“Lava rock,” Aaron said. “Like most of the castle.”
“That’s what that pretty red rock is?” Sarah asked.
Aaron turned to smile at her, then glanced back at Rhen, who had rubbed his hand across the elfin carvings above the handprints, making them light up from behind with a golden light.
“What does it say?” he asked the elves, leaning backwards with his hand holding him up. Aaron shrugged. None of them could read the symbols.
Rhen held his right hand out to take his sword from Ceceta. He chopped at his left arm a few times, but nothing happened. He couldn’t even break the skin.
He sheathed his sword and leaned away from the wall again. “Well, does anyone have a suggestion of how I can get free?”
“Why don’t you put your right hand in the other print?” Ceceta said.
Rhen shook his head. “No, with my luck I’d probably end up getting both of my hands stuck.”
Ceceta turned to Aaron. “Perhaps we should tell your father that Rhen’s stuck? Maybe he’ll know what to do.”
“I’ll get him.” Aaron walked off through one of the doors. As soon as he was out of sight, he stopped to send his dad a mind message.
While they waited for Aaron to return, Rhen glanced up at the portraits of the Genisters in the room. “Themrock painted some nice pictures in here.” Leaning closer to Ceceta, he whispered, “It seems he finally grew up.”
“Really?” Ceceta turned to look at them. Themrock’s face was obscured in all the pictures by his bright blue eyes, but Layla’s was clear as a bell. Even back then she had a smug expression on her face. Ceceta wanted to reach up and scratch her eyes out.
“Yeah, he’s no longer behaving abominably. He seems to be a good God. These pictures are for Layla. Can you hear his love songs?”
Ceceta shook her head. Morbid curiosity had her asking Rhen to help her hear the songs.
Rhen waved her closer, then bent his head down to hers. The second they touched she could hear Themrock singing. His songs were beautiful. It was obvious that Themrock loved Layla. Ceceta had figured that he must; otherwise, why would he have married her? It was only a matter of time before Themrock returned and when he did, Layla would take her rightful place as his wife and she would be left with nothing. Ceceta closed her eyes to keep herself from crying.
Rhen nudged her. When Ceceta opened her eyes, he said, “Why do you think Layla’s spirit is inside me?”
Ceceta took a deep, shuddering breath. “Because she knows you’ll be saving her husband. Thellis told you that already. She’s waiting for you to lead her to him.”
Rhen kissed the top of her head again. “Why are you sad?”
Ceceta was saved from answering by the sound of an army of feet running towards them from each of the five hallways that entered into the room. Naci, along with most of his guests, burst into the room. There were so many of them that they couldn’t all fit. They filled the hallways and outer rooms.
Rhen groaned. As if it weren’t embarrassing enough, now the entire wedding party knew he was stuck.
Rhen explained the situation to Naci, then asked, "Is there some way to release me?"
Naci nodded, surprising Latsoh and Aaron. “First,” he said, “put your other hand into the second carving and then I’ll say the words that will break the spell.” He gestured towards the second handprint with a smile. He’d have to thank Charlie later for teaching him how to lie.
Rhen frowned. He hadn’t realized that the elves had any spells, but Naci seemed confident.
Rhen placed his right hand into the other carving and gasped as his body jerked. His head fell forward and a bright white light shot out of his eyes, mouth, the handprints and from every joint between every stone that made up the castle. As Rhen chanted in Genister, the ground shifted allowing the full Fire Elf castle to rise to the surface. A moment later, they were hit by a burst of warm energy that made their hair rise and their skin tingle.
When the wave of energy passed, they saw Rhen lying on the floor. His eyes and body were still glowing white. Ceceta was holding his head in her lap while Tgfhi was placing a wet towel on Rhen’s forehead.
Naci raised his hands to inspect them. A small burst of flames flew out of his fingertips. He turned to his people and boomed, “We can control fire!” The Fire Elves cheered. Finally, Themrock had given them back their powers.
“But what is the power that we now share?” Latsoh asked the room. They had shared telepathy after the Water Elf castle was awakened. Surely, Themrock had given them a new power to share.
