The Raiden

by Shelley Cass

  I gasped in amazement at the cost of making an Elfling child. To risk one’s inner self was the mightiest feat of selflessness and the most monumental gift of life.

  “A child may be brought to life with the energy of the earth and breath of the skies,” the Lady’s voice flowed on. “Their skin takes on the colour of the flesh of the world – rich earth. Their limbs are filled with the bounding strength of the elements. And a grave connection with Nature is formed.”

  I realised that it was that exact connection that could sometimes cause an Elf to forget their physical self as they delved closer to Nature.

  “An Elfling’s hair becomes white with the colour of the spirit given as the most ultimate parental gift,” the Lady’s voice was warm. “And an Elf must be totally sure of themselves, of who they are and what their nature is, in order to withdraw and pass some of themselves on.”

  The image of the two Elves pouring themselves into the earth faded as the Lady spoke.

  “If an Elf is not completely certain and attuned with their inner self, the transition can be fatal. The spirit may not withdraw properly, or it may not be given fully so that both partners and the forming child perish.”

  My vision cleared to behold the present once more and I watched the Elves fighting fluidly far below. They appeared so infallible.

  “It takes so much for an Elf to create life that they can’t ever give up more of themselves for a second child,” the Lady went on.

  Then the Lady’s mind showed me a flowing image again so that I could see a beautiful female Elf, barely out of her youth, sitting beside a pool. Silken white hair floated in the breeze and long, dark fingers made ripples in the water. A squirrel rested in her lap, as though this were her one friend and I felt sad to think that such youths as this female led lonely childhoods. No wonder they became serious when there were so few other Elflings to play amongst. Even now, I had not seen any of these crafted children, and it was obvious none had been made recently.

  “But she is not truly lonely,” the Lady told me, and I knew that the squirrel was a clear display of the Elf’s connection to Nature.

  I remembered my own connection to the birds I had recruited when my Princes had been captured. I was not sure I could personally hunt them again for food, yet the Elves were connected with all animals and must surely suffer worse feelings of anguish to hurt them.

  In response, an image of a hunting Elf flickered before my eyes. He was young, tall and strong. He was stalking something with serious confidence, and I knew the creature would never get away. But it would also be taken so expertly, that it would hardly feel the pain.

  I realised with a start that the vision was of Frey.

  “We are all in touch with Nature,” the Lady reassured me with her internal voice. “So we understand its cycles. We understand that all in the world serves a purpose and follows in a chain of sacrifice. We are all linked, and all serve each other. When a being gives up its spirit to be consumed by another, it enables further life. It is the way of things.”

  My eyes were drawn to the auburn haired being beside me. “There is much you have known about the cycle of life.”

  “My own life has been as expansive as time,” she agreed.

  “I wish to know of your life as you have guided mine,” I answered truthfully. “You understand much of me, and like you, I understand what it is to feel separate from those around you.”

  She nodded. “Separate in some ways, and yet still a part of the whole.”

  Suddenly I felt as though I was no longer myself at all.

  My hair was auburn, my limbs were strong with magic, and I breathed every aspect of the world into my being. The Lady and I were one.

  As one, we watched as time seemed to blur past. We were no longer sitting together on the bough, but were surrounded by flowers that grew, died and reappeared around us. Countless faces aged before our eyes – so many smiles and tears and friendships cultivated and lost.

  Eons of time skipped by until we were back at the start, standing up from where we had awoken. We had just opened our eyes to find ourselves in an empty, raw world, not yet overflowing with colour or life. No structures. No people. No animals.

  We were the first. The first to come to the world. We spread the gifts of the Gods and saw peoples and civilisations being born, springing from nowhere while their buildings grew like living things. Wondrous, curious development unfolded with the creation of language, economy, sickness, health, marriage, good and evil.

  We recoiled as though a physical blow had pounded into our heart as a dark cloud formed and Deimos gathered his storm of war. We became sick. We became weak.

