by Joshua Hoyt
Chapter 17:
The companions continued their travels throughout the remainder of the day. Upon reaching the crest of a low hill they could see the white forest below them. “We’re here at last,” Tanya said.
“Why do they call it the white forest?” Tom asked.
“In the very center of the forest there's a small grove of trees that are completely white. Legend has it that these trees were created when the world began and they are what give life to the forest. When one of the white trees dies it is burned. In the white ash is found a perfectly white seed that is planted in its place to grow and rejuvenate the forest once again,” Tanya replied. She headed down the hill toward the forest.
Tom continued to study the forest as they descended, hoping to see the white trees. When they reached the bottom of the hill, they headed toward the trees which ran like soldiers along the far edge of the meadow through which they walked. Green grass brushed along their knees as they walked and insects buzzed around them. Behind them the sun hung low in the sky.
When they were within twenty yards of the forest several men and women stepped out from the trees. Many of them were holding bows and the one in the front had a large sword drawn. It looked similar to Tanya’s. Tanya came to a stop as the leader of the group walked toward them.
“Tanya, is that you?” the leader asked.
Tanya froze as she looked at the leader and then ran forward with arms open. The leader also ran toward Tanya and they embraced for several minutes. The leader appeared to be slightly older than Tanya but they shared many of the same features. Are they sisters?
“Tiarra, it has been too long,” Tanya said. She held the other woman at arms distance so that she could see her better.
“Yes, Tanya much too long,” Tiarra said.
Tiarra wore a long dress that had a belt around it that held her scabbard. Her slender body looked as if she would break easily, but Tom knew that this couldn't be true if she could fight half as well as Tanya. Tiarra slid her sword back into its scabbard and signaled to those behind her that everything was ok. “Why have you returned? I don’t think you’ll be welcomed by many,” Tiarra said. Her brows furrowed as she took her sister in.
Tanya watched the people coming out of the forest and tensed. “I had to come back. These are my friends, and we need to search the library for clues relating to this one’s quest.” She pointed at Tom.
“What’s so important about his quest that it could cost you your life, dear sister?” Tiarra asked concern washing over her face.
“Remember when we were studying the legends of the order of the rose?” Tanya asked.
“Yes, but what does that have to do with anything?”
“This one can use the energy inside of him and perform magic.”
Tiarra looked at Tom and said, “What is your name boy?”
Tom’s muscles tensed in his neck and his hands began to sweat. “My name's Tom.”
“Show me what you can do,” Tiarra said walking closer to him.
“Tiarra, stop badgering him. I've seen him use the magic, and I can feel the energy within him. He is strong, and we must help him,” Tanya said stepping in front of Tiarra.
“It's been a long time since you’ve left. Our people are not what they once were. The high order has been broken, and we are in civil war. Our people don’t control the library or the city. We are outcasts and we have been looking for something or someone who can turn the tide and restore order for our people. If this boy is able to control his energy like those of the rose, then we may have a chance.” Tiarra spoke quietly as if the very trees were spying on her.
Tanya stepped back in shock as the news hit her. “We have been at peace for so long what happened?”
“The elders grew weak and complacent, allowing the laws to become corrupted. The people began to clamor for justice, and yet the elders would not listen. A riot broke out in which many of the elders were killed. We tried to protect as many as we could, but the people were too strong, and we had to withdraw or lose them all. We are now outcasts, and the city is controlled by the black widow clan. We have made many attempts to root them out, but they are too strong and their influence grows.” Tiarra had clenched her fist as she spoke.
“We need to gain access to the library,” John said as he stepped forward. “How can we assist you, Tiarra?”
“We have decided that a small group would be able to slip into the city and then head toward the hall of white. That’s where we believe that the black widow has set up her base of command. We haven’t gone in already because we don’t have enough people to both make an attack and protect the elders effectively,” Tiarra explained.
“If we do this, will the elders allow us to enter the library and give us the supplies we need?” Tanya asked.
“I cannot speak for them, but I don’t see how they could deny you. The one problem is that you would still need to face them in trial,” Tiarra said. Her face fell. Tanya looked down and nodded her head in consent; her face resolved and hard.
“I must do this for Tom,” Tanya said.
