by Morgan Wylie
“Do the others know?” the first Elder asked.
“No, I don’t think so, but we still need to be careful,” replied the second Elder. “We tell no one unless you forfeit your life! Our fate could be that of the king and queen’s son if we were found with the knowledge of the one that committed the crime and to whom it was committed upon. We must be wise with our information and await the proper time for justice. We do not need all of Alandria in an uproar—at least not yet. For now we are safe, as he has not been seen or heard from in a very long time, but the one the prophecy foretold is coming. Remember your oath, brother.”
They secured the cloaks that were shrouding their heads and turned in toward one another, bowed, then disappeared with a flash of light like lightning, and Daegan was left staring at an empty clearing.
✾✾✾
During breakfast, Daegan recounted to Halister what he had secretly witnessed the previous night. Afterwards, they went out to sleuth about the town to see if they could learn anything regarding the Sol-lumieth, their actual reason for being there, although now there seemed to be another. Hal was intrigued and baffled by what Daegan had shared and offered to help with their new mystery. Hal was always the lighthearted one, playful, not taking something like this too seriously. Daegan sometimes wondered how Hal had actually made it through training while being so nonchalant, but truth be told Hal was a fierce warrior and outperformed most in their division, which was why Daegan trusted him with his life. Halister could handle the fights, but he could also always be counted on to keep perspective.
Appreciating his help, Daegan graciously accepted, also knowing that Hal was there for his own frivolity as well. They would head into the heart of Adettlyn, the center city, together as it was more dangerous, but only after they scoured the village of Anise if need be. Deciding to split up then meet back at The Drunken Boar by the inn for lunch, they went their separate ways. Hal headed toward the center of the village, but Daegan retraced his steps back toward the forest and the edge of Anise to see if he could find any more Elders.
Nothing. He walked for miles and all for nothing. What a waste of time! Grumbling his way back to The Drunken Boar, he caught sight of Hal across the street leaning close to a girl, too close. She was a Faerie, but there was something different about her, and they were definitely being friendly. Rolling his eyes, not feeling very hungry yet at this point, Daegan headed around the side of the old brick building that housed the tavern. Even with its old broken sign hanging above the door and shutters barely hanging on by their hinges, it was one of the better places to grab some food. They had the best homemade soups served in those bowls made out of bread. Maybe he was hungry after all, or at least he could good get some fine ale, but not yet.
Around the back, he found refuge under the canopy of an enormous old tree. It was one of the NaNai—the ancient oaks—he judged by the amount of energy it was giving off. He positioned himself between some very large roots that had escaped their home in the earth. Hal was bound to be a little while longer with the girl he was currently in “conversation” with. Daegan started to doze off then was startled awake as he heard some very distant whispers. But when he opened his eyes he couldn’t decipher from which direction they were coming. Subtly looking around so as not to draw attention, he saw no one. Strange. The only whisperings he could distinguish were from Hal and his “friend” and not who he was trying to hear.
After a minute of nothing but silence, he closed his eyes again and immediately heard a faint buzzing. There! The whispering started again, but this time he kept his eyes closed, trying to sense where they were and if he could make something out of what they were saying. Either he was tuning in better or it was getting closer. Again, he opened his eyes but saw nothing... no one. Frustration caused him to close them once more and just listen. He stiffened. Now he wasn’t sure he wanted to listen.
The whispering, the voice... it was saying his name. A woman was saying his name. He had heard that voice before.
Daegan... Can you hear me?
Then there was another voice, a man who seemed to be arguing with her. He can’t hear you. Is there another way?
Then a third voice, also a woman but gravelly and much older sounding. This is the only way. Give him more time.
The first woman—her voice was so sweet, so soothing, almost like a lullaby, yet he could feel the power in her voice, in her words as she said his name, reaching into his very being.
Daegan... need... reach... power... coming... help.
Some type of static broke up her words and her voice faded in and out. Then she was gone. They were gone. Suddenly, Daegan felt such loss in the pit of his stomach, for what, he didn’t even know. Very alert now, he looked around, breathless and sweating. Almost whispering, his voice hoarse and strained, he said, “Hello? I can hear you. Are you there?”
“Daegan, I’m here. I yelled at you from across the street trying to get your attention,” Hal said as he trotted toward him. “You okay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
“Or heard one,” Daegan mumbled to himself as he tiredly wiped his hands down his face. “All is well. I must have fallen asleep waiting for you. Strange dream.” Only it wasn’t a dream, it was real, but he wasn’t ready to share that with Hal just yet. Not until he could figure out a few things: What was going on, who was trying to reach him and why, right along with how and where they were speaking from.
“Let’s get something to eat,” Hal said, always thinking about his stomach.
“I’m not hungry. I think I might just go for a walk,” Daegan clasped Hal’s outstretched hand and jumped up from the ground.
“Don’t you want to know what I found out?” Hal said, batting his eyes innocently like a little kid holding a secret that he was dying to share.
“I think I know what you found,” Daegan huffed out sarcastically and nodded across the street as he punched Hal playfully in the arm.
“Well, it’s not what you think. I just happen to be very persuasive at getting information,” Hal said with his eyebrows raised.
