A Single Spark

by Tayvia Pierce

  Darius chuckled too and peered over to see what the game was before commenting. “Ah, I haven’t played cards in a long time. I can teach you a few card games if you like.” He chuckled and smiled warmly to Rhian, the teen perking up with the thought.

  Madox rolled his eyes and excused himself. “I’m going to have a look around the yard.” He headed out the door before anyone responded, though I chuckled softly, knowing the real reason for his swift departure. It would have been apparent to all the moment Rhian started plucking the strings of her lute. Rhian offered Mother a hopeful smile as she said. “This is a song I wrote myself. I am still working on writing words, but I have the tune ready.”

  Mother smiled with only a hint of stiffness, though I doubted Rhian would have noticed the subtle shift in mood. I decided this was a good time to show Darius the duties he would have while escaping the torment of Rhian’s adolescent songwriting. “Darius, why don’t I show you your duties? We can start outside.” He gave me a relieved nod, rising from the couch and handing the documents back to me, signed.

  Much to my surprise and dismay, Ben rose from his place at the table and grunted, “I will come with you.” Oh, so now he decides to be my guard, even though he is barely speaking to me? I decided the only reason he would choose this moment was because I was going with Darius, one that was new to us and had yet to earn our confidence. At least he was still concerned for my safety, which had been something I was beginning to wonder.

  I led Darius out to the shed where several crates were stacked beneath its thatched roof. One side of the structure was open to allow for goods to be moved in and out easily, though still covered to protect it from the elements. It had become rather full of late, the one and only reason I relented and agreed to hire Darius at all.

  Ben followed a short distance behind, intimidatingly tall and grimly silent as I explained the duties that Darius would hold. “One of your biggest duties will be managing the supplies that get delivered here, including loading and unloading wagons as they make their deliveries. Foodstuffs and household goods make up the bulk of it, and with Derryth getting older and less able-bodied, she needs the help. Essentially, you are the errand-man. I know it doesn’t sound glamorous, but we need someone to do it.” Ben snorted softly and both Darius and I glanced over to him, waiting for him to speak his mind. He said nothing, only gave me a mildly disapproving look.

  I gave Ben a mild glare before turning to face Darius with a little smile. “The staff house is next door. I will have Derryth make up a cot for you. It isn’t much, but then, we don’t have a lot of space. She will also make sure you have a place to keep a few of your belongings, as well.”

  Darius smiled and nodded, looking at the peek of the roof through the trees. “Not to fear, Lady Carys, it will just be nice to have a cot to sleep on and a roof over my head, and I don’t have much in the way of belongings. Thank you for showing me around, Lady Carys. I still have a room in Lund for tonight, so no rush on that cot. I will be back first thing in the morning with my things.”

  I nodded to his request “Of course. I will introduce you to the others tomorrow. I hope you find everything to your satisfaction, and please let me know if there is anything that you need.” He beamed a smile at me before dipping his head in gratitude, turning to head off through the gate and down the road with a hopeful stride.

  Ben stalked up beside me once Darius went off, growling in a low voice. “What were you thinking? You know nothing about him.” He growled turning to look down to me, his eyes narrowing accusingly. “After all of your troubles, you would put your trust in some...milksop?”

  I narrowed my eyes at him, shaking my head. “Blame Rhian for this. She hired him and promised him an Enforcer position and coin. I would have sent him on his way, but the truth is, we could use an extra set of hands to help around the cottage for a little while. If you feel like being irritable and throwing knives at people, go do that to her!” I hissed at him, sticking up my nose and in no mood for him to question my decisions.

  Ben’s eyebrows flew up and he coughed. “Enforcer?” Clearly, his thoughts mirrored my own on that front, though his reasons were likely very different than mine. I suspected it was Rhian’s choice of who to put in that role that bothered him more than the belief we needed one. His irritation with me shifted into bewilderment as he asked, “So she can hire people now?” He asked as a doubtful tone filled his voice, his scowl softening into wariness. I stood a little straighter, hating the way he always managed to put me on the defensive.

  “No, she can’t hire people. But she decided she would anyways.” I tried not to snap at him, hoping to maintain at least some measure of civility. Even if we were no longer friends, he was still staff and so I would do my part to treat him well. I let out a weary sigh, feeling the gaping chasm between Ben and I growing with every passing moment.

  “Why does it seem like trouble follows us everywhere we go?” I murmured bleakly, not actually expecting him to answer, only wishing for one month where the world didn’t crash down around us in some fashion or another. I glanced up to Ben, seeing a regretful look despite his effort to hide it.

  He gave one final look around the yard before grunting, “Go inside, Lady Carys.” With that, he turned his back to me and headed out through the main gate to patrol.

  CHAPTER 44

  Three days later, Owain found me, stepping out into the road as Brynmor, Rhian, and I made our way home from an afternoon in Lund. He greeted us warmly with a smile and a wave, his long gait carrying him towards us at a good pace. “Lady Carys, I apologize for ambushing you along the road, but I thought this might be the best way to find you.” He chuckled with a merry twinkle in his eyes, finally sparing a look to Brynmor and Rhian. He studied the latter for an extra minute, his smile broadening. “You must be the Lady Rhian.” He dipped his head elegantly before standing tall once again.

