Kallen remained silent all the way back to the city, his eyes fixed ahead as he seemed deeply lost in thought. Zack watched him, wondering if the Elf was deciding between executing them or extracting all the information they knew and then executing them.
“What is it?” Kallen asked without turning. Zack’s eyes widened. The Elf had sensed his gaze without turning. It was impressive, but also creepy.
“Where are we going? Are we in trouble?”
“No, Zachary. We underestimated the ruthlessness of our prisoners. You three could have been killed. If anything, we’re sorry for the trouble caused.” His words seemed sincere and Zack appreciated it.
“It’s okay. We were able to hold them off, although some guards weren’t as fortunate. May they rest in peace.”
Kallen nodded.
“The Lord awaits.” He paused, looking back at the shocked faces of both siblings. “No, no, you are not in trouble. Don’t be alarmed. There is something else he wishes to talk about, something extremely important. I will be there to translate, in any case.”
They entered the city and the rest of the horsemen surrounded Zack and Samantha, their weapons raised to keep onlookers from approaching. Zack could see the faraway palace, but between the street they walked at and the ornate building, there were many streets to transverse and curious bystanders to avoid.
And bystanders to avoid there were. In masses.
Many Elves poured out of their homes and businesses just to see them, the three descendants of the Ancients who had ended up in their city somehow. Zack was overwhelmed at first, but soon his worry turned to smiles as young Elves came closer just to touch him and give him gifts. Some of the Elven females were beautiful and he blushed as they blew kisses at him. Samantha laughed as a small Elf baby was lifted and the mother asked her for something.
“She wants your blessing,” Kallen said with a roll of his eyes.
Samantha kissed the baby on the forehead and its mother made a grateful sign at her.
“What did that mean?”
“It is the sign of the Alliance. The old sign that Elves and Ancients used to use when they met. It’s a sign that hasn’t been used for ages, since your kin were wiped out.”
Zack furrowed his brow in thought.
“How long ago were they slaughtered? When did the great war take place?”
Kallen barked an order and his men lifted their spears menacingly. The bystanders were pressing too close.
“Two centuries ago. Not that long if you consider an Elf’s lifespan. I was alive to witness the final years of the war, as my parents fled the approaching Dragon hordes.”
“You what?!” Samantha yelled. “Wow, and to think hum—, Ancients live until a hundred years at most.”
“One hundred years? That’s a first. You lot usually lived like fifty or sixty years, as far as I know.”
Zack and Samantha remained in silence. So there were advantages to living in their modern world with advanced medicine, even despite the war raging on.
Finally, the group reached the walls of the palace and guards stepped forward to push the bystanders away and keep them far away from the palace gates.
“Do not even think to use your powers in here. The guards will consider you a threat and deal with you appropriately.” Kallen’s expression was stern, and he shot a look at Faye. “We may need to assign a pair of guards on her.”
“We’ll guard her, don’t worry.” Sammy guided her close next to Kallen’s and ran her fingers down Faye’s hair. “I’ll make sure she doesn’t do anything weird or dangerous.”
They dismounted at the very doors of the palace and the siblings’ mouths hung open as they looked up. They hadn’t really been paying attention to the structure in front of them during their walk, but now it stood before them and it was impossible to ignore.
The building was a dull gold tower, its walls marked with artistic scenes of battles and other events drawn with black ink. Vines grew up its walls in impressive shapes, and the smells of nature were everywhere. Zack could feel the vines and trees calling to him somehow. It felt weird.
Powerfully-armored guards stepped forward as Kallen’s men pushed the gates open. One of the Elves in the group had thrown Faye over his back.
“Sir,” one of them said, “Our Lord told us to make sure the Ancients are restrained on entering the palace.”
Kallen shot the man an ugly look.
“They almost lost their lives today after being thrown in jail; let us keep the unnecessary humiliations to a minimum, yes?”
The Elf swallowed and nodded. Nobody dares to stand against Kallen, I see, Zack thought. He must be a well-respected figure.
The ornate passages that led to the throne room were something else. Statues of Elven heroes on plinths paved the way and great paintings stretched all the way to the tall vaulted ceiling. There were also statues of Ancients, and the siblings found it to be quite a respectful gesture.
“War heroes, allies that fought beside us,” Kallen said, answering the unasked question. “We’re here.”
The throne room was huge, a round room with an elevated platform in the middle on which the Lord sat on his throne. The floor was red velvet carpet and the walls shone with gold. The Lord himself sipped from an ornate cup and his guards stood ready, two of the most powerful Elves that Zack and Samantha had seen.
“Sire, we are here.”
“Why are they not restrained?” The Elf leader asked petulantly.
“They have been subject to enough discomfort.” Kallen looked his superior in the eyes and the Lord gave in, shaking his head.
