Ares Sword

by L L Vickery

  A bluebird sat on the rotten wood of the windowsill chirping gleefully. Cassandra paid it no mind as she continued to stare out into the distance waiting for the porridge to cook. She added cinnamon, something she did when she wanted to bring back fond memories of growing up on the farm.

  Her thoughts were focused on her father and the farm bringing a smile to her face. The cow and horse would need tending to and it was time to harvest the wheat to take to the flour mill. He would be home soon and would worry if she wasn’t there.

  To him, she would always be his little girl with freckles on her nose and her hair braided into pigtails. He was very protective of her and worried that her mother’s fate would be her own if anyone knew what she was. Her father knew she could take care of herself but he wanted to hold onto her for just a little while longer.

  Cassandra was so distant that she didn’t hear Luc sneaking up behind her. He wrapped his arm around her waist and kissed the back of her head. He wondered if what he felt was real or just a boyish crush and if she felt the same.

  “Whatcha thinking about?” Luc asked and sniffed her strawberry scented hair.

  “My dad.” She smiled and turned in his arms to face him. “He’ll be home soon and he’ll worry if I’m not there.” She ran her fingers through his hair.

  “Hopefully we’ll get you there before he knows you were gone.” Luc leaned his face down to kiss her lips. “Of course, if you want to, you could stay with me.”

  “Hey, you two.” Rein interrupted their moment. “Let’s eat so we can get Cassandra home.”

  Cassandra giggled and let her arms drop for around Luc’s neck. After breakfast they headed back down the eastern path, they should make it to the farm in a couple of hours.

  Cassandra led the group holding Luc’s hand, swinging their arms back and forth. She wondering what her father would think of him. It wasn’t likely that he would let Luc stay with them without a little manipulation on her part.

  Lux and Dana didn’t say much as they followed Cassandra. Dana stayed close by Lux’s side ready to help him up if he stumbled.

  Rein asked them the night before if they wanted to go to Hope Falls. They would have to work in the palace but they would have a warm place to sleep and plenty of food. Dana agreed it would be a good idea, knowing Lux would do anything she decided.

  “Are you sure this is a good idea?” Lux asked.

  “What?” Dana looked at him as though he were speaking a different language.

  “Going to Hope Falls.” Lux frowned.

  “I know that living in the confines of any city isn’t what you would consider appealing.” Dana to her free hand and flipped her hair over her shoulder. “But at least we won’t have to steal to eat.”

  “True.” Lux agreed. He kept watching the ground for large rocks or dirt clods he might trip over.

  “I know you’re worried but we’ll be at the castle so we’ll be safe.” Crickets jumped around Cassandra’s feet making her giggle.

  The group made good time, no one complained about the long walk or the softened ground. There was enough of a chill in the air they were comfortable walking quickly.

  The farm could be seen from where they were. Cassandra slowed her paced when she noticed there were horses tied to the tree in the front yard. They were horses she knew well and the men that rode them were not welcome.

  “What is it?” Luc asked.

  “There are soldiers at the farm.” Cassandra turned to face Rein with panic in her eyes.

  “You kids stay here, me and old Brammy will check it out.” Rein stepped around Lux and Dana then past Luc and Cassandra. Wolfie kept himself busy running around their feet sniffing at the ground and peeing on every blade of grass. His ears perked up and he looked around for some imagined sound then sniffed another patch of grass before peeing again.

  Howling came from near the farmhouse bringing the soldiers outside. They looked through the tall grass but couldn’t find anything. The soldiers had their swords drawn hacking at the grass when Rein and Bram came upon them.

  “Whatcha lookin for?” Rein asked using his dagger to cut down the waist-high blades.

  One of the soldiers straightened his back quickly. “Whoa, who are you?” He raised his sword pointing it at Rein.

  Another howl came from the back of the house. Wolfie ran down the path yipping happily. More wolves howled. Luc ran after Wolfie calling to him.

  “What do you say we all get inside where we can talk in safety?” One of the other two soldiers asked.

