by Jordan Baker
"Any news?" Stavros asked.
"They are sleeping," he said. "I could sense her using some power to try to connect with his thoughts, then it faded. I'm not sure how, but the next thing I noticed, she was asleep right next to him. Whatever she's doing, I believe it has to do with dreams. That sort of thing never was my speciality and it is not particularly exciting to watch. I figure he's safe with a goddess taking care of him, so I might as well join the two of you for a drink."
"It is surprising," Stavros said as he used his power to lift a cup from behind the bar, "that the gods have returned to the world. I wonder if they truly ever left. Perhaps the histories have not been entirely truthful. Perhaps they have merely been lost to us." He kept the cup hovering in front of him as he poured as share of sweetwater from the bottle, then he sent it over to him. Zachary shrugged and took the cup.
"Well, if they cause trouble, we're going to have to deal with them. What I do not understand is this supposed one god the priesthood has been going on about for so long. If that girl is the Lady, then that means there isn't just one god and that means the other gods must be lurking around somewhere. I, for one, would like to know why don't they just show themselves so we can get on with it."
"Perhaps they would rather not show themselves," Stavros suggested, glancing over at Carly as he took another sip of his drink. "Perhaps they are not yet ready."
CHAPTER SIX
"Are you ready, Squirrel?" Keira asked as she stepped into the room where Ariana had slept at the elven palace. "It is a rare thing to be invited into the home of the elders."
Ariana brushed her hair forward so it fell straight over her cheeks, covering the side of her face that was scarred from where it had been burned. The angry red ridges that streaked down from her cheekbone to her jaw had faded somewhat since she had last been faced with a mirror, but she still hated how it looked. It was frustrating because one side was normal, like it had always been, delicate, pretty even, she had always thought, and the other was hideous and ugly. She slung her satchel over her shoulder, glad of its weight, for it at least made her feel as though she were wearing something more than the simple shift Keira had given her.
"It is an honor," Ariana agreed then followed the elven woman out of the room and down the luminous stone corridor.
They made their way outside to a vast courtyard filled with pools of water surrounding wide pathways that ran through them. A number of elves, all elaborately dressed with intricately worked leathers and patterned fabrics, walked along the various paths while others sat casually along the edges, their bare feet hanging over the edges or touching the water. Like those that had noticed the simply garbed women who had approached the palace walls the day before, they turned their heads and stared at them as they passed, on their way to the far end where the steps rose to the main palace. They spoke in low, hushed tones, their voices whispering, and Ariana could not help but feel uncomfortable, for she knew they were talking about her.
"When you address the elders," Keira said, keeping her voice low, "face them directly. Look them in the eyes so they may see the truth of you. And never look away or they will think you a coward."
Keira led her up the steps to the palace where they encountered two more guards who opened the tall doors and admitted them to the palace proper. Inside they passed through a large foyer with another set of doors and more guards at its end, and into a vast hall. The chamber was made from the same glowing white stone as the rest of the palace, except every surface of the hall was polished to a high sheen and glistened softly in its own light and the wood that was inlaid with the stone was even more intricate. The smooth, stone floor that was similarly worked with wood in a pattern that resembled the roots of a tree, felt warm under the bare soles of Ariana's feet as she followed Keira toward a dais at the far end of the hall where several people sat upon long, padded benches that faced each other on either side. Each of the elves wore masks that were similar to the one Keira had worn, though they were of varying designs. They turned their heads as the two woman approached. Past them, was another platform, with three thrones, the largest of them at the center.
Seated upon the center throne was a woman, dressed in white leather that was worked with silver inlays and interspersed with sheer white fabric that looked almost translucent. She wore a mask of white and silver that fitted close upon her face and had two long horns that curled up and back over her head. The chair on her left was empty and to her right sat another elf, a male dressed in a metal and leather armor that, to Ariana, looked too delicate to be practical. He wore a silver mask that had sharply defined eye slits, the edges of which jutted out from his face, lending an aggressive look to the otherwise implacable expression of his mask.
As Keira and Ariana approached the dais and stood at its edge, the woman in the white mask rose from her seat and stepped forward, walking between the rows of those seated before her, eliciting murmurs and whispers from among them. She stood in front of Keira and looked down, directly at her. Keira kept her eyes fixed upon the woman, meeting her gaze, as was the custom in the elven court, and Ariana could see the woman's sharp, grey-green eyes staring fiercely from behind the mask.
"You are called Keira," she said, "the shadow of the leaf."
"That is what I am called," Keira responded.
"You have served at the edge of the forest along the great river to the east."
"I have."
"You have served us well."
"I am glad of it," Keira said.
"For your dutiful service, you may take a name of your choosing, if you desire it."
"I am grateful." Keira bowed her head.
Ariana did not know what the woman had meant by the things she had said to Keira but she imagined it must be an honor of some kind to be able to choose one's own name. She still was not sure exactly how the elven naming custom worked but she set aside her questions as the woman in the mask stepped over to stand in front of her. She kept her chin up and her eyes open like Keira had instructed her, looking directly at the woman.
