by Toni Cox
As if by some sign, Wolf came bounding through the gap in the door and sprang up on Jagaer, greeting him by licking his face. He stroked the animal’s head briefly before stepping through the doors to his chamber, unable to control his curiosity.
What he saw inside was not what he expected. The stench of sickness, although fading, still cloyed to the room. The area in front of the fire looked like the inside of Silas’ cave, complete with his bed, instruments, medicines and books.
Two couches sat on either side of the fire. One held a blanket, on which Wolf now went to find his place again. The other couch held Luke’s pillow, a blanket, as well as some papers.
Jagaer’s desk now resided closer to the fire, too, and turned in such a way that the person sitting behind the desk could easily reach the prone figure of Silas lying in front of the fire. All other furniture had simply been pushed to the side; discarded, unneeded for the moment.
“Silas, are you all right?” Jagaer moved to him and knelt beside him.
“I am on the mend, thanks to this young man,” the old Elf said. “I owe him my life, Jagaer.”
“I am in your debt, Luke,” Jagaer said, putting a hand on the Human’s shoulder.
“He still has a lot of healing to do, My Lord. He cannot rise yet, or move at all. The risk of infection is still very real. Until such a time that he eats and walks on his own, I shall take no thanks.”
“As you wish, Luke. I shall thank you for your services then. I can see you have been looking after him here for some time.”
“Yes, My Lord. This was where he got injured during the attack on the city. We could not move him or he would have died.”
“It is all right. I am honoured that you saved my adviser within my chambers.”
“Thank you, My Lord.”
“Now, Silas, tell me how you are.”
“The company is good,” he raised a shaking arm to point at Luke and Wolf, “but I am tired of soup.”
“Ah, I see you have retained your humour. You will live.”
“I hope so, Father, for this Human has worked no less than a miracle on our Healer.”
Jagaer stood at the sound of Jaik’s voice and turned towards him. Jaik strode across the chamber, swathed in a heavy fur coat, and the two embraced.
“It is good to see you, Jaik. We were in Oberon when the news of the attack reached us and we came as soon as we could.”
“The message must have been delayed, for the attack happened almost three Quarters ago. The city is safe again and we have doubled the rate at which we are producing weapons. Come, let Silas rest for now. We shall see to your men in the chart room.”
Jaik nodded to Luke and Silas, and led him from the room. Impressed by the way his son took charge, Jagaer let himself be led away.
Archer, Boron, and the rest of the Guard, as well as Commander Hollowdale’s men, were already assembled in the neighbouring room of equal size, but without the plush furnishings. All the space contained was a table large enough for spreading man-sized maps.
“It is late, so I will keep it short,” Jaik began, taking charge. Jagaer let him. “They are readying the guesthouse as we speak, Commander Hollowdale. One of my Guard will take you and your men there shortly. The dragons have settled on The Crags and will be safe there.”
“Thank you, Commander Longshadow,” Evandeor Hollowdale replied.
“The city has been on edge ever since the attack and night time disturbances have, unfortunately, been a common occurrence. We will need to let the people know by first light who caused the disturbance tonight to set them at ease. Unless my father has an urgent message, or order, I suggest we all find what rest we can and gather here again an hour before sunrise. We can then discuss everything before we go out to greet the people.”
The Commanders and warriors around the table stood in silence, looking from father to son. Jaik stood, head held high and confident, waiting for an answer. Jagaer, travel worn and weary, had never been so ready to follow someone else’s orders.
“Aye,” he finally agreed. “It has been a long journey and our minds are tired. Let us rest before we gather again.”
The tension in the air dispersed as Jagaer gave his consent. Filithrin took it upon himself to take Commander Hollowdale and his men to the guesthouse, and the men of the Guard who had been travelling with Jagaer found their own ways home.
“You have done well here, Jaik,” Jagaer said as they walked home together, followed at a distance by two of Jaik’s Guard.
