How am I supposed to see the targets?
But the countdown was over, and her minute had begun. She willed a flame into her left hand, searching each opening in the bushes for a sign of a target. A red and white bullseye popped up on her right in a small hole, and she took her aim. She managed to hit it square on. She looked left. Another target appeared. In her excitement, she threw the flame a little off-center, narrowly avoiding the rose bush just outside the hole. She continued searching and continued firing. Out of the corner of her eye on the left, she saw a hole that was barely a foot across and hoped that no target would show up behind it. With five seconds left, the problematic target appeared. She took a deep breath, held her hand steady, and aimed. The target burst into flame, and the roses remained untouched.
“Two, one!”
The crowd burst into loud applause.
“Well done, Miss Linema, well done, you may take your place with the other qualifying champions,” Elesun called from above her.
The circle of roses parted to reveal a gate in the middle, and Kamo saw three elves seated on a bench right outside. The youngest elf congratulated Kamo, and Fiona and Gilna stared in contemptuous disbelief. Kamo sat down and grinned. She took a moment once again to scan the crowded stands for Gobi, Rolin, and Serenne. Still, she couldn’t find them.
This must have been what Serenne was busy with a few nights ago.
Admiring it from the outside, she began to notice the rose buds more clearly. They were every shade of yellow, orange, and red. Their buds created a beautiful appearance of flame and flower, a spectacular illusion. Serenne was extraordinarily talented. She looked more closely at the holes in the bushes. They didn’t appear to be artificial, and she silently wondered how he managed to grow the holes right into the bush as the next competitor entered the ring. He lasted only twenty seconds, and Kamo watched as part of the rose bush caught fire.
From nowhere, the bush doused itself with water. It seemed that water appeared from the very petals themselves. And more than that, the bush was growing again, replacing the bud with a fresh, fully grown flower.
Kamo looked around.
How is this possible? Not even magic can do something like this… can it?
But the crowd around her seemed oblivious to the impossibility that just occurred.
They escorted the elf that missed the target out of the ring, and the next competitor entered. Kamo kept a close eye on the bushes. If anyone should hit the bush along with the roses next to it, she would be able to see. Sure enough, a flame hit the rose bush nearest her, and she watched as the flower doused itself and grew again. Kamo turned to Fiona and Gilna.
“Do all flowers do that here?” she asked.
Fiona scoffed, but Gilna looked at her, wide-eyed, and shook her head.
“We’ve seen flowers that could catch fire and not wither and die, but this is,” she gasped, “well, I’ve never seen this.”
“It’s just someone manipulating the magic of the other elements,” Fiona said. “We’ve seen them do it before with Fire. It only makes sense that someone has found a way to do it with the easier ones.”
Kamo smirked. “So fire is the hardest to wield?”
“Of course,” Fiona said, rolling her eyes. “Everyone knows that fire is way more challenging than water or wind or earth. Those other elements aren’t as unruly. They can’t burn you.”
Kamo paused as she thought about Fiona’s response. Fire was difficult for her to wield, but she supposed that was more because she had difficulty controlling her anger, not because the element itself was difficult to manage.
Another elf left the ring successfully and came to join them on the bench. As he approached, Kamo recognized Raz’s face.
“Child’s play,” he chuckled, taking a seat next to Gilna. “They should really update this stage to a more advanced competition.”
“I don’t know,” Gilna replied, “it seems to be eliminating the competition well enough.”
Kamo heard Elesun announce Phabian’s name.
Before the countdown started, fireworks erupted from the top of the circle in iridescent blues and whites.
Fiona rolled her eyes, and Gilna giggled.
“He’s always had a flair for the dramatic,” Gilna whispered to Kamo.
Phabian hit every target flawlessly, including the final target that had given Kamo some pause. When he exited the ring, he flashed a smile to the crowded arena and took a bow. Young, starry-eyed elves squealed and threw roses to the ground in front of him, and Kamo saw a woman swoon as he picked it up and winked at her.
