Greenstone

by C E Johnson

  Emily gazed into her mother’s face and felt suddenly at peace. Her mother’s large round green eyes glistened like emeralds as they gazed upon her with fascination. Emily nestled next to her mother and began to tell her everything of consequence that had happened in her life up to this moment. Time had no meaning for them, and attendants came and went with food and drink as they talked into the early morning before falling asleep together on the couch, neither wanting to spoil the perfection of the moment.

  C H A P T E R 3 1

  Ullr and Wuldur

  Shadoe gazed out of the window of his tower room. He studied the endless depths of the Dothan Forest. Prophecy upon prophecy clouded his vision of the dragon war that was developing far to the north. He tried to concentrate on the common thread that tied the fragments together, but the outcome of the battle was shrouded to him. He heard the sound of boots scraping over wood and he knew one of his warriors was approaching. “Enter,” he called.

  “Sir, Maaca is growing bolder.” A long, lean elf entered the room, breathing heavily. His name was Ross, and he wore heavy steel plate that was such a dark green, it looked almost black in the flickering orange and white mage-light in the room. Silver scrollwork glistened on his armor, trailing delicately through the enameled steel.

  “What has she done?” Shadoe felt instantly weary. Dread had taken a firm grip on his heart as of late. The undead vampire queen was rapidly gaining power.

  “May I sit?” Ross gestured to a chair.

  Shadoe nodded and Ross sank into the oak seat which groaned under the weight of his armor. “She killed Captain John Steele.”

  Shadoe rubbed his temples. Steele had led the questing team that was searching for her coven. Shadoe pulled his greatsword from its scabbard and stared at the strong metal. His shimmering orange irises glared back at himself in his reflection and he wondered what was happening to his woods. “We used to dominate this forest,” he whispered.

  “Five of our greatest warriors were killed by her scourge.” Ross ran his hand over the surface of the oaken table next to him. “I can’t believe they can kill our elite elves.”

  “Our final battle is approaching,” Shadoe murmured, setting his sword on the table. “I wish my sister were here to help advise me.”

  “Your sister has been gone for scores of years.” Ross spoke with a fierce passion. “I respect your powers of prophecy and your wisdom, Shadoe, but you must face the reality of this conflict. The undead rule the southern forest now … this will be a difficult battle. We need to ride them down, crush them.”

  Shadoe shook his head, trying to dispel a fraction of his foreboding. “My plans have changed, I don’t want to attack their stronghold. I want to draw them here.”

  “Why would she attack us here?” Ross’ eyes were glittering with passion in the mage-light, with rage. Veins pulsed in his neck. “We should attack her while we still can. She grows stronger every day.”

  Shadoe gritted his teeth. “I’ve seen the battle. Maaca will come to us.”

  “Will you truly do nothing to avenge our comrades?” Ross stood, his face a mask of anger. Shadoe remained silent. Ross gave Shadoe a chilly look before departing the room and slamming the door shut.

  Shadoe went back to the window that overlooked the forest. He took a deep breath of air and tried again to cast a spell of prophecy to determine the outcome of the dragon war. There was no answer to his incantation. A warm summer rain had begun to fall, and thunder cascaded through the dark night. A lightning bolt slashed through the sky showing him the woods below for a fraction of a second, and he imagined he saw a vampire standing alone just outside his fortress gates, canines bared, silver hair streaming in the wind. “Maaca,” he whispered.

  * * *

  Maaca heard the faintest sound of steel clinking against steel, but she wasn’t alarmed, and she didn’t move. She wasn’t actually near to Shadoe’s realm. She sat on the ground meditating in her favorite room in her forming palace in the depths of the Dothan Forest. The construction of the entire tree-city was similar to the way the elves fashioned their places to live, blending buildings with nature, hopefully making it very difficult for Shadoe and his elves to identify her coven’s exact location. Her small sitting room was perched high in the tree where she had a good view over many of the treetops. Maaca was looking through the rain toward the northeast, where she knew Samil was somewhere faraway, planning his war.

