Emerald of the Elves

by Richard S. Tuttle

  Alex smiled, and Prince Darok led the way out of the throne room. He called a dwarf over and issued instructions for a war party to exit the mine and head east.

  Chapter 4

  Sticky Situation

  Zemo halted on the trail and raised his large dwarfish nose to the air. He squinted into the darkness of the night in search of the source of the noise he had heard. Finally, he smiled inwardly and shook his head.

  “Just a rabbit,” he said softly to the three humans that he was escorting. “Follow closely.”

  Master Khatama nodded silently and waved Fredrik and Niki to go past him. He reached into his pack and extracted a fresh carrot. Chuckling to himself, Boris bent down and laid the carrot on the narrow trail. He grinned as he hurried to catch up to the others.

  A short while later, Zemo halted again. He checked to make sure the humans were still following him. He distorted his large mouth to emit a sound imitating the chattering of a ground squirrel. He waited in silence and then repeated the strange sound a second time with more volume. The sound of another squirrel chattered back at him from the darkness of the forest. Zemo smiled and nodded as he continued along the trail.

  Boris sensed the figures watching him before he could detect any sight or sound sensation that indicated that the watchers were there. After a few moments, Zemo turned off the narrow trail onto a narrower game trail. He halted the party and waited. Two elves appeared silently out of the forest and walked up to Zemo.

  “These humans have come to see the one who was hurt,” announced Zemo.

  The elves looked skeptically at the three humans, but they paid particular attention to Fredrik who carried a staff and had a sword and bow on his back.

  “I am known to Queen Alysa,” offered Boris.

  “What is your name?” asked the younger of the elves.

  “Boris Khatama,” smiled the old merchant, “but she may remember me by a different name. We met in Sorelderal before the Collapse.”

  The older elf stepped forward and stared at Master Khatama’s face. Slowly recognition dawned upon him, and he nodded almost reverently.

  “He is known,” declared the older elf.

  “You shall not touch your weapons in our land,” stated the younger elf as he looked into Fredrik’s eyes.

  Fredrik nodded his understanding, and the elves turned and led the way along the game trail. After several minutes the group entered a large glade with towering trees. Boris noticed that the forest floor was matted down from the trampling of many feet. He gazed upward into the tall trees, but the night was too dark to see anything. The elves halted in front of one of the stately trees. A rope ladder was immediately lowered. The older elf held the rope ladder until it stopped swinging, and then he swiftly climbed up it.

  “Please climb the ladder quickly,” the younger elf said softly.

  Fredrik strapped his staff to his body and climbed up. Niki went second and Boris last. The younger elf and Zemo stayed below. Boris climbed the rope ladder well past the lower branches of the tree before he saw a large wooden platform. He stepped off the rope ladder next to Fredrik and Niki. Two more elf warriors stood guard on the platform, and the older elf disappeared up a staircase. He returned moments later with a small group of elves following him. Boris smiled and bowed when he saw Queen Alysa.

  “I am pleased by your visit,” the queen said to Boris. “I only wish my husband Solva was here to greet you.”

  “His wisdom will be sorely missed,” nodded Boris. “I see that the elves of Sorelderal have left the city.”

  “It was necessary,” frowned the queen, “but we are being rude. Please, follow me to a setting where you can introduce your companions.”

  The queen led the way up the staircase. Boris watched as the older elf returned down the rope ladder, and the two elf guards pulled the rope ladder up. He hurried after the group. The staircase wound around the giant tree, occasionally passing more platforms, until the party exited on a well-worn platform with a structure built upon it. The queen led the way into the structure.

  Inside the building was a corridor with two doors off of it, one on each side. At the far end of the corridor was a third door, and the queen led the way through it. The group entered and found a large table with chairs set around it. The queen sat at one end of the table and beckoned the humans to be seated. Fredrik and Niki sat on one side by the queen and Boris sat on the other.

  “Thank you for admitting us to your home, Queen Alysa,” smiled Boris. “My friends are called Niki and Fredrik.”

  “Greetings to all of you,” nodded the queen before turning her attention to Boris. “The wounded human and his companion are also friends of yours?”

