by J D Abbas
As Elena mounted Nakhona, her eyes turned to the Pallanor pass. The storm clouds were thicker and angrier, spreading a majestic ebony cloak over the slopes of Mount Bashon. But in the center, right at the summit of the pass, the void remained. It appeared wider than the day before, hungrier. Elena shuddered.
As the company rode forward, the trail dipped into a small draw, blocking her view of the mountains. When the road rose again, the trees had thinned enough to give her a clear view of the valley at the foot of the Pallanors. Elena reined in Nakhona and gaped at the sight.
Dozens of tents clustered together in the open prairie. They were still too far to see the people, but Elena knew immediately that these were the freed children. Waves of energy surged outward from the camp with such intensity, they were almost visible. Then the potency of the children’s pain struck her. She swayed in the saddle before scrambling from Nakhona’s back and falling onto her knees. Her stomach heaved and emptied until she thought even her toes would be pulled through her throat.
She rolled onto her side, exhausted, vaguely aware that others were near, calling to her, chanting, touching her forehead, slapping her hands to rouse her.
“I’m all right,” she said, fighting to sit up. “It’s the camp.” She held her head and leaned her elbows onto her knees.
“You are not the only one afflicted, Sheya,” Elbrion said. “We have men down all around.”
“I’m sure we won’t have to warn the men again about making use of their internal wards,” Celdorn added.
“Here, drink this.” Silvandir held a waterskin to her mouth while his other hand supported her head.
After a few tiny sips, she was able to hold her head upright. Elena focused on the valley. “I don’t know if I will be able to endure being around those children, if their pain is this intense when I’m miles away.”
“You must learn to protect yourself,” Elbrion said.
“How?”
“I know the ways of the Elrodanar, but I suspect the same wards will not work for you. Ask inside. You have been able to block these abilities at other times. See if someone can explain how it was done,” Elbrion suggested.
Elena felt mad doing this, but she had to find a way to endure being around the children. She closed her eyes, but all she saw and felt was chaos.
“Slow your breathing, Sheyshon. Focus on the second corridor. I do not know why, but I sense your answer is there.
She sucked in a deep breath through clenched teeth and asked inside, How do I block this? No one answered. Visions of her internal corridors appeared, shifting from one place to another, but no one was out and all the doors were closed. Please, I need your help, or I’ll go mad.
Although no one spoke, she saw the image of a young woman stepping through a door into a room radiant with light. When the door closed behind her, the waves of emotional energy coming from the camp subsided. Elena looked up at Elbrion.
“What did they say?”
“Nothing, but I saw something.” She explained the vision. “I haven’t seen that place before, but it seems like it is another room inside me. Whatever it is, I no longer feel the children’s terror or sorrow now, and no voices are screaming at me.”
“Then we will move forward,” Celdorn said. “We will spend the night in the camp with the children before we face the climb through the pass.”
As much as Elena had wanted to meet with the rescued children, a fist formed in her belly at the thought of their collective pain. She prayed the door inside remained tightly closed.
~
As they moved forward, Elena noticed Celdorn and Elbrion’s attention was fixed on the slopes of the northeastern side of the mountain.
“What is that?” Celdorn asked, staring at what looked to be a cloud, though its movement said otherwise.
“I do not know,” Elbrion said evenly, his brow furrowed. “Whatever it is, it is moving this direction, and it is moving rapidly.”
A few minutes later, the largest flock of crows Elena had ever seen passed overhead. Something in the way they cawed to each other chilled her to the bone. But they came and went without further incident, disappearing into the southern horizon.
“That was odd,” Celdorn commented.
“Indeed,” Elbrion agreed.
As the Guardians began to descend into the valley, Ilqazar appeared from every direction, preparing their vanguard. An hour into the ride, the mass of stallions suddenly parted, opening the way for Zarandiel and two of his men. They rode immediately to Celdorn.
“Silothani, Lord Celdorn,” Zarandiel called.
“Silothani, my friend. It is good to see you again, Zarandiel. Any reports?”