“Approach. Make sure the demon one cannot do any harm.”
Faye was lowered into Samantha’s hands.
“Please, tell him that I will take care of her and ensure that she behaves.”
“I cannot simply trust in the word of a stranger, girl,” the Lord answered, not allowing Kallen to transmit Sammy’s message. The two siblings were taken aback.
“Sir, I thought you did not speak our language?” Zack asked in shock.
“Of course I speak the language of the Ancients. I just prefer not to.” He returned to his own tongue then, and that was that.
Most of the following conversation was left untranslated, Kallen arguing with Lord Sessaran — as Zack heard he was called — until finally it seemed that a decision was being made. It amazed Zack to see how the two argued hotly, nothing like a military officer arguing with his lord, more like a spoiled son berating his patient father.
“Ancients,” Sessaran finished, “My brother and I have reached an agreement.”
Ah, so that’s it, Zack realized as he looked at Samantha and shared a smile.
“You were wondering, weren’t you?” Kallen asked with a smile, before returning to his typical stern nature and continuing, “You will stay among us as our allies and guests. You will be taught what you need to know on the world and you will fight at our side when we require it. If the enemy already has one of you within his forces, we are already at a huge disadvantage. We must counter King Garadon with our own magic, and you must be a part of that. Do you agree?”
Samantha began to reply, but something shifted at her side.
“No,” she whispered, and Faye’s form began to twitch and struggle. The girl’s breathing became quick and ragged, like a beast’s. She shuddered and fell out of Samantha’s hands as she writhed on the ground. “Wait!” Sammy cried as Elf guards stepped forward with swords and spears. She knelt over Faye as the girl fought the demon trying to take control of her body. “Faye, listen to me. It’s Samantha. Don’t let it take control, be strong. Come back to us!”
It worked.
“Huh…Samantha?” Faye asked, the darkness in her eyes fading away like smoke. “What’s happened since I…”
Samantha smiled at her as the guards took a few steps back.
“We’ve been accepted by the Elves, Faye. We’re part of their community now. Now get up and let me tell you the
details!”
Part Two:
Ignited
Chapter 6
Teachings
The room was dark as the trio entered, stepping gingerly inside and squinting their eyes to see who was waiting for them in the academy’s classroom.
“You’re two minutes late,” a voice hissed from behind them in their tongue, and both Samantha and Faye jumped in shock.
A tall, elderly Elf stood resting against the wall beside the door. He was sneering at them and shook his head.
“Ancients,” he muttered, “Always so arrogant…Anyway, are you interested in learning or not?”
Zack stepped forward and bowed his head.
“Forgive us for our delay, professor. We were unaware of the layout of the academy. We are of course fully invested in learning.”
The professor nodded once and his expression of displeasure disappeared. With a flick of his fingers, several lamps in the room lit up. Lord Sessaran had agreed to Zack, Faye and Samantha’s lessons taking place at a time when the academy was empty to avoid interference from the Elven students. The main focus was for them to learn three subjects: History, Elfish (the Elven language) and the Art of War.
“Do you even know what this class is, students?” Silence was the group’s reply. The professor sighed. “I will pick you up and drag you all the way back to times long past, when your ancestors still lived, and open your minds to events that shook the foundations of this world to their very core — all without leaving this classroom!”
Zack smiled as he and the girls looked at each other. This is much better than school in our world, he thought.
“Very well, let us commence!”
For the following two hours, Professor Sheith bombarded them with facts and stories of incredible things, for example: the realization that each race had been created in the mirror of another, except for the Dragons — Trolls for Elves, Orcs for Dwarves, Goblins for the mysterious Gnomes — only the Ancients had been created alone and unrivaled, but the Dragons had ended up being their equivalent and their downfall; the shocking discovery that magic still survived in small hidden pockets besides the mystery shrine that the group had come across; and that there had once been an Ancient who had manipulated nature just like Zack could. He had been the greatest Elven ally, a man named Rorask Silverscar. He died fighting one of the most powerful Dragon Champions, managing to give the great lizard a killing blow before he himself surrendered his last breath. One of the statues at the palace entrance was that of the hero himself.
By the time Sheith was done, Zack had filled his parchment with all sorts of notes. Sammy was grinning at Faye, who was amazed.
“If only we had been born in this incredible world,” she blurted out, before Sammy silenced her with a glare.
“Hmm? Well, whatever that meant, I am guessing you want to know one more thing. You must be curious about how your race disappeared. Yes, I know you may have heard the tales somewhere, but…there are so many things that aren’t in the books. Or should I leave that for tomorrow?” He smiled at the curiosity on his student’s faces. “Better that I let your curiosity simmer. See you tomorrow, my children!” The Elf flicked his fingers dramatically and the lamps went out. When Zack sounded his own fingers and the lamps turned on again, their professor was nowhere to be seen.