“She had information? What kind?” Daegan questioned, suddenly interested.
“Well, not exactly her, but she knows someone who does.” Halister rushed out the last part as he stepped in front of Daegan, trying to keep him listening. “If he doesn’t, I don’t know who else would,” he said a bit sheepishly.
“Hmm, why I do I get the feeling there is a catch?” Daegan growled with hands on his hips as he looked up into the sky, exasperated at another one of Hal’s “situations.”
“There IS a catch... but I think her source is legit.” Hal waited to see if Daegan would let him continue. When he didn’t say anything to stop him Hal proceeded, “We have to be blindfolded while in his presence and never speak of this meeting to anyone. I guess if he is found out, he will be killed.” Hal shrugged his shoulders like it was no biggie, but in his eyes Daegan could see Hal’s realization that something serious was going on. Which was what made him keep listening—well, that and the little internal voice that kept poking him to pay attention.
“Who is this source? And why would he risk everything to talk to us?” Daegan asked suspiciously.
“He’s an Elder,” Hal whispered. “And I’m not sure why, because Ella—that’s the girl, his granddaughter—wasn’t letting anything on until I mentioned your name. It was weird. She said that her grandfather told her to contact him if she ever crossed paths with you, which she did last night when we walked in The Drunken Boar. So she contacted him and that’s when he told her the conditions.” Hal looked a little upset that it had been Daegan’s name and not his since he was, in fact, the son of the Paladin and Daegan was not. But he shrugged it off and the smile returned to his face in anticipation of an adventure. Hal was great like that; he didn’t keep grudges and he let things roll off his back.
“This does not make any sense. There is much going on here, Hal, and somehow we are involved,” Daegan said in a rare moment of vulne
rability, running his fingers through the longer strands of hair on the top of his head. He took a moment and stared out into the forest behind the tavern, trying to understand what was going on. First the voices, and now an Elder actually wanted to talk to him.
“Should we go find out?” Hal said as he put his hand on Daegan’s shoulder in a brotherly manner. Daegan found it oddly comforting, which he assumed was why Hal did it. Looking in Hal’s eyes, seeing his agreement, Daegan nodded. Hal turned back toward Ella, who was waiting across from The Drunken Boar, leaning against a tree, arms crossed, examining her nails on one hand, like she had nothing better to do, and maybe she didn’t. Hal gave her a quick nod and a wink.
Where other Faerie girls were thin as rails and otherworldly pale, Ella had slight curves. Although she possessed that “otherworldliness” which made her similar enough to belong, she had a hint of color in her face and a stunningly beautiful luminescence that made her different enough to be excluded. He wasn’t sure what Faerie tribe she was from, but seeing as how he hadn’t seen others like her, he assumed she must be either a mixed race trying to fit in—although she sure didn’t try too hard at that—or something different altogether.
She began to saunter toward them with the confidence of a woman about to claim her prize. Her clothing was similar to other Faeries representing nature, but hers fit... better. There was a fierceness about her, a fire in her eyes that would indicate warrior, but also a softness that spoke woman. She was entrancing.
Daegan glanced at Hal, but he was looking at her, watching her every move, until she looked at Daegan. He saw Hal briefly deflate, then pick himself up again like nothing had happened. Daegan felt irritated for him. This woman had just played Hal to get to him. This was not the first time this had happened, but Halister seemed to be attracted to the wrong girls. Although, if he didn’t play games with them, he might actually find someone to belong with. So maybe the turnabout was fair, but Daegan did not trust this woman. She held many secrets in those steel-gray eyes that accentuated her white short hair that hung sharply just below her ears.
“Ready, boys? Follow me,” she said, swinging her hips as she headed straight into the forest. It was still daylight, but as soon as they reached the edge of the forest it grew strangely dark. She paused just inside the boundaries, as if waiting for something—no, listening for something. Confused, Daegan studied her, as he didn’t hear anything which was odd, but he didn’t want to let on. Her head cocked to the side, and in a flash of movement, she was pressed up against Hal, stroking his hair and kissing his neck, which put Daegan on edge.
Turning back toward Daegan, Ella grabbed his face between her hands and kissed him good and hard. As she kissed him, he heard her voice in his head. Someone is watching, maybe even following. Play along. Daegan kissed her back though it tasted stale and lifeless; an act for an audience. As quickly as it began, she broke apart from him and kept walking, resuming her mission as if nothing had happened.
“Whoa! What was that all about?” Hal stammered breathlessly as he pushed his hair back off his face, trying to regain his composure. He looked like he wasn’t sure if he should be pissed or excited.
Still walking, Ella turned back with a sultry smile. “Keep up and stay quiet.”
Hal looked at Daegan, totally confused. “Someone was following us. It was a diversion,” Daegan explained to him as they walked after Ella, trying to catch up.
“Huh. Nice diversion!” was all Hal could say with a smile on his face. “But wouldn’t that have drawn more attention?”
“Most people, of all species, are instantly embarrassed or shocked by seeing a scene such as that, and they look away for a second. That was all the time I needed to put a shield up to cloak our presence,” Ella replied matter-of-factly.
