Her lungs burned as she spoke, and Rolin and Gobi just nodded quickly, too focused or too scared to reply. Kamo couldn’t tell which.
The sun was high in the sky now, and Kamo could feel its rays attacking her neck once again. She needed to climb fast because though she hadn’t broken a sweat yesterday, she knew that Rolin and Gobi would be dripping soon. Sweat meant slippery hands.
She breathed the pain into her muscles and reached for the next hand hold and the next. At one point, her foot slipped, and she was hanging, both hands desperately gripping the sandstone.
Her feet searched frantically for the foothold she had lost. She could feel her fingers giving in, and her thumbs were already slipping from the surface. Suddenly, she felt a push on her foot and then a pull to her right. She looked down to see Gobi lifting her foot into the air with one arm, his other hand and both feet planted firmly on a few holds. She reached her foot to the hold and felt it underneath her as Gobi let go of her foot.
“Thanks,” she panted.
“Any time.”
His arms were shaking, and his face was pale. Kamo looked past him to Rolin, who was white as a sheet. His forehead was sweating, and he was having trouble gripping the cliff with his fingers.
“Keep going, Kamo,” he yelled.
He let go of the wall with one hand to wipe his forehead, and Kamo watched as the movement threw off his balance, and he lost his grip on the wall completely. His arms flailed as he fell backward.
“Rolin! No!”
She had no time to think, no time to breathe. On instinct alone, she reached out to Rolin, her palm parallel with the ground. He was falling fast.
Suddenly, a fountain of water erupted from the ground underneath Rolin. It caught his back and absorbed him softly. Kamo lowered her palm, and the fountain descended back into the ground, depositing Rolin safely on the canyon floor.
“Are you all right?” Kamo called, her hand still poised to summon the fountain.
“I think so,” Rolin shouted up to her. “How did you… I thought Panchon said—”
“I don’t know, and now’s not the time to worry about it,” she yelled. “I’m going to keep climbing. You stay there.” Then, she shouted a little softer to Gobi. “Do you want to finish the climb? I don’t know if I can do that again, but if you’d like, I’ll try.”
Gobi shook his head. “Nah, we’re just about there anyway.”
Kamo nodded and latched onto the wall with both hands. She hoisted her feet onto the final foot holds and braced her arms to reach for the ledge. On tiptoes, she barely crawled her right hand onto the flat ground above her, and in a leap of faith, she jumped with both feet and grabbed the ledge with her other hand. She hung for a moment, then used all of her remaining strength to pull her waist over the edge of the plateau.
Finally.
A stone wall towered ahead of her, its construction much like Blosso’s wall, but red instead of gray. She could hear the sounds of the village behind the wall, still some distance away. Nobody seemed to notice her panting for breath at the top of the cliff, so she rotated on her stomach and looked down to direct Gobi.
“To your left,” she said, pointing to the stone at his left foot.
He reached it, and Kamo stuck out her hand for him to take it and hoist himself onto the ledge with her.
Her arms were still burning with exhaustion, but she pulled him up, and they laid on the cliff together.
“What an adventure,” Gobi said with a laugh.
Kamo whacked him on the stomach. “You are crazy.”
“Maybe a little,” he said. “Now, let’s get Rolin up here, shall we?” He stood and pulled Kamo from the ground, patting her on the arm. “Work that magic.”
Kamo peered over the cliff to see Rolin still on his back on the ground.
“Are you sure you’re alright?” she yelled, “you haven’t moved.”
Rolin sat up slowly. “I’m fine, just a little winded,” he shouted. “How am I going to get up there?”
Kamo looked at the palm of her hand. “The same way you got down, I think,” she called. “Stay where you are, and try to balance.”
She concentrated on the earth beneath Rolin and felt the water gurgle from the ground once again. She turned her palm over in the air and raised her arm quickly. On the same fountain of water, Rolin shot into the air, keeping his arms out for balance as he rose. When he was parallel with the cliff top, Kamo curled her fingers in, ushering the wave to its edge. Rolin climbed carefully from wave to cliff, and Kamo flicked the fountain away.
