Tanya was staring at Jenneva for several moments without talking. Suddenly tears formed at the corners of her eyes. She tried to look away quickly to avoid her mother's gaze, but she was not quick enough.
"What is bothering you?" asked Jenneva. "If it is about Alex, your tears are premature. I will not believe in his death before his body is presented to me. In the morning we shall go out together to find him."
"That is only part of it," sniffed Tanya. "It is the elixir. I cannot help but think about how strange it is going to be to grow old and still think of you as my parents. In a way, it will be cruel to you as well."
"The elixir is not meant as a boon," soothed Jenneva. "It was given for a purpose as a gift to mankind. As a servant of mankind, one is called to make sacrifices. Our long life will be such, if we should actually live that long. The elixir will not shield us from death. In fact, your father may have already proved that point. You are aware that the Mage gave two vials to Arik, aren't you?"
"Yes," nodded Tanya. "He showed them to me. I suspect that he was toying with the idea of giving one to me, but I feel it should be reserved for his queen. Long life for both of the king and the queen will ensure the peace that the Mage desired."
"So you do not care for Arik?" Jenneva asked with a raised eyebrow.
"I care for him very much," Tanya replied softly. "I think I love him, but I cannot be his queen. I have told him so."
"That is a decision that you alone must make," sighed Jenneva. "Do not rush it. It is the most important decision that you will ever make. Certainly do not decide the question on the basis of the elixir."
"I would not," promised Tanya. "The elixir is not something that I desire. In fact, it is likely to bring its share of pain into this family before we are done with it."
"Perhaps," mused Jenneva, "but I shall not dwell upon it. No matter our age difference, I shall always love you as a mother. That is after all, the only thing that really matters."
"It is, isn't it?" smiled Tanya.
* * *
The black unicorn appeared as no more than a flitting shadow as he roved the barren plain west of Tagaret, seen only momentarily against the flickering flames of one of the myriad of fires that dotted the battlefield. Hundreds of the fires marred the land with no discernable scheme or pattern. In fact, the pyres were lit wherever the elves could gather enough dead to warrant one, and there was no shortage of bodies. The moon was long gone for the night, and the smoke from the fires blotted out most of the stars. The battlefield was ghostly dark, even the elves were hard to detect as they scurried about.
Kaz plodded slowly and methodically across the battlefield, his hooves landing softly on the blood soaked soil. The firelights reflected off thousands of pieces of armor and weapons that littered the land, but the light was a distraction not an aid to the search. Kaz's nostrils flared, searching for the scent of Alex, but only the stench of death lingered in the still air. The unicorn called out mentally to his human friend, but there was no reply. Out of the smoky night sky, a tiny blue fairy cautiously fluttered down to land on Kaz's head. The fairy coughed and shook its head.
"Maybe we should rest until morning, Kaz," Bantam sighed. "I cannot see anything. I was lucky to find you again."
Rest upon me, little one. I will carry you until the dawn, but I cannot stop my search.
"But surely you need sleep as well," objected the fairy. "You cannot see in the dark any better than I can. Why do you persist when I know you need rest?"
I cannot explain my reasons. They make no sense even to me, but I know Alex would be doing the same for me if it were I that was lost on the battlefield.
"You are very close to him, aren't you?" asked Bantam. "I can sense that. In fact, I think I can understand the way you feel. He is unlike any other human. A friendship with him is like a blessing. It is something you cherish and guard."
That is how it was when I met him so many years ago, but it has grown to more than that. I feel now more like a part of him than a companion, as if we were inseparable.
"Yet separated you are," frowned Bantam. "It sounds as if you love him."
Kaz stopped walking. His head turned from side to side as his nostrils flared and sampled the air.
It is not unlike the love of a mate, but it is something very different. I cannot explain it, but I have given up my father's kingdom to follow Alex. It was not a conscious decision that I made, but rather an action that was taken for granted by my mind. It did not please my father at all.
"You have been with him for a long time?" asked Bantam.
