by K.L. Bauman
Volos forced Ayden to drink a relaxing tea that would help him sleep. He was certain it would have no effect, but drank it to satisfy Volos.
Ayden was surprised later when Volos shook him awake. "I actually fell asleep?" he asked groggily.
"I make good tea," Volos said, smiling down at him.
The rest of the night was uneventful and Ayden chanced letting his mind wander. He tried to determine what, exactly, Tyran's words had meant. He was still clueless when the sun peered over the horizon.
When they reached the waterfall the next day, the three wearied travelers gratefully took a deep drink of water and Ayden gave the password. "Butterfly feet," he said softly but clearly. As they stepped through the waterfall, Ayden realized that Pax was not following them. He stood at the opening, staring into the cave. Ayden approached and asked, "Are you okay?"
Pax fiddled with a pouch hooked on his belt; whatever it contained rattled nosily. He said, "I-I've read a l-lot about it, b-but I never believed that the Other W-Warld really existed."
Ayden smiled. "I know exactly how you feel. C'mon, it's nothing to be afraid of." Then he remembered what Freya had said about interaction between worlds and turned again toward Pax. "Uh, you might want to make sure to resist using any magic while you're there, though. Oh, and there's a spell in the tunnel to discourage stray travelers. Just stay focused on me and walk straight."
Pax nodded and then cautiously followed Ayden into the cave. He heard Pax say, "Oof!" a couple of times as he stumbled through the enchanted passageway.
Upon exiting the caraganas, Ayden was smothered with hugs from his grandmother, who had obviously been worried since receiving their message the day before.
"Hello Freya," Ayden said affectionately as he returned his grandmother's hugs. "We had a beast of a time out there!"
Ignoring Ayden's attempted joke, Freya cupped his face in her hands and spoke, "I am so glad you are alright! I was worried. Come, come. Let's get into the house. You need to tell me every detail." Then, sensing another presence, Freya stopped and asked, "Who is there?"
Pax, who'd been absorbed in looking at his new surroundings answered, "I-I'm Pax, m-ma'am."
Ayden cut in, "We met him yesterday. He actually saved my life. He's alone--his uncle died not long ago."
Freya's face was serious as Ayden led her to Pax. She placed her hands on his and traced the circular scar on the back of his left hand. Her expression became sterner. Then, she rested one of her hands on his face, and one over his heart. Pax stood rigid as his eyes wandered uncertainly back and forth between Ayden and Freya.
As she stood there holding Pax's face, the line between Freya's brows gradually softened and she smiled. "I think no harm will come from you, Pax. You have a good heart. I am sorry for your loss," Freya said, removing her hands.
"Thank y-you," Pax said quietly, looking down at his feet.
"Be sure not to use any magic while on this side of the gateway, hmm?" Freya whispered close to Pax's ear. He looked at her in wonder and then raised a brow at Ayden.
"She can sense things about people. It's a little freaky," Ayden explained.
Pax nodded and they all walked to the house. Jynx, who had been mostly silent during their trip, yowled hungrily as they entered the kitchen. Daktari, who had once again assisted Freya, fussed at the cat while she piled a dish full of chopped salmon. He purred happily as he devoured the tasty treat.
Later that evening, Volos, Ayden (with the ever present Jynx curled in his lap), and Freya sat around the dining room table. Freya folded her hands neatly on the table, breathed deeply, and calmly asked Ayden and Volos to explain every detail of what had happened with the beast and the defender. Volos and Ayden took turns recounting everything that they could remember up to when they left the scene after burning the creature's body.
Freya sat, eyes closed and brows creased throughout the entire retelling of the story. When they finished, she thought for several minutes before opening her eyes. She placed one hand on Ayden's and one on Volos'. "I am so sorry for the loss of our dear friend. The whole of Shae Vale will be mourning his passing. He was a great defender and an even greater friend."
They sat in silence for a moment in respect for the fallen defender. Then, sighing deeply, Freya turned to Ayden and spoke, "I'm afraid that I have, as Volos would agree, been much too protective of you over the past several years. There are many things that I must now explain to you. Much of it will come as a shock, but it is imperative that you understand everything now."
Freya straightened in her chair and replaced her hands in her lap. "Long ago," she began just as she always had when Ayden was younger and Freya would tell him stories of Shae Vale, "there was a noble elf king by the name of Elrohir Elenya. He was strong and good king who cared for his people and kingdom and for others. He was also considerate and friendly towards the kingdoms that surrounded him.
"Elrohir's greatest rival was the evil and powerful sorcerer, Lagos who, ironically, also happened to be the king's cousin. Lagos was terribly jealous of Elrohir, as the troubled often times are of the untroubled. He sought to destroy his cousin and claim the throne. He tried many times, but was always bitterly unsuccessful.
"One day, after Lagos had become very strong in the ways of dark sorcery, he challenged the king to a duel. The two of them fought at the Glass Lake in a heated magical battle for three days with no food, no water, and no rest. On the third day, both were much wearied but it seemed that the king was stronger and would overcome his adversary.
"However, Lagos had one last trick up his sleeve. Creating a powerful illusion of the king's dead mother calling for him, Lagos was able to distract Elrohir long enough to strike a deadly blow."
"So, the sorcerer defeated the king?" Ayden asked, disappointed.
"Well, yes--and no. You see, Elrohir was strong enough to stay alive for a short time after the spell was cast. When Lagos gloated over the king's felled body, Elrohir thrust his sword, which held a magic of its own, into the sorcerer's black heart. It is said that Lagos' blood mixed with the king's blood caused the sword to become dreadfully powerful.
