Exodus: The Windwalker Archive: Book 3 (Legends of Agora)

by Michael James Ploof

  “Thank you,” said Talon. “But I was just telling it like it is.”

  “I like that,” said Zerafin. “Telling it like it is. You must get it from your amma.”

  “Perhaps,” said Talon with a chuckle. He looked to his amma, who offered a mirthless grin.

  “I believe that you have done a good thing in overturning the council’s decision,” Azzeal said to the queen. “I once believed in absolute non-intervention as they do, but going out into the world and seeing the lives of others firsthand is a sobering experience.”

  “Indeed, it must be,” said the queen. “But there is a fine line that must not be crossed. For our power is too great, and if we start taking sides, we will drastically effect the natural advancement of the humans. Take for instance this Skomm revolution that you are so keen on setting in motion.”

  “It is not as though we are helping primates to learn farming,” said Zerafin. “The humans, barbarians, and dwarves are all very smart, arguably as smart as we are. They only lack the magic to help themselves to advance.”

  “Yes, but allowing them the benefits of magic before they have discovered it for themselves is no favor,” said the queen. “The more we help, the more they will become dependent on that help. The council came to this conclusion when first we landed upon the beaches of Agora. We could so easily conquer this land, and we must be careful to not do it through good intentions.”

  “If that is what you believe, then why did you overturn the council?” Talon asked.

  The queen sipped her wine and studied him for a moment. “I felt that it was the right thing to do. And because a mischievous part of me is curious to see what you will do with the ring. Call it an experiment. Your actions shall either alter our opinions on non-intervention, or they will strengthen them.”

  “I will not let you down,” said Talon. Though he inwardly cringed at the burden of responsibility that lay upon his shoulders.

  They finished their soup and rice wine, and next came the main course: freshly caught fish from the ocean, along with mussels and a variety of flowers that the elves swore were edible.

  The atmosphere became light over dinner, and they fell into comfortable conversation. Talon had a million questions about the elven city, however, the queen’s interest in his adventures since leaving Volnoss kept him from asking much at all. He found himself reciting the tale yet again, and by the time he had finished, the dessert plates had been taken away and replaced by yet more wine. The elves seemed unaffected by the drink. Talon, however, felt himself becoming quite tipsy. Soon his tongue had become loose, and his courage had grown.

  “Good queen, as you know there are many sick and injured Skomm on board our ships. I have been lucky enough to avoid the sickness so far, but more than half of the others have become ill. Dozens have died already. Do you perhaps have something that might help fight the ailment?”

  The queen looked to her son, and it seemed for a moment that they shared a silent conversation. Talon remembered the voice in his head when he had been beckoned to shore and found himself thinking it slightly rude to hold mental conversations in the presence of others. It was akin to whispering into another’s ear.

  “I shall see what can be done,” she said finally.

  “Thank you,” said Talon.

  “Is there anything else that you wish to ask?”

  Talon glanced at his amma, who was glaring at him sidelong.

  “Well…I think that a day on land would help to raise the people’s spirits greatly. They have been out to sea since being sold into slavery. Many of them hadn’t even seen the sun in weeks until we freed them. I spent just a few days down in a slave hold, and it was terrible. The bodies are cramped so tight that you get trampled if you try to sleep, and you are forced to relieve yourself were you stand half the time.

  “Sorry,” he said, seeing how his conversation had soured their faces. “I didn’t mean to speak of such things at dinner.”

  “It is quite understandable,” said the queen. “I should be the one apologizing. How rude we now seem for not inviting your people onto our beaches already. In the morning we will send out boats to ferry your people onto land. I believe that the day will be a mild one. They will find much needed relaxation. Leave it to me.”

  “Thank you, your generosity is most appreciated,” said Talon. “I believe that our people will have a long and mutually bountiful relationship.”

  Gretzen gawked at his audacity, while Azzeal grinned. Zerafin raised his glass and said, “To a long and bountiful friendship,” to which the others toasted as well.

