by Tom Rogal
Arionn replied, “I have asked because after I had time to contemplate, there emerged something I need you and your group to accomplish. Nearly two months ago, a group of mages led by Neeza entered and retrieved the Relic from Mount Hrithgorn. I’m certain you know the one.”
Thamalos did indeed. Valendri’s Relic was well known all over Lozela. Even the soldiers at Fort Za were aware of it, as their base had replaced Hrithgorn as the new impenetrable fortress of the elves. How did Neeza and the mages find out about it? Divi knew many elvish legends and lore, but he never told her about the Relic. That was one treasure worth keeping hidden.
“I do. That they could retrieve it is most impressive. What happened to it? How does this pertain to our journey?”
Arionn explained, “We sent the Relic to be sunk in the deepest waters. The man we sent has not returned yet, which concerns me. Though it does not concern me as much as what happened to Neeza and their company while on the island chain. They ran into an Ettui force there.”
“How can that be? We have not seen any coming from Barbata. Not for years.”
Arionn continued, “Neither had we. Which is why we concluded that the Ettui force came from the north.”
Thamalos couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Lozela has been sure to keep a close watch on any offshore Ettui activities since the Ettui Island Wars. The last attack was fifty-five years ago, when a small force of twenty-five Ettui sailed to and tried to assault Fort Za. They never even made it within fifty feet of the first wall.
The Wood Elf leader faced Thamalos. “I know that you wish to avoid our neighbors to the north, but it is the path you must travel. Garlock might lead you to Cordca more safely, but traveling toward Sardon will offer truth that is covered by shadow. Since Divi’s father traveled to Mount Hrithgorn, I have sensed something happening there, but the darkness is too great for even our eyes to pierce. I see your arrival will at last unveil what hides behind it.”
The elf prince went into deep thought. He wanted them to travel north and see what was hidden even from them. What could Sardon possibly hide? The Ettui were difficult to see because of their evil combined with their remaining elvish abilities. Sardonians were Human and nothing more. It made him that much more curious.
“Whether or not there are more Ettui beyond the ones Neeza encountered, they came from somewhere. Perhaps they have given the Sardonians intelligence that can block our Sight. We would check on it ourselves if our powers didn’t diminish out of our woods.”
Thamalos always saw that as a handicap of the Wood Elves. So long as they stayed in their land, everything about them was enhanced. If they left their lands, it would make even a normal elf seem god-like. Arionn was the only one who could retain his abilities after leaving the Forrtuii Permisii borders, but he was too important to lose. When compared to him, every elf was expendable.
“We will do as you say. If it is your will, then it must be the will of our gods. Still, it confuses me how they could move around freely without us knowing. We surely would have seen them, if not in Fort Za then from one of our two other remaining island forts.”
Arionn answered, “Perhaps we have become too complacent in what we can and cannot see. We are a people who pride ourselves on our abilities. These are dark times, Thamalos. Shadows have been forming much like they did prior to the Ettui invasion on Barbata. That has me deeply worried.”
That was a day the prince would not forget either. Even though he had been young, it was a moment that would never leave him. When Arionn tried to warn the other clans about the rise of the Ettui, Thamalos was the only one who had ears for him. He convinced his father to have a contingency plan, one Arionn accepted with no question. It was why the elves didn’t become extinct back then. As it turned out, it was only one year later that the Ettui emerged.
Thamalos agreed, “There is much darkness in the world now.”
“Then you must travel with haste. I have a feeling there is someone more powerful than the Ettui leading them. Unfortunately, I have little more than that. Our visions are becoming more clouded with every passing day. We must decipher what is causing this and destroy it.”
The thought of someone other than Darca leading the Ettui was disturbing. The Ettui kept him in the capital because it meant no matter how many highly ranked officers were killed in battle, their leader would always remain alive. Despite not having many successes, Darca had been their leader for centuries. That had always puzzled Thamalos.
Arionn continued, “For now, you know where you must go. I know that Miss Divi is here as well.”
“She was sleeping when I left. I assume she still is.”
Arionn closed his eyes and listened to the wind. She was still sleeping . . . or trying, at least. Despite the peaceful conditions, she just couldn’t seem to find comfort, internally or externally.
Arionn ordered, “Take me to her. I must say some words to her before the night is done.”
At camp, Divi lay awake on the hardened ground, unable to sleep. She tried valiantly, but she just couldn’t do it. This place seemed to bring back memories of old. When she closed her eyes, images of her father, of her childhood, and of her mother began to emerge. She couldn’t take it. She decided that a brief walk might make things better. Yeah, that could do it. It almost always did the trick in Myyril. However, she was very far from home. The air was cool. Memories of the time she spent in the Dyyros Woods with Levus came back to her. Despite the difference, for some reason she still felt afraid in these woods as well.
As she looked around, little lights floated in the air. One flew close to Divi’s head. She tried to touch it, but it flew away that much quicker. They were everywhere. What was going on? Divi moved along a small cliff above a stream.
“I wouldn’t go much further.”
Divi turned around in surprise. A man about seven feet tall walked toward her. He was surrounded by a light blue aura, making his figure both comforting and fearful. She backed up a couple steps, not even a yard away from the edge. She relaxed a little when a more familiar voice followed.
