Life Beyond the Temple

by Nikolai Joslin

  Two guards posted outside a large set of doors straightened when they saw him and opened the doors quickly. Liam didn’t even hesitate as he walked. I wondered if he would run into the doors, but they opened quickly enough for him to just stride through them.

  He came to a stop in front of the high, semicircular, marble table that had nine old elves sitting behind it. They looked down at us and nodded slowly.

  In unison they said, “Prince Liam, you have brought to us the mage named Casey Kelley. Has she agreed to see our people and work towards a cure?”

  Prince Liam? “She has agreed to look at our people and see what she can do for them. She makes no promises, though.”

  “Does she ask for payment?” one of the old elves asked, his voice rough like sandpaper. How many hundreds of years, maybe thousands, had he lived to see?

  “She stands here. You do not need to talk around her,” I said boldly, stepping forward.

  “The mage speaks to us?” another said. His voice didn’t seem shocked, though, just old.

  “I do, and while I do not ask for payment, I ask for a place to stay within your walls. I must see your people, the sick and dying, to determine the best course of action.”

  They looked at each other for a moment, then back to me and nodded in unison. “It is done,” they said together.

  “And I must ask one more thing of you before I can help. I left the Temple for my Proving Journey, which has not yet been completed. I believe the man I am after, a necromancer, has done this to your people. I left the friends who had joined me on my quest to avoid putting them in danger, but they will try and follow me. I do not know if they will come here and ask for entrance into the city to look for me, but I must ask you to keep me hidden from them. I left them to keep them safe from the darkness that I must hunt down. If they find me, it will have been all for naught.” I looked down at the marble floors, hoping they would understand why I did what I did and help me.

  “We cannot promise you anything, Mage Casey Kelley, just as you cannot promise us results, but we can agree to try and keep your friends from finding you. That is all we can do,” the one with voice like sandpaper said.

  I bowed slightly. “Thank you, Council Elders. I hope I can help your people.”

  “We hope so too.”

  There was a moment of silence, and Prince Liam started to turn away, but then I thought of one more thing.

  “I must see your people before tonight. Is there a place I can go, a hospital of some sort where many of the infected reside?”

  The one with a long beard and golden eyes like Liam’s looked at me closely, and then said, “There is a small clinic where some of the sick are kept. Liam can show you the way. Gain the hopes and trust of our people, and perhaps you will see more. You are dismissed, Casey Kelley. We look forward to seeing you again, hopefully with good news.”

  Liam bowed his head slightly and turned away. He walked briskly, not even checking to see if I was coming.

  After a moment of watching him walk, I realized I still hadn’t moved. I hurried after him, finally catching up in the lobby. I grabbed his arm and said, “Hey, wait a minute. I still need you to show me the clinic.” And help me find a place to stay. I had no money, so I couldn’t rent a room or stay at an inn or anything, but nobody around here liked humans, and they all hated mages. I was kind of screwed when it came to the room thing.

  “There is a spare room set up for you at my family’s house. I will take you there to get settled, and then we can go to the clinic and stop at some of the shops to pick up things you need.” He sounded formal, more formal than he did before. He wouldn’t even look at me while he talked. The only way to describe how he was acting was royal.

  “I need a notebook before we go to the clinic.”

  “Fine.” He didn’t seem to care, and the fact that I was here for him and he didn’t care about anything pissed me off.

  “If you’re going to be ungrateful, Prince Liam, I’ll go. I’m wasting time here when I should be going after the damn necromancer who started this mess.” I started to walk past him, but this time he grabbed my arm.

  “I’m sorry. We do need you, Casey Kelley, and I am more grateful for you being here than you will ever know. My people do not trust you, though, and I am the voice of my people. I must listen to what they have to say. I am the Prince, son of King Maarius and Queen Lilith, and I am the future leader of the elven people. I cannot be your friend in public. I must be the future king and trust in my people the way they trust in me.”

