by Brad Clark
“It is no longer our responsibility to be responsible for the entire world. It is our responsibility to do what is right and to have faith in the One God. We are not going to abandon the world to the Humans like we once did. Instead, we can help them become proper stewards of this world. That is now our responsibility.”
***
There was little for Conner and Elissa to do. Even the Elven archers stood around with no targets in their range. Leaving Hargon to finish off the fleeing army, they left the top of the wall and walked down the stone stairs to the courtyard.
“Conner!”
Conner turned at the sound of his name to see four people walk towards them. He recognized Marik and Nikki, but the two others he did not know. All were dirty and bloody and walked with the slow, painful gait of the weary and wounded.
“Marik!” Conner called back, and he trotted forward. He stopped just short when he got a closer look at him. “You are hurt!”
“I’ll survive,” Marik replied back with a dismissive wave.
Conner gripped Marik on the shoulder and let out a deep sigh. The adrenaline that had driven him in battle was now gone and in its place was an overwhelming release of emotion. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to cry or laugh. Words stuck in his throat as he held Marik’s eyes for a moment. They had all survived, and it was just starting to hit them.
Once he regained his composure, he stepped back and turned to Nikki. “Princess Nikki, I am glad to see you.”
“And you as well,” she replied. “It’s been a long journey.”
Elissa stepped forward and gave a slight courtesy. “Princess Nikki, I am Queen Elissa. Welcome to Karmon. Your warriors were a most welcome addition to our fight. I don’t think we could have won this without you.”
Nikki smiled and held back a chuckle. She had seen the power of their magic user. The Sak’Hurai were certainly helpful, but the war was really won because of the dark-robed man that threw balls of fire from his hands. If not for him, even the tall walls of the castle would not have been able to stop the Deceiver’s armies. It was the right and proper things to say, and she was certainly not going to hold that against the queen. The dance of protocol always annoyed her, but she had grown up with it and was used to it. She realized Queen Elissa was uncomfortable with trying to maintain proper royal bearing, especially with echoes of battle still ringing in their ears. Despite her outward feminine appearance, there was clearly an inner strength to her that made her be a leader who was worthy of being followed.
“Your words are are gracious,” Nikki said, with a smile and slight bow of her head. “But, I think we can all admit the real reason for victory is up on the wall.”
They all turned to look up at Hargon who was still tossing fireballs at their retreating army.
“We all fought hard,” Conner agreed. “But without Hargon, we would not have won the day.”
Aeneas, intrigued by the magic user, looked more intently at Hargon. “Hargon?” he said, mostly to himself.
Conner realized that underneath the dirt and blood was the leather armor of a Taran Centurion. “Who are you?”
“This is General Aeneas,” Nikki said.
“The man up there,” Aeneas asked. “You call him Hargon?”
“Yes,” Conner replied. “That is your former emperor.”
“It can’t be!” Aeneas exclaimed. “It looks like him, but he’s dead! He’s throwing fire from his hands?”
Aeneas then noticed the Elves around him. His knees shook, and he started to sway. Nikki put a hand on his shoulder to steady him. “I was just getting used to Dragons flying in the sky, and now I see all this.”
Conner laughed. It felt odd to laugh with all the death and destruction around them, but it also felt good. For the first time in a while, despair and sorrow were not draining his emotions.
Nikki cleared her throat. “This war might be over, but there is still fighting to be done. Those not killed by your mage are running for the forest. They will surely hide until they are ready to come out and then they will attack us when we least expect it. They are still enemies, and they will try and kill us until we kill them.”
“Right,” Marik said. “There are still a handful of horses that we can saddle up to chase after them.”
Elissa gave him a disapproving look. “You are wounded, Marik. I know Ilasha is waiting to hear from you.”
“There is still more to do,” Marik countered.
Conner agreed with Elissa, and said in a commanding voice, “Sir Marik, go find your wife. She can help bandage your wounds, too!”
“Will you take Aeneas?” Nikki said. “He is hurt as well.”
“Not a chance!” Aeneas growled.
Nikki shook her head at him. “Go with Sir Marik. Heal up. I will find Denn and the other Sak’Hurai. We will hunt down the enemy. It is what we do. Sak’Hurai are warriors, and fighting is in our blood.”
“Go!” Elissa said, giving Marik a light push.
Marik resisted. “This is Karmon. I am a Karmon Knight.”
Elissa put a hand on his shoulder and said, “I am still your Queen, and I command you to heal. You have done more than enough. You are hurt and exhausted. For once, let someone else fight the fight. Soon enough you will be healed, and then you can join them.”
Marik’s face showed that he still felt the need to go with Nikki, but he nodded his head. He put a hand on Aenea’s back and said, “I guess even soldiers must rest, whether we like it or not.”
Aeneas smiled and winked at Nikki before following Marik to find Ilasha.
“What was that?” Conner asked, a smirk on his face.
Kile chuckled, but Nikki grimaced. Trying to ignore her emotions, Nikki said, “Kile, let’s find our warriors.”
Conner pointed to the stables. “I saw them mustering over there.”
