Ethan considered his words. “I intend to do what I think is best. And what is best right now is that you and Renald keep working with Val and Jake.”
“Aren’t you forgetting something?” asked Markus. “There’s still another mage to find.”
Puzzlement creased Ganix's face. “I think it might help if I fully understood what has happened since you arrived here. But first, there is something I need to ask. Borgen was attacked and Rakaal killed. I know that you had nothing to do with this directly, but I wondered if maybe someone saw you leave. Did you notice anything unusual when you departed?”
A silence fell as all eyes turned to Jonas. The old servant shifted uncomfortably in his seat and folded his hands on the table.
“The fault lies with me, Your Highness,” he said. “I am the one who is responsible for the attack.”
“That’s not true,” Kat cut in. “You had no way of knowing.”
Ganix’s countenance darkened. “No way of knowing what?”
“Shinzan cast a spell upon him long ago,” explained Renald. “He was unaware of its existence. He did not knowingly betray you, or your people.”
“And now?” Ganix’s voice trembled and his jaw tightened. “Has the spell been removed?”
“No. I could not remove it. But my wards will prevent Shinzan from knowing what happens here. Though Jonas cannot leave this place, he can no longer be of use to Shinzan.”
Ganix rose and turned his back.
“I wish there was a way for me to make amends,” said Jonas. “I can only beg that you might somehow find it in your heart to forgive me.”
After a few seconds of silence, the king’s shoulders slumped. “No one was as dear to me as Rakaal. I feel his loss keenly. And I cannot say I am not enraged by this news.”
He turned to face Jonas. Slowly his features softened. “But I would be misplacing my anger to direct it toward you, Jonas. It is clear you were ignorant of the spell. And it was not you, but Shinzan, who sent soldiers to attack my people.” He re-took his seat, and, after composing himself further, began recounting the events which had led to their arrival in the Dragon Wastes.
Once he was finished, Ethan sat quietly considering matters for a full minute. Then he said: “This allegiance is helpful, but we’ll need more than just the elves, don’t you think?”
“I believe so,” affirmed Ganix. “Even with our combined forces, the humans will overcome us with sheer numbers.” He looked to Keira, who also nodded her agreement.
“It is astounding that the ship which brought your people here might still exist,” said Renald, changing the subject. “My brother once told me that the dwarves were not of this world. But until this moment, I always thought he'd been having fun with me – showing off that he had a powerful friend in King Vidar. To think you were once actually capable of traveling the stars…”
He shook his head in wonder.
“What exactly do you hope to find here?” Lylinora asked Ganix.
He spread his hands. “Something – anything - which might help our cause. That is assuming we can find the ship. After all these centuries, it could be buried deep within the earth.” His eyes lit up. “Renald, have you seen anything that could help our search?”
The old mage shook his head. “I am sorry. But if your ship is still out there, I have never seen it. However, the Dragon Wastes are vast. And I have only searched a small portion of it.”
Ganix sighed. “I knew it was too much to hope for. Nothing is ever that easy.”
“Why is it so important that your father speak to Ethan?” Kat asked Keira.
“He has his reasons,” she answered. “I do not question him. Neither should you.”
Kat leaned forward. “I’ll question whoever I like.”
Keira’s eyes passed from Kat to Ethan. “She is your mate?”
“We are together, yes,” Kat jumped in, cutting off any reply from Ethan.
“Then know that no harm will come to him,” Keira told her.
“I wouldn’t do it,” chipped in Markus. “Elves can’t be trusted.”
“And how would you know this?” Keira challenged, though her voice held no trace of anger.
“I’ve had experience with your kind before. And your bloodthirsty ways.”
Keira regarded him closely. “This coming from one who has killed so many. The dark haze of death surrounds you, and yet you think to accuse my people of being bloodthirsty?”
Ignoring her, Markus turned to Ethan. “Do whatever you think is right. But whatever happens, don’t place your trust in them. Lylinora may have healed my scars. But I remember the elves' laughter as they were carving their hatred into my flesh.”
