by Lana Axe
“You’re more doctor than nurse, I think,” Kassie commented.
“A title isn’t important,” Lenora replied. “I’m a healer. Whatever term a person wants to use for it is fine with me.”
“You certainly do a better job than Bron,” Kassie said. “Most dwarves never experience care again like they had with their mothers. The men always think they’re supposed to be tough, at least in front of other men.” She chuckled a bit, knowing how childish her own husband could be when he had a minor scrape or bruise.
“That might change after this experience,” Lenora remarked.
“You may be right. Do you have magic that could heal them?”
“I’ve tried to no avail,” she replied. “The curse that is causing this illness is too strong for me to break. I’ve used magic to help with some symptoms, but there are so many patients that I run out quickly.”
“I didn’t know magical beings could run out of magic,” Kassie commented. “I’ve never known Kaiya to run out.”
“Kaiya is special,” Lenora said. “I’m only an elf.”
“Yes, Kaiya is very special,” she replied proudly. “I think you’re pretty special too, though. You have shown these people a level of compassion that certainly isn’t common around here.” She finished grinding the herbs and placed them in a vial. “All done,” she said.
“Thank you,” Lenora replied. “You can administer it to some of the patients if you like. Anyone who is still coughing can have another dose. Any patients who are restless may still have fever. They can have more medicine as well.”
Kassie nodded and headed to the farthest side of the tent to check on the patients. After raising five children, nursing the sick came easily to her. It was a welcome distraction from worrying about Kaiya. She had no idea where her daughter was going or what she might face when she got there. Perhaps she would return with a cure. Until she made it back safely, Kassie would do her part to help.
Chapter 31
The first stars were appearing in the sky as Telorithan sat in front of the fireplace in his laboratory. Hesitating for a moment, he wondered if he should bother tracking the water elemental. His failure to bind Master Koru had left him shaken. This being was almost certain to be stronger than Koru, even if it was trapped within an elf body. I must do this, he thought. I must have this creature’s power.
Putting his doubts aside, he gazed intently into the flames. The image of two elves and a dwarf appeared before his eyes. They were walking carefully down a rocky slope, laughing and talking as they descended. Telorithan could sense the elemental, and also the weak powers of the second elf. There must have been something unseen traveling with them, however. The magic he had sensed before was still present, and its power was just as strong. What can it be?
Being a dwarf, Kaiya possessing magic was unthinkable to him. She could not possibly account for any magical presence, especially one so strong. What if the dwarf is carrying something? The thought sent shivers through his body. Dwarves were well known for their ability to delve deep into the earth. Perhaps this one had discovered something and was using it to assist the elemental.
Any object that could enhance the elf’s abilities would create unknown complications in Telorithan’s plan. Elementals possess intense magical powers, and they do not tire easily. As an elf, Telorithan would have limits that might not apply to his opponent. He hoped being trapped in elf form would inhibit this water elemental. The idea of facing one at full strength might not be possible after his failure to augment his power with Koru’s.
The second elf didn’t appear to be much of a problem. He would be easily dispatched with a wave of Telorithan’s hand. Still, he hoped the other two would not be present when he finally faced his enemy. Expending his magical stores against only the elemental would be ideal. Who knows how much magic would be needed to defeat him? Spending one drop on the second elf or the useless dwarf would be a terrible waste.
He wondered if it would be wise to invite Sirra to fight alongside him. She could handle the other two, allowing him to focus only on the elemental. He still blamed her somewhat for his failure with Master Koru. Had she not distracted him, he would have inspected the gem more thoroughly and noticed the flaw. Her constant flaunting of her sexuality had no doubt been the reason for his negligence. Who could possibly focus on the task at hand with her in the room?
Sirra, he decided, would not be allowed to accompany him. Even if it meant using more magic than he hoped, she would still be a distraction. His failure would be assured with her around, so he made up his mind to travel alone. He regretted using the thief’s essence for the fire, even if it had been a necessary sacrifice. Without it, he couldn’t have located the elemental. Still, the small amount of power the gem had held could have been useful in his fight.
As he stared unblinking into the flames, he noticed movement in the background. Bits of moonlight reflected in and out of focus in a rhythmic pattern. They’ve reached the ocean, he realized. Still unsure of their purpose, he hesitated only a moment. They were traveling away from the rising moon, which meant they were heading westward—his direction. All he needed was a ship to take him to the coast. This could be his chance to capture his prey.
With no time to spare, he jumped to his feet and retrieved the sapphire that Master Yiranor had given him. Wrapping it in a velvet cloth, he placed it carefully in the pocket of his bright red robe. On his desk lay a small glass orb, which would work nicely for transporting the visions in the flames. Holding the orb in front of him, he drew a portion of the fire into it. Quickly peering inside, he confirmed that the vision was still active. He felt a sense of relief. At least that part has gone right.
Running up the spiral staircase, he quickly removed the magical barriers from his vault. Transportation at this hour of the night could cost him dearly, but there was no time to waste haggling prices. Grabbing a large leather purse full of gold coins, he secured it to his belt. If that doesn’t cover the cost, I’ll strangle the ship’s captain.