  “Too late,” Bram said as two wolves came from around the small house.

  Rein stood back to back with Bram and waited for the wolves to attack. The enormous dogs growled and bared their teeth at the soldiers huddled in a circle. More wolves came from the back of the farm.

  Rein watch Luc from the corner of his eye come running down the path followed closely by Cassandra. Luc stopped at the edge of the farm. He put his hands out in front of himself.

  “Easy,” He looked into the eyes of the closest wolf the moon shaped birthmark on his back burned. The beast gnashed its teeth and growled a low growl deep in its throat.

  Wolfie snapped at the larger wolf, yipping and jumping about. The largest of the wolves walked slowly to Luc’s side and sniffed him. It walked around and around daring Luc to make a move.

  “Enough,” Luc said as the wolf came back around to his front.

  It bowed to Luc and sat on its hind legs with its head lowered. Luc stretched his hand out and the wolf licked it. It was clear to Luc that this was the alpha of the pack although he didn’t understand why it didn’t attack him.

  It stood and ran off into the woods. One by one each of the other wolves followed.

  “What are all of you doing on my farm?” A gruff voice shouted from atop an old gray mare.

  “Dad.” Cassandra screeched and ran to her dad’s horse.

  “What’s going on?” Geoff asked dismounting his horse and pulling his daughter to him in a protective embrace.

  Chapter 11

  “Cassandra,” Geoff kissed the top of his daughter’s head. “what’s going on?”

  “This is Rein, Bram, Lux, and Dana.” Cassandra broke free from her father’s grip. “And this is Luc.” She gave her dad a, can I keep him look, as if Luc was a stray she found wandering the farm.

  “And who the hell are you?” Geoff pointed at the soldiers.

  “We are soldiers for Lady Lillian and we are here for the taxes.” One of the soldiers said. “We have already been inside and you have nothing. We’ll be back in a week and you better have something worth our time.”

  The soldiers mounted their horses and galloped off the settlement to the north. Geoff watched as they left, his face burned and his hands hurt from balling them so tightly.

  “Cassandra, get in the house.” Geoff ground his teeth. “I want the rest of you off my land.”

  “Daddy, please.” Cassandra pulled on his arm. He jerked away and led his horse to the small corral.

  “Come with us,” Luc said. “Come with me.” He bent down and picked up Wolfie in one hand and held hers with the other.

  “I told you to get in the house!” Geoff shouted as he came from around the cottage.

  “Let me,” Dana said and walked over to Geoff.

  The group stood there watching in amazement as Dana talked to Geoff. It was so easy for her to get human men to do anything she wanted. After a short while, she walked back to Dana and winked. “It’s ok, but he wants you to come back soon.”

  “Thank you.” Cassandra hugged Dana grinning from ear to ear.

  The hug took Dana by surprise and her body stiffened. Cassandra was given an image of Lux and Dana in a large kitchen. Dana’s tummy large and round, Lux rubbing his hand over it as though he were making a wish.

  “You’re going to be a great mother,” Cassandra whispered and let her go.

  The road to Kahila had become soft from the constant pounding and digging of the horse�
�s hooves. Another settlement popped up seemingly overnight. Only a couple of wooden hobbles were complete but several others were being built.

  The forest was thinning from the trees being cut to make the new homes. Humans were making their place in this world, taking over much of the land, pushing the woodland creatures further into the woods.

  Children ran around screaming happily as they played their game of tag. Women were cooking over campfires in large black metal pots and the men were busy cutting down the trees and hammering nails into the wooden planks that were milled from the forest.

  Rein kept the group moving along the road dodging pile after pile of horse manure. Dana’s blood boiled as she watched the trees fall. Lux tried to keep her calm, holding her hand and trying to distract her with idle conversation.

  Bram was happy to see Almon sitting at an outdoor table next to Gwen’s family home. Several elven children sat around the table and on the ground listening intently to the story he told.

  The smell of sweet bread filled the air and Rein realized that had not had anything to eat since breakfast. Gwen came out of the house and Rein couldn’t help but smile. She was so sweet and beautiful, there was a special kind of innocence about her even with everything she had been through.

