“Um, excuse me,” said Geoff, “but do you know Ariel?”
Ishara whirled, her eyes opened wide.
“Ariel Windsong? How do you know her?” she asked.
Geoff paused, wondering if he had made a mistake.
“I…I don’t think she ever mentioned her last name,” he said, “but she’s a druid and fights with two scimitars like the one you carry.”
Ishara ran up to Geoff and grabbed his shoulders. Geoff tried to step back, but she was too fast.
“You have met her! Where is she?”
Geoff swallowed hard.
“Well?” said Ishara, shaking him. “Tell me!”
“Oh…uh…yes. I met her but…”
“But what?”
Ishara grasped his head with her hands. Uh-oh, he thought. He hoped she wouldn’t kill him if he had killed Ariel.
“You must tell me,” she insisted. The smile had faded from her face.
“I…well, I’m not sure. Like I said in the cage, I don’t remember. The last time I saw her was in the catacombs of Silverthorne Manor. So, if those brigands were right…”
“Then you killed her too,” said Ishara.
She released him, then turned and walked away. Geoff moved back a few steps. He wasn’t sure what his new companion would do next.
Ishara stopped and shook her head.
“No.”
She turned and again ran at Geoff. He braced for impact. But instead of attacking him, she wrapped her arms around him. Geoff tried to say something, but only managed a shocked mumble. He felt his cheeks run warm. Ishara pulled away and laughed.
“Sneak thief or wizard,” said Ishara. “I do not believe you could kill Ariel. Not even by accident. She is a friend of the forest, a powerful druid. So you see, I think her destiny lies elsewhere.”
“Yeah,” agreed Geoff. “But the two brigands said they saw me kill her and my friends.”
Ishara tilted her head and looked at Geoff.
“And you believe them? Brigands?”
Geoff considered Ishara’s point for a moment.
“No. I guess not.”
“They found you below Silverthorne Keep, in the catacombs?”
Geoff nodded.
“What possible reason would a human boy like yourself have to be in such a place?”
“We were…uh…running from a werewolf,” said Geoff. “It’s been following us for a while now.”
“A werewolf?” said Ishara incredulously. “Why would a werewolf be hunting you?”
“I don’t know,” said Geoff. “But we can’t lose it.”
“I have never heard of such behavior from a werewolf,” said Ishara. “Can Ariel’s magic not protect you?”
“No. I don’t think so. No matter where we go it’s always right behind us.”
Ishara walked past Geoff, looking at the ground in deep thought.
“I do not understand,” she said.
“Neither do we,” said Geoff. “But we wish it would go away and leave us alone.”
As Geoff watched, Ishara walked in a circle around him while she considered what he had said. He looked around for a familiar landmark or terrain feature but found none.
“Hey, um, Ishara. I’m lost,” he said. “Can you help me get back to Silverthorne Manor? Please? I have to try and find my friends.”
Again the elven girl turned and walked to Geoff. Her movements were quick and deliberate. Geoff stepped backward. He wasn’t sure what her answer would be, much less her physical reaction.
“Yes,” she said with a smile. “I will help you, little sneak thief. Your quick thinking and quicker fingers freed us. It is the least I can do.”
Geoff smiled. That was easy, he thought. She’s pretty cool.
“Thanks.”
“Follow me,” she said and she took him by the hand and led him into the forest. Geoff stumbled and tripped once in a while, but he kept up with Ishara for the most part.
“We have to go back the way we just came,” she said, “so we must give the brigand camp a wide berth.”
“Okay,” said Geoff. He had no desire to meet them again, especially Aiden.
They traveled until daybreak and then found a cool, shady spot to rest. She doesn’t get tired, either, Geoff realized. She’s just like Ariel. He wondered if all elves were as fit.
“Ishara,” said Geoff as he bit his lower lip, “how did they capture you?”
Ishara raised an eyebrow.
“Sorry,” said Geoff. “I just meant it seems like it would be really hard for anyone to catch you, let alone those brigands.”
“On any given day you would be right,” Ishara said. “But I was foolish and careless. Their leader, the one who stabbed you, is as cunning as he is cruel. He set a trap by the roadside. I was scouting for orc raiding parties when I came upon an injured man lying in the grass—or so I thought. I went to see if I could aid him and before I could react, I was surrounded by a dozen outlaws.”
Geoff nodded and yawned unexpectedly. He quickly covered his mouth so as to not be rude, but Ishara noticed anyway.
“Try and get a little sleep,” she said. “I will stand watch.”
“Okay. Thanks.”
He found a comfy spot on the grass and lay down. He watched his new companion walk about and survey their surroundings. She looks so different from when we met in the cage, he thought. She seems happy. Maybe being free agrees with her. Geoff shook his head. Of course it does, stupid.
He closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep. The next thing he knew Ishara was shaking him.
“Wake up,” she said. “We should go.”
“Ugh. How long was I asleep?”
“At least three hours,” said Ishara. “We have remained here long enough. Come. We must go.”
Geoff grunted as he lifted himself off the ground and rubbed his face.
