by T. K. Chapin
“This must be your first time,” Illadari smiled warmly.
“It is! I had just recently graduated up from Haden’s arena ranks and joined the adventurers… I was fearful of the dying process, regardless of how well I’ve heard it works. I have heard the horror stories about some of the adventurers not finding grace with Omad and dying! I was fearful that I might not find his grace.”
“If Omad doesn’t see that person as worthy of continuing the good fight, he won’t resurrect them. But be of good cheer, it rarely happens.” Glancing over his shoulder and seeing two more glowing medallions, Illadari turned back to the boy and said, “Be on with you now, I have more of your comrades to summon.”
“Thank you again!” the young man said scampering out of the alter room and out of sight.
Working through the rest of the medallions from the group of adventurers, Illadari finished his final summon. As he blinked his eyes open to see who it was, he was surprised to see it was Olesk. One of the veteran adventurers that rarely would fall in combat.
Helping the muscular man up to his feet, Illadari handed him a robe. “What were you and your men fighting that would cause you to be slain?” Illadari asked curiously. After sliding into the robe quickly, Olesk pushed back his straggly brown hair and hocked a giant wad of spit at the stone floor.
“My men were ambushed by a pack of disgusting and vile creatures I have never seen before in my life. They had faces like that of rats and moved with quickness I have yet to see in Belstrom!” Olesk glared over at Ponio. Illadari wondered to himself, like rats? Could it be the Kobolds?
“Where were you and your men?” Illadari asked, with a raised brow.
“We were in the Northern part of the Darkwood Forest, we were on our way to get supplies from the human fortress we had spotted,” Olesk said, keeping his eyes locked on Ponio. That sounds like the Kobold fortress that Tessla and I heard about, Illadari thought.
Illadari was about to tell the adventurer what he knew of the creatures, but fear stopped him in his tracks as he realized there would be no reason why a High Priest in the Halls would have such information.
“Hey Priest!” Olesk shouted at Ponio, as he was cleaning his summoning rock.
“Yes?” Ponio asked with a confused look on his face.
“Keep your daughter away from my son, he is training in the arena ranks and cannot spend valuable training time gallivanting around the Limestone Shores with a girl.” Olesk quickly left the alter room in a fit of rage which all seemed directed at Ponio.
Watching as Olesk stormed off, Ponio looked over at Illadari. “He thinks I can control my daughter?” Ponio laughed. “She’s but a teenager, and there is no controlling that girl,” Ponio said, as he continued to scrub his summoning stone clean with the cleansing water soaked rag.
Illadari recalled his and Tessla’s beginnings as teenagers a decade ago. “You‘re right Ponio, kids are hard pressed to be controlled by their parents. The best we can do is direct them and show them the right paths.” Ponio nodded and Illadari grabbed a cloth and dipped it into the cleansing water, then proceeded to begin washing his summoning stone.
“You took off so quick to Quin’s earlier, you never told me what happened when you met with Oren,” Ponio said, looking over at him as they both scrubbed their summoning rocks. Should I tell him? Illadari wondered. I don’t want him to get jealous that I got selected for the arena summons this year… after last year and the whole goat in my house stunt… But… I best tell him, he has to find out eventually.
“I got selected for the arena summons…” Illadari said gently trying to be considerate of Ponio’s feelings on the matter.
“What? Again?” Ponio said standing up. “That’s stupid. You did it last year…” Ponio said tossing his cloth against his rock. “It doesn’t make any sense.”
“Really?” Oren said stepping into the alter room.
“Sorry Oren,” Ponio said, returning to cleaning. “I didn’t see you there.”
“You weren’t chosen because your channeling summon still takes over five minutes, while Illadari is down to two minutes flat. The arena master, Haden requests Illadari for his speed. It’s nothing personal and it’s definitely not stupid.”
Ponio looked to be ashamed of his words, and said, “I’m sorry… I should have known that was the reason. I keep practicing, but I’m unable to drop the speed below five minutes. I’m not sure what I’m doing wrong.”
Oren walked slowly into the room and stood towering behind the two of them while they washed their rocks. “Maybe if you were to work on your focus a bit more, you’d be able to drop the times.” Illadari knew what Oren was speaking was truth. Ponio often could be found in his spare time resting, eating and having fun, while Illadari would tend to the needs of the people around town, and the sick animals in the forest, all which fortified his focus and healing abilities.
“I suppose what you speak is true…” Ponio said reluctantly. “Maybe by next year I can get my times down.”
“The adventurers will be attending the arena battles tomorrow, so you will not be needed in the Halls, Ponio,” Oren said. “You on the other hand,” looking at Illadari, Oren continued, “You will need to report to the arena by ten o’clock.”
“I will be sure to be there,” Illadari said.
“Be sure to bring your summoning necklace with you, and stop by in the morning to make sure no adventurers died this evening,” Oren said. Illadari nodded acknowledging his request, and Oren returned to the Bishop’s quarter.
