"Will any of you join us? We could use you in the coming battle," Violet said.
Klik frowned and shook his head. "The faeries have seen enough war. It is time for us to rebuild what we have lost in the Burning Woods on account of the banshees."
Both Lya and Syl looked disheartened with the answer, but neither argued against their leader's wishes.
Alistair cleared his throat. "I will say the same thing to you as I said to King Balfour, your Majesty. This war affects every creature in Azuleah. Denying that you and faerie-kind will be spared is folly. The dragons and the Draknoir may not come for you today or even tomorrow. But if our fight to throw down the evil plans of Memnon and Kraegyn fail, they will assuredly come for you. Better you fight alongside us now so that our resolve is stronger than when nobody is left to stand with you," the druid warned.
Klik considered his words for a moment, but did not commit to any action and bid them farewell. Lya asked for a moment alone to say goodbye to Violet . The others left them and Violet stretched out her hand so Lya could walk on to her palm from the ground where she stood.
"I wish you were coming with us, Lya. Your friendship has been so treasured these past few weeks," Violet said.
"Me too, Violet. I've enjoyed getting to know humans better. Faeries have so little understanding of other races beyond those in the woods. It's a shame really. But it's one of the reasons why I'm staying," the faerie said. "If I stay behind, I can have a positive influence on my brother and hopefully, on his policies. I fear that Alistair could be right about things and I don't want the faeries to be on the sidelines when this war escalates further."
"You are a very positive influence, Lya. In time, your brother will see the error of his ways and you'll guide him to do what's right. I'm sure of it."
"We can only hope."
Violet drew closer to Lya and gently put her hand on her small body while the faerie spread her arms to embrace the side of Violet's face. It was the best embrace they could manage with their considerable difference in height.
Syl also bid everyone farewell and asked Violet to say hello to Lucius and Siegfried whenever she happened upon them again. Violet hoped that reunion would be sooner rather than later especially since Kraegyn was hunting the two brothers recently.
Alistair led the way to Sylvania accompanied by Balfour and a handful of dwarves. The rest of the dwarven army stayed camped around the cottage, watching the flitting faeries with visible annoyance. Both races were cordial to one another, but not exceedingly fond of each other. The dwarves, used to their dark underground tunnels, were not excited by the constant flurry of lights around them. Similarly, the faeries disliked the rudeness and general irritability of the dwarves in contrast to their more jovial behavior. Violet hoped the two groups would get along in Alistair's absence.
Once they were on the road again, they wasted no time in reaching the ruined city. The wooden gate and walls were heaps of ash and blackened wood. Violet steeled herself for the awful sights that lay ahead. Buildings and store houses were still smoldering from the dragon fire that destroyed this once bustling town. Every so often, they happened upon the burnt corpses of townsfolk. Those who did not seem so severely burned, Caldwell inspected. But none were alive.
When they entered the town square, Violet looked up to see the stone effigy of a man and an elf sitting atop a fountain. The water was no longer clear, but now full of soot and ash. Curiously, Alistair stopped at the fountain and spread his arms to the statues.
"Here's the Elder Gate," Alistair declared.
Morton furrowed his eyebrows. "That doesn't look like a gate to me. All I see are two statues — an elf and a man," the commander said.
"Yes, well that's intentional. The dwarves who built the statue for the city's founders hid the runes on the surface of the statues. Watch closely," Alistair said. He raised up his staff and muttered something under his breath. The orb at the top of the staff began to glow and markings on the statues became visible. They were dwarvish letters — ancient runes to Violet's eyes.
"You've got to hand it to my forbearers," Balfour said, with a smug smile on his face. "They could be quite ingenious when they want to be."
"Indeed," Alistair agreed.
"But where is the entrance?" Violet asked. "As Morton said, these are two statues not a gate."
Alistair smiled, anticipating the question. He pointed to the spot where both figures' legs intersected, creating an upside down V shape. "You will walk in the space between the elf and the man's legs. It's tall enough for you to ride through on horseback," he said.