  King Maarius and Queen Lilith had been the rulers of the elvish culture for a long time, but had their son a relatively short time ago, well, short for elves. They were growing old now, and many of the mages didn’t think they had much longer before they died or gave the throne to their son.

  “My people are everything, and I am their future king.” It sounded like he was reciting lines.

  “Why do you sound like you don’t believe it?” I asked.

  Liam sighed heavily and shoved his hands deep into his pockets. He looked up at the ceiling for a few moments before he started speaking again. “I do love my people, more than anything else. But I am not their king. I am not what they need. I am not my parents. I do not view everything the way the people do. I understand mages, humans—I’m not even sure if I hate the dark elves. I trust you. But I am not enough. Convince my people you are more than just a mage. Convince them that you are the Old Ones’ vessel and that you are here to help. Convince them that they need you. That is up to you. I cannot help.”

  “Being king is not about agreeing with the people. It is about being strong enough to do what is needed no matter their thoughts. You are to protect the people, not to be another one of them. Be strong in your actions, and the people will follow. Do what’s best for them, Liam, not what they want to see. The king sometimes has to make an unpopular decision because he knows that it is what’s best. You won’t always be liked, Liam, but doing what’s best for your people is not always going to be what the people want.” I touched his shoulder, drawing his eyes away from the ceiling. “Come on, I need to get settled in my new room and get to work on curing this disease.”

  He nodded and walked to the door. He held it open for me, like a true gentleman.

  I was barely through the door when Cinder barked and rammed his head into my leg, as if to be sure I was really there. What’s going on?

  People are sick, and we are going to help them. Come on, we have to get to our new home.

  I followed Liam, once again acting like the royalty he was. There was no one on the street still; it gave the city an eerie feel. I felt like I was being watched, which I probably was.

  Liam’s house wasn’t a house as I knew it; it was more of a mansion. I didn’t have much experience with houses and society outside of the Temple, but this was a lot bigger than all of the other houses I had seen so far.

  Liam walked me through the door and down hallways until we came to a large dining room. An older couple sat at the long table talking quietly. They weren’t as old as the Council Elders, but not many elves were.

  “Mother, Father,” Liam said, drawing their attention to us.

  “Liam!” His mother exclaimed, standing up and gracefully striding over to us. “Darling! You’re back!”

  He smiled a little and hugged his mother as she got closer. “I am, and I brought back—”

  “Is this the mage?” That must have been his father. The voice was rough and sounded doubtful.

  “Yes, sir. I am the mage Casey Kelley, and I would like to help if I can.” I stepped forward and held my hand out to him.

  He looked at it warily before taking it. His hands were calloused and rough. His golden eyes bored into me when he said, “I have heard a lot about you. Is it true you brought someone from the Veil?”

  I stiffened. How much had my grandfather told them? “Yes, sir, though not without a price. I lost a good friend that day, and didn’t get off without my own punis
hments. Sometimes it is best to stay within the laws given to us.” I let go of his hand and looked down at Cinder who had been following me closely.

  “And this is?” He sounded slightly disgusted.

  “A cinderwolf named Cinder. He’s my spirit animal. I wouldn’t bring him into your home with me if I could be without him, but we are connected in a way that makes us both better when we are together. Without him, I don’t know where I’d be.” It was true. Cinder was always there, and had become a part of who I was.

  “I think he’s cute,” Queen Lilith said, smiling before gingerly reaching down to touch him.

  “He needs a bath,” the king mumbled, obviously giving up on trying to get rid of him. The queen held the power here, even if he wouldn’t admit it. I guess after a few thousand years, you learn to give up arguing about if a dog can stay in the house or not.

  “I can do that, sir.”

  He held up his hand. “No, you have more important things to do than clean this mangy dog. I can get someone to do it while you are working.”

  “He’s not mangy,” the queen cooed happily while she rubbed him.

  “Yes he is,” the king and prince said in unison.

  She glared at them both before straightening up and looking at me. “Liam will take you to the room that you’ll be staying in. Before you go to see our sick, I will warn you about what you will see. Whatever you are imagining, it isn’t close to what you will see. The sickness is bloody and filled with other bodily fluids. They may not want to talk to you, Casey Kelley. Be observant of what they won’t tell you.”