“Do elves ever sleep?” he blurted out.
Ishara giggled.
“Of course. But we do not require as much sleep as humans. We can go for days before taking rest.”
“Must be nice,” said Geoff.
He wiped the sleep from his eyes and fell in line behind Ishara.
“Hey, that Zorn guy,” said Geoff, “the one those brigands were talking about. He’s the bad guy invading and conquering everything, right?”
“Mmhmm.”
“Why?”
Ishara replied, “Why do humans always seem to start wars?”
Geoff grinned to himself. Yep. Just like Ariel.
“More power, more land, more riches. How much of each does a man need to be content? Greed will be the downfall of men. And they will drag us all to our deaths.”
“Okay,” said Geoff as he scratched his head. “Sooo from what you and Ariel say about us—humans, I mean—we’re the bad guys?”
“Elves learned a long time ago not to trust men. Those brigands were a small sampling of what humanity has to offer the world.”
“But,” said Geoff, “there are some good humans, right?”
“Indeed,” said Ishara. “They are rare, but they do exist.”
“Hmmm. So back to Zorn,” said Geoff. He felt at ease with Ishara; he felt he could talk to her. “What did they mean when they said he was a hero? He was a good guy?”
“Yes,” replied Ishara. “Once he was a noble and just knight. Now he is an evil, twisted tyrant.”
“So what happened?” asked Geoff.
“What do you mean?”
“Well, if he was a noble knight and all that, what changed him? Something must have happened.”
They walked a few minutes, the sun warming them. The forest was not as thick with trees as the Spirewood Forest. The sou
nds of squirrels chattering and birds chirping filled the air.
“I do not know. Perhaps the same greed that infects all men finally found him.”
Geoff shook his head. “I’m not sure about that. If he was a noble lord wasn’t he rich?”
“Perhaps,” said Ishara. “Then maybe he craved more power. He was always a great swordsman and a formidable opponent. You should ask Ariel; that is, if you didn’t kill her and your friends in the catacombs.”
Geoff stopped.
“Wait a minute,” he said. “Ariel knows that Zorn guy?”
Ishara turned and looked at Geoff.
“Yes. She didn’t tell you?”
Geoff shook his head.
“She knew him. They were once good friends, but that was a long time ago.”
“Oh wow,” said Geoff. “Is that why Ariel doesn’t like us? Humans, I mean?”
“Perhaps, but I do not think so,” said Ishara. “Men have shown their true colors longer than Zorn has been alive. Ariel knows this well.”
“She doesn’t seem to like us much,” said Geoff. “But she is trying to help us get home…I think.”
“I think if she is trying to help you find your way home,” said Ishara, “then she likes you.”
Geoff considered Ishara’s words and smiled.
“Yeah, I guess you’re right. We better get a move on, huh? Find the others.”
Ishara and Geoff continued on their way through the forest. By the position of the sun in the sky, Geoff guessed it was midmorning. He couldn’t help but notice that Ishara had a bounce in her step; she really did seem to be happy to be free and in the forest. They didn’t speak as they walked, but after a few miles, she became solemn and turned to him.
“If we do find your friends,” she said, “and if they are dead, what will you do?”
Geoff frowned. This is something he hadn’t considered until now.
“I don’t know,” he said. “Try to find my own way home, I guess.”
“Where is your home?”
Geoff thought for a moment, not sure how to best answer the question.
“Well,” he began, “it isn’t anywhere near here. My friends and I come from very far away.”
“Where?” asked Ishara again.
Geoff laughed a little and smiled.
“We come from a place called Earth.”
“Earth? Is that the name of your village? I have not heard of it.”
“No. It’s a planet,” said Geoff. “Like I said, we aren’t from around here. I don’t know where we are—another planet or dimension or whatever.”
Ishara stared at Geoff for a minute before speaking.
“This is the world of Alluria,” she said. “How did you come to be here?”
“That’s a long story,” said Geoff. “In a nutshell, I found a white alabaster key and a stone archway in my father’s study. When I touched the key it sort of activated the archway and we were sucked in. When we woke up, we were here.”
“A key?” asked Ishara.
“Yeah, Ariel called it a wizard’s key, I think. I’ve never seen one before.”
Geoff continued for several more steps before he realized he was alone. He turned and looked for Ishara. She had stopped several feet back and had the most inquisitive look on her face.
“A wizard’s key is a rare thing,” she said. “There are few who can use such an item. Only the most powerful wizards can safely wield its power.”
“Well, that leaves me out,” said Geoff with a loud laugh. “Otherwise, we would still be home. Not being chased by werewolves and such.”
“Yet you did use the key and you found yourselves here. I wonder, little sneak thief,” she said, “if you possess wizardly abilities but you are unaware of them.”
“Dunno,” said Geoff. “Ariel let me hold this gem. She called it a mage stone. It was really cool. It floated and glowed with a white light. Jane’s was green, like Ariel’s, but I lost mine in the catacombs.”
Ishara threw her head back and laughed. Wow, even her laugh is cute, Geoff thought. She’s really cool. He watched her and couldn’t help but smile.
