"They're worried about this, too?"
"Decidedly so." Kaldill brushed shoulder-length blond hair behind a pointed ear and shook his head at the image he presented—at Lendill's advice, he'd employed power to change the color of his shirt to black.
"I've spoken with Kooper already—he's on his way to arrest Marid of Belancour." Lendill shook his head. "That old goat may have killed more than we know."
"Tell Kooper to approach cautiously—we have no idea how unstable the old goat, as you call him, may be."
"You think he can cause more trouble?"
"That is my deepest worry, my son."
"How long do you plan to be gone?" Lendill asked.
"I intend to see whether the lands of this planet can be rescued from the blight," Kaldill shrugged at his image in the mirror.
"Building the gardens of Gaelar N'Seith on a barren planet may be a simple task compared to this, Pap."
"Nevertheless, I will see what may be done."
"Good luck, then. Let me know how things go."
"I'll need the luck just to keep some of them from shooting at us," Kaldill huffed. "They have weapons—at least some of them do. It surprises me that they haven't been noticed by the Alliance yet."
"No space travel?" Lendill asked.
"They have the capability; they just haven't turned their attention to it, yet."
"Send images, then. I'll transmit everything to Kooper."
"Ask him to relay all information to Queen Lissa. I believe the Three may be interested in this before long."
"Kooper says that Ildevar and Lissa are both looking for Breanne. What about Ashe? Is he where we can find him? Charles, too?"
"I don't know the whereabouts of any of them. Hank is also on the list of those we can't find. If you have suggestions on how to get their attention, I'd appreciate it."
Kaldill found it humorous that Love, Strength and Wisdom held such mundane names as Breanne, Ashe and Charles, but perhaps they, too, looked upon his name as something strange.
"It's neither here nor there—we have to do what we can to keep this from spreading," Lendill's voice expressed discomfort. "I never thought to feel the fear of the planet beneath my feet, but I feel it now."
"You are growing as a Prince," Kaldill grinned and patted Lendill's shoulder. "It pleases me greatly."
* * *
Avii Castle
Quin
"I can fly there with Dena," I said when Berel asked whether I wanted to go with him in the smaller boats the ship had sent to the receiving crevice.
"Father asked that I stay with you," Berel shook his head. "Will you travel with me, instead?" I knew then that the High President still worried for his son's health.
"I'll go with you, then—I think Dena is curious about the boats anyway."
Our luggage had already been sent—mine was stowed in a cabin next to Berel's if his guard, Jhak, spoke the truth. He'd traveled with the luggage, to ensure that it remained safe while two other Kondari guards stayed behind with Berel.
Jhak had returned, however, and now it was time for the passengers to board the ships and sail for Fyris.
Gurnil had spoken with ship's captains regarding the distance between Avii Castle and Lironis, calculating the time, once the boats went through the strait. I'd been unconscious before when I was brought through it and wondered if I'd feel it now.
"Quin, we have guests," Gurnil interrupted my conversation with Berel on the Library terrace.
I turned and blinked in surprise.
Daragar had come, and with him, a man I didn't know. If Berel hadn't caught me, I might have fallen to the ground—that's how breathless I became at his appearance.
His name was Kaldill Schaff. Daragar introduced him as King of the Elves.
He was so much more than that. Holding my breath when he took my hand with a brilliant smile, I resolved to keep his secrets.
Chapter 3
Avii Castle
Quin
Who needs boats when a Larentii can take you anywhere he pleases? Daragar did so, transporting all of us to our designated ships.
"We have a Larentii traveling with us," Gurnil breathed to Ordin as cabins were assigned to Daragar and Kaldill. As pleased as I was that Daragar chose to go with us to Fyris, I was just as pleased that Kaldill had come.
Power shone about him whenever I looked, and I wondered that none of the others could see it.
The ship itself was very large and run efficiently by many Kondari men and women. For a moment, it took me by surprise that women would be soldiers, before determining that it was silly to think that. Justis had black-winged women in his guard, and they were more than effective at their work.