  Our body changed, our appearance aged, as we felt the tragedy make us and the world itself feel old. We were dying. Draining away. And it took a great deal of time, after the angry flame of the life of Deimos had been extinguished, for us to feel glad and strong again.

  Then, like a staggering lash across the face, we had felt true horror when we had lit upon the mind of Darziates receiving his father’s memory and power, and we had not recovered fully again.

  We had lost the Centaurs, the Larnaeradee, the Sprites, the Unicorns ...

  The world and Nature were slipping away from us, and we were barely strong enough to expel the Sorcerer when the Nymphs had arrived needing aid.

  But there appeared hope as a second prophecy spoke of Three to challenge the Sorcerer’s threat. And the prophecies had spoken true.

  Two Princes, men of bravery and quality had come. And Kiana had been carried into our care. Their arrival had renewed us, and now it was nearly time to face our next stage of life, and to release this physical stage. To embrace our purpose as the Mother of Nature.

  The world had hope, and so did we.

  There were tears on my cheeks as I realised I was just Kiana again. The Lady’s hand was still on mine.

  “I understand you,” I said with a small smile.

  “I thank you,” she replied gently, out loud.

  I knew she was still keeping track of my mind, or the enormity of seeing the beginning of life itself and of being included in such vast thoughts would surely have overwhelmed me.

  “Kiana,” she said softly. “You have done as much for me, as I have for you. I am at peace for the first time in many ages.” Her eyes held mine. “But even before the hope I have felt more recently, I was able to go on in my long life simply because I knew myself and my place in this world. You will feel the same, when you embrace your place in the world. And I feel you are getting close to that.”

  I let out a long breath. “I pray to the Gods I am. It would have been so easy when we left the Cursed Valley to ask the Elves to leave us close to Jenra so that we could continue on. I would have pushed through this sickness, and we would have left. But I would have been incomplete and unable to offer everything I can to the Quest.”

  The Lady smiled warmly. “You knew your time and learning here was not done. Your journey, your healing, and your friendships here are still unfolding.”

  I nodded in agreement.

  “When your father came here,” the Lady said tenderly. “He feared much and yet understood his place in the world. Kires explained to me that both his and Gwendis’ own power had become dormant without use and with suppression. They were feeling the loss of never having known their Unicorns. They could feel Nature and see more deeply than humans, but they had to reach for the magic with more effort. Yet Kires told me that he accepted this with gladness, because he understood that for them to survive, such transformations had been necessary. Your parents understood themselves, and their place in the world, and were whole because of it. When you truly understand and accept who you are, and your connection with the world, you will be whole too.”

  I inclined my head respectfully. “I cannot thank you enough for what you have shared with me today.”

  The Lady paused in replying, her eyebrows slowly drawing close together in a light frown.

  I listened an
d realised the lute had stopped playing, along with the sounds of the fighting exercises.

  “I think that you will find there is discord in the heart of the Raiden,” the Lady said then. “He will need time to accept change and to find himself, just as you do.”

  The Lady took my hand again and without question I followed her lead and let my body slip forward.

  We floated gently back to the ground like drifting autumn leaves, and we swept back to the clearing so that at once I saw what new presence had been the cause of the halted training.

  The Krall soldier Thorin had emerged from his rest, and was standing with Frey and Ace on the edge of the clearing, where he had apparently been watching the fights until Dalin had stopped in shock.

  Thorin looked uncomfortable at the scrutiny of the Elves and Nymphs. Though the only hostility seemed to emanate from Dalin.

  “The training has been spectacular,” the Lady spoke calmly from my side. “And so has our guest’s recovery. Welcome to the City, Krall warrior,” she added warmly.

  Our sudden appearance drew all eyes, and the mood at once settled respectfully at the appearance of the leader of the Forest.

  Thorin’s mouth dropped wide open and he bowed in amazement.

