by Edward Eck
Qaletaqa held up a hand. “Hunters, hold.”
Alex continued throwing tentacle after tentacle of frozen water at the creature and freezing the water into bonds, only to have the creature break free. It was a stalemate. Alex couldn’t form the ice any faster than the creature could smash it.
* * *
Taryn growled once more then snapped the bonds around her wrists. Sheelin stared at her as she freed herself of the remaining restraints.
She turned to see Qaletaqa let loose a fireball at Taryn. The flames engulfed her, but quickly subsided. Sheelin quickly moved to block any further assaults. “Father, No!”
“Stand aside, Sheelin. She’s loose and dangerous.”
“Mmm…ooo…rrrr,” said a voice from behind Sheelin.
She turned to find Taryn standing, but hunched over. Her eyes were glazed white and she shook violently. Seeing another fireball hit Taryn, Sheelin turned to face Qaletaqa again and screamed, “Father!”
“Sheelin, stand aside. We’ve waited long enough. This must be done.”
“No!”
Taryn muttered once again. “Sheee...linnn…”
Sheelin turned to face Taryn, but kept her father in the corner of her eye.
Taryn’s blank stare met hers, but she spoke in a shaky breath. “Moooo…rrrreee… ffff…iiiiirrreee…”
Qaletaqa watched as the conversation continued.
Sheelin lowered her head. “She’s given up.”
Qaletaqa announced, “Hunters, to me.” When Sheelin turned to regard him again, he smiled. “I don’t think your friend has given up just yet. As a matter of fact, I think she has a plan. Join us.”
Qaletaqa signaled to the others. “Hit her with every fireball you can… until I say stop.”
He threw the first volley at Taryn followed by two more, then five more, then ten, until Taryn was being pummeled by hundreds of fireballs.
Sheelin cast a pitiful fireball and lobbed it at Taryn, but with little effort and did not quickly cast her second.
The fire had engulfed the center of the camp, with Taryn in the middle. Alex continued to raise up icy water from the river to ensnare the Wendigo. Radimir too, took swats of his massive bear claws at the monster as it endeavored to break free of its restraints.
“Enough!” said a voice from within the flames.
Qaletaqa held up a hand and the other hunters ceased the fireball barrage.
Standing at the center of a flaming inferno, legs spread apart with arms stretched down in front of her, Taryn’s flaming red hair whipped around in the fury of a firestorm.
“Take cover! Now!” Qaletaqa called to Alex and Radimir.
Sheelin watched in dismay as Alex and the bear did not hesitate. Radimir dove left and Alex to the right. As the creature broke free of its last ice bond, Taryn turned and ran straight at the snow-white monster whose mouth dropped and eyes widened. With a final lunge she launched herself into the air. When Taryn’s fire met the Wendigo’s ice aura, the two exploded in a huge fireball reaching the treetops and leveling the grounds.
Smoke and flames engulfed the area for a full minute before subsiding.
Waving her hand to clear the air around her, Sheelin spotted Taryn standing over the burnt and smoldering husk of the Wendigo. The charred remains crumbled under her touch. She looked skyward and took a deep breath then relaxed as she met eyes with her friends. “It’s bloody done. The beastie is dead. Can we go home now? I need to get some sleep.”
26 The Elves of Alfheim
Arriving in a wooded glen, Meagan and Amber were both relieved to be away from the dwarf kingdom even if it was for different reasons. The glen was bright and green with trees all around. The sun was high in the sky on a beautiful summer’s day. The smell of flowers in bloom gave a relaxing feel to the warm surroundings. A cobbled path led into the woods and had overgrowth all around as if seldom used… and perhaps it was. Few people visited the light elves and they rarely ventured forth from their realm.
Meagan and Amber followed the path for about a mile until the woods opened at the head of a valley. Below was a stream that ran through a majestic city of carved trees and arched stonework. More cobbled paths led through groves of trees and homes. Music was carried on the breeze that echoed the soft and gentle sounds of nature. Wildlife roamed the paths as did the light elves of Alfheim. They were tall and graceful figures with long straight hair and handsome robes.
