“I am waiting for you. You do not think that I would let you go back into Sedau without me, did you?”
“How did you know we were coming?” Landis asked.
“Do you remember where I live?” Weslocke reminding the half-elf, referring—of course—to the Birhirmian Network. “Word was sent to Jobez about what was going on. There is also rumor that you have stolen the Queen’s sword.”
Landis’ left hand dropped to rest upon the hilt of the Sword of Alexon. “I guess that is the official story.” The two inches of bare blade had been covered by a leather strap that Landis had cut and fashioned into additional length for his sheath. It did not look pretty but was hand sewn in place and did the job.
“I understand that Eric’s marriage is off,” Weslocke added, “Jobez is not very pleased about that turn of events and you may want to avoid visiting Birhirm for a while. I do not think Jobez will welcome you with open arms. He is also livid about the boy deciding to go after Boric without discussing it with him first.”
“How long have you been here?” Jaylen asked the dwarf.
“Long enough for me to see your fugitives arrive and begin working around the well. I figured that you would be coming to the same campsite, as it worked so well last time, so I made camp here to wait for you. They arrived late yesterday and made camp. Today they cleared the area around the well and four of them went down, leaving the others above ground to protect the entrance.
“How many?” Landis asked.
“I counted twenty-two in all: Boric, a wizard, your old friend Twaller Oakleaf, and another man all went down into the well. That leaves eighteen men topside.”
“Eighteen against nine.” Landis thought out loud.
Weslock lifted his axe, “I pity the bastards; they did not bring enough men.”
Jaylen’s mischievous grin appeared at the dwarf’s comment. “We can take out their men and simply wait for the four of them to climb back up and capture them with ease. We need to go back and get everyone.”
“We need to see what Seebaul has to say.” Landis suggested.
“Seebaul?” Weslocke asked, “You brought that old cleric from Alexon with you?”
“I’ll explain as we walk, now let’s put out your fire and go.”
* * * * *
Everyone was waiting for Landis and Jaylen to return with news of what lay ahead of them in Sedau. As they milled about tending to whatever was necessary, Seebaul approached Katryn. “What is bothering you?” He asked, noting that she had been quieter than normal.
“What makes you think that anything is bothering me?” She asked.
Seebaul motioned for Katryn to walk with him. “My dear, I know more about you than perhaps even you do. And I can sense that you are bothered.”
Katryn had to admit that the Elf Lord was right, “There are a few things bothering me. I am wondering how I never saw through Twaller Oakleaf? I have always been able to judge someone’s character when I first meet them. Do not ask me how, I just do it. I look around our own camp and I can see that Eric is afraid of commitment and fears being forced into responsibilities that he does not believe that he is properly prepared for. Jareel is a free spirit who wants to be his own person, but feels a fierce loyalty to his clan. He wants to prove himself worthy so that he can return home to them: I think he feels that he can do that now. Natis and Bix are somewhat the same: Both act like they have no care in the world and have no need for others, but both are very loyal and would do anything for those close to them. That is why Bix is so hurt. Oh, he will not admit it, but he loved ReShard as a brother, and would have followed Boric anywhere. He feels that both have betrayed not only their county, but they have personally betrayed him. I know all of this about these men here, but I have spent the past few years with Twaller and saw only good in him.”
“You were not fooled,” Seebaul informed her, “you saw what Twaller Oakleaf truly believes himself to be. Not all people who do evil things do so because they are evil. Some believe that what they are doing is the best thing to do, and do those things for what they determine to be best. Twaller is such a man. He has been fooled by my brother, and those who serve him, into believing that his use of magic and his current course of action is what is best for the world. He is wrong. He just does not know it. So you have not failed.”
Katryn listened to his words finding comfort in what the Elf Lord told her.
“What do you see when you look into my eyes?” He asked her.
Katryn made eye contact with the Elf Lord then quickly turned her head away, unable to continue. “I-I do not understand.”