Keira nodded with understanding. “Ah, I see. If you have suffered at the hands of my people, that is unfortunate. And I admit that our hatred for humans may have made causing you pain enjoyable for some of us. But unless you intend to seek vengeance, we are no longer your foe.”
“And if I do intend to seek it?” The Markus of recent times was fading; it was Specter who was emerging once again in his eyes and tone.
Keira remained unmoved. “Then here I am. Seek your vengeance if you can. Be done with it.”
Markus' hand seized the hilt of his sword, but Lylinora touched his shoulder. “That’s enough,” she told him. “This isn’t helping.”
A tense few seconds passed before Markus eventually dragged his eyes away from Keira. After giving a small grunt, he released his sword and turned to Lylinora, a tight smile on his face. “Yes. You’re right, of course.”
Ganix cleared his throat. “I think now might be a good time to hear what has been happening to the rest of you since you arrived.”
“Good idea,” said Ethan. “Besides, the decision is already made. Kat and I are going to Elyfoss. The rest of you will stay here.”
He went on to tell Ganix and Keira of all that had occurred since his arrival in the Wastes. Ganix was absolutely stunned as the tale unfolded, interrupting him repeatedly to ask questions. Keira’s reaction was significantly milder, only raising an eyebrow at Ethan's encounter with the dragons, and of his journey to Earth with Markus and Kat. The sun was sinking low in the sky by the time he finished, and the growling of stomachs said that a meal was overdue.
Renald got up and lit the stove. “There is plenty of fruit and vegetables for your people on the boat, Your Highness. But I don’t have the room for them all to eat here, I’m afraid.”
“We’re fine,” Ganix assured him. “We’ll be leaving on our search as soon as possible. But before we do, I would like to speak with you about what you know of the Dragon Wastes. I have heard stories of its perils.”
“They are more than stories. But you should be safe enough if you are vigilant…and provided you brought dwarf weapons with you.”
“We did indeed,” said Ganix.
Renald nodded. “Good. Then we will speak after supper.”
With Jonas helping Renald to prepare the food, the rest of them filed out through the door. Realizing that his people might be concerned at his prolonged absence, Ganix headed back toward the boat. As he walked away, Markus pulled Ethan to one side, at the same time eyeing Keira, who seemed content to sit and wait beneath a nearby tree. Kat and Lylinora joined them.
“I don’t like it,” Markus said. “Elves have hated the dwarves for thousands of years. This may be some sort of ploy.”
Ethan shook his head. “I don’t think so. I think the threat of Shinzan’s power is enough to keep them in line. The elves know they have no chance against him without help. And who else is there?”
“The enemy of my enemy?” scoffed Markus. “Is that what you’re saying?”
“That’s exactly what I’m saying. From what Renald has told me, the elves know that Shinzan is killing this world. If he isn’t stopped, there will soon be nothing left. Hating the dwarves won’t save them. Learning to work together is their only hope.”
“It isn’t the elves that concern me,” said
Lylinora. “It’s your plan to accept Martok's help. Are you sure you can maintain control? What if he takes over?”
“He won’t,” Ethan assured her.
“You can’t know that.”
“What choice do I have? Renald can’t teach me what I need to know. And neither can you.”
A loud screech echoed from the direction of the lake. Ethan closed his eyes for a moment.
“Was that Maytra?” asked Kat.
“Yes,” he replied. “She’s in pain.”
Lylinora frowned. “Is there anything we can do to help her?”
Ethan shook his head slowly. “She was cursed for a long time. Now that it’s gone, she’s changing…and it’s painful. There’s nothing we can do. It just has to take its course. That could take weeks...months...or even years for all I know.”
“When she’s healed, do you think she will help us?” asked Markus. “A dragon would be one hell of an advantage.”
