Jaerick froze. He envisioned all of his dreams now coming true. If there was a battle south of Fort Stone elf, it could possibly occur near or at a cliff-faced valley they have strategically used for the defense of the fort. He shuddered to envision to possibility of Naemyn bringing Traelyn to the battle only to see his force decimated.
“No, you will not go on this one.”
“But Father, I have started this expedition and I need to finish it!”
“No. Choose your best warrior and send him in your place. I need you here.”
Greynim said nothing, turned around, and walked away in frustration. As Jaerick watched him walk away, he wondered if he was changing his dream from coming true or merely laying the plans to making them fall into place.
Chapter 18
Voll was tired and out of breath when his perimeter scouts stopped him. Even in darkness, the scouts knew it was Voll and let him pass. Voll then grabbed one of the scout’s horses and was on his way to the main encampment to share the news with Commander Daegon. It felt good to be on horseback again, to feel the horse’s stride, and to watch its ears change direction depending on the commands given or just by being alert to its outside surroundings.
He rode fast, but savored the moment. Even though it was not raining, he was still getting wet from rubbing against the dripping forest vegetation. This did not bother him, he knew his mission was nearly accomplished, and soon he would be able to get some rest in a dry tent and a stiff cot.
An hour later, he was facing the guards to commander Daegon’s tent.
“Wake the Commander!” he ordered as he approached.
“Is it urgent?” one guard responded.
“Yes, it is. Wake him now!”
The questioning guard motioned to the other to go inside and wake the commander. He shook his head and opened the flap of the tent. Fearing the repercussion of this action, he went inside with the full knowledge that his superior was too cowardly to do it himself.
A few moments later Commander Daegon yelled for Voll to enter. Commander Daegon was tying his robe when he entered. A candle burned on his table beside his cot. Voll was impressed with the Commander’s size. He always looked strong and foreboding with his studded leather armor, but he was still a large man dressed only in a robe. His long light brown curly hair matted up on one side of his head as he addressed Voll.
“What news of the elves?”
Voll saluted before responding. “They are about a day and a half southeast of us. According to one of their scouts, that was killed after giving me this information, they were on a non military reconnaissance mission for some elven artifact.”
Commander Daegon put his hands in the pockets of his robe. “Is that all?”
Voll swallowed hard. “Yes, I wish there was more, but I think that is all they were after. They were even being pestered by a dragon for a while.”
Commander Daegon laughed. “Now that would be a sight wouldn’t it, elves being harassed by dragons? So where are they headed now?”
“They will be returning home the same way they came.”
“Do they know of our force here?”
“No. They do not. Their mission as I said is purely non-military.”
“And you believe that?”
“He gave me no reason not to believe him. He was in fear for his life when he gave me the information, then died shortly thereafter. Plus, they went directly to their location, spent a few hours there, and then they changed direction and are now heading home.”
“You believe they are on a direct course back home?” he asked.
“Yes. They seem to be following same route they came in on.”
“Non-military you say?”
“Yes, commander.”
“Good. Then I intend to make it a military operation for them. I will not give them a chance of accidentally finding us, so we will set up an ambush.”
Voll then told Commander Daegon every detail of the size, strength, and fighting capabilities of the elves, he even told him a few more details of the dragons he encountered, but did not tell him of the debt that Aegyn had promised him, because he didn’t really believe in the honor of an overgrown wyrm. When he finished, Commander Daegon released him to get some much-needed rest.
As he walked to his tent, he could not help but wonder if something bigger than expected was on the horizon. Elves on a secret mission, dragons making promises to humans, and a bloodthirsty commander bent on destroying the whole elven race. Voll reached his tent, opened the flap, and walked in. As he lit a candle, he smelled the musty smell of canvas, and saw his unkempt cot in the same condition he left it, well slept in. Now he planned to jump in it and finish right where he left off.
Chapter 19
Voll awoke with a start. It was daylight outside, and the inner walls of his tent dripped from the moisture sticking to the canvas. He heard yelling outside subdued by Commander Daegon’s booming voice as he walked past the outside of Voll’s tent. Another voice trailed after him pleading for him to listen to reason. Voll jumped out of his cot, pulled his pants out from in between his covers, and put them on. He fumbled again in the covers to retrieve his tunic. Pulling it over his head, he smelled the odor of his sweat. He wrinkled his nose and twisted his head, and pulled it over his head anyway.
He then found his boots, buckled them, and ran out of the tent not looking where he was going. When he did, he slammed into an old woman knocking her down onto her right side. She let out a pitiful moan as she fell in the soft mud.
Commander Daegon and Traegon heard her fall and wail as she twisted over onto her back. “What in the...?” Commander Daegon yelled.
“Great Mother?” Traegon also gasped as he ran to aid her.
“Great Mother?” Voll questioned in shock and surprise as he went down on both knees and put his hand behind her neck to prop her up.
“Do not touch her!” Traegon yelled coming to her aid. “What is your problem?”
Voll faced the youth, the strong resemblance of his father showed in his facial features. Voll noticed that he was not as large as the commander, but actually was thin and scrawny compared to the imposing man.
“My apologies to the Great Mother,” Voll said lowering his head in submission.
“I’m fine,” Traelyn said, gaining her composure. “My hip hurts, but I think I will be fine.”
“Find a healer now!” Commander Daegon shouted for all to hear, and at that command, every onlooker turned tail and ran.
“I can manage,” Traelyn said as she sat up. Her shoulders slumped and her head wobbled from side to side as she did so.
“Great Mother, please,” Traegon pleaded.
“Enough of the pity. Why don’t you three strong men just shut-up and help me up?”
Traegon and Voll looked to each other and knew that they had to comply. As they helped her to her feet Commander Daegon stood in front of them with his hand
on his hips.
“This is why, young Traegon, our Great Mother cannot go any farther and must go back home,” he said, proving his point.
“It is only by her command that I follow, father,” he said in defense, “and with all due respect, you should as well. How can you just simply disobey her command?”
“I do so, because I can.”
“How can you do that? She is the Great Mother.”
“I can do this because I am Daegon, the eldest living son in her line. And I am in command of her army, her people, and believe it or not, of her safety.”
Traegon’s eyes widened from hearing his father actually say what every person had suspected was going through Daegon’s mind for many years now, but never thought he would hear him utter it aloud, especially in front of the Great Mother herself.
“You have no right,” Traelyn said, annunciating every syllable.
“Please forgive me Great Mother, but you are old,” Daegon began. “You are older than human history itself, and it grieves me to say that you are withering away. Your bones are weak, and your mind is shrinking. You being here wanting to see the king of the elves, our enemy, only proves this fact. I will not have you talk me out of it, and that is final.”
“Daegon, my boy,” Traelyn began as her eyes began to swell and turn red. “You are not as powerful as you think. This realm is bigger than humans, elves, and this petty war of ours. We must come together to bring ourselves to a higher state of being. You have grown overconfident and boastful. You must be humble to lead effectively.”
Commander Daegon tightened his lips and shook his head. “Traegon, take her home.”
“But father, -” Traegon interjected.
“Voll!” Commander Daegon yelled as he pointed to him. “Let’s go kill some elves, before you knock over our supreme matriarch and hurt her this time!”
Traelyn stood still and watched Commander Daegon and Voll walk away.
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