by Jordan Cramm
I apologize for what happened just a few days ago at home. I know you are both worried about me. But I am doing okay. I guess I just wanted to get away and needed some space and some time to think about things. The future once far off just overwhelmed me suddenly is all, and I needed some space to think. I am not coming home just yet, but know that I am safe, and I will write again soon to explain what is going on. Please don’t worry, I am fine though.
~
Wolflen woke that morning dry and comfortably, but outside the shelter he sat in, he could hear and smell rain falling. Katrina was still asleep herself, curled up to him. He blinked his eyes a few more times and then sat up, looking over at Ayvock who was leaning against the doorway to the structure they were under. Ayvock quietly turned when he heard Wolflen stir, and then Wolflen stood, coming closer to the doorway of the large ceiling-covered enclosure.
“I was thinking about home,” Ayvock began softly, “I mean—it’s beautiful here, but we aren’t tree dwellers. We belong on the ground, with snow all around, tundras, open plains and mountains in the distance.”
Wolflen gave a half cocked smile and continued to listen.
“I never thought,” Ayvock continued, “that my journeys in life would bring me to such a place. I was going to be a Knight, and likely join the main army of Akartha. I never thought though that I would be camping in treetops with the Elves. It is beautiful here. I can see the appeal in becoming a Ranger and being out in the wild. The rain has been falling for some time. I think Sespa and Colt are glad to be out of it, but I think they too miss the ground below.”
“Katrina says it would be much slower going down there,” Wolflen interrupted, “and that soon we will reach Peludeen, which is a city on the ground, built in a clearing of this jungle. Soon enough our feet will be on the ground. What worries me though is what then—do you know anything about etiquette around Elves? I sure don’t. I don’t know much about them at all, and what little I do know, I know because of textbooks or legends. So here we are…stuck in the jungle and crossing into Elven territory, with no idea of what could possibly be ahead of us. At least right now though, we are safe. I have been thinking more about how War Mages have natural enemies. I don’t think our peace will last forever. I think our travels will become more perilous. Maybe not into Peludeen, but soon. Because the truth is, now that I know who some of the enemies are, I think I have to find them, and stop them from doing whatever it is they intend to do—and I have to do this before they do what they intend to do.”
Ayvock shook his head sideways.
“We aren’t going to have normal lives are we?”
“I don’t think so.” Wolflen remarked quietly.
Ayvock took a deep breath and stuck his hand out in the rain. He asked if they would be riding onward later even through the rain if it was still falling. Wolflen said he thought it would be fine to do, and that they were almost to Peludeen anyway.
Katrina woke at last, yawning and sitting up slowly. She wiped her eyes and looked at both Wolflen and Ayvock who were standing in the doorway and talking. She could hear the falling rain outside, and she smelled the fresh scent of it in the air. She smiled. She looked to the far corner of the room and saw that Sespa was watching her, while Colt remained standing still and motionless. Katrina stood and stretched, and Wolflen turned round toward her after he heard her stretching.
“Nice weather out there?” she asked playfully.
“Rain,” he said, “and I guess it has rained for quite a while now. Ayvock wants to know if we will be traveling through it.”
Ayvock cocked his head sideways at the doorway to listen.
“Well,” Katrina said calmly as she looked toward the doorway, “we can travel still as long as neither of you mind the rain. It could make some footings slightly slicker than they are when they are dry, but we should be fine. So it’s up to you really.”
Wolflen considered it.
He asked when they would reach Peludeen if they traveled all day. Katrina told him they could be in Peludeen by evening if they traveled all day. Wolflen nodded and asked that they do that, telling Katrina that he missed being able to have fires to cook meat upon. Ayvock agreed with Wolflen on that point. Katrina told them that they could go down to the ground for a cook fire, but that it would delay their arrival in Peludeen later that same day if they did. Wolflen declined the offer, but thanked her for the thought.
They rode through the rain, trekking toward Peludeen through the transit system road in the treetops, until at last; their position in the trees began a descent. It was slow and gradual, but noticeable at least for Wolflen. They spiraled down the wooden walkway, rounding a large tree several times until the ground was in sight ahead. From the top of the tree they were in, they saw the tops of Peludeen in the distance ahead in a clearing. But here as they descended, they could only see the jungle around them once more. But it wasn’t long before their feet were on the ground.
