“Where is he now?” Kamo asked.
“He’s waiting with Hertha and Gobi. They planned to join the others today, but he wanted to see you awake before he left if he could.”
“Others?”
Rolin looked at the ground.
“He lost eight men that night,” he murmured, “the rest left for Blosso to mourn and honor the dead. Panchon stayed because Hertha couldn’t travel yet. He thinks they can manage today, though.”
Eight men.
Kamo sucked in a breath. “Eight?”
Rolin nodded his head solemnly. “Three were hunting, and the gang ambushed them. Panchon thinks they didn’t suffer. It looked like the gang just shot them with arrows straight to the heart, maybe to stop them from calling out, warning us of the attack. The rest took the first spears, along with Hertha. They never had a chance.”
Eight men. She had never even bothered to learn their names.
“I have to see Panchon,” she said.
She fumbled the blanket off of her legs and stood to walk out of the tent. Rolin followed her closely, favoring his good leg.
The sun had made its way into the sky, but snow still covered the ground in powdered dew drops. Kamo could see three people huddled around the fire pit where she last saw Gobi and Hertha.
As she approached, all three faces turned to her. Gobi and Hertha smiled, and Kamo couldn’t help but notice how their young faces had aged in such a short time.
Kamo looked more carefully at Panchon and saw the bags under his eyes. Tear stains trickled through the dirt on his cheeks. He smiled, and his eyes shined warm and genuine but melancholy.
“Good morning, Kamo,” he said, his voice scratchy and haggard. He cleared his throat, and his voice strengthened, “I’m glad we could see you before we leave.”
Hertha stood as she got closer to them and walked toward Kamo. Before Kamo could stop her, she threw one arm around her and pulled her into a tight embrace.
“I’m so glad you’re well,” she said to Kamo. “Gobi told me what you did for me. I don’t know how to thank you.”
Kamo patted her half-heartedly on the back.
“I’m not sure I did much,” she mumbled, but Hertha didn’t seem to hear. She was taking Kamo by the arm and sitting her down next to Panchon.
Kamo looked at Panchon, guilt and sorrow pouring from her eyes, as she could no longer hold her tears in check.
“I’m sorry,” she sobbed, “I never meant for any of you to die.”
“My men knew the risks,” he told her quietly, his soft gray eyes meeting hers. “Each of them was willing to give their lives for the rightful queen, and they would ask for no greater honor than that.”
The pride in his voice calmed her heart, and though tears still flowed, she sat with her head held high.
“Pacha will know that they gave their lives defending me. And all of Blosso as well.”
Panchon looked at her and bowed his head in understanding. “They will be honored with the highest memorial in service to the future queen. You have my word.”
Kamo took his hand and gazed into his stone eyes. “I know you have to go with Hertha now,” she said in a low whisper, “but how will I learn to control this… this fire in me without you?”
“Kamo, in the fight, you demonstrated a great use of your power. It was fueled by rage, no doubt, but you used it to defend those you love. You don’t need me to teach you. You just needed a way to channel your emotions,” he explained.
Kamo shook her head and was about to speak.
“Keep meditating,” Panchon said, “Master your emotions, and the power that flows through you will be at your command, even more so than it was last night.”
“But I wasn’t in control last night,” she murmured.
Panchon lifted her chin. “You didn’t choose to burn like that, but it didn’t consume you. And, your mind knew what you were doing. You didn’t attack any and everything you saw, you attacked those you knew were enemies. Even in that state of rage, your mind directed the magic where it needed to be,” he said.
It was true; she had only attacked the Earth elf gang. She hadn’t harmed any of the clan or Gobi or Rolin.
“I do have one last piece of advice, though, if you’re interested,” he smiled, and Kamo nodded. “Meditate longer after nights like that one. You pushed your body beyond its limit, and it took the rest it needed, as it should. But if you had let your mind rest as well, perhaps you would have come to a lot sooner.”
“I’ll try,” Kamo replied.
Panchon stood, and she let go of his hand.