“We had to improvise,” Jaik replied, “but the people rallied and we pulled through.”
There was more he wanted to tell his son, but as they neared the house, all he could think of was the fight he had with Malyn before he left. Feeling more like a child than the king he was, he stepped through the doors into his home.
The weather remained clear as they flew over the Grildor-Bron Mountains. Looking at them from above, they did not appear as high as they did from below. Their large scale of dragons cast a peculiar shadow every time they flew over a snow field.
Excitement replaced the heavy sadness at leaving Yolanden behind with every wing beat that brought them close to Shadow Hall. Already, the sun dipped behind the mountains at their backs and the snow-covered forest, glittering golden in the late evening sun, now streaked below them like a cold and dirty, grey carpet.
Unerringly, Midnight led the way. They soon flew over the city lights of Tarron Heights; far below them, and not long after reached Shadow Hall.
Dragons!
Midnight signalled the warning to them and they circled high over the city while Midnight established the loyalty of the dragons below. Maia and Blaid joined in Midnight’s questing of the dragons’ minds and Maia could barely contain her excitement at what they learned.
My father is home. He travelled the alliance countries. The armies are coming.
The conclusions they had drawn from the bits of information they had been able to obtain during their travels had been correct. Help was on the way. Maia could not wait to speak to her father to hear of the final figures and to tell him of the army Blaid had been able to secure for him, too.
You secured, Blaid corrected her.
Maia checked herself. After the Finding of Souls, the connection between Blaid and Maia was so strong she no longer needed to actively think the words to him. She simply need to have the thoughts in her head and he would know what she was thinking or feeling, unless she shielded herself. Yolanden taught them how to do this before they left.
Battle Dragons will allow War Dragons to roost alongside on The Crags. I will take wild dragons to the cliffs.
All agreed that this would be the wisest course of action and, after Midnight set Maia down, the black dragon flew off with the scale of Fire Dragons to hide out in the mountains. With some noisy clacking, hooting, cawing, screeching, trumpeting and hissing, the Fire Dragons and the Plains Dragons sorted out their hierarchy atop The Crags.
The commotion drew a crowd of people within moments and the area lit up with lanterns and torches.
“Ah, My Lady, good to see you return home to us.”
“Commander Goldsbane, it is good to see you,” Maia replied to the Commander of the Night Watch. “I apologise for the commotion we caused and any fright we might have given your men.”
“Not at all, My Lady. The arrival of dragons during the night is becoming somewhat of a regular occurrence now.”
Although Commander Goldsbane’s men stayed well clear of the last of the dragons on the ground, they showed no fear. They waited until all the gear had been unloaded and then helped carry the equipment along the path towards the Sparring Grounds.
Maia desperately wanted to go home. See her parents, see her children, and find out what happened to Silas. The thought of her mentor brought a lump to her throat. The visions she had received from her brother had not shown her the outcome, but from what she had seen, only a Life Elemental could have healed those injuries.
Sighing, she followed the Commander of the Night Watch down towards the Hall of the Guardians. Any warriors arriving were always greeted by the Lord of the city within one of the formal halls, depending on the occasion. She knew her father had already been sent for.
As she took the last step onto the level ground of the Sparring Grounds, her pulse quickened, eyes widening with wonder.
“He is here,” she whispered.
Without waiting for the others, she ran ahead. Quickly, she pulled open the heavy outer doors of the hall, then sprinted across the tiled reception room. Taking more care, she opened the doors to her father’s chamber.
Her senses noticed it all at once; the smell of sickness, and healing; the smell of Wolf, and Luke; the smell of fire, and warmth; the glow of Silas’ soul, growing stronger; the glow of Luke’s soul; all grown up.
Wolf laid his paws on her shoulders and licked her tears as she stared into the room, looking at Silas and Luke staring back at her. She planted a kiss on her wolf’s head and hugged him for a moment, before making her way over to the fire.