Tiarra motioned to the group behind her, and they fell back among the trees, disappearing as Tom watched. Tiarra turned and walked toward the trees with Tanya at her side. The small group of friends looked at each other then headed into the forest after them. Tom felt uneasy about the plan but knew that it was the only chance they had of finding out more about the order of the rose. They needed to search the library for clues, and it sounded as if Tanya knew more about the order than she had first let on. The group walked through the forest for some time. The huge trees, as big around as a small house and so tall that Tom couldn't see their tops, looked like sentinels. Every once in a while one of the elves would show themselves to the group then fade quietly into the woods. He could never get a real good look at them, only seeing them out of the corner of his eye. Once he saw one of the elves running along one of the branches jumping from branch to branch alongside the group as they walked.
Half an hour into the forest, the travelers reached a small clearing. Tiarra whistled and several ropes fell from the trees. Fifteen elves came out from behind the trees, surrounding them. They seemed to materialize out of thin air, catching Tom off guard. Several more elves dropped down ropes and then tied the ropes together to make a bridge. Tiarra whistled again and a long wooden platform fell into place over the ropes creating a walkway up to the trees. She climbed the walkway and the companions followed. Huts balanced precariously in the branches of the trees appeared as they climbed higher into the foliage. Wow, they're able to hide entire houses up here! Wooden bridges spanned the trees, creating walkways between them. They followed Tiarra through the forest town until they reached a massive tree which had been hollowed out. In its center a regal building had been formed. Even though a large portion of the tree had been cut away it still flourished sprouting gold and peach blossoms amid spring green foliage. Tiarra motioned to the tree. “The tree of the Elders,” she informed them. As the small group drew closer to the large structure, Tom saw that the trees buzzed with numerous elves hurrying from place to place. Adults greeted each other as they met. Children ran through the treetops racing along the wooden bridges a hundred feet above the ground as if they ran on the ground. What it would be like to be young and innocent again, to have no worries? Tom grinned as he watched three children swinging happily on long vines.
Tiarra held up her hand as they came to the entrance of the Tree of the Elders. “Please wait out here while I speak with the elders.” Tiarra beckoned for Tanya to follow, and they walked through a wooden door. Tom caught a glimpse of a magnificent hall before the door closed.
“This place is amazing,” Aithnea said as she looked around at the trees.
An elf walked up to them. “What is even more amazing is that if you were on the ground you would not even know that we were up here.” The group turned to look at the tall slender elf who had walked up unnoticed behind them. The elf smiled at
their surprise. “My name is Tarsus. I'm the mayor of this small village.”
“My name is John and this is Kristiana, Caspin, Cody, Tom and Aithnea.” John pointed to each of them as he spoke their names. “This place is like no other,” he said.
Tarsus looked around for a minute. “We take great pride in our ability to form our homes and structures around the trees. We try to give back to the trees as much as we take and in turn the trees provides us with what we need.”
“Do elves only build in the trees?” John asked.
Tarsus laughed. “No, we are but a small village in this forest. Most elves dwell on the ground. They build their structures out of the trees and some even shape the trees around their buildings on the ground. There are others that have learned to form their buildings in the depths of the earth…” Tarsus looked down rubbing his chin and said, “…We have little contact with those elves. In fact we thought that they had all died off until just recently. That is why the elders are here instead of the capital.” Tarsus looked at the kids playing on the bridges and his face turned sad. “I fear that our home will begin to change now that we have been noticed by the dark elves. We have always played such a small part among the elves and have kept to ourselves more than most.” Tarsus looked up suddenly as if he had been awakened from a dream into reality. “Well, that’s the way things are I guess. If you try to stay apart from the world the world always has a way of bringing you back in.”
“Isn't that the truth,” John agreed then “well, maybe we'll be able to help each other out some here.”
The door to the large structure opened, and Tiarra motioned for the group to enter. Seeing Tarsus, she beckoned him to enter as well. The companions along with Tarsus entered through the door into a huge room. Several tables surrounded by chairs sat in the middle of the room. Two doors at the far end of the room led deeper into the structure, while many windows along the walls allowed natural light to pour into the room. At the far end of the room a group of elves sat. Before them, stood Tanya, head held high in defiance.
Tiarra led the group to the table where the others sat. “Please sit.” The companions sat in the available chairs and Tiarra stood next to her sister grabbing her hand briefly in support.