Ayvock seemed relieved to be on the ground again, as did his mount Colt. Wolflen noticed that Sespa seemed anxious to run wild too, and that being in the trees likely was quite cramping for Sespa. Even Wolflen himself dismounted as they reached the ground. He stretched his legs and arms, yawning and shaking off some rain water that had clung to him throughout the day. They were all soaked in fact.
“Do not be troubled by the rain,” Katrina began, “for soon we will be in Peludeen and we may all shed these wet coverings for warmer clothing. And I will see to your lodgings in the city so you will be well taken care of.”
Wolflen smiled. The idea of a hot bath sounded good to him at the moment. That, and meat. He didn’t even care what kind of meat it was. He was hungry though, and he was quite tired of eating berries and other tree fruits for the past few days. For one thing his body craved the protein found in meats. For another, he missed the taste. Of course, he couldn’t ignore another change that eating just fruits brought into his life; for days now he had irregular stools and often enough they caught him by surprise.
Wolflen even asked Ayvock if Ayvock had encountered any similar problems. Ayvock denied that anything was the matter with him at all, but after walking away, Wolflen saw Ayvock scratching at his butt, itching regularly for a while. Wolflen just shook his head in disbelief and indifference, deciding not to mention the matter again. It was too embarrassing to do, and besides, he would soon be regulating his diet once more with a portion of meat. So Wolflen decided to put the hardships of past days behind him in order to try and focus on everything ahead of him.
Katrina leaned crouched down and gathered some water into her palms from a large tree leaf attached to the trunk of a tree. She took a drink and then saw Wolflen standing there. She brought her hands upward, splashing him in the face with water. He slowly smiled after spitting water from his mouth and wiping his eyes. She stood up and looked at him.
“Do I need a bath that badly?” he asked, “Because I feel like I have been soaking in one all day already.”
She stood and wrapped an arm around his neck and kissed him gently.
“Relax,” she said, “you can have a real bath soon. Besides, that tree I just took water from…walk over there and push back the branches and look beyond it.”
Wolflen looked puzzled, so she told him once more to look beyond the tree. His eyes took a moment to see what it was she expected him to see. A city in the clearing ahead, but even as it stood out for the eye to see, somehow it was hidden. Wolflen supposed that was part of the magic of Elves; not spells, but the abilities they possessed with the powers of illusion.
“It’s beautiful,” Wolflen whispered, “and out here in the wild…” Katrina smiled and waited for Wolflen to turn and face her once more. And after a moment, he did just that.
“That is Peludeen beyond. It is my home on this continent.”
It was nearly evening and even in the clearing ahead, light was growing ever dimmer as twilight approached. Wolflen, Ayvock and Katrina each were satisfied to be closer to t
he Elven city, and it was not long before Elven guards of the city took specific notice. However, Wolflen and Ayvock were amazed at the way each of the city guards showed their reverence to Katrina, as did everyone that they encountered throughout the city street (if streets was the right word for the trails they rode on.) They weren’t concrete at all, but rather dirt or clay trails of some sort. Wolflen noticed how solid and packed down the trails were, and yet he also noticed as he walked beside Sespa, that the ground did not feel uncomfortable to walk upon like concrete. He thought that was particularly strange considering how fatigued they were, and how dry everything was.
Even their own clothes had dried by the time they had entered the city. Of course, they knew they still needed warm baths. But for the moment, they had to trust Katrina’s lead. To Wolflen’s surprise however, Jakarta and other Elven Knights approached them upon horseback, and in formation, coming from the road trail ahead. Katrina did not budge however. But when they reached speaking distance of Jakarta and the other Elven Knights, Katrina commanded them to halt. The Knights did so at once.
“Princess Katrina, welcome back to Peludeen. We hoped that you might be bound on errand here and rode quickly after your departure from our company in other lands. Princess there are things of which we must speak that require more privacy than the open road. Will you and your friends accompany us to the Hall of Emerald Shielding?” Jakarta asked.
