by K. A. Lentz
Nodding his understanding, the magistrate turned back around and set off the way he had come. Kaiyssa and Tahlan shared a knowing glance before resuming their journey back to the keep. It took two hours for them to properly thank Joel’s wife, affectionately known as Weezy, for her abounding generosity. Her kindhearted nature and abundance of stories—ferried along with plates of delicious food—kept the pair busy well beyond notice. Leaving her keep smiling and full, they strolled through town once more. Hasir and Joel had returned to their previous spot, deep in conversation as before. Nearby, three horses dozed as they stood saddled and hitched to a post alongside the barn. Out of consideration for the men, the nimble elves walked with a heavier step as they approached. Hasir was the first to spot them, looking none too pleased at being ordered to take them on a full day’s ride there and back.
Waving good-bye to his friend, Joel wished them all good luck as the couple disappeared into the shadows of the forest behind their guide. The trip to the cottage was fairly mundane. Living isolated in this forest was easier than any other in the realm. Upon the establishment of Reaper frontlines, Varmount had been transformed from a village ravaged by war to a small farming community in the slow, impoverished stages of rebuilding. On rare occasions when the defensive line broke, the front’s opportunely positioned support camp deflected the flow of the battle northward to a highly defensible city eighty miles on the other side of the forest dividing them. Sheltered in this peaceful spot, the forest’s scattered inhabitants were allowed to live out their lives unmolested.
As the party set out from Hasir’s farm a boisterous storm began rattling thunderous threats over the prairie horizon. By the time they arrived at the cottage, it had descended upon the trio with an unrelenting downpour. All three travelers were soaked through as Hasir knocked on the cottage’s front door. Following a shout from one of the occupants within, the door opened to a midsized man of advancing age. With a hospitable smile, he greeted them, “What can I help you folks with? Well hi there Hasir. Come on in, I’m guessing Joel—I mean the Magistrate—sent you here to see our son.”
Each thanked the man waving them inside as they passed through into a warm, cheery glow emanating from within. Hasir hung back with the captain’s father to whisper a heated conversation similar to the one he had engaged in earlier this day. Worried by the fiery glow of burning wood, both elves were pleasantly surprised as they noticed the smoke failed to harass them.
Having heard his father’s words, the young officer was standing at attention when Tahlan and Kaiyssa approached the family gathered around the fire. Their seasoned mother also stood in welcome yet was stopped short as the focus of the room went to the young lady seated beside her. Fully lit by the firelight illuminating the small space, the elves came into clear view. Seeing Tahlan’s face, the girl’s eyes widened in fear as she shrieked and backed herself into a corner of the spacious, walk-in fireplace. Her mouth soundlessly opened a few times before words started spilling through the growing choke in her throat, “It cannot be! It’s him… from the ship! Oh no… he must be here to kill me… like he did them. Please… no!”
The girl’s mother quickly turned and rushed to the defense of her daughter. Hugging the terrified child tight to her bosom, she eyed Tahlan with a distrustful glare. Rallied by their women, brother and father began to advance on the strangers, yelling threats as they marched forward. During all of this Hasir tried raising his voice in a bid to gain the family’s attention, but only succeeded in adding to the escalating racket. With a flash of movement, both elves captured each man stepping foolishly close to the nimble pair. Holding tight to the struggling duo, Kaiyssa watched the mother as Tahlan explained, “I am not the monster of whom you are afraid. I realize I look exactly like the person you fear, however I am not. I assure you I mean none here any harm. My wise King and Council sent me to see your magistrate, knowing it would likely put you in my path.”
“My name is Tahlan and this is my mate Kaiyssa. I am the twin brother of an elf stolen by Reapers eight hundred years ago.” The girl’s brother began struggling more forcefully, breaking up Tahlan’s speech as he explained, “I know you… have been through… a great deal, but if you would permit me, I would… like to ask you about the attack. I seek… the return my brother’s body… to our family and restore the honor of his name.”