  Chapter 10

  A Palace of Vines

  We changed the course of history, elf and I. But it was Talon who did the doing. We just give him the tools.

  -Gretzen Spiritbone

  Talon left the palace feeling on top of the world. It had all gone quite well, he thought—aside from Azzeal being forbidden to interact with other races for two hundred years. Talon wondered if that meant himself and Gretzen as well. He planned on leaving soon, but as far as he knew, Gretzen had no plans of leaving Elladrindellia.

  He looked to his amma, and indeed, he recognized her sorrow. Now that the pleasantries were over, she seemed more sullen than usual.

  “Azzeal,” he asked as they walked across the bridge leading to the abode within the tree. “When does your punishment take effect?”

  “Three days from today.”

  “But…but what does that mean?” said Talon. “I can never see you again? Amma can never see you again?”

  Azzeal stopped and turned to regard him fully. His wet, feline eyes looked upon Gretzen as well. “I am sorry,” he said in a near whisper, but then perked up. “These kinds of sentences rarely go the duration. It is possible that it will be shortened to one hundred, perhaps even fifty or twenty-five years.”

  “Feikinstafir, Azzeal. I never meant for this to happen to you.”

  “Nothing has happened to me, my friend. I have happened to something, and now I must respect the council’s wisdom and judgement.”

  He turned and continued to the door, where he stopped once again and gestured toward the distant waterfall.

  “Come, stay with me for the time we have. Find what you need inside, and I will wait.”

  Talon and Gretzen took him up on the offer. When they had returned with their bags, Azzeal led them through to the other side of the city. The lights shining brightly from the peaks of the many pyramids lit the night with a soft glow like multi-colored moonlight. One had to look directly at it for it to be a hindrance to their vision. Otherwise, the bright beacons seemed to dim in the peripheral.

  “Do you know that there is a secret to those lights?” Azzeal asked, noticing Talon’s attention on the illuminated capstones.

  “What is the secret?”

  “Those lights cannot be seen by the darkest of hearts. It is said that the purer of heart one is, the brighter the capstones become. They are constant beacons against the ever encroaching darkness, and a haven for those seeking the light.”

  “What…what does it mean if I can’t see the light in the corner of my eye?” Talon asked, not liking the implications.

  “Do not fret,” said Azzeal. “Shadows and demons hide in the corner of the eye. It means only that you strive to chase them away.”

  They came to the waterfall, and Azzeal stepped up onto a large round disk. The water from above stopped splashing on the stone and parted above him like a curtain. Talon stared in wonder at the water magic.

  “Please,” said Azzeal. “Step onto the stone and do not be afraid.”

  They did so with no fear. Rather, Talon was overjoyed when the slab gently began to float up beside the waterfall. The crashing water below was deafening. Even as Talon laughed with joy, he was deaf to his own merriment.

  Gretzen seemed to be enjoying herself as well, for she tilted her head back and laughed when she lost her balance and grabbed onto Azzeal’s strong arm. He smiled on her and rushed them faster
still up the side of the waterfall.

  Finally, they crested the falls and were rewarded with a moonlit view of the sprawling river and its many marshy tributaries. Vines covered the land as far as they could see to the west, though they were not wild and destructive. These grew out of the water and banks and formed twisting walkways and bridges over the rushing river.

  Azzeal stepped off the disk onto a landing and turned to offer his hand to Gretzen. She took it, and Talon led her off.

  “Will the disk just stay there like that?” Talon asked.

  “Indeed,” said Azzeal. “It is powered by the pyramids, and will wait until someone steps onto it, then it will ferry them gently down to where we began.”

  “Feikinstafir,” said Talon, which got him a slap on the arm from his amma.

  “Watch mouth!” said the old woman before turning to follow the elf across the vines.

  “It is quite alright,” said Azzeal. “I, like Zerafin, rather enjoy the sound of the word. I have even caught myself using it when fitting.”

