Sky Elf: The Anti-Matter Chronicles (The Matter Chronicles Book 2)

by P. G. Thomas

  Lauren was surprised to see Pintar, especially in his current state, and was she was uncertain who the other three men were, “What’s happening?”

  Pintar tried to explain through muffled words until Ryan removed the gag. “Earth Mother, we are sorry, we did as you asked. We looked for secrets in Hoyle’s house, and we found several. We opened the door without realizing it led here. Please, forgive us.” Approaching the group, the wolf sniffed them, and then he returned to her side.

  Realizing her mistake, Lauren had forgotten to tell Ryan and the Earth Guards about Pintar searching the house, “Please remove their bindings. They’re no threat.”

  Erust stepped forward, “We would prefer to question them, Earth Mother.”

  “I told them to look for secrets in Hoyle’s house. I should’ve mentioned it to you. It’s my wrong, and I’m sorry. They did as I requested.”

  Erust was now the confused one, “Earth Mother, I am not sure that I understand.”

  “Look, Zack has checked them out, and they’re not a threat. I made a mistake, another mistake. This is my fault, so please untie them.”

  Erust’s confusion was multiplying, as Lauren had not only said please, she also admitted that she had made two mistakes, “What does happen?”

  “I thought it was strange that Hoyle would’ve black-clad men in his house. He knew the Earth Guard protected me, but something didn’t seem right. I asked Pintar to examine the house with some of his sharp…brightest, to see if they could find any secrets. I guess they did, but I didn’t expect them to find an entrance into our house.” On Erust’s signal, they cut the bonds, and the Earth Guards and dwarves began to return to their original guard positions.

  Lauren called out, “Erust, wait! Pintar, promote these men. John, arrange a bonus for them also. Let’s go upstairs to see what they’ve discovered.”

  Ryan, looking strange with his sword arm, led the way back up to her room where the door was still open. Pintar pointed to the secret door that they had stumbled upon, being still open in Lauren’s room. Taking them through it, he showed them how it worked, and how it opened so silently. He then led them to several secret rooms in Hoyle’s house that were all filled with gold.

  Lauren looked at Pintar, “Thank you, friend, and thank your men for me. You’ve done a great service for us today. Erust, please don’t tell Panry of this, as I would consider it a great favor. Have the door sealed so that none can open it, and bring the gold into our house.” She then returned to the backyard where John and Zack waited for her. Eric had followed them upstairs, but when it was all clear, he retired to his room for much needed sleep, and Ryan returned to the front room, still wondering about what was happening to him.

  *******

  Noon the next day, the burial party returned. When Nur sat down in the front room, Zack, the wolf, went straight to her, rolling onto his back, so she could rub his belly.

  Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! (“Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.”)

  Lauren was in the backyard sipping tea where Brook and Arora joined her, “Earth Mother, how are you?”

  “My heart still hurts, and I still hear his voice. He visits me in my dreams, but I’ll be okay.”

  “Alron is with Mother now.”

  “I know, the first sun set three days ago,” replied Lauren, as she wiped tears away.

  “How is the town?” asked Arora.

  Lauren repeated Pintar’s update, ending with, “In all, it has been quiet,” excluding the events of the secret door.

  Panry joined them in the backyard, “How does my Moth Flame be?”

  “She hurts and heals at the same time. How was the service?”

  “Unnecessary but the task is complete, Moth Flame.”

  Arora was unable to believe the disrespect from Panry, “I shall not stand for….”

  “It’s all right, Earth Mother. His words were harsh and cut deep, and sometimes that’s the only way to cure. He did like he was commanded and has served me well.” Lauren looked up to Panry, “Is my house arrest over? I would like to see the statue that the dwarves have carved. I would like us to invade Pintar’s tavern tonight, celebrating the legend of Alron. There’s much I didn’t know of him, and I would like to hear the rest. Can you accommodate my request?”

  What game does she play? “I shall consider it.”