From before the Collapse. He saved my life in another Universe, but that is not why I followed him, although that should have been reason enough. I cannot explain it.
The fairy nodded silently and reclined between the unicorn's ears. She was soon fast asleep. Kaz continued to methodically explore the battlefield as the night wore on.
An hour later, Kaz stopped and stared at a pile of dead ogres that were illuminated by a nearby fire. Several of the ogre bodies were charred from magical lightning with a searing mark the lengths of their backs. A couple of elves were spreading sticks around the pile in preparation for yet another funeral pyre. Kaz mentally called out to Alex and got no response, but the unicorn seemed frozen in his stance. Something beckoned him to stay and not trod past the pile. His large nostrils sampled the air, but the smell of death was overpowering.
Kaz lowered his head and prodded the top ogre body with his horn. Bantam tumbled from her perch, her wings flapping furiously. The fairy managed to take flight before landing on the ground, and the elves backed away from the pile as they watched the unicorn with curiosity.
He is here!
"Do not light the fire," Bantam shouted to the elves as she hovered over the pile.
"What is going on?" questioned one of the elves.
"We are looking for Alexander Tork," announced Bantam. "Help me remove these ogres."
Bantam began to levitate the topmost ogre body. The elves moved forward to help, but Kaz was in a hurry. The unicorn stuck his horn into the ogre and snapped his head to one side. The ogre's body flew through the air and slammed to the ground. Bantam fluttered unsteadily from the forced release of the levitation spell.
Raise the next one.
"Warn me next time," frowned the fairy. "I do not wish to be tossed aside with the body."
Just raise it and release it. That is all.
Kaz snorted distractedly and waited impatiently as Bantam levitated the next ogre. The elves backed away as Kaz's horn slashed through the air and sent another ogre body flying. Twice more the fairy levitated, and the unicorn discarded ogre bodies. Suddenly Kaz whinnied loudly and lowered his head.
"Get a torch," the fairy called to the elves. "Get us some light."
One of the elves dashed to the nearest fire and returned with a burning torch. He held it high in the air and stood near the unicorn. Bantam glided down and landed on the man's chest.
"He breathes!" Bantam exclaimed. "He is alive. I will levitate him onto your back so we can fly swiftly to the city."
No. He is near death. Many parts of him are broken and crushed. He must be moved exactly as he is. Not a limb may move nor a part of him sag. Go to the city. Gather your people. Gather them by the hundreds. Each of them must bear a portion of the whole. Together you shall deliver him to the Gateway Inn.
"I shall go straight away," promised Bantam. "Elves, find Zalaharic and tell him to prepare the Gateway Inn for Alexander Tork."
The elves looked at one another and then at the still form on the ground. They whispered to each other and then one of them turned and ran towards the city. The other elf walked to the nearest fire and nocked an arrow to his bow. He lit the arrow in the fire and sent it flying skyward. From every direction elves moved through the night. They gathered in a circle around Alex's body, their bows facing outward to defend against any attack. One elf stepped through the ranks and placed his hand gently on Kaz's back.
&nb
sp; "Only you could have found him before us," greeted Prince Elgorn of Glendor. "Praise the gods that he lives."
Greetings, fair prince. He lives for now, but maybe not much longer. The fairies will transport him to Zalaharic. As I can trust you to guard him, I will return to the city and prepare the unicorns for his healing.
The unicorn turned, and Prince Elgorn parted his men. Kaz stepped out of the ring of elves and leaped into the air. He rose high in the sky and sighed with hope as he saw the predawn lightness approaching. He soared down into the city and landed behind the Gateway Inn where several of his fellow unicorns were sleeping. He awakened them and then entered the common room of the inn. Jenneva and Tanya sat up and looked to the unicorn expectantly.
Make room for Alex. He needs much care if he is to survive. And he needs it now!
Jenneva jumped off the table and wrapped her arms around the unicorn's neck. Tears flowed freely from her eyes and cascaded off her cheeks. Neither Kaz nor Jenneva spoke as Tanya grabbed a torch and lit the fire. She lit every torch in the room and then ran out to find Zalaharic. Kaz and Jenneva had not moved when moments later the door opened and Tanya stuck her head inside.