“Brilliant,” said Gobi.
Rolin was soaking from head to foot. “Thank you,” he said quietly to Kamo.
She threw her arms around him and whispered in his ear.
“You’re welcome,” she said, his wet hair dripping down her face. “Just promise me you won’t fall off a cliff ever again.”
Rolin laughed softly. “I promise.”
They broke apart, and Gobi ran at Rolin full force to drag him into a hug.
“We have got to work on your climbing skills, friend,” he said as he rubbed Rolin’s head with his knuckles.
Rolin swatted his hand away and shook the excess water from his hair. “There’s nothing wrong with my climbing skills. I just got a little distracted, that’s all.”
Kamo looked at the red stone wall ahead of them, contemplating where her next steps would lead her.
“I know you’re eager, Kamo, but we should probably wait ‘til I’m dry,” Rolin said, taking her hand. “I don’t think either one of us could come up with a good enough explanation for my soaking clothes in the middle of a desert without at least some suspicion.”
“Right,” Kamo said, turning to face Rolin. “I guess I just kind of want to get it over with, that’s all.”
She let go of his hand and started rubbing her eyes. Then, she started wringing her hands, pacing in a small circle around Gobi and Rolin.
The sun blazed in the sky, and she knew it would only take a few minutes for Rolin to be completely dry again, but her nerves wouldn’t settle. She fidgeted with her tunic and polished her spear with the fabric. Nervous energy buzzed through her, and she felt relieved when Rolin finally spoke.
“Let’s go find Elesun.”
Chapter Twenty-One
He walked toward the wall, and Gobi and Kamo fell in behind him. The red stone and heat surrounding her were a stark contrast to the trees and gray stone of the Earth elf village. Instead of an iron gate and guards, the entrance to the city of Ferena was an arch perfectly formed in the red rock. Kamo could see the people bustling behind it. Fire elves with every shade of red hair were strolling through the town, carrying food, fabric, and flowers. As Rolin stepped through the arch, he stopped for a moment, no doubt in awe of the spectacle that immediately surrounded them.
Gold leafing shimmered on every rooftop, and bright yellow fabrics draped across the street, creating a translucent ceiling of billowing sunshine. They walked past bakers, whose bread and cakes made Kamo’s mouth water with their tantalizing aromas. They passed dress shops, and a dress made of the most elegantly rich, red fabric caught her eye.
The elves around them didn’t seem to notice their entrance. They hurried past the three with only the occasional “excuse me” as they squeezed past them into shop doors. As one woman passed, Kamo breathed in the scent of rose and jasmine.
They walked further down the street, and Kamo saw a beautiful flower shop with every different variety and species.
She tugged Rolin’s arm and pulled him inside the shop. Gobi followed, reluctant to leave the excitement of the street.
“Ask how they get this many flowers to grow here,” she whispered to him, “these shouldn’t be able to grow in the desert.”
Kamo looked around and gasped as one surprise followed another. One lone elf appeared from a door in the back as she examined one particular plant.
“Etlingera elatior,” his wispy voice said close behind her. “Otherwise
known as–”
“Torch ginger,” Kamo said. “It’s my favorite.”
Its lower, bigger petals formed a crown underneath a head of smaller, clustered petals. They came to a point, creating a red torch-head shape on the crimson plate beneath them.
“How did you get this to grow here?” she asked.
The old elf smiled at her. His face was warm and inviting. His cheeks were rosy and mostly covered with a tufty red and white beard, and there were wrinkles under his eyes. Crooked, gold-rimmed glasses sat asymmetrically on his nose. His wispy hair matched his voice, and his eyes sparkled a shiny, copper color.
“The queen, may she rest in peace, gave these as a gift when she arrived,” he said. “She asked that I find a way to cultivate them, as they were her favorite in Bellia. It took some time, but I found a way.”