  Lauren stood and then entered the house, followed by Panry.

  “Panry, a word,” it was Arora.

  “No, Earth Mother, you will not scold or punish him,” advised Lauren, “Panry, please follow me because we need to talk.”

  Arora watched them leave. Does her fire still burn?

  He followed her up to her room where she sat on the bed, “I had some time to think, too much time, too much thinking. I don’t know if I listened to Alron, or if I heard what he was saying, but you’re right. His blood is on my hands, and that will haunt me for the rest of my days. Every night I see him at my feet, his life force slipping from him. I remember how cold he felt on the dining room table. I remember so much, wishing I could wash all those memories away, but I can’t. You’re right. You were both right and wrong, I think. You cannot protect me from myself, but you can help me become a better Earth Mother. Don’t answer me right now because it may take a while. I’m sorry more than you’ll ever understand, especially for what has happened to Alron. It’s a burden that will haunt me for a long time. I also fear similar burdens will be added. I need you to be my Alron and finish what he started.” Lauren started to cry, “Now, please leave me,” and she buried her face in her pillow.

  Going into the hall, Panry saw Ryan.

  “She has changed, so give her a chance.”

  Before Panry had gone downstairs, Arora had left. He went out front, jumped on a horse, and rode to the Earth Mother’s house. Not waiting for an invitation, he entered the large front room, “What does happen to my Earth Mother?”

  “So now you call her Earth Mother. What happened to your Moth Flame?” asked Arora.

  Panry was angry, “This is not the same person who killed Alron. Is this because of Mother?”

  “You know like we do,” advised Brook, “Mother is quick to act, slow to advise.”

  “Is this what it takes? Death for her to see clearly? When Mother seeks to clear her vision next, will I follow Alron?”

  “You hold in your hands a small bird, wing broken” began Arora, “You can care for the young bird, helping it to heal, so once again it will take flight. Or you can crush it. Choose well.”

  “Panry, we need the fire known as Lauren back, so breathe on the flames slowly,” added Brook, “Great lengths Mother went to bring Earth Mother here. We all need her, as she has done much already, but I think her task is not complete.”

  Nur was standing in front of him, and the anger in her voice was equal to the greatest of Iron Wood trees, “Fix it, or I will fix you. Do you understand me?”

  “Yes. Will you be attending Alron’s wake like she has requested?”

  Nur glared at him, “She has a name!”

  “Yes, we shall be there,” replied Brook for all of them.

  Riding back to the house, he found Bor and Aaro, “She would like to have a wake for Alron tonight. Can you tell your brothers?”

  “A name she has,” replied Aaro.

  Panry’s response was cold, cold like Alron’s body when they lowered him into the ground, “I know, I have been told.”

  “We will pass the word. Attend all shall,” replied Bor.

  Panry advised the Earth Guards and Lauren’s friends of the meeting at the inn. He then paced in front of the house, trying to figure out what had happened in the days since he had left. As the first sun was setting, they headed towards Pintar’s, and walking through the town, they passed the new statue.

  Lauren was unable to hold her tears back. It was eight feet tall, larger than life, just like Alron had been, and she thanked all of the dwarves.

  They slowly made their way to Pintar’s inn, walking by where the atta
cks had taken place, seeing the fresh paint that covered the dried blood on the buildings. As the crowds saw them on the street, they would head over to the other side, thinking it would be safer. Pintar, visiting his wife, was surprised to see them all enter the tavern, especially surprised to see Lauren there.

  She approached him, “We arrive tonight to celebrate Alron. I would like to run a tab, and we’ll settle it tomorrow.”

  “Yes, Earth Mother. Whatever you would like.”

  The dining hall only had a few people when they arrived. With the dwarves starting the stories of Alron, the elves followed. It was the celebration of a great man, causing Lauren to both experience tears of laughter and sorrow.

  After a couple of hours, heading to the restroom, she overheard a disparaging comment. Stopping dead in her tracks, she turned to the man who spoke it. He was tall, big in the shoulders, looking like a midlander farmer from the outlying lands.

