But what really caught Laegon’s attention was the look in Irewen’s eyes when they sparred. Whatever he did to intimidate her, she never faltered, never wavered. Not once did she display even a hint of uncertainty. There was no weakness in her cold, calculating stare. No vulnerability. For someone who claimed she’d never been prepared to rule, her tenacity was astonishing.
Though it would take time for the princess to hone her skills and tone her body, Laegon instinctively knew he’d met his match.
When not engrossed in her training, they spoke of the past and of the future. Of their hopes and their dreams. Of their fears and trepidations. And amongst the tears and laughter, they grew closer to one another than either one of them had ever thought possible.
Chewing on a small piece of salted pork, Irewen sat behind Laegon with her back propped against the caramel rock of the cave’s wall. She studied the prince’s movements as he prepared their mid-day meal. During the training exercises, she’d become intimately familiar with his body, and knew he was becoming just as familiar with hers. She’d not reacted with bashfulness or embarrassment as she might have done a fortnight ago. Instead, she used the circumstance as motivation to erase even the slightest shortcoming she had regarding muscular tone and strength.
She stood and nonchalantly circled the campfire before stopping next to the elf. “Is there anything I can do to help?” She peered over his arm at the bubbling porridge. They’d consumed the last of the deer stew the previous night. “I am not as feeble as I appear, you know.”
Laegon looked up from the steaming pot and smiled. “When we have something more exciting to prepare than porridge, you may assist me all you like. You will find that my culinary skills do not advance much beyond what you have already had the pleasure of tasting.”
“The crújend is delicious!”
“And so it should be!” he proclaimed. “It was prepared by the finest cook in Silverden!”
“Oh, come now, you are not giving yourself enough credit. There must be something else you can cook besides stew and porridge!”
“Alas, my fair maiden, there is not.”
“And any sensible elf in all of Mistwood will tell you exactly the same thing!” boomed an unfamiliar voice.
At the sound of the new voice, Laegon and Irewen turned to see a rather jovial elf enter the cave.
“Perendin!” Laegon exclaimed. He went to the elf and firmly clasped his left shoulder in greeting. “It is good to see you, my friend!”
“And the same to you, my prince,” Perendin replied, returning the heartfelt gesture. He turned his attention to the small pot, practically overflowing with the steaming porridge. “I see you have prepared for my arrival,” he continued, eying Laegon’s creation with reluctance.
“Aye, my friend! I have been tracking your progress since you passed within the boundaries of my Sight. I made certain this delicious and hearty gourmet meal would be ready the moment you stepped foot inside this humble abode.”
“Humph, you might have told me,” Irewen interrupted, glowering at Laegon. “I was wondering why you cooked enough to feed a small army. All this time I thought you expected me to finish that entire pot! You would have saved me a great deal of anxiety had you explained that properly.”
Laegon winked as he bowed towards her, making a point of exaggerating his movements. “You have my deepest apologies, my lady,” he answered, laughing heartily. He glanced up to see Perendin staring at them in sheer bewilderment.
“Perendin,” Laegon continued. “May I present Lady Irewen Donríel, Princess of Dargon. Irewen, this is Perendin Galdrel, Culthen of Mistwood.” He paused, looking at her questioning glance. “Knight of Mistwood, in the common tongue,” he explained.
“It is my pleasure, Princess Donríel,” Perendin said. Kneeling, he took her hand, lightly kissing the ring on her middle finger.
Irewen looked at Perendin with mild astonishment. She’d forgotten she still wore the ring of her bloodline. Suddenly, it felt like a lead weight resting on her finger. The elf’s gesture of veneration seemed completely foreign to her, and she did her best to hide her discomfort. “That is not necessary,” she said, motioning for him to stand. “Only Laegon is required to bow before me. Please, call me Irewen.”
“It is good to see that at last someone has discovered a fitting position for our prince,” Perendin teased. “Now, Laegon, about this bountiful gourmet meal of yours...”
