by Mike Shelton
“I can feed myself,” Gorn muttered, but he sat up as she had said.
“I wish I could heal like Roland,” Alli said.
“You possess plenty of other skills that young man doesn’t, Alli. Don’t worry about me. I see that Mags will make sure I get better.” He smiled at the older woman, and she actually blushed at the old wizard.
Alli rolled her eyes. “You will know he’s better when he doesn’t stop eating and he’s not so cranky.”
Gorn grunted, took the spoon from Mags, and shoved the soup into his mouth as if to tell Alli he would be fine. After a few bites, he reiterated, “I will see you shortly. Don’t do anything drastic until I get there.”
“Me?” Alli said with a wide-eyed innocence. “They won’t even know I’m there.”
Gorn chuckled, spitting out a portion of his soup, and the two ladies joined in with the laughter.
Alli reached down and hugged her mentor, not letting him go for a full minute. Brushing the tears from her eyes, she said her final good-byes to Gorn and Mags, then headed toward the river. The barge master said he would take her across that afternoon.
Later, as Alli stepped onto the barge again with her horse, memories of what had happened earlier haunted her for a few moments. When the barge master got on with her and pushed off, she felt much better. Soon they hit the shore on the other side.
Waving good-bye to the barge master, she turned her horse and continued to head northeast. It should only be a day or two until she reached Celestar.
* * *
The Chief Judge and his party had traveled two days out from the Citadel—having left secretly in the middle of the night—when a rider approached his group on the road, coming north from Cassian. Daymian traveled with six of his original men and three of Roland’s hand-picked men: one, a wizard in his thirties; another, a young teenage apprentice; and the final man, a large, muscled guard who hardly left Daymian’s side.
As the rider came closer, Gilan, Daymian’s guard, stepped out in front of the Chief Judge, the rest of his guards forming a circle around him. Wren, the wizard, stopped the man on horseback with a wave of his hand.
“Where are you coming from so quickly?” Wren asked the rider.
“Cassian, Sir.” The rider bowed his head slightly, apparently recognizing Wren as a wizard from the Citadel by the small insignia on his breast. The man dismounted.
Daymian stepped out from behind his guards. “What news do you have from the capital?”
The man clearly did not recognize the Chief Judge. He looked to the wizard for a confirmation to proceed. Wren nodded.
“The city is quiet enough, Sir, but on lockdown. No one may enter or leave without the judges permission. Most people are staying indoors.”
“What about the Chief Judge?” Daymian asked, trying to gauge what was being said about himself.
The rider was handed a waterskin, and he took a few swallows gratefully before continuing. “They say he abandoned his post.”
Daymian bristled at the comment but kept an even face. “And his family?”
“They are being held within the palace walls. No one has seen them for a week.” The rider spoke in a nervous tone.
Daymian frowned and felt a tug on his heart. His family needed him.
“How did you get in and out?” Gilan asked suspiciously.
The rider took a few steps back, the reins of his horse in his hands. The burly guard was a fearsome sight to stand close to. “I am to bring a message to the High Wizard.”
“What is that message?” Wren asked.
“That’s for the High Wizard’s ears only, Sir. You understand.” The man put his foot into the stirrup and added, “I must ride with haste.”
Before the man began riding again, the apprentice wizard, Tam, put his hand forward, and the horse and rider hit a block of air and instantly stopped. The Chief Judge was surprised at such boldness from Tam in front of the wizard.
Wren glared at the young apprentice. “What is the meaning of this?”
“We need the information being passed on to Kanzar,” Tam stated.
“We are not here to interfere with the High Wizard’s plans, only to bring the Chief Judge to safety.” Wren’s jaw held tight as he pulled Tam away from the rider.
“Wizard Roland Tyre told me to keep my eyes open and to report back on any evidence of Kanzar’s plans.”
At the mention of Roland’s name, Wren clenched his jaw even harder. Daymian still marveled at the quick influence Roland had achieved among the wizards’ ranks.