  I smiled down at him, lowering my own head to him in a respectful greeting. Brynmor nudged his horse up next to mine, whispering. “Carys, who is this?” His frown grew as he looked Owain up and down suspiciously, though Rhian’s reaction was just the opposite. She blushed shyly and smiled down to the other man.

  I ignored Brynmor’s question, believing it would require more explaining than we had time for this afternoon, choosing to smile down to the Velynesian and responded to him instead. “Owain, I am glad to see you. This is my sister, Rhian, and my guard and betrothed, Brynmor.” Owain’s brow perked a little in surprise as he glanced to Brynmor, though he smiled amiably as he approached us slowly, reaching a hand up to gently pat Ffion’s muzzle, my horse snorting gently.

  “Well met, Lady Rhian and Master Brynmor. I am glad you are here as well, for this concerns you also. Lady Rhian. It is my hope that you can spare some time, as I have some friends I would like you to meet.” He gave me a knowing smile before adding. “You and they have a mutual interest, Lady Carys...your sister’s abductors.”

  Brynmor’s skepticism rose further and he growled quietly. “Gods, Carys. How many people did you tell?” He scowled, though the deeper meaning of what Owain was suggesting finally hit home and his jaw set as he muttered, “Please tell me they slaughtered them and left them to rot…” Owain shook his head a little with a frowns, and all my hopes that the men had been found were dashed.

  I caught sight of movement out of the corner of my eye and turned my head to locate the source of it, seeing an elf step out from behind a tree, followed by two more. I stared in amazement, recognizing them as the elves that had passed us when we arrived months earlier. The same ones that Ben warned me about. The female smiled at me, dipping her head with the utmost elegance that was typical of their kin, or so I had heard, and the males took up a place on either side of her, their eyes settling on us.

  “Elves….” I heard Rhian murmur with awe while I remained wary, I managed a smile to the elves, bowing my head respectfully, though I doubted I could muster up the same reverence that I once held for them. Not after wh
at Ben had told me, anyways.

  “Greetings.” I addressed them, turning Ffion by a couple of steps to face the trio standing along the tree line. I looked them over briefly, though I struggled to see them against the foliage. I had heard tales aplenty of how they seemed to disappear from view, and now I understood how their woodsy coloring helped them blend in to become a part of the forest itself. It was unique to their race, and a fascinating illusion, though another item on my checklist of things to watch out for.

  Owain smiled towards the elves before addressing me once again. “Lady Carys, I realize how suspicious this may seem though it is my hope that these elves may have some answers that you seek, and perhaps you can aid us in return. If you have some time, they wish to speak with you on the matter of the Azkaelomin that abducted your sister.”

  A loud, exasperated huff sounded next to me as Rhian shot an angry glare shot in my direction. “Why can’t you just let it drop? The matter is done! Hunting those men will come to nothing anyways, and even if we found them, they would probably just kill us. Just leave it be!”

  The taller of the male elves gave Rhian a curious look and he smiled faintly at her, speaking wryly. “I would beg to differ, Lady Rhian.” The low, rich voice was warm, sounding much like what the most fertile soil with the budding of new growth might sound if it had a voice. The female elf spoke then, eyes flicking upwards to the taller elf with an unreadable look as her voice as a gentle waterfall babbling over rocks. “The matter is bigger than just your abduction, child.” She was less cryptic than the taller one, though her words caused my heart to drop into my stomach. “It is, as you might say, a time to compare notes?”

  I nodded faintly, staring at the elves as I tried to work some moisture back into my mouth to reply, but Owain spoke first. “There is a clearing a short distance away where they have made their camp, if you would be willing to speak with them.” He urged gently. “You will be quite safe, I assure you.” He stated with a reassuring smile, looking over to Brynmor.

  I gave Brynmor a brief glance before giving my answer. “Lead the way, Owain.” He smiled, visibly relaxing with my agreement and spun on his heel, heading towards the elves and the narrow path through the trees behind them. I nudged my horse into a walk, steering him around to follow.

  “Carys, are you sure about this? We are going to be late for dinner and everyone will panic. Can’t we meet with them another day?” Brynmor fretted, eying the group ahead of us. I was a little surprised by his distrust, and arched a brow at him. “I mean...I get that they are elves and when an elf wants to talk to you, a smart person doesn’t say no, but…”

  “They are elves, and Owain is Velynesian.” I cut him off, knowing he was probably right about everyone panicking but this opportunity might not come along again, and I wasn’t about to waste it. “They won’t harm us. Besides, don’t you want to find out more about Rhian’s kidnappers?” I asked, appealing to his sense of vengeance, knowing very well that he wanted to hunt down her abductors and make them pay dearly for what they did to her. “Don’t forget, you are our guard. You will keep us safe if they suddenly decide to attack us.” I shrugged casually.

  He choked softly and hissed. “Me against three elves and a Warden? You overestimate my abilities, darling.” He pressed his lips together in anger and trepidation, falling silent with his inability to argue my point about learning more about these Azkaelomin.