Hurrying down the stairs, he finally made it to the bottom. Seven floors felt like a hundred, as he knew each second was precious. Any delay could cost him this chance, which might never come again. He had to reach the coast as soon as possible.
Outside all was still. Only the sound of Telorithan’s boots against the cobblestone path broke through the silence. The docks were not far from his tower, and he desperately hoped a ship would be ready to leave when he got there.
Upon reaching the docks, he could see figures moving about on one of the smaller ships. Hopefully a smaller vessel could move more quickly than a large one. Marching up the ramp to the boat’s deck, he approached one of the sailors.
“You there,” he said, his voice full of authority. “I need to book passage.”
“We sail at sunrise,” the shirtless elf replied. “You can pay the fare now if you like.”
“I must leave at once,” Telorithan declared. He untied the purse from his belt and presented it before the sailor. Giving it a shake, the coins inside jingled against one another. The sailor eyed him suspiciously.
“Gold,” Telorithan stated forcefully. “All of it is yours if we leave immediately.”
The sailor snatched the purse away from the silver-haired sorcerer. As he looked inside, his eyes filled with greed. “Oy!” he shouted to his shipmates. “Make ready to sail now!”
The others looked at him in confusion. “What are you talking about?” an elf carrying a load of rope asked.
“The captain will be wanting to shove off immediately when I show him this.” He dangled the purse in front of the sailor, who apparently got the message. Dropping the rope to the deck, he raced over to begin pulling up the anchor.
“Make yourself at home,” the elf said. Reaching inside the purse, he pulled out a few coins and slipped them into his pocket. The rest would be plenty to give to the captain. He disappeared out of sight below deck.
The rest of the sailors rushed to their duti
es to prepare the ship for departure. Telorithan took a seat near the starboard side of the craft, his anxiety rising. His fingers danced lightly over the sapphire in his pocket. Soon it would be filled with immense power. His mouth watered with anticipation.
Reaching into his other pocket, he pulled out the orb to check on his quarry once more. The soft orange glow gave way to a clear picture of the three companions. It appeared they were making camp near the coastline. He could not be certain where they were heading. All he could do was hope that he would reach them in time. If they moved away from the water, his journey would be for naught. He must not miss this perfect opportunity. Power surged through his veins, readying itself for the fight ahead.
Chapter 32
At the end of a second day of strenuous travel, the trio came within sight of the ocean. Descending one last grass-covered hill was all that was needed to bring them to the coastline. The sun was setting fast, and they would have to make camp for the night. If River was going into the sea, he would have to wait until first light. His companions would never let him wander away in the darkness
Kaiya looked back up the hill at the path they had taken. “It won’t be as easy going back up,” she commented.
“Maybe you can summon a hurricane to blow us back to the village,” Galen replied with a mischievous grin.
“If only,” she said.
River touched a hand to his forehead, wrinkling his brow as if in pain. Galen noticed his friend’s discomfort.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
“Yes,” River replied. “There are so many voices.”
Galen looked at Kaiya, who looked around behind her to see if anyone was there. It was clear that neither of them were hearing the voices that River could hear.
“The sea has many voices,” he explained. He took a seat on the grassy slope and stared out over the water. Still feeling as though someone were watching him, he chose not to relay the matter to his companions. They had already expressed their concern for his entering the water alone, and he had no desire to trouble them further. Most of the day’s conversation had been kept light, and he hoped to continue the trend into the night.
“Let’s make camp,” Kaiya said, taking out her blanket. The air at this elevation was warmer, but a chilly breeze still came from the mountains.
They built a small fire, and it wasn’t long before Kaiya and Galen fell asleep. After an exhausting day of walking over rough terrain, they had little energy left for anything else. As his companions slept beneath the stars, River remained awake, listening to the voices of the ocean. He felt a strong compulsion to enter the water, but he refrained. His companions would be frantic if they awoke to find him missing. For their sake, he remained close by the fire. After a while, he drifted off to sleep as well.
In a dream, he saw the ocean. Its magnificent blue spread before him, the brightness of day reflecting in its waves. Before his eyes, the blue faded and was replaced with an orange glow. The surface of the water caught fire, and all before him was engulfed in flames. The fire leapt toward the sky, leaving behind nothing but black smoke.
Shielding his eyes, he dropped to his knees, coughing. Squinting, he tried to make out the figure approaching him. Whoever it was meant to do him great harm. The strength of magic within this person was unmistakably strong. Before River could react, a great downpour doused the flames, and the wind blew the figure from view. River was alone once again, staring out onto the blue of the ocean.
At the first light of dawn, River awoke. He felt surprisingly calm after his strange dream. Sitting up, he did not feel any magical presence that had not been there before. His companions were still sleeping as he looked upon the sea. The deep-blue coloration was intact, and nothing seemed out of the ordinary. The weather was fine, and there was no hint of any impending storm. He shrugged the dream away, thinking it to be nothing significant. In the back of his mind, he still felt as if someone were watching. Perhaps it was Ryllak, still worrying for his safety and nothing more.