As Meagan and Amber approached, they were stopped by two male elves in lite leather armor carrying gleaming longswords with a natural curve to their blades as if made by nature itself. They crossed their swords in front of Meagan and Amber and said something in their native elven language.
“They wish to know who we are and what business we have here,” Meagan translated.
The two elves looked at one another then back to Meagan. “How do you know our native tongue?”
“We are here to speak with your king,” replied Amber.
The two elves now examined Amber, realizing only one of the visitors appeared to know the elven tongue and customs.
“You should not have bothered to make the trip. No one will see you. Leave.”
The two guards then turned and walked away from the girls to return to their posts.
Before they had gone more than ten feet, Meagan said, “Seelay Tu’ Lam.”
The guards stopped in their tracks and turned to look at Meagan once again. With questioning glances, they seemed puzzled as to what to do.
“Take us to see the Lady of the Sacred Woods,” ordered Meagan.
They hesitated at first, but then complied. “This way.”
They led the girls down into the valley. Amber quickened her pace to walk side by side with Meagan. “What did you tell them?”
“My name.”
Amber appeared confused. “Was that your name in elvish?”
Meagan sighed before answering, trying to decide how much to tell her. “Amber, you can’t tell anyone what I am about to tell you.”
Amber nodded her confirmation, her eyes fixed more on Meagan than the path before her. She stumbled, but quickly regained her balance. “Does this have anything to do with your mood change since arriving in the nine realms?”
Ignoring the question, Meagan proceeded to tell her tale. “My father and Gollnick were brothers, which is why everyone knows Gollnick is my uncle. What most people don’t know is that my mother was not human.” Glancing at Amber, she noticed wide eyes and a gaping jaw. Meagan continued, “She was a light elf. There are a number of light elves living in Yellowstone National Park. That’s where she met my father.”
Amber just continued to stare at Meagan trying to reconcile the fact her mother wasn’t human.
“I’m part elf,” confirmed Meagan as she looked Amber in the eyes.
“Well, that explains the somewhat pointy ears,” replied Amber still in shock. “But why keep it a secret, at least from the rest of the Circle?”
“Ever since my parents’ death at the hands of dark sorcerers, Nick and I have been trying to keep my lineage a secret. We decided that unless it became necessary to reveal, it would be best to keep it quiet, even from the Circle. That’s why I originally said I would come here alone. At this point though, I figured you needed to know the truth.”
“I understand,” replied Amber, “and thanks for letting me come with you. I couldn’t take that underground stuff anymore.”
“Me either,” said Meagan. “For now, let me do the talking. Since I am at least part elf, they’re more likely to speak with me. They may still be leery about you. They’re very suspicious of outsiders.”
They continued along the path behind the guards. Many other elves stared at them, but continued about their business. A few deer stopped suddenly at their approach then dashed away, uncertain of the newcomers. After many minutes, the guards entered a clearing and stood to either side as they allowed Meagan and Amber to pass between them. A beautiful elf woman in a long white dress sat stru
mming a white harp with golden strings. The music was relaxing and beautiful. The girls just stood at the entrance and listened as they waited for the musician to notice them.
Amber looked around anxiously including a few glances to Meagan who gave no response.
Meagan hoped Amber would heed her instructions and not say a word. Patience was important to their hosts… as was their music. She didn’t want to offend the lady harpist, but Amber’s lack of focus was unnerving. She grasped Amber’s hand and held it at her side hoping Amber would just calm down.
It was almost ten minutes before the musician ceased playing and gently set the harp down, then rose from her seat and turned to greet her visitors. “And who do we have here?” The elf lady seemed pleased… until she realized they weren’t elves. Noticing Meagan’s ears, she passed her attention to Amber who had a decidedly more human appearance. Finally she turned her attention back to Meagan and resumed her seat.