  The elves’ camp wasn’t far, just as Owain had said. A small fire crackled in the center of a few log benches, the female beckoning us to come to the fire and sit. Brynmor dismounted to help Rhian down, though I didn’t wait for his aid and climbed down on my own. The tall elf softly voiced instructions to our horses in his own tongue, smiling gently as the horses went to the other side of the glade to graze without so much as a nicker.

  Rhian gaped as the shorter of the males approached, towering over all three of us as he motioned for us to join the female at the fire. “I am Bahadur, this is Agostan and Verity.” He gestured to the taller male, then the female. “We hail from the Vale of Bel’Sharrin in the forest of Kerem’ha and we are here to aid our Velynesian friends and hinder the enemy as we are able. Please...sit and enjoy our fire.” We dutifully found seats around the fire, Verity and Bahadur sitting across from us while Agostan and Owain stood off to the side.

  Verity spoke up then, looking between the three of us as she explained. “Our task is a difficult one. We are aiding the Remnant in their search for men from Azkaelom, who we suspect are the same men who kidnapped you.” She looked to Rhian, her golden eyes shimmering as they reflected the firelight. “We have questions, and in turn, some answers.”

  Rhian blushed, shifting a little as though she couldn’t decide whether to be thrilled with the idea of aiding the elves, or be uncomfortable with knowing what their line of questioning would entail. She took a deep breath before nodding tentatively.

  “Do you know where they kept you, Lady Rhian?” Verity asked gently, watching my sister intently. “Do not fret over the specifics, but whatever you can remember will be helpful.”

  Rhian began to fidget with the fabric of her skirt, her apprehension growing as everyone’s attentions turned to her. “I don’t know. It was a tower of stone, like ruins, but I don’t know where it was. They knocked me out while I was picking some flowers on the hill in the Badlands and I woke up in that stone room, and I was blindfolded when we left, and there weren’t any windows in the tower so I couldn’t see outside. I just remember we were surrounded by trees, and I could hear other people around, though I couldn’t see anything of their camp.”

  Verity nodded thoughtfully as Agostan approached the fire, his clear green eyes settling on Rhian as he added his own question. “How long did you ride when they took you from their camp to the ruins where you were returned to your family? I realize that judging time’s passing can be even more difficult in trying circumstances, but was it a matter or minutes? Hours?”

  Rhian shrugged a little, looking increasingly uncomfortable as they continued to ask their questions. She looked helplessly over to me as though hoping I would answer for her, which I suddenly realized I had a bad habit of doing. I couldn’t answer for her this time, however, and she realized it a moment later as she let out a faint sigh. “I...I don’t know. It felt like a long time, but I was scared and disoriented.”

  She nervously alternated between clutching her skirts and smoothing them out and I tried to clarify her answer somewhat. “Was it first thing in the morning when you left? Or was the sun overhead?” I asked. “Was it night?” I knew she probably hadn’t paid attention to anything around her, my sister not being very observant on her best day.

  She gave me a blank look, furrowing her brow. “I...think it was later in the morning. It wasn’t when I first woke up, but maybe closer to mid-day. I couldn’t see the sun because I was blindfolded, so I don’t know.” She huffed a little as she gripped her skirts again.

  Bahadur spoke next, watching her with a neutral look. “Did they say anything to you during your stay? Did they discuss anything amongst themselves that you might have overheard? What about others that might have been in the camp?” He pressed gently, trying not to push too hard as Rhian was clearly growing more anxious.

  The teen’s shoulders lifted a little as she looked to her hands, “They always spoke in a language I didn’t know. My guard told me not to try anything or he would take me to Azkaelom. I think one of the leaders in their camp was named Barak, my guard always to defer to his wishes.” She looked over to me, then frowned. “When they were handing me back to my family they spoke to each other in that other language, saying nothing in Sirric. They just pushed me towards Carys, took the money, and left.”

  The elves turned to look at me as though asking for a confirmation, and I nodded to corroborate her story. “They said nothing to me directly, most of their conversation seemed like they were arguing amongst themselves...like they had differing opinions on what to do with us.”


  Owain was leaning against a large tree off to the side, quietly smoking a pipe while listening to the conversation, though he spoke up now amidst puffs. “Lady Carys, did you manage to write down what you could remember of their conversation with each other?” He lifted himself from the thick trunk, his stride bringing him to the fire to join us.

  I nodded to him, rising in order to fetch my notebook from my saddlebag. I had done what I could to write down the little I could remember of a conversation in another language, often frustrated with knowing so little and having to guess. “So...who are these men, exactly?” I pulled out the notebook and returned to the fire, glancing over to the elves. My heart had slowly dropped into the pit of my stomach with one simple realization: if they sought to become involved in this, we had been pulled into something larger than a simple kidnapping.

  I handed the notebook to Owain before returning to my seat, the tall Velynesian flipping it open as he rounded the log to take a seat next to mine. “I wrote everything I could remember phonetically, since I didn’t know the language or spelling.” I gave him an apologetic look, knowing it might be a notebook of useless scribblings though hoping he would manage to make some sense of what I had written.