“Hey,” Charlie said from the floor. He was sitting with his back against the stone bench holding a drink. He lifted it into the air and added, “I wanted the beer that was over there on the bench and it flew right into my hand. How cool is that?”
The elves glanced about the room. Within seconds, anything that wasn’t soldered into place was flying through the air. They could move objects with their minds. They shrieked and laughed as they dodged the items that flew through the air.
“Quiet!” Jet barked.
Rhen’s eyes were no longer glowing. He lifted his hands to his head and squeezed his eyes shut. Rolling over onto his stomach, he pulled his knees underneath him and gasped with pain. “Make our apologies,” he whispered to Ceceta.
Ceceta turned to Naci and Reman and told them she felt sick, so she was heading home. She glanced over at Latsoh and Erfce and added, “Congratulations again on your wedding. We’ll see you after your honeymoon. I’m afraid you’ll have to wait until then for our gift.”
Latsoh reached for her hand and squeezed it. “You’ve already given us everything we need.”
Ceceta smiled her thanks then placed her hand on Rhen’s shoulder. A moment later, an enormous dragon made of fire flew up through the floor. It scooped Rhen and Ceceta into its claws then whisked them out of the room. “Holy Dragon!” Naci exclaimed at the sight of it.
The room was silent after they had left. “Holy dragon is right!” Thellis chuckled, flying into the room through a green swirling vortex. He bowed to Naci and Reman. “Congratulations, your majesties, and welcome to the family. You now have your powers and–he turned to gesture towards the fireplace–may I be the first one to introduce you to your new friends, the Queen and King of Fire themselves… Sol and Sela.”
Naci gaped as the fireplace’s flames burst upward and a woman and man, made of fire, stepped out onto the stone hearth. Thellis pushed Naci and Reman towards them with his powers. “Your majesties, meet your majesties.” Thellis chuckled at Naci’s stunned face. “I love this part of the job."
Naci was staring into flames that formed the shape of a human body. The flames bent and folded in such a way that they created a person. The eyes and mouth of the person in front of him were pure black, like coal, while the person standing in front of Reman had eyes of blue fire that flickered and swayed back and forth. “It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Naci said.
“Likewise,” the black-eyed fire person said, using his mind to speak. “I am Sol. We live on your sun. Thellis has just informed us that our people were once friends, as is the will of Lord Themrock.” He bowed as he said the name ‘Themrock.’ “Has he explained this to you?”
“No, not yet,” Naci said. “But I’m sure he speaks the truth.”
“Yes,” Sol said. “It feels right. Long live Lord Themrock, Creator of Life.” Sol bowed towards the pictures of Themrock on the wall behind Naci.
“Long live Themrock,” Naci agreed.
“I am Reman, Queen of the Fire Elves,” Reman said, introducing herself to Sol.
“It’s nice to meet you,” Sol said. “This is my wife, Sela.” He gestured towards the person standing beside him.
“We would like to visit with your people, but you have put barriers in our way,” Sela said. She gestured towards the thick red carpet on the floor of the room.
Naci groaned. They’d recently paid to carpet the entire castle, hoping it might add warmth to t
heir home. Looks like that had been a mistake. He wondered if they could return the carpeting.
Sela continued. “Would you like to visit our people?”
“That would be lovely,” Reman said, “but this is new to us. We’ve only had our powers for a brief time. How do we visit you on the sun?”
“Step into the flames and you will be taken to our star,” Sela explained.
“And, no,” Thellis added for all to hear. “You won’t burn. In fact, you will never burn again.” A green swirling vortex appeared over his head. “Have a nice visit.”
After Thellis had left, Sol and Sela glided into the fireplace’s flames. They were barely visible, blending in with the fire.
Naci turned towards his wife. “Would you like to go first?”
Reman smiled and stepped into the fire. The flames leapt up around her body and then she disappeared. Naci followed. As soon as he was gone, the other Fire Elves stepped into the flames.
Aaron turned to Jack and the others. “We need to find Rhen. I think we should swing by his apartment first, then check Surpen.”
Sarah put her hand on his arm. “No. Go with your people. You need this. We’ll find Rhen. He’s not going anywhere. If it’s at all like the last time, he’ll sleep for a day or two.” She leaned forward to kiss him. “Enjoy.”