  I can’t believe he’s leaving me out of his conflict. Maaca was furious with him, but she knew the reason why he was refusing her help. Samil had other plans for her. Soon she would challenge Shadoe in her own war. Maaca calmed herself and let her mind open to assimilate more aspects of her latest kills into her consciousness. She was allowing knowledge, techniques, and memories of the dead elves to be incorporated into her being; she found she couldn’t get enough of the elven psyche.

  Maaca sensed movement below her and the sound of clinking steel became steadily louder, vibrating upward through the fibers of her tree. She glanced downward between two floor slats to see her lieutenants, her shades, Ullr and Wuldur, approaching. Their iron-gray chainmail continued to jingle musically as they climbed the final stairway to enter her room. Waiting patiently for her to acknowledge them, they stood at attention until Maaca ended her spirit-incorporation and stood.

  “Why did you call for us?” Ullr rubbed his smooth bald head in question.

  “I received a dream-link from Samil last night.” Maaca kept her voice tight and controlled, attempting to hide the emotions that roiled through her mind. “He’s preparing for an enormous battle and although he’s confident in a complete victory, he informed me of a backup plan that he would like implemented as a safeguard.”

  “And we’re part of his plan?” Wuldur ran his hand along the hilt of a greatsword, his fingers coming to rest on the pommel, the worn grip speaking of hard use.

  A smile flickered across Maaca’s full lips. “How did you guess?”

  Ullr grunted, “Will we all stay together?”

  Maaca walked close to Ullr and let her nails dance along his strong, square jaw. “We’re going separate ways. I will remain here, while you both will journey to the Prime Portal. Once you cross to Earth, Samil wants you to serve Iscar. The magicians at the portal will have a team assembled to take you to your destination.”

  “Erude.” Ullr spat on the ground. “I hate that planet.”

  “Erude,” Maaca echoed softly. Both shades sighed, shuffling their feet in irritation. Maaca knew the cause of their dismay, no half-deads truly enjoyed going to Earth. Half-deads didn’t have the same loss of strength as living Acaceans, but there was still some decrease in their strength and ability.

  “When should we leave?” Wuldur wasn’t pleased, he questioned her despondently.

  “Tonight.” Maaca gave him a kiss on his cheek. “Samil wants me to contact him in the next hour to let him know everything’s in motion, because he thinks he will soon become preoccupied with the arch-mage, Emily Dalton. Iscar is to learn from your knowledge, and you’re to guard him with your lives. Is that understood?”

  Ullr sighed, before kneeling and giving Maaca a half-dead blessing. “Assimilate all you are able, my queen.”

  “Assimilate every elf,” Wuldur added while falling to his knee next to his brother.

  Maaca put a hand on each of their bald heads, whispering, “Stay strong until we meet again.” I hope Iscar is important, Maaca thought regretfully to herself. I’m losing two of my best warriors … and two of my best friends.

  The men stood with their usual inhuman grace. She kissed each man again before they whirled away from her. She waited for the clink of steel to die away before returning to focus once again on the memories of the dead elves that had taken up residence in her mind.

  C H A P T E R 3 2

  The Vatten Sea

  The sun peeked into the Tower Room in the elf forest, rousing Emily from sleep with fingers of delicate white light that warmed her cheek.
She went to an open window and looked out over the still sea. Her eyes fastened on a small galley with a green sail. The ship was slipping out of the docks to create a symmetric rippling wake behind it, like a steadily growing tail.

  I’m returning with your mother and Crittenden, Xena alerted Emily through their mind-link. We’re almost to your room. Emily rapidly changed and tried in vain to fix her unruly hair.

  Queen Elaina entered nearly noiselessly with Xena and Crittenden. “I went outside with your bondsmate for a walk. I hope you aren’t too sore from sleeping on my couch. Not exactly the finest bed in the elven lands.” Her mother’s comforting laugh danced through the room like tinkling music, and Emily couldn’t think of anywhere she would rather be right now.

  Emily smiled coyly at Crittenden while asking her mother, “What are your plans today? I think I’m going to have a difficult time leaving your side.”

  “I have to catch up with your father today.” Elaina sighed in mock frustration. “It’s such a rough life I have … trying to divide my time between my daughter and my husband.” Elaina flashed her own satisfied smile. “I’ve waited a long time to say, ‘my daughter.’”