“My lady,” said Meagan, “I am Seelay Tu’ Lam. My mother was Alayla Tu’ Lam. My friend, Amber Marx, and I are here from Midgard seeking your help. Fenrir has been released by—”
The lady held up a hand to stop Meagan from saying any more. She then dismissed the guards and rose from her seat. After watching the guards depart, she turned her attention back to Meagan and Amber.
“Fenrir was imprisoned deep in the ground of Midgard and bound by the magical ribbon Gleipnir. Who has released this monster?”
“We don’t know exactly who released him, but we are sure it was one of the dark sorcerers who—”
“Dark sorcerers?” This seemed to shock the elf woman. “What has happened to the Circle? They were to protect the magical prisons of Midgard.”
“My lady,” replied Meagan, “we are members of that Circle. At the time Fenrir was released, we were attempting to prevent the release of two other monsters.”
“How is it that the dark sorcerers know of so many prisons?”
“I wish we knew,” mumbled Amber.
The lady snapped her focus to Amber who immediately gained an intense interest toward a leaf on the ground. The lady held her gaze upon Amber for a long minute before returning her attention to Meagan.
“The dark sorcerers have gained a lot of knowledge about the prisons recently,” stated Meagan. “We don’t know how, but they have greater resources and seem to be one step ahead of us at each turn.”
“What do you want of us, daughter of Alayla?”
“Our friends are seeking the help of the dwarves of Nidavellir to obtain the necessary items and skills to create a new Gleipnir. We come to you in search of the spells needed to create the magical ribbon.”
“Dwarves?” The lady raised herself to full height, and straight-faced looked down at the newcomers. “I fear you have wasted your time. Even if the dwarves still possessed the skills to create such an item, our feud would prevent me from ever helping them… even if it meant the destruction of Midgard. You are welcome to join us for our evening meal and rest the night, but you must leave in the morning, without that which you seek.”
Meagan bowed to the lady and glanced sideways at Amber, to hint that she should follow suit. Amber bowed her head slightly, but never took her eyes off the tall elf lady. Meagan turned, and grabbing Amber by the wrist, left the clearing.
“Now what do we do?” questioned Amber a little louder than required. “We can’t return to Nidavellir without the spell. We won’t be able to create a new Gleipnir and we’ll never re-imprison Fenrir.”
In a quieter voice Meagan replied, “Shh… I know. I’m still working on that. I never said this was going to be easy.”
27 The Next Challenge
The first rays of sunlight crept over the mountains and treetops to reveal the start of a new day. Even after the fiery battle the night before, there was a chill in the air. Some of the hunters had started breakfast as Max emerged from his tent. He stretched his tired muscles and walked to the next tent to check on Taryn.
As the light peered through her tent opening, her bleary eyes flickered, but remained squinted. “Is it mornin’ already?”
Max smiled as he offered her a hand. “I’m afraid so. How did you sleep?” She took his hand and he helped her outside. Max noticed that her hand was still quite hot, but he figured it was residual heat from the hundreds of fireballs launched at her last night.
“I slept like a log.”
Max contemplated her expression as he furrowed his brow.
She smiled. “I slept very well, thank ye.”
He watched as she rolled her left shoulder. He remembered that was where she had been bitten by the Wendigo. “How’s the shoulder?”
“Stiff, but the healin’ spells helped a lot. It’ll be back to normal in a few hours.”
They made their way to the campfire to get some food and found Radimir already there enjoying his second round of eggs and bacon. “Eat. Good food.”
Qaletaqa and Sheelin approached from the far side of camp. Neither looked happy with their pursed lips and downward stares. Max could only assume they had an early morning discussion about Sheelin’s future with the hunters, and her father. Max decided it was best to wait for one of them to make conversation before stepping into an unpleasant situation.
Sheelin went straight to her tent and Qaletaqa approached the fire. He didn’t speak with Max or his friends, but took some food and wandered off to sit on a log near the river by himself as he ate. The others continued with their breakfast.