"And how do we know we won't land in Ghadarya or the top of Raven's Peak?" Caldwell asked.
"As I've said before, you'll have to trust me. This gate will either lead you to Djoulmir or Aldron. The destination is dependent upon the word spoken."
"And what word might that be?" Morton asked.
"Dergstant," Alistair answered. "The first one to walk up to the gate recites the word and when the runes glow, everyone enters single-file. I'm confident this gate will transport you within the city walls."
Violet exchanged glances with Morton and Caldwell. Both men seemed reluctant to take the lead, so Violet nudged Homer forward into the dirty water of the fountain. Alistair waved the others to form a line behind her as she maneuvered Homer onto the stone platform where the statues stood. Looking over at the druid, he signaled for her to say the phrase with a nod.
"Dergstant," Violet said.
The runes on the statues began to glow a bright orange and a haze developed in the space that acted as the gateway. Her heart thumped loudly inside her chest and Homer whinnied an alarm. "It's all right, boy," she said, patting the horse's neck. "We're going through together. Don't worry."
With one final look to Alistair, she swallowed hard and held her breath as she stepped through the portal.
"We'll see each other before long, Queen of Aldron," Alistair said, his voice fading away as a loud whooshing noise enveloped Violet.
She seemed to fall through the gate into a dizzying display of colors which frightened her. She held onto the reins with all of her strength, feeling Homer kicking in midair as they careened through the awful vortex. Thankfully, the disorientation and confusion of the travel did not last long. She heard Homer's hooves clacking onto solid ground and all at once, buildings and a street appeared from thin air around them.
"Cervantes' ghost! What in all name of heaven was that madness we just stepped through?" Caldwell's voice screamed behind her.
Violet turned in the saddle, and saw the doctor, Morton, and the guardsmen behind her. Aside from the pallor of their faces and the spooked expressions of their steeds, everyone looked to be safe and in one piece. She finally exhaled the breath she'd held since they entered the Elder Gate.
"Where are we?" Morton asked, looking at their surroundings.
"It looks like one of the back alleys near Faraboux Lane," Violet said in an excited tone. The fact that they had been transported hundreds of miles south from Sylvania in a matter of seconds amazed her. She quickly checked the bundles tied to her saddle, inspecting the talo ferns for any damage from their wild journey. Every one of the plants was intact and healthy. She let out a sigh of relief.
"Darlene's house is not but two blocks from here, Violet," Caldwell said, reminding her of their initial mission. "We should bring some of the leaves there and get the elixir started. We've been gone longer than I hoped and I'd like to save those children and their mother if we can."
Violet nodded. "Yes, you go and do that. Take Morton and the rest of the men with you. They can help boil the leaves while you administer treatment to the families affected."
"You're not coming?" Caldwell frowned.
"I need to report everything Alistair told us to the king. He needs to know about the dwarves and their willingness to fight. If I can get away, I'll come back and help. But I've already shown you how to make the elixir. It's not a difficult process and even Morton can g
rasp the fundamentals," she said with a smile.
"I hope you're not implying that I'm incapable, my lady," Morton said, looking a bit crestfallen.
"Of course not, Lieutenant Morton. I just know as a warrior and commander, apothecarial work is not the reason you joined the Royal Guard."
Morton shrugged. "I consider it an honor to help you, Lady Violet. You will be queen after all."
Violet couldn't help but smile at the man. Despite his trepidation in certain situations, the young commander was overly loyal and dependable. To have such a faithful servant to Silas, her, and the kingdom was an indescribable blessing. She knew corruption had been the downfall of the governorship in Tarshish. Hopefully, no one of such questionable character like Felix Gryn would ever soil the reputation of Aldron's royal court or nobility. Men like Morton and Caldwell proved to her that despite their dire situation, the future of the kingdom looked bright.
“I’ll leave you to it then,” Violet said finally. “Take care of yourselves. Make sure to report to the palace when your work is finished.”