  Gwen waved when she saw Rein and the others. She ran off the porch and jumped into his arms wrapping her arms around his neck and laughing. “I am so happy to see you.”

  “Got no love for your Brammy?” Bram tugged at her skirt.

  Rein put her down and she hugged Bram equally as tight as she had Rein. Almon stopped his story and walked briskly to his friends.

  “Let’s get inside and get something to eat,” Almon said. “There is so much to tell you.”

  “Common, kids.” Rein looked back over his shoulder and waited for them to catch up.

  Dana and Cassandra helped Gwen set the table and pour elderberry wine in wooden cups. They placed chicken and potatoes on the plates and bowls of rolls in the middle of the table.

  They spent the next hour laughing and sharing stories. Almon couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw the sword. When he tried to touch it, he felt electricity tingle his fingertips.

  Gwen stood to clear the dishes. Cassandra put her hand around Gwen’s wrist. “Let me.” She smiled.

  Cassandra wagged her finger at the dirty dishes and they rose from the table and into the sink full of hot soapy water.

  “it’s ok.” Rein reassured Almon. “She’s a good witch.”

  Gwen sat back down at the table and let Cassandra do the dishes. “Almon to you want to get the tip?” She asked patting his hand.

  Almon returned a moment later with a dust cloth. He opened it and handed it to Rein. It had the same markings as the middle of the blade.

  “Where did you find it?” Bram asked taking a sip of his elderberry wine.

  “It was the dark elves,” Almon said. “They have always had it.”

  “Volrek gave it to me when I asked for it.” Gwen shrugged.

  “What did you have to give him in return?” Bram asked.

  “Wait just a minute.” Dana interrupted. “Back up and tell us everything. How did you come to know it was Volrek that had it?”

  Gwen lifted her cup and finished the remains of the elderberry wine. “He was here helping with the rebuild and I saw the sword at his waist. It looked very old and I remembered his dad using it to strike down my grandfather when I was just a little girl.” She paused and refilled her cup. “When I asked him about it he told me the story of where it had come from and how the tip was part of another more ancient sword.”

  Gwen lifted the cup to her lips for another big gulp. “I told him about your journey to find the blade that the tip surely belonged to. He offered it to us as a show of good faith.”

  “What did he ask for in return?” Rein asked running his fingers along the sword.

  “He wants us to unite as one, the dark elves and the light elves.” Gwen finished the wine in one big swig.

  Bram looked at Almon. “Is that the whole truth?”

  Almon kept his eyes glued to the inside of his cup. “More or less.” He said.

  Cassandra scoffed, “He wants to be the elven leader of all the elves. And he wants Gwen to convince someone named Alya to be his wife.”

  “No.” Rein said as he choked on the last sip of his elderberry wine.

  “You can’t stop her if that is what she decides,” Dana said.

  “She won’t.” Rein poured another cup of wine and drank it straight down. He looked at Cassandra who tried to hide a smile. “What do you know, girl?”

  “Only that you had your chance with that one and you blew it.” Cassandra grinned.

  “She left me, in the middle of the night after our engagement party.” Rein twisted his hands rubbing them together.

  “Are you sure that is what happened?” Cassandra asked. “Perhaps you should take note of that dream you have been having ever since that night.”

  “What are you talking about, little witch?” Bram asked.

  “Rein knows.” Cassandra stood and took Wolfie outside to use the restroom before bed.

  Chapter 12

  Luc followed her outside. It was late enough that the fireflies filled the night air and frogs croaked hoping to have some for dinner. There wouldn’t be many more evenings of fireflies. Cassandra was surprised by how many were still out now that they were fully into fall.

  “Are you ok?’ Luc asked, his voice soft and low.

  “I will be.” Cassandra grinned at him.

  Wolfie sniffed around for a place to relieve himself. He must have found something he didn’t like, he whimpered and ran back to cower behind Luc.

