Rikton squinted at Tharne. “After all these years? What are you playin’ at, brother?”
Tharne breathed a heavy sigh. “I’m just tired, brother—tired of all this infighting. The Dasati need unity.”
“Aye, on that we agree.” Rikton gave him a curt nod. He eyed Tharne for a few more moments, then swung his head toward Seishin. “What of this cur?”
Tharne waved a dismissive hand at Seishin. “Leave the boy to his fate.”
Gee, thanks, Seishin thought. He had judged Tharne to be more of a gentleman than the rest. As it turned out, he was just another callous pirate.
Rikton appeared to be mulling over his brother’s offer. He shifted his gaze between Seishin and Tharne a few times before addressing his men. “Ya two stay here. Make sure the job gets done right—even if ya have to help it along yerselves.”
Rikton crossed a finger over his neck and flashed an evil grin at Seishin. He then took off up the beach with Tharne after Kortiama. His malicious laugh still rang through the air as he disappeared.
The two hulking pirates loomed over Seishin, but did not carry out Rikton’s threat. Instead they enjoyed watching the tide come in and slowly cover his head.
3
Living Legend
“Seishin. Seishin—wake up, boy.”
Seishin’s eyes slowly fluttered open. He lay on a soft surface, staring up into a clear blue sky. The sounds of the sea still surrounded him, as did the smell of salt air. His clothes felt wet, and he itched from sand in places he didn’t want to think about. He tried to sit up, but began coughing as water spilled out of his mouth.
“Slowly,” the cool voice chided.
Seishin bent forward and coughed out more water. In between fits, his gaze fell on two bodies down by the water’s edge. Rikton’s men! The two hulking pirates lay unmoving in the sand, from all appearances dead.
It abruptly dawned on Seishin that he should be as well. Yet somehow, he was still alive and no longer buried up to his neck in the sand.
Seishin spun around to see a lean, grey-robed man crouched next to him. A pair of steel-blue eyes watched him intently from beneath a mop of short, straight black hair. There was an intelligence behind those eyes that belied the man’s youthful appearance.
“Do I…” Seishin tried to speak, but stopped as more water spilled from his mouth. After another coughing fit, he tried again. “Do I have you—to thank for my rescue?”
The grey-robed man arched an eyebrow at him. “That remains to be seen. Can you move? We really shouldn’t stay here much longer.”
Seishin responded with a curt nod. He attempted to lift himself from the sand, but a wave of dizziness overtook him.
“Easy there.” The grey-robed man leaned forward to catch him. The movement jostled his neatly combed hair, revealing the tip of a pointed ear.
Seishin’s mouth fell open. The “man” wasn’t a man at all. He’s an elf! Elves were extremely rare here at the southern end of the continent. They seldom left their woodland cities in the great forest far to the north.
After a few moments, Seishin found his voice. “Who—are you?”
The corner of the elf’s mouth curved upward. He peered over his shoulder. “He doesn’t know who I am.”
Seishin gazed where the elf looked, but there was no one there.
The elf slowly shook his head. “Yes, you’re right. This generation of bards is sorely lacking.”
Seishin’s brow furrowed. Who in Arinthar is he talking to?
The elf swung his gaze back to Seishin. “Let’s just say I knew your great, great, great, great grandfather.”
“My great, great—” Seishin’s eyes went wide as it dawned on him to whom the elf referred. His ancestor, Tibarn, was something of a legend. He and his comrades had defeated the Thrall Masters, ending a deadly war in the western isles. Seishin knew the stories by heart and memorized the names of all Tibarn’s companions. One in particular was an elven wizard named…
“Aldurin?”
A wry smile spread across the elf’s lips. “The same.”
Seishin’s mouth went dry. Aldurin? Truly? But the Thrall Wars had ended nearly a hundred and fifty years ago! Still, he could sense the elf’s power—the subtle but unmistakable aura of a well-trained magic user.
Aldurin glanced over his shoulder as Seishin struggled with the startling revelation. “Yes, yes. I’m sure he’s aware that elves are long-lived.” He paused a moment as if listening to someone speak.
