The Broken Council

by Steven R. Burke

  There were about twenty of the blood-red beasts left, so now there was one man for every wolf. The general looked over his shoulder at his stalwart men and gave them a devilish grin. It all happened in a blink of an eye. One minute the wolves were preparing to pounce again, and the next they were sniffing the air as though they had lost sight of their quarry. It was as though the Nairians had vanished into thin air. Their heads snapped back in the direction of where the men had been standing in a circle. They were looking in the general direction where their meal should have been.

  Move toward the water, slowly. General Yukio projected this mental command into the minds of his troops. The general could not understand what was happening. He was planning to do something much different than this. The soldiers were so focused on self-preservation that they began to move toward the water under the belief that their general had actually spoken the command audibly. As they edged away, there was an explosion of fire that incinerated three of the wolves instantly. Fire and debris began flying in every direction. The wolves were howling in pain and shock. Yukio took advantage of this unexpected opportunity.

  "Kill them all!" bellowed Yukio out loud this time. He and his men charged the confused beasts and tore them to pieces. Fire continued to come from the north, which provided the Nairians the edge they needed to finish off their enemy quickly. The smell of burnt flesh and fur permeated the now still air. The smoke swirled high up into the clear afternoon sky.

  As the smoke thinned and the flames died out, the men could see a tall, slender figure walking toward them. Dead wolves lay all around the bewildered soldiers. The general ignored the stranger and quickly sought out his troops to make sure everyone was still there and in one piece. No one had been harmed. Yukio was proud of his men and their success. They had taken on a breed of gigantic wolves and had won decisively. The big question now was who the person was that had interfered.

  As the mysterious figure continued to glide toward the exhausted group, it became clear that it was a woman, a female elf to be exact. She had a brilliant gold and silver crown on her head that glinted and shimmered as she moved into the sunlight. She seemed to float toward them because of her exceeding grace and fluid movements. She seemed to be glowing white as she approached the men, who were still huddled together in a small circle back to back. The men held their collective breath as they realized that it was this delicate being that had provided them with the perfect distraction during their battle.

  "I am glad that you are all safe," the angelic elf said softly. Her eyes were fixed on General Yukio. She swayed gently side to side as she floated to a halt right in front of them. "It was lucky for you that I was walking along the edge of the forest on this fine day." She was smiling as she said this, which had a soothing effect upon the men. It was a reassuring smile that made them forget their recent deadly battle. They did not want her to stop talking; it was like drinking water after traversing a scorching-hot desert.

  "We are indebted to you, milady," the general said with a bow. His men quickly prostrated themselves before the powerful elven princess. They did not know why their general bowed to this elf. He never bowed to anyone.

  "Please, do not bow before me. I merely provided assistance in a battle that you were going to win without my help," she said with hushed tones as she gestured for the men to stand. "I am Princess Kira, daughter of King Tiranidrol, ruler of the Renshaw elves. Please gather your horses and follow me. We are not safe out in the open." She motioned for them to hurry as she looked around furtively. She had an anxious look that clearly indicated that they were still in danger. They glanced at their general, who quickly nodded to them that they should do as she said.

  They hurriedly gathered up their horses and were off within a couple of minutes. The general picked up the princess with one of his massive arms and had her ride behind him. They sped off quickly into the interior of the forest in the opposite direction of the dead and dying wolf pack. Men were usually not permitted into the confines of the forest, but their situation was one of need. Princess Kira assured them that they were not in any immediate danger from the elves. They really needed to focus on putting some serious distance between them and their attackers before stopping for a rest. After what seemed to be hours of traveling in a northeastern course, they came upon a small clearing where the princess called for a halt. It was obvious by now that they were no longer being pursued.

  "We are truly grateful to you for the timely assistance you gave us back there," General Yukio said with a gracious smile. "Do you know what happened to the men I sent to the Elgore Bridge?"

  "They were waylaid by the very beasts you killed. None of your troops survived the ambush," she reported sadly. She had a very sincere look on her face that made it clear she had truly wanted to help their dead companions. "I am sorry that I was not able to help them. Their deaths will be avenged." The men had never witnessed an elf being nice or even polite to anyone of a different race. Their interactions with elves had always been terse at best. She looked as though she truly cared about them. That made them all very nervous.

  "We are indebted to you for your kindness. We will leave you now Milady. We do not wish to inconvenience you any further. We will report to Queen Thejar of your selfless actions and will return with a reward as a token of our gratitude," the general stated with a slight bow. He knew that they were trespassing and that their presence was being watched by unseen eyes. This forest is alive! I mustget my men out of here. I do not know what this treacherous elven princess wants with us.

  "General Yukio, send your men back to your queen to report the events that have transpired. She will need to know that the southern wolves are migrating north. I request that you stay here with me," she said without any hint of what exactly she meant by her strange request. "I have matters I need to discuss with an emissary of the race of men, and you are the perfect candidate." She waited patiently for his reply with an unfathomable look on her smooth face.