Katrina looked at Jakarta, her eyes sharpening with focus as if to discover his meaning. But before responding, she bowed her own head in what seemed to Wolflen to be reverence, and then she spoke.
“We will accompany you to the Hall of Emerald Shielding, and we shall discuss these important matters of which you speak. Send riders ahead and prepare quarters for both of my friends. They are our guests here. They would benefit from a bath.”
“Princess,” Jakarta responded, “the rooms are already prepared. I am more informed of our situation that I think you are aware of. Your friends indeed can have a warm bath, but first I must insist that we all go to the Hall of Emerald Shielding where we may all speak together privately. I have some words for them as well as for you.”
Katrina blinked curiously and then bowed her head slightly again.
“Your counsel is wise Jakarta, First Knight of Orenty,” Katrina said with growing volume in her voice. “and we shall in fact accompany you to the Hall of Emerald Shielding. We are grateful for your escort.”
Katrina turned to see Wolflen and Ayvock, both with puzzled expressions on their faces, and both leading their animal steeds still.
“Come on, we must ride.”
Both of them turned and mounted once more, grateful at least for the short time to have walked and stretched their own legs. From Sespa’s back, Wolflen reached down for Katrina to help her up once more. She smiled up at him, and as he pulled her to Sespa’s back behind him, Wolflen asked Katrina what was going on.
“We go to the Hall of Emerald Shielding,” she whispered softly, “because apparently Jakarta knows of what you are. He did not say it in public, but I believe he has discovered the nature of what you are. Do not worry; the Hall of Emerald Shielding is the Paladin guild house here. It is where Paladins and Knights train their swords here in Peludeen.”
Wolflen kept his gaze on Jakarta ahead of him, and Jakarta did not seem to savor the fact that Wolflen was pulling Katrina to his own mount, and that they were riding together. Still, Jakarta said nothing, but simply stared right back until they were ready to ride.
“Follow me.” Jakarta said finally, with a firm tone that was devoid of excitement or inflection.
Quietly and quickly, Wolflen and Ayvock both moved their mounts to fall into place behind Jakarta as they all moved toward the Hall of Emerald Shielding together.
Wolflen and Ayvock both looked on upon the city with admiration. But most of their admiration came only after Katrina would point out hidden things, buildings, landmarks and things of the like. Ayvock was amazed each time, unable to see many of the hidden things in advance, as though they were shrouded in magic. As for Wolflen, he was beginning to notice things more and more on his own, and Katrina was impressed with the progress of his vision for hidden things. She hugged him tightly and told him that the skill would prove to be useful in his future. She told him that as a War Mage, he should get accustomed to Elven lands, because he would be looked to for guidance and decisions in war by all good races. He smiled and told her he could stand Elven lands so long as she was his company.
“So,” Wolflen began, “the Hall of Emerald Shielding is a training hall in Peludeen is it Jakarta?”
Katrina was amazed Wolflen was trying to make conversation with Jakarta at all, let alone small talk.
“Indeed it is,” Jakarta remarked, “and if what we have learned is true, you may be allowed to train there for a time. You and the other Izenian there.”
Ayvock cut in suddenly, and using a cocky tone he remarked.
“Hey pal, that other Izenian—his name is Ayvock. He’s been on the route here for many weeks now. He’s hungry and he’s tired. So the least you can do from now on is remember the name. Ayvock—got it, or should we say it together?”
Katrina nearly burst out in laughter at Ayvock’s pompous remarks. She thought it was funny that a stranger would talk to Jakarta that way—to the First Knight of Orenty. Wolflen however was not so amused, and instead was whispering a scolding in Ayvock’s direction.
“You shouldn’t speak like that here.” Wolflen said quietly.
“I am hungry, dirty, overly tired, and I am ready for a drink. I don’t care who he is or where we are, I will not be talked down to by anyone.”
“Please forgive,” Jakarta burst in suddenly, “I did not realize that I had given offense. I suppose I will have to get used to being in company that is UNTRAINED in fetching the meanings in Elven speech. I will try to be more simple.”