Five elves sat at the table. They're all women. The women looked older than Tanya but not by much. However, they had a certain air of wisdom that told Tom that they were much older than they appeared. “We’re all that remains of the elders of the elves,” one of the women said slowly as she studied the companions. “Tiarra has told us that you're willing to help us in return for supplies and access to our library. We can grant you this if you succeed in your mission along with any additional help that you may require. In the case of the one who travels with you, she will have to stand trial for her crime.” The woman talked with no emotion.
“We thank you for your promised assistance and hope that we may be able to accomplish what is needed,” Kristiana spoke to the elders. Why was John not speaking for them like he had so many times before? Do they only respect women? It was as if John had sat back and become as invisible as possible to the elders. John showed no sign of being upset or taken aback by the situation and looked at Kristiana with complete confidence. Kristiana on the other hand had taken on an entirely different demeanor. She had become not only beautiful and powerful but very confident in her abilities at diplomacy. Kristiana paused for a moment as she glanced at Tanya. “The one you speak of has been a great help to us in a desperate time of need…” she paused again as if she looked for the exact words that needed to be spoken and then continued. “…We feel that without her aid in the current situation we would be lost and unable to complete the mission that you have set before us. We ask that during her trial her service not only to you but the service she has given us be considered.”
The woman that had been speaking for the elders grew noticeably tenser and glancing at her sisters to either side spoke, “Her sins are too grievous to allow her the chance to escape again. She'll not be allowed to leave this village.”
Kristiana’s eyes grew hard and Tom noticed that her jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. “Without her assistance we will not know our way around the city and will be lost. I see no way of being able to accomplish the task that you have set before us without her help.”
“She abandoned her people long ago and has shown that she cannot be trusted. We cannot trust that she will return.”
Tiarra stepped forward and spoke, “Elders.” She paused as she looked at the woman who had been speaking. “Guiding Mother. There is a law in the book of truth, which states that one who is close to the accused may stand in her place. I now invoke that law and take the place of Tanya.”
Tanya grabbed Tiarra’s arm turning her to look at her. Tiarra smiled faintly and turned back to the elders. A long silence spread over the room as everyone turned their eyes on Tiarra. She looked back at the elders with a face of stone.
“You can’t take my place sister. I did what I did and do not regret my actions. What was done had to be done. I will stand trial and accept the word of the elders,” Tanya said.
Tiarra looked at Tanya smiling softly. “My little sister I know that the decision you made was correct now that I see what you've become, and I am willing to make a hard decision as well. Let me choose, as you chose many years ago, to sacrifice my own well-being for another.” She glanced over at Kristiana briefly then continued. “Your friend speaks wisely, without your help there's no way that they'll accomplish the mission. You have been the only one that has ever been able to escape the city. If you can escape it, then you can certainly find a way back in.”
Tiarra hugged her younger sister as the elders talked among themselves in elven. After a few minutes and much discussion the elders turned to the two sisters. The Guiding Mother spoke without emotion. “We accept your decision, Tiarra but know this, that you must stand trial if the accused does not return. If the accused is successful in the mission at hand, we will allow that new evidence to be used in her trial.”
Turning to Kristiana she said, “Is this acceptable?”
“We accept your terms and find them most gracious,” Kristiana responded.
“Good. Then we will now explain to you what must be done.” The Guiding Mother turned to one of the guards in the room and nodded. The guard left the room and the elves on the other side of the table sat quietly without expression. Occasionally Tanya glanced at her sister with loving eyes. Tiarra seemed unmoved and looked forward without flinching. But her hands trembled ever so slightly and unseen behind her long skirt, she tenderly touched Tanya's hand.
The guard returned to the room with a small box and several rolled up maps. The Guiding Mother took the small box and the guard set the maps onto the table then left. “This device must arrive in the central chamber of the palace and then be activated. It is a sun stone and upon activation will flash a brilliant light. The palace will then magnify the light throughout the city. The flash will blind everyone in the city and should cause quite a bit of pain to the dark elves.” The Guiding Mother spoke as she opened the box revealing a small white stone. “Once we see the light we will know that it is time to attack. The light should give us the advantage we need to retake the palace and uproot our enemies.” The Guiding Mother paused as she looked at the companions.