  He led them through winding halls, which were like tubes snaking across the river. On the walkways and bridges, the vines were thin and knotted. But there were others, twice as wide as Talon’s chest, which laced to form high and spiraling towers from which light and music spilled.

  One such tower grew near the southern bank among a copse of weeping willows, whose long draping tips cut patterns in the smooth waters near the bank.

  “This is my abode,” said Azzeal, as long draping leaves parted and lights began to glow within the tower and spill out onto the walkway.

  The tower was made entirely of twisted vine. From the stairs they walked up to the floor of the landing. A wide, circular room opened before them, and Talon marveled yet again at the cleverness of the elves’ magic.

  His heart yearned to create such wonders.

  “Is it possible for humans to create such wonders?” he asked.

  “You have a magic all your own,” said Azzeal.

  “Sure,” said Talon. “But can your magic be taught to humans?”

  “No. It is forbidden to meddle in such ways. Humans must rediscover magic on their own.”

  “Rediscover?” said Talon, intrigued.

  Azzeal grinned at him and shook his head.

  “What you call my magic, then eh?” Gretzen asked.

  “Sorry, Amma. It’s just…look at all of this.”

  Gretzen scoffed. “You seen nothing,” she said.

  “Please, join me on the balcony. If my star map is correct, there will be a meteor shower tonight in the northwest,” said Azzeal.

  The balcony was located above the main living quarters and was open-aired, offering a three-hundred-and-sixty-degree view of the surrounding land. To the east the Thousand Falls roared dully. To the north a forest grew out of the long valleys and swamplands. Looking south, talon saw a large forest far in the distance that blanketed the horizon, working its way east where the river reflected the starry sky.

  “Unfortunately, the moon is two weeks waning and brighter than I would wish. Still, it should be a good display,” said Azzeal.

  They sat on the balcony, drinking honey water and watching the celestial display. Shooting stars streaked across the sky every few minutes. Always they came from the northwest, and therefore their reflections on the river paralleled them, distorted by the turbulent water though they were.

  Talon told them both of his plans to investigate the lead about Akerri being on Belldon Island, and his intentions to afterward fulfill his promise to free the Skomm.

  “And where will we put them all?” Gretzen asked.

  Talon didn’t at first understand. Seeing this, she elaborated. “You free thousands of Skomm, then what you do? They no live on Volnoss after big fight. So where they go?”

  “Well, couldn’t they just live in Agora?” Talon asked.

  “All of Agora owned by someone. Who give up land for them?”

  Talon lit up. “Isladon took in the last batch of Skomm slaves. Slavery is illegal there.”

  “Few hundred big difference from twenty thousand.”

  “She is right,” said Azzeal. “That many refugees will have great trouble finding a city willing to take them in.”

  “Would the elves take them in? Could we live here in Elladrindellia?”

  “If I had my way, yes,” said Azzeal.

  “You seemed good friends with Prince Zerafin. Perhaps you could put the idea in his ear.”

  “We have agreed to be your allies, but that is a far stretch from taking your people in. No, your path does not end here anyway. You will find a country of your own, I think.”

  Talon eyed the elusive elf. “Well then, what do you know? It would be a lot easier if you just tell me where we end up.”

  “I have not seen such a thing in my visions.”

  Talon sighed and slumped in his chair a little. He was tired. The day had been long and the drink had flowed freely.

  Seeing his discouragement, Azzeal pointed out a particularly bright star and tried to lighten the mood with a story of its origin. All the while Talon wondered what the elf was not telling him.

  Where would so many Skomm go? And better yet, how would they get them all off the island?

  Chapter 11

  Elven Hospitality

  I believe that we have gained a great ally in the Skomm of Volnoss.

  -Azzeal, Keeper of the Windwalker Archive

  As soon as the sun rose, Talon was up and ready to tell Argath the good news. He was pleasantly surprised to see Azzeal sitting at the table and drinking tea with Zerafin.