Kamo’s heart stopped. “The queen? Mara?” she asked, her voice shaking.
The elf nodded pleasantly.
“Yes, she came to visit me quite often when she first arrived, but that was a long time ago.”
“Yes,” Kamo breathed, “Yes, I suppose it was.” The blood drained from her face.
“Are you alright, dear?” the elf asked, “can I get you something to drink?”
“Oh,” she said in protest, but she looked at Rolin and Gobi, who nodded at her vigorously, “that would be lovely, thank you.”
He disappeared again through the back door, shuffling slowly.
“So your mom was here,” Gobi said.
“Yes,” Kamo said, “but how did you—?”
“You weren’t speaking Fershi,” Gobi replied, “and neither was he.”
“How do you feel?” Rolin asked, stepping closer to her.
“Overwhelmed, I think,” Kamo answered, “I’m not sure why. It’s just a flower, and it’s not surprising that it would be her favorite. It’s everyone’s favorite. Maybe it’s more because she was here. She knew him. She brought it with her. It just makes her seem more real, somehow.”
“She wasn’t real before?” Gobi asked.
“Well, I guess,” Kamo said, “but she was real in a queen way, in a person of history way, not in a motherly way.”
“And now?” Rolin asked as the elderly elf returned.
“Here you go, dear,” he said, handing Kamo a glass of water.
“Thank you,” she said politely, reaching past Rolin. “What’s your name, sir?”
“My name is Kamo.”
Kamo nearly spit out her sip of water. “Come again?”
“Kamo. Kamo Serenne,” he said again, extending his hand. “Most people just call me Serenne.”
Kamo took his hand with trembling fingers. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Serenne,” she said. “We have something in common already. My name is Kamo, too.”
Serenne stared at her intently. “How old are you?” he asked.
“Nineteen.”
He continued to stare, carefully examining her features. “You shouldn’t be here now,” he said, hurrying past her to close the drapes in his window shops.
“I don’t know what you mean,” Kamo said, trying to sound casual.
“If they knew you survived, the consequences would be catastrophic,” Serenne said. “You must leave, now.”
He began ushering her out of the shop when Rolin grabbed his arm forcefully. “She will leave when she chooses, sir.”.
The older man wrestled his arm free. “Don’t you understand?” he shouted at Rolin, “this is the most dangerous place she could be now!”
Kamo looked at him calmly. “Why is it dangerous for me?” she asked gently.
“They tried to kill you,” he said quickly, “but queen Mara, she must have found a way to save you, to get you out. Please, leave!”
“Who are they?” she asked.
“The same murderers who killed queen Mara.”
Kamo shook her head. “She died in childbirth. At least, that’s what everyone heard. How do you know?”
Serenne wrung his hands together and double-checked the curtains. “Queen Mara knew someone wanted her killed,” he whispered, “though I doubt she ever found out who it was.”
The ground swayed under Kamo’s feet. She put her hand to her head and sat on the shop floor. “Can you tell me about her,” she said. “The Sea elf queen, is there anything you can tell me about her? Did she come here alone, did she often talk with the vendors?”
As her voice softened, Serenne’s panic seemed to dissipate, if only slightly. “When she first arrived in our city, the people respected her, but they did not revere her,” he said. “She visited me often, inquiring about the torch ginger. We formed a friendship, eventually. She didn’t often visit anyone else, and near the end, she was barely allowed to visit me. But she watched over the torch ginger and spoke to me often about Bellia, about the king, the state of affairs, and about the joy she felt at having you.”
“Me?”
“She was ecstatic when she found out she was pregnant! She glowed, talking about the little prince or princess, and talked about you getting to know both parts of your heritage. You had the power to unite the kingdoms, and she was prepared to lead you, to teach you to wield your powers. But as the date of your birth came closer, she got so sick. The last time she came to visit me was the worst I’d seen her,” his eyes brimmed with tears, “she told me that she might not be around to take care of you, and she told me your name. She warned me that something wasn’t right at the castle, though she couldn’t say more, and I never saw her again.”