"Come see this," Tanya said excitedly. "I have never seen anything like it."
Jenneva rushed out the door and into the street. The predawn sky was just brightening as she looked in the direction that Tanya was pointing. She blinked her eyes as she stared at the image. Two bodies of Alexander Tork were floating in the sky, one a pace above the other, slowly making their way towards the Gateway Inn. She shook her head and blinked her eyes and focused on the image again. As the two bodies got closer, Jenneva could see that the upper body was not a body at all. It was hundreds of fairies packed so tightly together that from a distance they appeared to be one solid mass, but they matched every contour and feature of the body below them. She wondered how they could fly so close together.
"Hold the door open for them," instructed Zalaharic who stood slightly behind Tanya. "Do not make them hover longer than necessary."
Tanya nodded and held the door open as the fairies maneuvered Alex's body through the doorway and over one of the tables.
"Precision flying to be sure," boasted Bantam as the fairies gently lowered Alex and released their levitation spells. "Prince Midge could not have done any better."
"Was I not here?" retorted the fairy prince as the other fairies flew out the door. "I had his nose."
Bantam turned a dark blue and covered her mouth with her tiny hands. She quickly darted out of the room, and Prince Midge followed her. Zalaharic could not suppress a chuckle as he watched the fairies depart. As soon as the fairies had left, the unicorns filed into the room followed by a score of elf healers. Zalaharic bent over Alex and examined him. A deep frown fell over his face.
"His body has been badly crushed," the elf healer announced. "There is so much here that needs repairing that I do not know where to begin."
"Then we shall begin in numerous places," Tanya declared as she motioned Frea to her side. "Use the power of Yorra, Jenneva. I will guide you."
Jenneva nodded as Yorra stepped up alongside her. Zalaharic smiled approvingly and issued instructions to the rest of the elf healers. Each of the elves paired up with a unicorn until the table was completely surrounded by healers.
"Some of you have not yet learned of the healing magic of the unicorns," Zalaharic said to the assembled healers. "Today you shall learn. I will walk you though the spells. If you have the slightest doubt about what you are doing, stop and ask."
* * *
The seven riders rode single file along the coast of Cordonia. The lead rider rode in silence as his eyes scanned the shoreline as if looking for the perfect spot to rest. He did not appear to be in a hurry, but neither did he waste time looking at any spot twice.
"Why are we not riding on the coast road?" Mustar grumbled to the petite elf ahead of him. "Must we step through every puddle and gathering of ocean debris that spews forth from the sea?"
"Have you not learned yet that questioning the Mage serves no purpose?" Podil responded. "Hush up and enjoy the sea breeze. The Mage will find what he is looking for."
"Sea breeze?" scowled Kroto. "There is nothing about the sea that interests me. Dwarves do not good swimmers make."
"That is a foolish old tale," retorted Doryelgar. "Some of the dwarves of Talman are excellent swimmers. It is a handy skill to have when your tunnels fill with water."
"The dwarves of Cazra are never foolish enough to cut a tunnel into a lake," countered Kroto.
"That is indeed fortunate," remarked Galdan. "For without swimmers among your people, you would all die if it did happen."
"What do elves know about dwarven tunnels?" Kroto responded.
"Since the Collapse," replied Galdan, "the elves of Glendor and the dwarves of Talman have been very close. I understand that the elves of Sorelderal also have close associations with the dwarves of the Southern Mountains. Isn't that true, Podil?"
"Very much so," Podil nodded. "We have lived side by side with the dwarves of Dorgun for hundreds of years. Since the Collapse, we have enjoyed the company of the dwarves from Lanto as well. They also have excellent swimmers."
"I will teach you to swim," offered Balamor, a gaunt human mage with flaming red hair. "There is more water in this world than land. You should learn to deal with it."
"Bah," grumbled Kroto. "I am sure that we will swing away from the coast soon enough and all of this talk of water will be behind us."