Seishin strained his ears, but could hear nothing.
Aldurin shook his head, his expression one of exasperation. “Yes, I’ll be sure to explain to him how I found him.”
Seishin felt completely baffled. Does he have some sort of invisible companion, or is he just plain nuts? He opened his mouth to speak, but Aldurin motioned him silent.
“There will be time for questions later. Right now, we need to move”—the corner of his mouth lifted once more—“unless you want to spend more time with your pirate friends?”
Seishin’s thoughts immediately drifted to Korti. She obviously regretted all that happened, but had sentenced him to death nonetheless. His mind then turned to Rikton. The thought of the malevolent pirate sent shivers up his spine. There’s nothing left for me here.
“No, that’s alright. Let’s go,” Seishin said with a wan smile.
Aldurin led them at a brisk pace along the beach. About a half-mile up the shoreline, they reached a rocky outcropping. Two horses waited behind it, hitched to some large pieces of driftwood.
The duo mounted and rode away, swiftly leaving the beach behind. Yet many questions continued to burn in Seishin’s mind.
The strange elf who claimed to be Aldurin led them through a high rocky pass and into the forest beyond. The trees were thick and the ground steep here along the mountainside. No discernable path laid before them, but the elf never wavered, leading them unerringly through the woods.
Seishin rode along in silence. How can I be sure this elf is Aldurin?
Most of Arinthar knew of Tibarn. Wielder of the Shin Tauri blade, he defeated the mightiest of creatures in the Thrall Masters’ armies. That decisive victory brought the Thrall Wars to an end. Tibarn settled down on his return to Isandor, but his thirst for adventure eventually drew him away again. The last time, he never returned, both he and the blade lost to antiquity.
Yet, the blade was a symbol of their family’s strength. Thus, Seishin’s clan kept its loss a closely guarded secret. As far as any outsider knew, the blade was still entombed at the shrine in their ancestral home. That gave Seishin an idea. He cleared his throat to speak, but Aldurin interrupted him.
“Renere—the home of the Dasati.” The elf nudged his head to their right.
Seishin peered in that direction. The sparkling waters of a crystal blue lake shone through a break in the trees. A town sprawled along the western shore below them, with a number of tall ships moored at its docks.
Seishin blinked. It was hard to believe he had been held captive there only this morning. Once again, he caught himself thinking about Korti. He mentally berated himself. Let it go, Seishin. She’s made her choice more than clear.
The town and lake disappeared from sight as they entered another rocky pass. Still, try as he might, he could not get the visage of the enticing young woman out of his mind. He shook his head in disgust. I must have a death wish.
A short while later, they exited the ravine and rode down into a lush green woodland. Aldurin reined in his mount and shook his head. “No, I don’t think we were followed.”
Seishin’s brow furrowed at the oddly phrased statement. “Are you talking to me?”
“Shh,” the elf hushed him. He cocked his head to the side as if listening to someone, or something. A few moments later, he let out an exasperated huff. “Do you think I’m an amateur at this? I cleared our tracks with a gust of wind—they won’t know what direction to look.”
Seishin stifled a laugh. Whoever he was talking to d
efinitely liked sassing him.
A satisfied expression crossed Aldurin’s face. “Apology accepted.” He swung his mount around and fixed his steel-blue gaze on Seishin. “Now is the time for questions.”
Seishin took a deep breath. The answer to his next query should tell him whether this elf is Aldurin. “First, where does the Shin Tauri blade reside?”
The elf arched an eyebrow at him. “Hmm, that is a trick question. Most would say it lies in your family shrine, but as we both know, they would be wrong.”
Seishin felt the tension drain from his shoulders. Only the real Aldurin would be privy to that information.
Aldurin exhaled a deep sigh. “The truth is, I’ve spent many a generation searching for that blade. Unfortunately, I’ve yet to find a lead that hasn’t gone dry.” He swung his horse around and flicked the reins, motioning for Seishin to follow. The young man urged his own mount into a slow trot next to the elven wizard’s.
