by T. K. Chapin
“I’m not… It just reminds me of where we came from, you know?” Illadari said as they pushed through a patch of tall grass.
“Where we came from? Like me and the castle?” she asked.
“Exactly... I’ve had creepy and crawling things beneath my feet for the majority of my life before we came to Silvermeer. You on the other hand…”
“I get it. I was born with a golden turtle soup ladle in my mouth,” Tessla said as they came out of the thick grass. Stopping for a moment, Illadari turned to her.
“You were indeed born privileged dear, but you gave it all up for a life together,” Illadari said taking her hand and resting it on his chest. “For our love.”
Smiling, Tessla couldn’t help but kiss him. “And I would do it all over again if given the choice,” she said smiling as they turned and continued to walk.
**
Coming to a small lake, they decided to setup camp for the evening to rest for a few hours. Sitting down with their backs against a moss covered log, they had an amazing and clear view of the lake. The moons and the great Unknown reflected off the still and chilled waters.
“It sure is beautiful…” Tessla said. Just then a bat flew over and startled her. “Well… almost if it wasn’t for the creepy things out here.”
“It is,” Illadari said as he got up and began to gather wood to build a fire. Tessla opened up a pouch, and retrieved waterskins and gymer bread along with Illadari’s Hilted Banes Leaf. As she handed him the leaf, he sighed heavily.
“I was hoping you would have forgotten to bring those vile leafs…” He said softly.
“Enough,” Tessla said in annoyance. “That’s the one thing that’s going to help you with your heart problem. You need to accept it as part of your life until you get better.”
Illadari remained silent as he chewed on the bitter tasting leaf.
“You complain almost every time you have to take it. I want you alive, and Kessler needs you alive. He needs a father and a man of strength more than anything in this world, and you should know that better than anyone.”
“What about a mother? He needs you also,” Illadari said.
“True. But if I have learned anything over these last ten years in Silvermeer and outside the walls of my parents castle, it’s a father, above all else, is the single most important thing for a young man to have.”
Illadari knew she was right, he had a better sense of what a fatherless childhood looks like than anyone he knew. What I wouldn’t give to have my father, he thought to himself. “That is true… I agree,” Illadari said.
“Thank you,” she said taking a bite out of her portion of gymer bread. As they ate their food, Illadari noticed Tessla seemed to be bothered by something suddenly as her eyebrows furrowed.
“What is it?” Illadari asked concerned.
“Kessler…” she said frowning. “I just hope he’s safe…”
“I’m sure he’s okay,” Illadari said as he finished chewing his leaf and building the fire. He sat next to her against the log and kissed her cheek as he took a bite of gymer bread.
“How can you promise that?” Tessla asked.
“I have hope and trust in Omad,” Illadari said as he looked across the lake. “In times of trouble and in times of peril; we have to hold onto the hope we have.” Snuggling up to Illadari, Tessla leaned up and kissed his cheek.
Chapter 9
Tessla found herself unable to sleep as she continually thought of her son Kessler and him being alone or somewhere without his mother. After a few hours of tossing and turning, she woke up and began packing their supplies back into pouches.
Gently nudging Illadari’s shoulder, she woke him up. “Just a few more minutes,” Illadari moaned as he turned on his side.
“It’s almost daybreak love, we need to get moving and find our son,” Tessla insisted.
Turning over as he sat up, Illadari nodded. “You are right,” he said standing upright and dusting the dirt off from his robes. “We should be going.”
The early morning sunrise shone through the forest and lit their way as they ventured eastward, deeper into the forest. The smell of smoke from a campfire ahead caused the two of them to slow their footsteps. Moving quietly between the trees, they came to a man that was lying down on a patch of dirt next to a smoldering pile of ash.
“That man looks like Nejik,” Tessla said as she continued past Illadari to get a closer look. Bending down a few feet away, she looked at the man’s face and then smiled. “Nejik!” she shouted with glee.
Startled, Nejik woke up and flung himself backwards away from her as he blinked his eyes open. “Katlynn?” he asked surprised. “Is that really you?” he said as he broke into a smile.
Her old name sounded foreign to Tessla, she hadn’t heard it in so long and had become so accustomed to Tessla, that she had almost forgotten the name entirely. “You can call me Tessla now… I’ve been going by it for a while.”
“I’ll call you whatever you want to be called, regardless, you are my sister!” Nejik said jumping up from the dirt and embracing her with a hug and a kiss on the cheek. “I’ve missed you terribly all these years!”
“You’ve been to town Nejik. Don’t be so over dramatic,” Illadari said.
“Hi Illadari,” Nejik said with a slight nod. “I’ve been to town, yes, but I haven’t been able to talk to my sister and visit with her as my sister!” He exclaimed hugging Tessla again. “Wait… where is Kessler?” Nejik asked looking around beside the two of them.
“He’s gone...” Tessla said as tears filled her eyes. Covering her mouth, she said, “He just up and vanished.”