  “Take that back, now!”

  He looked down at her, “Be gone, wench. I am married and already have too many children.”

  With surprising speed, Lauren used her staff to remove his feet from under him, and when he was flat on his back, she placed the staff over his throat. Rage fueled by Core Wood slowly began to cut off his breath. When Panry whistled, the Earth Guards leaped into action, followed by dwarves.

  Lauren, holding back angry tears, looked down to the gasping man, “Take it back while you still have air in your lungs.”

  “What happened?” asked Panry.

  “He insulted Alron, and he needs to apologize.”

  Panry knelt down, “Friend, if you enjoy breath, I strongly suggest you should tell Earth Mother that you are sorry.”

  With his face turning blue, he muttered an apology.

  Lauren looked down at the big man, “From this day forward, you and all of your offspring will pay thanks to Alron.” Lifting the staff, she found the room she sought.

  An anger burnt in Panry’s eyes, “You are lucky, friend. If I had heard what you had said, your wife would be a widow. I suggest you go home now, and hug your wife and kids. This night, you have been given a second chance. Friend, should I ever hear you misspeak of Alron, I shall find you, your wife, your kids, their children, and their children. Your words, great pain it shall cost them all. Do you understand my words, friend.”

  The big man nodded, leaving in a hurry.

  The celebration continued, which went well past the midnight hour, and it helped to heal many hearts, including Lauren’s.

  Chapter 22

  Lauren banged on a door the next morning, “I need something for a headache.”

  “Sleep,” replied Gingaar.

  It would be another four hours before any would stumble down the stairs, searching for hot bean juice. Lauren was the first to break the peaceful quiet of the house, much like Panry expected. Walking and stumbling down the stairs, she woke everybody as she descended to the kitchen, being surprised to find Gor behind the counter, asleep. One by one, her friends rose from their overindulgence and found the kitchen, eventually making their way into the backyard, letting the sun bake the last of the celebration out of their systems. It was early in the afternoon when the Earth Mothers arrived to discuss the town hall meeting, determining how they would answer questions about the attack.

  Instead of the Earth Mothers trying to force the news on them, Lindo thought it would be better if the citizens initiated the conversation. “Instead of chasing a wounded animal to save it, let us remain calm, and let them come to us.”

  Lauren also gave them an update on the postal service, of what she could remember, and they left after a few hours, hoping to have one last nap, before the meeting was to start.

  Two hours before they were scheduled to leave, Panry came in from the front to make sure that Lauren was awake. She was still sitting in the backyard. Not only was her headache gone, so was her desire to attend the town hall meeting. She smiled at him, “I don’t remember thanking you for your stories about Alron last night. I’m glad you shared them with us. Thank you.”

  Panry would rather have heard them from Alron. He had not shared like she had called it. He wanted to describe the great elf so that she would better understand the price of her arrogance, and what she had taken from the lands. In some ways, he had hoped it would cause her more pain, being similar to the pain that he still felt.

  She could taste the anger in his words when he spoke them. “You have a town hall meet this night. You should go to prepare yourself.”

  She tried to fight his rejection, “We should spend more time together, like friends. I would like to know you better.”

  “So at my wake you can tell my stories, Moth Flame?”

  “No, Panry. When I came to these lands, I didn’t understand what was happening or how long I was going to be here. Everything was happening so fast, and it was all so strange. I think I’m going to be here for a while longer, if not forever. I would like to call you my friend.”

  “You are Earth Mother. You can use whatever name you like. It matters not to me.”

  “No, I would like us to be friends.”

  The bitterness from Panry’s words stung her, “I would like Alron to be here. Neither shall happen.”