Suddenly, the lead rider stopped and held up his hand for silence.
"We have company," announced the Mage. "Do not attack them unless there is no other way to avoid what they have in store for us. We are not here to kill anyone."
Half a dozen riders appeared around the bend of the coastline. They rode slowly forward towards the group of mages and stopped twenty paces away from the Mage. For several moments, nobody spoke or moved, but the Mage saw the bandits' eyes move towards the coast road. Eventually the noises of other riders filtered through the nearby forest, and all of the mages became aware that they were being surrounded.
"How many do you figure?" Mustar whispered.
"Six in front of us," Podil answered softly. "Around a dozen behind us, and two score in the woods on our right. Follow the Mage's lead. There will be no need for violence unless the bandits demand it."
"Well they have not chosen this place for a picnic," frowned Doryelgar. "This is a well engineered trap. There is no path for our escape."
"Nor for theirs," commented Kroto. "I do not think they fully understand who they have accosted."
"Beware of overconfidence," warned Galdan. "Even the mightiest of mages can be felled by a single arrow. I suspect that Egam will try to talk them out of whatever mischief they have in mind."
"Well if he fails to talk them out of it," grumbled Kroto, "I intend to make them sorry that they got out of bed this morning."
"Before your receive one of the fifty arrows heading this way?" questioned Galdan. "Even a chance shot could kill you."
"Perhaps," admitted Kroto, "but it is better than talking to them. I would not believe them if they agreed to let us go. They would merely wait for the night to enter our camp and slit our throats."
Balamor said nothing as he gazed at three large rocks protruding from the ocean. He tilted his head sideways and stared at the rocks as if the bandits did not exist.
Suddenly, all of the sounds of movement ceased as the bandits took up their positions. The mages fell into silence as the six riders in front of the Mage rode slowly forward.
Chapter 17
Evil Priest of Leda
On a desolate stretch of coastline along the Cordonian shore, the bandits moved closer to the Mage and his party. The seven magicians sat silently. All of them focused their attention on the six riders approaching the Mage, except for Balamor. The gaunt human was gazing seaward at three large rocks protruding from the sea.
"Where are you goi
ng?" asked one of the bandits who was obviously the leader by the way the others deferred to him.
"We are just traveling the coastline," answered the Mage. "We will be gone soon."
"Strange that you would ride along the beach instead of using the coast road," commented the bandit leader as his eyes scanned the line of magicians. "It is as if you have something to hide."
"We are not wanted," replied the Mage, "and we carry nothing of value. The beach satisfies our schedule as we are not in any particular hurry. You are welcome to ride with us if you wish."
The bandit leader appeared unconvinced of the unimportance of the small group of travelers. His eyes examined the packs on the horses as he asked, "What are you called and where are you heading?"
"You may call me Boris Khatama," answered the Mage. "As for where we are going, we have no particular destination in mind. If you will kindly move aside, we will be on our way."
"Dwarves and elves traveling with humans," mused the bandit leader. "I do not believe your story. Something is afoot here, and I will know what it is."
"Very well," sighed Boris. "I have always found the truth to be best in situations like this. I am an immortal being, and my party consists of six of the most powerful magicians in the world. We are on a desperate mission, and we are riding along the beach in search of a very special piece of land. We are loath to kill you and your men because our use of such tremendous magic will alert the Dark One to our presence here, and that is to be avoided if at all possible. Now will you move aside?"
Several of the bandits snickered, and the leader grew angry and impatient.
"Enough of your tales, old man," snapped the bandit leader. "Order your party to dismount. They are to walk into the surf until they are waist deep. If they obey my instructions, none of you will die."
"How very noble of you," retorted Boris. "My party will not give up their horses and the few possessions they have brought with them. There is a new age of law and order spreading across the land. You are advised to abandon your evil ways and seek honest employment. The time for your decision is now. And," Boris added as an afterthought, "I do not care to be addressed as old man. You may call me Boris or Master Khatama. Now move your men aside before they get hurt."
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