"We hear from the trees that are called Squirrel."
"That is what she calls me." Ariana decided that she would abide by the elven customs in her own way. The woman stared at her from behind the mask and Ariana could not tell if she had offended or amused the woman. Perhaps she did not care one way or another.
"You were found at the edge of the forest along the great river to the east."
"That is what I am told."
"You have received sustenance and healing within our forest."
"I have."
"And you have spoken with the trees."
"I have." The assembled elves murmured again behind their masks and the woman in white paused for a moment until they became quiet once more.
"You are not born of this forest."
"No."
"And yet you are of Elvanar."
"Yes."
"Those who birthed you. What are their names?"
"My father was named Gregor of House Coromyr, King of Maramyr and my mother was called Aria, Princess of House Solari."
The elves seated along the rows turned to each other and spoke in hushed tones again.
"You have brought something of hers. May I see it?"
"Yes," Ariana said and reached into her satchel, retrieving the jeweled dagger that had belonged to her mother. She held the dagger by its crosspiece and raised it up for the woman to see."
"May I hold it?" the woman asked.
"No," Ariana told her. Though she had learned some new things from Keira's instruction, she remembered enough about elven customs from her own studies to know that an elf would never surrender a blade. Besides, she was becoming irritated with the woman's questions. She lowered the dagger to her side and kept her eyes focused on the eyes behind the mask. "Am I a prisoner here?"
"You would ask me a question?"
"Yes, I would. Am I a prisoner here?"
"You are a Squirrel, so it is said. Squirrels do no
t ask questions in court."
"I am Ariana Coromay, heir to the throne of Maramyr, Queen of that land by right. I am also, by birth, a Princess of Solari and am done answering questions to those too cowardly to show me their faces," she said, her voice quivering with both indignation and nervousness. Ariana was surprised at the force of her words and she worried that she might have gone too far. The woman took a step back.
"I see that you are no mere squirrel," she said and she removed her mask, revealing her face. The elven woman was beautiful and Ariana was shocked at how much she resembled her own mother. She had only the faintest memories of her, for her parents had died when she was very young, but there were a few paintings of her at the palace and she had memorized every line and curve of her face. This woman looked so very much like her and Ariana felt a stirring of emotions from deep within. The woman smiled at her then turned and took a few steps toward the others on the dais.
"The court of Elvanar recognizes Ariana of House Coromay, Queen of Maramyr and Princess of Solari," the woman said then she turned back to Ariana and smiled at her. "I am Laurana, Princess of Solari and Queen of Elvana. Your mother, Aria was my sister."
Ariana felt a pit, deep in the bottom of her stomach, as though she were dizzy and her throat felt as though it was full of knots. Her eyes began to well up and she fought the urge to break into tears.
"I am grateful," Ariana said, using the formal response of elven custom since she did not know what else she could say without breaking down.
The rest of the elves stood from their seats and removed their masks, all except the one with the silver mask. He stood from his throne and walked forward toward Ariana. He reached out with his hand and struck Ariana on the face, his hand hitting hard across her scarred flesh and pushing her hair out of place, revealing the burns on her cheek. She reached up to cover herself with the hand that held the jeweled dagger but stopped, remembering what Keira had told her about keeping her eyes up, and she raised her chin and fixed her eyes upon him.
"You are not of the forest," the elf said. "I do not recognize you."
With tears running down her cheeks, Ariana stood straight and looked directly at the eyes that stared at her from behind the mask. The elves behind Queen Laurana, spoke again to one another and Ariana could see their shocked expressions. From the few words she could hear, she knew they were talking about the scars on her face, which were now plain to see. Let them talk, she thought. She was finished being treated like a child and if that meant they would see how ugly she was, she no longer cared. Ariana kept her eyes fixed on the elf, refusing to avert her gaze even though she wanted nothing more than to hide. She refused to succumb to her fear, to run away. She stared at the elf, forcing her eyes to stay on him and then she saw him look away.
"Coward," Ariana said and the court went silent.
In a blindingly quick motion, the elf in the mask drew his sword and held it to her throat. Ariana reached for her power just as quickly, hoping it would be enough to stop him. With what force she could manage, she held the sword in place. She felt power emanating from the elf as well and the eyes behind the mask changed, and she knew he had magic of his own. She could feel her grip on the sword beginning to slip and she knew, all it would take was the slightest movement and it would cut her. As she reached for more power, Ariana remembered the promise she had made to the tree, not to touch the flames while she was in the forest, but the trees had been teaching her other things and now she called to them.
The hall shook, not violently but with a low vibration, like the flow of the trees themselves and the wooden roots in the floor of the hall began to change. Thick vines that sprouted new leaves shot up around the elf's feet and began to curl around his legs. Ariana felt a pressure begin to build as the elf began to summon a power she did not recognize. The air around her became thick and she started to choke, unable to breathe. She redoubled her efforts and the vines grew faster, working their way up to the elf's arm and neck. Ariana could no longer breathe, but she could still use her power and she asked several of the vines to pull the elf's sword away from her, forcing his arm down until the blade pointed at the floor, meanwhile the other tendrils continued wrapping themselves tightly around his neck.