“That was fun!” he cried, sitting next to Fiona and handing her the rose. She took it and smiled playfully.
“Must you always make a show?” she asked.
He kissed her on the cheek. “Always.”
The challenge continued to the last elf. The youngest boy, Gilna, Fiona, Raz, and Phabian, were joined by Secora, Romi, a broad-backed elf that Kamo could have sworn was older than twenty-five, and a taller elf woman with blazing white teeth.
“It has been an excellent show today!” Kamo heard Elesun above the crowd as the Ring of Fire seemed to descend into the arena floor. “Our next challenge will commence at sunrise in two days. Our ten competitors should arrive promptly. Until then!” Fireworks erupted from Elesun’s hand and hung in the air as they had at the opening ceremony.
Fiona, Gilna, Raz, and Phabian stood to leave.
Phabian addressed Kamo. “Would you like to come with us?” he asked. “We’re going to celebrate a little before the challenge.”
“Thank you,” she replied, “but I really shouldn’t. I’ve got to find my trainer.”
“Suit yourself,” he replied, “I’ll see you around.”
They went through the door and disappeared into the crowd. Kamo exited behind them and waited just outside the arena doors for Rolin, Gobi, and Serenne.
Some elves spoke to her as they left, bowing slightly, saying congratulations, and they were excited to see her compete again. Kamo blushed and thanked them. When Rolin and Gobi finally reached her, they were out of breath.
“Good shooting!” Gobi said, shaking her arms. “The last one was a bit close, but the rest were right on target!”
“Thank you,” Kamo blushed again. “Isn’t Serenne with you? That must have been what he was working on the night of the ceremony. It really was spectacular.”
“The guards found him and asked if they could accompany him to a meeting with Elesun,” Rolin said. “He seemed quite flattered.”
“Elesun probably commissioned the ring,” Kamo said. “I suppose he would want to thank him for the work in person.”
Rolin and Gobi nodded.
“How were the other challengers?” Kamo asked.
“The youngest boy only made it by sheer luck,” Gobi said. “His arm was shaking, and he looked terrified. The targets were big and slow to pop up.”
“The rest were about the same as you,” Rolin said. “Fiona did well but struggled with the last one. The only one without any close calls was Phabian, but perhaps you saw. He seems rather arrogant, I think.”
Kamo laughed. “I don’t think he’s arrogant,” she said, “I think he’s confident and likes the drama. Rather like a certain someone I know.”
Rolin stared at her. “I don’t lay it on that thick.” He tilted his head. “Do I?”
“No, I suppose not,” Kamo said.
They were looking at each other, and both were surprised when Gobi shouted, “Serenne! There you are!”
Serenne hobbled toward them, grinning from ear to ear.
“He liked my work! He liked my work! Do you know what this means?” he shouted.
“No idea,” said Gobi, “but it sounds wonderful!”
Serenne shook his hand and hopped from one foot to the other.
“It means that I have his attention!” Serenne shouted, “it means that I could be the man of the palace! Ok, well, not the man, but the flower man! So many gard
ens, so many wonderful places to grow!”
“That’s wonderful, Serenne!” Kamo said. “What exactly did he say to you?”
Serenne took a deep breath and stopped bouncing. “He said that my work with the roses was impressive, and he invited me to the palace to discuss improvements they need in their flower gardens and vegetable garden.”
“What a wonderful opportunity for you, Serenne,” Rolin said. “You should be very proud. That Ring was really something.”
“That reminds me,” Kamo cut in, “how did you do that? Those roses were burning. They were gone, and then they were blossoming again, right there on the bush! I thought only nobility wielded magic.”
Serenne blushed and smiled.
“Perhaps I should explain more about magic, but not here,” Serenne shook his finger. “Back to my parlour, let’s go.”
He headed in the direction of his shop, a little bounce still in his step.
Rolin walked next to Kamo. “You did well today,” he said.
“Thanks,” she replied. “It was exciting, in a way.”
