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

by P. G. Thomas

Somebody in the third row stood, “Will Hoyle’s position be filled by an Earth Mother or a citizen?” At the mention of Hoyle, several citizens spit on the floor.

  “We have not had time to discuss that. What would you suggest?”

  “No offense, Earth Mothers, I mean, mayors, but the change in government has been interesting, to say the least. I think it would be good if we had more of a say.”

  “We will consider that.”

  From the back, a voice shouted, “Will there be any more attacks?”

  “Ramy has advised of several changes that he has made. They have filled in the tunnels under the walls, cleared back brush, increased illumination, hired more town watch, and added long distance patrols. Right now, we have no reason to anticipate any more attacks.”

  Maine and Lo shook their heads in disagreement when Lindo mentioned the hiring of the additional guards but remained quiet.

  From the middle left, “We heard a great deal of gold has been recovered from these traitors. What is being done with that?”

  “There is much we are still trying to unravel. Right now is not the time to comment on that, but our plans are to try to lessen some of the burdens caused by their actions.”

  From the back right, “Several weeks ago, the Earth Mother who sits in the back said the east had been invaded, and that the west would be next. Is there war in our future?”

  Lindo took a deep breath, “There is conflict in our lands that has found our town. Most of you saw the bodies from the attack last week, and that conflict is escalating. At this point, there is much we still do not know, cannot prove, but we believe that the conflict will continue to grow, and that war is one of the possible outcomes that the conflict will blossom into.”

  From the middle center, “We have seen many leave. Should we leave?”

  “You are free to do as you wish. If you do not feel safe here, you can go elsewhere.”

  The same person asked, “If we go elsewhere, and we are invaded, will they find us where we go?”

  “I guess that depends on how far you go and how fast you travel.”

  From the front row, extreme left, “Then it is war?”

  Lindo shook her head, “Right now much has happened. I can neither tell you what I will have for breakfast tomorrow, nor can I tell you about war. As Earth Mothers, we have an obligation to your well-being, but as for war, we have no experience with anything so large. I would suggest that you meet and talk, trying to figure out what we should do. Next week you can present your ideas, and we will discuss it more.”

  Continuing for another hour, with the questions becoming so redundant, Lindo called the meeting closed. Those who surrounded Lauren waited until the hall was empty before they left. Zack went first, waiting until the courtyard was empty, and after walking once around returned to Nur.

  “Good puppy,” she said, scratching him behind his ear, his foot thumping the ground.

  Panry had arranged for three coaches. Lauren, her Earth Guard, and her friends entered the first. The second coach, being larger, was for the remaining Earth Mothers. Before they all could board, he held Arora back, leading her to the third coach, where her Earth Guard took up positions on the back and sides.

  Once inside the coach, Panry looked at her, “Did she tell you?”

  Arora was confused, “Did she tell me what?”

  “Anything?”

  “That is too vague. Speak your mind.”

  “Did she tell you of a secret door?”

  “What secret door?” asked Arora.

  “She had Pintar examine Hoyle’s house for secrets. They found a secret door that led into her sleeping chambers. She asked everybody not to tell me.”

  “This is the first I have heard of such.”

  “She should gloat, attacking me about my outbursts. She does not say anything.”

  “Who told you?”

  “Erust.”

  “If Earth Mother truly did not want you to know, she could issue an Earth Bond and silence all.”

  “I know that. I think she wanted my men to tell me.”

  “This door, if the assassins broached it, would Earth Guard have been able to defend her?”

  “No.”

  Arora was trying to put the pieces of this new puzzle together, “If Earth Mother did not insist on visiing Hoyle, would she most likely be dead?”

  “Yes. She has evidence to vindicate herself, but she remains quiet.”

  “So you have tamed your Moth Flame. Is that your problem?”

  “No. Yes. I do not know.”

  “Panry, either have this conversation with Mother, your reflection, or seek some other council but resolve this issue. Now, out of my carriage.”