“She might,” replied Ethan. “To be honest, I haven’t thought about it much. It might all be over long before she’s healthy enough to do anything.” He took a long breath and cracked a smile. “Look, I don’t want either of you to worry. The elves won’t kill me, and Martok won’t take over. The best thing you can do is get Jake and Val ready for what’s coming.”
“Great advice,” said Markus. “It would be even better if we actually knew what that was.”
They returned to the porch and waited for Renald to call them inside. A short time later, Val and Jake strolled up. Jake gave them all an embarrassed smile.
“Sorry for blowing up like that,” he said. “Seeing people who aren’t human was a bit more than I could deal with at first. I should have acted better.” He nodded over at Keira, who was still sitting beneath the tree. “Is she angry?”
“I don’t think that one has enough emotions in her to get angry,” said Markus.
At this, Keira glanced over and rose to her feet. As she approached, her eyes were fixed on Markus.
“I am more than capable of anger,” she said. “And you should be aware that elves can hear very well indeed.”
Markus sneered. “You should be able to hear a whisper from a mile away with ears like that.”
Ethan thought he saw a flash of irritation in Keira’s eyes, but it was gone before he could be certain. “Are you staying here or coming back with us?” he asked her.
“My duties demand my return,” she replied. “I am to see you safely to Elyfoss.”
Markus took Lylinora’s hand. “If you’ll excuse us.” The couple wandered off in the direction of the lake.
“Yeah, and I need to wash the dust off before we eat,” said Jake. He and Val quickly followed the same path as the other two.
“I do believe I have upset your friends,” Keira observed.
“They’ll be fine,” said Ethan. “You’re just not what they expected to see. And as far as Markus is concerned…well, you know about that.”
“Do you think they would feel better knowing that I am just as uncomfortable as they are?” she asked.
Ethan chuckled. “They might. But I wouldn’t worry about it too much.”
“When do you want to leave?” Kat asked Keira.
“If it was possible, I would return this very moment,” she replied. “Though I realize this may be impractical. I’m sure you need time to prepare. But I would urge you not to delay a minute more than you must. Plans are already in motion. And much depends on you.”
Ethan walked toward the porch chairs, gesturing for the others to follow. “Like what?”
“I don’t know precisely. My father was not forthcoming regarding his intentions. All I know is that he is determined to speak with you.”
As they took their seats, they could hear the clatter of pots and dishes along with irritated grumblings from Renald. Keira knitted her brow and shifted in her chair for a moment before standing up again.
“We’ll leave as soon as King Ganix and his people have set off on their search,” Ethan told her. “From what he said earlier, that won't be very long.”
As he finished speaking, another screech from Maytra caused him to wince.
Keira regarded him for a moment. “You feel its pain, yes?”
He nodded
“And you hear its thoughts as well?”
“Not in the way you might think,” he replied. “I hear her intentions. Her feelings. But dragons have no language you would understand.”
“I think you may be surprised by what an elf can understand,” she retorted.
For a moment Ethan thought she sounded offended, but her impassive expression made it impossible to be certain. “Do all of your people hide their feelings like you?” he asked.
“No. You will find that we are quite the opposite. I hide my feelings in order to avoid being a victim of my own passions. A lesson hard learned. What I am doing for my father is crucial. I cannot afford to cloud my head with anger, hate, or doubt.”
“Is that what you are hiding?” asked Kat.
Keira turned her back. “What I am hiding is my own affair.” Having stated this, she crossed back over to the tree and sat, eyes downturned.
Ethan could see Kat was about to say something, but touched his ear to remind her that anything she said would definitely be overheard.
A short time later Ganix reappeared with all six of his people, along with the young boy. Each carried bulky packs across their backs and vicious hand axes on their belts. All but Ganix continued on past the cabin.
“They will make a camp near the edge of Renald’s wards tonight,” said Ganix. “We are anxious to get started, so you’ll forgive me if we leave tomorrow.”
“That should make Keira happy,” said Ethan. “There’s nothing more I can accomplish here until the dragons have recovered their strength enough to keep the portal stable. So we’ll leave tomorrow too.”
