The Trevi of Torvain

by Kelly Carr

  “Don’t--!” Elias began to say, but it was already too late, Susan and Liana had already jumped from the cliff. They tumbled downwards, opening their gliders only at the last second. They landed between their friends and the Genvu, weapons drawn in an instant.

  Liana shot a pillar of flame at the monsters, forcing them back while Susan reached for her arrows and sent bolt after bolt directly through their heads. She had tipped each one with her blood the day before, and they did their work well. The Genvu dropped to the ground, turning back into the ordinary shopkeepers and housewives they had been before they had gotten caught up in Queen Katya’s war.

  When all the Genvu lay still, Susan dropped her bow and threw her arms around Valeria in relief. “Are you alright?” she asked, as she felt warm blood trickling down her friend’s arm.

  “I’m fine,” Valeria said. “It’s nothing a little Undine magic can’t cure.”

  Liana embraced Valeria too. “I’m glad you’re back,” she said. “How are things in the city?”

  Liana had been unable to scry more than basic details of the city ever since Katya had taken up residence there. She had had to rely on the raiders for any information of the goings-on there.

  Davu approached them, shaking his head. “This is going to be the last raid we can manage,” he said. “It’s too dangerous now. The city is overrun with Genvu. The Vorshi is saturating everything.”

  “Even I can feel it now,” Valeria said with a shudder. “The only ones unaffected were these little ones.” She gestured at several ragged little street urchins who stood numbly in the snow nearby, their faces blank, their minds too overwhelmed with fear and danger even to cry.

  Susan looked at the shivering children and sighed in resignation. More mouths to feed. “Come on,” she said, taking Valeria’s hand. “Let’s get you all home.”

  chapter two: valeria

  It was dark by the time they reached the outer defences of the Trevi camp. A spear-wielding guard challenged them as they approached.

  “Relax, Andrew,” Valeria said. “It’s only us.”

  “You know the rules. State your name and purpose in being here,” the guard replied.

  Valeria rolled her eyes. “It’s Valeria, Susan, Liana, Davu, Jack, Allison, and Jeremy. We’ve got a few children with us, but haven’t had the chance to learn their names yet. Our purpose in being here is to get warm and eat some decent food.”

  Andrew peered through the darkness, and Valeria conjured a flame in her palm to provide some illumination.

  Satisfied that they were who they claimed to be, the guard stood aside and let them pass.

  In the months since they had returned to the forest, the security of the camp had grown significantly. The entire area was surrounded by two rings of guards, who were changed every six hours. Finely woven nets with leaves and twigs strewn across them made the place hard to find from above, and the Oreads had developed the undergrowth into a thick wall between the trees. Anyone trying to locate the Trevi would have a difficult time of it, or at least that was the hope.

  The camp itself had grown into more of a small city, but everyone continued to call it ‘the camp’, as though afraid to admit that it might be anything more than a temporary refuge. Valeria slipped through the narrow space between two trees that served as an entrance and felt the tension between her shoulders ease. The camp was aglow with firelight. Humans and Trevi bustled from one place to another, calling hurried greetings to the raiding party as they rushed to get dinner ready.

  From necessity, Humans and Trevi had been forced to live and work side by side; something they had refused to do for millennia. Valeria doubted many of them had given it much thought in their struggle to survive the winter, but she couldn’t resist a small smile at how naturally the camp had come together.

  There were many houses among the treetops, just as there were everywhere in the forest. Now, however, there were more homes at ground level, inhabited by the new residents of the camp who were unused to sleeping high above the ground.

  After some initial surprise at some of the things the Trevi could do with their powers, the Humans had learned to let them help with some everyday tasks, such as cooking and ferrying messages, which were made simpler by magic. If it hadn’t been for the fact that Queen Katya now ruled Torvain, Valeria would have considered their adventure a great success.

  “Valeria?”