  Panry walked back to the house. Wait, just wait to see what happens.

  *******

  Lauren lay in her bed for hours, watching the shadows frolic across the ceiling as the cool breeze danced with the light of the candles. She rolled over to her right side, stared at the candle for a few minutes. “I’ll name you Alron.” Then she blew out the candle, “Just like that, you’re gone. Each night that I lay here, the same thing will happen over and over again. The light that guided me will die.” She rolled over to the other candle. “What’s your name? Are you Earth Guard, Ironhouse, or one of my friends? Maybe your name is Lauren? One day, something will happen,” she blew out the candle, “and you’ll also die.” Rolling over into her pillow, she muffled her crying. I could fill this room with hundreds, even thousands of candles, and practice blowing them out each night, preparing myself for the massacre that’s heading my way. How many more will die because of something I do or fail to do? Why should I be the one to bear the nightmares of all those tortured souls haunting me? I did what they wanted. We found Mother’s children, and they know of the threat. My part is done. If they want to call me Earth Mother, fine. I can make speeches and ride through town in a carriage and wave. Mother has five others here that she already talks to. They can find a general to help them raise an army. The town is secure. They can do what they want. I know I asked Panry to make me a better Earth Mother, but all that means is that people will die in my name. Families will hate me because a loved one goes into battle for a reason they don’t understand and will not return. Widows, orphans, families fractured, all will blame me. All will hate me. Lauren rolled over to the dry side of the pillow. Mother, my task is done. Find somebody worthy, somebody who can bring your plan to bloom. Let them harvest the black-clad, planting the fallen midlanders like seeds in the spring. Make sure they’re strong Mother, as the hate directed at them will be great, their nights sleepless. No more lives will be blown out in my name. Lauren curled up into a ball, pushing all of the dark images from her mind, and for the first time in a very long time, drifted off into a dreamless sleep.

  *******

  The previous day, Pintar had advised Lauren that the wagon train to build the postal station hubs was scheduled to leave this morning. She had thanked him for the update, but advising that she was unable to attend, so she had John go in her place. It was after lunch when a messenger appeared at the door, requesting the Earth Mother at the town hall offices, and Panry went to the backyard where Lauren was taking tea.

  “The Earth Mother mayors have requested your presence. Would you like to walk, or shall I call a carriage?”

  “What would you suggest?”

  “Either will be safe.”

  “Let me go change and freshen up, and I’ll be down shortly.”

  “Carriage or walk?”

  “You can decide.”

  Panry gritted his teeth. If he had said coach and she wanted to walk, that would be good. She was being submissive, reserved, maybe even scared. Earth Guard training does not cover this!

  An hour later, she joined him in the front room. As they walked, Lauren was silent, and Panry was uncertain if the silence was a test: to see who was stronger. When they arrived at the town hall, Brook advised her that John had presented his changes on taxes to the oth
er two mayors, but they were displeased. As it stood, it would be tied vote, with a 50-50 chance on which way Camius would vote.

  “Earth Mother, can you please have your assistant check to see when we can meet with the mayors?” asked Lauren.

  When Brook rang a bell, the office assistant came in, and the request was made.

  Even though the look on Panry’s face never changed, his insides ripped him apart. She kills 100,000, has us kick open doors, banishes traitors, and now she seeks to schedule a meet?

  The assistant came back, “Lo and Maine are both busy. They have free time in two days.”

  “That’ll be fine, thank you,” replied Lauren. She looked at Brook and Lindo, “It’ll give them time to think about it. Beyond this, how’re things going?”

  When Lindo answered, she glared at Panry, “All is well, Earth Mother.”

  “Good, I feel like a light lunch. Would either of you like to join me?”

  “No, Earth Mother, we have much to do.”

  “John, would you like to go for lunch?”

  “Thanks, Lauren, but I need to go see Pintar.”

  “I guess it is just you and me Panry. I heard that a new restaurant has opened. If you preferred, we could go elsewhere.”