His tears fell freely. “When you told me your name, I felt like I went back in time. You look so like her, your smile and poise, though the brown eyes are definitely from your father.”
“She named me after you?” Kamo asked quietly.
“Yes, I’ve never received a higher honor,” he said, straightening to stand erect, “she said that I was the first Fire elf to make her feel at home in a strange new land. She wanted her child to know that she was an elf of two worlds.”
“What happened after she died?” Kamo asked, unsure if she wanted to hear the answer. “I spoke to a seer, but even she didn’t know exactly how I survived.”
“I’m afraid I don’t know either,” he said woefully, “They never shared the details of that night outside the castle walls, I don’t think. The king stood on his wall, lamenting the deaths of his wife and beautiful baby girl. He said that Mara had died in childbirth and that Kamo hadn’t survived either.”
“He knew my name, too?” she asked, surprised.
“The whole kingdom heard your name that day, though I doubt many will remember it now. You and Mara are reverenced, even today, as the lost queen and princess. Many hoped that your reign would bring peace and unity to the tribes, but that hope was dashed the day you died.”
“But here I am,” she said, “isn’t it possible that Mara survived as well? Isn’t it possible that she escaped but couldn’t find me?”
“The child’s casket was closed as it traveled to the cemetery, but queen Mara was honored as a ruler. They carried her to her grave on a bed of palm leaves. I saw her body myself, and so did thousands of others.”
“And then the king remarried,” Kamo said bitterly.
“And the new queen took her place at his side and produced an heir,” he sighed. “If you are who you appear to be, your life will be in danger here.”
“Why would the king want Mara dead? Why did he want all of the Seas dead?”
“The king loved her! He would never harm her!” he replied, “There were rumors that a visiting duchess saw Sea elf intruders the night of Mara’s death, but no one else seemed to care. They accepted the king at his word, that she died giving birth to the child. But, even the king grew paranoid and angry, and bitter. He spoke to the duchess, and she must have convinced him of the truth. He swore to the people that he would avenge her death, a death caused by her own misguided people. I think he wanted to find the traitors and deal justly with them.”
“The S
ea elves were proud to have her as queen,” Kamo said, “We held her life sacred. Why would we assassinate our ruling daughter?”
“The king was convinced. I didn’t say he was right,” Serenne spoke softly, unaffected by Kamo’s passionate words, “but a queen died, and the people demanded justice.”
“And justice was genocide?” Kamo shouted, “without proof, without fair judgment, without question?”
“Genocide? What do you mean?” he asked, his face growing white with strain.
“Exactly what I say,” Kamo continued to shout, “Sea elves slaughtered for years, hunted like dogs by the Fire elf ships, showing no mercy, even to those who could not protect themselves.”
“No, that’s not possible,” Serenne said, shaking his head. “We warred, yes, but the ships came home. They only attacked soldiers. They only attacked armies… didn’t they?”
His voice was desperate and unsure.
“No. They attacked every ship we sent out,” Kamo said. “Merchants, soldiers, travelers. When they did return, they spoke of the Fire elf army as ruthless, regardless of which flag flew on the mast. It was certainly the case when they attacked my ship.” Her voice choked. “There were no soldiers aboard, and we had no formal, military tactics or training. We only used the cannons for ceremonies, and still, the Fire elves attacked, out of nowhere, without warning or explanation.”
“But perhaps they… Are you saying all the Sea elves are gone? Morro, Sheelo, all of them? Every single one?”
Kamo didn’t bother to ask how he knew of her father and captain. Instead, she nodded. Serenne shook his head and collapsed onto the floor, his knees buckling beneath him. Rolin caught his shoulders as he fell, and he lowered him gently to the ground while Gobi found a small stool next to a higher shelf of flowers. Gobi propped the stool behind Serenne’s back, and Rolin asked Kamo for her glass of water. She bent down, handed it to him, and knelt next to them.
The Last of the Sea Elves Page 19