“I know you think you can help me,” said Aaliyah. “But there is really nothing you can do.”
“If I can't help, would you at least tell me what is troubling you?”
She sighed and closed her eyes. “I am trying to still my heart. Soon I must see Nehrutu again.”
Gewey raised an eyebrow and smiled. “I would think you'd be happy about that.”
“I am uncertain how I feel,” she replied. “There is no doubt I will be pleased to see him, but I am unsure as to what to say. Through your communication with Kaylia, he will be aware of your decision - and my failure.”
Gewey chuckled. “That should make him happy.”
She looked over at Gewey. “If Kaylia left you in pursuit of another, would you be happy when she returned?”
“If it meant we would be together, I might,” he replied. “But you left Nehrutu out of a sense of duty, not because you stopped loving him. I’m sure he understands that.”
“He does. But I cannot help but wonder how I would feel if the situation were reversed. Would I be so willing to return to the one who spurned me?” She smiled. “I am acting as a child. But matters of the heart make children of us all. Even the most wise.”
“Have you reached out with your spirit?” he asked. “I'm sure it will ease your mind if you do.”
“I have more knowledge than you, Gewey,” she replied. “But I am not as strong. I cannot span such great distances.”
“I could help,” he offered.
In spite of herself, Aaliyah could not hold back a laugh. “I am afraid such a meeting would be too personal. But I thank you, regardless.” She closed her eyes. “Now, if you intend to stay under the stars with me, you must allow me to rest.”
Gewey squeezed her hand and rolled over. The sound of the ocean swells lapping against the ship’s hull was sweet music, singing him to sleep. As he drifted, he thought of Kaylia. He considered reaching out to her, but the motion of the ship pulled him down too fast. Within seconds, his breathing was deep and steady.
The morning brought the sound of gulls and the spirited voices of the crew hard at work. Aaliyah was already busy with the running of the ship, and now appeared to be in much better spirits. After breakfast Gewey returned to the navigator carrying his cup of water. Taking his place on the deck, he continued the exercise. This time, after only two attempts, he did it. A small droplet of water floated from the cup. Gewey was elated. He moved it around, making it rise, fall, and travel in tight circles. He allowed the flow to swell and concentrate within him. He removed another droplet, then another, until there were ten in all. He formed them into a ring and pushed them above the navigator’s head. Then, one by one, allowed them to drop.
The navigator turned slowly, her expression unmoved. “That is enough for today.”
Gewey tried to suppress a laugh. “Don't you have a sense of humor?”
She turned back around, saying nothing. Gewey frowned and headed toward the cabin. After only a few steps toward the door a large ball of water splashed down over his head, soaking him to the skin. The elves on deck burst into laughter. Gewey looked back at the navigator, who was still facing forward.
“There is nothing wrong with my sense of humor,” she said.
Gewey couldn't help but smile. He used the flow to dry his clothes, then went in search of Aaliyah. He found her in her quarters, poring over a large map that covered the entire desk. He told her what the navigator had taught him - and what she had done in response to his joke.
“She must like you,” she noted.
“You'd never know it by the way she looks at me,” Gewey replied.
“I've known Drasalisia for seventy years, and never once seen her be playful.” Aaliyah leaned back in her chair and grinned. “We should arrive just north of the city of Skalhalis in two days’ time. From there we will cut across country and arrive in Valshara the following day.”
Just then a bell sounded repeatedly from on deck. Aaliyah jumped up and flew from the cabin, Gewey following close behind. As they made their way up, he could feel the ship slowing.
“What is it?” asked Aaliyah, while making her way to the bow.
“A fleet of ships just beyond the horizon,” said the navigator. “At least fifty.”
“Can we avoid them?”
“We can,” she replied. “But you may wish to go ashore further north. From their course, it looks as if they are heading for Skalhalis.”
Aaliyah thought for a moment. “No. I want you to plot a course that has us arriving under the cover of darkness. Once Gewey and I are away, take the ship as far off shore as possible, while still close enough to be contacted.”