“You too, honey,” Erfce told Latsoh. “I’ll wait here.”
Latsoh’s eyes widened. “Are you sure?”
Erfce kissed her and pushed her towards the fireplace. “I can’t wait to hear all about it.” Latsoh squealed with excitement, hugged him then jumped into the fireplace.
“I love you!” she called out before disappearing.
Erfce turned to find Charlie standing beside him.
“I left the portrait you were looking for in your palace on Ponto,” Charlie said. “You don’t need to pay me for it. All I ask is that you keep it away from Rhen. Promise me you’ll never let him see it.”
Erfce was stunned. How had that happened? He’d been nagging Tgfhi to steal it and now Charlie was just giving it to him?
“Sure, Charlie. Thanks.” He opened his mouth to ask Charlie why Rhen couldn’t see it, but Charlie had already pushed past him and left.
That was weird, Erfce thought as he made his way back to the party. He planned on escorting his parents’ home so that he could wrap the portrait and give it to Latsoh during their honeymoon.
***
Jack’s father, Chaster, caught him as he was leaving the wedding. “Well? Are we next?”
Jack didn’t know what he was talking about. “Next?”
Chaster spread his arms out, gesturing towards the glowing lanterns and lava fountains in the room. “You got my message, right?”
Jack groaned to himself. His dad had been leaving messages every week asking him when he was going to bring Rhen to their castle. Like the other guards, he didn’t want to ask Rhen to visit his home. If Themrock wanted to stop by the Air Elf castle, then it should be his decision. Jack didn’t feel right, manipulating Themrock’s mortal shell into visiting his castle. Unfortunately, his dad didn’t agree, so Jack had been making excuses. The problem was he was running out of things to say. “Yes, I got your message. It’s just that we’ve been so… busy, you know? I don't know how Rhen does it. His schedule is exhausting. All I want to do is sleep.”
Instantly, Chaster turned from King of the Air Elves into father. “Are you okay?” He put his hand on Jack’s shoulder. “Do you want a break? Should I find someone else to shadow Rhen?”
“No, thanks. I’m good.” Crap, now he’d made his dad worried. “I’ll have some time to rest tomorrow. It usually takes Rhen a few days to recover after opening a castle, right? I’m sure I’ll feel better soon.”
Chaster nodded and reached out to straighten Jack's white and blue Air Elf cape. “You’re right. Go. Get some rest. Protect our Lord. If you find you’re still tired, when he’s back on his feet, let me know and I’ll ask your cousin, Glenn, to spot you for a while.”
Jack leaned over to hug his dad. “Thanks, I will.” He turned and continued on to the Fire Elf portal, where he found Shno sitting in a chair waiting for him.
“I saw your Dad waiting to ambush you.” Jack nodded. “Same old same old?”
Jack paused in front of him. “Yes. I’m to bring Rhen to our castle as soon as possible.”
Shno sighed and stood up. “I get the same thing from Estan. It’s hard. You want to please them, but you feel obligated to protect Themrock.”
“I know.” Jack turned to the portal. “Elfin University.” As the frame flickered to life, he glanced at Shno. “We can’t keep this up indefinitely. Eventually, they’re going to figure out what we’re doing.”
“We could get married?” Shno suggested.
Jack gave him a look and they both laughed.
Chapter 27
Sarah and Aaron’s Apartment – Elfin University
When Tgfhi and Crystam knocked on Sarah’s apartment door, Jack threw it open and waved them in. “Bored?” he asked as they passed by him.
“No,” Crystam said. The guard elves were lounging about on the furniture in Sarah’s living room. “We’re worried.” She took a chair by the window desk as Tgfhi sat on the lip of the wooden railing under the windows.
“Why do you think he’s in so much pain?” Tgfhi asked.
They all knew who he was talking about. Rhen still hadn’t left his bedroom after giving the Fire Elves their powers. It’d been two days and they had yet to see him. He wasn’t even leaving his room to eat. When Ceceta had turned Bosternd and Nk away, they’d placed Jet on high alert.
“He had a headache the last time,” Sarah reminded Tgfhi.