“We need to be on our way, and so do you,” he said.
Kamo, Hertha, and Gobi stood up, but Rolin remained seated on the log.
They each embraced, and Kamo giggled as Hertha grabbed Gobi by the arm and spun him into a kiss.
Gobi’s cheeks turned the brightest shade of red, and his long eyelashes fluttered in surprise. He wrapped his arms around her waist just for a moment, and then she pulled away.
“Goodbye, Gobi,” she grinned, “I hope I get to see you again someday.”
Gobi tousled his hair nervously. “Me too,” he sputtered as she and Panchon turned to leave and began their trek down the mountain.
Gobi stared in her direction until they were long out of sight. “What a gal,” he sighed, finally turning to Kamo and Rolin. “But he’s right, though. We need to get moving. Kamo’s long nap set us back a few days.”
“Hey, it’s not like I chose it,” Kamo shouted.
“I know,” Gobi brushed it off, “I just meant we need to move. Are you going to be all right to walk, Rolin?”
“I think so,” he said as he stood from the log. He swayed a little as he put weight on his injured foot, but he didn’t seem to be in too much pain. “Panchon said he left a staff for me. It should be around here, somewhere.”
Kamo looked around the pit and found a beautiful, white, carved wood staff leaning against a tree a few feet behind Rolin. She retrieved it and handed it to Rolin.
“Is this the one he meant?” she asked.
“I guess,” Rolin said, “but I didn’t expect it to be so… ornate.”
The staff was smooth and polished, and Panchon had carved a mockingbird into the head of it. It was the perfect height for Rolin, and he used it as he walked to take some weight off his foot.
“Functional and beautiful,” Rolin said. “Panchon is still full of surprises.”
“How many days ‘til we reach the gate?” Kamo asked.
“Three, maybe four if we need to travel slowly.”
“We should have been there by now, then,” she muttered. “I’ll go pack my tent. Are you two ready to leave?”
Rolin and Gobi nodded in turn, and in just a short time they were climbing slowly up the mountain trail.
“Has it really been a few weeks?” Kamo asked casually. It was easy to lose track of time up here, and their days of travel all seemed to blend into one monotonous routine, except for the days they had faced any peril. Those she recalled with almost perfect clarity.
“Hard to believe, isn’t it?” Rolin answered, grunting as he dug his staff into the ground to climb a steep corner of the trail. “When you’re by yourself, the time seems to drag, but this time the journey has felt a lot faster.”
Gobi had been unusually quiet during their travel this morning, so Kamo nudged him. “Gobi, does it feel like it’s been a while to you?” she asked.
“Hmm?” he hummed, “sorry what? I wasn’t listening.”
“Daydreaming of a certain Earth elf, are you?” Kamo taunted.
“I might be,” he said with a goofy smile.
“You can’t help it, friend,” Rolin put an arm around his shoulder, “these elven women enchant us poor humans with their tantalizing elven ways.”
He gazed at Kamo as though his glittering brown eyes could see beyond her face and into her soul.
“Well, I’ll try to keep my enchanting and tantalizing ways in chec
k,” Kamo blushed, “meanwhile, we need to have a plan for if something else comes our way.”
“I don’t think the gangs are going to be bothering us much anymore,” Rolin said, “Your little fire trick seemed to have them running scared, and I’m not entirely sure, but I think they would spread the word.”
“Still,” Kamo pressed, “perhaps it would be best if we took turns on watch during the night. I’d feel a lot safer knowing they couldn’t ambush us again.”
“I agree,” said Gobi, “I’ll take the first watch tonight. You guys still have some resting up to do.”
Kamo and Rolin agreed, and they journeyed on.
The snow fell more frequently this high in the mountains, and trees were more sparse while snow drifts were more frequent and treacherous.
Luckily, Kamo’s clothes and coat had dried during her rest, and she bundled up tightly as they rose in elevation. She always pulled her hat down over her ears, and her boots proved just as valuable as Poco had promised. Rolin didn’t seem to have any trouble in the snow with the gear he had, and Gobi only struggled in particularly deep snowbanks.