“There is more.” The navigator’s countenance betrayed her worry. She took Aaliyah's hand and together they closed their eyes. After a few minutes she let go and lowered her head as if fatigued. “Is that what attacked you in the desert?”
“It was,” replied Aaliyah. She turned to Gewey. “It would seem Angrääl has sent more forces. Vrykol are aboard ships bound for Skalhalis. They will arrive just as we get to Valshara. You must warn Kaylia.”
Gewey nodded sharply and ran to his quarters. Sitting in front of the desk, he reached out for Kaylia, but her thoughts were presently turned to matters of the flow. Nehrutu must be giving her another lesson, he thought. He pressed his spirit in even harder. This time he managed to reach her. He explained what Aaliyah had told him, but the moment he’d finished, she broke contact.
Aaliyah entered a moment later. “Did you succeed?”
The shock of Kaylia pulling away so suddenly had made him feel dizzy. “Yes. I'm sure of it,” he said.
Aaliyah walked over to the desk and stared down at the map. “We will come very close to the ships when we land, and we still may be seen from the shore if an army is mustering for war.”
“Then they will not live to tell of our passing,” said Gewey. A small fire was building in his heart. The rage returned. It felt good. He smiled fiendishly and looked sideways at Aaliyah. “I guess the war has truly begun.”
She placed her hand on his shoulder. “It would seem so.”
He spent the rest of the day with the crew, trying to calm himself and keep his mind as far away as possible from war. By now he had learned quite a lot about the workings of the ship, and offered to lend a hand wherever he could. This was well received by the crew, who in short order were teaching him elven seafarer’s songs and telling old tales passed down aboard ships for thousands of years. Most were about sea monsters and adventure, but a few dealt with the gods. Gewey tried to pretend not to be interested in these, but couldn't help wondering how much truth was hidden within the fiction. After seeing what secrets the desert held, he thought that the sea stories might hold more truth than anyone ever imagined.
In spite of all his efforts, his mind still kept wandering to the coming battle. The force that had marched on Valshara would certainly not be enough to defeat fifty ships filled with soldiers. And he had no idea of how many men might have already landed before these new arrivals. There could be a hundred-thousand troops ready to sweep across the land for all he knew. If that were so, then the war would be over almost before it had begun.
By nightfall, he was dreading what dreams might come. He knew Kaylia would be making preparations, and that meant he would most likely be unable to contact her. Aaliyah could tell he was troubled and stayed in her quarters with him.
“Should you need me, I am here,” she said as they both slipped into bed.
“Thank you,” he replied. He rolled over and closed his eyes. “I'll be fine.”
“Do not fear the strength your feelings bring,” she said. “They are a part of you. It was that strength that saved my life.”
He sat up and pushed his back to the wall. “I know. And when it happens, I don’t mind. But afterwards - it’s as if I lose who I am. I feel that it’s changing me.”
“It is changing you,” she replied. “I told you that before. But that should n
ot upset you. You are just becoming what you were always meant to be.”
“And tell me, what is that exactly?” he asked, his concern clear. “I mean, I feel it most when I’m angry. What if that’s how I eventually become - an angry, vengeful god? Will the world be any better off once the Dark Knight is gone if I remain?”
Aaliyah scowled. “You will not become evil, if that is what you’re suggesting. Powerful - yes. Dangerous - absolutely. But dangerous to whom is the question? I think not to those who you love and protect.”
“I hope not.” Gewey slid back down and wrapped himself in his blanket. ”Each time I feel it stronger than the last. The name Darshan is becoming more and more natural to me. I’m just afraid I’ll lose the part of me that is Gewey.”
“You will not,” she said, her tone reassuring. “I swear it.”
His dreams that night were troubled, filled with visions of hopeless despair and suffering. Human and elf huddled together, bleeding and crying. The whole world was trapped in an inferno of chaos and death. And he was stood alone in the midst of it all, powerless, unable to change anything. The morning was the only thing that brought him welcome relief.