Before trotting off, Nikki said, “Conner, I look forward to the next time we fight side-by-side. You are truly Sak’Hurai.” Then she turned and went to meet up with her fellow warriors.
“What does that mean? Sak’Hurai?” Elissa asked.
“Sak’Hurai are their elite warriors. The best of the best.”
Elissa reached behind him and touched the handles of his sword. “That may be so, but I think it’s time that you put those away.”
“How will I be your Champion without them?”
She reached her arms around his body and hugged him tightly. “You do not need those to be my champion.”
For several long minutes, they held one another. They were still surrounded by Karmon soldiers preparing to march out to chase after the Deceiver’s army, but for the first time in a long time, they had a moment to themselves. There was chaos around them, but with no one trying to kill them, and with no more threat of death and destruction, they could actually relax and breathe.
After a moment, she released the tight hug and looked up at him. Her eyes twinkled, and a smile crossed her lips. “I saw him.”
“Saw who?”
“Michael.” She dropped her eyes, as her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. “I have a confession to make. I never really believed that some man talked to you while you were dead. It seemed too crazy to think that you were actually dead and Hargon healed you. I thought maybe it was just a dream you were having. Now I know it really happened.”
“That’s okay,” Conner said with a comforting smile. “I find it hard to believe myself, and I was there. What did he say?”
“He told us to find a quiet place to rest. It is time for peace and rebuilding our lives and our world. His words were, ‘Out of the ashes and rubble of destruction will come a new age. A new world’.” She glanced around and lowered her voice. “An age without magic.”
“What does that mean?” Conner asked.
Elissa spoke for a few minutes, explaining more of what Michael had told her.
Conner glanced up at Hargon, who was still busy decimating the Deceiver’s army with his magic.
“And if we lose the power
to defend ourselves?” Conner asked.
“It’s not a power that we should have had in the first place,” Elissa said. “And when it’s gone, so will the ability for the Deceiver to ever come here again.”
“But, the ramifications…” He let his words trail off as a handful of Elven archers raced passed them.
“I’m not sure what it will mean,” Elissa said. “It has to be done, right? For the survival of our world?”
“If it keeps the Deceiver from ever being able to come back here, then yes.”
Elissa shivered and crossed her arms over the top of her belly. “I don’t like the feeling of being responsible for a decision that will affect so many.”
“It is not yours alone to make. We will talk with King Illichian, Glaerion, and all the others.”
She let out a heavy sigh. “The responsibility of leadership is heavy. Maybe too heavy for me.”
“When Michael came to me, I could have ignored him and just run away to the mountains, or across the sea. We could just ignore what he told you. There is a large world out there where we could disappear into. No one would ever find us.”
“And if you had run away, then the Deceiver would have come here and conquered our world without anyone to stop him. If we run away now, it will only be worse. We have to trust what is right and do what is right.”
Conner nodded his head and replied, “Of course, you are right. We have to stay and finish this. For me, he not only gave me friends and companions to help me along the way, but he also gave me the courage to do what was right. Michael came to me for a reason, and now he came to you for a reason. He knows that you have what it takes to make the right decision. He needed me to fight the war and save the world from attack, now he needs you to bring peace to the world. Michael told me I would have friends to help me along the way, and he gave me what I needed to get through everything. You are not alone. We are not alone. The One God is with us, he will give us, give you, what you need.”
Elissa nodded her head and let out a long, weary sigh. “What now?”
“There are wounded to tend to and dead to bury. There are soldiers of the Deceiver still out there that need to be caught and dealt with. Then, when we all have a moment to breathe, we will have to bring this to the Elves and tell them what must be done.”
Elissa took both of Conner’s hands and moved closer to him, as close to him as her belly allowed. She leaned forward and stood up on her tiptoes to kiss him.
He closed his eyes and let her soft warmth embrace him. “I sometimes think that when I kiss you, it is just a dream.”
She kissed him again, this time longer.
Chapter Twenty-Six
King Illichian slowly lifted himself from his bed. As always, his joints were stiff and ached. The only thing he missed about the Elven jungle exile was the heat and humidity that gave him some reprieve of the effects of old age. For many thousands of years, he barely aged, but time had finally caught up with him. Despite their extremely long lives, Elves did not live forever. Most of those that had passed before him had done so during the war with Humans. He was the oldest survivor, and it showed in how he walked. Someday he would finally succumb to an illness that could not be cured, or maybe his body would simply give up living. The One God’s afterlife was calling, and soon enough he would answer and finally come face to face with the Creator. There were many regrets in his life, and having lived such a long life, the list was seemingly endless. He hoped that when his time came, and he kneeled at the feet of the One God, He would look down upon him with grace and forgiveness.
With a shiver, he started walking through his cold chamber toward the door. The fire in his room’s hearth was still burning, and it gave off some heat, but not enough to warm the room. At some point in the middle of the night, one of the young Elves had come in and stoke the fire to be sure that it did not go out, but not enough to make it blazing hot. A second light rapping on the door came when he was only two steps away from his bed. Despite his strong will, he could not make his leg muscles move any faster. Normally, it took several minutes for him to be able to move comfortably, much less with any speed. Moving quickly in his cold chamber was just not going to happen.
