Andrew, eyes darting back and forth, spoke haltingly, “I suppose that I could take the cloak through a portal, although I am not sure what awaits me there.”
Ran burst out laughing. “A lot of elves and ogres, along with a handful of humans. Besides, once our leaders see that cloak, I suspect that the matter will be taken out of your hands.”
Mathias shook his head as though in frustration. “The sun is setting. Let’s get that first crystal positioned.”
The moon was midway in the western sky, clearly visible above the short trees. “Position it here and orient it so the face is toward the moon.” He counted off about ten paces to the east. “If I am right, the beam of the crystal will fall about here, creating the portal you need.” He gestured toward Tovi. “You’ll have just a few seconds. If you hurry, all three of you can get through in one go.”
Jarek felt good knowing that Ran was going with the two boys. He imagined what he would feel like were he going on such a mission. But to undertake it alone, with only Ben, would be almost unthinkable. So far, Ran had proven that he could hold his own.
As they moved the crystal into place, a red glow appeared across the clearing, and the image of Aristan emerged. “Good. You have done well. Tovi, remember what I told you. Dredwyn will sense you when you enter the containment room. He cannot physically harm you. But he will try with all of his resources to delay you. He may try to befriend you, scare you, or even just engage you in conversation. It will take some time, maybe as much as ten minutes, for him to have soldiers there. Make no mistake, he will know your purpose and he will do everything in his power to stop you. Know that his abilities during that time period are limited if you do not listen to him. Again, I caution you, go alone. Do not take your companions into the room with you. Now, go with my blessing.” The red light dimmed along with the god’s image.
Jarek turned his attention to the immediate task. “The sun has set. Help me adjust it so that it faces the moon.”
The large crystal began to glow with a soft purple light. Suddenly a brilliant amethyst beam shot from the other side of the crystal. The light began to swirl exactly where Jarek had predicted. Within seconds, a fully-formed portal appeared. Jarek turned to the trio. “Go now.”
Chapter 77: Ebon Hills
They were gone. The portal disappeared, and the clearing fell silent. Mathias, Jarek, Burns, and Brother Andrew stared at the spot where their friends had stood moments before. The Azyrean broke the silence. “Are we going to set up the blue one?”
Burns turned away, seemingly focused on the moon in the western sky.
Brother Andrew spoke in a voice that offered little enthusiasm. “I don’t know. Do we need to do it right now?”
“In another hour the moon will be hidden behind the trees. After that, we’ll have to wait until tomorrow night.”
“We could hide the crystals and then take the cloak back to the old monastery. Brother Magnus would know what to do.” Andrew sounded hopeful.
“Maybe. But I think that things will begin to happen fast now. Tovi and the others are in the castle already. They’re probably making their way into the tunnels.” Jarek mused, “I wonder if that cloak has anything to do with any of this? Do you think the elves need it for the fight over there?”
Andrew retorted, “I confess that I am completely ignorant about the cloak. The fact that the runes are elven was news to me.”
Jarek shook his head. “Then I think you would get no real guidance from Magnus. If you know nothing about it, he likely knows even less. If they do need it over in Crystal Sands, taking it back and debating about it would waste valuable time.” He thought about the problem for a moment. “Look, if you don’t want to go, maybe I can take it through and give it to them. After all, at this point I know as much about it as you.”
Andrew stared at the box on the ground. “No. I fear that this falls to me. I have been the keeper of artifacts for these past thirty years. It is my responsibility. I must also admit that I am curious to know more.”
“I understand. Is there anything that you’d like me to relay to Brother Magnus?”
“Yes, if you please. Tell him that our task—setting up the crystal and creating the portal—was a success. Tell him that Tovi, Ben, and Ran made it into the portal and, we assume, inside the castle walls.” He turned to stare at the moon. “Tell him of my task. And tell him that I shall return directly.” He paused for a moment, and then turned to Jarek. “I think that will do.”
“Okay, then. Let’s get that crystal set up before the moon disappears.”
Once Andrew was through, the portal disappeared. Mathias, Jarek, and Burns turned it sideways so that the moon would not create another opening.
Jarek stood beside the blue crystal. “That’s it then. Let’s see if we can move these things into the woods and get them covered.”
Burns nodded and paced over to stand alongside Mathias near the amethyst crystal. Jarek stood and watched her… really watched her for the first time. Her hair had grown out since they first met. It was no longer spiky but now softly touched the tops of her ears, and in the moonlight, her red hair shone with a dark auburn hue. She stood nearly a half-head taller than he and her lithe body seemed to shimmer in the silvery light.
He shook his head to clear the thoughts. They moved the two crystals about twenty meters into a stand of thick brush, covering them with felt cloth and then additional branches for camouflage. They worked in silence. As they finished, Jarek wiped his hands on his breeches. “I guess we can start for the monastery now.”
Mathias struck out toward their destination. “I’ll scout ahead; give me a few minutes and then follow.”
Burns took the Azyrean by the arm. “Wait, Jarek, please.”
He turned to her. “What is it?”
She sat, pulling him down with her. “It seems crazy. This whole thing is just about over.”
He forced a laugh. “I certainly hope so.”