Chapter 5
Barreling through the front door of their house, Kessler dropped his bag next to the door, and quickly ran into his room, shutting the door behind him. Tessla thought to herself, He seems to be in quite the hurry. Following him into his room, she opened the door to find he was not there.
“Kessler?” Tessla asked as she looked around the room. “Come on out Kessler…” she said glancing at his closet. “Were those kids at school mean to you again?” she asked. Opening the closet door, she found Kessler with his knees up to his chest and pouting. “What’s wrong dear?” she asked dropping to her knees and placing a hand on his cheek to wipe the tears from his eyes.
“Nothing…” he said with a choked voice as he patted his eyes dry with his burgundy sleeve.
“Was it Iko again?” Tessla asked as she patted her son’s head softly. He nodded and embraced Tessla with a hug. “What did he do?”
“He said I’ll never be able to fight with the adventurers because of my size…” Tessla pushed his hair back and kissed his forehead.
“That’s not true honey. You can do whatever you want to do! You are an amazing little boy and super smart!” Tessla said smiling at him. Hearing the stew boil in the other room reminded Tessla that dinner was about to be done. “Come help me with the stew,” she said standing up and helping Kessler up.
The both of them went into the kitchen and Tessla had Kessler blow out the flame on the stovetop. Smiling up at her, Kessler hugged her side firmly and said, “I love you mother.”
Bending down, she gave him a hug and said, “I love you too.” Getting a parchment out from his bag, Kessler got up to the table and began to do his school work, while Tessla finished preparing the stew in bowls, and the gymer bread for supper.
**
When Illadari arrived home, Kessler immediately leaped from the table and latched onto one of his father’s legs as he walked into the bedroom. Tessla’s heart warmed as Illadari pulled Kessler from his leg and launched him in the air. Kessler’s going to be an amazing man someday… Just like his father, Tessla thought with a smile on her face.
“I’ve missed you son, now run along and go finish your school work you have before we eat mother’s delicious stew.” Ushering him back to the table, Illadari went into the bedroom and shut the door behind.
A few moments later, Illadari returned out into the kitchen wearing his casual blue robes, and took a seat at the kitchen table. “How was the rest o
f your day?” Tessla asked.
“It was pretty good. I’m going to be doing the arena summons tomorrow,” Illadari said as he glanced over the school work that Kessler was working on.
“Wow honey! I’m so proud of you!” Tessla said smiling back at Illadari from the stove.
“Thanks love,” Illadari said. “Do you know where I put my summoning necklace?”
“I haven’t seen it here at home,” Tessla said as she finished pouring the stew into bowls.
“That’s strange. I guess it doesn’t get much use,” Illadari said perplexed. “Didn’t we use it on that gentleman we found outside of town in the forest? He was dead and we resurrected him since we had a couple charges left in it.”
“Yes, but you took it back to the Halls the next day to recharge. I promise it’s not here,” Tessla said as she brought over a bowl of stew for Illadari. “Put your school work away Kessler,” Tessla said as she returned back to the counter to grab his and her bowl of stew, along with the gymer bread slices she had prepared.
“My head still feels strange,” Kessler said as he returned to the table from putting his school work away. “I don’t know if I can eat my food…”
“Sit up to the table and eat,” Tessla said with forceful motherly eyes. “Whether your head feels strange or not, this is your supper for the evening.”
He remained silent, resting his head against his hand, as his elbow sat on the table.
“Elbow off the table son,” Illadari said as he took a bite of his stew. “Yummy…” Illadari said looking over at Tessla.
“Oh wait! Your Hilted Banes Leaf!” Tessla said jumping up from her seat. She ran into the bedroom and grabbed a leaf from the pouch that Illadari had brought home from Quin’s. Returning to the kitchen, she handed him the leaf, “Here you go.” Turning around, she grabbed cups and scooped water into them for the three of them to drink with their meals.
“Oh goody, you remembered,” Illadari said with a look of disappointment. Even the aroma the leaf gave off made even Tessla a little queasy in the stomach. Chewing the leaf, he shoved a giant spoonful of stew into his mouth to help dull the bitterness. At least he loves my stew… Tessla thought as she brought a spoonful of stew to her lips.
**
After supper was finished and cleaned up. Illadari excused himself. “I’m going to search for my summoning necklace.”
“I said it wasn’t here,” Tessla said annoyed. “You will not find it.”
“I’m going to search for it anyways, so I can mentally cross it out of my mind as a place it could be,” Illadari insisted.
“That’s fine love, waste your time,” Tessla said as she fished Kessler’s school work from his bag. Setting the parchment back down in front of Kessler, she watched as Illadari started to dig through the cupboards. Tessla’s patience for his ignorance began to grow thin. “Even if it’s here, which it’s not, it would not be in the cupboards in the kitchen!” she snapped at him.
“Okay, okay,” Illadari said as he closed the cupboard. Looking around, he saw the bedroom door and proceeded to go in there shutting the door behind him. Turning her attention back to Kessler’s school work, she continued to help Kessler.