The girl’s father had ceased his fight as Tahlan finished clarifying his identity. Sensing the calm spirit within, Kaiyssa decided to free him and gently let go. The captain, on the other hand, was intent on not being treated like a helpless child in the middle of a tantrum. Seating her comforted daughter back into the sanctuary of her chair, the girl’s mother felt the need to intervene on her son’s behalf, “My boy, please, will you stop? I get the feeling, he won’t let you go… until you calm down, and frankly I don’t mind. You always react hotly to things you need to stay collected for. Now, you need to relax and listen. Your sister is quiet and sitting, see?” She paused to give her son time to look at his sibling and grasp that something in her had changed during Tahlan’s statement. Ceasing his struggle, the young man sighed and said in a resigned tone, “You may let me go… I won’t fight you.”
Tahlan immediately released the man. As a show of respect, he took a step back and bowed toward the offended officer. His father felt all was well and tugged Hasir out the front door for a word in private. The boy slumped a little, sat down in his mother’s unoccupied chair, and started sheepishly petting his sister’s shoulder. Despite his contrite tone and overall appearance, the captain defensively stuck out his chin and said, “I’m sorry… it’s just that my sister has been through a lot.”
Tahlan unceremoniously made his way over to an empty chair opposite the two—away from the fire—and politely requested a seat. Kaiyssa decided to remain in the slim shadow she had receded to and listened on in silence. Leaning forward, Tahlan looked the girl in the eye and said, “I’m truly sorry for the pain you have experienced at the hands of my brother’s captor. I must ask… will you speak with me about what took place that night aboard ship?”
The girl intently stared at the floor for a little while before looking back up at Tahlan. Mustering all her courage, she replied, “What would you like to know Sir?”
Tahlan’s response was quick, “I ask that you go only as far as you are able, however, every detail you can recall would be of great use to me. Also, might I inquire after your name?”
The young girl blushed as she replied, “It is Eloise, Sir, and there is not a lot to tell, but I will recount all that happened.”
The young lady’s small audience sat in rapt silence as she recounted what took place aboard the ship over two years ago. Tahlan listened to every detail, his mind recording each word like a documentary to be replayed again and again until he was satisfied. Matching it to his King’s report, the clever wood-elf was unable to discern anything new. When she was finished he quietly sat and mentally replayed them both one more time.
No longer able to endure the persistent hush overtaking the room, the captain asked if there was any other business that had brought them to his parent’s farm tonight. Wishing to give her mate a little more time to speak with Eloise, Kaiyssa felt it appropriate to enter the conversation. Stepping forward she formally asked, “Captain, may I speak with you as Tahlan takes a few minutes to finish speaking with your sister?”
As if among the audience of a tennis match, the young man glanced back and forth from his sister to Tahlan unsure which course to take. Seeking to intervene once more on her son’s behalf, the boy’s mother cleared her throat and deployed an expression that conveyed everything she meant to tell him. Without a word he turned to speak with the elven woman. Seeing the clear reservation on his face; Kaiyssa gave him a sympathetic smile, handed him the scroll from Joel, and then began in an official tone, “Your name Captain?”
Stumbling over his words he answered in a daze, “Um… my name is Alderic, my lady.”
Kaiyssa didn’t
miss a beat, “Alderic, allow me to state that we are here by order of our King and Council. They bid us report to the reaper-front as aids in the fight against reapers Gorlehteal and Lesdaeonna. My mate, Tahlan, knows much of her and her minions and was requested by your battlefront as council.”
Taken back by the sudden formality, it took a moment for her words to make their way through the barricade of confusion still bewildering the young man’s mind. He blankly unrolled the scroll and glanced down at its contents. The full understanding of Joel’s message acted like a bodily counter weight that suddenly produced a rigid, formal stance. As though speaking to a commanding officer, Alderic answered, “I do not know what missions are currently being run, but I know my commander at the front is our foremost expert on Reaper Lesdaeonna. I, myself, know little. My post is simply the battlement officer for Varmount. I shall draw up entry papers to get you into the encampment.”
That said Alderic marched off to an unseen part of the cottage. After what sounded like a stubbed toe and a few written mistakes, the young officer came back clutching Joel’s parchment tightly in hand. Passing it over to Kaiyssa he instructed, “Show this to the guards posted at the south entrance. They will send you directly to my commander.”