  "Commander, please lead the men back to the queen and report what has taken place. Make sure you tell her about the wolves and let her know that I will be returning shortly with a more detailed report," he said with a grin. "Let her know that I am meeting with a member of the elven royal family and that I will return as soon as our meeting has ended." He could see a smirk creep across the face of his commander and gave him a quick wink. The commander understood that political issues were not the only things these two would be discussing. The soldiers saluted their general and then spurred their horses toward the northern edge of the forest. They wanted out of the eerie woods as fast as their steeds could carry them.

  The princess and the general silently watched as the soldiers galloped off through the trees. After what seemed to be several minutes, they turned to look at one another. I do not understand it, but I know that my destiny is bound to this man. I feel that without him I will never be whole as long as Ilive. What's wrong with me?

  The general easily read her thoughts and smiled. She is just as confused as I am; maybe that is why she is not bothering to shield thoughts from me.

  "What exactly did you want to talk about, Milady?" Yukio questioned slyly. "I do not think that it is politics or the safety of trade routes along the Blaine River." He was smiling smugly now. He knew what she had in mind from reading her thoughts. He could also tell that she did not know that he had the ability to read minds, which was working to his advantage.

  "Well, you already know why I asked you to stay behind. I thought you were gifted with stealing information from people's minds," she retorted playfully. "Remember, I have magic as well. Just because I do not possess the same abilities as you does not mean I do not know when my mind is being probed. You have met my father before, haven't you?" She was toying with him now. "He told me that you were able to block his probing attempts the last time you two met."

  The general was turning slightly red with anger at what he perceived to be mocking words. He had no idea that she knew so much about him.
"So, I guess there is more to this chance meeting than meets the eye?" There was no denying the attraction he had toward her. He was a man after all. She was more beautiful than any woman in Nairi, and he had never met the likes of her. Logic and reason said that what he was thinking and feeling was irrational, but he could not deny what he was beginning to feel for this elven princess.

  "Do you not sense the special bond that has formed between us already? I have known for some time now that we would meet, and I have also known that our destinies were somehow inextricably linked," she said with a sultry tone in her voice. "I know all of this because one of the guardians revealed these glimpses of the future to me. She knew that our union was vital to the future of the races." She had a lustful look in her eyes as she stared the general down. She moved closer to him as she spoke. He could smell her sweet fragrance and sense her burning desire. Our union ... what is she talking about?

  "So, what do we do now?" he asked quizzically. He was taken aback by what was happening and how fast things were unfolding. He instinctively knew that they would end up together somehow, though he did not know how or why it would happen. The elven laws regarding mixing with other races were strict, and the punishments for violating them were severe. That was not what concerned him at the moment; he was too intent on what was happening. It was as if he were dreaming a dream that would vanish the second he questioned what was taking place.

  "We must go at once to meet with Mistress Kana," she said with ever-mounting anticipation. It is happening just as she had said it would. She felt a rush of wild excitement and passion surge through her body. I will get what I want and save many of the elves from the ill fate that awaits those who will not follow me. General Yukio will be by my side, and then I can go to work on changing the destiny of the elven nation.

  "Why are we meeting with an Elemental?" Yukio queried cautiously. A feeling of great trepidation coursed through his body at the prospect of meeting with a guardian face-to-face. "Have we been invited to meet with her ladyship?" He did not know what to think at this point. He had let his curiosity override his common sense. He realized that the princess was anticipating marrying him and that together they would become heavily involved in altering the elves' destiny. He had always been in control of his life and took comfort in knowing he could still use his power against this powerful princess if events got out of control. How could I have been so blind? All I had to do was delve deeper into her thoughts instead of touching so much on her feelings. I should get out of here.

  "She is expecting us and is rather anxious to meet you," she said excitedly. There was no point in blocking the mental intrusions by the general. By allowing him access into her mind, he would be more willing to follow her to Mount Quang for their meeting with the Mistress Kana. "General, there is no point in the both of us pretending that you do not have the ability to use magic to enter a person's mind. I have let down all of my defenses; feel free to probe my thoughts and feelings."

  A brief look of annoyance crossed his face. How does she know so much about me and my abilities? He quickly hid any display of emotion and closed his eyes. Once his eyes were shut, he reached out with his magic to locate Kira so he could probe her mind for the truth. He first touched the cords of her emotions. He found out right away that she needed him and that she cared more for him than for anyone else. He could also sense her deep and abiding love she had for the elven people. When he prodded these sentiments for the elves to the surface, he understood their plight and felt the desperate need to assist the princess in changing their fate. How is she doing that? Why should I care what happens to the elves?

  As he delved deeper, he came across a discussion she had had with the guardian Kana. He quickly understood why they must go to meet with her and why he had such strong feelings for this elven woman whom he had just met. He still thought it unsettling that Kira knew so much about him. Through his probing, he found that she gained most of her knowledge from this guardian. Why does a guardian choose to interfere when they have vowed to never get involved with the races? More importantly, why me?

  He lingered a few moments on these thoughts and then opened his eyes. He saw Kira looking right back at him with a sensuous grin. Her eyes did not hide her intent, and she moved closer to him. She knew that he understood now and would not turn back. Their future together was only beginning; they would become so powerful that none would dare question their union.