“What do you see?” He asked again.
“I cannot read anything about you, but I see something that involves me in some way.”
Seebaul decided that it was time to reveal the truth to her. “Do you remember when I told you that I knew you?”
“Yes.” Katryn replied.
“Well it is not you who I knew, but someone in your past.”
Katryn was even more confused.
“My dear, do you remember asking me what I created when I told of the creation of the orcs and trolls by two of my brothers?”
Katryn nodded, waiting for Seebaul to continue.
“I did not answer you that night. But I did create life as well. What I created were the dryads.”
“Wood nymphs?” Katryn asked, thinking of the mythological creatures that were said to live in trees.
“One and the same,” Seebaul assured her, “Since I was responsible for the magic of nature, I decided to create helpers. So I used my magic and created a race of dryads to help care for the forest. There are many legends about what men and elves have claimed them to be, but the truth is that they are a faerie being indwelled with a healing and protecting magic. Seeing the error my brothers made with the orcs and trolls, I made them all female so that they could not mate and multiply out of control. I created a way for them to procreate naturally, but each could only do so once and it would be near the end of their lifespan. This would ensure that they did not multiply out of control. The dryads served me well. Under their care the forests thrived everywhere. After the time of us Elf Lords, the world began to change and the dryads began dying off. Only a very few existed when I came to the Westland, and I have not seen one since then; until now.”
“Surely you do not mean to imply that I am a dryad?” Katryn questioned the Elf Lord.
“Not a dryad in the true sense of the word. You are a descendent of one. Think about it, you have a natural ability to heal plants and to work with them. You have learned to utilize those skills to help others. It is no wonder that Twaller Oakleaf wanted you to be a part of his order as he obviously sensed your powers, even though you have only tapped into them.”
“I am not some kind of a faerie.” Katryn insisted.
“No, you are only part faerie.” Seebaul agreed.
Katryn began to walk away until Seebaul said, “I can tell you about your mother if you permit me to do so.”
She stopped. “My mother and father were the people who raised me.”
“Do not tell me that you do not want to know the truth of who your real mother was.”
“Why do you say, was?” Petra asked, “What makes you so sure that she is not still alive?”
Seebaul’s eyes turned uncharacteristically sad, “Because I know how I made the dryads. I was wrong when I limited their lifespan. A dryad would give birth to a daughter and live only long enough to raise her until the daughter was old enough to care for herself. However, I failed to overlook the desire that some of them might have for companionship. As it was, some dryads were able to mate. Sure, all of them could be with men, but the process of having a child was more difficult. But if a dryad could find someone with natural magic within them then mating could occur. Unfortunately, many of these mothers did not survive the birth.”
“What can you tell me of my mother?” Katryn asked.
Seebaul stepped closer to Katryn. He raised h
is right hand and held it over her head, “May I?” He asked.
Katryn nodded and the Elf Lord rested his hand on top of her head. Petra closed her eyes and began seeing things in her mind that she could not understand. After a few seconds Seebaul lifted his hand and the visions stopped. “What did I just see?” She asked. Her body was shivering—not from the cold—and her eyes were damp with tears.
“I can see your past all the way back to the dryad I created, Katryn. What is important to you is your mother. She was not a pure dryad, as most probably are not these days. She was strong in her power but limited in her strength. She fell in love with a magical giant-like being. Giants are very rare; and not at all what people assume. The few giants that still exist are anywhere from nine to twelve feet in height. They are short-lived and never exhibit magical abilities. But the giant your mother met was of mixed blood and somehow had magic within him. Do not ask me how, for I can only see the dryads, not their mates. Perhaps he possessed some powerful talisman. It does not really matter, the fact is that your mother and this unusual giant fell in love and you are the product of that union.