Pulling his robe tightly around his body to try and gather more warmth, he mumbled the words that unsealed the door from its magical locks. He did not like to use magic freely, but in times of war, it was a necessary precaution. With the magic locks released, whoever it was could come in. He did not fear spies or intruders, for there were plenty of Elven Guard warriors posted outside his chamber and throughout the castle. Only someone familiar to them all would even have made it this far.
King Illichian cleared his throat and said loudly, “Come in!”
The door opened slowly, and Elissa stepped through. “I’m sorry to come calling on you so late,” she said immediately when she noticed the dark room.
King Illichian stepped forward confidently, doing his best to not show his weakness. He held out a hand to her. She took it, and he escorted her to a couch.
Before she sat down, she said, “Your chamber is so cold! May I add some wood to your fire?”
“I have an attendant next door. I will call him.”
“No, no!” she replied quickly and as friendly as she could. “I am certainly capable of tossing a couple logs onto your fire.”
He gave her a fatherly smile and said, “By all means, then.”
She walked over to the hearth and grabbed two logs and tossed them onto the fire. Flames immediately rose up and around the dry wood. A moment later, she grabbed another log to stir the glowing red ashes. Once the flames were even higher, she tossed that log onto the fire and then brushed her hands clean.
“There,” she said with a smile. “Your chamber will be toasty warm in no time.”
King Illichian dipped his head and said, “Thank you.”
She paused for a moment and looked at the Elven King closely. In the shadows of the yellow light of the fire, he looked old. She knew how old he was, but when he had been leading their army, he neither looked nor acted his age. Then he had seemed strong and spry, but now he looked old and week.
“If I woke you, we can talk in the morning,” she said.
“You would not have come here at this hour if it were not urgent.”
King Illichian motioned to a chain. “Please, join me. Tell me why you are not asleep yourself. Your baby is doing well?”
She sat down, but the words that she had practiced did not come out. For several heartbeats, they sat in silence.
“The words that are in your heart must be heavy,” he said.
She could not look into his eyes, so she kept her gaze on the floor. With a soft voice, she replied, “You always know what to say, and you can read people so well.”
“Not all the time, but when you’ve been alive for thousands of years, you realize that many people, Elves and Humans alike, are similar. Facial expressions and body language can tell an astute observer many things. As King, I have spent many hours just watching people. Close the mouth, open the eyes, close the mind, open the heart. It is amazing what you can learn when you choose to be quiet and still.”
“That is wise advice.”
“And so, I will take my own advice and close my mouth and listen. You have come here to talk, and not for idle chitchat.”
She glanced up at him, and then quickly looked away. She had spent her walk from the courtyard to his chamber trying to come up with the words that she would say. Conner had given her some good guidance, but her mind was swimming with too many thoughts. The moment she thought she was ready to speak, the words seemed insignificant and trite. She wished she had let him come with her, for he would be able to tell him what needed to be said. However, since she was queen, she felt it was her duty to speak with King Illichian herself. Conner had reluctantly agreed, but he was standing outside in the corridor, just in case she really needed him.
King Illichian was patient and waited for her to gather
the strength and courage to speak.
“The Ark of Life is dangerous,” Elissa said softly and slowly, still trying to put her thoughts into words. “We all know that. It saved our lives, but in the wrong hands, it could be a terrible weapon.”
“I believe it is dangerous in any hands,” King Illichian interjected. “Not just the wrong ones.”
“Yes, that is true. Whether it is the Deceiver, or Hargon, or any of us, the power of it is simply too great for one person to control. Once Hargon had the full power of the Ark of Life, the Deceiver’s armies had no chance to survive. He killed them quickly and with seemingly ease. What Human, Elven, or Dwarven army could stand against him?”
“None, of course. Do you believe he will give it up if we ask for it?”
“I think he will, but I don’t know.”
“We should ask him, then.”
“We have to be prepared for when he says no.”
King Illichian’s eyes sparkled in the soft light of the lamp. “Yes, you are right. We have a hundred soldiers that are Hurai. Plus, your husband. Hargon’s magic does not affect them even when powered by the Ark of Life.”
“Not at all?” she asked. “I know I have seen Conner not affected by magic, but even if magic were used by someone using the Ark of Life?”
The king let out a sigh. “The One God saw fit to give the Hurai the ability to be immune to the effects of magic, but that does not mean they are safe from it. If Conner or the Hurai were inside the castle, Hargon could use his magic to bring down the castle on top of the Hurai, thus killing them. Glaerion and I have already had discussions about this and how to handle it.”
“Oh? You’ve already discussed this?”
“Casual discussions, that is all. Nothing specific. Glaerion and Conner have talked as well. Did you know that?”
“No,” she replied with a tone that showed her irritation.
“I am sure they would have not done anything without discussing it with you, me, and the rest of the war council.” He watched her begin to seethe internally, so he continued. “Do not be so hard on Conner or anyone else, for that matter. It has been a chaotic time and only now have we had time to breathe. We were on the verge of having our world torn asunder, but through One God’s good graces, we were able to pull out a victory. Now is the time to take a step back and think about what we must do with a clear head and a clear mind. That is why you came to see me, right?”