  An image of Lauren talking to Ryan as he lay in the hospital bed flashed in her mind. The vile things she had said when their parents had gone out for lunch. She never really understood the pain that words could inflict—until that sentence. She never understood that other people hurt like she did, but then realized the pain she had felt, protected her from the pain she inflicted. She knew Panry never meant the words he spoke, as she now understood the additional pain she had inflicted on Ryan. She forced her tears back, “Panry, I’m sorry for what happened.”

  His expression was as dead as Alron, “You should go bathe.”

  “The Earth Mothers will be there, and they don’t need me.”

  “Moth Flame, your absence shall cause questions. You do not have to act or speak. Just sit there and consider it a new tradition.”

  “The traitors and invaders are gone, so I don’t have to be there.”

  Panry did not intend to let Lauren be in charge, “Moth Flame, upstairs now. If I have to, I shall fill your tub and will toss you in myself. You have started something here, and you needs to finish it.”

  “You’re right. I’ll be back down in an hour or so. Please have somebody prepare a light meal, nothing greasy, for me, please.”

  Panry went back out to the front of the house where Erust was now on duty, “While you were gone, a new mystery was found. Earth Mother asked us not to tell, but since you are the captain, you should know.”

  “Erust, I told you, she does not leave this house.”

  “She does not. She meets with Pintar for an update. She asked him to examine the house of Hoyle for secrets. A secret door they found, which led into Earth Mother’s bed chambers.”

  “Why would she hide such information from me?”

  “I do not know. I am merely reporting.”

  Secret door? This provides her with positive arguments for her actions. She should have pounced on me when I walked in the doorway. If an assassin had slipped through that passage in middle of night, we would not be able to defend her, worse yet, to save her. Why would she withhold this? Why?

  An hour later, Lauren and Gingaar appeared in the doorway. Eric was in his armor and John held his Iron Wood staff. Mirtza, Logan, and Ryan followed her out to the meeting, following last, the wolf. Exiting the far building, Pintar quickly caught up with them. As Panry dropped to the back, he was soon beside Pintar, engaging him in conversation. Slowly Panry reduced his pace, which made Pintar also slow down.

  When the rest of the group was a good distance in front, Panry stopped, “Pintar, while I was away, Earth Mother asked you for favor. What were her instructions?”

  “I believe she asked that you not be told.”

  “My men are loyal, and secrets will result in surprise or fai
lure. What did she ask of you?”

  “She had a feeling, asking me to search it with my men, like a training exercise. To test them to see if any were brighter than the others.”

  “What did she ask you to look for?”

  “Secrets.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “That was all she said; search it for secrets.”

  “What did you find?”

  “We found a couple of secret rooms with gold and a secret door in Hoyle’s master bedroom. It led to the master bedroom in Bince’s house.”

  “She instructed you not to tell me. Why?”

  “I do not know, Panry, I never thought about it.”

  “You are the head our Earth Scouts, our intelligence group. You should question all.”

  “Panry, it came from Earth Mother. I will not question her. Now I want to get a good seat, so if you want, we can continue this later or tomorrow.”

  When they arrived at the town hall meeting, the guards already had the doors open. As Lauren took a seat in the middle of the last row, the Earth Guards, dwarves, and her friends surrounded her. Nur took the aisle seat so Zack, the wolf, could rest his head on her lap during the meeting. The mayors entered shortly after Lauren had taken her seat.

  Lindo stood, “Citizens, much has happened since the last town hall meeting. Our town has been attacked, and while none were severely hurt, we lost a very good friend when we tried to rout the traitors. Many have heard stories or rumors that Hoyle was one of those traitors. I stand before you to announce that this is true. He harbored assassins that were uncovered when we searched his house, and that is when Hoyle killed Alron, a captain of the Earth Guard. When we realized that traitors and assassins were still amongst us, we searched the rest of the town, routing more traitors from their hiding places. Because we were involved in the funeral of Alron, we have not had a chance to review any of the current issues. Please forgive us, as we will get back to you next week on the open issues. We do realize that you may have questions, so tonight we will try to answer them on what has happened over the last week. Who would like to be first?”