“Ohhh…. Because of the illusion being broken? It took him?” Nejik asked.
“Yeah… We need to find him!” Tessla said.
“Ada’s been captured,” Nejik said with fear in his eyes as he covered his mouth. Tessla ran into Illadari’s arms and dug her face in his shoulder as she began to sob.
“What do you mean captured?” Illadari asked.
“I was out making…” Nejik began to say before Illadari interrupted.
“How does the most powerful witch in all of the Darkwood Forest get captured?” Illadari asked with a slight trembling in his voice.
“Like I was saying…” Nejik said. “I was out making my rounds in the Darkwood Forest for any Kobold activity in the area and when I arrived back to the glade, she was nowhere to be found. Whoever took her left this behind.” Nejik retrieved an empty vial from his pocket and handed it to Illadari.
Tessla pulled away from Illadari’s shoulder as she calmed down and looked at the vial as Illadari held it up. As Illadari tilted the vial to one side, he could see a drop of liquid pool at the bottom.
“What’s in there?” Illadari asked.
“Not a clue,” Nejik said with a sigh.
“I know someone in Silvermeer that is an alchemist, I bet she could tell us what’s in here,” Illadari said confidently.
“Mya?” Tessla asked.
“Yes,” Illadari said with a nod. “She’d be able to figure it out.”
“Sure, but she hates travelers…” Tessla said. “She would never give us the time of day if we approach her.” Illadari began to pace around the ash that was left over in Nejik’s campfire as he appeared to be thinking.
“What about Haden?” Illadari asked, as he stopped pacing.
“He hasn’t seen you in ten years… You think he’ll just help you out like that?” Tessla asked.
“I don’t know, but he’s our only hope I can think of,” Illadari said. “He’s a good man and he has helped us before.” Smiling at Illadari, Tessla noticed Nejik behind him sitting on a log looking down at the dirt between his feet as he kicked it.
Walking up to him, Tessla rested a hand on his shoulder and asked, “What’s wrong?” Nejik glanced up at her for a moment and then away.
“I’m worried about Kessler,” Nejik said.
Tessla looked towards Illadari and said, “We wi
ll find him.”
“Then what? I’ve missed you… and you are going to find Ada and fix all this back to the way it’s been for a decade. I don’t want to lose you again…”
“That’s not true. Illadari and I spoke about it and we are going to find a more permanent solution for us.” Tessla rubbed his shoulder. “I’ve thought about you daily Nejik… You’re my big brother and I want you in my life.”
Smiling at her, he turned and hugged her.
“We need to find Ada and fix this all. Have you had any other leads or anything?” Tessla asked.
“Well, I have a buddy, named Thomas, that lives in the northern part of the Darkwood Forest. He says the Kobolds have been growing more aggressive with their attacks and have been attacking travelers out in the open.”
“I had some adventurers that ran into the Kobolds,” Illadari said walking up to the Tessla and Nejik.
“They killed adventurers?” Tessla asked concerned.
“Yes. They even managed to kill Olesk,” Illadari said. Tessla covered her mouth as she became frightful.
“Who’s Olesk?” Nejik asked looking at the both of them.
“He’s one of the veteran adventurers that have been around for a long time… He rarely ever dies,” Illadari said.
“Oh wow!” Nejik said. “Those kobolds are stronger than they use to be I fear. I haven’t had to fight any in quite some time with Thomas keeping me informed of their movements.”
“Do you want to come with us to speak with Haden?” Tessla asked placing her hand on Nejik’s arm.
“No, I better stay here. I can keep looking in the Darkwood Forest for any signs of Ada or the ones who took her. If she’s with the kobolds under captivity, Thomas and I will find out.”
“If you or we find her, how can we let each other know?” Illadari asked.
“Here,” Nejik said as he stood up and went over to his pouch. Retrieving two purple potions, he handed them both to Illadari. “These are teleport potions. They will teleport you back to the Great Tree no matter where you are in Belstrom. Once you are back at the tree, there are more on the shelves. If you find Ada, teleport back to the tree and send a parchment note attached to her crow Davo. It will fly to whomever you wish if you just give the bird the name you wish to deliver the message to. Ada made those potions back a few years ago with a plant she had found in the Rocky Plateau.”
“How on earth does a witch this powerful get taken?” Tessla asked standing up.
Shrugging, Nejik said, “I don’t know… It’s bizarre.”
Chapter 10
Illadari became weary from standing idly by as Tessla and Nejik exchanged goodbyes. Helping push them along, he stepped forward and shook Nejik’s hand.
“We best be on our way,” Illadari said clearing his throat.
“And I as well,” Nejik said looking Illadari in the eyes. I can’t help but dislike this man, Illadari thought as he looked into his eyes. His disdain for Nejik reached back to when he had first encountered the man, it was deep within these same woods, back with Tessla,when they were running away from the King and Queen. He was helpful, but being choked almost to death, was sure to initiate Illadari’s inability to like him, but Illadari felt that it reached deeper than that. He was sure there was not something right about the guy, but Illadari respected the sibling relationship between him and Tessla. After all, he hadn’t done anything to be distrusted.