“I can see sorrow in your mother as something happened to your father. She was left alone and knew that she would not live to care for you. Since you are more mortal than faerie, and she feared that she would not live long enough to raise you, so she left you where you would be cared for. You were not abandoned, Katryn. Your mother left you with others so that you would live. She left you because she loved you.”
Katryn could say nothing. Seebaul had just stolen away her humanity. She always knew that she was not fully human; many believed that she must have elf blood in her. Now she was learning that neither was true. According to the Elf Lord she was part faerie and part some mysterious giant-like being. She did not want to believe him but she had seen much of this inside her own head. It made sense to her. It explained her tall stature and her ability to weave natural magic. But what did that really make her?
“What will Landis think?” She said aloud.
“That is difficult to tell.” Seebaul told her. “I will tell you this, when I leave here I will be returning to the Eastland. If you wish, I will gladly take you with me and teach you more about your mother and your race. In fact, I may be able to locate another dryad to help teach you.”
Jareel’s voice called to them, “They’re back.”
* * * * *
Renald marveled at the Dragons Gate portal inside Bytorron’s lair. He was the only one in the room as Boric and Trevor were off retrieving his brother, ReShard, who had been giving their mercenaries instructions before coming back down to join them. His brother had done well in recruiting some former soldiers into their cause before he had arranged to free Boric. With promises of riches and power, the men willingly rode ahead to wait obediently at the prescribed meeting place. Other than one incident along the roadway, there had been no need for their aide. But two days earlier they had run across a small detail of soldiers from Birhirm, and there the men had proved their worth. They lost three men in the conflict but had succeeded in killing all sixteen Birhirmian soldiers and disposed of the bodies before moving on. This alone won Renald’s support for his brother’s decision to employ them.
Renald had worked to dispel the protective wards that Natis had warned him about, and they were now ready to begin the process of opening the magical portal that had been closed since before the time of man’s rise to civilization. The mage was absolutely thrilled with how accurate Natis’ notes were on, not only Bytorron’s chambers, but as to the details involved in accessing it through the well. Rather than risking the small stone steps that Natis’ group had used to descend into the well, ReShard had brought along a rope ladder that they used to climb down. He was also happy that—due to the lack of rain necessary to replenish the underground water source—the well had dried up enough over the last few weeks so that it was not necessary to completely submerge their bodies when crawling through the opening at the bottom of the well.
They had originally intended on taking the portal above ground and opening it there but that had proved impossible. They did examine the hall outside to see if there was any way to access the stairwell to climb up. All of those efforts had been in vain. Twaller had then gone into a trance to speak with the ancient elf that had first informed him of the Pearls of the Elf Lords. Twaller had been assured that opening the portal down here would be sufficient, so it was decided that they would wait no longer. It was time to open the gate and release the being who had promised to reward them with power and riches.
The deal that Twaller had promised them on behalf of the mysterious Old One— who the druid explained was some kind of an ancient Elf Lord who was imprisoned inside the realm on the other side of the portal—was that the Elf Lord would teach them how to use the magic of the four pearls to do whatever they desired. Twaller insisted that the Elf Lord wanted to reclaim the race of elves to put them under his control and promised to march the elves of Delindea to the Eastland to reunite them with their ancient kin in Delowe’. He also promised to destroy the rebellious snow-elves in the north, who he blamed for imprisoning him. Boric believed this to be a no-lose situation. The disgraced Duke of Freeport despised elves in general even before the war with the snow elves. But he had even more reason to hate them now because of the meddling of Jaylen and his son Landis. If this Elf Lord would remove the elven presence from the Westland, than that alone was worth freeing him. Gaining the power to raise an army that could return and crush the Knights of Alexon and take over the kingdom that he believed should be rightfully his was his primary concern.
Renald supported his brother and Boric in their cause. Still, his reason for taking part in all of this was to claim the White-Pearled Staff as his own. With it—and with the knowledge he could glean from the books remaining here in Bytorron’s chambers—he could march into the Tower of Lonia and become the next Master of Lonia. If the wizards did not agree to his advancement by virtue of his increased power, then he would simply take over the tower by force. With his brother serving as Boric’s right hand in Alexon, Renald would have both the power of his magic and the might of ReShard’s army behind him.
