by S K Wee
At first, the dimness made it difficult to see everything that was going on. But then Kappy’s eyes were drawn to the stage where dancers were moving ever so seductively. When he glanced at the other two, he saw his amazement mirrored in both of their faces. This was going to be a great night . . . well, it would have been if the huge man along with two others flanking him hadn’t come to their table and asked them to follow them. They had barely started their second round of drinks and were eagerly watching as the dancers removed yet another piece of clothing. But instead of causing a fight, they followed the big man.
The men escorted them into an office toward the back of the building. The large Whisper motioned them inside the room. “You will wait here until the mistress arrives.” They sat nervously in the chairs provided. It was obvious the men were going to stay and watch them until the mystery woman arrived.
“Hey, we just came here for a little fun. We haven’t done anything wrong. Why are you keeping us here?” Kappy was getting quite angry. They had every right to be there.
“The mistress just wants to welcome you to the club. She will be here shortly.” That eased Kappy’s mind some. They were new clientele, maybe they needed to join or pay dues.
About twenty minutes later, the door opened and a woman entered. She had her back to Kappy so he could not see her face, but her gown was a bright gold with some lace running around the bodice. The woman’s hair was bright red, glaringly red. She told all the men to leave them be and moved to stand in front of them. The first shock came when Kappy felt the flow of air—she was also a Whisper.
“Kappy, you’ve made a huge mistake coming here.” Shocked that the woman knew who he was, Kappy looked closely at the woman.
“Aunt Rose? What are you doing here?” Why would his aunt come to a place like this?
“I’m not too surprised at Kappy being here but Quin, this doesn’t seem your type of place at all. And how about you, Sylly? Is Malini not enough to keep you busy?” Quin hung his head in shame. Kappy knew Quin was not on board with the idea from the start. But Sylly and Malini? This was the first Kappy heard about it, and he realized that he had been so wrapped up in his own world he paid little attention to anyone else.
“This was all my idea. Neither of them wanted to come along, but I threatened to come alone.” Kappy gave Sylly a look that said he had some explaining to do once they returned to the palace.
Rose gave an exasperated sigh and leaned back against the desk. “Listen to me. I’m sorry but your disguise would never work. I’m also sorry that because of who you are, I can’t allow you to make the mistake of frequenting a place like this. I know you and Birgit are not getting along and that is really none of my business, but this Kappy, this is my business. We’ve tried very hard through the years to build up respect for the government of Bhaelor, and I can not let you ruin everything Anduras and I accomplished.”
“How could anyone know me here? And you still haven’t told me what you are doing here.” Kappy was still upset his well-made plan did not work out.
“I had every intention of waiting a while for this discussion, but now is as good a time as any.” Rose stood and walked across the floor extending her arms for emphasis. “I own this and all the other brothels in this section of the city. I also own quite a few other businesses in and around the waterfront. You may have heard of the Black Rose organization. Well, that is run by me.” Aunt Rose outlined all of her connections that night and made sure that Kappy was aware she knew nearly everything happening in that part of the city.
After that night, Rose made it known to him that he could still hire a prostitute through her, but he was never to frequent the brothels. He would need to meet with one using the manor as before. Rose had also shown her disapproval, which was why Kappy hadn’t wanted to talk to her about it in the first place.
Though Kappy had used the services of a prostitute, he quickly realized it wasn’t at all satisfying. He wondered if Aunt Rose picked one she knew he would not be attracted to on purpose. She had also told him to try to fix what was broken in his marriage. The problem was that he had no idea how to accomplish it. He was sure he had made a huge mistake with his choice of brides. Birgit was still absolutely beautiful—the dream bride. Even though she was polite and seemed accommodating, Kappy knew just how cold she was inside. How could he ever melt her heart?
They had received a message that Twig and Darby were on their way. Along with them would be Conny, Dianna, and Frankie. Kappy had no idea why but was always happy to see them. He also hoped it had something to do with the desert. He had heard that Dianna was receiving some information on how to stop the growing desert from eating up any more land. Kappy wasn’t sure how she could be learning how to stop it but thought it had something to do with when she had been abducted.
When he went in for lunch, he found they had arrived and his lovely bride was even now playing the warm hostess for them. How deceiving she could be. When he greeted his family and friends, she even had the nerve to stand beside him and smile ever so sweetly.
As the plans unfolded, Kappy was amazed at what they told him. They had stolen the staff from the monastery. Kappy couldn’t help but smile when they related the story of how Twig and Dianna perpetrated the theft. Evidently, Dianna had been sure the statue would just hand the thing over. She did awaken something within the wooden staff, something very old and strong—a magic that had been asleep for over a thousand years. But when it did awaken, it woke with bright abandon.