“It is quite a far drop,” stated Thamalos.
Realizing then where she was, she quickly took a few steps away from the cliff. Thamalos and Arionn looked at each other before once again facing Divi.
“Be not afraid. I mean you no harm.”
Thamalos introduced them: “Divi, this is Arionn, leader of the Wood Elves.”
Arionn gave her a smile as he offered his hand. She very hesitantly accepted it. After the customary elvish handshake, they walked next to another small stream.
Arionn asked, “What is it that troubles you that you cannot sleep?”
Divi didn’t know how to answer. Could she tell her innermost feelings to this stranger? She looked down to the ground.
Both elves exchanged glances again, apparently thinking the same thing, before Arionn faced her. She was just like her father, easier than a book to read.
“All right. Since you don’t wish to speak, I will try and guess them. You are very afraid. Not of what will happen, but of your own feelings. You know the backlash of the growing emotions you have for Levus.”
Divi was amazed. How did he know that she was a little afraid of her feelings for Levus? If these emotions were true, then the reaction of the Myyrilian people would make her even more an outcast. She would be treated not only as an outsider, but a traitor. Arionn gently touched her shoulder, giving her a security that only one other man had given her.
“Divi, there will be many hard times for you in the coming days. They are days that you must face, however. You must learn to trust your feelings. They will save your life . . . and possibly the lives of others."
She didn't understand what he was trying to tell her. Was he suggesting she not hide her feelings for Levus? That was a huge risk. She had to be reading his message wrong. It was something to ponder on later. She had another pressing issue. It was one she needed to ask the elf since he was right here.
Divi asked, “Why did my father go to . . . Mount Hrithgorn? I remember him saying your name on the trip to Dyyros.”
Arionn knew that Divi and her father had a difficult relationship lately. He had seen it in Neeza’s eyes when they met and he saw that same look in his daughter’s now. He could explain it to her, but if things happened like he foresaw them, she would learn the answers soon enough.
“Let me tell you it this way. Your father had a deeper meaning for going there than meets the eye. He told no one about it. Indeed, he hid it so well that he nearly forgot the true reason he went in the first place. In time, you will know the truth, and hopefully it will change the way you feel about him. He was a good man. Just remember that everything he ever did was for you, even if right now it doesn’t look that way.”
She wished people would stop telling her things in riddles. She was used to it, being a friend to the elves for so long. It didn’t make it any less annoying. She didn’t know what he could have known that would sway her opinion. Neeza cut a wound in her that was quite deep. She had heard the saying that time heals old wounds. In her case, she felt like it kept rubbing salt in them.
She glanced over at Thamalos, who smiled at her. Arionn suddenly reached under his elegant robe and pulled out a small orb. He clenched it in his hand and began chanting an elvish song. Divi tried to interpret it, but it was a different dialect than the one she knew. When he finished, the Wood Elf leader opened his hand. The orb, which had been black, now gave off a soft glow. She was instantly mesmerized by its strangeness and beauty.
Arionn said as he offered it to Divi, “Take this. When you are lost and need guidance, use it. It will be your map when you have none.”
She accepted the gift from Arionn and looked deeply into it. The light began to glow brightly.
Arionn continued, “If used correctly, answers for your past and future may also be seen. Thamalos has told me of your dedication and friendship toward the elvish people. Please, accept this as our undying token of friendship. You and your kin may enter these woods and feel fear in them no more.”
Divi continued staring at the glowing orb. Arionn gave her a smile, displaying his perfect teeth, before facing Thamalos, who nodded in thanks. Although Thamalos could name someone a friend of the elves, Arionn had the power to cement that status. That was one more reason they came this way, but he would never tell anyone that.
Divi, no matter how hard she tried, could not take her eyes off Arionn’s gift. It was so beautiful! She could feel the strong magical properties it contained. Not like a mage’s magic, but something else. She was now very certain that what Thamalos used to tell her about the wood elves was true. She finally closed her hand gently over the orb.
“Thank you, Arionn. I will . . .”
Where did they go? All that remained were the glowing lights floating about the holy woods. Divi looked around. Suddenly, Arionn’s voice filled her mind.
“Take care, Divi. Biutio deemorum i truitium e fallaa." Believe in yourself and trust your instincts.
She opened her palm once more. The orb had dimmed to a faint light blue. She was deeply aware of the honor she was given. Arionn’s blessing basically made her one of the elves’ brethren. She and all her descendants would be able to enter Lozela as well as the Forbidden Forest without all the tests. And being able to enter these woods now without fear was a generous gift. She was certain Eraddor had been given this status as well, but nonetheless it was a great and rare reward for being a friend of the elves. With the orb held securely in her hand, she walked back to the camp.
CHAPTER 13
The Sardonians
Thamalos and the others continued through the rocky territory of the Pyerlith kingdom. He had them leave at first light and it took until midday before they finally exited the forest. It had been quiet throughout their journey. Divi still was curious about their first night, but Thamalos would not talk to her about it until a later time.