Plus, I'd been a soldier of sorts at Amlis' side and had saved his life, albeit in unconventional ways. The Kondari and Avii had moved past that archaic way of thinking and I was glad.
"We will meet for dinner—those of us aboard this ship," Berel handed a tab-vid to me. A schedule had been inserted, which I could read easily.
Orik, Sofi and Yissy were on another ship with two black-winged guards, while Wolter, Fen and Deeds, accompanied by two more Black Wings, rode the third. Omina, Amlis, Rodrik and Beatris rode with Berel and the rest of us on the flagship. Justis and Ardis were our black-winged guards, which pleased Dena greatly.
"It surprises me that this journey may only take a day," Berel took a seat next to mine in the meeting room. Windows surrounded us—the room had been designed for meetings between captain and staff, and was comfortably furnished with padded chairs and a heavy table.
I watched the deep waters pass swiftly below us and nodded at Berel's statement. I had the feeling that had Daragar and Kaldill chosen to do so, they could have moved ships as easily as people and we might have arrived already.
Perhaps they were looking forward to the trip just as much as Dena and Gurnil were. Gurnil sat at one end of the table, watching the sea and writing his observations on the parchment he'd brought with him. The Library would have new additions when he returned to Avii Castle.
"I'm surprised the journey is so smooth," I responded to Berel's observation. "The last portion of my journey to Avii Castle aboard Orik's boat was uneven at best."
"Smaller boats ride the waves. Something this size merely plows through them," Berel shrugged. "I saw your landing at the castle—I looked through past satellite recordings until I found it."
"I know." It didn't matter, now. Berel knew much of what the Avii had kept secret for years uncounted. That knowledge would count for nothing if all of Siriaa died of the poison.
"You are the High President's son?" Kaldill and Daragar had come looking for Berel. Kaldill turned to smile at me, however, while waiting for Berel's response.
He already knew who Berel was. What he was doing was amazing—at least to me. Asking questions was his way of measuring whomever he studied. Kaldill intended to measure the father by the son.
I could have told him that Edden Charkisul was the best leader Kondar could hope for. I also hoped that his life was safe—I knew Berel had information from the last vid-meeting with the High President, and news of the usurper's escape worried both, I could tell.
"I am, sir," Berel nodded respectfully. "I understand you are Kaldill Schaff, King of the Elves. I have never heard of elves, sir. Will you enlighten me?"
Without aid of any mechanical object, an image of forests and flowering gardens appeared among us. They appeared so real I wished to touch petals, stems and trunks. I'd never seen such healthy growing things in my life. Without realizing, I'd breathed a sigh of desire-filled pleasure at the sight.
People—elves—began to walk through the images. Like Kaldill, they had pointed ears. They wore embroidered robes that complimented their surroundings perfectly, and were content to be where they were.
"We have a library and a seat of learning here—these grounds surround it," Kaldill smiled. "It is called Gaelar N'Seith, Garden of the Elves."
"It’s bea
utiful," I breathed. I couldn't help myself—I wanted to go there. In my mind, no taint of the poison would be found in that soil.
"You are correct," Kaldill smiled at me again. "Perhaps we should discuss your wings, and why they are different from all others."
"I have no information to give you," I shook my head.
"I understand that. I merely wish to examine them, I think, and attempt to solve that riddle for both of us. Daragar has already visited the Larentii Archives and spoken to Nefrigar, their Chief Archivist. He knows of none such, either. If a Larentii has no records, then there are no records to be found."
"Do they have records of Fyris and Kondar? Of Siriaa?" I asked.
"Yes, most certainly," Daragar replied with a smile. "After each of my visits, I give information to Nefrigar, who stores it in the Archives. Other Larentii visited before I came. Kondar, Fyris and Yokaru are all there, from their beginnings on this world."
That stopped me in my tracks. He knew of their origins? The question of why Fyris was hidden and so backward compared to the other continents tickled my tongue. I dared not ask it; Omina, Amlis, Rodrik and Beatris walked through the door.
