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

by Michael James Ploof

  The seed quickly became a sapling right there on deck. It grew large flowers and long spiraling vines that snaked their way across the deck. They seemed mindful; as though they were sniffing out damaged areas of the ship. The many vines found the breakages and spread out, fusing with the cracked and splintered wood and filling holes and gaps, even replacing the rail and growing from the main mast’s mooring into a tall, spiraling tree. The sails were made anew as well and quickly caught the breeze as vines and leaves filled in the torn spots.

  Freedom was lowered slowly, and when she set down on the water once more, she did not falter, but bobbed on the lazy waves and held strong against the wind now coming from the south.

  “By Thodin’s favor,” Argath managed to whisper through his awe. He looked wide-eyed at Zilena and fell to his knees, offering her a well-deserved high chin.

  The rest of the crew followed his lead, falling to their knees in reverence.

  Talon could hardly see through his tears of joy. He too honored her thusly, having no words to express his gratitude for such an honor.

  “Please stand,” said Zilena.

  Everyone slowly rose, and Argath stood before her, teary-eyed and wordless as the rest of them. For they had never seen such miracles, and were indeed humbled.

  “Thank you, Zilena, princess of Elladrindellia,” he said, and the others nodded their sentiment. “You have given Freedom new life.”

  “It is my duty…” she said humbly. “And my pleasure,” she added with a mischievous grin.

  Argath straightened, trying to compose himself before his crew, and offered his hand. “Shall we set a course to the northwest and retire to my quarters?”

  “Please,” said Zilena, taking his hand and following his lead.

  Talon watched them go, as shocked as everyone else.

  “Windwalker, please join us,” Argath called over his shoulder.

  The crew looked to Talon with reverent eyes.

  He followed them into the captain’s quarters and closed the doors behind them. Argath led Zilena and offered her a seat on the sofa to the left of the wide desk. Talon went to the small bar and poured himself a stiff shot of ten-year whiskey.

  “Wine?” he croaked, nearly choking on the spirits.

  “Please,” said Zilena, sitting back on the sofa adjacent to Argath.

  “Rum,” said the captain. “And my pipe.”

  Talon brought their drinks and was surprised to hear the princess ask if she could have a pipe as well.

  Argath smiled and turned to Talon. “Left side of desk, top drawer,” he said.

  When Talon returned and took a seat in the plush red chair across from the captain, Argath packed and lit the princess’s pipe, and raised his glass to them both.

  “To allies,” he said jovially.

  Talon watched the princess sip from her wine and eyed Argath as well. There was something obvious between them—something that made Talon uncomfortable and left him wishing he wouldn’t have been called into the meeting.

  The princess smiled upon the large-framed captain with intrigue, and not a hint of shame. Suddenly, Talon felt invisible.

  “I hear that your father was killed during the early days of the revolution,” said Zilena.

  “Yes…Forrest died for the cause. Which is more than any Skomm can wish,” said Argath, lost in her eyes.

  “My father died as well, fighting for what he believed, fighting for us all.”

  “I have heard the tales of the brave and venerable Veralas,” said Argath.

  “And I have heard the tales of mighty Argath and brave Talon, fighting for their people against an army of giants and Agoran slaver drivers,” said Zilena. “Your people may revere our magic, but it is nothing compared to the spirit of your people.”

  It was the princess’s turn to offer a raised chin to the captain and Talon. Argath gazed into her eyes like a man hungry for dinner, and Talon simply nodded, knowing that the gesture was lost to them.

  He thought to leave, but then Zilena turned to him and smiled.

  “You and your story are well known to me. For I have read the entirety of Azzeal’s ongoing archive of your life.”

  Talon was taken aback. “Archive?”

  “Yes,” said Zilena. “The Windwalker Archive, as it is to be called. It is not finished, of course. But as part of his sentence, he is also to archive everything that happens due to his controversial decision.”

  Talon somehow knew her mind.

