Defiled

by Elskidor Xell

  Bella, now growing curious about what he had heard, walked to a lounger across from Lonewolf and sat down. "So, what did your little spy tell you about what happened?"

  "Just that all three targets were hit before they realized what was coming. It worked. They did not expect us to penetrate their hideouts, and certainly weren't ready for night raids." Lonewolf cocked his head up to the loft above. He spotted his elf woman companion eavesdropping and winked at her. The woman turned away in evident concern.

  "As you said. It worked, thanks to you." Bella congratulated him.

  "I'm not head General. You are, Bell. Could not have done it without you."

  Bella took the compliment and slightly smiled. "After we replenish our provisions, we'll take the final stand and march upon Tarrith and take the city by force or by surrender. It'll be nice to finish this perpetual sarding war and return to Magwhen and be with Lumi again."

  "Oh, Magwhen?” asked Lonewolf. “That's where you and Markus want to live? I figured you might move to the southern shores. You could go anywhere."

  Bella shook her head. "I'm ready to visit Lumi. She stays cooped up in that lonely house, and I hope she will welcome us to live there," Bella said.

  Lonewolf knew well the truth of Luminear's life, but Bella remained confused as she had been influenced by the power of the medallion to keep the reality of Luminear's circumstances a secret. Lonewolf had been deceiving Bella for so many years he didn't even feel guilty any longer.

  He smiled and laughed. "Oh, sure. Lumi is just going to love having you and Markus come live with her. I suppose you'll let Fern come along too and live as one happy family?" Lonewolf chuckled, imagining it. "Don't expect me to follow. I like it here."

  "Fern can get his own house. He's sick of sharing a place with Markus and me anyway." Bella sighed, thinking of her sister. "But Lumi- Well, I reckon it will be nice to live as a family again." Bella beamed and pointed at Lonewolf. "You should stay here. You and your love of elf women can stay put, you dirty old man."

  "I'll do that." Lonewolf yawned as he looked up at his elf mistress, who peered down from the bed to him. She did not look happy, but fearful over the news of her kin after Bella's attack. Lonewolf didn't care. He didn't worry about what people thought these days. "Oh, I should mention to you one other thing, Bell."

  Bella studied his face as he broke into a cocky smile. "What now?" she asked.

  "Just that you didn't stick around to see what happened after those night raids."

  Bella watched his face as she tried to discern whether what he was about to share was good news. "What is it you know that I don't?"

  "Lamruil, the Elf King, was in hiding in Aymer when we struck. He understood our charge would focus on the kingdom, so he hid with one of his armies plotting to strike us from behind. Instead, the surprise night raids claimed his life, and the remnants of the Tragmont host scattered after he died. With the kingdom of Crusayla now abandoned, the war against Tragmont is over," Lonewolf finished. Bella's eyes widened in surprise while the elf mistress above turned away in despair.

  "Are you sarding serious?" Bella asked though she was certain Lonewolf wouldn't joke about this.

  "Oh, sardingly serious, I am, dear. This is over. Pack your things, lass. Grab your husband and prepare to head home because this war is done." Lonewolf smiled as he rose to his feet and reached out for Bella. She stepped forward and threw her arms around him.

  "We did it," Bella said in near disbelief as she laughed. Lonewolf joined her in a moment of rejoicing.

  "That we did. It only took eleven years."

  "I never imagined I'd be so ready to go home. I can't believe it is over." Bella’s mind raced, unable to grasp the news. "What about the Elf Queen? The heirs? They’ll keep fighting. Right?"

  "Abandoned. They scattered in different ways. Probably headed east to start over with their distant kin." Lonewolf shrugged. "Who cares? It is over."

  "I can't wait to tell Markus," Bella spat out as she pushed herself away from Lonewolf. "I must tell the soldiers and write Luminear." Her thoughts rolled through her head in both excitement and confusion as she began to pace.