Zarandiel chuckled. “Oh, aye, I have much to report, but it will wait. Traveling with this lot has been an adventure.” He tugged at his beard, his dark eyes dancing with mischief. “Do you wish to regroup in the camp with us and discuss strategies, or are you itching to push forward?”
Elena was relieved when Celdorn opted to delay the climb for at least a day. She wasn’t eager to confront Anakh. Then again, she was nervous about meeting the children as well. She recalled her encounter with Mishon and how it nearly crushed her. Knowing the other children had been subjected to Anakh’s torture, she hoped they wouldn’t finish the job.
Chapter 52
Celdorn’s company followed Zarandiel’s as they descended into the valley. The nearer they drew to the camp, the harder Elena’s heart thumped in her chest. Nakhona reared her head and shook it. Loosen your grip, my lady, or you will break my jaw.
Elena dropped the knotted reins and let them rest on the filly’s neck. “I’m sorry, Nakhona, I didn’t realize I was wrapping them around my hands.”
As she flexed her fingers, which were pale from lack of blood, Silvandir reached for her. “Nervous about meeting the children?”
She nodded as she clasped Silvandir’s outstretched hand. Another thought needled at her as well, but she couldn’t confess it aloud. Not yet. She didn’t want to be disappointed.
When they were within a hundred yards of the camp, a group of children ran from between the tents, cheering and hooting wildly.
Zarandiel brought his Ilqazar around and flanked Celdorn. “The children were told of your arrival, Lord Celdorn, and we’ve explained that the lady Elena there is responsible for their rescue and freedom.”
Elena blushed and looked away. More and more children surged toward them, making it hard to breathe.
Zarandiel leaned forward so he could see across Celdorn. “Had you not been so strong in your endurance and so brave in revealing your story, these children would still be suffering.”
Tears pricked Elena’s eyes. She wished she were as heroic as Zarandiel portrayed her. The Guardians had rescued her. They had saved the children; she hadn’t. All she’d managed to do was get dozens of people killed.
No, she argued with herself, that’s not true. Anakh’s forces would have destroyed anyone who stood in their way. Elena was just one more obstacle. Perhaps there were others in this camp who were gifted like her. Perhaps together they would be powerful enough to take down Anakh; she certainly couldn’t to do it alone—no matter what the men believed.
“Rejoice that they are free, my love,” Silvandir said from beside her, squeezing her hand.
“Indeed.” She shook out her tense limbs and allowed the approaching laughter to ease her heart. Children. They were behaving like children. Racing, rolling, yelling. Elena smiled.
Then she saw the dark curls bobbing on the boy out front, who walked with his chest out, hands on his sword belt, the stoic soldier, as he led his entourage. Elena laughed to herself, glad to see he was embracing his new role.
Celdorn called the company to a halt before the children got too close. Elena slid from Nakhona and ran toward Mishon. Dropping his stoic facade, he raced to meet her and dove into her open arms. The two nearly toppled over, laughing all the while. When they righted themselves, she pushed the hair from his face an
d said, “I’m so glad to see you, Mishon.”
She turned and knelt by his side as she surveyed the other children; a few dared to smile. “Apparently you’ve done your job quite well.”
“It’s not been easy, my lady. They are a difficult lot.”
Elena laughed. But when she studied the children more carefully, her smile faded and tears bit at her again. In the sea of cheering faces, she noticed the disconnect—the hollow, empty eyes. Portals to caverns of torment. Doorways to death. She staggered and dropped back to her knees.
Mishon patted her shoulder. “They take some getting used to, but they’re better than they were.”
Elena pulled out of her daze and leaned her head into Mishon’s. “You always get the picture just right.”
Then Mishon seemed to recall himself and stepped back from Elena, straightening his tunic and sword belt. “Quiet now. Give the lady some room,” he said, waving his arms as if shooing chickens.
Elena looked up as Zarandiel and Celdorn joined them. Charaq approached from behind the children. “Silothani, Lord Celdorn,” he called.