  “You wish to be part of the story…”

  She blushed and offered a curt nod. “The idea intrigues me, but it does not sway my decisions. There is no precedent for what has happened here. I am doing what I think is right.”

  “Of course you are,” said Argath, reaching a long arm over to pat the hand on her knee.

  Talon fought the urge to roll his eyes. Either Argath was under some sort of spell, or his behavior was genuine, in which case Talon would rather exit the room and leave them to it.

  The princess suddenly laughed through her nose and looked to Talon, wide-eyed and obviously entertained. She removed her hand from beneath Argath’s and sipped her wine.

  “Where do we go from here?” Talon asked, hoping to sober them both.

  “We go north!” said Argath with sudden bluster as he raised his glass.

  Zilena’s eyes lit as she too raised her glass.

  “North!” she proclaimed as well.

  Talon gave a sigh. “How in Thodin’s name are we going to free Akerri from the dark elf? That is why you’re here, isn’t it?”

  “The only way to safely save your female friend is to find the source,” said Zilena.

  Talon looked into her eyes and she nodded.

  “Yes, we must go to Volnoss, where surely the dark elf is projecting from.”

  “Projecting?” said Talon.

  “Volnoss it is!” said Argath, already refilling his rum and the princess’s wine.

  “Wait, what do you mean, projecting?”

  “Whoever has control of your Akerri is a skilled practitioner of the dark arts. Such magic is shunned by my people, but we have ways to fight against it. From an early age, elves are taught how to guard against such attacks to the soul.”

  “Soul!” Talon blurted, suddenly afraid.

  “Yes,” said Zilena solemnly. “I’m sorry, Talon. But Akerri is in grave danger. And she may never recover, even if we are to intervene.”

  Talon fought against tears all too ready to spill. “What chances do we have?” he asked.

  “Chances?”

  “Yes, what are the odds that we can rescue Akerri from the clutches of the dark elf?”

  “There is no number,” said Zilena. “That depends on the person.”

  Talon was reassured by her estimation, for if anyone was strong enough to survive such an ordeal, it was Akerri.

  Chapter 18

  Plotting

  I speak with the queen, tell her that I must go with Azzeal into exile. He is the Keeper of the Windwalker Archive, I am Talon’s amma. There are things only I know. She agrees, and I try to hide my excitement. I dare not speak of love between a Vald and an elf, but I will say that he is greatest friend I have known.

  -Gretzen Spiritbone

  In the morning, Argath and Zilena emerged from the captain’s quarters. Talon had been standing at the bow looking north, knowing that Akerri was out there somewhere, trapped by the magic of a dark elf. When the crew began to murmur, he turned to see what had gained their attention. A grinning Captain Argath glanced around at the gawking crew and waved them off dismissively.

  “Get back to work you bunch of salty bastards!” he said, half laughing.

  Zilena came to stand beside Talon and looked in the direction he had been staring.

  “Have hope,” she said. “Your Akerri might still be saved.”

  “It was a daunting prospect before I knew she was possessed by a dark elf. Now it seems nearly impossible.”

  “Nothing is imp
ossible,” said Zilena, though the optimism was completely lost on Talon.

  “Do you know where they went?”

  “Northwest, toward your island.”

  “Fylkin is setting a trap for me,” said Talon.

  “Indeed.”

  “How the hells did he get to her?” Talon asked himself as much as Zilena. He cursed himself for being so foolish. He should have left Sea Queen as soon as he found out Akerri’s location.

  “Rather than focusing on regret, perhaps you should begin to formulate a plan,” said Zilena.

  “My plan was to go as far as northern Shierdon, and then head south to find Akerri on Belldon Island, but now all of that has changed. It looks as though I’m going to have to return to Volnoss before I had intended to.” He glanced at Zilena, shamed by the fear that he felt, and knowing that she could sense it as well.

  “I will help you to free Akerri from the dark elf, but that is as far as I dare go.”

  “I understand,” said Talon.