“Fine. Just read his missive. No killing.”
The rider still sat on his horse, watching the wizard and his apprentice argue. His eyes widened as he now seemed to realize that Daymian was the Chief Judge. Clearly, he knew his life was being determined, and he let out a long-concealed breath when Wren mentioned not killing anyone.
Tam dug through the rider’s bag and produced a rolled-up scroll. Wren took it from him and handed it to the Chief Judge.
Daymian considered the scroll for a moment. He knew the information inside would be helpful, but their way of getting it was not lawful. Laws and rules existed against intercepting someone’s letters and missives.
Then Gilan walked up next to Daymian. “Sir, we need to hurry. We are in difficult times. Sometimes rules have to bend. Kanzar would not hesitate to do this, and he would kill the rider along with reading this message.”
“I know that.” Daymian gave a thoughtful glance at his guard. “But I am not like Kanzar. Nevertheless, you are correct in that we need the information.”
Looking up and down the road, to make sure of no other imminent interruptions by travelers, Daymian noticed a stirring up of dust from behind. It would be quite a while before its source reached them, but it did push him along quicker, and he broke the seal on the scroll. As he did so, he felt his stomach broil. By disobeying the law, he, the Chief Judge, had chosen a dangerous road for Alaris.
His eyes went wide and then filled with anger as he scanned the script. The same note was sent by pigeon also, so Daymian was sure Kanzar would still get the information. It appeared that the two newly appointed judges ruled Cassian and had imposed martial law. Some dissenters had been made examples of, with beatings and a few hangings.
He finished and rolled the scroll up again. The rest of the group looked at him expectantly. He gave the scroll back to the rider and sent him on his way with a look of apology for what he had endured at their hands. He even offered him a small purse of silver to ease the man’s burden.
After the rider was far enough away, Daymian motioned the others to mount and start riding. His six guards took up the front with Gilan riding next in front of Daymian, the wizard, and apprentice.
In a few moments, he shared the missive with the rest of the group. “The only good out of it seems to be that the people are not being easily convinced of my leaving them all alone. They are good people and are holding out for my support.”
His men took in the information. Then Tam said, “But they won’t be able to hold out forever. We need to establish a base and pull in those who are loyal to you. That is why we are going to Orr.”
“To Orr?” questioned Wren. “We are to taking him to Cassian. A vote will be held there between having a king or keeping the judge system.”
“I also question your choice of Orr, young man,” the Chief Judge said. “My family could be in trouble.”
“Wizard Roland thought that, since you are from Orr and you have much family there, Orr would be a good place to base your operations.” Tam glanced back over his shoulder at the two of them.
“Roland Tyre, again.” Wren sighed. “For a new wizard, he sure is making himself an entangled piece of this puzzle.”
The Chief Judge actually smiled. “He sure is. Maybe that boy learned something as my counselor apprentice after all.”
“If we are going to Orr, Sir,” Tam said, “we will need to skirt around Cassian and head straight there. The quick
er the people know where you are and that you did not desert them, the better.” His excitement made Daymian smile. The young were always seeking adventure.
“I appreciate your thoughts and excitement on the matter, but we need to get my family out first,” Daymian said.
Gilan turned around from up front. “I hoped you would say that, Sir. I’m itching for a good brawl.” The group laughed and began to plan how to rescue his family. Daymian knew his city, its passageways, and its secrets better than anyone. A plan was beginning to form in his mind.
CHAPTER TWENTY SIX
Erryl stood next to Breelyn on the banks of a small stream. He turned to her and asked, “How old are you?”
“Haven’t they taught you that you’re not supposed to ask about a girl’s age, Erryl?” Breelyn laughed, and her voice floated like music in the warm afternoon air.
Erryl blushed and mumbled, “Sorry.”
Breelyn put a hand on his shoulder. “I am joking. You shouldn’t be so serious. Anyway, since you did ask, I am almost thirty summers old.”