  Panry smiled, “Your choice is fine.” I have won and lost, Mother, how do I fix this.

  *******

  The Earth Mothers gathered in their front room where Arora was shaking her head, “What happened to Earth Mother? Her fire I see at times, but quickly it dies out.”

  “Let’s give her some time,” replied Fritza. “Pintar and John gave us an update on the Postal Service. John says we need to start recruiting the actual Earth Scouts. The town should now be secure, so we can put it off no longer. We will each send one of our Earth Guards into the shantytown to find elves without purpose. Pintar has cut a door into Hoyle’s old house so the Earth Scouts can enter the post office but stay in their own building. So now Hoyle’s house will once again conceal mysteries, but this time, it will be our secrets.”

  “It does seem fitting,” replied Arora.

  “The Earth Scouts will stay there,” Fritza continued, “The windows are covered, and they will only enter and exit through the post office so that all looks normal. It will give them a chance to get some rest and some good food into them before they leave. We will have to issue an Earth Bond, so they complete their mission in secrecy. I do not like it, as I think they should know what they are being hired for.”

  “If we go looking for Earth Scouts,” Brook added. “John is right and rumors shall start. I imagine, when we call next for volunteers, many shall step forward. For now, we need to practice secrets.”

  Lindo sighed, “John says we should have them heading out in about ten days. That is not much time, but there are many lost elves in the shantytown. The dwarves are building weapons for us, and we need to find our elf allies. Within the month, we will be receiving daily updates from the south port town. Earth Mothers plan is blossoming.”

  Arora pulled out her silver flask, “Mother, your daughter wanders from your path. Lost we shall be without her guidance. Please help her. Mother, you should know that we do not have any idea on what next is required.”

  Chapter 23

  It was the following day when Lauren approached Panry. “I was thinking that we’ve been here over a month. I haven’t been outside of these walls since we arrived here, except for that visit to the fort, and with the Earth Mothers to visit the forest. Could we go for a ride in the country?”

  This is a test. “Is there anywhere you would like to go?” asked Panry.

  “No.”

  He went into the kitchen and found Gor preparing the morning meal. He was working on a special height appropriate table, which Ryan had acquired for him, chopping some sort of meat.

  “Earth Mother wishes to go for a ride in country, and I thought a lunch we should take.”

  The meat cleaver in Gor’s hand came down, cutting deep into the piece of meat, “Words or steel, which will cut deeper?”

  “What do you mean, Gor?”

  Walking to the end of the counter, he came back with his war ax. “This ax, pretend it is your words.” He slammed it into the piece of meat again and again, “Your words, my friend they hurt. My friend, Lauren, I miss her. Happy, Gor is not. You want Gor happy.” He slammed the war ax into the table so hard that it broke in two, “Panry, I miss my friend. I want Lauren back, Earth Mother of Ironhouse. Shame Alron you do, treat her poorly, “

  I kill the villain, and now I become the villain, “Gor, pack my lunch for six or more like I have requested.”

  “Ready it will be shortly. Now, my kitchen leave!

  Heading outside, Panry wanted to find somebody who would look at him the wrong way, but none approached. Looking to the sky, he screamed a silent scream.

  Erust fetched Ryan, Lauren, and Gingaar an hour later. With the coach loaded, the Earth Guards led them out of the town for a pleasant picnic. While Ryan could sense the withdrawal of Lauren, he was uncertain of how to tend to her struggling fire. When he tried to engage her in meaningful dialogue, Gingaar would scold him with her eyes. Returning before the first sun down, Lauren thanked Panry, expressing how much she enjoyed the day.

  Taking a break from his work, when Pintar saw the carriage arrive, he headed over to the house. By the time he walked over, they had left, and John stepped outside.

  “John, I am worried about Lauren. She has been a driving force here, making things happen. What is wrong with her?”

