by David Ekrut
Feffer jumped up and ran back toward the ladder.
“… Barth Gensong …”
Elwin stood up and followed him, carrying his book.
Feffer reached the ground by the time Elwin made it to the ladder. The world below spun when he looked over the edge. He had forgotten how high up he was.
Elwin sat on the roof and edged toward the ladder, feeling for the first step with his boot. Once firmly touching the ladder, he eased his weight onto the top rung. Then, he took another step. He made it down two more steps with his back facing the ladder, when the wind made the bamboo wobble. His heart began pumping faster and his breaths got shorter. The ground spun beneath him. He took several steadying breaths and tried to force his heartbeat to be calm. He could feel the wind hit his face, but it felt odd to him. Different.
It was just a breeze, but somehow it felt like something more. He was aware of the wind around him. Not just the invisible touch on his skin. He could feel the wind bouncing on the roof. It didn’t make sense, but he could touch the wind, somehow from within. It began to push against him, and he didn’t know how to stop it. But it made him feel, alive.
The crisp summer air touched his tongue. It was like the sweet of honey, and the scent held the fragrance of a thousand roses. He could see light shimmering off of every shiny surface. Not sure how, he let it fill him. It rushed into him like a storm, and his body began to ache. Elwin turned his touch into a grasp. He was holding it. He was holding the wind. How was this even possible?
He pushed it out of his grasp, and he felt his foot leave the ladder. He began falling … upward? The book dropped from his hand to the grass below. His heart pounded as if he had run for half a day. The ache within him grew, forcing him to push more of the wind away from him. And he fell faster but still upward. Below, he saw Feffer round the edge of the warehouse toward the street, looking the other way. Elwin called out to Feffer, but he didn’t see him.
“The Lifebringer help me!”
The warehouse began to grow smaller. Arms flailing, he tried to stop falling into the sky.
Elwin stopped pushing the wind. When he held it all in, his body began to fall in the right direction. The wind rushed past him, and the ground was getting closer and closer.
“THE LIFEBRINGER HELP ME!”
As the ground grew nearer, he pushed more of the wind and began flying back upward. Slower this time. He released it slower. Several paces from the ground, he stopped pushing it out, but slower than before. His body eased to the ground with a thud.
Every muscle throbbed. He wasn’t sure if it was from the impact or his grasp on the wind. He saw two of the warehouse, and the ground spun.
“I still have some of it! What do I do with it? What in the abyss is happening to me?”
He stood up, grasping his head. He ran around the building toward the town square, swaying as he ran. The man that had spoken and the woman that was with him stood next to Faron’s table of swords.
Elwin looked around for anyone to help him. A thought occurred to him.
Asalla might know what to do.
But Elwin couldn’t see the wagon. Sweat began to stream down his face, and holding the wind became painful. His body ached all over, and he felt weary to the point of bursting. He ran toward Faron on shaky legs but fell when he got there. Faron’s table of weapons stopped his fall. His stomach was sick, and the ground still spun.
“Elwin, what is wrong with your eyes?”
“Faron … there is … something wrong with me!”
Elwin couldn’t hold it in any longer. Sweat stung his eyes. It hurt too much. He couldn’t hold on to it anymore.
Elwin grasped the table, attempting to keep the ground from spinning. Just as he felt he would lose consciousness, he pushed the wind from his grasp. Everything happened as if in a dream, like one where everything moved too slowly to be real.
Elwin felt the energy form a burst of wind in front of him. Faron’s table flew into the air, sending weapon’s flying toward a group of the White Hand. Most of the weapons hit at odd angles, producing pained grunts from the men they struck.
Panic.
The crowd scattered for cover, moving as if the promised war had already found its way to their village.
Elwin was out of breath, and he still felt shaky. Working in the fields had never made him this tired. His legs gave out, and he sat down cross-legged, watching everyone run away.
Faron helped him to his feet. “Are you alright, Elwin?”
“Do not touch him,” the woman commanded.
“But there is something wrong with him.”
She placed a grip on Elwin’s arm and eased him back to the ground. “I know exactly what is wrong with him, and there is nothing the king’s newest blacksmith can do about it.”
Faron stepped back.
“Elwin is what he called you?”
Elwin nodded. “What is happening to me?”
“You are not in trouble. But I have a very important question for you, Elwin. It is important that you answer me truthfully. Do you understand?”
Elwin nodded again.
“Have you had any strange dreams lately? Within the last couple of days?”
“Last night. How? How did you know that?”
The metal-clad man came back and placed a hand on the woman’s shoulder. Elwin hadn’t realized he had left until then. His gruff voice was monotone. “Biron is dead. One of the swords struck a killing blow. Everyone else is unharmed.”
“Someone is dead?” Elwin’s voice broke. “I … I killed someone?”
The woman closed her eyes and took a long deep breath. When she opened them, they were fixed on Elwin. “I am Jasmine Lifesong. Do you know what it means when someone is an elementalist?”
Tears made her face blur. He nodded to her.