They were due to arrive at sunset, so Gewey spent the morning gathering supplies and checking his gear. He then rested in the cabin until the early afternoon. He wanted to be as strong as possible when they landed, so only left the cabin twice to take his meals. When he finally went up on deck he took his pack, the bow, and staff along with him. These he stowed near to the landing craft.
Aaliyah was already there and ready to depart.
“I see you are excited to get underway,” she remarked.
He shrugged and leaned over the port railing to look at the setting sun. The cloudless azure sky was beginning to reveal the night stars as daylight slowly faded. There would be no moon tonight. He was grateful for that.
As he waited to depart, the crew came one by one to bid him farewell. As night fell and the ship slowed to a halt, the navigator joined him.
“You will return once your task is done,” said Drasalisia. “I still have much to teach you.”
Gewey thought he almost saw her smile, but couldn't be certain. “I would like that,” he said. He watched her for a second as she walked away. Then, as his gaze returned to the sea, he felt something strike the top of his head. The next instant, water was pouring all down his back. He spun around just in time to see the navigator entering the cabin.
Aaliyah approached, pack in hand. She smiled. “Of all the wonders I have seen, that was the most amazing. Were you an elf, you would certainly be doomed to be her apprentice.”
Gewey laughed, at the same time running fingers through his saturated hair. “So, it's time to go?”
Aaliyah nodded, then led him to the boat. The crew lowered it into the water and they climbed down. As they moved away Gewey looked back to see the crew gathered all along the starboard rail, waving. He waved back, as did Aaliyah.
He drew his sword and let the flow of the air rage through him. Soon he could make out the shoreline. The sea was calm, with small waves lapping against the sand. The moment the boat touched shore they dragged it into some nearby brush and covered it with branches. He reached out to see if anyone was about. Approximately three hundred yards due east, where the beach turned to a thin forest, twenty men were moving north.
“I sense them, too,” whispered Aaliyah. “And twenty more a quarter mile south of their position.”
“If they stay bunched together like that, we should be able to slip between them,” said Gewey. “Kaylia taught me to move in the shadows unseen.”
“A useful skill,” she replied. “Let us hope it serves us tonight.”
They crept forward until they were only a hundred yards from the patrol. He could see their armor reflecting in the light of the torches they carried. One soldier turned toward them, revealing the broken scales insignia of Angrääl across his chest plate.
They paused, crouching behind a clump of sand tails as the patrol slowly moved away. Just as Gewey and Aaliyah entered the tree line, they sensed an all-too-familiar foulness coming toward them from the east.
“Vrykol,” Gewey hissed. “Only one though.”
“But it's enough to raise the alarm,” said Aaliyah. “If that happens, use the earth. Fire will draw even more down upon us. We should try to avoid that if possible.”
Gewey allowed the flow of the earth to replace the air. It felt odd, yet invigorating. The earth was so much more physical and raw. “If it hears us, I'll knock him over. Soon as I do, we'll rush it. Hopefully it won't have time to call out.”
They moved south, then east. At first it looked like the Vrykol wouldn't sniff them out. Then, just as they were parallel to it, the creature halted and began walking swiftly toward them. As it came into view, Gewey could see that it held a curved blade in one hand, and a small, bone horn in the other. Gewey was just about to fling a fallen log at the beast when it stopped and raised the horn to lips hidden beneath the black hood. The sound rang out and the beast backed away.
“I guess they are becoming more cunning,” observed Gewey. He remembered the elven Vrykol from the Black Oasis and the anger raged. He grinned maliciously at Aaliyah before charging forward. Aaliyah drew her dagger and followed.
The Vrykol waited for them. But, instead of a sword, the twang of a bowstring sounded. The arrow whizzed through the air, seeking Gewey's heart. At the very last instant he managed to twist and dive sideways. Only his incredible speed saved him from being skewered.
Aaliyah ran straight ahead, slashing at the Vrykol's neck. The creature was barely able to drop the bow and draw its sword in time. The sound of metal on metal rang out. Aaliyah pressed the attack, forcing the beast back.