“Won’t we be blinded as well? How will we escape the activation of the stone? We’ll be a brilliant light in a house made of glass,” John said.
The Guiding Mother looked at John coolly. “You are correct. We have created masks that should protect you from most of the light, but there will still be the problem of getting out unnoticed. We hope that after activating the stone, there will be enough confusion to give you time to escape.”
Tanya stepped forward. “If the dark elves have come to the surface, they must have some magic or resistance to light.”
The Guiding Mother looked down for a moment and then looked at Tanya. “We fear that this may
be true. If it is, the light will still cause some blindness and enough confusion to give us the advantage that we need. The real threat will be what has given them the ability to survive in the palace of light. We fear there may be several witches working under the direction of the black widow. We also have reason to believe that many of our own people have joined them. I warned the other elders but they wouldn’t listen.” Her frowned glance at the other elders at the table, was the first sign of emotion she had shown since meeting with the companions. After a moment of discomfort around the table she returned to the problem at hand. She unrolled one of the maps and pointed to several different places. “Do you recognize these places, Tanya?”
“Yes, they are the towers of power,” Tanya replied.
“We believe that they must have hit these places first and stopped the flow of power to the palace. This enabled them to bypass the defenses. We need to regain control of each of the three towers. These other places…” she pointed to other locations on the map, “…are where we believe they are keeping our people who would not join them. We hope that if we can get in and free them, we would gain another tactical advantage.”
Tanya studied the map for several minutes, running her finger along the different streets, tracing the best routes. Suddenly a guard burst through the door. “Guiding Mother,” the guard said as he bowed in front of the elf.
“Yes,” said the Guiding Mother and she raised him with her hand.
“A dark elf has come, asking for an audience with you.”
Tiarra quickly removed her sword and stepped toward the door. “It may be a trap, Mother.”
The Guiding Mother put her fingers to her temples and closed her eyes. “Bring the elf here. We’ll see what he wants.”
The guard left with Tiarra and after a few moments returned with what appeared to be an elf but his skin was very dark. He had black hair that fell half way down his back. Tom's jaw dropped when he saw that the elf’s eyes. They were a light red. Several guards led the dark elf while Tiarra walked behind with her weapon drawn. The elf’s hands were bound, and he had no weapons that Tom could see.
“I have come to ally with you and your people,” the elf said, after the Guiding Mother had turned and acknowledged him. He continued haltingly. “I have been waiting for an opportunity to speak with you for several days. But only now with the arrival of these,” he motioned to the companions, “have I been able to make myself known to you.”
The Guiding Mother sat in her chair examining the dark elf for a long time. “Your thoughts are guarded and I am unable to read them completely,” she said.
The dark elf smiled slightly. “That is to be expected. I have trained for many years to block mind reading abilities.”
The guiding mother focused on him again for several minutes. Sweat began to trickle down the dark elf’s forehead. He cringed then fell to the floor with his hands over his head. “You are very strong and I do not know of any who could block my power,” the Guiding Mother said haltingly. Her breathing had become heavy.
The dark elf stood slowly, regaining his composure. “I’ve been training because the Black Widow uses powers similar to yours. Not all of the dark elves are evil. Just as not all of the wood elves are good.” The dark elf smiled, and the Guiding Mother nodded in consent. “In order for my group to remain unnoticed, we had to train our minds to resist the power of psionics. The Black Widow has an elite force trained in psionics, and they frequently walk the streets looking for unbelievers. One day a man found his way among my people, looking for treasures and also looking to study the psionic ability. I wondered how he was able to get past the Black Widow’s elite guard, and he promised to share his secrets with me if I would share with him the secrets of psionics. I studied with him for many years and then began to form a resistance.” He looked down at the table as if considering how to continue. “The Black Widow found a way to attack you by forming an alliance with someone within your elders.” He paused again as he studied the elves. “The rebellion was still too new to resist her. The attack... on your people gave us the opportunity to grow stronger.” The dark elf paused looking for support from those around him.
Tom saw that the Guiding Mother concentrated intently upon the dark elf and seemed to pay little attention to his words but more to his face and emotions. “If you are speaking the truth why will you not open your mind to me?” she inquired.