After eating, Max wandered over to Qaletaqa and sat on the ground nearby. He stretched his arms and leaned against a tree. It wasn’t the most comfortable position as the bark was rough against his back. “Now that the Wendigo is destroyed. I’ll be leaving with Taryn to rejoin the Circle.”
Qaletaqa gazed into the blue sky as he squinted against the bright sunlight. He held a small smooth stone in his hand that he rubbed gently. “I had a feeling you would.” His answer was short and said nothing of Sheelin. He continued to look skyward and didn’t make eye contact.
Max looked back to the tents and noticed Sheelin emerge with a backpack slung over her right shoulder. She sat down between Taryn and Radimir, placing the pack to her left side. She then picked up some breakfast and began to eat. It spoke volumes about the results of the earlier discussion between Qaletaqa and his daughter.
He regarded the older man then looked skyward as well. “I take it Sheelin has made her decision?”
Qaletaqa threw the stone as far into the nearby river as he could. “She has.”
Max recognized the tone. “I take it you don’t agree with her decision?”
Qaletaqa looked over his left shoulder and studied Max. “I thank you for your concern, but this is between me and my daughter. So long as I am her father and leader of the Rogue Hunters, she will remain here with us.”
Max didn’t want to anger Qaletaqa any further so he stood up and returned to the center of camp. There he found Taryn and Sheelin laughing at something while Radimir watched with raised brows.
Max took a seat next to Sheelin as their laughing subsided. “Taryn has informed me they suspect you and Radimir are the two newest members of the Circle.”
Max looked her in the eyes. “Sheelin, I just had a brief talk with your father. And it was brief.”
Sheelin’s face lost all expression and her eyes drifted to the light of the campfire. “We had a slight disagreement on my future plans.”
Max looked back to where Qaletaqa had sat near the river, but couldn’t see the older man now. “It sounded like a little more than a slight disagreement based on our limited conversation.” He watched her, but she didn’t respond. “I don’t want to see a family torn apart because of us.” He paused again, but still she gave no response. “Perhaps the time is not yet right. Maybe you should stay here for now. Your place in the Circle will be there when you’re ready to join us.”
Taryn’s smiling face lost all its joy. Radimir too lowered his gaze and couldn’t make eye contact
with anyone.
The light from the fire danced in Sheelin’s eyes as she stared at the warm flames. “I’m ready to join the fight now, but I need time to convince my father this is the right thing to do.”
Max wasn’t sure what kind of response he had been hoping for, but he was disappointed she agreed so quickly. Perhaps the time wasn’t yet right for her to join, but he knew one day she would be needed.
The hunters still celebrated their victory over the Wendigo, but the spirits around the fire were momentarily subdued. A tear ran down Sheelin’s right check.
Taryn reached over and placed a hand on Sheelin’s shoulder. “I’ll make sure the mirror in the library of Ravenicon Castle will allow ye through. Ye’re always welcome and we’ll be waitin’ for the day ye join us.”
“Indeed, you are honorable people,” said a voice from the other side of the campfire. They all turned to see Qaletaqa standing there watching the scene.
Sheelin wiped the tear from her face and stood. She met her father’s gaze for a brief moment then took her backpack and returned to her tent.
Max stood to face Qaletaqa. “She will always be welcome in the Circle. And someday she will join us.”
Qaletaqa walked around the fire and extended a hand to Max. “I know, but for now, I’m not ready for her to leave. I’m old and there is still much for her to learn. Someday she will join you and there’s nothing I can do to stop that. For now, she’s where she belongs.”
28 The Answer Is No
After many attempts, Gollnick finally got through to someone in Duestoff Von Woonst’s organization. However, he grew impatient waiting on Duestoff to arrive at the mirror. He was beginning to think the man was intentionally making him wait when a face appeared. He was thin in the face, but had a full beard. Like his brother, he spoke with a thick German accent. “I’m a little busy here, what do you want?”
Gollnick wasn’t in the best of mood after waiting for so long, and the German’s attitude didn’t help matters, but he reminded himself of the reason for contact. He was trying to prevent the deaths of many innocent people in New York City.