by Martha Carr
Kathleen looked at Wilmark, narrowing her gaze. "Yes, that they would always be found near the Elemental who controlled the compass. I know..." She held her arms out wide, looking out over the city. "That still leaves a lot of geography. I'm not even sure how to recognize them if I did see them because the last of the story was that they were hiding in plain sight."
"Why are we on this hillside? Maggie should be able to get the trees to tell her." A rabbit stirred, darting across the path and ducking under a bush. Wilmark followed the movement of the rabbit, reaching back to touch his bow.
But the Fae stopped him. "You have an interesting way of finding inner peace. Hunt another time." She arched an eyebrow, waiting for him to let go of his bow. "These trees are an exception to the network. They are connected only to each other. Even the ship has no idea where they are."
"Who does know?"
"It is said there are a chosen few but their identities are as closely held as the Elementals. I'm not sure they're known to each other, either."
"So many secrets. They haven't all served us." Wilmark grew somber, lost in thought.
The Fae blew out the flame dancing on her palm and put her hand on Wilmark's arm. "I'm sorry, I heard about what happened to your comrades." She stepped back, letting go of his arm. "Let's focus on the task at hand. Sometimes, when I don't know what to do about a bigger problem, I ask myself what is there for me to do right now, where I stand." The flames on her skin skipped across, circling her body. The more she walked toward a nearby clearing, the faster the flames circled her until she was barely visible.
She smiled, her face aglow. "There was one last part to the story that makes me think we're standing on sacred ground and the trees are nearby." The Elemental held out her hand as a small flame appeared in her palm. She crouched down, touching the ground with her hand and smiled as the flame grew larger in her hand. "Every Elemental has a special connection to the ship. For each one, the way we connect is different and for me, it's the ground beneath us that speaks to me through the flame." She looked up at Wilmark, who was watching her with fascination. "Do you understand? Each one of us is somehow connected to another Elemental, until we get to Maggie..."
"Who is connected to the source and closes the loop..." Wilmark set off, crossing the open glade.
Kathleen nodded her head, watching him go. "A man on a mission," she whispered. "But yes, the trees. The heart of this organic being everyone calls a ship." She called out to Wilmark who had disappeared among the poplar and live oaks on the far side. "I can feel the connection to this part of town." There was no answer, and she began walking through the tall grass to catch up with him. "There has to be a connection."
"I'd say there's something." His deep, booming voice carried back to her and she followed the sound, running part of the way.
"Over here," he shouted, excitement in his voice.
The Fire Elemental made her way through the trees, the flames on her body growing and licking at the trees without leaving a burn mark, harmlessly curling around branches.
"This way," said Wilmark, as Kathleen finally caught a glimpse of his tall figure standing in another open area. The sense of connection grew and the grass growing up around her ankles began to caress her skin in recognition. She finally broke free of the trees and stopped, her mouth opening in surprise. In front of Wilmark was a semi-circle of older trees and in front of them was a large hole in the earth that looked like it was ripped open.
Wilmark stood at the edge and crouched down, picking up silt and letting it fall through his fingers. "This is recent. Rain hasn't had a chance to pack it down and no animals have crossed over the space. Something large was pulled out of here."
The Fire Elemental knelt down next to Wilmark and touched the raw ground with her hands, engulfing herself in flames. Wilmark flinched but held his ground and was surprised to feel nothing as some of the flames covered his arm, even though he felt warmer, standing there in the cold air.
Kathleen dug her hands into the soil, only her face appearing clearly out of the flames. She was smiling as she looked up at the trees that stood as a backdrop to the large hole. "Of course, how ingenious."
"Care to let me in on what this is?" He could feel his heart rate picking up from being so close to the hole. "What is this place? It feels like the top of my head is floating off."
The Fae let out a laugh. "We have found the sacred ground. I know it! Nothing else puts out this much energy." She looked up at the trees with reverence, taking in every detail of the trees that had stood for thousands of years undisturbed. "We've found the ancient trees, and the napping place of the Dirt Elemental."