“That means that you’ll be going home.”
“I don’t know. So far, nobody has said anything about making a portal back to Pangrove.”
“But surely Aristan will do that once you are done. After all, didn’t you say that it was him that arranged for you to be here to start with?”
“More like he implied it. Honestly, I’m not sure exactly how I ended up here, except that I jumped on a red moonbeam.”
“But he’ll probably send you back, don’t you think?”
And so it had come to this. Why would he go back? Was working as a beam keeper that interesting? And he had no real friends back in Pangrove. No family. Why? What was there for him? On the other hand, what was here for him? He turned his head to look at her. She was here. He had friends. People were different here. He didn’t know how to explain, but he fit in. This felt like home.
“It’s confusing right now. But, just between us, I don’t think I want to go back.”
Her hold on his arm tightened.
Chapter 78: Crystal Sands
“Can I ask you a question?” Marzi plopped down on a flat rock beside Saryn. She had searched all over and finally found him behind the elven supply tent just as the sun was setting.
He glanced at her briefly then returned to staring at the sand in front of him. “Of course.” His words came out muted, with no enthusiasm or warmth.
“Arien? What… I mean, I’m sorry she was hurt and all, but she’s going to be okay, you know.” She struggled to form the question that haunted her.
He nodded, tapping his fingers on his knees.
“I know you’re worried about her.” That was stupid. Of course, he was worried about her. All of the elves worried about all of the other elves. It was the way they were. But this seemed different. “But you seemed, I don’t know, really kind of upset.”
“It is nothing.”
But his tone said otherwise. It was very much something. Marzi wanted to tell him that, of all the places Arien could be, this was probably the safest. But afte
r this latest attack, and what happened with Kharla and Klunk, that might not be true. That still didn’t answer the question. Why was he so upset about Arien getting hurt? The two had an argument back in the Bough. And Marzi vaguely remembered it being something about Arien being in danger. But all the elves were in danger.
“Saryn, since I’ve known you, we’ve become friends. At least I’ve always thought of you as my friend. When I told you about Valyn, I wasn’t sure whether or not that was the right thing to do. But I trusted you. Please, tell me, what is going on with Arien? Her injury is minor compared to others, Ryshara and Corhymin, to name a couple.”
She felt tension in the air. She could see the elf stiffen. Then he relaxed and stood. “It was nothing. I overreacted, that is all.”
But that wasn’t all. Marzi knew it. Saryn had seen injuries before. He had experienced fighting and witnessed death. This was somehow different.
She started to respond, but before she could get the words out, a shout came from the other side of the compound. “Come, quick. Now!”
Saryn bolted around the tent and Marzi jumped to her feet. As she rounded the tent and looked into the compound, she saw a fully formed swirling blue portal. After a flash of brilliant scarlet light, a lone human popped out. The man was plainly garbed in woolen trousers, work shirt and vest, and he carried a carved wooden box under one arm. As the explosion of activity died down, the human was quickly whisked off to the leadership tent while those left outside could only speculate about the visitor. Everyone that Marzi knew was inside. Cautiously, she approached the tent and pulled back the canvas flap covering the entrance.
Inside was the human, a male with white hair that hung just below his ears and a white beard to match.
Ariessa turned as Marzi stood in the doorway. “Come in, Marzi, please. This is Brother Andrew. He comes to us from Ebon Hills in Caravast bringing an unusual artifact.”
The circle of observants included the elven leaders—Ariessa, Saige, and Elondiel, Saryn, Klunk, Kharla, and Myhrren, who stood back from the group, peering thoughtfully at the object of interest in the box. Marzi eased over to his side, nodding to him before turning her attention back to the visitor.
“We’ve had this cloak for decades, maybe even longer. I’m not sure how we came by it or of its significance. But when the young Azyrean came to us some days ago, he was accompanied by the elf lad, Ran. He noticed the cloak and told us that it looked elven because of these symbols around the edge.”
Her interest piqued, Marzi approached the group. Peering through the gaps, she could see the cloak. It had a familiar look, but she couldn’t place it. The silky cloth had threads of the deepest emerald and sapphire woven through its border—white gold with faintly glowing symbols.
Ariessa reached out and touched the silken material. “Yes, it is clearly elven. The runes appear quite ancient and I regret that I cannot translate them.” She looked, in turn, at Saige and Elondiel, each of whom shook their heads. “But I think I know someone who can. If we can create a portal back into Menalor, I will send a messenger to summon Maw’thryn, the Bough archivist. If anyone can read these, it would be him.”
Myhrren cleared his throat and stepped forward. “If Klunk is in agreement, I think we may be able to help. The ogres can bring up a suitable crystal from the mines tomorrow and, by the time the moon rises in the evening, we will be ready to create the portal. If we select just the right color, it will deposit the traveler in the Bough.”
Klunk nodded. “I will ask the chiefs and we will send a runner to the mine at first light.”
Marzi moved closer to the box and the cloak began to shimmer with an ethereal white glow. Those gathered around gasped and stepped back. Even Brother Andrew’s eyes grew wide in amazement. The Azyrean stopped in her tracks.
“What in the world…?” Ariessa craned her neck to get a closer look.