“Silothani, Charaq.” Celdorn gripped Elena’s shoulders as he gazed through the crowd.
Silvandir slid in beside her and whispered, “Are you all right?” She nodded as he eased her to her feet.
The children pulled back and spread out as the Ilqazar trotted into the open prairie. Their eyes widened, and they pointed and smiled as they watched the magnificent creatures fill the field. The pressure in Elena’s chest eased.
A blond boy sidled up to Mishon and gripped his shirt. He peeked at her from behind Mishon’s arm. When their eyes met, a jolt blasted her body, knocking her to the ground.
“Elena!” Silvandir dropped to his knees beside her and bundled her in his arms. “Are you all right?”
Mishon stood over her. “What’s wrong?”
Elena looked for the blond boy, but he was gone. “I-I felt a force shove at me.” She shook her head, wondering if she’d just imagined him or if someone—or something—hid inside one of the children. “Help me up, please,” she said to Silvandir.
He pushed down on her shoulder. “I think you should stay right where you are for a minute. You’re white as a lily.”
“He’s right. You don’t look so good.” Mishon frowned, head tipped to the side. “What scared you?”
Elena couldn’t stop the smile that pulled at her mouth. “Getting knocked onto my rear kind of startled me. Was there a blond boy with you when you walked up?” As the children gathered around them, gawking at Elena, she pulled herself free of Silvandir’s protective grip and rose.
Mishon held his arms out to the side and stepped backwards. “Get back now. Let the lady recover herself.”
Elena was surprised that the children listened and moved away from her.
“The boy, the one with the blond curls, that’s my friend, Waadar.” He glanced around. “Waadar, where’d you go?”
Waadar? Elena cringed. How very like Anakh and her kind to name a child Tool.
The boy slipped from the crowd and stood by Mishon, head bowed, shoulders drooping.
“Here he is,” Mishon said. “Waadar, these are my friends, Elena and Silvandir.” He leaned in close to Waadar’s ear. “They’re going to get married,” he whispered as if it were a conspiratorial secret.
Waadar glanced up and quickly away.
Elena frowned at Mishon. “How did you know? You were gone long before we made our decision.”
Mishon shrugged. “Just figured. He always gets that googly-eyed look when he’s around you.”
Silvandir chuckled even as his cheeks turned red. “I’ve been that obvious, eh?”
“Maybe not to everyone, but Charaq taught me to be a keen observer.”
“No doubt,” Silvandir said.
Waadar peeked at Elena through the wavy fringe that hung over his eyes. He crept closer and reached out to caress a lock of her hair, which hung loose around her hips today.
“I’m happy to meet you, Waadar,” Elena said, kneeling so as to be eye level with him, and held out her hand.
The boy shrank back, and Silvandir grabbed her wrist. “Might be best not to touch the children. Remember what happened with Mishon.”
How could she forget. When Mishon had touched her, not only his memories but those of his entire family had flooded her. She shivered and cradled her hand into her chest.
Mishon put his arm around Waadar’s shoulder. “He can’t talk, but he’s good to have around. Sometimes he knows things before they happen, which helps a lot when Zakad decide to appear out of nowheres.”
Elena wondered how many of these children were gifted with abilities they didn’t know they had. Following Waadar’s example, more of them surged forward, and Elena found herself being pushed and prodded. Surrounded, she suddenly couldn’t breathe. As hands grabbed at her arms, her hair, her hips, visions blasted her mind while silent voices screamed at her. She was instantly adrift on a current pulling her away from reality to a place of collective torment.
Silvandir’s voice called to her as she slipped further away.
~
Elena awoke in a tent, a cool cloth pressed to her forehead.
“H-here, d-drink this,” Braiden said, holding a wooden cup to her mouth.
She swallowed, and her face scrunched up. “Ew, what is that? It tastes like earwax mixed with dandelion leaves.”
Braiden laughed. “It m-might be. It’s an Elrodanar r-restorative elixir. I-I’ve never watched them pr-prepare it. F-finish it up and I-I’ll give you some w-water.”