“Oh aye?” Laegon carefully spooned a generous portion into a bowl.
“I am afraid I anticipated your hospitality and have already eaten.”
Irewen’s girlish laughter resounded through the cave when Laegon responded with a scowl.
Perendin made a show of reaching beneath his cloak. “But,” he continued, producing a small cloth pouch, “I have brought something that I hope will serve as a sufficient apology and help you and the good lady enjoy this great feast even more!”
Laegon’s frown vanished when Perendin untied the pouch and dumped a handful of dried lilenberries into the steaming porridge. “You are correct, my friend.” He smiled appreciatively. “All is forgiven.”
“As I knew it would be,” Perendin replied, stirring some berries into a bowl before handing it to Irewen. “Sit down and eat, the both of you. What have you been living on? Especially you, Laegon? It looks as though you need to eat this entire pot more than Irewen does.”
“I am fine,” Laegon replied dismissively, not wanting Irewen to know he’d been giving her most of his share in addition to hers. “You know I do not eat much.” Ignoring Perendin’s penetrating stare, he looked forlornly at his bowl of porridge. “Now, tell me,” he continued gravely, “did you manage to bring any honey?”
Perendin raised his eyebrow in surprise. “Are you certain?” he whispered, glancing at Irewen’s sleeping figure. Overcome by exhaustion, she’d lain down for a nap. Laegon had taken advantage of the opportunity to inform Perendin of all that had transpired since the Culthen had left Silverden.
“Aye. As certain as I can be without physical proof. I know my interpretation of Dremond’s words could still prove to be incorrect, but with each passing hour, my heart tells me otherwise.”
“Does she know?”
Laegon nodded. “It has been difficult for her, but she has accepted the responsibility with grace and dedication. There is something truly remarkable about her that I simply cannot explain. She has spoken to me about her inexperience at leading, claiming she knows nothing of how to rule, yet she possesses a bizarre commanding authority the likes of which I have never seen. She has the rare ability to hold your attention without ever saying a word. But when she speaks, I feel as though no one would ever be able to disobey any order she gave. There is a mystical quality of her voice that draws you into her, like an extraordinary butterfly mesmerizing you with its effortless beauty.”
“Well, I never thought I would live to see the day when Prince Laegon Elendell of the Wood Elves became this smitten with a beautiful young lady. And part human at that!”
Laegon cocked his head, stunned that his feelings for Irewen were so obvious.
Perendin’s voice was playfully jovial. “Come now, Laegon. Do not look so surprised. I have no doubt what you said is true. Indeed, I myself felt the very same even after speaking with her for such a short time. But you cannot hide that glimmer of wistfulness in your eyes.”
The prince smiled bashfully. “Aye, though you needn’t look so smug at your discovery. The way I feel, I am certain even a simpleton would be able to recognize the look I possess for what it is. There are some moments when I do not even know where I am or what I am doing. I can sense her looking at me, analyzing my movements, studying my expressions. I feel as though I am crumbling into dust before her feet. We have kissed once, but I have hardly been able to think of anything else since. Even when schooling her on the use and handling of our elven weapons, I found I had to practically scream at myself to keep my concentration. I honestly do not know how I
have survived these last few days. I feel like a blubbering idiot.”
“I am happy for you, Laegon.” Perendin smiled. “Feeling that way for another is something everyone deserves to experience at some point in their lives. Sadly, it is something I have not yet had the privilege to enjoy.”
Laegon nodded in agreement. “Yes it is. Honestly, I would not change it for the world.”
Perendin grinned. “I didn’t expect you would.”
“I need to ask you a favor, Perendin.”
“Anything, my prince.”
“Go to the Millérn Watchtower and warn the sentries of the impending attack. I do not know how the enemy passed unnoticed through our borders the first time, but I intend not to let it happen again.”
“Are you sure you would not like me to remain here with you and Irewen, my lord? The reinforcements you requested were busy with their preparations when I left. Your father wanted them dispatched no more than two days after my departure. Those headed to the Millérn tower should arrive within two or three days. If the threat is as great as you suggest, my skills may be of more use to you here.”