Too emotional to speak, she simply nodded to Luke, who acknowledged her with a single nod of his own.
Maia knelt by Silas and took his hand. She could not check her tears as her elemental senses assessed the damage done to him and the miracle Luke had achieved to save him.
“You have returned,” Silas said, his voice weak, but proud.
Next to them, Wolf growled fiercely. The ruff of his neck stood erect with rage as he bared his teeth, snarling towards the door. Lunar stood in the doorway, imitating Wolf’s stance, growling; only Siana’s restraining arm held her back.
“I see you brought guests. Won’t you introduce us?” Silas raised a quivering hand to wave them in.
Blaid led the way, followed by Siana and Lunar, and then the dragon riders. Soon, the spacious room was crowded, but Maia could feel how Silas’ spirits improved with their presence.
“You have travelled far and learned much,” Silas said. “There will be much you need to tell me. But, first, I think you need to introduce the wolves to each other, for I fear they might do each other harm.”
“Aye,” Maia laughed, “we thought of many things, but not about how the wolves would get along.” She put a calming hand on Wolf’s back and let her energy flow into him as she walked him over to where Siana still held Lunar. “Wolf, meet Lunar. She is our ally in this war. Make friends and learn from each other.” Putting her other hand on Lunar, she told the she-wolf the same.
Once the growling stopped, she let go and took a step back. At a nod from Maia, Siana let go of Lunar, too. Hesitantly, the two wolves sniffed at each other. There was one tense moment where they bared their teeth, but then, slowly, tails wagged and their bodies relaxed.
Smiling, Maia returned to Silas, inviting Siana to come with her, so she could introduce her to Silas and Luke. She bade Blaid come with her, too.
“Make way for the Lords of Longshadow,” Maia heard Filithrin bellow from across the room, and inhaled her readiness to stand up for Blaid.
Siana’s men shuffled around, clearing a path to, and a circle around, the fire.
Together, Jaik and her father strode towards her. There was something different about both of them, but now was not the time to ask those questions. Smiling broadly, she ran towards them, and into their open arms.
“Father,” she said earnestly, “this is Prince Blaid Elderbow and Princess Siana Elderbow of Elbendal, son and daughter of King Blain Elderbow, Lord of Caverna Estralis. They have pledged their allegiance to you for this war and King Elderbow is marching with his army to Grildor even as we speak. Princess Siana has brought with her thirty-seven dragon riders and their War Dragons, ready to fight for you. Prince Blaid, Death Elemental, leads a scale of over three hundred Fire Dragons, eager for battle.”
Her father’s joy at seeing Maia had been genuine and she felt no resentment from him at her leaving at all. Yet, Blaid’s presence in his chamber concerned her most of all and she thought to get the introductions out of the way first. She now watched her father with worry as he absorbed the information. Maia resisted the urge to look into his mind.
“It is an honour and a privilege to meet you both,” Jagaer said.
“Thank you for joining us in this fight,” Jaik added.
Glancing briefly at Blaid, to find a corner of his mouth curled, for her, Maia let out the breath she had been holding and Silas gently squeezed her hand. She looked down at his frail fingers, the thin skin, the bruises, and the cuts. What was she thinking? All of the formalities could wait. Or carry on without her. Silas needed her.
“Father, please may we have some privacy with Silas? I would like Luke and Blaid to stay. You and Jaik may stay as well, if you could.”
Jaik nodded almost imperceptibly and immediately his Guard cleared the room. Wolf left with them, following Siana and Lunar out.
“The night is late,” Jaik said. “I will ask Filithrin to find accommodation for the men and we can gather in the morning for a briefing.”
“Aye,” Jagaer agreed.
Jaik briefly opened the door and spoke a few words with Filithrin before shutting the door firmly and joining them by the fire.
“I did the best I could, Maia,” Luke said.