“As soon as I began to pry the staff from Sar’s hand, the staff lit up the sky like daylight. Twig was boosting me up to reach the rod and he nearly dropped me.” Dianna was laughing through that part of the tale. Though they had planned the thievery for a dark moonless night so they could escape without notice, the staff brightened the whole of the sky and the area surrounding the monastery for many miles. It was a strong beacon in the night. “Soon there were nuns and monks streaming out of the buildings, racing toward us, screaming and making their odd signs to ward off evil.”
Once Dianna had the staff in hand they wasted little time in transporting out of the monastery and back to the castle at Qeeta. The staff lost its brilliance once Dianna set it aside, but now it rested on the table and Kappy couldn’t help but reach for it. When he touched the wood, though it felt warmer than it should, he felt nothing else and no bright light shone forth. Dianna was the only one that could rouse the staff.
As they continued the story and the plan to lift the curse, Kappy came to a satisfying conclusion. “I will be coming along. This is my country and I will bear witness to everything that is done.”
“Kappy, that won’t be necessary.” Aunt Rose was already thinking of arguments against his going, he was sure.
“Aunt Rose, I will go. I do appreciate that you want to keep me safe at all costs, but I have to start earning the respect of the country for myself. I will go along as well as some volunteer guards. I will provide all the transportation that will be required and anything else we may need.” That being said, Kappy was surprised that not only did he get no further argument, but they also looked upon him with pride. The only one not in his corner was his wife. Birgit looked like she did not want him to go.
Later when Kappy was alone with Birgit, she began her argument. “Kappy, I don’t think it’s safe. What if those elves try to stop this? I wish you would stay here where you are protected.”
“My dear wife, I’m surprised you even care.”
“Of course I care—husband. I have never stopped caring!” Birgit turned on her heel and left him standing there alone. Funny way of showing it, Kappy thought. After the farce of their wedding night, Birgit had approached him a few times wanting to set up her schedule. Kappy couldn’t imagine having a schedule to have sex with his wife. He felt like he might just as well hire someone.
Twig and Conny built them a bridge to the edge of the desert. From there they would use wagons to transport the group to the temple. This was where Dia
nna believed she was meant to work her healing magic. Her recent visions had always portrayed her as standing on the center stage or what was left of it. She remembered the area well and knew exactly where she was to stand.
When Kappy had asked for volunteers from his guard, nearly all of them requested to be included. He decided to choose his main group of four; Sylly, Quin, Malini, and Ha-yun—these were his Whisper-trained, tightly knit group from the Academy and he knew that if there was any sort of danger they worked very well together.
As they approached the temple, it was Frankie who mentioned something felt off. Darby sent his hawk forward, and Quin wrapped himself in shadow and ventured ahead. The whole area was eerily quiet, with the exception of the hawk. She flew a full circuit around the ruins and returned.
“We have company and they are not here to welcome us. Erram has also scented dead bodies. My thought is that they have killed some of the elves who were here and plan to stop whatever plans we have.” Darby got his information through his bonded hawk.
As they anxiously awaited Quin’s return, Kappy wondered what they would find. “They must be hiding in the lower catacombs. Quin should be returning with his report soon.” Kappy felt almost anxious to take down the enemy. He welcomed the fight. Malini and Ha-yun were expert archers and already had bows in hand. Sylly looked eager to dispatch all opposition also.
Kappy felt the stirring of air through his ear and knew Quin had returned. “What did you find, Quin? And quit trying to sneak up on me.”
“They know we are here and are preparing. I counted about twenty, but I didn’t go down the stairs. They are all dressed in dull gray and all the ones I saw are black-skinned. Not dark brown like mine, but black as coal. Some kind of freakish elf I’ve never heard of. They have rubbed some gray silt on their faces. I think they plan to blend into the ruins. Most are armed with bows, but they may possess some magic users also.”
They were outnumbered but Kappy was not worried about that. He knew he had the best warriors alongside him. “I wonder why they would want to stop us from saving the land.” The elves that originally abducted Dianna seemed to want her to save the land or return it to its former glory.
“Whatever group of people wanted the land wasted to begin with is probably still at work with that endeavor. Remember when the trees of the Silvanas Forest were poisoned? That was twenty years ago, but it’s probably related to whatever was started here. Let’s start forward. Twig can make a shield if needed. Keep your bows ready.” Darby was in charge of the operation and Kappy knew there wasn’t anyone better.
*****
They all listened carefully to every instruction. Twig knew his shield would need to go up almost immediately to protect Dianna. She would be totally defenseless while performing her spell. Both Sylly and Conny could help with the shield and he quickly went over what he needed from them.
Quin would hide Ha-yun and move the archer to the opposite side of the ruins. Quin assured him it was possible to fire arrows from within his shadow and the enemy would not be able to fire back with any accuracy.
As soon as they started forward, the first volley of arrows came at them and Conny went down. Twig checked on her but found she was hit in the shoulder but would still be able to lend her magic to their shield. Darby had closed the gap between to the point that arrows were no longer a viable weapon. It was sword, dagger, and magic that would win the battle and Twig had already located one of their magic users and sent a bolt of lightning toward her.