The visitor spoke cautiously. “It started glowing when the little one came in.” Brother Andrew seemed to notice Marzi for the first time. “You, young lady, must be Tovi’s sister.”
Marzi’s heart leapt. “My brother, he is safe?”
Andrew chuckled. “Yes, indeed he is. He and Jarek are having quite the time.” His demeanor turned more serious. “More important, this cloak began to glow and shimmer just as you approached.” He turned to the others. “Is it possible that it has something to do with her?”
A murmur swept through the group. Saige stepped forward, eyeing first Marzi and then the cloak. “Let us not jump to conclusions.”
Chapter 79: Crystal Sands
Early morning, even before the sun arose, Marzi heard sounds—shouts, rustling, and general commotion. She blinked her eyes open and lay still on her pallet listening. She could make out the sounds of people running around outside. The shouts had subsided, but threads of urgent conversation filtered into her tent.
She arose and wandered out into the bright light of the campfires. Rubbing her eyes, she tried to make sense of the confusion. There didn’t seem to be any fighting. But two of the three elven leaders huddled with Saryn in what appeared to be a heated conversation. Brother Andrew stood to the side with Myhrren, both watching the elves intently.
Marzi shuffled over to stand next to the humans. “What’s that all about? What’s going on?”
Myhrren shrugged as though the matter were insignificant. “It would seem that someone has stolen the elven cloak. The guard was knocked out cold and the artifact is gone. Unfortunately, he was hit from behind and didn’t see the culprit.”
Marzi watched intently as Ariessa and Elondiel exchanged words with Saryn. “Where is Saige?” The leader of the cliff elves had seemed interested in the cloak the night before. It only made sense that she would also be alarmed at its disappearance.
Myhrren replied. “I rather suspect that her absence is at the center of that discussion.”
“What? You think that she might know something about it?”
“I have no idea. But I am guessing that if they can find her, she could answer that question herself.”
A darkness swept over Marzi. “She wouldn’t have taken it, surely.”
“Stranger things have happened.”
Brother Andrew, staring at the spectacle, muttered under his breath, his words unintelligible except for elves and should have known.
Myhrren put his hand on Andrew’s shoulder. “Patience, good brother. All things will be known in their time.”
Another voice reached Marzi, this time from within. “Unfortunately, this will involve you, my child. The cloak has a purpose that must be fulfilled. You can see the conflict building. It will fall to you to resolve it.”
Having no intention of carrying on a conversation with Valyn in this setting, Marzi cautiously approached the three elves. As she drew closer, she could make out their words.
Saryn held out his hands, as though pleading. “We do not know this for sure. Let us not prejudge. I am certain there is a good answer.”
Ariessa nodded. “Perhaps. And I am willing to listen to that answer. But I fear that she is not here to give it.”
“I will find her. I can leave immediately.”
Elondiel queried the young elf. “Where will you search? The desert is dark, and you do not know your way. If what you say is true, you have no idea which way she went.”
Saryn cast a furtive glance around the compound in all directions. “Maybe we can find some tracks.”
Ariessa watched Marzi approach. “What is it you want, Marzi?”
“Did Saige take the cloak?”
Saryn snapped, “We do not know that. We are not clear on what happened yet.”
The empress ignored him. “Why do you ask?”
The voice came back. “Yes, Marzi. You must tell Ariessa and Elondiel. You cannot hide this from them.”
The Azyrean moved in closer. “Empress, If I could speak with you in private,” she nodded also to the other two, “all of you.”
The four of them moved inside the
command tent. Ariessa spoke first, “What is it that you must say that could not be spoken outside?”
Marzi sat down on a pallet and cleared her throat in an attempt to buy a little time to think. “I will say what I can, but I warn you, I don’t know what all of it means.” She glanced from elf to elf, hoping for some sign of encouragement. She received none.
“Valyn spoke to me, just a few minutes ago.” She paused to let the statement sink in, but it appeared to have no effect on the three. “She told me that this involves me, but she didn’t say how. And I don’t know myself. But she did say that I had to be involved in resolving it. And I don’t know what that means either.”
Saryn shook his head. “It seems our goddess is not particularly forthcoming with you. This does not help us.”
Elondiel intervened, “On the other hand, Marzi has never misled us. And when we have listened to her and heeded, we have found truth in her words. I would say that we take this on faith. She does not know how to resolve it and neither do we. But I submit to you, we must first find Saige. Our course of action cannot be determined until we hear her explanation. And before you say anything, Saryn, I agree that we cannot prejudge. We must go where the information leads us. So, our first order of business is to get that information. And that means finding your mother.”
“Yes. I agree. And, as I said, I will go immediately.”
Marzi suddenly understood another key piece of the puzzle. “I must go with you.”
“No. That is not a good idea. The desert is a dangerous place, and I will need to move quickly if I am to overtake her.”
The Azyrean continued, “And I also think that we can’t leave until daylight. Even when we do, we will need some help in tracking. I have no idea how to find my way around the desert and you probably don’t either.” She stared at the floor as she pondered the problem. “But I’ll bet that one of the ogres could help us. Let’s ask Klunk.”
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