“It gets you one step closer to your goal,” Rolin said. “What did you think of Elesun, by the way? Now that you’ve seen him in person, I mean. Up close.”
“I’m not sure,” she said, “he seems rather intimidating, but not unkind. Perhaps it’s just his role to appear intimidating.”
“Perhaps,” he said thoughtfully. “Serenne certainly seemed excited to be working with him.”
Kamo laughed and said, “He did, didn’t he.”
They kept walking, and Rolin appeared lost in thought. Kamo took his hand and smiled.
“Is something wrong?” she asked.
“What? Oh, no, sorry,” he replied. “Just thinking of what comes next.”
They arrived shortly after Serenne and Gobi, and the former had taken a seat at his desk, the latter lounged on the couch.
“Home again,” Serenne hummed, searching through a stack of books.
Rolin took a seat, and Kamo joined Serenne near the desk.
“Serenne, what are you looking for?” Kamo asked.
“Answers, dear, answers for you.”
“What do you mean?”
“A-ha! Come, come. Sit.”
Serenne picked up an old, heavy book. He shooed Gobi to one cushion, and he and Kamo sat down next to each other.
“There is the magic of the elements, yes?”
“Yes.”
“There is also magic in nature, such as you encountered on your journey here, no doubt.”
Gobi answered first. “Yes, sir.”
“What you saw today was the work of twenty years. I studied nature’s magic and put it to the test for the first time today. The roses performed beautifully. I would call it a success!”
“No doubt,” Kamo replied. “But why did you want to learn nature’s magic?”
Serenne stared at the book. “I foolishly thought I could protect Mara if I could learn what nature could teach me.”
“But you didn’t protect her,” Kamo said plainly.
“No, I didn’t,” he murmured, “and it’s something I live with every day.”
“But you were working toward it? What happened?”
“I made the fatal mistake that all men make at one time or another,” he answered softly.
“Which is?”
He took a moment before he answered. “I assumed I had more time,” he whispered as he shook his head. “I thought I had a few more days, and then I could sneak her out through a safe route, no magic necessary but…”
Kamo felt the flames in her fingers itching to rise above the surface. She breathed deeply and closed her eyes.
“I wonder if Sheelo and Morro ever felt the same,” she said. “About telling me who I was. Maybe they assumed they’d have more time to explain, more time to teach me.”
Serenne nodded. Kamo sat quietly.
“So the flowers are all you?” Gobi asked, eager to break the silence
“Ah, yes, well, they were a little magic of my own making,” he smiled. “I’ve been developing a quick growth serum for years.”
“ But isn’t it odd that the water seemed to douse the flowers of its own accord? Water is an element. Why isn’t everyone more upset by the water in the flowers moving by itself?” Gobi asked. “I thought the king wanted the Sea elves dead. If someone is controlling water magically, wouldn’t it send him on the hunt for a Sea elf in his midst?”
“Yes, normally that would be the case,” Serenne said, “but I convinced Elesun that it was part of the magic of this particular flower—the Ring of Fire.”
“Like the magic in the Pennifold mountains,” Rolin added.
“Indeed, very observant,” Serenne said. “There are magic wielders, and there is nature’s magic. It normally acts without human or elven interference. I have found ways to manipulate the magic of nature in the plants I grow.”
“Like the torch ginger,” Kamo said, thinking of her favorite flower in the shop above.
“Yes,” Serenne said, “though that requires mostly environmental maintenance.”
The room seemed to relax as Serenne began a lengthy description of his caretaking routine for the torch ginger in the shop. Rolin seemed content to sit in silence, Gobi seemed interested and even intrigued by the details, and Kamo closed her eyes. Serenne’s voice was soothing. He had a kind of sing-song lilt. Kamo was glad for the distraction, and she could tell that Rolin and Gobi felt the same.
“—but oh my,” she heard Serenne take a jarring breath, “I’ve rambled on. We must discuss the next challenge!”
Kamo opened her eyes.
“The obstacle course, you mean?” she said.