“That’s twice as old as I am,” Erryl said.
“But not old for an elf. Those farther away from the barrier can live over one hundred twenty years. King Arrowyn Soliel was a small boy when the barrier went up, and he is still alive.” Her eyebrows furrowed, and her mouth dropped to a frown when she had mentioned her king.
“Are you all right, Breelyn?”
“Yes, but our king is quite old and not doing well. I am one of his protectors and am anxious to see him again.”
“What does a protector do?” Erryl asked as they began to walk once again.
“A protector protects the king. My assignment was to walk along the barrier and make sure it was still intact. We had heard rumors of breaches.” Breelyn directed him farther into the forest, following a game trail.
“Like today? Is the barrier failing, then?”
“Yes, like today. I’m not sure what is happening. I was going to visit the watcher and governor in Silla—one of our cities by the border. It is their job to watch and report back to us. We hadn’t heard anything in a while. And then Alair and I were attacked.”
“Will they attack us also?”
Breelyn appeared surprised at the question. “I don’t know why they would. Frankly, I don’t know why they attacked us in the first place. They are supposed to be guarding the border in case Alaris attacks again.”
“Alaris…attack?” Erryl was confused. “Why would we attack? We put up the barrier to protect us from having others attack us.”
“No, Erryl,” Breelyn said. “You’ve been taught incorrectly. Alaris attacked us, and now that it is failing, we have to be ready.”
“Maybe you were taught incorrectly,” Erryl said in defense, protecting his own kingdom.
Breelyn didn’t answer back. She only gazed up into the enormous trees and stopped for a moment. Erryl stood behind her and wondered what she was looking at.
“I miss my home.” Breelyn sighed.
“Where is your home?” Erryl decided they wouldn’t get anywhere arguing over who was taught right. He wanted to find out more about these people.
“Lor’l. It is a grand tree city—the capital of Elvyn. It lies east of here, by the coast.”
Erryl’s eyes lit up. “The coast? You mean the sea, with water and everything?”
“Yes, the Blue Sea,” Breelyn said. “But, Erryl, we need to find the man in your vision. We’ll have plenty of time to answer all your questions later.”
Erryl was amazed at how much Breelyn knew about the world. He knew he needed to focus on finding the man the Orb wanted, but that was hard with someone like Breelyn next to him. He kept stealing glances at her as she walked with assurance through the forest. After walking a short time in silence, he couldn’t stay quiet any longer. “How did you learn to do magic?”
She motioned for Erryl to follow her through the trees. They continued to search for the large outcropping of rock he had seen in the Orb’s vision. That is where he would find the man the Orb wanted.
“Erryl, you told me how you felt when you touched the Orb.”
“It’s wonderful. Full of light, peace, and understanding.”
“Well, that’s how magic feels to a degree. The power has always been with me, so it’s hard to explain how I use it. My magic is second nature to me, a life force flowing through me and making the elements of the earth and forest more clear. I command the elements—or, rather,” she said sheepishly, “I ask the elements to do something for me—and they obey.”
Erryl thought for a moment. “So, magic is not anything mysterious or secret; it’s only a deeper understanding of how the elements around us work. Everyone has different abilities. My father is a great artist and draws pictures of Celestar and of the Orb, and another guardian runs fast and jumps higher than anyone else. And you and the other wizards have the ability to control the finer elements around us.”
“And you, Erryl,” Breelyn said, pausing as she hacked away at a thorny bush in front of them, “have an amazing curiosity, driving you to figure things out in ways that are simple to you but are much more difficult to others.”
Erryl beamed at her praise. He loved seeing her eyes sparkle.
“What you said, about magic and my ability to control the elements, is the best definition I have ever heard, even from learned elves.” Breelyn continued her praise. “You are quite an intelligent young man.”
“Well, I’ve been going to school every day since I was three,” Erryl said. “We were taught that our life source would be stronger for the Orb if we were learned. But we didn’t go out of the buildings much. Most everything I know is from a book.”