I don’t want him messing with all the clothing in our closet, Tessla thought. “Go brush your teeth after you finish that last bit of school work,” she said to Kessler as she left to go into the bedroom. When she opened the door, she found Illadari sitting on the edge of their bed, staring at something intently, but she could not see what it was, for his back was to her. She placed a hand on his shoulder which caused him to jump almost a foot into the air from being startled.
“Tessla!” he shouted. “You about killed me! You can’t scare me like that… I have a heart condition now!”
“Oh hush,” she said joining his side on the bed. Glancing over at his hands, she saw a piece of bark. It wasn’t just any piece of bark; it was from the Great Tree. They purchased it from a traveling salesman for fifty pieces of gold. They wanted something as a reminder of where they had come from.
“Do you ever wonder about Ada and Nejik?” Illadari asked looking at her. She looked at the piece of bark and picked it up from the palm of his hand and began to rub it with her thumb.
“I think about Nejik almost daily,” she said keeping her eyes locked on the piece of bark. “I wonder if he’s alive… dead… all of its just-”
Kessler just then walked in. “Mommy… I can’t find the paste,” Kessler said.
“I’ll be there in just a minute,” Tessla said smiling at him. “Go back to the bathroom and I’ll be there shortly.” He left the room. Looking up at Illadari, she placed the piece of bark back into his hands.
“I wouldn’t trade our life we have here for anything,” she said smiling as she stood up and kissed Illadari on the head before leaving the room.
Chapter 6
A restless night’s sleep forced Illadari to awaken early the next day. His inability to locate his summoning necklace weighed heavy on his conscious as time waxed thin to when he was needed at the arena. Waking before Tessla and Kessler, he got his high priest robes on, and sneaked out of the house just as the sun was rising. As he shut the door behind him, he got a strange look from a guard that was passing by on patrol.
“Can I help you sir?” the guard asked as he stopped.
“Nope, I’m fine,” Illadari said.
Arriving at the Halls, Illadari found himself unable to pass into the alter room. Looking around curiously, he tried again, but hit a wall of resistance that prevented him from entering. Turning around, he left the Halls, back onto the main street of Silvermeer. Spotting Ponio, he called out to him, “Hey Ponio!”
“Who are you?” Ponio responded with disgust pushing him backwards in anger. “And who gave you those robes? They are for High Priests only!” Ponio said sternly. What is wrong with him? Illadari wondered. Glancing at his own left hand, he noticed his wedding ring wasn’t there. What happened? Illadari thought rushing away from Ponio, heading down the street towards his home.
Flinging the door open to his house, he rushed into the bedroom and found Tessla crying on the edge of their bed. “What happened?” she asked looking up at him. Illadari saw her face was that of Katlynn’s and fear began to set in for Illadari.
“Where’s Kessler?” Illadari asked quickly. If anything happened to my son, Illadari thought to himself.
“Gone, just like the entire illusion seems to be… It’s all gone!” Tessla screamed at him. Rushing to his doorway leading outside, Illadari looked up and down their street panicking.
Something must have happened to Ada, Illadari thought to himself as he went back inside and shut the door. Going back into the bedroom, he looked at Tessla as tears streamed down her face.
“We have to leave, we can’t be seen in this house, this home doesn’t belong to Amon and Katlynn!” Illadari insisted.
“We need to stay here until nightfall,” Tessla said. Illadari began to pace the bedroom.
“I agree,” Illadari said.
Cupping her face as she sobbed, Tessla said, “I want my son back!” Comforting her, Illadari placed his hand on her shoulder and kissed the top of her head.
“We will find Ada and get this fixed,” Illadari said.
**
A loud knock on the door came startling the two of them a few hours later.
“Illadari!” Ponio shouted. “What are you doing? The arena battles are starting soon and you aren’t there!”
Turning to Tessla, Illadari shook his head and put his finger to his lips.
“Oren said if you don’t show within the next ten minutes, he’d be letting me take over. Instead of just taking your spot, I wanted to be a good friend and come see what’s going on…” Ponio said. They could hear him sigh in disappointment as he continued, “Fine. I’ll do it, but I tried.”
“Won’t you be in trouble?” Tessla asked in a whisper.
“It doesn’t matter. We have bigger concerns than my
job at the Halls right now,” Illadari said. Tessla nodded and then started crying again. “What’s wrong my love?”
“Kessler… your job… everything in our life is falling apart in a very short amount of time,” Tessla said as she dug her eyes into his shoulder. Pulling back, she looked at Illadari, “You should change into your blue robes… You don’t want to be traveling around with the face of Amon in those.”
Illadari nodded, going to the closet to fetch his blue robes. He turned to Tessla and asked, “Could you cook something up? I’m starving and need to take that bitter leaf.”
“Sure and you mean your Hilted Banes Leaf,” Tessla said with a faint smile in the midst of all the tears. Wiping her face clean of the tears and her nose that was dripping, she went into the kitchen and began cooking.