  Zilena offered him a warm smile and cocked her head toward the elven ship as though someone had called her name.

  “I will return shortly. I must tell my crew of my plans. Mother has forbidden me from taking the vessel beyond elven waters, and so I must continue on with you on Freedom.”

  When she had gone, Argath joined Talon at the rail. The captain wore a pleasant smile as he watched her sailboat ferry her across the water.

  “Never thought I’d entertain elven royalty in the captain’s quarters,” he said with a sly grin. “Life is full of surprises, eh Talon?”

  “That it is, Captain.”

  Argath noticed the concern in his voice and patted him on the shoulder. “We’re going to get her back, lad. Mark my words.”

  “You saw what she did…the magic that she wielded. What if I’m not strong enough?”

  “Bah, we’ve got Zilena on our side now. You saw what the elves did to the ships. Her magic is great. I dare say greater than the dark elf controlling your girl.”

  “But what if it isn’t enough, what if—”

  “There will always be what ifs. You’ll go crazy thinking like that. Have faith in your stars. Because at the end of the day, that’s all anyone has.”

  Zilena joined them soon after, and the Skomm waved goodbye to the elven ship as it turned south. Freedom and Redemption set out northwest toward Volnoss and soon left elven waters. Zilena spent the day laying enchantments about both vessels, saying that should the dark elves attack again, they would be ready.

  Talon joined Argath and Zilena for dinner in the captain’s quarters that night and laid out a plan to rescue Akerri. When the plates had been pushed away, Argath unbuckled his belt with a groan and lit up his long pipe.

  “I have to thank you for the incredible pheasant,” he said, puffing up a big cloud above his head.

  “You are very welcome,” said Zilena. She raised her glass and nodded to the captain. “And I must thank you for the wonderful spirits. We elves do not trade with the dwarves, or rather, I should say that they refuse to trade with us. Dwarven wine is a rare treat.”

  “A rare treat it has been for me to gaze upon one so beautiful,” said Argath.

  Talon rolled his eyes.

  “Thank you, good Captain,” said Zilena.

  They smiled at each other like young adults beneath the maypole, and Talon put his drink down harder than was necessary to snap them out of it.

  They both glanced at him as though he had just arrived.

  “I think that the best way to go about the rescue is by stealth,” said Talon. “Chief can cover Zilena and me, and probably even help against the dark elf.”

  “I’m going with you,” said Argath.

  “Are you sure?” said Talon. “I didn’t want to speak for you.”

  “Of course I’m sure. I have not forgotten my debt. You freed us all. I owe you this much.”

  “You’re a brave man,” said Zilena. “But this is no ordinary warrior that we hunt. It is a dark elf. One who has studied the arts for many decades. Your blades and your brawn will be useless against his power.”

  Argath’s pride was obviously hurt, but he did well to try and hide it.

  “Good princess, surely you could use your magic to strengthen my blade. You and your people fixed our ships. You could make my armor impenetrable, perhaps give me a magical talisman or ring like Talon’s.”

  Talon glanced at the big man and instinctively covered his ring hand. Argath laughed it off. “You’ve done so much already. What is a little enchantment?” he asked Zilena.

  “Perhaps there is something I could arm you with,” she said. “A shield would be best, I believe.”

  Argath’s eyes widened with excitement.

  “As you were saying, Talon,” said Zilena. “I believe that your wolf will be of great use to us. Has he ever fought against someone with…powers?”

  “Yes. There was this liche who was somehow bound to the late captain.”

  “How did he fare against the liche?” she asked hopefully.

  Talon sighed. “He received an injury that sent him back to the spirit world.”

  “Still, he survived,” said Zilena. “That is saying something. And if he did it once, he can do it again. Chief will at least be able to give me the distraction I need to get past the dark elf’s defenses.”

  “What about Akerri? Can we kill the dark elf while it has control of her?”

  “That is what makes this so precarious, and it is why dark elves like to take control of people. If we kill the dark elf while Akerri is still in its clutches, she will surely die as well.”