  "Oh, will you take a minute to relax? You're always on the move, Bell." Lonewolf grabbed her by her shoulders, forcing her to a halt. "Celebrate. Have wine with me. Relax and breathe. It is over, and you have all the time in the world to do whatever comes next. Hopefully, leave your duties and move far away."

  Bella nodded and smiled as she glimpsed to the kitchen and wine bottles on the shelves. "Leave it all?" Bella asked as the two walked to the kitchen. "I have not planned that far ahead, but I might ask for a dismissal of duties for a while. Maybe a year or two. I want a normal life, and I wish to see Luminear and spend time with Markus without having to discuss this shite every single day." Bella looked towards her future as Lonewolf nodded, choosing two golden goblets and a bottle of red wine.

  "I agree. You two need a break as do I. I tell you what. Once I get the word from Neighraellium, I'll see if I can take over the army until his arrival and let you and Markus head home to Lumi."

  Bella was ecstatic at the idea and nodded her approval. "That would work. I would like that if you could. I don't understand why the High King would want to come personally, but I wouldn't mind an early dismissal." Lonewolf poured the two a drink. "I can't believe this. If you are lying about this, I will beat you myself."

  Lonewolf smiled at her empty threat as he handed her a goblet. "Oh, he'll want to see it himself. He'll want to build a civilization out here. The fortunes and secrets that lie in Crusayla are endless. He will want it well protected until his arrival. I'll write to him and send word tomorrow morning. Once we hear back, I am sure he will grant you leave. You've done enough," Lonewolf said as he clinked goblets with Bella. The two took a celebratory drink before continuing discussing the future of Divox and Tragmont, but spoke most about how this victory would change their lives for the better.

  Lonewolf was thrilled for Bella and hoped great things would follow for her and Markus. He let her think she would see her sister soon. Lonewolf had not changed for the better in the past eleven years. If anything, he was worse. He was still lying, and it came to him as easily as breathing did. Before Bella arrived, he had already sent word to his old partner, Neighraellium, or Icaz rather.

  The two men locked Luminear away all these long years as a prisoner deep within Magwhen's castle. Lonewolf no longer saw Luminear when he looked upon her. Somehow, he convinced himself that the real Luminear he had once known was long dead. Nowadays, he saw Luminear as nothing more than a weapon. He rationalized because it was the only way he could live with himself. He even asked Icaz to use the medallion on him to convince him the terrible lie he told himself was right, but the lie did not stop there.

  What few times Bella had been allowed to visit Luminear, her memories were distorted by the medallion before she left. Two separate times during her visits with Luminear, Bella started to uncover her real memories, but before she recalled the whole truth, Lonewolf and Icaz would flush the real memories away. They had defiled Bella's mind so many times she hadn't a clue the lie she was living. Robbed from her were many years of her life. The once cheerful and thrilled bride-to-be was long gone. Her life, stolen. A slave in every sense, her predicament was much like her sister's, although she was none the wiser.

  According to Bella's memories, she had seen Luminear many times. Her sister lived in Magwhen as a writer who had also taken up painting. None of this was true. She believed when she had ridden into battle with Laelliandir's crusades, a terrible injury befell her. The injuries stole some of her memories concerning Magwhen. Lonewolf created this cover for the benefit of Markus, Fern, and other people close to Bella so they would understand why she did not remember much of her real past with Laelliandir, Laella, and Garroth. This ruse kept Bella and Lonewolf close, but Lonewolf knew if she were ever to discover the deception he had wrought on her, Bella would kill him without a second thought. Lonewol
f didn't intend to die by her hand, so he planned to keep Bella from uncovering the truth forever.

  After years of hard work, it was nearly time for the payoff, and Lonewolf could hardly wait. From what he'd learned, he believed the gate was on the black mountain behind the great elf kingdom of Crusayla. So he looked forward with anticipation to his friend's arrival and their key. Any concerns he had with Bella returning to Magwhen and learning the truth were an afterthought he would deal with when the time came. Because he could erase her memories, he had a sense of security despite his web of lies and deceitful nature. If Lonewolf were honest with himself, he would have to admit that finding what lay beyond the gates at Tragmont trumped even his desire to hold on to his relationship with Bella. Paramount was this goal, and for achieving it, he had tunnel vision.