"At the death of the king and the sorcerer, the sword rang out with a loud, strange sound. Many described it as a single, eerily beautiful note that lasted for the length of one hour. During that time, most of what Lagos had done was thankfully undone. Unfortunately, much of what Elrohir had established was also destroyed. It was a very dark and difficult time in Shae Vale."
Freya cleared her throat and continued, "The king's son, realizing the power that the sword had obtained, feared that it would fall into the wrong hands. Lagos had many followers who would seek to use the sword to avenge their master and gain ultimate power of their own. The sword's power combined with a sorcerer's would render that sorcerer invincible.
"So, the prince entrusted the sword with his most loyal defender. That defender, under the strict instruction of the prince, hid the sword where not even the prince would find it. The secret of the sword's hiding place was passed down only to the defender's son, then to his son, and so on. That is until?"
Freya paused and took a deep breath as if gathering courage and then continued, "Until my husband, your grandfather, was killed before he could pass the secret on to your mother; as you know, your mother had no siblings, so the secret would've been hers to bear. You see, the prince's greatest defender's name was Estel."
Ayden sat, dumbstruck for several minutes. His grandparents' surname and his mother's maiden name was Estel. He glanced at Volos who was looking at him intently. Ayden looked back at Freya and asked slowly, "So, you are telling me, that I am a descendant of a great elf defender?" For reasons he was unsure of, he felt like laughing hysterically.
Freya nodded but remained silent, allowing Ayden to take his time with the information she had just supplied him. He questioned Freya again to confirm that he hadn't misunderstood her. "So, that would mean that I am?.that I am
an elf? But, I don't have pointed ears, or, or magical powers or foresight or anything like that."
"Your ears are not as pointed as a full blooded elf. You see, your grandfather fell in love with a human girl," Freya smiled warmly as her cheeks turned pink. "It was through your grandfather that I learned a bit of magic--such as when I tricked you and your friends with the tool shed. Oh, and a little muddle dust in the air was of great assistance the day." Freya smiled smugly, pleased with herself.
Barely hearing Freya's explanation and feeling like Pax, Ayden stuttered, "S-so, Mom was half elf? H-how could I not have noticed something like that?"
"Her ears took after mine, more rounded than pointed. She also kept her hair over them. But that is not all. Your father was neither human nor elf. He was kemen emer, an earth shepherd from the fairy realm. They came to live in this world when you were born, fearing that the evil ones in Shae Vale would learn of your ancestry and come for you before you were old enough to defend yourself."
Ayden sat dumbstruck for a long time. How could he not have known all of this? He absentmindedly reached toward his back, half expecting wings to sprout from between his shoulder blades. Volos chuckled quietly and said, "Not all fae folk have wings. Earth shepherds protect and care for the soil and all that grows from it. That is why you enjoyed your grandmother's horticulture lessons and why they came so easily to you."
Ayden asked, "But, if grandpa didn't get the secret of the sword to Mom, and Mom hadn't given the secret to me, why would they worry about me being in danger?"
"Your grandfather did get part of the message to me before he died. I entrusted the information with your parents in case something should happen to me. Even though you were still very young, your parents feared that others would not believe that you would not yet hold the secret."
Ayden's mind was racing too fast for him to speak. When he didn't respond, Freya continued, "As far as your thinking you have no magical abilities, Ayden, you are wrong. As we said, you were very quick in learning about the plants, and your understanding of animals is proof that you do indeed possess special qualities from your heritage. And, when you told me how you defeated the vonima beast yesterday, I knew for certain that you were becoming more powerful with your abilities."
"I don't understand," Ayden said.
Freya leaned closer to Ayden and asked intently, her blind eyes staring past him but twinkling with excitement, "How did you know where to thrust your sword in order to kill it?"
"Dumb luck?" he asked quietly.
"Luck had nothing to do with it! It was pure instinct--elf instinct. That animal can only be killed by stabbing a very small soft spot in the center of its skull. As you mature, Ayden, the more powerful you will become."
Ayden was numb. All this time, he had been part elf and part fae and no one had told him. Then, a heated surge of pride and excitement coursed through his blood. "This is awesome!" he shouted so suddenly that it made Freya and Volos jump. They both chuckled, but then Freya quickly sobered again.
"Ayden, I am happy that you are taking this so well. But there is still more that we need to discuss." Ayden's heart sank. He didn't like his grandmother's tone.
"Volos and I, and others in Shae Vale, believe that your parents' disappearance had something to do with the secret they held. No one knows for sure how they were taken--or if they are alive. But we believe that if your true identity is discovered, those seeking the location of the sword will be coming for you next. They will be under the impression that the secret now lies with you. They will believe that you know where to find the sword."
Ayden had heard Freya's every word, but he could only focus on one thing. "You mean, there's a chance that Mom and Dad are still alive?"
Freya sighed and, once again, placed her hand over Ayden's, "We must always have hope for this. But remember that Degas is very evil. If she took them, she is not likely to have kept them alive for this long. Defenders have been searching for them in Shae Vale ever since their disappearance with no trace."
Ayden's emotions were on a roller coaster ride that was draining him of energy. A million thoughts, a million hopes, a million dreads filled his heart and mind until he felt like his head and chest would explode. As if all of this wasn't enough, Freya continued, "There is more. The ancient words of the elves and fairies tell that an evil like has never been seen will infest Shae Vale?"
"Degus?"
"I believe so. She was, after all, one of Lagos' most loyal followers. This prophecy also tells us that this evil will be defeated by the sound of a single, powerfully magical, musical note."
Ayden asked his grandmother, "And you think?the sword?"
"It does seem to fit, doesn't it?" Ayden could feel a strange, excited energy emanate from Freya as she continued, "The prophecy also says that this magic will be brought against this evil by the hand of an elf boy carrying mingled blood within his veins."
Chapter Eleven
Dragon Blades