As he threw yet another burst of flame at one of the attackers, he saw an arrow come out of nowhere and hit the man in the back. Twig assumed it came from Quin’s shadow. What an amazing gift.
*****
As they came closer to the ruins, Dianna kept replaying her vision through her mind. She knew exactly where to stand and how to initiate the spell. But as they moved ever closer, the dream vision became clearer in her mind. She could now see bloody bodies surrounding her inside the dream. These images had not been shown to her previously, and she could not distinguish any familiar faces among the dead and dying. This changed everything. She had believed she would just stand there, heal the land, and stop the curse. Now she realized that a battle would be fought for her right to fulfill the prophecy.
The first three bandits stood with bows raised, arrows notched and let fly before they had barely been noticed. Dianna quickly lowered her body to the floor of the wagon, while the others stood and returned fire. She heard a cry of pain in the other wagon and knew that one of her group was hit. She also heard a cry from above—one of theirs was hit as well. Then she heard a loud whoosh and glanced up as Twig let loose a huge ball of flame toward their attacker. Several of them were down and a couple rolled in flames, desperate to extinguish the fire.
From the other end of the ruins, a smaller version of a fireball was sent toward Twig and the other wagon. Twig must have erected a shield and the ball bounced harmlessly off it. Malini, a guard Dianna barely knew, fired an arrow at the fire thrower and hit him squarely in the left eye. What a shot that was! She looked to Malini who already had another arrow ready aimed toward another bandit. Dianna thought she was magnificent.
Sylly and Kappy had left the relative safety of the wagon and were closing in on a group of bowmen near the center of the ruins where Dianna would need to go. She watched as her brother and Kappy sliced their way through the group of five. One of the attackers turned on Kappy and Dianna caught her breath in fear for him, but the attacker was struck from behind with a dagger. Though Dianna could not see Kappy’s defender, she knew that it was Quin wrapped in his shadow who had saved him.
Darby and Frankie had since secured the north end while Kappy and Sylly searched the south end for any others. Once they gave the all clear, Dianna looked over at the other wagon and her heart nearly stopped. “Amma! Amma!” Conny lay in the back of the wagon with an arrow through her shoulder. It looked like blood had drenched her from her face down.
Twig was there quickly. “She’s going to be just fine, Dianna. Went into her shoulder and sliced through some muscle. I’ll have her fixed up in no time.” Dianna breathed a deep sigh of relief. Everyone else had finished their search and seemed to be waiting for her.
As she unpacked the staff and found the casket with the golden gem, she looked all around at the carnage. Darby was searching some of the bodies and had unwrapped the cloth around the head of one of them. He was a fairly young elf, but dark-skinned like no other she had ever seen.
“I wonder if this is a whole different race of elves? If so, where have they come from?” Dianna walked over and looked at some of the others.
Sylly came up from the lower level. “The ones below are all dead. They are light-skinned, I assume the ones who held you captive. They will not witness the fulfillment of the prophecy they believed in.” Dianna was sad about that. They had held her against her will but believed wholeheartedly in their quest. She wondered where the others were and who had lost their lives.
“Let’s get this over with. There’s been too much death and devastation already.” Dianna headed toward the position in the center of the ruins. She felt that she needed to face to the west. Just as she began to turn, another of the dark elves rose up from the edge of the platform, dagger raised to easily cut her down. Before she even had time to scream, the elf’s arm, instead of continuing its downward stroke, stopped and was bent into his own throat—sliced by his own hand. Dianna could only stare in shock.
“Thank you, Quin.” Dianna knew who had once more saved the day. Quin dropped his shadow and grinned at her. He had blood from top to bottom. “I hope none of that blood is yours, but if it is, please see Twig.”
Quin looked down at himself. “Not mine.”
Without further ado, Dianna opened the casket and removed the gem. With gem in her left palm and holding the Staff of Sar in her right, she positioned herself in the middle of the round platform and closed her eyes in concentration.
*****
As he looked around at all the others, he felt proud to be in their company. Even though some of them weren’t citizens of his country, they had come together in partnership to solve a very real and dangerous problem. Kappy heard some faint sparks and soon they grew louder. His first instinct was to duck down, but as he gazed over at the others, he noticed that they were all staring in the same direction.
At first, he couldn’t come to terms with the vision. He knew it was Dianna, in fact, but the reality of seeing her was almost too much to take in. Her whole body was ablaze with light. She looked like what an angel might look like. There were no wings but the brilliant light shone through her body and into the atmosphere. The robe she wore glistened and sparkled in movement. Kappy believed he would be burned to a crisp if he ventured too close to her.
The sparks flew from the staff, which she held firmly in one upraised arm and they began an arc toward the gem held in her other hand. The golden gem seemed to be exuding its own magical aura. Dianna had her eyes closed, her face looked calm and serene. There was no reaction to either the heat of her glow or to the sparks that were now flying directly over her head between the staff and the gem.