“Listen to me. None of this is your fault. Many in your situation have been less fortunate than you. I have heard tale of an entire village destroyed by a child coming into her powers of fire. You could have killed many more people or even yourself. You cannot blame yourself for this. Alright?”
Elwin gave her a slight nod. I killed someone? I can’t believe I killed him.
She put her finger under his chin and made him look her in the eyes with a gentle prod. “You know you cannot stay here with your family. You must come with me to the capital city of Justice, so we may register you with the Guardians of Life. I will bear witness on your behalf that this was a grievous accident. That should be enough to appease the Inquisition.”
He wiped his tears. “The Inquisition? But I would never serve the Seeker. Why would they—”
“Do not worry.” Her voice was stern but not loud. “There are proper protocols to follow. You are very rare. Each generation has less of us than the previous generation. We cannot be so hasty as to destroy innocent children. My testimony should be enough to clear you. So do not worry.”
She looked at him, as if expecting an answer. Not sure how to respond, he nodded to her. Then something she had said occurred to him. “Do I really have to leave my family?”
“You have more power in you than I have seen in a long time. Unless there is someone here with enough power to train you, such as a parent or a close relative, you are a danger to those around you. Even now they fear you. People always fear what they do not understand.”
She gestured behind him.
Elwin looked around. The square was empty except for the three of them. People looked at him from windows and alleyways. He could see them whispering and staring, all avoiding his gaze.
Even Faron had backed a healthy distance away and stood by the alley next to the inn, though his eyes looked more concerned than afraid. Mr. Madrowl stood with Elwin’s parents and grandparents in front of the inn. His mother looked as if she would run to him, if not for Drenen and Willem holding her back.
Then he saw Feffer standing next to Wilton, his mouth opened in a wide grin. He looked to Elwin like a boy who had discovered his favorite toy had just grown a new tail or sprouted wings.
He looked away.
“Come, Elwin.”
She offered him her hand. He took it, and she helped him to his feet.
“On the morrow,” she said, “we will round up the new recruits for training and depart for Justice. But before you sleep tonight, we must have your first lesson. In the meantime, stay within my sight.”
She turned from him and walked toward his parents by the front of the inn, not waiting for a response. He stayed on her heels.
She stopped in front of his father. “I do not sense Elemental power within any of you, but as you are the only people still in the open, I assume you are claiming him as your own?”
Poppe stepped forward, resignation in his voice, “I am Bruece of house Lanier. I am the one who found him. I am his Poppe. ”
“Found me?” Elwin asked.
His grandfather avoided Elwin’s gaze, and his father held his mother to his bosom, while she sobbed.
“You see Elwin. Elementalists’ power is a gift passed through bloodlines. Even those with lesser power are detectable for the trained eye. Your parents do not have the gift. Did you not find it odd that you are the only child from this town with blond hair and blue eyes?”
His words felt hollow, but they rushed out of him. “I know the gift of the Elements is passed through bloodlines, but not all of those with the gift can sense their powers. My parents never learned how to use the Elements. I read about it in a book. I knew they couldn’t sense their powers, but I always hoped I would. I look like my great grandma on my father’s side. They have passed into the shelter of the Lifebringer’s hand now. Tell her Father.”
“Elwin,” her voice was soft, “if your parents had the gift, I would be able to sense their ability. After training, you will be able to sense it, too. You are the only person in this village with the gift. Your grandfather found you. Remember?”
Elwin’s bottom lip quivered, and he felt tears in his eyes. He refused to blink and let them fall. If he cried, then she would be right. There was nothing to cry about. There was an explanation for this.
“My guess is that you are Alcoan in lineage,” Jasmine continued. “The nation is across the Tranquil Sea. They are who we assist in the war effort.”
The gruff warrior cleared his throat and gave her a stony look.
Jasmine smiled at the man. “Perhaps you can see to settling the men. I have a few questions for Elwin’s family.”
She had not given the last word any more inflection than the others, but for some reason, it had a sting. Elwin shook his head. Jasmine had to be wrong. They were his parents, but what did Poppe mean, he had found him? Why did nothing make any sense?
“Can we go somewhere without so many eyes and ears?” Jasmine said looking to the shudders and alleys, where people watched.
“This way.” Poppe walked around to the back of the inn. Elwin followed without looking around. He heard Mr. Madrowl’s voice saying, “Feffer, get back here.”
He looked over his shoulder to see Feffer grumbling, but he didn’t follow. Elwin felt a pang of regret. It would have been nice to have Feffer with him for this. Whatever this was.
The back steps had a porch with an awning leading to the stables beside the inn. Several soldiers stood at the opening. Two younger men with dark hair and dark eyes studied Elwin with deep scowls.
He looked down to avoid their stares and felt himself being herded. When he looked up, he found himself in the private dining hall that Poppe reserved for outlander lords and ladies passing through. He had never been allowed to play in here. The large, redwood table was lacquered and kept clean with a golden candle-stand for a centerpiece. The far window had been framed with white molding that also bordered the room.