Kaiyssa nodded, “The journey from this cabin to the camp should be about a day’s walk?”
Looking more comfortable in a topic he could handle, the captain eagerly replied, “No… umm, my lady, it will be less than that. You don’t need to cross the Rook Hills; they die off a little ways south of the trail. If you cut through the forest, at the old fort tower, you can knock off some time.”
Kaiyssa nodded again. Tucking the note into her satchel, she thanked the young man, “You have been most helpful, and I shall tell your commander such. We shall no longer trespass upon your hospitality and bid you a fine remainder of the evening.”
Giving Alderic one more nod, Kaiyssa turned and almost laughed aloud at what she saw; Tahlan had finished speaking with Eloise and happily sat nibbling on a monstrous sized cookie wearing a satisfied smile. The tempting dessert’s origin was a large plate, piled high with delicious smelling sweets, proudly resting in the mother’s lap. Donning a serious look, Kaiyssa cleared her throat yet was forced to bite her lip as Tahlan looked over with a sheepish expression. Getting the idea her guest might be upset over cookie status, the kind hostess trotted up to Kaiyssa with the plate gliding along in front as if a parade-float. Beaming a smile, she held the sugary mound up to Kaiyssa’s rounding eyes and said, “We have enough for two more at the dinner table if you’d like to dine with us. The storm outside doesn’t seem to be letting up so you’re welcome to stay the night, or at least dry yourselves in front of the fire before heading out to get drenched again.”
Though neither of them minded traveling in the rain, both were tempted to take the woman’s kind offer. Deciding they could easily get to the front by tomorrow afternoon, she gave the woman a look of acceptance and said, “The day has aged, I think it would be wise for us to remain here with you fine folk tonight. That is, if you are certain it will not be a burden?”
With a jolly smile, the woman shined, “Tosh no, none at all. We would be happy to have dinner with two such as yourselves. My apologies for the mistaken identity; what are the odds he would come here?”
Eager to get dinner on the table, the woman turned toward the hall and disappeared. Kaiyssa stood beside Tahlan, relieved. She didn’t have the heart to tell their kind host that their king had sent them to Varmount knowing full well the girl lived nearby and would likely come in contact with Tahlan during their stay. She had let the generous woman think what she liked over the whole event and left it at that. Tahlan on the other hand had no qualms on informing her over dinner. As the conversation at the table slowed she remarked on the topic once again, leaving Tahlan duty-bound to correct her incorrect assessment. Kaiyssa inwardly laughed at the scene, feeling a tad sorry for the ill-equipped woman in her battle of beliefs with a resolute elf. The other diners drifted in and out of the subject, striking up their own topics on the side. Hasir had decided to stay for supper along with the elves. Safe as this forest may be, he harbored no desire to travel the woods alone, after dark, and in the rain no less. As the meal wound down to its conclusion, the livestock handler was tugged out front for another private word with the family’s patriarch.
Like lazy autumn leaves drifting to the welcoming ground, what remained of the family slowly wandered off to bed one by one. Tahlan and Kaiyssa sat together at the dining table, silently gazing at the other with a smile. The rain finally let up which gave the keen pair an easy time overhearing what was being discussed outside. It seemed a small, neighboring town had a long-standing rivalry with Varmount regarding their livestock. Many years of disputes had spiraled down to acts of petty retaliation such as; leading each other’s cattle far into the woods, burning prized barns, and painting an entire herd bright red.
Tahlan had begun to suggest they rest when an unexpected commotion outside dominated their attention. Whinnying in extreme distress, the horses went mad for a scant few seconds before abruptly falling silent all at once. Kaiyssa and Tahlan exchanged a brief, worried glance as they stood to inspect the cause. Opening the front door, the couple arrived in time to witness Hasir trapped in the final stages of freezing solid. Recovering from shock, the man’s stalwart friend advanced on his lichen enemy yelling threats as before. Tahlan shoved Kaiyssa back into the house and proceeded to pull her toward the hall.