Aldurin regarded him with shrewd stare. “Now that that’s out of the way, I suppose you’ll want to know how I found you.”
Seishin cocked his head to one side and shrugged. “That was one of my questions.”
Aldurin pursed his lips together. “The truth is, I wasn’t so much looking for you as I was visiting your uncle.”
Seishin’s eyes went wide. “You mean Uncle Draigo?”
“The same.” Aldurin nodded, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly.
“Where is he?” Seishin sat forward in his saddle, hardly daring to breath.
Aldurin snorted, his amusement with the young man quite apparent. “Where do you think we’re headed now?”
A sudden wave of elation washed over the young Shin Tauri. He hadn’t completely botched his mission after all. By some weird twist of fate, his encounter with the pirates had set him on the path to his missing uncle.
“I am not being pompous!” Aldurin burst out all of a sudden.
Seishin watched with growing amusement as the elf engaged in a heated argument with his “invisible” friend. Aldurin grew silent afterwards. Seishin prudently decided to leave the elf in peace.
Midday came and passed as they continued their journey. Brilliant sunlight filtered down through the overhead canopy of rustling leaves. With the hills behind them, the smell of the sea disappeared from the air. The strong scent of pine now took its place. The path they followed split just ahead. Aldurin led them down the right fork—south along the coast.
The elven wizard seemed in decent spirits once again. Seishin decided to try his luck with another question. “You still never explained how you found me.”
“No, I did not,” Aldurin agreed. He raised a hand as Seishin opened his mouth to retort. “Before I get accused again of being pompous,”—he cast a spurious glance off to one side—“I can tell you that I am not altogether unfamiliar with these parts. And I may have some friends in high places—friends that might not necessarily want to see you die.”
Seishin’s brow knit into a single line. Friends in high places—on the Pirate Coast? His heart suddenly leapt in his chest. “Do you mean Korti?”
Aldurin raised a single eyebrow. “Not Kortiama. Tharne.”
As fast as Seishin’s emotions had risen, they came crashing down again. Tharne? Korti’s uncle? Seishin vividly remembered the last words Tharne’s had said. Leave the boy to his fate. That certainly didn’t sound like someone concerned with his well-being.
Seishin stared skeptically at Aldurin, his tone filled with suspicion. “Why would Tharne even care whether I live or die?”
Instead of immediately answering, Aldurin stared intently at him. Seishin felt more and more uncomfortable, as if the elf could see into his very soul. “What you really want to know is why doesn’t Kortiama?”
Ouch. Aldurin had indeed seen right through him. Seishin could feel the blood rush to his cheeks. He hung his head and responded in a soft voice. “You’re right. I’m just being stupid.”
Aldurin continued to hold his stare, then abruptly swiveled in his saddle. “I’m not being too hard on him.” He paused a moment as if listening to a silent conversation. “Yes, I know he’s just a boy, but if he’s not careful, that girl will be the death of him.”
Those words sent a chill up Seishin’s spine. Aldurin was not wrong. He had nearly died this day because of Korti. Part of him knew she was bad for him, but he’d be lying if he said he didn’t still feel something for her.
Aldurin had turned his gaze back toward Seishin. The young man gave him a wan smile. “I know there can never be anything between us.”
Aldurin’s eyes practically bore into him. “See that you don’t forget it again.”
The elven wizard spurred his horse onward. Seishin clamped his mouth shut and followed suit. He had more questions than answers, but realized he would learn nothing more from the elf right now.
The duo rode together in silence through the afternoon countryside. Seishin’s emotions were in complete disarray. He fell back on his training, using his breath to quiet his mind.
Late that afternoon they turned west, back toward the mountain range they’d previously crossed farther north. Aldurin led them through a well-hidden gorge, then along a winding path that led up the mountainside.
It was nearing dusk when the two riders reached the summit. Below them, Seishin spied that same lake they’d passed before—Loch Dasati, the pirates called it. They were south of it now, but the lights from Renere were clearly visible along the western shore.
“We’re almost there,” Aldurin announced in a flat tone that discouraged conversation.