On the wall above the entryway hung a large broadsword, handed down through Poppe’s family. Elwin had never seen it taken from the wall. The many shelves had books and trinkets from around the world. Most of the books talked about history and didn’t have much to do with elementalists. But his grandfather had let him borrow them on occasion. That was the extent of his time spent in this room, short enough periods to pick out a book for reading.
“Have a seat, Elwin,” Jasmine said.
Elwin looked away from the bookshelf and let his eyes focus on the room once more. He was the only one still standing. Jasmine had taken the seat at the table’s head, while his parents and grandfather sat in the three chairs on the right side of the table, closest to the head.
Elwin pulled out the chair on the other side and sat next to Jasmine.
“Now,” Jasmine said. “Where did you find Elwin?”
“Uh,” Poppe began, “You see. There was a woman that came here. She had a worn face, and she was dressed in rags …”
Elwin listened to his Poppe recite the tale. It almost sounded like one of his stories. Elwin kept waiting for him to bring in the part about the evil wizard or band of trolls that had to be dispatched to save the village. Maybe it was a dream. Maybe he would wake any moment.
“That’s it,” Poppe sighed. “She left a letter and a pendant.”
“Do you have them near?” Jasmine asked.
Poppe stood and walked to the far shelf. At the top was a small lock box. He opened it and pulled out a silver amulet with a green-stoned pendant and a folded up parchment. After handing them to Jasmine, he retook his seat without a word or so much as a glance at Elwin.
Elwin watched Jasmine’s face as she read the letter, but she did not reveal its contents. She gave her head a slight shake.
“What is it?” Elwin asked. “Is it true?”
“Who has seen this letter?” Jasmine asked.
“Just us,” his father said. “We have raised Elwin as if he was our own. Most of the farms are far enough out that most of the community is unaware that anyone has had a new child until the festival. Elwin was young enough, we just kept the letter secret.”
“From everyone.” Elwin did not wipe the tears. “How could you not tell me?”
“We were waiting for the right time,” his mother said. “I am so sorry.”
“What is important now,” Jasmine said, “is that I have found you. I can begin your training.”
She offered the pendant to him. “Take this.”
The light glittered off the green stone. He could feel it, somehow. Elwin was sure he could close his eyes and point to it from anywhere in the room.
“What is it?” he asked without touching it.
“It is perfectly safe, I assure you. It has a protective ward on it, made from the power of Spirit, Air, and Fire. There might even be a little Water and Earth as well. It was a gift from your birth mother.”
Elwin took the pendant. “I have never seen a stone like this.”
Jasmine gave him a reassuring smile. “It has the appearance of an emerald, though it is far more rare. There are several artifacts in this world that give power to its owner. Some have minor powers, but some can destroy this village. This one was wrought for a peaceful purpose. Someday you will be able to feel the powers that created such an item. Maybe, you will even learn to craft one. Though it will take some time studying it in further detail to know its exact purpose. Wear the pendant beneath your shirt. There are those who would try to steal it for the worth of the stone alone. But the chain is made of silver as well.”
Elwin pulled the chain over his head. Immediately he felt calm wash over his body.
“What was that?”
“It was the power of the ward taking effect.”
Elwin placed the stone beneath his shirt. “What did it do to me?”
“The effects were nearly undetectable, but I believe it is meant to hide you from scrying
.”
“Scrying?”
“There will be plenty of time for questions, later,” Jasmine smiled. “I will have your grandfather prepare an extra bed in my room for you. There are many things we must discuss before you sleep, but for now I must prepare for tomorrow’s departure.”
When Jasmine stood, his family stood as well.
“So that’s it then?” his mother said. “You are just going to take him? And we have no say in the matter?”
Elwin’s father grabbed her hand, but he said nothing.
Jasmine’s smile was soft.“I need not remind you of what happened today. That is but a fraction of the power that Elwin will some day master. But without training, he will surely die. The only question is, how many will die with him? Besides, his name is on the ledger for recruitment, anyway. At least now he is not likely to see fighting anytime soon, which is more than I can say for the other boys leaving on the morrow, all of an age with Elwin.”
His mother began to cry, and his father cradled her in his arms.
His grandfather spoke as he moved toward the door. “I will prepare that extra bed.”
Poppe left without looking back. The door stayed open and sounds from the common room spilled in. There were no distinguishable voices, but he could hear music and laughter. Someone played the dulcimer. He could also hear the flute and harp.
Maybe they would not treat him any differently.
Jasmine moved toward the doorway. “This way, Elwin. Remember to stay within sight.”
Elwin followed Jasmine down the hallway into the common room.
Jandar, the furrier, sat at the closest table facing Elwin. Faron sat with at the same table but faced the other way. Jandar’s head was thrown back in mid-laughter. Upon seeing Elwin, his laughter broke off into a choking sound, followed by silence. He leaned forward and began to eye his mug of ale. Faron partially turned to look at him and gave Elwin a nod and thin smile.
A wave of silence, starting at the entry hall and working toward the front door, rippled across the room. One instrument at a time, the music faded until the room sounded empty.