Tom noticed a brief moment of hesitation in the dark elf. “Because, I've trained for so long the defense has become part of me. It would be as easy for a dragon to remove her scales as it would be for me to remove the defense that guards me.”
The Guiding Mother looked at the elf with her brow furrowing slightly. “How will I know that this is not a trap and that you speak truth?”
The dark elf nodded at one of the guards. “He has within his possession a map that shows all of the defenses of my people within the palace.” The dark elf looked sad when he said this, and Tom wondered if he still had love for his people even though he disagreed with them. The dark elf looked up shortly and continued. “I wish there was another way to free my people from the grasp of darkness that enshrouds them. But the only way I can see to release them is by betraying them. I have spent many years trying to fight against the influence of the Black Widow, but I've had very little success. My group awaits a time when we can once again have peace with our brethren.”
To everyone's surprise the Guiding Mother said, “I accept your alliance,” Gasps escaped the other elves.
“I don't think we can trust him. We have been at war with them off and on since time began. You cannot trust his kind. They have always been distrustful.” One of the elders shouted, pointing at the dark elf.
The Guiding Mother turned on the elder. “Too long we have lived with prejudice for others. Too long we have lived in our forests while the world turns around us. We must take our place in this world, and we must be able to accept those around us. We must unite with all those who will help us if we are to regain our homes. I will not turn him away because of age old grudges for which we do not even remember cause.”
The dark elf knelt down in front of the Guiding Mother and bowing his head said, “I pledge my life to your protection. You’ve trusted me when there was no real proof to trust me. You have trusted me despite false grudges and preconceptions of me and my people.” The dark elf looked up with tears in his eye. “There are good among us who yearn for freedom from evil, and we’re grateful for your support.”
The Guiding Mother, stunned by the behavior of the dark elf, paused for a brief moment then put her hand under his chin and raised him to her level. “I accept your pledge and pledge to you that your people will be considered our brethren from this time forward. You will no longer need to fear the light.”
The Mother turned on the other elders at the table who, after a brief pause, all stood before the dark elf and speaking simultaneously said, “We pledge that you will be from this day forward called our brethren.” The elders sat back down and the Guiding Mother slipped a small knife from the folds of her robes and cut the bands that were around the dark elf’s wrists.
Rubbing his wrists, he said, “Thank you.” He sat at the table where the Guiding Mother directed.
“You can call me Teresa, what do you call yourself?” she asked.
“You may call me Xantar,” he said as he nodded his head toward her.
She nodded back and turned back to the map. “I think it would be best if Xantar was to go with you…” Teresa began.
Kristiana interrupted her. “I don’t think it would be wise to have him with us. We don’t know him, and he may not only jeopardize the mission but our lives as well.”
Teresa looked up from the map toward Kristiana. “If he is to be of use to us, he will need to be in a position where he can help. I am hoping that he will be able to get his band together to help the attack.”
“I think I’ll be of most help if I go with you. There isn’t much I can
do outside the city,” Xantar said looking at Kristiana. “I understand that it’s hard to trust me, but trust me you must. Your plan will be useless without my help and you, would be detected within a few hours. I have enough psionic ability to cover a small group from the detection of the Black Widow’s patrols,” Xantar said.
Kristiana turned to John who nodded his consent. She then nodded in Xantar’s direction.
Teresa continued to explain the plan to the others as Tom drifted off. He thought about the dark elf and his psionic ability. He had heard of people with the ability to do things like move objects and sometimes see what card someone was holding. But this was all new to him. He didn’t understand how a person could read another person’s mind or detect them without seeing them. He wondered about Teresa and her own power and how it made Xantar sweat and feel pain.
The elves, Kristiana, and John continued to discuss the plans late into the evening. Other elves would come in occasionally bringing food and drink. Tom loved the different fruits and breads that were brought in to eat and the nectar to drink. He ate as much as he could, paying for it later with a stomach ache.
After many hours of deliberation, the group of humans and elves agreed on a plan. Time for rest had finally come. Elves directed the companions to another home where they were able to take baths and get clean clothes. Tom took a quick shower and dressed in clean clothes then headed to the fluffy bed prepared for him by an elf woman. He smiled as he stared up at the wood ceiling. It's been to long since I've slept in a clean bed. He closed his eyes and quickly fell asleep. That night the dreams came again.