  “Everyone’s worried about her. I don’t know what’s wrong, or why she’s acting like this. I think she’s afraid she’ll cause the death of others. She’s scared.”

  “This is not a good time for her to be scared. There is too much happening. If she has a breakdown, what then?”

  “Right now we have about two weeks before the next phase when the hub workers head out. We have some time, so let’s wait, and see if it works itself out.”

  “Wait for Lauren. Those words scare me. Everybody has had a hard time keeping up with her, and now we need to wait for her. I don’t like this reversal. Fix her compass, or everything bad you told me about will all come true, and I don’t want to be here for that. If you can’t fix it, I need to start making arrangements to leave.”

  *******

  During breakfast, Panry reminded Lauren that they had a morning meeting with Brook, Lindo and the two mayors about John’s tax proposal. She thanked him.

  “Would you like to take carriage or walk?”

  “Whatever you think’s best.”

  Panry walked outside and again, screamed silently to the skies. She killed Alron, and now I have killed her spirit. Mother, guide me.

  Showing up at the town hall, they went up to the office that Brook and Lindo shared. When the assistant came in, she explained that Lo had a family emergency, being unable to attend, so Maine thought they should postpone the meeting. Lauren asked the assistant to reschedule it for the following day.

  *******

  Arriving the next day again, they found both mayors were still absent. The assistant asked if it would be all right to reschedule for the following day, which Lauren agreed with.

  The same thing happened the next day, and again Lauren agreed. After Lauren had left the office, Brook called to Panry, her anger evident in the tone of her voice. “Panry, weeks past, I meet an incredible and extraordinary person. Stories beyond belief she tells all. So great were her stories, they caused Arora to seek answers from liquids that intoxicate. Mother told us she was sending help. I thought that Earth Mother was that person. If she does not be, somebody needs to find who Mother talked about.”

  “Panry, Earth Mothers are capable of great good,” began Lindo. “Buried deep in places we do not like to look, we can alter our abilities. Few have done it. None have enjoyed it, especially those who were the recipients. She killed 100,000, and now, lowly mayors blow her off like a dead leaf in the fall season, and she accepts
it. Panry, we can punish you beyond your worst nightmares, but it will not compare to what Mother will do to you…”

  John rushed over, walking Panry outside, “Talk to Ryan, as he talked with Lauren when you were gone.”

  Panry went to Pintar’s, sitting on the stool for more hours than he drank, but when his wife expressed her displeasure, he finally left. With the suns set, darkness had devoured the streets, and shadows danced across them when the wind caressed the street lamps. He hoped that one thief would fail to recognize him, trying to rob him. However, he was Earth Guard, and even in dancing shadows, he moved in such a way that no thief would risk the breath in his lungs. He returned to the house, finding Ryan sitting on the front step with Erust beside him.

  “I need to talk with Ryan.”

  “Pardon?”

  “Please follow me, friend Ryan.”

  “Panry, I think you need sleep.”

  “I need many things, but sleep is not one of them.” He made small talk as they walked, leading them to the statue. “John tells me you talked to Earth Mother while we buried Alron.”

  “Earth Mother, Moth Flame, or Lauren?”

  “All are the same.”

  “No, Panry, each is unique.”

  “What have I done?”

  “The question is vague since you’ve done much.”

  “You know what I mean.”

  “No, should I try to answer all of the unspoken questions that you think of, we’ll be here for a very long time. What have you done?”

  “I do not know,” replied a frustrated Panry.

  “Then let us talk of sunsets, of flowers, or of statues.”

  “That shall not accomplish anything.”

  “Really, then what will?”

  “I do not know.”

  Ryan had spent months with a psychiatrist. While he was uncertain if she had helped him come to terms with the death of Samantha, he had gained a very practical education in how to apply questions, “If I was Alron standing in front of you, asking you that question, would he accept your answer?”

  “I do not understand your question.”

  “Did Alron select you to be his second in charge so that he would look better or because of your qualifications?”