Wolflen put his head down now, knowing that Ayvock was surely to respond again, especially with an apparent insult like that. And knowing Ayvock, Wolflen expected to soon see an explosion of rage, one that would probably have to be stopped before the First Knight of Orenty made Wolflen have one less friend. Instead however, to Wolflen and Katrina’s great surprise and astonishment, Ayvock avoided a conflict by gracefully and slyly responding.
“You are correct First Knight of Orenty. I am untrained in fetching the meanings of Elven speech. Of course, I suppose if you do know why we are here, then you will train us in the ways of your speech, because if you know why we came, then you know what lies ahead for all of our futures, which means you know that the saving grace for your people will be the Izenian next to me. By the way, his name again for the record is Wolflen. Well you will have plenty of time to memorize it. Something tells me we will be defending you and your lands sometime in the future. You are most welcome.”
Ayvock smiled so deeply that he felt the warmth of its glow within his heart. He was quite proud of himself. Surprisingly, Wolflen was entirely proud as well, and Katrina was grinning again. She looked over from Sespa’s back at Ayvock and nodded an approving nod. Wolflen however, was already talking again.
“Jakarta, we are strangers in your lands. We have traveled far to discover some truths. And the journey we are upon is long and challenging. We have already traveled far to get here, and so I apologize if our manners seem lacking by Elven comparison. But I look forward to working with you, if that lies ahead in the future.”
Jakarta blinked from atop his horse. He heard Wolflen’s voice from behind and Jakarta admitted to himself that Wolflen did a nice job of covering for Ayvock. That, and Ayvock probably hadn’t noticed it happened, because Ayvock was quiet after it was said. So Jakarta believed that perhaps Ayvock was more gullible, and that Wolflen perhaps was smart enough to pick up on Elven subtleties. It was encouraging to Jakarta just slightly.
“Lord Wolflen there are matters to discuss indeed. I look forward to getting some things cleared up and into the open, but for no
w I should think it must be behind closed doors. Until then, I shall say no more. Please take no offense to my silence until we reach our destination, but I think perhaps what could be said might stir the whole of the city were they to hear it now and from the open road. I ask your patience until we can speak of this in a more discreet fashion.”
Wolflen swallowed hard and nodded slightly from his place on Sespa’s back. He wasn’t sure why the matter was seemingly such a big secret. He could guess the reasons, but there was no way to be sure until something was confirmed for him. Maybe there are Elves that would oppose a War Mage. Maybe some Elves are evil. Or maybe they would attack out of denial that a new War Mage lives, because Elves like peace. No, that is silly. Maybe they would oppose the notion of an IZENIAN War Mage. Actually, that could be true. Who knows, maybe they would just be alerting anyone and everyone they ever knew to the tale and therefore letting the secret out to the world. Maybe that’s why Jakarta doesn’t want all to know—assuming he knows that is. Oh who can say about such things?
The building structure itself was not as hidden as many of the homes that they passed along the road through the city. Wolflen admired the architecture of the Hall of Emerald Shielding. The building itself seemed made of wood, stone, marble and even large emerald slabs. The last part was curious to Wolflen. Part of the roof was made from some kind of emerald sheeting. Wolflen hadn’t ever seen anything like it before. He also admired the green marble pillars that stood on either side of the large frontage of the building. There were two wooden steps that created a sort of porch for the building, although it was much more than that Wolflen could see.
The roof overhang above was large enough to keep 500 people dry on the porch, which was equally large. Wolflen wondered if Elven soldiers flocked in and out of the Hall by the hundreds, or if the building was simply large to impress those who trained or lived there. He didn’t ask though. He figured there would be a time and place for the questions, and he also figured that the present was not it. So, instead, he and the others dismounted and set their feet upon the ground before the great Hall. Jakarta then informed them that Elven guards would see to the disposition of Sespa and Colt, and that both animals would be within the stable connected to the Hall of Emerald Shielding in back. Wolflen reluctantly agreed, and using his telepathic link to Sespa, he instructed her to follow the Elven guards. She did so without question, but responded by telling Wolflen that he didn’t have to ask twice, because (Sespa said telepathically) the Elves fed their animals well. Wolflen smiled, and followed Jakarta into the great Hall, with Katrina smiling at his side.