“Wow, nice trick!”
“Hello there.”
The trio turned to the door of the room. It was open, and a slim, armored female Elf was standing there.
“Your Art of War class is next. Be quick, I’m not a patient kind of teacher.”
Sammy grinned as they followed the Elf outside to a closed yard with hanging vines and flowerbeds.
“I must ask: are you the teacher?” She looked incredulous. The Elf was no taller than Zack, her thin body looking no more remarkable than Sammy’s own.
The Elf’s face turned stern.
“I see. You are underestimating me.” Samantha stammered as she tried to fix her error, but the teacher raised her hand. “Don’t worry; it has been happening for decades now. They say that it’s much better to show than to tell. Step forward.”
Samantha took a step forward nervously.
“Woah!” she cried, as the Elf standing across from her threw a sword into the air and watched the young woman catch it.
“Good, now let me show you why I — this skinny, short Elf you’re seeing in front of you — am your fighting teacher!”
The Elf moved quickly, unbalancing Samantha with her first strike and stopping her blade at the girl’s throat. Sammy smiled and pretended to surrender before knocking the Elf’s blade out of the way and stabbing forward with her own sword. She lunged once, twice, three times at her opponent, but the instructor was too nimble, too light on her feet.
Zack saw the teacher smile and shove at Samantha’s back with her foot, and it was all he needed.
“That’s it,” he growled, jumping into the fight. The Elf took a split second too long to turn to face him, and he sent a feinted stab at her feet before striking towards her face. Her eyes widened, but she managed to parry the blade at the last instant, stabbing back to get some distance. Both Zack and Samantha struck at the same time, and the Elf pulled a small blade out of nowhere to catch Zack’s attack at the same time as she blocked Samantha’s.
“You’re good,” she hissed at Zack. “But nowhere near as good as I am, Ancient—”
“ENOUGH!” A tall figure walked out from behind a tree and shook his head. It was Kallen the Wise. “Brenna, you are quite disrespectful to our guests. They do not deserve to be put to shame on their first lesson.” His expression warmed. “Now leave us, get some rest!” He tapped Brenna on the head and only then did Zack realize that she was a simple student. We were beaten by a kid, he thought with a sulk.
“What just happened exactly? She held us off with ease — both of us at the same time!”
“Don’t feel embarrassed. She is an amazing talent I’m nurturing.” He paused before continuing. “Ignore anything Brenna might have told you; I will be your Art of War teacher.” The trio’s eyes widened. This had just gotten interesting. “Now prepare yourselves. I don’t have the time or the patience to repeat anything!”
Chapter 7
Blood of my Blood
Faye burst into laughter as Zack finished pronouncing an Elfish sentence.
“That was really bad, Zack!” she chuckled, trying to stifle the laughter and failing.
He frowned and shook his head.
“You try it!”
Faye cleared her throat and spoke the line in an almost perfect accent.
“Wow!” The teacher cried, “Amazing. Keep trying hard and you might just learn to speak the right way! Oh, and I want to know the story of how you came to end up here, it must be thrilling.” The female Elf smiled and packed her things before leaving.
It had been four days of tough lessons. The trio were tired and bruised after the previous day’s beating from Kallen on the training ground; exhausted from studying history for the exam Professor Sheith had prepared for them; and the language teacher had made sure they’d practiced for three hours instead of two. It had been too much in too little time.
“So finally, we get to rest…” Sammy lay back in her chair and stretched.
But things were never that easy…
“You three,” Kallen said, stepping into the classroom, “Lord Sessaran wishes to speak with you. The Lords of other Elven cities have arrived.”
“What? Why weren’t we told about this?!” Sammy complained. She looked at Zack for help, but her brother shrugged.
“You’re being told now. A briefing is being held. Our plan is going to be decided. The war has begun and the enemy is already moving its pieces around the battlefield. The three of you are pivotal to the coming battles. Come with me. I shall make sure you are properly-dressed and arranged for the big moment.”
The trio ran to keep up with Kallen, as the tall Elf walked down corridors with long strides a
nd exited the academy onto the streets of the Elven city. He threw three cloaks with hoods over his back.
“Keep your faces concealed, I don’t want any hassle.” The palace was close to the academy, but even so there were plenty of streets to transverse before they could enter its gates. There had been a continuous situation of heightened security since the first signs of war lit up, so almost every single city guard had been assigned to the palace. “I don’t like the idea of babysitting you, for your sake and for mine, but there are too many important figures in the palace to allow a small breach of security to bring about a disaster.”
Wrath of the Dragon King (Dawn of Hope, Book 2) Page 3