by Lana Axe
“Fear is no longer a consideration for them,” Ulda said proudly. “They are a masterpiece.”
“Indeed, my lord,” Fru replied. “It is a rare treat to have troops so passionate. They think only of the upcoming battle and how they may serve.”
“Excellent,” Ulda said, clapping his hands together. “Everything is prepared then.”
“It is, sire,” Fru said. “Na'zora will be yours.”
“I'm counting on it,” he replied. “Once you've gained control you will have to keep everything in order until I arrive.”
“It will be an honor, majesty.”
“You're dismissed.”
As the general left the room, Ulda began to ponder the possibilities once he held Na'zora. It was a far larger kingdom than Al'marr, and more citizens meant more souls for testing. He would be closer to several clans of Wild Elves, and with his new Na'zoran army he would make quick work of capturing and binding them.
Then there was the small matter of binding an elemental. If a water spirit was available for the taking, he did not want to miss the opportunity. He may have to turn all of Nōl’Deron upside down to find a large enough sapphire, but that was a challenge he was most willing to undertake.
Chapter 36
A cool morning arrived in the Forests of Viera. The wind was sailing through the trees reminding everyone that autumn was finally approaching. King Aelryk and his companions were glad to be traveling in these improved conditions.
It would take the better part of a day before they reached Enald. Aelryk hoped the town was still standing since his absence. He did not know how many attacks may have taken place on his people while he was away. If the village still stood, they would rest there for the night and then press on for the palace. The majority of his army was stationed there, and they would need to be prepared for the upcoming battle.
As they approached Enald from a distance, they could see that the village was intact. A wave of relief came over Aelryk. “We will stay here tonight,” he announced to his companions. “We will leave at first light and reach the palace by nightfall.”
Enald had no buildings large enough to accommodate the entire group. Instead, the travelers put together a make-shift camp at the edge of town. They would be in position to protect the village should another attack take place.
“General Morek,” Aelryk said. “We need to ready scouts to discover where Ulda's armies are heading. We don't have enough men to protect all of our borders.”
“That won't be necessary,” River interrupted. “They will approach from the sea.”
“How do you know that?” Morek asked.
“It's only a day's ride from here to the sea. I can hear it.”
Morek and Aelryk exchanged glances. River could be vague at times, but they trusted his counsel.
“Then we will focus all of our attention to the sea,” the king replied. “I will dispatch a messenger to ride through the night and alert my councilors. They can begin preparations for war.”
The citizens of Enald began wandering into the king's camp. They had never seen such elves before, and many of them wanted to take a closer look. The Westerling Elves had an aura of peace and goodness about them. Their steadfast hearts projected a positive energy to the villagers. Their hearts filled with hope as they looked upon the mysterious elves of legend. A fairy tale had come to life to save them in their hour of need.
As the night set in, Aelryk was filled with anxiety and falling asleep was impossible. He did not know how long he had until Ulda's forces arrived. They may even be attacking now. The thought weighed heavily on the king's mind.
At dawn he asked River, “What does the sea say to you? Are my people already under attack?”
“Ulda's men are still preparing their ships. They have not yet left Al'marr.”
Aelryk closed his eyes and breathed out heavily. The burden in his heart was lifted. He knew now that he would arrive in time.
They galloped along the road that would lead them at last to the king's palace. Villages came and went as they hurried past. At the sight of their king, many citizens would cheer and wave. Aelryk had no time for fanfare and could not spare a moment to greet them. They carried on throughout the day and reached the palace just as the moon was ascending in the sky.
Servants flocked to them taking their horses and helping unpack their gear. Upon entering the palace, Aelryk began issuing orders to the servants. “Find rooms for our guests from the Vale and inform my councilors that there will be a meeting at dawn. Have all my lieutenants in attendance as well. Tomorrow, we prepare for war.”
Lisalla had been told that her husband had arrived home at last. She quickly descended the wide staircase leading to the palace entrance. “My king,” she cried, rushing to be at his side. “It is good to see you.”
“I have missed you as well,” he replied. “May I introduce you to Lord River of the Westerling Vale and his daughter Isandra.”
“A pleasure,” she said.
“My lady,” River replied.
“I presume you are the river that my husband was charged with finding,” she said. “I am happy you have come.”
“As am I, my lady,” he replied.
* * * * *
The following morning, Aelryk's councilors and lieutenants gathered within the council chambers to discuss preparations for war. They were all assembled as Aelryk arrived followed by River and General Morek.
“Good morning, my lords,” the king began. “Today we must discuss an invasion fleet that is on its way from Al'marr as we speak. Master Ulda of Ral'nassa has taken control of that kingdom and has set his sights on Na'zora as well. He must be stopped at all costs.”
Murmurs flew from the councilors lips as Aelryk continued to speak.
“We must have our armies prepared to meet them on the beaches. Our smiths will be working overtime to ensure our weapons are in good repair. Have every man examine his weapons and armor immediately to determine which pieces need repair. There is no time to waste.”
“Majesty,” Loren began. “Could we not wait them out in the palace? They will never get through our walls. Surely they would give up and return to their homes.”