  “Ah, young Windwalker, I see that you are eager to begin the day. Excellent,” said Zerafin.

  “I am,” said Talon, unable to hide his grin.

  “If you would like, you are free to summon your spirit wolf here in Elladrindellia.”

  Talon wondered how Zerafin knew that he had wished Chief were with him, and for the hundredth time he reminded himself to think quietly around the elves, which basically meant to stay relatively calm, for it seemed only his strongest feelings and thoughts could be “heard” by the elves.

  “Thank you,” said Talon, and immediately he summoned Chief.

  The wolf cautiously approached the prince, but when he got a sniff of the outstretched hand, he wagged his tail and went about searching the tower of vine.

  The weather was warm, and though the days and nights would already be getting colder on Volnoss this close to autumn, the elven lands lay far to the south, and enjoyed a much warmer climate year round.

  Azzeal joined them as they traveled to the beach to a place called Queen’s Landing, where a boat was waiting to bring Talon and Chief to Freedom.

  “Once they have agreed and you give us the signal, I will send out the boats,” said Zerafin.

  “Thank you once again, good prince,” said Talon.

  He got in the small sailboat, and Zerafin moved the wind from the dock to fill the sails and push the small boat across the harbor.

  Talon could see Argath watching him with a spyglass. The crew were all out by the rail as well, and as he drew closer, they began to whistle and cheer.

  “Where you been?” Argath called out. “We thought we might have to go and rescue you from the pointy-eared lot!”

  Talon laughed and grabbed hold of the rope ladder that was thrown down to him. He climbed up and accepted many hearty pats from the crew.

  “Them elves got any cheese?” asked Gammond, head twitching to the side and left eye winking uncontrollably.

  “What kind of question is that for someone who has just spent the night with the elves?” he asked again, this time in Gill’s voice.

  Talon ignored them both. “They have agreed to allow all of us on shore for a few days. They said they will even try to heal our sick!” he said and excitedly waited for Argath’s reaction.

  The stern-faced man stared at him for a silent moment. Finally, he cracked a smile and shook Talon’s hand with two o
f his. “You’ve done it again, Windwalker. You hear that boys,” he yelled for all to hear. “Windwalker just got us a little holiday in Elladrindellia!”

  The crew erupted in cheers, and soon the news found ears below deck. Word was conveyed to Captain Eaglewind of Redemption, and soon cheers erupted from the other ship as well.

  There would be hot food and drink in Elladrindellia, and the men and women who had been so long cooped up in the slave holds would get a chance to truly relax and spend a few days with the sun in their faces and grass beneath their feet.

  Talon gave the signal, and a small fleet of sailboats began toward them. Argath ordered a dozen men to stay behind and guard the ship. When they lamented over their duties, he ensured them that they would be relieved when the night fell, and a new crew would take their place. With everyone off the ship, it would be a good opportunity to clean her up, he added, to which the moods of the men soured.

  The sickest and most badly injured of the Skomm were brought from below deck and let onto the sailboats first, followed by the remaining women, and finally the men and former gladiators. Talon took the first boat back with the sick, hoping to alleviate their fears.

  To his delight and surprise, a large congregation of elves had gathered since he left the shore. They welcomed the Skomm with open arms, offering kind words and fresh water, baskets of food, and blankets to shelter them from the wind, mild as it was.

  Zerafin strode forth to shake hands with Captain Argath and Eaglewind.

  “Welcome to Cerushia. I am Zerafin, prince of Elladrindellia,” said Zerafin.

  “Thank you. I am Argath, captain of Freedom,” said Argath. “Your people have offered their generosity during a trying time. And we shall not soon forget it.”

  Noticing his limp, Zerafin gestured toward his right foot. “May I? I am not quite a master, but I am skilled in the art of healing.”

  Confused, Argath glanced at his own foot, then to Talon, who shrugged, and back to Zerafin once more. “It has been treated and stitched. There is no longer an infection,” he said slowly.