  “Please resume the show of strength,” the Lady said with a graceful gesture, and at once a flurry of movement began again.

  Only Dalin moved slowly to take up his position once more.

  I felt a light touch of goodbye against my hand, and when I glanced back, the Lady in her glorious white dress, and the feel of her flowing power, had gone.

  Chapter Twenty Four

  Dalin

  “Am I the only one who doesn’t trust that man?” I commented gruffly to Noal, feeling an annoyed flush in my cheeks.

  “I don’t mind him,” Noal admitted as we passed the sight of the awkward soldier Thorin being surrounded once again by a cluster of Nymphs. As had become their habit, they collapsed playfully all around him while the Elves nodded and smiled.

  “I am certain that he was one of the original soldiers who first ambushed and abducted you and I in the Forest,” I told Noal, feeling my brow become heavy with a surly frown.

  “What are the chances of that, when there were so many soldiers?” Noal asked lightly. “And anyway, even if he was, he’s converted now.”

  Noal was unconcerned as he stroked the Granx’s back where she was catching a ride on his shoulder while we walked.

  “There is no mistaking that I’ve had to fight him off Kiana twice,” I glowered then. “The worshipful way he looks at her is sickening. He could try to take her at any moment.”

  “Well the Forest dwellers have accepted him,” Noal said reasonably. “He’s been allowed to live freely with Agrudek in his tower.”

  “Has nobody else considered that Darziates could still hold some power over him? That he could still be the enemy?”

  We entered our tree tower to put our weapons away for the day.

  “Thorin seems to respect rather than detest the Lady. And he seems to respect you too,” Noal told me as we climbed the stairs. “Whenever he comes along to watch our training sessions, he is appreciative rather than threatened by what you can do. He also always listens in awe when the Nymphs recount your heroic battle in the Cursed Valley.”

  “He’s probably sizing me up for when we next face each other in combat,” I glowered.

  “You’re being unfair,” Noal reprimanded me. “The more people against Darziates, the more people with us. A Krall representative helps us to have collected more races in unity.” I snorted. For once Noal seemed only too happy to be focusing on his role of bringing people together in the prophecy.

  “Look,” I said heatedly as I leant my sword against the kitchen wall. “I truly do feel pity for Thorin, for being a victim of Darziates. But the rest of the population of Krall are all victims too, and we will still have to fight them to defend Awyalkna.”

  Noal sighed. “It’s a tragedy. I don’t even like to think of the soldiers I killed when we were escaping the camp.”

  “Our captors,” I interjected darkly. “Where we were imprisoned.” I stopped scowling as Asha drifted in through the window and kissed my cheek.

  “That Granx adores you even more than I do,” she told Noal next, laying herself comfortably in his arms. “If that’s possible,” she added. “Another male I adore, dear Vidar, is waiting outside. You’ve both been invited to come with us for another evening at Rebel and Flash’s home, where there will once again be a great deal of Nymph liquor.”

  “Of course,” Noal grinned cheerfully, already following her back down the stairs.

  I grimaced and made my way after them into the City once more. And though it was still late afternoon the merry-makers already had the fire crackling in readiness for the food to be cooked, and for the comfort of the Elves and humans who couldn’t fit in Nymph homes.

  My mood lifted as I saw the usual Nymphs cackling and play fighting all over the place, and crowds of Elves taking the scene in and enjoying themselves in their quiet way.

  Even before we’d managed to approach there was a blast of coloured magic that whirled towards Noal, and Asha caught it lazily before it pelted her in the head.

  “Such poor aim Flash!” she told the bright male Nymph reproachfully, then suddenly shot out of Noal’s arms to careen after the now howling Flash who had accosted her.

  A horde of other Nymphs all scrambled up to join in with their magical fight, and coloured lights and flashes of magic began to sizzle through the air about us as the little beings did their best to knock their fellows out.