Three doors rested down its short length. The first hung open wide, allowing its passerby to gain a quick view of the kitchen. Tahlan swiftly moved to the next in line, dashed in, and grabbed its sleeping occupant from the bed. Waking her slumbering brother dozing in a rocking chair nearby, the young girl began to verbally protest the wood-elf’s intrusion. As Tahlan tried calming Eloise, Kaiyssa was forced to step into Alderic’s path while indicating the need for silence. Still not trusting tonight’s guests the young man detoured around Kaiyssa, yet it was his father’s furious roar that stopped the charging officer in his tracks. Ripped violently from its weighty metal hinges, the front door was suddenly vaulted like a missile toward the hearth across the room. Both males were a flash of movement all at once. Communicating as if through telepathy Tahlan placed Eloise into her brother’s ready arms before quickly exiting the sparse room.
Kaiyssa was already two steps ahead of them. Without missing a beat, she had run off to the master bedroom where she found the lady of the house already climbing out of bed with clear concern on her face. Mildly troubled over fleeing under the weight of such an ample woman, Kaiyssa breathed a sigh of relief as Tahlan entered the room, scooped up Alderic’s mother, and then hopped out the room’s open window. The remainder of the retreating party quickly followed his example.
Reacting to an abrupt snap of wood behind him, Alderic turned his head with hopes that his father had escaped. As anticipated, it was indeed the family patriarch that rounded into view, however it didn’t take long for the captain to notice something was very wrong. Gazing through lifeless, blood stained eyes the boy’s father limped with an eerie gait toward his shocked son. Wondering why her brother had stopped, Eloise peeked around his side to catch a glimpse of the cause. Seeing her father for a fleeting moment, the young girl began to physically protest her brother’s renewed escape. Laboring to retreat through the chaos his sister was creating, Alderic unexpectedly froze with an unnerving yelp of pain and fear. Putting out both hands to arrest his fall, the young man toppled face first onto the mucky forest floor. Freeing herself from beneath her brother’s icy body, Eloise stared in shock at what appeared to be no more than a fallen statue lying in the mud. A short distance away lay the crumpled, motionless heap of a mangled corpse she had called Papa less than an hour ago. Eloise became unhinged.
Kaiyssa and Tahlan had not gotten far when they heard Eloise blaring her brother’s location behind them with the intensity of a fire alarm. As they sprinted back to rescue the
siblings, their hearts sank approaching the aftermath of another tragic event. Her eyes darting around for signs of movement, Kaiyssa hurried to the girl’s side and scooped her up. Moments later the elves sped off hoping beyond hope that their legs had more stamina than Eloise’s vocal cords.
Screaming at the top of her lungs, the young girl howled like a banshee for her missing family members. Stirred by the mourning cries of her daughter, the girl’s mother craned her neck around Tahlan’s shoulder to see the struggle going on behind her. Wrestling with the exhausted wood-elf carrying her, Eloise had begun to sob for the comforting arms of her mother. It was then the woman realized their escape would fail if her daughter continued wailing an audible trail for the enemy to follow. Fearing the loss of the last child this horrific night had spared, the family’s matriarch quickly decided what needed to be done. Hoping the elf could hear her above the racket of her offspring, the woman beseeched Tahlan, “Please, leave me, I beg you. I will quiet my daughter but please, go on without me! They’ll keep after us with her carrying on, please… stop.”
Tahlan couldn’t fault her reasoning. Both elves were near spent on what little energy they had left and with the young girl acting like a beacon they would assuredly run out of stamina before they lost the reaper party. Unable to abandon a life so easily, the disheartened couple tried to formulate an alternative course. Sorrow and worry pricking at his heart, Tahlan slowed to a stop beside his mate’s matching speed. The woman quickly took her cue and slipped from Tahlan’s weakening grasp before stumbling up to her howling daughter. Placing a hand on the girl’s cheek, her mother cooed, “Little one… sweet daughter, it’ll be alright. You need to quit your fuss and cry no more. Mama is going to lead them off and meet you at the camp. Shush up and help me okay?”