Breelyn didn’t answer him, and he stopped asking her questions for the time being. He found the silence difficult, but he could tell she was concentrating on their surroundings.
For a while longer, they traveled in silence, until Erryl stopped short and said, “In my vision, a stream flowed on my left. I think it was this stream. We need to cross to the other side and stay close to it.” He closed his eyes for a moment, reliving the vision.
Soon the trees thinned closer to the stream, and then the stream split into two forks.
“Now we don’t know which way to go.” Erryl furrowed his brow in concentration.
“You stay here, and I will scout ahead,” Breelyn said, motioning with her hand. “And don’t wander off.” Breelyn walked behind a tree and then downstream from where Erryl stood.
He heard a sound and looked down in front of him. A little green frog! Erryl had read about frogs but had never seen one in real life. He stepped closer, but the frog jumped away.
“Come here, little frog.” Erryl squatted down on his haunches and moved his hand toward the amazing creature. Once again, it hopped out of his reach, and he gritted his teeth in frustration.
Standing back up, he searched for the elusive creature. Soon, up jumped the frog, and Erryl laughed in delight. The frog jumped across the mud next to the stream and then took a detour to the side. The grass and mud turned swampy, but Erryl waded in, mud covering his feet.
“Erryl,” Breelyn called to him. But he stayed focused on the frog.
“Just a minute. I’ve almost caught this thing.”
He turned away for a brief second to look in her direction. When he turned back, the frog was nowhere to be found. Erryl stood quietly and listened intently. A loud croak signaled the frog’s location, and Erryl ran forward about ten steps. When he tried to stop, his feet proceeded to slide on the marshy grass, and he tripped over a tree root and rolled down a small hill.
“Erryl!” Breelyn yelled as she ran the short distance to the young man. Erryl felt his face blushing bright red as he looked up at Breelyn. He was lying on his back, covered with mud, but he held up his hand to show her.
“You caught it.” Breelyn giggled.
The frog squiggled in his hand, and, finally, Erryl let it go, watching it hop away along the marshy ground.
“But now you are filthy.” Breelyn shook her head.
Erryl frowned, sat up, and turned around, his back facing Breelyn. He wasn’t mad; he just needed to compose himself. He sat and gazed out at their surroundings for a moment. A brief familiarity overtook his senses.
“I’m sorry, Erryl.” She approached him slowly.
“I’m not mad, Breelyn. Look!” Erryl pointed straight ahead. Down a small hill from them, then back up the other side, was a path to where a huge outcrop of rock sat. The stream they had followed wound around the left side.
“That’s it. That’s the rock from my vision.”
Breelyn helped Erryl up from the ground. He was covered in mud, his white tunic hardly recognizable now. On the way to the outcrop of rock, they found a deeper part of the stream, and Erryl cleaned himself off as best he could. But then he was soaking wet.
“This is fun,” he said out loud. “They should let us out of the buildings more often.” He ran ahead along a short, flat stretch of ground.
Soon Breelyn was running beside him and, in a few long strides, overtook him. Not wanting to be outdone, he laughed and sped up. They both laughed out loud, their voices echoing off of the high rock wall looming ever larger in front of them.
Breelyn raced back out in front again, but then the trail dipped slightly, and two men stood in front of them. She stopped and put her arm out to halt Erryl’s motion. He skidded to a quick stop beside her.
The two men did not appear happy, and Erryl recognized them as two of the protectors from Celestar. They wore loose robes and pants, not fitted for this forest terrain. A sword hilt sat on the hip of the shorter man, which he now put his hand on.
“Erryl Close,” the other man said. His eyes were dark, both in color and with anger. “We have been searching for you.”
Erryl stepped back a step, but Breelyn stepped forward.
“And who might you be?”
The taller man held an air of danger. He bowed his head slightly at Breelyn. “We are here for Erryl. He ran away from an important duty. We are protectors of the guardians.”