  Valeria blinked at the sound of Liana’s voice and found her and Susan already sitting on logs by the fire, waiting for her. She mentally shook herself and went to join her friends. The bowl of weak broth and chopped vegetables that Liana handed her was less than satisfying, but she gulped it down eagerly, nearly burning her tongue. There was little enough food to go around now.

  Each of the campfires had regular groups that gathered there at mealtimes. Valeria, Liana, Susan, and Elias were nearly always joined by Jina, Davu, and the remaining Avenai Jevar, but on days when Valeria and Davu returned from raids, many more people came to join them, eager to hear news of the city.

  “Have you seen my brother?”

  “Did you see the Queen?”

  “Did you bring back any food?”

  Valeria answered the questions as best she could, but she had little reassurance to give. She looked across the campfire to where the king of Torvain sat. He ate his stew in silence, ignored by those around him, his eyes fixed on the dancing flames. He hadn’t spoken much since the night the city fell. The loss of his wife, his son, and his kingdom in one evening had been too much. The Torvinians had long since stopped turning to him for any advice. The burden of leadership had fallen on Susan, though the attention seemed to make her uncomfortable.

  “Did you see any sign of the prince?”

  Valeria turned to Liana and pretended not to see the fear in her friend’s eyes as she shook her head. “You still can’t scry him?” she asked.

  “No,” Liana said quietly. “All I see is stone walls and chains.”

  “Well he must be alive, or you’d see nothing at all, right?” Valeria said.

  Liana nodded grimly. Valeria glanced down and saw her friend absentmindedly toying with a bangle that had never left her wrist since the night of the festival. Valeria had her suspicions about the trinket, but knew better than to voice them. She and Liana fell silent, each lost in their own thoughts.

  chapter three: liana

  Liana stared into the fire, remembering the look on James’ face as he and Katya had vanished. Despite her friend’s attempt to comfort her, she worried that even if he was alive, James might be lost forever. She looked down at the bangle he had given her, admiring the way the metal caught the firelight. Just then, something Davu was saying drew her attention.

  “—getting ready to leave the city,” he said.

  “What?!” Liana said, instantly on the alert. “Who’s getting ready to leave the city?”

  Davu frowned. “Pay attention, Liana. This is important. I was saying that the Genvu appear to be preparing to leave the city.”

  “How do you know this?” Valeria asked, frowning.

  “I went to the market square while we were all looking for food,” Davu said. “It was full to bursting with Genvu and Lezarian soldiers, all moving supplies into wagons like they’re getting ready for a long journey. It was my fault we ended up getting chased by those Genvu. I made a grab for one of the sacks of food. I thought they weren’t looking, but…” he shrugged guiltily.

  Liana was on her feet, pacing back and forth in agitation. “This changes everything,” she said. “How many Genvu do you think there are now?”

  Davu frowned. “I’d say perhaps three thousand, and another thousand Lezarian soldiers who have managed to resist the Vorshi’s influence.”

  Liana winced. They all knew that was too many. Even with the addition of the soldiers from Marakai, Karzay, and Bethen, their own forces were only half that number.

  “How many appeared to be preparing to leave?” Valeria asked speculatively.


  “Hard to say,” Davu said with a shrug. “There were a lot of supplies, and certainly all the ordinary soldiers looked like they were making arrangements for a journey. As to the Genvu, it’s more difficult to judge what they’re thinking, but if, as I suspect, Queen Katya is finally making a move to conquer the other kingdoms, the soldiers will be taking a significant number of the Genvu with them.”

  “What do you think?” Liana asked, turning to Jina.

  Jina looked at the crowd of people around them. “We can’t hide in the forest while Katya takes the other kingdoms, and our supplies won’t last much longer if this cold persists. If a significant number of the Genvu are leaving the city, now may be our best chance to retake it and finally put a stop to this madness.”

  Slowly, Liana looked from one of her friends to the next.

  “I agree with Jina,” Davu said.

  “If you think there’s a chance to take back our kingdom, I say we take it,” Susan said decisively.

  Elias closed his eyes briefly. Whether in sadness or resignation, Liana wasn't sure, but when he opened them again, he reluctantly nodded his agreement. “It seems there’s no other choice.”