The elf prince stopped suddenly at the top of a rocky outcrop and began to scan the area. The small hill to the east was much too rough to take the horses. Thamalos hesitantly looked west as Eraddor rode up next to him. A clear path headed into the mountains and toward the capital city of Sardon.
Although Eraddor was no elf, he had been friends with Thamalos for too long to know what he was thinking.
“We have very little choice, it seems,” he said.
Thamalos agreed, “I know. I wanted to stay as much as possible in the Pyerlith region, but we must go through Tyranis' region until we reach Rudann. We might be able to find shelter near the Harlrem, but even that is a stretch.”
Before Levus could ask, Eraddor explained, “The Harlrem is a gigantic war tower. It is Garlock’s main defense against Sardon, very innovative, and has deterred nearly all the armies that tried to pass it. You will probably see it in the distance as we pass through. However, Garlock is a bit jumpy. If we go near the tower from this direction, they would think us the enemy and keep attacking until we are dead.”
Thamalos turned around to continue down the hill, moving west. Levus was about to follow, but Eraddor stopped him.
“What’s going on?”
Eraddor said, “We’re going into Sardon territory. Keep aware. Apart from being great archers, they make great spies. Until we reach Rudann, there will be no safe place.”
Tasi, Levus, and Divi looked at each other. For once it seemed the humans and mages were on the same page in their opinion of this matter.
“What is it with those two? Couldn’t we have just taken a boat instead of going into hostile territories where men would love to see our heads on sticks? What if we get caught?” Tasi asked.
Levus replied, “Come now, Tasi. You’re the diplomat between us all. We’ll send you in to negotiate our safe passage.”
Tasi had a really good idea who informed Levus about his reputation. The smile on her face all but confirmed what he suspected
“You’ve been talking about me, haven’t you?”
Divi responded, “Why, not at all. You are so insecure, my teacher.”
She gave a hearty laugh. Even Tasi eventually smiled at the ribbing. He rarely got to see that side of Divi, so he decided to go along with it.
“I see. Send the mage in first. You know, with our superior combat skills.”
Tasi spurred his horse faster so he could catch up with Thamalos and Eraddor.
On a mountaintop just behind them, a man with his face painted all in red looked on. He gave a quiet laugh as he watched the five make their way into the Tyranis kingdom.
He said only, “Currion.” (Food.)
***
The first night on Sardon soil came quicker than Levus expected. Maybe the dark clouds that dominated the skies all day gave that illusion. He was certain they would be hit by a rainstorm, as similar clouds on Dyyros meant one was going to get soaked. Not a drop fell, though. Not even a hint of precipitation’s scent filled the air. It seemed everything was dry in this region.
Thamalos continued as far as he thought they could go, but without the benefit of the moon’s light, it was becoming too dangerous. He found an empty cave perfect for their needs, though. It kept them out of the howling winds, gave them a place to light a fire, and more importantly, was deep enough that no passing Sardonian would be able to spot them without a little scouting.
Eraddor walked to the mouth of the cave, where Thamalos already stood partially hidden by the rocks. The elf prince had been on edge for most of the trip. This was only the third time in his long, seemingly ageless life that he ever set foot in the Sardon territories. There was very little reason for anyone to. The Sardonians never bartered and for the most part stayed to themselves. They did fear the Wood Elves, so the elves never had much contact with them on the field of battle. The city of Rudann, however, where they were heading, was all too familiar with these wild men after years of attacks.
Eraddor asked, “Have you seen anything yet?”
“Not yet. I hope
we weren’t spotted, but I know they tend to do a lot of reconnaissance before assaulting their foes. I’ll keep watch tonight.”
“Are you sure? I can relieve you if you want to rest.”
“No. The forest of the Wood Elves always seems to energize me for days. You should get your rest. Except for last night, you have hardly slept well.”
He couldn’t hide anything from his elvish friend. He had been having . . . dreams lately. He rarely did, or at least remembered them. But these past three weeks had been different. He would dream at least five nights a week. He told Thamalos about them, but had yet to tell him his opinion. The elves believed dreams were the soul trying to speak. Because no mortal could possibly comprehend the power of this message, it used symbols and likenesses of people one knew to convey them. This theory was often laughed at by the human race, but Eraddor once found out the great power dreams had. He would never underestimate it again.
Eraddor patted Thamalos lightly on the shoulder before turning back to the innards of the cave. Before he could, the elf stopped him, gazing at him with emotionless eyes.
“Also, tell them that if they must speak, to do so softer. Their voices are carrying. If I can hear them from here, so can the Sardonians.”
Eraddor nodded and continued inward until he reached the camp. Levus and Divi sat next to each other, laughing at a joke Levus had told. Tasi was laying down on the outskirt of the camp, apparently asleep. As Eraddor walked deeper inside the cave, he studied at the mage and human closely. He had tried to figure out what to make of this relationship between Divi and Levus ever since he first officially met them in Lozela. He had overheard Divi say that the boy was currently seeing someone, but just reading into Levus’ eyes told him otherwise. He knew that look. He had given it more than once for the love to his life. Was she too naïve to see this?
“Eraddor! We’re so happy you came. We were wondering if you could tell us more about Sardon.”