  “Bin-lu is the wounded one,” nodded Boris. “His companion is called Wylan. How is the lad?”

  “He lives,” frowned the queen. “He is strong to have survived the poison of the Akatids. It was wise of you to send him here. The dwarves are not familiar with our remedies.”

  “Were you able to use the shells of the akatids to heal his burns?” asked Boris.

  “Yes,” replied Queen Alysa. “Were he not also poisoned, I think he would have recovered normally. I was curious how a human would know of our elven magic and send four akatids with the boy. I never would have imagined who that human was.”

  “I suppose from your demeanor that there is some infirmity remaining with him,” sighed Boris.

  “Indeed there is,” nodded the queen as she signaled for one of her bodyguards. “Bring Heltos here so she may describe the boy’s condition,” she said to the guard.

  Boris understood that the queen preferred to let the healer describe Bin-lu’s condition and changed the subject. “Even though you have moved your people into the forest, I see that you have maintained good relations with the dwarves of Dorgun.”

  “Not only of Dorgun,” responded the queen, “but of Lanto as well. The dwarves offered to share their homes with us after the goblin raids following the Collapse, but we chose to live in the forest instead. Elves were not meant to dwell underground. As you can see, we had to make some adjustments in the way we live, but our people are much safer here than in the old city.”

  “Do the goblins continue to attack?” asked Fredrik.

  “They do,” replied Queen Alysa, “although not in large numbers any more. When we first migrated here, the attacks were a daily occurrence. We were a peaceful people at that time and had little training in warrior skills. The same is not true today. The only attacks we get now are from small bands of goblins usually trying to capture any of us that stray out of this area of the forest. Even then we manage to best them.”

  “The desire to pursue knowledge, rather than warfare, is the reason Sorelderal was established,” Boris explained to Fredrik and Niki. “The elves of Sorelderal and the dwarves of Dorgun accomplished what few races ever have. They learned to live together in peace.”

  “And nothing has changed that,” smiled Queen Alysa. “Nor will anything change it in the future.”

  The elf guard returned with a female elf of considerable age. Boris gazed at the telltale wrinkles on the woman’s face as she approached and realized that she must be very old, as elves rarely had anything but the smoothest of complexions.

  “Heltos,” greeted the queen, “please have a seat. These people have come to inquire of your patient’s health.”

  The ancient elf gazed at the humans as she approached the table. Her eyes crinkled slightly as she looked at Master Khatama, but if she detected his identity as the Mage, she hid it well. Heltos took the seat next to Master Khatama.

  “You are the one who sent the akatids?” she asked Boris.

  “I am,” nodded Boris. “How is Bin-lu?”

  “He is alive, which is more than he should be,” the ancient healer stated. “While you must have some knowledge of elven magic to understand that akatids are useful in the case of severe burns, it puzzles me why you allowed the boy to become poisoned by them.”

  �
��It is not what I had intended,” responded Boris.

  “I did that,” volunteered Niki. “I assumed that is what Master Khatama desired.”

  “Do not blame yourself, Niki,” Boris smiled fatherly. “I should have taken into account your abilities with animals and warned you.”

  Heltos gazed questioningly at Niki. “You have animal magic?” she asked.

  “Some,” Niki answered hesitantly.

  “Ah,” responded Heltos as she nodded knowingly. “Well, I would value the input of both of you then. I have never seen anything quite like what Bin-lu is experiencing.”

  “And what is he experiencing?” prompted Boris.

  “I was able to counteract the poisoning in time to save his life,” explained Heltos, “but he still shows some effects of it. He lacks energy and is quite depressed.”

  “I am sure that the burns would be depressing alone,” interjected Fredrik.

  “No,” Heltos shook her head. “I healed his burns completely. His hands and feet appear as good as new.”

  “Appear?” Boris echoed questioningly.

  “Yes,” frowned Heltos. “While the hands and feet appear normal and healthy, in fact they are not. I think that is what depresses him.”

  “How are they different?” asked Niki.