  “What should I do?” Emily found herself studying the tall, dark and handsome man at her mother’s side and realized she had unwittingly asked Crittenden her question. She flushed slightly in embarrassment.

  “Today I want you to explore the vendors in the market.” Elaina handed Emily a small leather bag. “Our currency consists of gemstones and coins of gold and silver. You can spend all of that on you and your friends. Have fun.”

  Crittenden guided Emily to her friends. As a group they started toward the shops. They walked along paths past homes, inns, and storehouses and along small roads bordered by tall trees. They went through wooden arbors with climbing plants full of fragrant flowers. The elven world was a tapestry of woven vines, leaves and nature. The heady aroma of jasmine, wisteria, and roses was intoxicating to Emily, and she found pleasure in sampling their sweet-smelling perfumes through Xena’s nose.

  “I’ve been instructed to guide you to one of our larger bazaars where you will have to find some way to spend all of your mother’s money.” Crittenden walked with a bounce in his step. “Which kinds of stores would you like to visit?”

  “I want to find someone to tune up my weapons.” Luke pulled Draculafire from his scabbard and Crittenden admired the large blade.

  Xena playfully nipped Emily, Time for a game? Emily nodded. She left her friends to chase Xena through the trees. She giggled, feeling like a young child again with the weight of war and conflicts with Samil and Cyril just a distant memory in this safe world of the elves. The two emerged breathless and panting from the woods to join their friends at the edge of a wider path of pale white stones that led to the bazaar. Detailed and perfect, every item in the shops was a work of art. The clothes, jewelry, food—everything was constructed with an incredible attention to detail.

  “This place is pretty cool.” Luke studied a collection of knives in a small shop.

  “Let me take you to my favorite swordsmith.” Crittenden led them to an elven blacksmith, who was fashioning a sword over an anvil with a shaping hammer. He was chanting to himself as metal fell on metal in a glistening fountain of showering sparks. “He knows quality,” Crittenden whispered as the smith grunted in satisfaction, gazing upon the forming weapon in the pincers he was using. The man was sweating profusely in the heated air coming from his forge. He agreed to do their work and they watched in fascination as he re-etched ‘Draculafire’ on Luke’s sword in silver before sharpening, polishing, and honing all of their blades. He wanted to keep Luke’s crossbow invention for a few days, promising to tinker with the gears to enhance its function.

  “I have to return to the tree-castle to converse with a council member. I’ll see you all at the meeting tonight.” Crittenden left them much to Anna and Isabelle’s disappointment.

  They all bought elven clothing, including waterwear, along with cordials of healing potions for injuries, and leatherwork for riding their horses. Luke bought an elven rope and books detailing the fighting techniques of the elves. The girls found small circlets of silver to hold back their hair and strong metal cuff-like bracelets which were worn by many of the female elves for both beauty and protection.

  Aside from their swimwear, they sent their purchases back to the castle and wandered down to the docks, finding an area with a beach for swimming. The shadows were long, and the still water glinted in the setting sun like shimmering metal. Laughter and shouts from captains and sailors on nearby ships leapt to their ears across the water surface along with the creak of shifting wood and the snap of canvas sails. “Want to get in?” Elizabeth asked, staring wistfully at the glistening water. “That sea looks inviting.”

  Emily took off her boots and walked to the water’s edge. A small wave from a rippling wake washed over her feet. “It feels perfect.” They found a room to change into their lightweight elven swim suits and Emily and Xena sprinted past Elizabeth to be first in the water. The friends laughed and played until they were tired.

  “So relaxing,” Isabelle whispered, gliding on her back in the water with her eyes closed.

  “Relaxing, but don’t you want to see just how deep the Vatten Sea really is?” Luke asked before he abruptly dove beneath the surface, leaving only a small collection of bubbles on the top of the water as he disappeared below.

  “See you guys on the bottom,” Anna taunted with a teasing smile. She followed Luke beneath the gentle waves. Emily joined her submerged friends, casting a spell to keep a small amount of air by their eyes for excellent underwater vision and another spell to normalize the pressure by their ears.

  They followed the slow, slanted descent of the ground away from shore until a ridge developed and a steep drop off formed. At the extent of her vision, Emily could discern the outline of something far away. Sunken ships! She thought excitedly while swimming to the surface. “Did you see what was just beyond the drop-off?” Emily gasped, excited and breathless as her head broke the surface.