Wilmark stood up abruptly, his hand going to his heart. He felt lightheaded and swayed on his feet but caught himself.
Kathleen noticed and stood, grasping her hands together, still encircled by flame. "Watch yourself while we're near these trees. You are still an elf and can feel magic more easily than Peabrains. We've found a source and it's like being near a volcano ready to erupt. There's a lot of energy rumbling through this small section of earth."
"We're overlooking one small problem. This is where the Elemental was. Where is he now?"
15
Kathleen dug her hands deeper into the dirt and closed her eyes, letting the energy flow easily through her, making her fingers tingle. Images slid through her mind rapidly as she tried to keep up, watching each of them with her eyes wide open, forgetting for a moment where she stood. The influx of magic built in her system and she realized too late, letting go of the dirt even as the pressure continued to build inside of her head and throughout her body.
Boom! Waves of energy rolled across the space, making everything appear to ripple in front of the elf.
The sound echoed through the Wild Basin Preserve, blowing the Fire Elemental backward, shaking the nearby trees, and landing her hard against solid ground. Wilmark moved swiftly, noticed even as he rushed to pick Kathleen up off the ground that the ancient stand didn't even quiver. He scooped her up in his arms, the blue fire coiling around him as well and carried her further away from the pit.
He laid her down, pressing his fingers against her neck as he said a spell in a low voice, not sure if it would even work. "Restituere, vivifica. Ad vitam." A fireball appeared in his hand, circling over Kathleen radiating a purple light. She stirred, opening her eyes and looked up at him, regaining her senses. As she did, her eyes widened and she tried sitting up, grasping Wilmark's muscled arm.
"He got up under his own volition!" she said, excited.
Wilmark easily wrapped his hands around each of her arms, pulling her to her feet and holding her there till she was steady. "Are you alright?" He gazed into her eyes, noticing the sparks of flame that even appeared in her pupils. She nodded, taking in a few deep breaths, still shaken by what she had seen and felt.
"Who did?" he finally asked, when he was sure she was going to stay upright. Still, he lingered close to her, ready to catch her.
"The Elemental pulled himself out of the Earth by his own choice. He was hibernating right there, in front of the trees."
Wilmark looked across the glade at the large space. "What kind of magical can sleep under the soil?"
"Only one, the Dirt Elemental. He's one of a kind, created by those who came together after the burning of the Library."
"The Huldu mechanics," muttered Wilmark. "The Dirt Elemental is a magical creation of theirs."
"Not just the Huldus. They wouldn't have been powerful enough to do it on their own. It would have taken a gathering of magicals. All but the Kashgars, who caused the need in the first place. They would have even asked the trees for permission. That's why it makes so much sense. He was also watching over the ancient trees. But there's a catch."
Wilmark scowled, "There always is."
"This is a big one and answers your wish you sent out into the universe to find trouble. The Kashgars have him."
Wilmark started to protest but the sound of people crashing
through the trees and shouting stopped him. The Fire Elemental moved to get inside the tree line but stumbled and began to fall forward, putting out her hands to catch herself. Wilmark moved easily, grabbing her around the waist and pulling her back, lifting her off her feet and moving them both out of sight.
A band of four young men came into view, passing through the glade, shoving each other and laughing.
"Kashgar," hissed Wilmark, recognizing the tall gnomes.
"Let them pass. Right now, they don't know we've found where the Dirt Elemental was, or even that I've found you." She pulled in her energy, putting out her blue flame to better hide among the trees.
Wilmark's muscles twitched and he gripped the handle of his short dagger, but he didn't move.
"Did you hear the screams? What the hell..." The young Kashgar with a shock of blonde hair that stood up in spiky tufts on the top of his head covered his ears with his hands, rolling his eyes. "They must have laid him out!"
"I still don't get what he did." A Kashgar wearing a hoodie pulled up over his head, tucked his chin down as his friends pushed and elbowed him, teasing and laughing.