  Lonewolf had chosen to live on the outskirts of an elder elf city the Divoxian army had taken over years ago. The house sat in an ancient forest with enormous primeval trees where elves had lived in the past. The city stood on an island that jutted high up, overlooking a long drop into a vast lake. Magnificent peaks towered high within that lake, holding up a scattered elf city upon various elevated islands. After Divox took this part of the country, Lonewolf had learned of an ancient war and how Tragmont's lands had suffered during this age. Situated upon islands hundreds of feet above the lower lake, the city had been punished by magical means long ago. The land had crashed down in a quake, followed by a flood leaving only scattered partial pieces of the land left standing. Hence the elves constructed great stone bridges to connect the city isles from the forests encompassing the old lands.

  The reclusive elves' entire country consisted of many strange lands such as this scattered throughout their homeland. Lonewolf, fascinated with Tragmont's thousands of years of history, had learned about a long-forgotten wizardly war, which attributed to the oddities. Whether what he read from books and heard from elven prisoners was factual or not, he could not determine. However, seeing such abnormal power within Icaz and Luminear, Lonewolf believed there was truth in the hidden history of Tragmont, and the elves who had lived there kept an important secret from the rest of the world.

  This ancient war was only one of the many mysteries Lonewolf had already uncovered in his time in Tragmont. He also learned this war was fought by ghastly forgotten races opposing a high elf witch and wizards from the old world. It ended at Tragmont. He'd also read something about a hidden, forgotten realm, existing under the earth's surface, directly under them. Elves called it the Dark Realm. This realm was now sealed by ancient magic beyond an invisible gate. Lonewolf had put together the pieces of Icaz’s tale and matched the puzzle with the lore long hidden in Tragmont, and the two stories were a perfect match. Whatever secrets hid in Tragmont, they would soon uncover. More convinced than ever, Lonewolf knew Luminear was the key to this mystery. The final chapter was about to unfold.

  ***

  After Bella and Lonewolf shared wine and laughter in their celebration, Bella took her leave. The dark forest was mostly vacant, as the Divoxian army lived within the city above the lake, and she would have to take the bridge about an hour south of Lonewolf's dwelling. After she saddled up her awaiting horse, she took to the gloomy winding trails back home. She was eager to tell Markus and Fern the news and excited about what would come next with the long war behind them. It was almost too much to think about, and Bella was thrilled. She had married the man she loved, and now she could return home to enjoy time with her dearest sister. There would be no more battles or wars in the foreseeable future. Her heart was glad, but little did she know everything was about to change.

  Chapter Two

  Forced Confrontation

  This is too good to be true. Now what? Bella galloped through the forest, smiling, lost in her thoughts. Lumi is going to be so happy-and Markus! But something transpired to change her moment of bliss.

  She had ridden little more than an hour when she noticed a figure upon a horse in the distance. Horse and rider stood still in the middle of the forest and appeared to be facing her. The night was windy and gloomy, and from her vantage point under cover of the forest, Bella could see few stars. Overhead branches blocked or dimmed the moon's light making the scene before her eerie and unsettling.

  What is this? Bella thought to herself, as she slowed to approach the awaiting horse and rider with caution. She slid her right hand down upon the hilt of her sword as she came closer. The figure seemed to be waiting for her as there was no movement. Markus? Fern?

  The trail remained lit well enough to see, but the great elder trees around it were dark, making the surrounding area shadowy and unfocused. Bella approached within thirty paces of the mysterious rider and came to a halt. The hairs on the back of her neck stood, but she masked her trepidation.

  "Who goes there?" she shouted in a stern voice. "Give me your name, or I'll cut you down," Bella added, glancing down to her bow and arrow latched to the horse's saddle. She expected a hasty response if whoever awaited did not wish to be struck.