"You would dare to call the forest against me?"
Unable to speak for lack of air, Ariana just stared at him.
"Enough!" Laurana said, her voice rising in volume only slightly, but enough to make known her displeasure. Ariana felt the air around her begin to thin and she gasped, able to breathe once more. "Quenta, I ask you to withdraw. We will speak of this later." She turned to Ariana. "Release him."
Ariana let go of her power and vines began to retreat.
"You play a dangerous game, girl," the elf named Quenta said.
"As do you, boy," Ariana replied.
"That is enough," Laurana said, sharply. "Children, both of you!"
Quenta turned and looked at the queen for a moment, then he sheathed his sword and walked across the floor and exited the hall. The sound of the doors closing behind him echoed in the vast chamber, leaving an uncomfortable silence among those that remained.
"Such is the impetuousness of youth," Laurana said and she walked up to Ariana and placed her hand on the underside of her jaw, turning the scarred side of her face toward her. "You have been touched by flames. This we knew, for the trees have spoken of it, and yet they tell us you also command fire. You were wise not to use it here."
"I promised the tree that I would not," Ariana told her.
"You promised the forest," Laurana said. "Remember that, for a broken promise cannot be mended and new promises cannot grow until the roots of betrayal have turned to dust."
"I understand," Ariana told her.
"Understand this as well," Laurana said. "You are welcome here, but you are not born to Elvanar, and to many of the people forest, you may be regarded as an outsider, a child of fire and wind. This truth of that is apparent." She let go of Ariana's face and her voice calmed. "And yet, while you may not have been born to us, you are born of us, a child of the forest, as are we. You are fortunate, for the trees like you. They would not have bent to your aid if they did not."
"I am glad of it," Ariana told her.
Laurana smiled.
"The court of Elvanar grants you stay within the heart of the forest, and you may request of the elders of the court what needs you may have. Now, I must attend to your cousin for, like you, he is prone to behaving like a child."
"My cousin?"
"Quenta is my son," Laurana told her. "That would make him your cousin."
The Queen of Elvanar turned and walked away, leaving the hall, leaving Ariana standing next to Keira as the other elves approached.
"You have done well," Keira said quietly. "It was not what I expected, but be careful of the Prince. He is not a forgiving sort and you have called him by second worst insult among our people. No elf will stand being called a coward."
"What is the worst insult?" Ariana asked.
"Being called a liar," Keira told her. "Thus I am glad you kept your oath not to use your fire magic."
"Thank you for helping me, Keira," Ariana said as the other elves drew near. "I am grateful."
"Welcome, Princess!" said one of the elves, a male, who was dressed in light green leathers. "I am Rolan. Many season to you. I greet you in the name of the court."
"Many seasons to you, Rolan," Ariana replied as the other elves of court began to introduce themselves.
CHAPTER SEVEN
The Maramyrian troops had emerged from the passes and taken up defensive positions in the foothills. While his brother, Elric saw to the fortification of the city and the palace and Duke Kaledra and the other nobles raised troops from their lands, Borrican and his uncle Boric had taken joint command of the advance guard. Reports were few, for Cerric's army had proven very thorough in killing any Kandaran scouts they found nearing their encampments. Even some of the stealthiest of his people had been ferreted
out and apprehended by the Maramyrians' own scouting parties so Boric himself had taken to the field, with a guard of his best fighters atop the fastest and most surefooted horses in the kingdom. Borrican had been on edge since his uncle had left that morning and he breathed a sigh of relief when he saw him riding toward the command pavilion at the center of the Kandaran camp. Borrican also noticed that his uncle's scouting party was much fewer in number.
"Uncle," he said as Boric dismounted from his horse, "I see that you have encountered the enemy."
"That I did," Boric said as he pulled an arrow from the leather saddle of his horse. "They're pouring out of the passes, thousands of them."
"Then what we have seen is just the advance soldiers. What numbers did you count?"
"From what we have learned from the few scouts who have returned from the smaller passes, and from what I saw this day, I would reckon there are already ten thousand Maramyrian soldiers encamped in the hills and there is a much larger force moving down through the main pass that looks to be twice that number, at least."
"Thirty thousand or more," Borrican said. It was a large force, much greater than the numbers they expected to raise to defend Kandara.
"From my knowledge of the Maramyrian kingdom, I would expect ten thousand of them to be cavalry. No doubt they'll build siege engines as well. Things do not bode well for us, nephew."
"A rider arrived while you were away, with a report from Kaledra." Borrican had more bad news for his uncle. "He is requesting aid, for his lands are under attack from creatures that sound like these Darga you told me about. Lizard men, the rider called them."
"That would be a right description of them," Boric said and he frowned at his next thought. "How many?"
"The rider estimated at least several thousand Darga," Borrican told him, "and they are also accompanied by a force of Xallan soldiers, maybe ten thousand strong."