As for Twaller Oakleaf, Renald had little concern as to what the druid did with the Green-Pearled Staff as he went off to use his skills to advance his druidic beliefs.
“We’re back.” Twaller spoke as he climbed through the opening into Bytorron’s chambers. The druid held his green staff firmly, feeling its power seep into his body. Twaller could not believe the surge of energy that it gave him. And now that they were on the verge of releasing Old One and Triana from the realm of the Dragon things were soon to be even better. Twaller could only imagine how great it was going to be serving with the Elf Lord as they reformed the world around them. No longer would the druids have to worry about persecution from the Temple of Jahon, or any other misguided people who frowned upon their religion. Twaller, Old One, and Triana were going to cleanse the corruption from the world. He just wished that Katryn would have seen the value of his plans and chose to stay with him. Twaller had received permission from Old One to give her the Red Pearl so that she would have served at his side. Alas, Katryn had failed and ran back to Landis. Twaller had indeed made his promise to Boric and the others that they would receive the other three pearls and be given the power associated with them. That had been Triana’s suggestion, and it fed their greed as anticipated. The reality of the situation was that Boric, ReShard and Renald were to receive nothing. Old One wanted the White-Pearled Staff for himself as it was his by right. Triana was now going to gain possession of the red pearl and Old One would let the Dragon Lords select the bearer of the Black-Pearled Scepter. Once the betrayal was complete Boric, Renald and ReShard would be dead.
“Now we can get started.” Renald said as Boric and ReShard entered the room behind Twaller.
On the table beside the Dragon’s Gate portal were the three items containing three of the Pearls of the Elf Lord
s. Renald had carefully gone over the stone archway, cleaning and examining each of the four holes that would fit one of the pearls. The cleaning had been unnecessary as the stone structure was the only thing in the room that was not covered with dust. Twaller walked over to the table looking at the three items. “I would assume that the bracelet and scepter should be used first. Then Renald and I can raise the staffs up to the top two openings.”
Boric approached the table and grabbed the bracelet. “Then let’s get this over with. I want to meet this elf and find out just how he is going to help me return and make everyone pay for what they have done to me. Perhaps I will make Petra become my Queen; at least until I grow tired of her.” He took the bracelet containing the red pearl and pressed it against the hole on the lower side of the archway. He fidgeted with it finding no way to make it fit into the socket. “Something is wrong; the bracelet mounts are too thick.”
“Let me have a look.” Renald insisted, snatching the bracelet from Boric’s grasp. He cautiously repeated Boric’s actions only to find that the defrocked Duke of Freeport had been correct. When the bracelet was made the mounts holding the pearl were placed high and around it. As such it would not fit. “We have to remove the pearl from the bracelet.” He informed the others.
Twaller was irritated at this news. “Great—another delay.”
Chapter 39
While the four fugitives from Alexon endeavored to open the Dragon’s Gate, their nine pursuers were preparing their assault on the eighteen men who stood guard over the well. It was here that General Bix proved his usefulness. He had listened carefully to Landis and Jaylen’s plans, then suggested alterations that all believed improved their odds of success. Jaylen had carefully scouted the area before leading everyone to the western edge of the city. Bix, Jareel and Jaylen were the only three to bring their horses and were concealed in a thatch of dead trees a short distance from where the rest of the others were getting into position. Bix had suggested that they allow Landis time to use his bow against the mercenaries in order to cut down their numbers from a distance and then the three of them would charge in on horseback from their position to engage the soldiers swiftly and have the advantage of being mounted to scatter and dismay mercenaries before dismounting to fight on foot when the others ran in to join the fray.
Elf Lords: 01 - Pearls of the Elf Lords Page 30