“But, this time it’s much worse. Why?”
“Maybe it gets worse with each castle that he liberates?” Jack suggested. He dropped down onto the sofa next to Shno and swung his feet onto the wooden coffee table in front of him.
Crystam glanced at the bookcase to her right. Sarah and Aaron definitely weren’t students. There wasn’t one book on the shelves. Instead their bookcase held weapons: knives, bows, stun rays and more. She figured the weapons were out for easy access in case they needed to grab them to defend Rhen.
“I hope you’re wrong,” she told Jack, while reaching out to pick up a blaster. “At this rate, he’ll die when he liberates the fourth castle.”
“He won’t die,” Shno said. “He’s Themrock. He can handle anything.”
Tgfhi snorted. “That’s right. Themrock can ‘handle anything.’ In fact, not many people know this, but he wanted to be imprisoned in that void box for a thousand years.”
“Very funny,” Thellis said, startling them. He floated into the room through the kitchen wall on a green mist.
“Thellis, what’s going on? Why is Rhen in so much pain?” Crystam asked.
“Because of Layla.”
Aaron sat up from where he’d been lounging on one of the chairs by the coffee table. “Layla’s hurting Rhen?”
“Yes.” Thellis pretended to sit on a translucent green chair next to Sarah. He sighed when he saw the confusion on their faces. “Didn’t Jet explain it to you? I told him.”
“He mentioned something about the fact that if Themrock knew who he was, it wouldn’t hurt him to give us our powers, but since he’s Rhen, it hurts,” Sarah said.
“Is that all he told you?”
Jack dropped his feet off the coffee table and sat up. “He also said that Rhen was experiencing pain because he had to work to hold Layla back. Something about keeping her from absorbing the powers he was releasing to us. Is it true? Would she take our powers if she could?”
Thellis laughed. “Seriously? You’re asking me if Layla is power hungry? Have you met her yet?” They had. They’d seen her twice now and each time she’d acted horribly.
“Layla’s trying to steal Themrock’s powers?” Crystam asked.
Thellis couldn’t understand why they were having so much trouble with
it. “Of course. She’s lost most of the powers Themrock gave to her when they were married. She wants them back. She likes acting like a God.”
Jack grunted. “I’m almost afraid to ask, but how does she act like a God?”
“She plays games with you mortals,” Thellis said. “Haven’t you wondered why some people, who should have powers, get them, while others who should have powers don’t? She’s the reason why.”
When Sarah’s lip curled downward, Thellis nodded. Now they got it.
***
“How great is this?” Tgfhi said as he and Erfce walked towards the school’s portal room.
After Latsoh and Erfce had returned from their honeymoon, Rhen had given them both power balls. Latsoh now had the ability to fly, while Erfce could handle fire like the Fire Elves. They’d been truly grateful for Rhen’s gifts, although not necessarily surprised, since he’d given Tgfhi and Crystam the same thing.
What had surprised them, and the reason why Tgfhi and Erfce were now walking to the portal room, was the fact that Rhen had also given both couples houses on Crithnians. Ceceta had told them that they’d tried to purchase the homes next to theirs, but that the people who’d owned them had refused to sell. After Rhen had left the room, she’d then whispered to them that when she and Jet had visited her neighbors on Crithnians, they’d found televiews in all of their homes, pointing directly into her and Rhen’s backyard. It’d been very unnerving and she wasn’t even sure if she wanted to keep her own home on Crithnians or move into a new one.
Erfce fingered the pass card that Ceceta had given him. “I was floored when they told us.” He laughed. “Powers and a vacation home? Incredible.”
“You can hang Latsoh’s portrait of Thamber there,” Tgfhi said as they arrived at the portal. “Southwest Street, Crithnians.”
The portal flickered to life at Tgfhi’s command, turning blue before showing the street that Tgfhi had requested. It used to be that the portals would only open to other frames, but ever since they’d learned Rhen was Themrock, the portals had begun to open to any location they requested. No one knew why they were doing it but Thellis had mumbled something about Themrock needing to drop more power from his mortal shell.
The Surpen King - Part 2 - Rise of the Elves Page 36