With the sun shining down on her face, Kaiya finally awoke. She sat up to see River already up, but Galen was still fast asleep. Tossing her blanket aside, she stretched her arms and gave a final yawn before rising to her feet. Giving Galen a nudge with her toe, she said, “Wake up!”
He startled from his sleep and glared at Kaiya. Squinting his eyes from the morning light, he tried to roll over and return to his dreams. Kaiya wouldn’t hear of it. She pulled the blanket away from him and tossed it to the side.
“Come on, get up,” she said.
Slowly, he lifted himself from the ground and brushed the dust from his charcoal-gray robe. Taking in a deep breath, he let out a long sigh.
“Not much of a morning person, are you?” Kaiya asked, laughing.
He grunted.
“I’m ready to enter the water,” River declared. “I don’t know how long I’ll be.”
“We’ll walk to the coastline with you,” Kaiya replied.
The trio made their way along the beach, a cool breeze greeting them from the sea. The waves splashed gently upon the wet sand, leaving behind a faint trail of white foam. A white seabird drifted lazily on the breeze, his piercing call seeming to go on for miles.
“Did you bring a bathing suit?” Galen joked.
Smiling kindly at his friend, River said, “I’m afraid I’ll have to go as I am.”
“We’ll be waiting for you,” Kaiya said. “Good luck.” She wasn’t sure what else to say. Not knowing where the opal would be found, she couldn’t offer any real advice. Though she’d been to this beach before, she rarely entered the water. She wasn’t a strong swimmer, and she certainly couldn’t go to the bottom. It was curious that River didn’t seem nervous. Even someone like him surely couldn’t feel at home at the bottom of an ocean.
Galen seemed to be reading her thoughts. With a laugh, he said, “Don’t get too comfortable down there. You might not want to come back.”
River dismissed the joke. “The water is a part of me, but I belong in the Vale. I’ll see you both soon.”
With those words he slowly walked into the surf and disappeared beneath the blue. Galen and Kaiya watched, wondering if he might resurface immediately. Perhaps he would find the artifact as soon as he was submerged. Nearly half an hour passed before either of them spoke.
Finally, Kaiya broke the silence. “I guess this might take a while. What shall we do to pass the time?”
“Let’s have a walk along the beach,” Galen said, staring off into the distance. “There’s a patch of trees not too far away. Let’s go and have a look.” Galen had never been outside the Vale, and he was interested to see more of the landscape.
“I’ve never been much past here,” Kaiya admitted. She had only traveled to this beach with her father to meet merchant ships. They used to sell wool to customers in the Sunswept Isles, but the trade had ended some years ago. The Enlightened Elves did not like depending on others for anything, and they preferred dealing with their own kind instead of the dwarves.
“It will be an adventure for both of us then,” Galen said. “Let’s go.”
Taking one last look at the ocean where River had gone under, Kaiya checked to see if he was returning. Seeing no sign of him, she nodded to Galen. They walked along the sand and enjoyed the salty fragrance of the sea. The forested area was only a few miles away, and Kaiya wondered if it was the same forest that would eventually lead to the Vale.
“Is this the way to your home?” she asked.
“Not really,” he replied. “You’d have to stick to the mountain’s base and follow it to the Vale. It would probably take three of four days, but I’m not really sure. I’ve never been this way, and I don’t often look at maps.”
The beach stretched on endlessly before them. After a while, they turned away from the ocean, bound for the forest in the distance. The tall trees stood menacingly, hiding the dangers inside.
Chapter 33
Despite being pelted with saltwater
spray from the speeding ship, Telorithan leaned heavily upon the side rail. The orb in his hand was warm, and he could sense himself coming closer to his prey. As they continued toward the shore, he noticed a change within the orb. Peering inside, he saw River entering the ocean and slipping beneath the blue. Where is he going?
The orb’s orange glow faded as his target moved farther from its gaze, hidden within the deep expanse of the ocean. Striding to the front of the ship, he held the orb out into the wind. As it shimmered, he changed directions until the flames within became red.
“Sailor,” he called to one of the elves behind him. “We must change course. Head northwest to those islands.” He pointed into the distance where three tiny islands jutted above the waves.
The sailor nodded and ran to inform the captain of his passenger’s request. Only a moment later, the captain himself came to speak with the sorcerer. His skin was darkened and rough from many years beneath the sun, and his dirty brown hair was cut short.
“We’ll lose speed heading that way,” he said. “There’s a reef that we’ll need to avoid.”
“I must reach those islands,” Telorithan insisted, staring into his orb. The elemental was heading straight for those islands. It was alone, and the second presence was nowhere nearby. His body tensed in anticipation. He could almost feel the elemental’s power within his grasp.
The captain signaled his steersman to change course and the ship slowed almost instantly. Ships from the Sunswept Isles used special enchantments to allow them more speed and to aid their travel against the wind, but they did nothing to protect a ship from a reef. They would have to proceed with caution.
“We won’t be able to drop anchor there. You’ll have to take a rowboat if you intend to set foot on those islands.”
Telorithan shot the captain a hateful look but knew there was no use arguing. The ship was far too large to make it over the reef, and he could not waste his magic for travel.