Despite her jacket and hat keeping her warm, the cold weather seeped into her skin, particularly in her hands and nose. Her hands felt stiff and heavy, and her nose felt as if it would freeze solid, and she could break it off with a pick.
Though they had traveled higher up the mountain, the sun seemed to set a lot earlier than before. At dusk, they decided to make camp and received a new, unexpected surprise.
Kamo had finished setting up her tent and was just laying out her bedroll inside it when she heard a trumpet blare outside.
She grabbed her spear and raced from the tent. From the looks of it, Rolin and Gobi had done the same. Rolin was scrambling with his staff and sword, and Gobi was pulling daggers out with both hands.
Kamo was so unprepared for the sight that awaited her that she stumbled backward, almost back into the tent.
Four men on horseback had formed a semi-circle around their tents. Their uniforms were clean and yellow, Laukian uniforms, and each of them had a trimmed beard of corn-colored hair.
Kamo looked bewildered at Rolin, who seemed to be just as surprised as she was.
Gaining some composure, he leaned casually on his staff.
“Evening, gentlemen, to what do we owe the pleasure?” he asked smoothly.
“Rolin, is that you?” one man asked, inching his head past his horse’s.
“Daimon?” Rolin asked, leaning on his staff and toward the man. “How on earth did you find me here?”
“Major Ankor,” the man with the biggest horse interrupted, “Laukia formally requests that you rejoin your battalion. As you did not receive leave, you are hereby labeled a deserter until you come with us and take up your post again.” His voice was deep and commanding.
“Relax, James,” Rolin said, “the war is over. Why don’t you boys just hand over my papers? I’ll sign them, and you can be on your way. They don’t need me now. They barely needed me the first time around,” he laughed.
“Rolin, this is no time to joke,” another man said, alighting from his horse. His cheeks were red and plump, and his belly toppled over his waist. “The general knows of your… skill set, and he passed it on to the king.”
Rolin tried to hide his fear, but his acting skills weren’t enough this time.
“What skills?” Kamo asked suspiciously.
The man called James got down from his horse and looked at her.
“Rolin is a Talker. His duty in the war was to translate for the Alliance. He fulfilled his obligations to the best of his ability. Now, he’s needed again,” he said.
Kamo looked at Rolin, rage burning behind her eyes.
“What?”
“I can explain—”
“Explain that you lied to me?” Kamo shouted. “You lied to Gobi?”
Gobi turned to her sheepishly.
“He did it to protect you, Kamo.”
Her fiery eyes turned on Gobi.
“You knew? You knew all this time and you said nothing?”
Kamo felt her fire tickling at her fingers, and she stormed away from the men before her fists ignited in white, hot flames.
“Kamo, wait!” Rolin called behind her.
She ran fast, but she was never a match for Rolin’s speed, even with his limp and staff. He chased her down easily and grabbed her arm.
“I should have told you, I admit it, but can you just hear me out?” he asked.
Kamo turned to him in icy silence.
“I promise that I’ll explain everything later, but for now, there are only a few things you need to know. The first being that if I am forced to go with them now, I’ll be dead within days of reaching Laukia.”
“Why?” Kamo asked coldly.
“I don’t know,” Rolin said, “all I know is that Talkers disappear when the king finds them. It’s always the same, the king requests them on the pretense of a great honor, and then they disappear.”
“So you’re telling me that the king of Laukia is offing Talkers for the fun of it?” Kamo said.
“I think it’s for more than fun,” Rolin said patiently. “I think he’s looking for information, and he doesn’t know which of the Talkers has it.”
“And let me guess,” Kamo said, “you don’t know what the information is. You just know that Talkers have disappeared.”
“I’m afraid so.”
Kamo breathed deeply, flames tickling her fingertips. “We aren’t finished here,” she said, storming back to the soldiers.
“Wait,” Rolin called again, “where are you going?”