  “We cannot risk that,” said Talon.

  “Is there a way to drug the dark elf?” Argath asked.

  “It isn’t likely,” said Zilena. “We elves are not easily poisoned. Those of us who practice magic, anyway.”

  “How will we go about freeing Akerri from the…trance?” Talon asked.

  “We must disturb the dark elf’s concentration enough to give her a chance to break free. But she must want to,” said Zilena.

  “Of course she will want to.”

  “Do not underestimate the power of the dark elves.” The princess eyed them each in turn, her face stern and eyes grave. “Akerri has wielded great power. She will not find it an easy task to let it go.”

  “When the time comes, she’ll do the right thing,” said Talon.

  Zilena studied him for a time, but then finally nodded and sipped from her glass.

  “Fylkin is obviously laying a trap for me,” said Talon. “We’ve got to somehow lure him and the dark elf to us.”

  “We need a distraction. Chaos,” said Argath with a gleam in his eye.

  Leave it to Argath to want to start trouble, Talon thought, but then quickly glanced at Zilena.

  She gave no indication that she had heard his thoughts.

  “What do you have in mind?” Talon asked.

  “Oh, an explosion or two. We’ve got dragon’s breath bombs in the hold thanks to McGillus. The feikin bastard,” Argath said before spitting on the floor.

  Talon chuckled. “Leave it to you to want to blow something up.”

  “Hah!” Argath laughed. “The Vald like things big, right? Well, we’ll give them a light show they’ll never forget.”

  “That is a good idea,” said Zilena. “A battle with a dark elf is never a quiet affair. The chaos of an explosion and the pandemonium that will follow will give us the cover that we need.”

  Talon had an idea, and he quickly turned to Zilena. “You wouldn’t happen to know any dragons, would you?” he asked hopefully.

  “None that are close to Volnoss,” said Zilena.

  “The beasts’ breath will do,” said Argath. “But we need to know what we’re blowing up.”

  “My guess is that Fylkin is keeping Akerri close, somewhere that he feels safe.”

  “Like Timber Wolf Village,” said Argath.

  Talon nodded. He hadn’t been to the village since
the day he left with Jahsin’s ashes. He felt a pang of long-held guilt. A part of him felt like a traitor. He had grown up in Timber Wolf Village, and though he had never been accepted by the Vald, he had been born one of them. Now he was plotting to attack them.

  “…Talon!”

  He whipped his head up, realizing that Argath had asked him a question. “Sorry?”

  “I said, do you remember the layout surrounding Fylkin’s hut?”

  “Yeah, I remember it.”

  “How close to Timber Wolf Tribe’s Sudroen Hall is it?”

  Talon realized that Argath meant to blow up the gathering hall, which was about the most insulting thing one could do.

  “It is a stone’s throw away.”

  “Good,” said Argath, sitting back with a diabolical glimmer in his eyes.

  “Chief can tell us if indeed Akerri is with Fylkin. And if she is, the dark elf will not be far behind,” said Zilena.

  “How far away can the dark elf control her from?” Talon asked.

  “If the dark elf has embedded a crystal in her flesh, he could control her from a world away.”

  “And without the crystal?” Talon asked hopefully. A plan was beginning to bloom in his mind.

  “Without a crystal to connect them, the dark elf could only control her from a distance of a few miles.”

  Talon sat at the edge of his seat, his excitement growing by the second. “So if she has a crystal in her, and we take it out, and then get her far away…then she will be free of the dark elf?”

  “Yes, I suppose,” said Zilena. “But it will not be as easy as you think. Akerri will have the full power of the dark elf, and she will not let you or I anywhere near the crystal.”

  “But it could work,” said Talon.

  Zilena was forced to agree.

  Chapter 19

  Han Ford and the Riders

  When I learn of silver hawk’s name I laugh. I think gods laugh too.

  -Gretzen Spiritbone