“The keeper?” Mirran said, sounding surprised. “My, my. I have never met her before. How did she come to be in Alderthal? I thought that the portals were not functioning.”
“It's a long story that can wait for now,” Amelda stated firmly. “Kallistra needs your attention first.”
“Of course, Elder.”
Mirran hurried across the room and knelt down in front of the keeper. Fiad stepped away to allow the healer room to work, watching anxiously as she began speaking to Kallistra in a low voice.
Othellan walked around the Council table to stand in his customary spot next to the window behind Amelda. She gave him a quick smile and then turned in her seat to look at Diane again.
“I apologize for the interruption,” she told the woman politely. “What were you about to say?”
“I was simply going to say that I don't know what we should do next,” Diane replied with a frown. “Apparently Kallistra was the conduit for evil's incursion here on Trillfarness. The infestation that engulfed the village of Othallis is evidence of that. But now that the keeper is free of that dark influence, I cannot say what we can do to stop the corruption. Perhaps we should wait for Kallistra to recover and find out what she knows first.”
“I agree,” Ethmira told the Council. “We haven't explained what happened in Othallis, but I assume that you have all heard the story from Kallistra herself after she arrived in Alderthal?”
“Yes, we heard about it, but not when she reached the town. She only appeared in the tower about an hour ago. She told us that Othallis had been destroyed and then...” Amelda hesitated. “She turned on us. I feel like such an idiot. She played us for fools and we suspected nothing.”
“That was not her, Elder,” Diane reminded her. “That was whatever had taken control of her. And I was taken in as well. That thing inside of Kallistra played its part perfectly. Now I am wondering if any other elves have been possessed as well. And if they have, who can we trust going forward?”
Everyone exchanged startled glances as the import of what Diane said sunk in. Sallah gasped and looked at her fellow councilors.
“That hadn't even occurred to me,” she exclaimed. “If someone as experienced and powerful as Kallistra could be influenced by evil, is anyone truly safe? Diane is correct. If such influence is wide-spread, we may not even see our enemies coming before they strike, because our enemies will be us!”
“There is little fear of that, Councilor.”
Every head turned to look over at Kallistra. The keeper was now standing, swaying slightly as she was supported by Mirran. There were dark blue bruises under her eyes and she grimaced in pain as she staggered toward the Council table. Fiad was following her closely, as if to catch her if she should fall.
Malfiess leaped to his feet and dragged his own chair around the table so that Kallistra could sit down again. He gripped her elbow and lowered her gently on to the seat.
“Thank you, Malfiess,” she whispered.
“It is my pleasure, Keeper,” he replied with a warm smile. “Please do not overexert yourself.”
“I am fine, thanks to Mirran's efforts.”
The healer simply patted Kallistra's shoulder and stepped back to join Fiad where he was standing behind Kallistra.
“How are you feeling?” Amelda asked her carefully. “Are you yourself again?”
“Do you mean, am I free of that evil influence?” the keeper replied with a wan smile. “Yes, I am. Diane's efforts were successful.”
She looked at the mage and, even though she was weak and exhausted, the keeper's eyes shone brightly as she caught Diane's gaze.
“I will never be able to repay you for what you did today, Lady,” Kallistra told her. “Never. I was enduring a living nightmare, trapped within my own mind and powerless to do anything to stop whatever was controlling me. The horrendous acts that it performed will haunt me for the rest of my days. I have innocent blood on my hands that I can never wash off. The blood of all those people in Othallis who looked to me for protection. And how did I repay their trust? With betrayal.”
“That was not you, Keeper,” Diane stately firmly. “Please do not give in to despair because the Darkness used you as a conduit. You did nothing wrong. If anything, evil chose you because of your dedication to your duty and your fellow elves, not because of any weakness on your part. And you cannot be faulted for that, now can you?”
Kallistra looked startled by Diane's words and she stared at the floor blankly as she considered them. After a long moment's silence, she nodded slowly.
“Yes, I understand what you are saying,” she agreed. “Nonetheless, my guilt will always be with me. After all, emotions are not logical, are they? We feel what we feel no matter what justifications we may have for our actions. But it is true that I did not harm anyone willingly. And that knowledge will have to keep me strong in the future, because this conflict is just beginning.”
“Can you tell us what happened, Kallistra?” Amelda asked her. “Do you remember much of it?”
“I remember all of it,” the keeper said, her voice thick with emotion. “That is why it is so terrible. The...thing that engulfed me, it penetrated my mind as I tapped into the ley lines and took control of my body, allowing me to remain conscious and aware while it performed its evil deeds. Do you understand? It wanted me to see what it was doing, knowing how agonizing it was for me to witness the looks of pain and disbelief on the faces of those I betrayed. It reveled in my suffering. What kind of a creature does that?”
“A demon,” Diane stated flatly. “I know the idea of such a thing is foreign to the elves, but there is a long history among my people of those creatures. Servants of the evil gods. Makers of mischief. In legend, they were the tools used against us by dark forces. I used to think those old stories were quaint. Superstitious nonsense. Well, after today I no longer believe that.”
“Demons,” Amelda repeated thoughtfully. “I know the word, of course, but we have never given much credence to those old tales. You believe that they are real?”