"It's what he didn't do. He didn't give up what he knew about the compass. Chief can't have someone disrespecting his authority like that," said a Kashgar with dark curly hair and a permanent sneer across his face. "Needed to make an example of him." He snapped an imaginary whip through the hair and playfully winced as it hit an imaginary target.
"But his own grandson... that is cold. I hear they took off his fingernails one at a time."
"You are making stuff up. Nobody said anything like that."
"Why wouldn't they just use magic to make him spill?"
The dark haired young man scowled, stopping near where Wilmark and Kathleen stood, unaware they were so close. "Magic has its limits, Nathan. That half breed put a spell on himself to keep the secrets hidden."
Wilmark grit his teeth, his muscles tensing as he realized who was their prisoner. Kathleen slowly shook her head, no, putting her finger to her lips.
"He must have it bad," sighed another. "To go through all that pain, just to get some from some Peabrain Elemental. Can't be that good."
Wilmark's chest was moving up and down with his effort to keep from pulling out his bow. He slowly clenched his fist.
"You think they'll let him live?"
"You think there'll be much left of him after they're done trying to get him to spill?"
"Nah, they've gone this far. He's not coming back."
"Iliad is like freezer burn cold, executing his own grandson."
The dark haired young man ran ahead, growing giddy as he neared the pit, the energy going to his head. The others joined him, stumbling as they got closer.
"What is this place?"
"My Uncle Leo said something about sacred site, but not to tell anybody. Shhhh, don't tell anybody." They all laughed, drunk off the energy.
The dark haired man snapped his fingers as a bubble appeared with a flame inside. The bubble floated near the trees, popping as the flame landed on a branch, setting it on fire.
Nathan shook his head at him. "Ben, what are you doing?"
Ben giggled and blew another bubble with a flame inside, about to release it toward the poplar trees. The young men had not noticed the ancient stand of trees yet.
Kathleen stirred, hesitating, not sure what to do.
Wilmark didn't share her problem. He pulled his bow from where it rested on his back, fetching an arrow from the quiver and loading it in one swift motion. He stepped forward, not quite visible and released the arrow, sending it singing across the opening and landing squarely in the soft flesh where the man's shoulder met his arm.
He screamed in surprise and pain and the second bubble quickly evaporated before it could go anywhere, the flame going up in a puff of smoke. The others turned, startled, looking for the source of the arrow as Wilmark came out of the forest, another arrow already drawn. Kathleen quickly followed him, clapping her hands together hard to form a blue light, hurling it at the burning branch. The light surrounded the burning flames, sucking up the oxygen and choking the fire as the injured branch cracked, slowly breaking off and falling to the ground with a loud thud.
The young men were all trained in basic battle magic from an early age and quickly blew out large bubbles that turned into roiling flames, hurling them at Wilmark and Kathleen. Wilmark leaned back, dodging a projectile, slicing the other with his dagger. Kathleen met the first volley with a blue flame that surrounded the blast, turning the flame into a bubbling black that shot back at a Kashgar, swiping across his chest, burning through his jacket and shirt, leaving a long and angry welt.
"A Godwin Knight," said Nathan, surprised as the crest became more visible. "I thought your kind were all gone."
Wilmark's anger only rose and he shot off the arrow, deftly wounding another Kashgar and pinning him to the ground with the arrow through his arm, narrowly missing an artery. Kathleen pushed out a flash of blue flame, temporarily blinding the group, but they weren't backing down.
Wilmark came out more fully into the glade, working his way around the perimeter, turning their attention away from the trees.
Ben looked around, narrowing his gaze. "What are you two doing here and what is she?" He looked toward the pit, the energy still rushing through him, heightening his awareness. "It's this, isn't it?" He blew out a large bubble, forming a shield in front of his body and snapped his fingers, delighted with himself as a bubble appeared holding a small flame. Wilmark released an arrow to intercept the bubble, but it landed against the shield instead, falling harmlessly to the grassy ground. He reloaded, striding forward as the bubble floated menacingly closer to one of the old trees, gently blowing on a breeze, creeping up on its target. Kathleen clapped her hands together, distracted for just a moment by the small flame coming closer to one of the ancient trees and didn't see the roiling flames until it was too late. The bubble hit her sideways in the center of her chest, knocking the wind out of her and laying her out on the ground.