“I suppose that’s an apt description,” Serenne said, stroking his beard. “How are you at climbing?”
“I’m all right.”
“Crawling?”
“Adequate.”
“Running?”
“I hate it,” she said, “but I can do it when I have to.”
Serenne seemed satisfied.
“How’s your endurance?”
“Days and nights on a ship, someone has to keep the helm,” Kamo said, “I can stay awake pretty easily for a day or two.”
“Excellent,” Serenne replied, “then you might have an advantage over some of the more pampered elves.”
Kamo imagined Fiona and Gilna in their fashionable dresses and fluffed hair, trying to pull a long shift on her ship. She laughed. Someone trained them for the arena, not real work.
“I’m afraid I have talked the day away,” Serenne said, “it’s getting late. You should return to your rooms. Rolin, if you will accompany me first, I have something I’d like to show you in the shop.”
Rolin stood and said, “Of course, sir.”
Serenne shook Kamo’s hand and headed up the stairs. Rolin followed him, pausing briefly to kiss Kamo on the cheek.
“Good night, love. I’ll see you in the morning.”
His lips were warm, but his brown eyes seemed dim and tired. The determination Kamo had grown accustomed to seeing there appeared to have vanished, and in its place, Kamo saw sadness and loneliness.
Maybe he’s still thinking of his family.
“Good night, love,” she replied as he joined Serenne on the stairs.
Gobi walked over to Kamo.
“I lied to you,” he said, “when you asked if I knew more about Rolin. He’d told me the truth. It just wasn’t my story to tell.”
“I know,” Kamo said. “You are a loyal friend, Gobi. I’d never ask you to change that.”
He smiled sadly. “Loyalty is a privilege and a burden, wouldn’t you agree?”
“I hadn’t thought of it that way.”
“Perhaps someday you will,” Gobi said, offering his arm. “Let’s get you to bed. I have a feeling you have a few hard days ahead of you.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
“Kamo, you’re going to be late!”
Gobi’s voice was pa
nicked, and Kamo shivered as he pulled the blanket away from her.
“Get up, get up! It’s nearly sunrise!”
Kamo scrambled out of bed. She threw on her sandals and tossed her hair into a messy bun.
“Where are Rolin and Serenne?” she asked with a yawn.
“They left for the arena,” he said, hurrying her out the door with a push. “Serenne was pretty eager to get there.
That’s odd, why wouldn’t they wake me?
Kamo trained with Serenne, Rolin, and Gobi in a practice arena in the days leading up to the obstacle course. Occasionally, the other competitors joined their practice. The night before the event, Kamo saw Fiona, Phabian, and their entourage celebrating with friends and family in the streets of town.
Maybe they’ll be late, too.
As Kamo and Gobi ran to the arena, she thought about her own family and how they would feel about the competition. Sheelo, Kulpa, and Morro would cheer her on. Her sisters would fret and fidget finding her the perfect outfit.
I have Gobi. And Serenne, and Rolin. They’re my family, too.
Kamo entered just before the sun rose into the sky. Though there were some spectators, the crowd was smaller than at the previous event.
“Good luck, Kamo,” Gobi said as he hugged her, “you’ll be brilliant.”
He ran up to the stands to join Rolin and Serenne, who had taken a seat in the second row. Kamo smiled at them and laughed as Serenne yawned loudly.
“Kia,” a man’s voice said just behind her, “just in the nick of time again, I see.”
Phabian was sporting a similar tunic to the one he had worn a few days before. It was pale blue, but the material seemed lighter somehow, more flexible.
“I’m afraid I’m not a morning person,” she said, yawning like Serenne.
“That’s alright. It would appear that Elesun isn’t either,” he replied, pointing to the door of the arena.
Elesun entered, yawned, and stretched his arms above his head, his black robes billowing in a heap behind him.
“Good morning, challengers and spectators alike,” he yelled. His voice was hoarse with exhaustion. “We will begin the second challenge shortly if the competitors will please step outside for a moment once again.”
The Last of the Sea Elves Page 25