Gewey scurried to his feet and charged in. The Vrykol slashed hard at Aaliyah, and then reached inside its cloak. Just as Gewey was close to striking distance the creature threw something to the ground just in front of him. The earth burst into flames, bringing Gewey sliding to a halt. He heard soldiers approaching from either side. Quickly, he threw the earth beneath the fire upward and to his left, then leaped over the small crater now left in the ground. Aaliyah was being pushed back as the Vrykol attacked furiously. Gewey slashed at its leg, cutting deep and sending it stumbling backwards. Aaliyah slashed at its neck, but it lifted its sword to deflect the blade. In a flash, it then brought its fist crashing into Aaliyah's jaw. She fell heavily.
The Vrykol turned to Gewey, thrusting its blade at his gullet. Gewey twisted and countered, opening the Vrykol's chest. It fell back stabbing wildly.
Just then the first patrol of soldiers arrived. Aaliyah recovered her feet in time to bring her knife across the leading soldier’s neck. She spun around, gutting another. A blast of wind forced the center of the patrol backwards as she set about attacking their left side, cutting down two men with a single stroke.
Gewey pressed the Vrykol hard. The flow swelling inside him was made even stronger by his sword. With all his strength he swung the blade at the beast’s neck. The Vrykol tried to block the blow, but its blade shattered under the massive impact. Still following through with the same devastating sweep, Gewey’s sword sent the creature’s head rolling from its shoulders. Rapidly he then turned to see Aaliyah blasting the soldiers back with bolts of air as she carved her way through their ranks.
He could hear more soldiers approaching from the south. The flames from the Vrykol attack were beginning to spread to the dry leaves and twigs lining the forest floor. Hiding was no longer an option. He created a wall of flame, splitting the soldiers ranks and pushing them back. Only two men now remained on the far side of the flames to face Aaliyah. Fear quickly overcame them. Dropping their weapons, they fled.
Gewey had already surrounded the others with flames. He tightened the ring, as he had done to the Soufis. The soldiers began to scream and cry.
“Kill them or let them go,” yelled Aaliyah.
The wall of fire was still creeping slowly
in, squeezing the men ever closer together. With a rush of self-awareness, Gewey realized that his spirit had become full of hatred and anger. He wanted them dead. He wanted to watch them burn. It took a huge effort of willpower for him to allow the flames to die. He shouted out to the panic stricken men.
“Run, if you want to live!”
The soldiers needed no second telling. Dropping their swords, they ran as fast as they could. But by now, the second group of soldiers were coming into view. As Gewey turned to face them, a column of fire burst to life directly above his head, jagging back and forth menacingly at the new arrivals, daring them to take even a single step closer. It was enough. Shouts of terror filled the air as the second patrol also chose the far safer option of fleeing rather than fighting.
“Your powers are growing,” said Aaliyah. “You could have easily bested ten times as many.”
Gewey glanced down at the dead Vrykol. Not powerful enough, he thought. Not yet.
The pair of them ran off into the night at a full run. The flow raged, but it felt different. More intense. He smiled as he sped his way through the forest.
The name Darshan echoed loud in his mind.
Chapter 29
King Halmara paced in front of the jeweled throne of his forefathers, glancing angrily at the door every time he turned. The rarely used throne room was cold and empty. For generations the well-being of his kingdom had been administered from the king’s office and the council chambers. This room was for receiving honored guests, and nothing more. The walls bore the banners of the twelve kingdoms, with the eagle and fish symbol of Skalhalis hanging proudly above the throne. His family had ruled for more than a thousand years. Now folly could end everything. Lord Sialo was sat in a plush chair to the right side of the throne, watching the King carefully.
“You should relax, Your Highness,” said Sialo. “Things are going according to plan.”
Halmara stopped and turned on Sialo. “Is that so? In what way was the poisoning of King Lousis part of the plan?”
The Godling Chronicles : Bundle - Books 1-3 Page 95