  “Shipwrecks!” Elizabeth gushed. Excited energy was radiating off her. “Thanks for the spell. I feel like an expert scuba diver.” She glanced at the setting sun. “Do we have time to explore for treasure?”

  “I don’t feel comfortable down there.” Luke gestured toward the depths, speaking hesitantly. Emily could hear the disappointment in his voice and she resisted the urge to tease him.

  Isabelle and Anna agreed with Luke. “We’re going back to play by the shore.”

  I’ll watch over them, Xena assured her.

  As they departed, Elizabeth moved to tread water right next to Emily. “Do you want to look, Em?” There was hope and promise in her eyes.

  Emily wanted to explore, but she wanted to keep Elizabeth safe. “I probably have enough energy to perform a spell that would let the two of us breathe underwater for a little while,” Emily answered slowly. “I could give us gills and leave the rest of our body unchanged. That wouldn’t require too much magus.”

  “Let’s do it,” Elizabeth gushed happily. She was wild and beautiful in her joy.

  “Now we can’t do this too long.” Emily didn’t want to let Elizabeth down, but she was wary. She was well aware of her magical limitations. “Shapeshifting is not my strongest field of magic.” Performing the spell to include Elizabeth, she noticed an instant drain on her energy. “Let’s go quickly.” She knew time was going to be a major factor.

  “Be careful,” Luke called as he retreated with Anna and Isabelle. There was a concerned look on his face.

  Emily and Elizabeth dove together, swimming toward the ghostly shapes below. They found the fragmented remains of an entire fleet of ships. This must have been a massive battle, Emily thought. Elizabeth pointed toward the largest ship that was in the center of the fleet. As she swam towards the galley, Emily followed. The ship was enormous and although it was deteriorating, it was more intact than the others with b
eautiful carvings of dragons adorning the intricate woodwork.

  They found an open passageway leading into the center of the ship and Emily gestured toward the surface. I have some energy in reserve, but we should probably head back, she thought to herself. Elizabeth put her hands together in a plea to continue and Emily slowly nodded, pulling her staff out of her pouch and saying, Fegkos fulgar, in her mind. The staff burned with its pure blue light. They pulled themselves through the water and down the main passageway with Elizabeth glancing furtively into rooms along the side of the corridor. Emily began to feel a little dizzy and she noticed the blue light from her staff was beginning to slowly dim. I’m feeling lightheaded. She rubbed a budding ache in her temple, and tapped Elizabeth on the shoulder with another motion to the surface. Elizabeth had an anxious expression on her face and raised a finger signaling she wanted one more minute. I can do this, Emily thought while nodding wearily. She just wants to find a single treasure. Slowly, she followed after Elizabeth, but her vision was blurring, and her mind felt like it was surrounded by a layer of cotton. I can do this, she repeated. Focusing only on extending the spell, she barely glanced in the rooms.

  Head back to the surface, Ammolite surged into Emily’s mind.

  You need to return, Xena echoed even more forcefully.

  Abruptly, Elizabeth darted away from Emily, out of the corridor and into a large room filled with the remnants of grand furniture. Emily’s vision was tunneling as she peaked in the room. Debris moved slowly in the small currents they were forming, and blue shadows created by her staff danced eerily on the walls that were adorned with ornate carvings. In growing desperation, Emily gave a rapid motion again to the surface. Her time was limited.

  Head up, Ammolite roared, while trying to feed Emily some of her own magus.

  Elizabeth pointed at a long thin chest that was in an open cupboard on the wall. Emily realized she would only be able to continue the spell on Elizabeth if she ended her own magical expenditure. Frantically, she put her staff in Elizabeth’s hands, continuing the light spell for her friend. She used her heightening to swim away toward the surface. As she swam, she stopped the spell on her own gills to give Elizabeth more time. This action helped Elizabeth, but it brought on a new anguish of oxygen deprivation, which paired with her energy drain began to cause a panic in her mind. How could I have been such an arrogant fool to think my arch-mage powers could endure for such a long time, she chided herself. The light of the surface was so far above, and Emily felt a weariness descend upon her.