  “They stick to things unexplainably,” sighed the ancient elf healer. “Frankly, they are of no use to Bin-lu. When he tries to walk, he cannot. His foot simply does not obey him. When he rises, he must do so without the use of his hands. Should he forget his disability and place his hand on the floor to push himself up, he gets stuck.”

  “May we see him?” requested Boris.

  Heltos looked to the queen for permission before nodding. The healer rose and waited for the humans.

  “I will leave you to visit with your friends,” declared Queen Alysa as she rose. “I will have rooms made available for you to spend the night. Perhaps we can talk again in the morning before you leave.”

  Boris rose with the other humans and bowed slightly to the queen. Heltos led the humans up the spiral stairs to the next level. There were several small buildings on this level, and the healer led the group to one of them. She walked to a wall sconce and held her hand towards the unlit torch. A small flame leaped from her fingertips and ignited the torch. Boris smiled appreciatively.

  The small room held two mats and a small table with two chairs. Bin-lu was asleep on one of the mats, and Wylan was on the other. Wylan opened his eyes when the torch was lit.

  “Is it morning?” Wylan asked.

  “It is still early in the night,” answered Boris. “We have come to look at Bin-lu. Do not let us disturb your sleep.”

  “I don’t mind,” Wylan said as he wiped the sleep from his eyes. “Do you think you can help Bin-lu? I am worried about him.”

  “Why are you worried?” asked Heltos.

  “His condition,” Wylan answered hesitantly. “I do not think that Bin-lu feels like he can bear living like he is. I am afraid to leave him alone for fear that he will not be here when I get back.”

  Boris frowned as he stooped to examine Bin-lu’s hands. “Where would he go?” Master Khatama asked.

  “Down,” frowned Wylan, “and I do not mean by the rope ladder.”

  “You think he would jump out of the tree?” questioned Fredrik. “That would be suicide at this height.”

  “I think that is Wylan’s fear,” Boris said as he stood. “There is no need for all of us to be here. Heltos, could you show those three to the rooms set aside for us? I want to sleep in here tonight.”

  The elf healer looked suspiciously at Boris before nodding. Wordlessly she led the three young humans out the door. Boris knelt again and took one of Bin-lu’s hands and examined it. He poked a finger into the palm of Bin-lu’s hand. Bewilderment clouded Master Khatama’s face as he felt his finger stick to Bin-lu’s hand. He pulled hard to separate his finger from Bin-lu’s palm. Bin-lu’s eyes flickered open and shut quickly, but Boris saw it out of the corner of his eye.

  “You are lucky to be alive,” Boris said softly.

  There was no answer coming from Bin-lu, so Boris rose and walked to the open door of the room. His mind wandered as he gazed out at the large branches of the tree. Finally, he sighed and returned to Bin-lu’s side.

  “I am going to spend the night in here with you,” Boris stated. “We must leave in the morning to search for Tedi. I want you to come with us.”

  A slight tear dampened the check of Bin-lu, but he did not open his eyes or respond to Master Khatama’s statement.

  “Enough of this self-pity,” Boris said sternly. “I thought Alcea Rangers were supposed to be the best. Is this what they taught you? Have you learned to run and hide at the slightest difficulty?”

  Bin-lu’s eyes popped open, and he glared at Master Khatama. “Difficulty?” Bin-lu spat. “Is that all you see? My whole life I have wanted to be a warrior. It is all I ever wanted out of life. My hands and my feet are my weapons. Now they are useless. What good am I to anyone? I cannot travel, let alone fight. I cannot even walk across this floor. What do you know of being a warrior?”

  Bin-lu’s tears were streaming down his cheeks now, and Boris bit his lip in compassion.

  “I know more about a man’s spirit than I do about his warrior skills,” Boris admitted softly. “You have found a champion in Arik and a friend in Tedi. Are you willing to abandon them so easily?”

  “I have no choice,” sobbed Bin-lu. “I would give anything to do as you wish, but can you not see that I am a hopeless cripple? Why can’t you just leave me in peace?”