Her son sounded sad, but he held his head high. She was proud of him. “You did well, Luke. Silas would not have lived without you. In your care, he could eventually even walk again. Alas, we may have need of him sooner and I fear Silas is tired of lying on this cot. Will you assist me with the magic to heal him?”
“I will do what I can, Maia. Show me how.”
“I can heal him now, but not by myself. His injuries are grave, although you have done well. My energy will not be enough to set him right. Will you lend your strength to ours?” Maia asked her son.
“Of course, I will,” Luke agreed.
“Then, ready yourself.”
Maia looked up and at the men around her. Blaid already knelt beside her, ready to lend his energy. Jaik and her father did not need to be asked. They both stepped forward and took their places. Once they all huddled around Silas’ prone figure, they locked arms, with Jaik touching Maia’s left shoulder, and Blaid her right shoulder.
“Are you ready?” she asked.
“Aye,” they chorused.
“And you, Silas? Are you ready?” she asked.
“I would not be here today without this son of yours,” he replied in a hoarse whisper, “but I am more than ready to move on from this weak state and regain my full strength. Show me what you have learned, daughter of my heart.”
As Maia bent over him and began her work, a soft white light enveloped them and she heard the men gasp. During the healing of Fury, a purple glow had surrounded them, but she had been largely unaware of it at the time.
During their training with Yolanden, Blaid and Maia had learned that the glow was the colour of the soul. All sentient beings had a soul; some glowed brighter than others and, those that were touched by Maia’s magic during healing could even transform, as Fury had transformed into an alpha. Yolanden called it Soul magic.
When Maia asked Yolanden why it had never happened to her before, he simply told her she had never been complete before. There had always been that one piece of herself she had not yet discovered. The falcon.
Before the Finding of Souls, Yolanden made both of them explain to him what each of their animals meant to them. For Blaid, this had been easy, as he had spent years as the black wolf. Maia, however, had only been the falcon once.
The wolf stood for strength, loyalty, intelligence, leadership, trust, and family. The last one surprised Maia, but made her happy.
The falcon stood for success and victory, speed and agility, rising above a situation, freedom, and focus. At first, those insights about her had startled her. She thought it made her seem cold and unfeeling. Yolanden told her those traits were essential for the role she was to play in saving their planet. She now accepted them, usi
ng her focus to concentrate on the intricate structure of Silas’ body.
Luke’s work was beyond anything Maia had ever seen. She could only assume that he had taken some of what he learned on Earth, combined it with what Silas taught him, and melded the two into one complicated procedure.
Closing her eyes, shutting out the ever brighter white glow around her, she began her work. She closed the slowly healing cut with its eight minute stitches along Silas’ large intestine. Then, she healed the tear in Silas’ diaphragm and the surrounding tissue. The other chest stab had miraculously missed any vital organs and only went into tissue, which was healing well. Nevertheless, she healed this, too, as well as all the minor cuts and bruises along his body.
From the smell in the room Maia could tell there had been infection here. Luke must have worked tirelessly day and night cleaning the wounds and preparing medicine to drive the infection off. The further she saw into Silas’ body, the more aware of Luke’s talent she became.
In her mind, glowing white strands of soul raced along the fibers of Silas’ body, knitting them all back together. Strand by strand, she made Silas whole again. With the five of them working together, they had enough energy, and it did not take long for Silas to let out a loud, wholesome laugh.
“It is good to be back,” Silas said, sitting around the fire with them at Maia’s home. “It is good to have everyone back home, too.”
“Indeed,” Malyn agreed. “It has been far from quiet in your absence.”
Malyn laughed, a sound Maia had missed so much, somewhat easing the tension in the common room.
After that, things did not go as smoothly.
Having rested for a few, brief hours, Jagaer had invited them all here for an informal gathering. It was to show good faith in his guests, but Maia soon learned that it had been Malyn’s idea. Although Maia’s father would never shun a royal envoy, she knew he wanted nothing more than to drive Blaid out of the city.