Leaving Nejik at his encampment, Tessla and Illadari ventured back the way they had come from the west. As they came to the path that would lead back to Silvermeer, they were greeted by a man with a wooden peg leg.
“Hello there ye travelers!” the elderly man said scratching his head. His hair was short, fuzzy and white and his peg leg looked to be made of richwood-grain wood.
“Greetings,” Illadari said extending a hand out. The man adjusted his pack that sat on his shoulder and reached out quickly shaking his hand.
“I’m Wesley, the traveling salesman,” the man said smiling to reveal a few teeth missing.
“I’m Illadari, and this here is my wife Tessla.”
“I see,” the man said looking at the both of them. “Could I interest you and your lady friend in some exotic oils? Maybe you can let the candle burn a little longer this night?”
Tessla blushed as Illadari shook his head. “Don’t be uncouth stranger,” he said. “What else do you sell?”
“My apologies if I offended you,” Wesley said pulling the pack from his shoulder. He opened it to reveal an assortment of scrolls, gems and other keepsakes. Spotting a neon blue stone, Illadari pointed to it.
“What is that?” he asked curiously. He had seen plenty of stones throughout his years, and yet he had never seen one quite like that. The blue stone appeared to be covered in some sort of layer of electricity, and the blue the stone had was vibrant and appealing to the eye.
“That ye is a wizard’s stone,” Wesley said quickly. Glancing behind him he looked towards Silvermeer, and then behind Illadari and Tessla, as if he was making sure nobody was in sight. Getting closer to them, he leaned in and said with his eyebrows pointed up, “This here wizard’s stone is said to be one of only five stones like it to exist in all of Belstrom!”
“Come on… only five of those stones exist?” Illadari said shaking his head.
“That’s absolutely correct good sir!”
“What are they from?” Tessla asked excitedly as she kept her eyes fixated on it.
“It’s from the Wizard’s of Khazar grandmaster staff, Emalia.”
“Never heard of it,” Illadari said looking to get out of the conversation. Tessla on the other hand was hooked into the story that Illadari suspected the old man was using to sell them on the stone.
“What did the staff do?” she asked.
“It’s rumored that the staff has the power to control the Ethereal Planes. Which is a place that holds captive giant monsters that Belstrom hasn’t seen since its beginning.”
Pulling Tessla away from the man, Illadari said, “Look, he’s just trying to get us to buy that stupid stone. He’s talking nonsense,” Illadari glanced back at him for a second.
“I guess I’ve never heard of the Ethereal Planes before…”
“I haven’t either, I don’t think this guy knows what he’s talking about. The stone is just a stone that he’s trying to peddle for a quick couple farthlings.” Tessla nodded in agreement before returning to Wesley.
“Thank you for your time,” Tessla said with a polite bow. “We are running terribly late for something we need to do.”
Wesley remained silent while nodding as he closed up his pack and tossed it back on his shoulder. “Not a problem at all,” he said with a smile. Turning, he continued northward on the path.
They continued on their path to Silvermeer and were stopped by the guards. “State your business,” the guard on the right side of the gate said with a firm tone. His outfit was a standard issue guard uniform, a complete silver appearance from his shoulders down to his toes. Almost shiny enough to see your own reflection in when close enough.
“We are here to see Haden in New Haven,” Illadari said. The guard broke his focus that was directed forward, and looked over to Illadari with an eyebrow raised.
“What business do you have with the Arena’s master?” The guard asked with a suspicious tone.
“We are friends from his past, come to visit him,” Illadari replied. The guard looked him over as if he was trying to size up Illadari.
“Fine, be off with you,” The guard said directing his focus back to in front of him.
Proceeding through the gates and into town, Illadari and Tessla became slightly uncomfortable at the town’s people they’ve known for years looking at them as if they had never known them.
Grabbing onto Tessla’s hand, Illadari leaned into her ear and said, “I love you… I promise it will be okay.” Illadari knew how much Tessla loved the people of Silvermeer and how uncomfortable she had to feel as some of
her closest friends looked at her as if they never known her.
Making their way through town square, they headed right past their old home and to the docks that separated New Haven and Silvermeer. A skiff was tied to the end of the docks; it was used for travel between New Haven and Silvermeer. While it was only twenty feet of water separating the two towns, the only way to get to New Haven was the skiff. Nobody in town was quite sure why a bridge was never built, but nobody seemed to care enough to bring it to the mayor of Silvermeer’s attention.
Arriving on the opposite side of Silvermeer, in New Haven, Illadari helped Tessla out of the boat and onto the docks. Tying the skiff to the dock’s post, Illadari grabbed Tessla’s hand and led her down the trail. Overgrown trees lined the dirt path on both sides as they made their way into the small town of New Haven.