“They have an unknown number of sorcerers with them. Our walls will not stand long under their concentrated fire. Draw up your plans, gentlemen. I will return this afternoon to go over them.”
He headed towards the door and spoke to River, who was seated nearby. “Come with me.”
River followed the king out the door and into the marketplace. They headed for the armory where Yori was hard at work. Apprentices were running back and forth with various pieces of equipment. Yori stopped working at the sight of his king. He stood, and his eyes locked on River.
“Yori, this is Lord River of the Westerling Vale. He'll be needing some armor forged. I trust you can handle it quickly.”
“Of course, your majesty,” he replied, still staring at River. “What are you?” he finally asked.
“An elf,” River replied.
“You're much more than that,” Yori said. “You are one of the First Ones.”
“I am.”
Realizing that he was still staring, Yori shook his head. “Forgive me. Let me take your measurements for the armor.” Taking each measurement twice, he jotted the numbers down on a small piece of parchment. “What kind of runes do you require on your armor, my lord?”
“None,” River replied.
Yori opened his mouth to say something, but the words did not come.
“You'll want some enchantments, River,” Aelryk said.
“It isn't necessary,” he replied. “I am my own enchantment.”
“I knew it,” Yori said. “You are an elemental.”
“Correct,” River said, smiling. “It wasn't meant to be a secret.”
“Your eyes gave it away,” Yori replied. “I just had a feeling when I looked at you. Without any special runes, I can have this completed in two days. I'll make this my top priority.�
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“Thank you, Yori,” River said. Yori nodded in acknowledgement.
“Come, Lord River,” the king said. “There is something I must show you.”
They headed for a booth in the marketplace that was selling honey and dried fruits. The short, dark-haired merchant bowed at the sight of his king and greeted him with a nervousness in his voice.
“Greetings, your majesty,” he said. “How may I serve you today?”
“I hope you have some chocolate, my good man,” Aelryk said.
“Yes, your majesty,” the merchant replied. “It's nothing special, though, just melted chocolate. It's been far too hot to keep any fine chocolates on hand.”
“Melted will do just fine,” the king replied.
The merchant filled a small bowl with the warm, sweet chocolate and handed it to the king.
“Do you have any of those almonds left?” he asked.
River produced the small pouch Alyra had given him.
“Dip one in the chocolate and taste it. You've never experienced any taste so divine.”
River did as the king suggested. Upon placing the chocolate coated almond in his mouth, his eyebrows shot up in amazement. “It's delicious,” he said. Licking the chocolate from his fingers, he added, “This is the best thing I've ever tasted. Thank you for sharing it.”
Aelryk laughed and nodded. He clasped him on the back and handed him the bowl. “Enjoy it, my friend.”
“I will,” he replied, munching on another almond. “Could I have a look at the ocean? I've rarely been this close to it.”
“Certainly,” Aelryk said. He led the way down to the beach just behind the palace. As they neared, River stopped suddenly and recoiled as if he had been struck.
“Are you alright?” the king asked as he helped to steady his friend.
“I'm fine,” he replied. “It's just that there are so many voices in the sea. It's a little overwhelming at first.”
“Voices?” Aelryk asked, wrinkling his brow in confusion.
“All rivers empty into the sea eventually,” he began. “There are millions of river spirits here, and they all speak at once. It's difficult to focus on just one.”
Aelryk looked out over the endless blue sea. It spread towards infinity, where the blue of the water met the blue of the sky. He heard nothing except the whistle of the wind and the crashing of the waves.
River walked towards the blue water as if hypnotized. He stood in the foam deposited by the waves and closed his eyes. The voices grew louder and softer as the spirits danced about in the ever-changing water. He reached out with his mind to speak with his watery brothers and sisters. Some were near and others far. In the distance, he could hear the sound of Ulda's ships still being prepared for battle in Al'marr. They were nearly ready to depart. In a few days time, Na'zora would be at war.
Chapter 37
Yori waited in the palace foyer with the newly crafted armor. He stood patiently as a servant ran down the long stone corridor to fetch River. There seemed to be a chill inside the palace that day despite the summer weather outside. An anxious mood permeated throughout the structure as the kingdom prepared for war.
River appeared in the foyer and offered a hand to Yori. “It is most kind of you to bring this here. I could have easily come to you. I know you are terribly busy.”
“It was no trouble, my lord,” Yori replied. “I like to personally perform the final fitting. It's the only way to ensure it's done properly.”
“Very well then,” River said.
The pair headed toward River's chambers where Yori began laying out the various pieces of armor. He sat each piece carefully on the bed for River to inspect. Each piece had been tinted sapphire blue in color. It had a radiance unlike any other armor Yori had created. He had spent many years working for the king and had created some very special pieces on his behalf. This work, however, was something entirely different. This piece was suitable only for an elven lord of great power. Yori had taken immense pride in crafting it.
“This is exquisite,” River remarked. “This must have taken a vast amount of work.”