The meal was short and passed quietly. With not enough chairs to accommodate everyone, Val and Jake took their plates out onto the porch. To Ethan’s relief, Markus remained reserved throughout and made no further attempts to antagonize Keira. Afterwards, Ganix asked Renald to accompany him to his people's camp to talk over their route and give advice regarding precautions.
“This is goodbye yet again,” the dwarf king said to Ethan. Reaching into his pocket, he produced a folded parchment that he passed over with trembling hands. “Please deliver this to King Halvar if you don’t mind.”
Ethan took the message and tucked it into his shirt. “Are you scared?”
“Excited,” he replied. “Who knows what I’ll discover if we find our ship. This could very well answer every question I’ve ever had about my people. I feel like a young man preparing for his wedding night.”
As a group, they watched Renald and Ganix vanish into the night. Ethan and Kat then made their way to the boat. He was hoping for some time alone with her, but to his chagrin he noticed Keira was close behind them.
Kat squeezed his hand. “To be honest, I’m glad we’re leaving. I miss Elyfoss. And I bet they’ll give us our own room.”
Ethan grinned and wrapped an arm around her waist. “Now I really want to get going.”
Keira slept on the boat that she had arrived on, and even though Kat and Ethan had a rare few hours alone on board the other craft, the thought that the elf might be able to hear them was enough to douse their passion. Nonetheless, Ethan felt a sense of great contentment with Kat dozing in his arms. The warmth of her body and her deep, steady breathing soon coaxed him into slumber.
He rose just as the first light of dawn was peeking in through the portholes. Kat was still sleeping soundly, though he noticed a tiny smile on her lips. What was she dreaming about, he wondered? He hoped it might be about him.
Sliding out carefully from the bed, he made his way to the rear deck. The air was brisk: much cooler than most mornings, making him regret not donning a shirt. He considered returning for one, but was afraid of disturbing Kat. It would be a pity to inter
rupt her in the middle of a pleasant dream.
“It’s times like this I miss coffee,” he muttered.
After a few minutes, he decided to take a walk to the beach. The sun was halfway up on the horizon, casting a vivid orange light across the ocean surface. Thousands of tiny rays twinkled and shimmered, making it difficult to focus. He leaned back on one elbow, shielding his eyes with his free hand. It was tempting to wake Kat so she could share the splendor of the sunrise with him, but a splash on the surface of the water caught his eye, driving this thought away.
It wasn't just the sight of Keira swimming that captured his attention so fully; it was the fact that she was swimming with a young sirean. The creature was circling her with amazing swiftness while the elf, with a bright smile on her face, was playfully splashing water at it. Ethan watched this scene with astonishment for several minutes. Keira suddenly then noticed him. In a flurry of motion, the sirean leapt up nearly three feet out of the water and dove beneath the surface.
Keira swam to the shore, her smile gone. As she emerged from the water, Ethan saw that she was completely naked. He was absolutely stunned by her beauty. Though not as curvaceous as Kat, her form was perfectly proportioned. Every inch was toned, and her fluid movements captured him. He knew that he should look away, but found himself unable to.
“Why do you stare at me so?” she asked. It was obvious that she was not in the least embarrassed for him to see her this way.
Ethan averted his eyes. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know…I mean…” He let out a groan. “I should just go.”
“There is no need,” she said. “If my body pleases you, feel free to look.”
Ethan kept his eyes focused on the ground. “I was just taking a walk. I didn’t know you were here.” He took a step back.
“Your heart beats quickly,” she noticed. “And your breathing is rapid and shallow. Is this a sign you wish to couple? Forgive my ignorance if I’m mistaken. I know very little of humans.”
“Couple? No!” He took another step back, but Keira moved around to bar his way.
“Are you sure? I’ve never considered such a thing with a human. But my father says I should be open to new experiences.”
Dragonvein - Book Three Page 8