Laegon shook his head stubbornly. “No. A darkness has been growing in my mind. I fear waiting even two days will be too late. The sentries must be warned immediately.”
“What of you? Will you and Irewen be safe should some of the Drulaack pass through our defenses?”
Laegon sighed gravely. “As soon as Irewen told me of Dremond’s warning, I knew that only a thread separated her from danger. The longer she can remain here and regain her strength, the better. Yet, every day that passes brings the enemy closer. Every hour Irewen lingers within this cave, every ounce of energy she regains, brings her closer to the time Dremond will no longer be able to protect her. I knew there would come a time when I needed to choose between her health and her safety.”
He paused, looking into Perendin’s large brown eyes. “That time has come. Even though she does not have the strength or stamina to fight the Drulaack, she is no longer helpless in Dremond’s eyes. We must leave. As much as I hate to force such an arduous journey upon her, tonight will be our last night seeking refuge in this cave. I expect Brégen tomorrow afternoon. When he arrives, we will depart for Silverden.”
“What of the prophecy? What are Irewen’s plans for discovering her heritage?”
“She knows nothing of her elven ancestry, not even her mother’s name. There is no way we can trace her roots back through the ages. Our only hope for discovering the identity of the woman is to search for the written account of the prophecy in the Light Elves’ archives. Once we reach Silverden and make the necessary preparations, we will travel north through the southern regions of Lündvelle and head for the city of Lilendvelle. Hopefully, the document was not destroyed and can provide us with some useful information. Failing that, we will need to search the familial archives of all four races.”
“Do not misunderstand me, my prince, but I would much rather be fighting this evil than searching through thousands of ancient documents.”
“So would I, my friend. So would I.”
“Still,” Perendin continued gravely, “I expect we will all be exhausted of battle before these Drulaack are banished from these lands.”
“That is true enough. You may be begging me to spend your time surrounded by musty papers before the end.”
Perendin winked. “Never.”
10
“IREWEN...”
Her father’s voice penetrated her dreams. She turned. Searching the darkness, she felt his presence emerge behind her. She tried to run towards him, but couldn’t move.
“Irewen...!”
The voice echoed about her, surrounding her with its desperation. Panic overcame her when her father’s presence began to retreat, slowly blending into the world around her. Alarm swelled in her heart. She couldn’t let him fade away as he had done earlier. She needed him to speak.
“Father!” Her husky voice sprung from her throat, though she didn’t remember moving her lips. “Speak to me, father!”
She was met with silence. She waited impatiently, sensing her father’s longing to speak to her. More than before, she didn’t particularly want to learn what it was he wanted to tell her. But she knew she had no choice.
“Please, Father. I cannot do this without you. Help me. Tell me what you know.”
Chills ran down her spine when her father eventually spoke, the words sounding like venom.
“Elthad,” he hissed. “Traitor.”
The terrible memories flooded into her mind. “I know, father,” she answered quietly. “He hunts me even as we speak.
“No.”
“No?” She couldn’t hide her confusion. “Then who is the leader of the Drulaack?”
“Elthad.”
She sighed in frustration. The conversation was simply turning in circles. “Why is Elthad a traitor, Father? What do I not know?”
Silence.
“Do you remember when I was a little girl?” she asked. “Do you remember how we used to talk for hours? We laughed. We cried. But we did not hold anything back from one another. Speak to me like you used to, Father,” she pleaded. “I need you.”
“Thoughts. Hard to put to words. Long time since last spoke.”
“Oh, Papa,” she whimpered, tears pooling in her eyes. She couldn’t begin to imagine how difficult this was for him. To have something he desperately wanted to say to her but to not be able to find the words to say it. “You are doing wonderfully.” She prayed her words of encouragement would give him the determination to continue. “I will not rush you. I will not leave you. Take your time. The words will come.”
“No!” Irewen screamed. Sitting up with a start, she threw the blanket aside in a panic.