Wilmark saw the blue, filmy garment she wore smoldering and backed up to go help her, but Ben laughed, seeing his chance and snapped his fingers again, sending another bubble. Kathleen opened her eyes, anger shining in them and hissed, "Stop him! Let nothing happen to those trees!" She pushed herself up onto one elbow, wincing at the pain. "Stop him!"
Wilmark glanced back at her one more time but moved forward, pulling another arrow out of his quiver and aiming it at Ben's head. The only area not protected by the shield.
"Do it!" yelled Kathleen. "We cannot lose the trees."
Nathan helped pull an arrow out of the ground, freeing one of the Kashgars as the other wounded Kashgar staggered back the way they had come. "Come on, Ben! Let's get out of here. We weren't supposed to be here in the first place."
Ben's sneer grew even wider and he waited, spreading his stance till Wilmark was closer, changing his shield into a sword, slicing it through the air, aimed at Wilmark's mid-section. The knight rolled back, easily regaining his feet and securing his bow as he pulled out his sword. The Kashgar snapped his fingers again, sending out another flame toward the ancient trees, snickering as it floated away. "Those old pieces of bark really mean something to you, don't they?"
"They should mean something to you too," snarled Wilmark, "but once again, you aren't even smart enough to command self-preservation." He raised his sword, met by Ben's, surprising him. The Kashgar knew how to fight.
"Yeah, that's right. I was trained in the old ways. Seemed like a waste at the time. No good knights left to battle, but lo and behold. Just one more. Early birthday present for me. My grandfather talked about what it was like to kill one of you." He swung his sword around but Wilmark met it, the metal clanging together.
Ben snapped his fingers again and another flame floated away, landing on the branch of the outermost tree in the stand. A branch quickly caught on fire as the ground shook. Ben looked momentarily shaken but he regained hi
s sneer and opened his mouth, still smiling, as the beginning of a series of bubbles with flames began to emerge.
"No!" yelled Kathleen, trying to emit a wave of blue flames, but the injury was stopping her.
Wilmark swung his sword lopping off the branch before lunging at the Kashgar, pressing the shield down onto his chest, knocking the air out of his lungs. Ben instinctively gasped for air, sucking in the bubbles, the sneer finally falling from his face. His body convulsed under the weight of the shield as smoke and steam poured from his mouth. Wilmark let up, lessening the pressure of the shield and pulling the Kashgar up by his jacket but it was too late. Ben hung limp in his arms, his lungs bubbling inside of him.
Wilmark lay the young man down gently on the ground, feeling no ease from his grief over fallen knights.
"The trees are saved. It had to be done." Kathleen came and stood by his side, looking down at the Kashgar. "We need to deliver him to his people, and rescue Jake."
Wilmark's jaw worked as he thought it over. "Half Kashgar," he muttered. "Won't betray Maggie, even if it costs him his life." The knight picked up his sword, securing it without saying another word. He went back to the body, lifting him and putting him over his shoulder as he surrounded them in a purple light.
"Let's bring this fight to them, after we stop at Pressler Street. Maggie deserves to fight next to us," he said, just before they disappeared in a flash of light from the glade.
16
The Fire Fae didn't argue. They appeared in the shadows of the alley behind Pressler Street near Maggie's back yard, avoiding the street lamp nearby. Wilmark threw his cloak over the body, shielding it from view as he moved quickly along the back fence line. He went inside her gate and hid the body in the garage before stepping into Maggie's yard. Dexter sent up the alarm that they were there, barking and squeaking and twirling in a circle.
Maggie came out of the kitchen, pushing open the screen door as the raccoon dashed by her and out into the yard.