“You can do that?” Hal’s look at her was similar to Daegan’s, although not so accusatory. Realizing she wasn’t going to answer him, he tried something else. “Ella? I don’t want to offend you, but you’re not like the other Faerie girls. I mean, I like that you’re not like them, but I’m curious. Which part of Alandria are you from?” As Hal spoke they stopped next to her in front of a moss-covered rock.
“No, I am not like the other Faerie girls,” was all she said, but somehow it sounded sad.
She looked at Hal, studying his face, smiled a real smile, then looked from Daegan back to him and nodded. Not sure why she wanted Daegan to explain—or how he even knew all the information that suddenly flashed in his mind—he nevertheless answered for her.
“She is from a lost race that is from deep within the mountains. There are not many left of her kind... the Ehsmia. They have gifts beyond those of other Faeries but I’m not sure all of what they can do. They keep to themselves, but she knew we were coming so she came out to meet us.” He frowned. Turning to Ella, he asked, “Why us? I do not understand how you know what we are looking for, let alone that we are looking at all.”
“In due time, all will be revealed to you,” she said, looking deep into his eyes, boring into his soul. It was personal and invasive, but before he could look away she released him, leaving him with a sensation of warmth spreading throughout his body. “You are ready, Daegan of the Ferrishyn. Do not fear your destiny.” She slightly inclined her head, but Daegan could only frown, feeling a sense of foreboding, as though everything was about to change. What is she talking about?
“The Ehsmia? I have heard stories... legends of your people. You are also called the Hidden People, are you not?” Hal asked in awe. When Ella only nodded, he continued. “I thought your people were no more, if they even had existed at all.” He did not mean to be rude.
“That is how we prefer to be known... or not known at all. Otherwise, what purpose would our hiding be if we were known?” she said with a smirk on her face but said no more.
Ella turned to face the rock wall, which looked like a crumbling ruin of what was at one time a part of a great wall. It was built into the side of the Kandrian Mountains. Hal’s look of confusion mirrored Daegan’s own. Hal finally shrugged his shoulders, figuring they would understand “in due time,” whenever that was. Oddly, his typical nonchalant response gave Daegan a sense of calm. Staring at the rocks that made up the wall for what seemed several minutes but in reality was probably much shorter, Ella laid her hand flat onto a rock that suddenly appeared smoother and duller than all the other old, jagged stones. There was a rumbling of the ground that stopped as suddenly as it started. She gave them a sneaky smile. Daegan still wasn’t sure he trusted her, but at this point it seemed she might be the only one with answers of any kind.
“Are you ready to follow where not many have been before, a land within a land?” she asked. Without waiting for their answer, she turned around and walked straight into the rock wall, which had magically become an illusion. Daegan and Hal both knew there was magic in Alandria and that every species had their own type of magic. They had their own magic as well, but they had only heard of this kind of magic in their own legends. Halister and Daegan quickly followed Ella, not wanting to get shut out of what could be their only opportunity to see where the Hidden People were, well, hidden.
Chapter Five
It was dark, yet they had no trouble following Ella through the murky tunnel of rock and stone that looked worn from centuries of use and natural erosion. Other than the thin layer of water trickling over some of the stones, it was silent and peaceful. They had been following a star, literally, for the past several minutes, but it wasn’t above them. Ella’s short, jagged snow-white hair allowed them to see the back of her neck, upon which was a horizontally stretched eight-point star from which a soft blue light emanated, marking her as other. Assuming she could see in the dark, they kept following and soon the tunnel began to lighten.
Green leafy vines began crawling up the sides of the tunnel as if coming to life as they walked through what was left of the tunnel, which ultimately broadened into a large opening full of white light. A light so bright Hal and Daegan both
had to raise their arms to shield their eyes still sensitive from the dark tunnel. With eyes adjusted, they each turned in awe, trying to take in what they were seeing.
They were inside an enormous domed cavern, or perhaps it was a hollowed-out mountain. Everything so white. Everything so light. The two turned slowly in place, Hal with a reverent look of awe on his face and Daegan remaining still at the mouth of the tunnel. Surveying. Watching. Still, Daegan could not fight the slight twinkle of awe that entered his eyes. Ella remained to the side, not looking at what was before her but staring at Daegan. Impassive, but studious.
A small river with the clearest water Daegan had ever seen flowed toward the tunnel entrance but disappeared into a crack in the stone wall. The river stretched from where it was birthed by a waterfall tumbling in from an opening high above. Even though it was remarkably white, it was also full of color, as if the light creating the white was generated from the culmination of the energy from the color and the magic flowing within this place. Grassy knolls made of the greenest grass spread throughout. Several foot bridges connected both sides of the river, and on each side were large trees covering huge expanses and small trees learning to bud. Trees of all kinds bloomed and flourished; all so alive. It was a place of peace and tranquility.
Looking up, Daegan could barely see the boundaries of this sanctuary; the sky an atrium of lush foliage. It was unfathomable how all this could fit inside of a mountain, if that was truly where they were. Perhaps they had entered a different realm, but Ella had said a “land within a land.” They must still be in Alandria. Hidden. There were hundreds of holes burrowed into the sides of this place, like caves.