Seishin merely nodded. His inner turmoil had abated somewhat, but he still felt foolish for getting his hopes up earlier.
Large boulders and outcroppings blocked their way, but Aldurin expertly weaved through them. Abruptly, the craggy mountaintop gave way to a wide plateau. In its center stood a sprawling villa that appeared to be half estate and half walled fortress. The tiled roof shone bright orange, but even the smooth walls appeared blood-red in the rays of the setting sun.
The sight filled Seishin with a sense of foreboding. “Uncle Draigo is there?”
Aldurin responded with a soft chuckle. “It’s cozier than it looks.”
They stopped just outside the main gate. Seishin could sense energy coursing along the length of the walls. He also felt the magic buildup as Aldurin cast a quick spell. Moments later, the energy surrounding the place disappeared and the main gate swung open.
A wide courtyard spread out before them. Even in the vanishing light, Seishin could see the beautiful trees and lush garden across the yard. It reminded him very much of his family’s courtyard back home.
Warm lights sprang from the villa itself, helping to further ease his tension. A solitary figure stood framed in the doorway. Seishin could sense the person’s energy even from here. It felt huge, but also familiar. He dismounted and slowly approached the stocky silhouette. As he drew closer, the setting sun revealed the face of his long-missing uncle.
“Uncle Draigo.” Seishin murmured the name, still not believing his eyes.
“Seishin, my boy,” Draigo’s deep voice rumbled in reply.
All at once, the dam holding back Seishin’s feelings burst. He threw himself at the stout man, his arms encircling his uncle’s bulky frame. Strong arms enveloped him in turn, making him almost wince. Tears welled in the young man’s eyes, his throat thick with emotion. “It’s good to see you, Uncle.”
“It’s good to see you, too,” Draigo said, his deep voice cracking ever so slightly.
“You nearly didn’t see him at all,” Aldurin’s voice sounded from behind them. “Had I arrived any later, I would be bringing you his corpse.”
“Ah, Aldurin, jovial as ever,” Draigo noted in a dry tone.
The ex-general stood back and grasped Seishin by the shoulders. “You do look like you’ve had a rough time. Come on in and we’ll get you a change of clothes—and some hot tea.”
Draigo wrapped
a sturdy arm around his nephew and led him into the villa. A wide foyer stretched out before them, its rich tiled floor made of black and white marble. A circular stairwell rose on either side of the back wall.
Between the stairs hung a double portrait of a rather imposing couple. The man wore a fancy long coat, his grim countenance enhanced by an eye patch and dark beard. The woman’s fine black gown and intricately woven hair did little to offset her ominous expression. Still, there was something familiar about her.
Seishin halted and squinted at the painting. “Is that Korti’s mother?”
“It is,” his uncle rumbled.
“Then that would make the man…”
“…Eboneye,” Draigo finished for him.
Seishin mulled over his uncle’s response. “Then that would make this…”
“…Eboneye’s villa.” Draigo stared at him with a stoic expression.
The revelation left Seishin speechless. He finally found his voice only to stutter. “How… when…”
“You left out where and why,” Aldurin interrupted. The elven wizard watched him with obvious amusement. All of a sudden, his smile faded. “I was not being rude!” Aldurin exclaimed over his shoulder. Another one-sided squabble ensued.
Seishin stepped closer to his uncle and whispered, “Does he do this often?”
“Yes,” Draigo murmured, his eyes rolling to the sky. “It’s part of his charm.”
Seishin was hard pressed to stifle his laughter.
Aldurin’s quarrel finally ended with the wizard storming off into the next room. Seishin exchanged a glance with his uncle and then followed the irate elf. They entered a large area the size of a small tavern. A couch and some plush chairs created a cozy nook around an open hearth. A long mahogany dining table stood at the other end of the room.
Aldurin had parked himself in a chair by the fire. Draigo brought Seishin a fresh robe, and once he had changed, he rejoined the others. His uncle had set out a tray of hot tea. Seishin peered at the ex-general as he poured him a cup. The years had aged him. The top of his head now bare, his remaining hair and beard had turned a dark gray.
Tales From Thac Page 12