“I do,” Diane replied. “There are rumors that the dwarves were attacked by demons and that their king, Shandon Ironhand, actually battled the creatures personally. I wasn't quite sure of the truth of those stories, until now.”
Kallistra sighed and winced with pain as she sat up stiffly in her seat.
“I can assure you that those stories are likely quite true. We know that the dwarves have been attacked, as have your people, Diane. Now, sadly, it is our turn. I thought that my connection with the ley would be enough to protect me from such evil. Instead, it was a conduit to it. And now I am worried that your ability to use ley energy will leave you open to the same influence.”
Diane smiled reassuringly at the keeper.
“It will not. I mean no offense, Kallistra, but your belief in the strength of the ley to protect you left you vulnerable to what attacked you. I have no such beliefs. I use ley energy, yes, but it does not flow through me as it did through you and the other keepers. I manipulate it as ordinary mages shape and use magical energy. It is not a living thing to me, as it is to you. It answers to my will, not the other way around.”
“You are truly unique, then,” Kallistra said with wonder. “I have never seen the power of the ley used in such a way. Perhaps you are safe from the kind of attack that took control of me. And if that is the case, then you are the only one who can help us now.”
“Not the only one, Keeper,” Diane disagreed. “All of your people will defend Trillfarness and their race. Of that I am sure. And the rangers under the direction of Ethmira, Chase and others will be the tip of the spear in the coming conflict. They are not connected to the ley lines. Most elves are not. What we need to do now, though, is to make sure that all of your fellow keepers, as well as the scryers, are safe from attack.”
“The scryers!” Amelda exclaimed. “You think that they will be targeted too?”
“I do, Elder. Like the keepers, the scryers are connected t
o the world's ley lines directly. They used those lines to see over vast distances, even connecting to the ley lines on Earth when both planets were in alignment, as they are now. I know that the power has been disrupted, but that connection remains. If they are attacked, as you were, Kallistra, they could do some real damage.”
“But how can we know who is under evil influence and who isn't?” Kallistra asked anxiously. “You are, as we have already said, quite unique. Our people are unable to detect evil lurking inside of another person. We are defenseless in the face of such horror.”
Diane looked around at all of the elves watching her. An almost identical expression of fear and anxiety was on each of their faces. She smiled at them reassuringly.
“You seem to be forgetting those among you who are connected directly to the gods, Keeper. I know that all elves honor the Mother, as you call the personification of nature. But you do have clerics here as well, even if very few of your people think of them as such. And those clerics are not connected to the ley. They are given power by the Light, through the old gods of Justice. Yes, I know that their power is weak right now, thanks to the eternal war taking place in the Void between good and evil, but it is still there. And the clerics can see evil even when it is hidden inside of an otherwise ordinary looking elf. I recommend that you ask for their help now. They can be teamed up with rangers to meet with all of the keepers and scryers to ensure that they are free of corruption.”
“Clerics?” Amelda said with a frown. “I am afraid that you are incorrect, Lady Diane. Your people may be able to connect with the lords of Light directly, but mine cannot.”
Diane chuckled and glanced over at Kallistra.
“No offense, Elder, but you are mistaken,” she said.
Everyone followed her eyes and they realized that Diane wasn't looking at the keeper. She was looking past her at the healer, Mirran.
The small elf reddened as everyone's gaze fell on her, but she straightened up proudly and looked back at the mage.
“So you know,” Mirran said to her.
“Oh yes, I know,” Diane replied gently. “I am sure that your healing skills are exceptional, but while we were all speaking together and not paying attention, I watched you caring for Kallistra. You simply laid your hands on her, as the clerics among my people do. And since I could not see any ley energy being employed in your healing efforts, I have to assume that you are connected to the divine. Am I correct?”
Mirran sighed and nodded.
“Yes, you are. The elves have not been able to reach the old gods for millennia, and those of us who devoted our lives to healing our fellows had to turn to more natural ways of caring for our patients. Herbs, poultices, simple bandages. We adapted because the war between the gods had severed us from the power of the Light. But when the Earth was attacked by the dragons, a small tear was opened in the fabric between the mortal realms and the Void and we healers were reconnected to the lords of Justice. We have tapped into their power ever since.”
She gave Amelda a rueful glance.
“We did not mention it to you or the other councilors, Elder, because our people are so dependent upon the ley lines. And they do not revere the old gods. Instead, they give their devotion to the Mother, the spirit of Trillfarness. There is nothing wrong with that, of course, but it leaves those of us who commune with the divine on the fringes of society. So we do our jobs and care for those who need healing without mentioning the source of that power. We've learned that path is easier for everyone.”
“Well, this certainly is a day for revelations, isn't it?” Amelda exclaimed. “Kallistra was attacked by agents of the dark gods and our healers are servants of the Light! How extraordinary.”
“Does that upset the Council?” Diane asked her.
Amelda looked at her fellow councilors, all of whom shook their heads, and then she looked over at Mirran. The healer looked apprehensive, but the Elder smiled at her reassuringly.