  The Avenai Jevar shook their heads in silent disapproval but said nothing.

  Finally, Liana’s eyes met Valeria’s. “And you?” she said.

  Valeria smiled grimly as she drew the sword from her scabbard and twirled it expertly around her wrist. “If there’s going to be a fight, you know I’ll stand behind you,” she said.

  Liana nodded and turned in a slow circle to look at all the people who had gathered around them. She raised her voice, but there was no need. Everyone was silent as she spoke.

  “Spread the word,” she said. “Anyone willing to fight to free Torvain, and bring an end to Queen Katya’s tyranny, should prepare for battle. Tomorrow, at nightfall, we leave for the western woods. We’ll be ready the moment the Genvu leave the city. One way or another, we are going to finish this.”

  As soon as it was clear she had finished speaking, nearly everyone scattered to share the news. At the rate gossip spread through the forest, Liana knew that everyone in the immediate area would have heard within an hour.

  When only she, Valeria, Susan, Jina, Davu, and Elias remained around the fire, Liana spoke again. “Valeria, Davu, I want you in charge of leading the battle.”

  “Why?” Valeria said, surprised. “Where will you be?”

  “I’ll take Elias and a small group of our most talented recruits to find Queen Katya. My part in the battle will be to defeat her…if I can,” she said.

  “What about me?” Jina asked.

  “And me?” Susan added.

  “You’re both staying here,” Liana said.

  “I most certainly am not!” Susan snapped. “I can fight as well as any of you.”

  “I’m aware of that,” Liana said. “But with your brother a prisoner of Queen Katya and your father out of his wits, you’re the only leader the people of Torvain have. If they lose you too, then whether we win or lose, there’s no telling what will happen to the kingdom of Torvain.”

  “The same is true of you and the Trevi,” Jina said.

  Liana shook her head. “No, it isn’t. The Trevi got along well enough before I came into your lives, and they’ll be alright if I’m gone, but they’ll need someone capable to lead them. You’ve done very well up until now, and I see no reason why you shouldn’t continue to do so.”

  Jina looked as though she’d like to argue, but couldn’t think of anything to say. At last, her shoulders sagged in defeat. “Very well,” she said sadly.

  “Good,” Liana said. “Now, let’s make a proper plan.”

  chapter four: valeria

  The sky was beginning to lighten in the east before the battle plans were finished. For once, they had a well-thought-out plan of attack, and contingency plans if their first strategy should fail.

  As the sun rose above the horizon, the camp came alive with activity. Men and women hurried to and fro, carrying weapons, supplies, and urgent messages from one clearing to another. The forest rang with the sound of practice blows and the grinding of whetstones on steel. Valeria felt herself caught up in the excitement and agitation of those around her; at the knowledge that they were finally going to do something about their situation.

  Gradually, soldiers began to gather in the central clearing, beneath the cover of the towering trees. They wore various kinds of armor, coming as they did from four different kingdoms. Several hundred citizens of Torvain swelled their numbers, armed and ready to fight.

  The Trevi had attempted to provide some weapons training to the new members of their camp. However, despite their efforts, many of their recruits were still fairly undisciplined. They stood in bunches and shifted from one foot to another with impatience, murmuring amongst themselves as they waited for the order to leave. Their weapons ranged from proper swords and bows to clubs and pitchforks. Valeria even glimpsed one determined-looking woman clutching a pair of wickedly sharp knitting needles. It was an unconventional army, but it would have to do.

  Wagons were loaded with enough supplies to last for days, since they were unsure when the Genvu might be leaving. When all was ready, and the sun was slipping down behind the distant edge of the forest, Liana raised her voice above the general clamor.

  “Move out!” she called.

  The army marched forward. Valeria glanced around in search of Susan, but she was nowhere to be found. Feeling as though the breath had been snatched from her lungs, Valeria realized she would have no chance to say goodbye.