“To find out what these bloody soldiers are after,” she shouted, “and maybe I’ll burn something while I’m at it.”
They returned to Gobi and the soldiers, Kamo still fuming and staring daggers at Rolin.
“Tell me why you need him,” Kamo demanded of the soldier called James.
“We don’t answer to you, elf.”
Kamo’s fist lit in a white, hot flame, and she didn’t bother to hide it. Instead, she moved a step closer to the soldier. “Perhaps I didn’t make myself clear,” she drawled. “Tell me why you need him, and maybe I won’t burn you where you stand.”
Gobi looked at Kamo, then at Rolin. Rolin shook his head slightly, indicating that this was not the time for questions.
James cleared his throat and retreated toward his horse. “We have direct orders from the king,” he sputtered, “Our instructions were to find him and bring him to the king as soon as possible.”
“Why?” she asked quietly.
“The king would like an audience in person with Major Ankor, and then there will be a private celebration in the king’s palace, honoring the major’s service.”
Kamo glanced at Rolin, barely moving her head. “You may tell your king that Major Ankor has entered the service of the elves as an ambassador. He travels with the crown princess, and he will be unavailable until further notice,” she said, mustering the most elegant, regal voice she could.
The soldiers looked from Kamo to Rolin and at each other, each of them silent.
Kamo had gambled using her title, as technically it didn’t belong to her yet, but Laukian and elven relations had been non-existent for so many years. The soldiers probably didn’t know of the crown prince; at least, Kamo prayed they didn’t.
Finally, the plump soldier spoke again. “We aren’t the only ones searching for you, Rolin,” he said.
Rolin swallowed hard. “How many?”
“At least twelve teams. Most of them rode from Laukia to Brimhaul, but only a few caught wind of your journey to Tartha. It’s only a matter of time,” he said.
“Hang on,” Gobi interjected, “How did you get through Blosso? In fact, how did you get to Blosso?”
James answered this time. “We met some Earth elves, and they were kind enough to show us the way. I believe you met them before entering the village. Rima and Philip were more than helpful.”
“And in Blosso, someone had to direct you to the mountains,” Gobi pressed on.
“Yes, I believe she said her name was Pacha,” the plump man answered.
Gobi, Rolin, and Kamo looked at each other, silent questions crossing their faces.
“Well, I’m sorry to disappoint you, gentlemen,” Rolin spoke again, “but I’m afraid I will be staying right where I am, with her majesty.”
Rolin bowed slightly, and Kamo inclined her head to him graciously.
“What do we tell the king, Rolin?” the round soldier asked, his cherry cheeks turning white with strain.
“The truth, Daimon. I will submit to his royal highness when I am finished here,” Rolin said, slapping a hand on his shoulder.
James looked at Rolin, a stern sort of expression on his face. “Are you certain this is the wisest course of action, sir?” he asked quietly.
“Yes, Captain Alberich.”
Rolin stared him down. If this was a battle of wills, James’ seemed to be crumbling quickly.
“Very well,” James said, “we will inform the king of your ventures here. But I can’t guarantee that the next team you meet will be so accommodating, you understand?”
Rolin nodded solemnly.
“And if your disguise was meant to fool those who knew you best, you need to work a little more on the voice. And make-up,” James jibed with more of a grin.
Rolin smiled and took James by the hand. “Not at all. I’m afraid it’s for someone else entirely.”
James and Daimon mounted their horses.
“I don’t know if we’ll meet again,” James said, “good luck—with everything.”
“You too.”
Daimon didn’t say a word but tipped his yellow hat. The other two men saluted, and they all rode away.
“Can someone please explain to me what just happened?” Gobi asked eagerly.
“Gobi, go hunt. Now. I’ll deal with you later,” Kamo pointed him toward the woods.
Gobi’s eyes got wide, and he raised his eyebrows. “Sure, ok,” he said slowly. As he passed Kamo, he murmured, “I told him we should tell you, just remember that.”
The Last of the Sea Elves Page 16