“Not in the least. Be at ease, Mirran. Knowing that we have those among us who can recognize the evil influence of the dark gods is a huge relief. We are so vulnerable right now that we will accept any aid that is offered to us. My question is, is Diane correct? Can you tell if an elf is being controlled by an evil entity?”
“We can, Elder,” Mirran assured her. “The way that I was able to heal Keeper Kallistra a few moments ago was to burn away the remnants of the evil energy that had invaded her body while she was possessed. And that energy was easy for me to detect and exorcise.”
“Amazing,” Malfiess commented. “All this time, you and your fellows were working within elven society and we never even knew of your true abilities. How frustrating it must have been for you, Mirran.”
The healer laughed lightly.
“It wasn't that bad, Councilor,” she replied. “We have never sought recognition. The work of easing the suffering of our people is reward enough for us. But I think that I can speak for my fellow healers when I say that we will do whatever is necessary to defend our world and its inhabitants. If the Council believes that we can help to root out any evil influence, then we will do our best to accomplish that task.”
“Well said,” Ethmira told her. “Well said indeed.” She turned to look at Amelda. “Elder, the onus now falls on you and the Council. You must decide on the path we will take going forward.”
Amelda surprised those watching her as she shook her head.
“No, I do not think so,” she said calmly. “We are now simply five ordinary elves sitting isolated in a tower. We have no power and whatever authority we once had has been severed, just as we are cut off from our society. You, Ethmira, and you, Diane, now hold the fate of Trillfarness in your hands. Whatever you decide to do to save us, the Council will back you up with whatever authority we might have left. Before you leave, we will give you a formal writ conveying our wishes to anyone who doubts your power to act on our behalf. Beyond that, I am afraid that you are on your own. May the Mother watch over you, and us, in the dark times that lie ahead.”
“Thank you, Elder,” Diane said gratefully. “You may not feel empowered anymore, but your words still carry tremendous weight with your people. Knowing that we have your blessing is very comforting.”
“I agree,” Ethmira said as she looked at each councilor in turn. “And I think that I can speak for Diane and Chase when I say that we will do whatever we can to save Trillfarness. You have my word.”
Back in Deakon's inn, Ethmira, Diane, Chase and Malfiess sat at a table next to a window and talked about what their next move should be. Deakon served them tea and biscuits and then left them alone to speak privately. Several other elves sat at tables around the room, but no one seemed to be paying any attention to the group. The village that had seemed so empty when the group had entered it, fearing for the worst, was now bustling with activity as people went about their business again. It turned out that Kallistra hadn't done any harm to the elves in Alderthal after all, which was a huge relief to Ethmira and the others. Instead, the possessed keeper had laid a compulsion on all of the residents, forcing them to stay indoors and not interfere with her plans.
Diane had been reluctantly impressed by such control, but she told the others that once Ethmira had dealt with the Council, the thing possessing her would have probably slaughtered all of the villagers.
“We came back just in time, then,” Malfiess commented.
“Fortunately,” Diane agreed. “Sometimes luck does favor the Light, I suppose.”
“Were you surprised by Amelda's support?” she asked Ethmira as she held a steaming cup of tea in both hands.
Ethmira smiled as she looked outside at the sunlit houses that flanked the inn. The light was beginning to dim as dusk approached.
“Somewhat, yes. But the Elder has been backed into a corner and she really has no other options. That sense of helplessness must be hard for her to accept. She has gone from sitting at the pinnacle of elven society to being basically irrelevant. That is a long wa
y to fall in a very short time. I will say that she has reacted with more grace and good will than I would have expected.”
Malfiess snorted with amusement as he ate a fresh biscuit.
“That is an understatement,” he said after he had swallowed and taken a sip of tea. “Amelda is trapped and powerless. What else could she have done except to pin her hopes on you, Diane? The keepers and scryers are not only helpless, but they may actually be a threat now. Our first task, if you want my opinion, is to ensure that they have not fallen under evil's influence. Does anyone have any ideas on how we can do that?”
“The healers can detect evil, as we learned earlier,” Chase said thoughtfully. “But I don't see how we can work with them when the only person who can travel across Trillfarness is you, Diane. There must be hundreds of keepers and scryers spread out around the world. There simply isn't enough time to stop evil before it engulfs our world. Is there?”
Malfiess shook his head and all three women looked at him curiously.
“No offense, Chase, but you are mistaken. As a councilor, one of my duties was to keep track of everyone who worked with the ley lines. At the time, it was a mundane task given to the youngest member of the Council. Myself.” He chuckled at the thought. “Imagine my surprise when I realized that those lists had actually become relevant.”
He picked up his pack where he had set it on the floor next to his chair and began digging through it. He pulled out a parchment scroll and offered it to Diane.
“I grabbed this before we left the Council chamber,” he told her, grinning mischievously. “It was updated several months ago by a very bored and slightly testy elf.”
“You?” Diane asked with a chuckle as she accepted the scroll.
“Me. It lists all of the current keepers and scryers. There are less than two dozen of them in total. I know that it will take time to find them all, but the task shouldn't be as insurmountable as you feared it would be, Chase. Most of the scryers are here in Alderthal, so checking on them will be easy enough.”
The Fall of the Elves Page 20