  “I’m coming back,” she told herself firmly. “I’m coming back.” But still, she looked over her shoulder as the army swept her ahead, hoping for one last glimpse of the princess. Finally, the trees blocked her view of the camp, and with a heavy heart, she turned and went to join Liana at the head of the company.

  The climb up the Cliffs of Kerval was slow and cold in the darkness. No torches were allowed, so as not to betray their presence to any watching Genvu, but the moon cast a pale light, just enough to guide their way.

  When they reached the bottom of the cliffs outside the forest, Liana called a halt.

  “Spread the word,” she said to Valeria, Elias, and Davu, “From here on out, no one makes a sound until we reach the cover of the western woods. Is that understood?”

  They all nodded and turned to whisper to those around them. A murmur spread through the crowd behind them, then went silent. Cautiously, the army edged out into the open, unprotected fields in front of them, the only sound the soft crunching of snow underfoot.

  Valeria held her breath, her senses questing outwards for any sign of an attack, but none came. She was so focused on being prepared to defend herself, that she was startled when she realized she was surrounded by trees once more. A quiet sound of relief escaped her, but otherwise, she remained silent until Liana held up a hand, signalling everyone to stop.

  “We’ll stay here tonight,” she said, keeping her voice low. “Light is to be used only when absolutely necessary, and talking should be kept to a minimum. The element of surprise is our only advantage. If the Genvu detect our presence here, we’ve lost the battle before we even start.”

  Everyone nodded and passed the word to their neighbors, but it was hardly necessary. They all felt uneasy so close to Corralis. Valeria and Davu chose five soldiers to serve as sentries and alert them as soon as the Genvu left the city. That done, Valeria sat down and leaned back against a tree. Her eyes were heavy with exhaustion, but she knew she wouldn’t be able to sleep. Even at this distance from the city, she could feel the oppressive power of the Vorshi tainting the air. She only hoped it wasn’t enough to affect the Humans in their company.

  The sun rose and fell. Valeria passed the time by drawing pictures in the snow and finally fell into a doze. Deep in the night, she was awoken by a hand on her shoulder. Instantly she was on her feet, her sword in her hand. Liana met her eyes and pressed a finger to her
lips in a wordless reminder, then jerked her head in the direction of the city. The sentries had returned.

  Once more, Liana’s army crept forward. In the distance, a dark mass seemed to be leaving the city in the opposite direction.

  They’re going to Bethen, Valeria thought absently, though it didn’t really matter as long as they were gone. Her heart beat faster, seeming to rise into her throat as they approached the city wall and spread out along its length. Everything around her appeared sharper and clearer than usual: the soft whisper of the wind past her ear, the shapes of her friends beside her, even the bitter tang of the Vorshi that stole into her mouth. She spat and focused on the task at hand. She couldn’t allow herself to become distracted.

  Liana’s hand slipped into hers, and Valeria turned to meet her eyes. Her friend nodded and squeezed her hand ever so slightly. Valeria knew Liana was passing the leadership of the battle on to her. She looked up at the wall towering above them and squared her shoulders in determination. She drew in a deep breath imbued with the most powerful Sylph magic she could muster and let it carry her voice out along the line. “Now!” she yelled.

  With a crash that shook the ground, the Oreads brought down the city wall. All along the edge of Corralis, flames blossomed in the palms of the Aidans who led the way. Slowly, the army advanced between the houses.

  Valeria braced herself for an attack, looking around wildly for any approaching Genvu, but none appeared. Nothing moved in the city streets. Silently, she put one foot in front of another, her ears straining to catch the slightest sound, but all was quiet save for the pounding of her heart. Too quiet.

  The first of the Genvu seemed to come from nowhere, they simply appeared in the shadows between the buildings and dove off of rooftops, their jaws gaping and claws outstretched to catch their suddenly confused and frightened prey.

  The army’s careful formation broke. Weapons were raised. Cries rang out as many of the foreign soldiers caught their first glimpse of the monsters they had come to fight. Valeria had no time to spare any sympathy for them.