  "An old friend, General Bella Luna." The voice was masculine. He pushed back the hood of his cloak, but it was still too dark for her to tell who it was. The man edged toward her.

  "No friends of mine would dare approach me in the dark of night without giving me their name and purpose," Bella yelled back, as she took up her bow and drew an arrow. "Speak, or I'll shoot you down."

  "I'm here for your help." He spoke again but did not answer her inquiry. Yet he kept on moving toward her.

  "Then you should have given me your name," Bella warned once more before releasing an arrow toward the shadowed figure. The man brought up a sword from his side in near perfect reflex and chopped the bolt down. It splintered in two and fell upon the forest floor.

  "You don't want to hurt me, Bell," the man said as he stopped his horse where the glow of the moon shone brighter. Then he revealed himself, tossing back his hood. "You may want me dead, but hear me out first."

  Bella recognized him. His hair was short, shaggy, and he had stubble on his face. Although he wore a dark black cloak, she could see places where his elegant white armor peaked out from under it. Laelliandir Javalla.

  "You?" Bella questioned in disbelief. Laelliandir watched her, keeping his guard up in case she attempted to sling another arrow his way.

  "It's me." Bella did not seem happy to see him.

  Bella strung another arrow and prepared it to fire. "Why do you dare approach me like this? What would I ever want to hear from you? Speak your purpose, or I'll kill you! I swear, I will!" The Laelliandir she recalled was far different from the man before her, who did not understand why she hated him so much. For years her animosity toward him had tortured his heart.

  "No, you won't." A second male voice spoke from Bella's left, alarming her. She jumped and turned to see Albatros stepping from the darkness nearby. "We came to talk only. Don't be frightened."

  Bella's heart pounded in her chest. Not only had Laelliandir come to her, but Albatros waited only a few feet away undetected. He could have crushed her from the shadows, and she would never have known what hit her.

  "What do you want? How did you know where to find me?" She looked between the two as her horse backed away to a safer distance. She contemplated grabbing two more arrows but doubted she had time to hit either of them before they attacked her. "You want a pardon? Take it up with the High King. Confronting me is not how this is done. I have nothing to say to either of you."

  "We've been following you," Albatros began. "Capes on generals differ from the ones upon captains. Easy to detect the leader. I trailed you and two other horse tracks here. Then the two who accompanied you backtracked. We were trying to decide where to go until we saw you riding in."

  "Why? Why follow me? Why would I have anything to say to you two?" Bella glowered at Laelliandir and screamed, "You especially!"

  "Why do you hate us and treat us like we are your enemies? This is not the Bell I remember. What happened to you?" asked Laell
iandir.

  "It does not matter," Albatros reminded his friend, fearing Laelliandir's emotions would interfere with their agenda. "Bella. You must not enter Crusayla. That city mustn’t be invaded."

  What sarding madness is this? Bella stared at the two uncomprehending. How dare Laelliandir even show his face? She felt the heat of her swift temper rising. "What? The war is over! It isn't up to me what your uncle does or doesn't do, but somehow I doubt he will care about your traitorous pleas asking him to abandon the lands we just won from our enemies. You sards are addressing the wrong person." Bella punctuated her insult by tapping her temple with her index finger. "Both of you are insane."

  "You oversee the armed forces, and you can keep them from advancing for a while longer. They mustn't enter Crusayla,” Laelliandir argued, but before he could explain further, Bella laughed and shook her head.

  "You're working for the elves, Laelliandir? This is pathetic, even for them. Hold back on advancing on their city for what?" Bella flaunted her hand at Albatros. "Remnant forces meet up with minotaur forces for one last bout? The northerners come to strike? All too late, if this is what this is about. Did you imagine this little ploy would work? Send two people who know me to convince me to keep the army from advancing so you can attack? The war is over, and the elves scattered. I do not respect traitors and would not fall for ridiculous tricks either."