“Irewen!” Laegon exclaimed. The two elves were by her side in an instant.
Laegon took her in his arms, holding her trembling body against his. Beads of cold sweat trickled down her back. She gasped for breath, knowing the ramifications of her father’s words would haunt her every waking hour. Her decision to undertake the quest in search of her ancestry and discover the truth of the prophecy suddenly seemed impossible.
“What is it?” Laegon asked, jerking her from her disturbing reflections. “Did your father speak to you?”
“Yes.” Her voice broke from her throat in a thin whimper. “Oh, Laegon! It is horrible.”
“What is?” Laegon asked with concern. “What did your father say?”
She answered frankly, not knowing any other way to explain. “Elthad is hunting me.”
“That is something we already knew, Irewen,” Laegon responded sympathetically. “Perhaps you simply had a nightmare after all. You are confused. Take some time to relax and clear your thoughts. We can talk again when you—”
“No!” she snapped. “Do not treat me like a blubbering infant! What I saw was not a dream. It was real.”
Irewen looked from one elf to the other, challenging them to dispute her a second time.
The two elves eyed one another but said nothing, waiting for her to explain.
Satisfied, Irewen continued. “Elthad is following me, tracking my every move. I am not referring to physical tracking. He cut one strand of hair from my head. Father showed me how it happened. Before I left Dargon, Elthad and I shared in an embrace. At the time, I focused on the security I felt when he wrapped his arms around me. I did not notice the small knife he held in his hand, nor did I notice when he used it to cut a tiny curl from my head.
“He later ground it up and added it to a goblet containing my father’s blood, along with a strand of his own light brown hair. Father was not able to fully explain how this bound me to Elthad, but the important thing is that it did. Somehow, the spirit controlling Elthad used that abhorrent concoction to permanently link me to him. He always feels my presence inside him. Everywhere I go, every single step I take, he is able to follow.
“There is nowhere I can hide. There is nowhere I will ever feel s
ecure. He will always be biting at my heels, closely following my every move. I will never be rid of the constant feeling of being watched. Like a stalker ducking into the shadows of an alley every time I turn around, Elthad will remain just beyond my reach, occasionally allowing me to catch a glimpse of him in order to augment my frustrations. He will not show himself completely until he is damn well ready.”
Irewen looked directly into Laegon’s eyes, holding his penetrating stare. “Elthad knew I had been rescued. He knew I had been brought here. But he also knew I was a mere whisper away from death. And so he waited. Sensing me gradually slip further into the abyss, he held his breath in anticipation of the moment when his link to me would vanish. But that moment never came. Silevethiel intervened, and my life was spared. Before I even opened my eyes, he had gathered the second group of Drulaack charged with ending my life.
“To know the outcome of the mission, he does not need to send a scout or wait until it is apparent his men are not returning. My link remains and is only growing stronger. Elthad knows the second group failed, just as surely as the first. He did not hesitate in sending their replacements. They are coming. We must leave.”
The silence that followed was so thick Laegon thought he could cut through it with a knife. He nodded gravely. “Brégen is aware of the situation. He left Silverden two days ago. When he arrives tomorrow, we will be ready to leave.”
“Do you know how many Drulaack your cousin sent?” Perendin asked anxiously, focusing his attention on the princess. “When did they leave? How near are they to Mistwood’s borders?”
Irewen shook her head. “I am sorry, Perendin. I cannot answer any of your questions. My father told me nothing else.”
“Do not worry, lovely lady,” the elf knight replied with an encouraging smile. “Knowing any more than that would have made my task too easy. As a rule, Wood Elves live for a challenge.”
Perendin winked at the princess before turning his attention to Laegon. The tone of his voice radiated seriousness when he spoke to the elf prince. “It is nearing dusk. I will let my horse rest for a few more hours before riding to the Millérn Watchtower. It is the nearest to this location and should be notified first. From there, depending on what I find, I will make my way to the other towers along the southern border.”
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