Midday had arrived and they'd come for their meal—as scheduled.
* * *
Larentii Archives
"This is information I would refuse most others," Nefrigar handed copies of heavy volumes to Kooper Griff, Head of the ASD. "It includes current maps and conditions, all of which were supplied by Daragar through his many visits to Siriaa."
"Lissa and the others are just as interested in this," Kooper nodded to Nefrigar. "You have my thanks."
"The Hidden had influence upon many things," Nefrigar replied, his words enigmatic. "None of it good."
"Let's hope it doesn't end up killing us, then," Kooper replied.
* * *
Le-Ath Veronis
"Even the Larentii don't know what it is," Lissa shut the book with a sigh. "Or where it came from. They've studied the effects and the efforts made by the winged guardians to hold it at bay, but the guardian queen is dead. According to this—she was only able to disrupt the spreading of the poison. She didn't neutralize it."
"You know the Larentii collect everything. They wouldn't collect that poison—whatever it is," Kooper jerked his head at one of the books. "That means even they don't trust their methods of collection or containment. What in the name of the fire pit is this?"
"I'll attempt to sort out who Liron is—or was," Lissa fumed. "It looks as if he were at the bottom of all this."
"The people of Fyris—and the guardians—Daragar notes that they're not native to that world. Where did they come from? There's no evidence they arrived on their own. This is a huge mess," Kooper grumbled.
"We have imported people, a hidden continent, a poison nobody can define and a dead god, in all probability. Anything else?"
"The guardian queen—how did she interrupt the poison's spread?"
"Where's Daragar now?" Kooper asked.
"Daragar is there—on Siriaa," Ildevar Wyyld appeared in Lissa's study, where she and Kooper held their private conversation. "Kaldill went with him."
"If anybody can bring a planet back from the brink, it would be Kaldill," Lissa nodded. "Although I'm having my doubts about this," she tapped the borrowed book.
"Has Marid of Belancour been apprehended, yet?" Ildevar asked Kooper.
"Not yet, Founder," Kooper shook his head. "Local authorities attempted to take him before my agents arrived. Their effort was unsuccessful and Marid fled with his family and everything they owned. We're searching now, but there's a cloud about his location. We know he's no longer on Shaaliveer, but we can't pin the location down."
"If I learn that jackass has a Sirenali, I'll kill him myself," Lissa snapped.
Kooper refrained from responding; his worry was the same as Lissa's. Only a Sirenali could defy his searches and that spelled disaster, in his opinion.
* * *
The waters of Fyris
Quin
This time, I was conscious while we navigated the straits. It was as if we traveled through a wall of very dense fog for several moments before coming out on the other side to sunlight glittering off the waters. I had no idea what might create the fog, let alone the shortening of our journey.
Berel attempted to contact his father in Kondar shortly after. At first, there was no reply—I can only imagine that the wall of fog prevented communication in some way, but once the fog lay far behind us, Berel's tab-vid worked perfectly.
He and I both breathed happy sighs when Edden Charkisul's face appeared on the small screen.
"We're getting close, Father," Berel smiled at his parent. "At our current speed, we should arrive in four hours. The Captain reports that most of the sharp rocks and other obstacles have disappeared off his scanners and they've mapped a clear path to the city Quin calls Lironis."
"Have you seen any of the inhabitants, yet?" Edden asked.
"No. We are far enough offshore that we cannot see land yet. The scanners now indicate it is there, though. Isn't that exciting, Father? I feel like an explorer from centuries ago."
"You are an explorer, Son," Edden smiled. "I will receive reports from the science officers, but I prefer your reports above theirs. Keep me informed."
"I will," Berel nodded enthusiastically.
Berel couldn't see it, but I could; worry clouded the High President's face. Civil war threatened Kondar and he was preparing for battle, should it come. When Berel ended the communication with his father, I asked my questions.