  “Because you are too important to the cause to allow you to wallow in your self-pity,” Boris answered. “You said that you would do anything. Is that the truth? Are you willing to struggle for what is good in the world, even if it means sacrifice?”

  “I have already sacrificed all that I have,” scowled Bin-lu. “What more can you ask of me? Can you use your magic to heal me?”

  “Elven magic has already saved your life and healed your burns,” stated Boris. “I cannot do better than that with magic, but even as a mage I know that there can be other ways. I cannot heal you, but I can help you. It requires your effort and your desire, though. Are you up to the challenge?”

  “What challenge?” asked Bin-lu. “If you cannot offer me your magic, what else do you have?”

  “I have a brain and the desire to see evil vanquished,” smiled Boris. “I believe that you have both of those, too. Shall we put them together and find a solution to your problems? Or are you determined to throw your life away and leave Arik and Tedi to fend for themselves?”

  “You are a cruel man, Master Khatama,” scowled Bin-lu. “It is bad enough that my life is over, but you insist on making me feel guilty about it. Leave me be.”

  With a swiftness that belied his age, Boris grabbed Bin-lu’s wrists and forced the lad’s hands to come together. Bin-lu bolted to a sitting position and glared at Master Khatama.

  “What are you doing?” Bin-lu shouted. “Is there no shame to your cruelty?”

  Boris felt the presence behind him before Heltos spoke.

  “That is a good question, Bin-lu,” the old woman’s voice said sternly. “I will not stand for such behavior with my patients. You must leave, Master Khatama.

  Boris ignored the elven healer as he watched Bin-lu trying to force his hands apart. He heard Heltos moving closer and watched beads of sweat appear on Bin-lu’s forehead as the lad tried unsuccessfully to separate his palms.

  “Do not try to force them apart,” Boris said softly. “Use your brain.”

  Bin-lu sighed in frustration and threw himself back to his mat. Heltos stood at the foot of the mat. Her confused gaze passed from Boris to Bin-lu and back to Boris again, but she said nothing.

  “Try to touch your thumbs to your smallest fingers,” Boris suggested softly. “Instead of using your brute force to tear your hands apart, use the leverage of your muscles to accomplish the go
al easier.”

  Bin-lu’s glare turned to a questioning glance as he listened to Master Khatama’s words. Slowly, his thumbs began to move. As his thumbs curled inward, Bin-lu’s palms began to spread apart. As his palms separated, he stared at his freed hands in astonishment.

  “Sometimes the brain is more powerful than any magic,” smiled Boris. “Try one hand on the wall and see if you can free it without exertion.”

  Bin-lu’s eyes were opened wide with wonderment, but he placed his palm against the wall of the room. Slowly, he brought his thumb and smallest finger together and his hand came away from the wall easily.

  “That is most amazing,” smiled Heltos. “It is a rare mage that can throw away years of magic training and look beyond it. What about his feet?”

  “The same principle should work there too,” smiled Boris. “Try it with your own feet, Heltos. Try curling your toes towards your heel.”

  The ancient elven healer stared at her own feet as she tried the exercise.

  “I think it might work,” she nodded. “Get up and try it, Bin-lu.”

  Boris stretched his hand and grasped Bin-lu’s forearm. When Bin-lu had swiveled on his mat, Boris pulled him upright. Bin-lu swayed as his feet stuck to the floor, but Boris steadied him. Bin-lu stared at his feet as he curled his toes. He smiled as he picked one foot off of the floor and put it down again.

  “It works,” smiled Bin-lu. “It really works.”

  “Most promising,” nodded Heltos. “At least you will be able to get around now.”

  Depression immediately clouded Bin-lu’s face again. “Get around, yes,” he frowned, “but never will I fight again.”

  “I thought you had dispensed with all of your negative thoughts,” scolded Master Khatama. “You are dwelling on emotion again instead of using your head.”

  A puzzled frown grew over Bin-lu’s face as he watched Boris rummage through Wylan’s pack. Boris retrieved a pair of gloves from the pack and drew his knife. He sliced through the fabric and cut off the fingers of the gloves and handed them to Bin-lu.

  “Put those on,” ordered Boris.