  As General Yukio and Princess Kira emerged from the northern end of the Black Forest, Mount Quang came into view. It was a beautiful mountain covered with trees frosted by fresh snow. There were many places that appeared to be habitable. They looked at one another with loving eyes as they took in the beauty of the moment. They had traveled together over the past few days to reach the base of Quang. The sun was beginning to disappear on another day, and the sky was beginning to turn a reddish purple color. It was a truly beautiful scene. In the morning, they would climb the mountain to the predetermined location for their meeting with the powerful Elemental, Kana. It would be a day that they would never forget.

  They used the last few moments of the waning light to set up camp within the protection of the northern trees. Kira moved her hands in waving motions as she worked her magic. Every night she threw out a magical web to protect them from attack and to warn them of any danger that was drawing near. This night was clear, and the stars were bright in the sky above. They lay together for a long while staring up at the beautiful heavens while holding one another in a tight embrace. The air from the mountain was clean and fresh after a recent snowstorm.

  They woke early the following morning with a burning desire to reach their destination as soon as possible. They were anxious to begin their new life together and to work on their plans for saving the elven race. As they sat side by side taking in the tranquil scene, they were abruptly interrupted by a sleek black raven approach ing them through the air. At first they did not know if the bird was flying at them, but as it dived down toward the earth, it was clear it was heading right for them. The fell beast came up short and landed right in front of them without being harmed by Kira's magical web. It looked directly at Yukio with great expectancy in its beady black eyes.

  The general instinctively knew that the raven was attempting to communicate with him. He had never attempted to communicate telepathically with a raven before, so he did not know what to expect. As he reached out with his magic to touch the bird's mind, he could sense the urgency of the message it was carrying. Once he had established a connection with the bird, he saw flashing images coming at him in rapid succession.

  The general winced as the images flew at him. He simply could not process that much information at the rate it was coming at him. He used his magic to slow down the images. Once they started coming at a more reasonable pace, he understood perfectly who the bird was and what it was trying to tell him. This was a messenger from Mistress Kana. He had been sent to give them precise directions to the meeting place and to bid them welcome.

  "This is a messenger from our guardian friend," the general explained. "He bids us welcome from his master and asks that we follow him to the predetermined meeting place." Yukio did not go into detail about the numerous images that he saw because it was still unclear to him what they all meant. He had no idea why he saw scenes of horrific battles and of personal betrayals. He could not comprehend their meaning at the moment, but he would discover their meaning. He was extremely adept at solving puzzles like these and would not rest until he understood everything.

  As the morning gave way to midday, the sun burned brightly in the clear sky above them. The temperature was beginning to climb already to a very uncomfortable high. They had been following the raven for a couple of hours now, and they were still no closer to the secret meeting place. Yukio had used the time to describe the meeting place in greater detail to Kira. There was a massive waterfall that fell over a hundred feet into a deep pool of green water. This place was enclosed in a veranda of beautifu
l trees and vegetation. That was where they were heading. The mistress would surely be waiting for them there. However, Yukio did not tell the princess that he saw the guardian in the images he was shown by the raven. The Elemental did not have a solid form, or so it seemed. Kana looked like red and grayish-white mist swirling together by the bank of the eerie pool.

  The general's thoughts were interrupted when the trees began to thin out and revealed the scene Yukio had just finished describing. They looked up at the impressive waterfall and instinctively knew that everything was going to be different. They followed the falling water to where it smashed into the clear green pool of water. Somehow they had not heard the stream that they had been following. They were even more bewildered at how they missed the raucous sound of the falling water. They had been caught up in their own thoughts that they missed all of the signs of the end of their journey.

  Princess Kira's eyes sparkled as she looked for the Elemental. She knew that no one had seen one for hundreds of years. They used to travel the lands ofTuwa without any trepidation, but something had happened centuries ago to drive them into seclusion. As Yukio looked at the place where he had seen the misty form of Kana, they both started at the appearance of a beautiful creature. She had long, fiery-red hair with eyes that pierced the soul. Being in her presence was both terrible and awe inspiring. The powerful Elemental before them gestured to them to come out from under the cover of the trees. Yukio did not like giving up his cover; it made him feel vulnerable.

  As they approached, a powerful wind came up from behind them and lifted them into the air. They hung suspended right in front of Kana. They had a brief moment of terror rush through them, and then all at once they were at peace. The guardian smiled pleasantly at her guests as though this unwanted suspension should have been expected. Once they felt comfortable again, they both carefully put up mental barriers. It was never wise to lower them for too long, regardless of whose company you were in. Yukio worried that he may have kept them down for a moment too long, so he employed his strongest barrier in the form of a mind mirror. This is basic in what it does; however, it requires vast amounts of energy and skill to employ. Basically he shields his mind by mirroring the mind of the intruder so that they see their own thoughts. He quickly searched for an alien presence in his mind and found none there. He breathed a sigh of relief. She must trust us. Yukio felt a pang of uneasiness at this thought.