  “It’s ok, boy.” Luc patted the top of Wolfie’s head.

  The wind picked up, blowing dry leaves around on the ground. A bush rustled catching Luc’s attention. A fat raccoon popped out of it and ran through the village followed by what appeared to be the rest of its family.

  Cassandra stood among the trees with her face lifted to the moon, her arms and legs stretched out, her body forming a five-pointed star. The wind blew her hair madly and Luc stood there looking at this wild and beautiful creature. How could he spend one day without her?

  “I know we just met,” Luc cleared his throat. “But I think I really like you. Maybe even love you.” His cheeks burned and his mouth went instantly dry.

  “We should go back inside.” Cassandra came back to reality. She took his hand and called for Wolfie to follow.

  “What’s wrong?” Dana asked when she saw the horror in Cassandra’s eyes.

  “Nothing.” Cassandra shook her head and blinked a few times.

  What was she supposed to say? Was she supposed to tell them of terrible vision she was given? How could she tell them when she wasn’t sure if what she saw was even real? And how could it be?

  “I’m tired,” Cassandra said yawning.

  “I’ll show you where you can sleep.” Gwen put her arm in Cassandra’s and led her to a small room that had recently been added on.

  “I think it best if we all turn in for the night,” Bram said and he stretched his arms above his head straightening out the muscles in his back.

  Cassandra’s vision of Rein and Alya haunted her dreams. She watched as the movie played out in her mind. Rein had too much to drink that night. Alya took him to their room and put him to bed.

  She watched his face while he drifted off to sleep. He was so happy. All he ever wanted in life was to have Alya for himself. Alya knew they would never be left in peace, not from the dark elves, not from the wood elves, not even from Rein’s mother.

  It was Rein’s mother that really had Alya running scared. Rein and his mother carried on a private conversation just before the engagement party. Alya listened from the doorway.

  “If you go through with this wedding, that girl will not live to see the morning,” Lillian said. “The elves have made their pact and you will not stand in their way.”


  Though she knew this was a dream and nothing could hurt her, tears rolled from Cassandra’s closed eyes. She felt every heart pang that Alya felt. She folded her hands across her belly wondering if Lillian knew she was carrying her grandchild would she still feel the same.

  The rest of the night was spent in dreamless splendor, though the morning light came to quickly. It shone through the window piercing Cassandra’s eyelids.

  Her ears picked up on the noises coming from the kitchen. She turned over and caught a glimpse of Dana slipping on the cotton tunic left for her by Gwen. The top was a little long but Dana seemed happy to have something clean to put on.

  Cassandra slipped out of bed and made her way to the kitchen where Almon stood next to the sink holding Gwen tightly in his arms.

  “I’ll be ok.” Gwen stood on her tiptoes and softly kissed his lips.

  “Both of you?’ He put his hand tenderly on her abdomen.

  “I promise,” She winked at him.

  “Thanks for the sandwiches, Gwen.” Rein smiled as he walked to the door. “I’ll get him back in one piece, don’t you worry about that.”

  “You better,” Gwen said pushing Almon toward the door and winked at Rein.

  “Girls, let’s go.” Rein said as he pushed the door open.

  Bram and Luc and Wolfie were already waiting outside. Wolfie ran through the tall grass, chasing ravens and nipping at butterflies. He stopped and lifted his head. A small pack of wolves rounded the back of the farm.

  “Be calm and stay behind me,” Luc told the group. He made his stance there lowering his head to the leader of the pack. His eyes never left that of the wolf.

  The large creature walked closer then sniffed Luc. It walked backward and sat. It barked twice and Luc felt compelled to lower his head. The moon shaped birthmark on his shoulder tingled.

  Wolfie pranced over to the large wolf and whined. The pack stood and ran off to the safety of the woods with Wolfie chasing behind them.

  Chapter 13

  It took the group all morning and most of the afternoon to walk to Hope Falls. There were candlelit lanterns strewn throughout the town. The Fall’s festival was still a few days away but it was clear, the town’s folk started the celebration early.