"Will you show me everything you have on the one who imprisoned you?" I begged. Berel nodded and requested information from the tab-vid's store of knowledge. Before long, both of us pored over images and reports concerning Dorthil Crasz.
* * *
The urge to fly about the Western spires overwhelmed me when we passed them. Amlis and Rodrik had never seen them from the west, so they stood at the railing with Berel and me as we passed. Berel held his tab-vid aloft, recording images for his father.
Farther east, past the spires, I could see the darker outline of the cliff where I'd sat on Stepper's saddle, gazing at the wonder of the tall, spiked formations. Birds still wheeled about them; the spires were home to them and the sharp rocks held many nests.
"We will arrive in less than two hours," Kaldill joined us at the rail. "So much might be done with this world," he breathed. "I worry that it may not be possible."
I knew Kaldill was old—I merely couldn't comprehend how old he could be. To him, the Larentii who now stood beside him was very young. I found it amazing that neither Kaldill nor Daragar showed any signs of age. Both were more than ancient, yet they appeared quite young.
Had Kaldill not been immortal, I imagined his face would be covered with the lines of his worries throughout the millennia.
"You see too much," Kaldill reached out a hand and tucked hair behind my ear. At least my hair had grown out along with my wings—it was now down to my shoulders. Where Kaldill's hair was a golden color, mine still contained gold, copper and silver strands. Most days, I had no idea what to make of it.
"It's beautiful," Kaldill reassured me. "Never berate yourself or what you have because it is different. Rejoice in it, instead."
"Not always an easy thing to do, King Elf," I nodded respectfully to him. I didn't want to say it—was almost afraid to think it—but his touch had sent a wonderful shiver through me and I wanted to savor it as something that belonged only to me.
Instead, I turned my thoughts to Tamblin and how he'd proclaimed himself King of Fyris. A real King stood humbly beside me and thought to brush hair away from my face when the wind blew it into my eyes. Tamblin would only take his pleasure from a lowly servant, never thinking of her—only of himself.
* * *
Vhrist
"My King, we saw terrible things," Captain Herth of the fishing vessel Grunt, reported to Tamblin.
"Terrible things?" Tamblin sounded b
ored.
"Where the strait begins—you know of it?" Herth trembled, a fisherman's cap held tightly in his fingers as he addressed the King.
"I know of it." Tamblin shifted on his temporary throne and cut his eyes toward Yevil, who stood nearby. Tamblin had never seen the fog representing the strait—he'd only heard reports and knew of the written accounts of many sailors. He'd also heard of it from his brother, Tandelis—who'd visited the glass castle several times.
"Anyways," Herth swallowed with difficulty, "we saw three huge things. Perhaps they were boats, I know not, as I cannot imagine anyone making anything so large. They appeared to be made of metal, but how can metal float? It is sorcery, my King, I have no doubt. They passed through the fog and as we were half-covered in it ourselves, I don't think we were seen."
"How large?" Tamblin's attention was now captured.
"Too large to describe, my King."
"Did you attempt to follow?"
"Too afraid, sir. Fast, they traveled. I doubt we could have kept up."
"Where were they heading?"
"Down the western side—toward the spires."
"All of your crew saw this?"
"Yes, my King." Herth now doubted his decision to come to the King with this news. After all, Tamblin could act irrationally and kill him and his crew. It wouldn't be the first time, Herth realized. He swallowed again—hard.
"Does any of your crew have a drawing talent? I wish to see what these things look like."
"One sailor, sir. The youngest."
"Fetch parchment," Tamblin shouted. "Bring your sailor," Tamblin's hard gaze settled on Herth.
* * *
Lironis
Quin
The ships were forced to anchor far from the old docks in Lironis, as the waters were too shallow for their bulk and the planks and pilings had rotted over the years. None thought to repair them for any reason; still, people of Lironis gathered when the ships arrived, as they could be seen quite a distance from the shores.
"I must arrive by boat," Omina snapped before Daragar could offer his skills at relocation. "The people must see Amlis and me returning thus."
Keeper: First Ordinance, Book 2 Page 4