  I followed Noal towards the fire and saw that Kiana had already arrived. She was sitting with the Elves. And she was talking to Thorin.

  At once my mood dropped again but Noal chose to ignore the return of the dark look on my face, and pushed me to sit on the opposite side of the fire to Kiana and Thorin.

  Kiana nodded as she saw us arrive, and Thorin acknowledged us with a smile before returning to his conversation about foreign places she may have seen in his country. His speech rumbled with the Krall accent, which made his voice sound heavy and drawling compared to the flowing speech of Awyalknians.

  I tried to clear the scowl from my face and to watch the antics of the Nymphs around us, but I couldn’t help listening to Thorin’s words as he gladly absorbed Kiana’s attention, and couldn’t help noticing how some drunken Nymphs and the Elves about the fire had settled to attentively listen to Thorin speak as well.

  “We can all see what it’s like in Krall,” he was saying seriously to his captivated audience. “And deep down I know most of us hate it. It’s as if his darkness has seeped into everything.” Thorin’s face was entirely earnest. “There are stories of Krall once having been a golden Kingdom and of how upon Darziates’ rise the beauty vanished and the kind spirits of the people also faded. Now the harsh land seems as if it has been infected by a sickness. The weather is always so bleak – freezing with ice, rain and mud for one half of the year and blistering with heat for the other half – and the people have been twisted to hate and war monger or otherwise obey out of fear. Nevertheless there are those who have been drawn to Krall because of these things. They actually come to Krall to serve the darkness of the King. People like the Trune raiders,” he said, nodding to Noal. “And warriors like Angra Mainyu.”

  I looked to Noal with shock that Thorin had felt comfortable alluding to the Trune raiders and how they had murdered Noal’s family. Noal only confided in his closest friends about that time.

  Noal saw my stunned expression and shrugged as he stroked the Granx’s back, while I felt another growing spurt of anger towards Thorin.

  “… I am fortunate. I have been so close to your pure magic and I have been freed of Darziates. But the whole of Krall is infected. I don’t think they can be healed so easily in such masses. Even if deep down they know they are being controlled, their fear keeps them quiet and his power keeps them restrained. I think
only with Darziates’ death will those who can be healed become free,” Thorin shrugged. “Many may not be healed even then. It is hard to allow light into your life after only knowing hate and darkness.”

  There were murmurs and nods of agreement while I stood up unobtrusively, leaving them to their conversation.

  As I withdrew from the sound of the gathering I treaded angrily through the grass, kicking at tufts of it with each step. In the distance I heard another party of Nymphs talking about my fight in the Cursed Valley. At a glance I saw that they were flopped all over Bard, who had been dragged out of seclusion regularly recently, but I only waved when he called to me and wandered onward.

  At last, watching the sun set, I found myself in a hushed corner of the City where nobody else seemed to be about.

  I sucked in a big breath of air and slowly let it flood out of me, remembering Thorin’s face from when I’d had to fight him. I’d fought him the hardest when I’d no longer been able to carry Kiana and we’d been surrounded. Thorin had charged over and over to get to her, but when he’d gone down, I’d relented. And in response he had quickly sat up to slice my leg open, targeting a weakness already there. Only with a quick block with my own blade had I stopped him from hacking the entire limb off, and only with a fast punch had I managed to stop him from getting around me.

  How could he really have changed? He was free amongst those I held dearest, free to turn on them should Darziates again transform him into the crazed warrior I’d first seen.

  I stopped tensely with that thought, and at that same moment I heard a twig break and felt someone close behind me.

  I whirled savagely around to find him standing at my back.

  Hardly thinking, I threw out my arm and shoved him backward so that he slammed into a tree trunk and I pressed my arm into his gullet to pin him there.

  I glared at his shocked face while he stared at me, trying to get his breath back, but making no move to push my arm away.

  I was taller and older than he was. He could probably have overpowered me with his bulk, but I was feeling so savage right then that I knew I would win if he chose to test me.