“It was a pleasure,” Yori replied. “It's not often that I get to craft armor for a member of my own race, especially one of your standing.”
“It must have been difficult being a child of two worlds,” River said. “Have you spent much time among your elven kin?”
“They are the ones who taught me the runes,” he replied, “but most of my life has been spent among humans. My father was a member of the Sycamore Clan, but he was killed when I was very young.”
“I'm sorry to hear that,” River said. “You seem to have done very well for yourself here in Na'zora.”
“Yes,” he replied. “The king and I are friends. I'm not sure where I'd be without him.” He began buckling the armor onto River. The fit was perfect, and the color suited him well.
“It's lighter than I expected,” River observed.
“Yes, my lord. You did not ask for any enchantment, but I always etch runes that reduce the weight of my pieces. It keeps the wearer moving freely and reduces fatigue.”
“I am most grateful for it,” River replied. “I am not used to wearing such things as this.”
“It suits you,” Yori said.
“You should visit the Vale someday. You could exchange knowledge with our smiths. I'm sure they would enjoy your visit.”
“I would love to,” Yori replied.
Just then, a rapid knock came from the door. A young page stuck his head inside and said, “I'm sorry to disturb you, my lord. The king has asked for you to come straight away. The ships are approaching.”
“We can speak more later, Yori. Thank you.”
River followed the servant to meet Aelryk. He was standing on the balcony just outside of his council chambers, his eyes fixated on the sea.
“They've arrived,” he said without turning around. “The battle is about to begin.” He turned to River, who was looking solemnly at the ocean. “I see Yori has already prepared you. May that armor serve you well.”
Together they proceeded to the palace courtyard where the army was assembling. Isandra and her elven comrades were already prepared for battle and awaiting further orders. “Father,” she said, as she saw him entering the courtyard. He approached her and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “The enemy is almost upon us,” she said.
“I will lead the first attack myself,” Aelryk said. “General Morek, your company will follow mine as we discussed. We must stop as many of them as we can before they reach the palace.”
“I'd sell my own mother for a dozen archers right now,” Morek replied.
“I guess that means I'm just in time, then,” Mel said.
Stunned, Aelryk and Morek watched as Mel approached followed by forty archers from Viera. Behind them were fifty sword maidens. All were clad in leather armor and ready to do battle.
A broad smile spread across the king's face. “I am most grateful you've come,” he said. “Lieutenant,” he called to a tall, skinny man standing nearby. “Show these archers to the palace roof and find a company for the sword maidens to join.”
“Right away, sire,” the man replied.
“My lord River,” the king said. “I would have you stay behind to defend my people should our attack fail. Whatever happens to me, I know you will keep my citizens safe.”
“I will do everything I can to protect them, your majesty,” River replied.
The ships had already reached the shore, and the troops could be seen gathering on the deck. They were forming ranks and preparing to disembark. Aelryk and his men mounted their horses and dashed to the beach. They drew their swords in preparation for the charge.
The first ship unloaded a large portion of Ulda's army onto the sand. Aelryk gave the order, and his men raced toward the invaders, their swords held high in their hands. Behind them, Morek's men began lining up their horses for the second charge. The second ship had unloaded nearly half of its men, and th
e rest were quickly following. Holding up his sword, he led the charge against the second wave of invaders. The rest of Aelryk's army gathered on the beach ready to fight. Isandra and her elves led the way, followed by the sword maidens from Viera.
The remaining two ships began unloading at the same time. Isandra stared intently as the monsters gathered on the beach. She had never expected so many. The thought of so many human and animal souls being combined in forced servitude was appalling. She pitied the poor creatures, but she knew they could only be released by death. With a loud cry, she sounded the third charge and headed straight for the beasts.
Mel shouted to his archers, “Spiders! Aim for their eyes!” He knew the swords of the men below were practically useless against these beasts. There were hundreds of them, but they would not last long against the skilled archers of Viera. One by one, the spiders began to fall.
Despite the efforts of Aelryk's army, the enemy continued to advance. They vastly outnumbered the Na'zorans and were showing no signs of hesitation. The Soulbinders launched fireballs into Aelryk's ranks, destroying their formations and scattering the troops. Ulda's army fought savagely and relentlessly.
Aelryk noticed a blinding flash from the corner of his eye. Descending from one of the ships was a giant, golden, man-like creature. It moved somewhat haltingly, but that did not hinder its attack. Unwavering, Aelryk signaled his troops to advance on the golden creature. It caught sight of the king and made its way to meet him. It swung its massive arms, cutting down men and horses in its path.
Aelryk swung his sword at the giant, striking it near the waste. His sword glanced off without causing any damage. The golden form swiped at the king, knocking him from his horse. Morek, seeing that his king was in danger, rushed to his side.
Morek arrived just in time to distract the golden giant while Aelryk climbed back to his feet and onto his horse. From a palace balcony, the court mages tried desperately to subdue the giant with magic. Their efforts were in vain, and the creature continued to fight. It swung its arms wildly and kicked at the groups of men as they advanced. The archers fired at it, but the arrows refused to stick in its golden hide.