After she unpacked her bundles of talo ferns, she raced back to Gilead Palace with Homer. The winding, narrow alleyways of the peasant district were hardly manageable to most newcomers in this part of the city. They were a labyrinth of hovels and rundown storefronts. But over the weeks she’d spent here with Caldwell, Violet had learned all the shortcuts like the back of her hand. Construction was finally being overseen on some of the damaged buildings in this impoverished section of the city. The cost of such repairs was likely paid by Silas himself or the more generous members of the nobility, who sympathized with the plight of the poor.
Violet emerged from the alleys of Faraboux Lane and onto Noble Street, heading north toward the towering spires of Gilead Palace. She weaved through the crowds of people filling the street going about their business. Eventually, she made it to the southern gate of the palace wall and dismounted to address the junior seneschal stationed there. She had to wait in line for another party with horses who reached the gate first.
While she waited, she recognized the distinct elven patterns embroidered on the saddles of the horses. She glanced at one of the riders who had not dismounted yet — a woman with long black hair clad in a dark, form-fitting leather outfit. Violet could not see the woman’s face, but her stiff posture and body language revealed that she did not seem pleased to be here.
“Please let the king know at once that we’ve arrived. He’ll be eager to know all the news from Ithileo,” a familiar female voice spoke.
Violet craned her neck to gaze beyond the group of horses in front of her and saw Avani striding back to her horse. The elf princess noticed her immediately and ran toward her. Violet dismounted and they locked in a tight embrace then stood back to smile at each other.
“I’m so happy to see you!” Violet said. “I thought for sure we'd not cross paths until later in the summer.”
“As did I. But many things have changed since we both left,” Avani admitted.
“You can say that again. I don’t think anyone is going to believe how returned here much less what I’ve seen in Sylvania,” Violet replied.
“Sounds like we both need to see Silas at once then. Why don’t you join me and the others so we can address them together?”
Violet nodded. “That’s a good idea. Silas would rather have everything laid out in front of him then wait for pieces of information.”
Violet sensed someone look at her and she turned to her left to once again see the woman mounted on the horse. This time she stood on the other side and could see her face clearly. She was fair-skinned with dark eyes that looked sullen and disinterested. Though her demeanor was anything but friendly, Violet sensed a sadness behind the woman's demeanor.
“Is she with you?” Violet asked, turning to Avani.
“Yes. She’s a very important prisoner who escaped the dungeons here,” Avani revealed.
“Oh? What was she imprisoned for?”
Avani crossed her arms. “The assassination of Alfryd Dermont.”
Chapter 11
The echoing voices inside the pyramid woke Lucius from his sleep inside the antechamber designated as his bedroom. A night before he and the others slept inside the ancient structure to avoid the frigid cold descending upon the desert at night. At Simeon’s behest, their weapons and supplies were returned to them and their horses taken care of by one of the stable hands. After the revelation that Simeon was Lucius' father, there had been little communication between the two men. The older warlord retired to his chamber in the pyramid last night and spoke briefly with Dudley and Darius about a council in the morning. Lucius wondered if those were the voices he heard now.
Sitting up on his simple cot lying on the stone ground, he dipped his hands in a wooden basin filled with water. He splashed the water on his face then stood up to put on his boots and strap the Requiem sword onto his belt. There was no door in the antechamber so he walked out into the dim hallway where he could access more rooms similar to his own. To the left of his bedroom, Siegfried slept soundly. Usually the elf was one of the first to be awake in the morning. But perhaps the heart and lack of greenery in this land sapped the woodland elf of much of his strength. Lucius left his brother to rest and walked toward the voices.
As he exited the long hallway, the inner structure opened around him into a larger chamber filled with columns arranged in a circular pattern. Several hundred feet into the center of these columns, he saw three figures standing near an elevated stone circle. An earthen throne surrounded by shattered clay pots and rusted candelabra stood in the center of the circle. Lucius strode closer and two of the men became visible — Dudley and Darius. They were the ones speaking and the man listening was none other than his father.
"Listen, you and your men are our only hope at thwarting Kraegyn's evil in that canyon," Dudley argued. "Right, Darius?"