Elena held her nose and drank the last bit, not without a gag or two. Braiden was true to his word and offered her the waterskin. “How long was I out?”
Silvandir spoke from the shadows. “Long enough to fray my nerves.” He scooted closer and took her hand. “It’s been an hour or so. We got you away from the children as quickly as we could. This is Charaq’s tent.” A frown formed across his face. “I warned you not to touch the children.”
“I couldn’t help it. They were everywhere. Their memories and injuries were pummeling me. Did I pass out?”
Silvandir scratched behind his ear. “You went limp, like that day in the keep when you left your body. But this time, I could still hear your heart beating.” He rubbed his chin, blinking convulsively. “You scared me to death. I don’t know what I’d do if I lost you now.” His efforts at control failed, and tears slid down his cheeks.
Elena gripped his hand. “I’m sorry. I’ll try to be more careful, but this is all new territory for me. I’ve been around other children in the encampment, of course, but we had limited contact with each other. And none of my gifts were active back then.”
“We’ll be more diligent in not exposing you like that again,” Silvandir said.
Just then, the flap of the tent raised. “How’s she doing?” Celdorn asked.
“She’s awake,” Silvandir replied.
“Yes, she is,” Elena said with an edge to her voice and then a laugh. “But you’re blinding me with that light.” She held up her arm to block the painful glare.
Celdorn entered and dropped the flap. “Sorry, little one. I thought you were still sleeping. The last I checked, you were lost to this world.” He knelt next to her and felt her forehead with the back of his hand. “You’re warming up. That’s good. You had the chill of death on you earlier.” His hand slid to her chin and cupped it. “Don’t do that again. My heart nearly stopped. I thought you were being attacked.”
Elena squeezed his hand. “No, just a weak-willed woman who faints at the touch of a child.”
“Weak?” Celdorn scoffed. “Not likely. I can only imagine what one touch from those children might contain. That’s why we’ve kept Mikaelin at the rear of the company, as far from the children as possible.”
Celdorn settled himself next to the pallet. “I’ve been in another tent discussing strategies for moving forward. We’ve decided half of the Ilqazar will be our vanguar
d, followed by our company. The children and their guardians will be behind us, and Zarandiel’s unit will provide the rearguard. The other half of the Ilqazar will flank our units. If you feel well enough, we would like to move out soon.”
“I think I’m fine,” Elena said as she sat up. “I’m afraid if I lie here any longer, Braiden will make me drink more of his poison.”
Braiden held a hand to his heart. “Y-you wound m-me, Elena.”
“It will take us an hour or more to break down the tents and load the wagons, so use that time to build your strength.” Celdorn looked across at Silvandir. “Your job is to keep her quiet and undisturbed.”
Silvandir plopped down next to her. “Well for that, I may have to restrain her.” He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into his lap. “She’s not good at the cooperating part, but I’ll do my best to keep her compliant.” His lips found a sensitive spot behind her ear and pressed into it.
“A-as my services are n-no longer required here, I-I think I will see what I-I can d-do to help elsewhere.” Braiden’s cheeks flushed as he gathered his supplies into his satchel. “M-make sure you k-keep drinking water. I-it will help the t-tonic to work b-better.”
“I’ll come for you when we are ready to move out,” Celdorn said as he pushed through the tent opening, followed by Braiden.
Elena adjusted herself on Silvandir’s lap and snuggled into his chest. “Perhaps I should faint more often. I rather like the recovery process.” Silvandir kissed the back of her neck with a hum of agreement, and she shivered with delight, then sighed. “I can’t wait to start our new life together in Queyon.”
Silvandir turned her face so he could meet her eyes. “How it warms my heart to hear you say that. I am the most blessed man in the world.” He laid his hand on her rounded belly. “And soon we will have a third to share in our joy. Can it get better?” His eyes misted over. “I love you, Elena. I love this child, and I vow to you, we will be happy. We will get past these foes and build a life of joy together.” His lips pressed into hers as if to seal his promise. Or perhaps to keep her from speaking and breaking the magic of that moment.