“Then you do have the makings of a wizard,” she said. “The mage stone proves it! You really have no idea, do you?”
“What? Me?” Geoff shook his head. “No way.”
Ishara walked to Geoff and put her arm around him, turning him around so they could continue on to Silverthorne Keep. She had such a warm smile that Geoff couldn’t take his eyes off her.
“So, what is to be done with you? A wizard combined with a sneak thief can be very useful. I wager those brigands would have gotten rich from your talents.”
“But we don’t have spells and magic where I come from,” protested Geoff. “I can’t cast any spells. I’m just a little guy. Not like Sawyer. Other kids pick on me and stuff.”
Geoff hung his head. He hadn’t meant to reveal that much to Ishara.
Geoff felt her arm tighten around him as they walked.
“I do not know this Sawyer, but I believe,” she said with a confident tone, “those days are behind you. I am glad to have a wizard to travel with. I feel much safer now.”
Geoff smiled. He felt like he was floating on air. Ishara was nice and beautiful and she noticed him. She smelled like a sweet summer breeze. No girl had ever noticed him before. Hey, if she wanted him to be a wizard, he thought, then he’d be a wizard. No problem!
“However,” she said in her serious tone, “if you are part wizard, you will need to become an apprentice and study. That will take time.”
“Ha!” said Geoff. “Who’s going to teach me? How many wizards do you have running around? How much is tuition? How do I—”
Ishara had stopped and crouched, pulling Geoff to his knees as she did so.
“What’s the matter?” asked Geoff.
Ishara held up her finger for silence.
Geoff’s heart began to beat faster. He looked around but saw nothing out of the ordinary.
“Shh,” said Ishara as she unslung her bow and nocked an arrow in one move. “We are no longer alone.”
She nodded and indicated that something or someone was straight ahead.
Geoff licked his lips and crouched lower.
“What do we do? Should we run?” whispered Geoff.
“Follow me,” said Ishara.
Still crouching, she moved forward with slow, deliberate steps.
Geoff crouched and followed her. He made sure to stay close as they advanced. They crept silently for another thirty yards.
Ishara stopped and pointed at a small, overgrown brook in front of them. Geoff squinted. He saw movement past the shrubbery. On the opposite bank a hooded, solitary figure in ragged furs was bent over trying to snatch a fish out of the water with its bare hands.
“What is that? Is that a man?” he whispered.
Ishara clenched her jaw and raised her bow.
Chapter Nineteen
Ol’ Bleet
“What? Who else is after Geoff? Oh, I don’t believe this.” Jane pushed herself up from her resting spot and walked over to Ariel. Sawyer got there first and stared at the ground by Ariel’s foot.
“Oh, no,” he said. “I don’t believe it. No way.”
Jane looked down to where Ariel had pointed to a blemish in the soft black dirt. She gasped and her hand shot up to her mouth as she shook her head in disbelief. A large pawprint of a wolf was clearly visible.
“That’s…that’s not real,” she said. “Is it the same-”
“It is,” said Ariel. “It is a fresh track from last night. The werewolf survived Silverthorne Manor and is now in front of us.”
“Aww, man,” said Sawyer. He stepped away, then took out his sword
and swung it angrily in the air.
“So what are we going to do?” Jane asked, feeling a tear in her eye and staunching it with a trembling hand. “If we find Geoff, then the werewolf can’t be far away.”
Ariel stood and surveyed the path ahead of them.
“We continue on,” she said. “We find Geoff and rescue him. We cannot stop. Not now. Hurry.”
Jane and Sawyer fell in line behind Ariel, who had picked up her pace. At least sShe’s staying within sight, thought Jane. That’s good.
“Sawyer,” she said between gasps for air, “how’re we going to get out of this?”
“Dunno,” said Sawyer. “Let’s keep looking for Geoff…figure the rest out after.”
“Okay,” said Jane.
Soon Sawyer and Jane arrived at the clearing the brigands had used for a campsite. Ariel had arrived a few minutes earlier and was in the process of searching the abandoned camp. Only a wagon with an empty cage remained, along with a several rough sacks of flour and grain and a few miscellaneous items.
“Where’s Geoff?” Sawyer asked. “And the kidnappers?”
Ariel studied the tracks in the ground by the wagon for a bit and pointed northeast.
“He and another prisoner escaped. They were pursued by the brigands,” she said. “This is a good opportunity. We may be able to find Geoff first.”
“But they left their wagon and food,” said Jane. “Why would they do that?”
“The wagon and supplies would have slowed them. They intend to return,” said Ariel. She looked at Jane. “Can you continue or do you need to rest?”
Jane shook her head and leaned against the wagon. “I need to rest for a little while.”
“I could use a breather, too,” said Sawyer. “Just a few minutes.”
Ariel nodded. “Very well. Take a brief break. I will scout further ahead and return.”
Jane watched Ariel sprint away, again disappearing into the forest.
Wizard's Key (The Darkwolf Saga Book 1) Page 22