"Yes, this journey will be far more difficult without your help. Please consider this carefully, Simeon. King Silas will compensate you for your help." Darius offered.
Simeon nodded then looked over to where Lucius stood. He clicked his tongue a few times then turned to the two men again. "Give me the day to think about it," he said finally.
Dudley raised his hands in exasperation. "Haven't you heard what we've said? We're on a tight schedule and—"
Darius put a hand on Dudley’s shoulder. "I think we can spare a day, Captain."
The Drachengarde leader sighed then nodded reluctantly. They both stepped back from the warlord and walked toward Lucius. He nodded at both of them and they acknowledged him in return.
Dudley inclined his head toward his father, seeming to say, "talk to him, please."
Lucius sighed then stepped closer to the throne where his father stood.
"Did you find your room adequate?" Simeon asked.
"It was comfortable. Much better than sleeping outside, I suppose," Lucius replied.
Simeon gave a bemused smile. "I couldn't sleep last night. There are so many things I have to tell you. Matters I hadn't imagined I'd have the opportunity to discuss. Now my mind is bursting with a flood of thoughts that must be released,” he mused. There was an awkward silence for a moment before his father spoke again. "I wonder if you would take a walk with me this morning, Lucius?"
"Sure — that is, of course... Sir," he said awkwardly. He wasn't sure if he should address Simeon as "father" or use an honorific title like "sir" or even "Al-Abya." Part of him really wanted to use a parental term for this man whom he'd desired to meet his entire life. But it just felt wrong at this early stage in their relationship.
"Very well. Walk with me," Simeon said, gesturing a hand toward the entrance of the pyramid.
The doorway outside was on the far end of the circular central chamber. Once Lucius followed Simeon out, the harsh sunlight caused him to squint as his eyes adjusted to the brightness. The heat of the morning hit him like a wave of fire. Even this early in the day, the temperature was
on a steady rise and he marveled at how much cooler the pyramid was in comparison to the desert.
Simeon led him through the mass of huts and tents which served as the town of the Uwadi, the nomadic people loyal to him. They were farmers, laborers, and fierce warriors who had sworn fealty to Al-Abya.
"I'm sure you're curious about why an Aldronian like me would settle in such an inhospitable place as this," Simeon said.
"The question has been on my mind," Lucius replied.
Simeon smiled. "I had run away for so many years. Living in the forests of Azuleah and even traveling on a skiff along the coastlines east of Numa. But without your mother by my side, such travels became lonely and tiresome. I needed a community that I could trust. As a hunted heir of the Nostra line, loyal friends were in short supply. Until I ventured where few people dare to come — the Kroshen Wastes.”
"Do you mean you had no relatives who you could reach out to in Aldron or elsewhere?"
Simeon shook his head. "All dead or bought out to become spies for Memnon on. That's the trouble, Lucius. There are spies everywhere these days. Anytime your mother and I would lodge in a small town on the outskirts of one of the bigger cities, somebody always wanted to collect on a bounty. Apparently, Memnon was paying a huge price for my head." Simeon looked at the ground for a moment, a sense of sadness coming over him. "How ironic your mother's demise came at the hands of random thugs who knew nothing of the bounty.”
Lucius said nothing. He knew from his time with his mother and Yesu what transpired to cause her death. Simeon had fought bravely against their attackers, but in the confusion of the fight, his mother was mortally wounded. They walked in silence for a moment until the collection of tents were behind them. Simeon led them up a large dune overseeing the camp and the pyramid. His father looked out to the horizon, numerous thoughts probably swirling through his mind as he contemplated his next words.
"I'm sorry we left you, Lucius. It was not my plan for you. Your mother could not imagine losing you in a Draknoir attack or on one of our harrowing journeys. We argued about it for days, but she always had a way of turning my stubborn mind away from my plans," Simeon said, a faint smile on his lips. "Tell me about your childhood. Was it terrible among the elves?"
Keep of Dragons (The Azuleah Trilogy Book 3) Page 14