  “Thank you for the advice, ma’am.”

  “You’re polite. And smart. You’re going to need that and a lot more to win over our people and do what you need to do. I wish you luck. Liam, take her to her room.” The queen turned away and slipped her arm through her husband’s. They walked away, looking regal as ever.

  “She’s right,” Liam said after a moment.

  “I know.”

  Chapter 15

  LIAM WALKED Cinder and I to our new room, which was probably the biggest single room for one person I’d ever seen. It was about the size of the lobby at the inn. How one person could use all of this space was beyond me.

  I set my few belongings down in a corner and slowly walked around, looking at everything and finally stopping at a large window. “I used to sit by the window at the Temple and look out. I would imagine I was out here, enjoying the world after a quick Proving Journey. Everything is so different from what I imagined.”

  “Not as glamorous as you thought it would be?” I couldn’t tell if he was honestly asking or being sarcastic and spiteful.

  “It’s not that. I was prepared for the looks and distrust, even the hatred. I just wasn’t prepared for this. What I’m doing is… unheard of. Helping elves? Stopping a necromancer? Living in the same house as the elven prince? A cinderwolf as a spirit animal? This has never happened. Not for thousands of years at least.”

  “Perhaps it is not what is happening that is out of the ordinary, maybe it’s you. It could be that not just any mage could do this, or have these things happen. I think you are just an exceptional mage doing exceptional tasks.”

  “I didn’t ask for this,” I mumbled, looking out the window, down to the empty streets. I wondered what they used to look like. Were they full of life? Children running around with silver coins their parents gave them for candy? It must have been so different from the city. Less distant and closed off. A tight-knit community.

  “Destiny isn’t something we look for. It is something that crashes into us. The Old Ones gave these tasks to you for a reason. It is up to you how you handle it. You could ignore it all. You could leave today and live peacefully in the city or the country, hiding from it all, but you won’t. I can see it in your eyes. You want to help. You want to stop everything. You are a good person, Casey. You are good, brilliant, and powerful, a rare combination.”

  “I’m going up against someone brilliant and powerful.” I saw a lone child walk out of the house, only to be roughly yanked back inside. Did he understand? Probably. He was already, what? Fifty? He looked like he was eight, but he had seen over twice as many years as I could remember.

  “And evil” was all the prince said.

  “So? That doesn’t change anything, except he’s willing to hurt everyone else. I can’t. I have to save everyone.”

  “That’s why you’ll win.”

  “What do you mean? That’s why I’ll die,” I snapped back.

  I could see Liam shake his head in the mirror and a ghost of a smile tug at his lips. “Didn’t anyone ever tell you a story?” Regan. My chest ached at the mere thought of her. “The good guys always win.”

  “It’s not good guys. There’s only one of me.”

  He shrugged. “They will find you. That’s their part of the story. You will learn a lot without them, you’ll grow and struggle and try and succeed, but you need them as much as they need you.”

  “You read too much,” I growled.

  “Maybe. But I’m right. You’ll see.” He smiled and walked over to me. He stood behind me with his hands clasped behind his back and his chin lifted high. His platinum blond hair rustled in the wind coming through the window. “There are clothes in the closet if you want to change. I will go back to my room and change quickly, and then I can take you to the clinic.”

  He turned to leave. He was opening the door when I finally turned and said, “Thank you, Liam.”

  He hesitated for a moment before saying, “I believe in you, Casey.” And then he was gone.

  I pulled out a white blouse that had gold embroidery down the little V-neck. It looked like a cross between modern clothes and clothes from before the city was built. I pulled on dark jeans and was tying my shoes when there was a knock at the door.

  “Come in.”

  Liam walked in. He wore a loose-fitting white shirt under a dark brown jacket that went to the back of his knees with bronze fastenings. It looked more like a pirate’s outfit than anything else I could think of. He looked at me, and I saw something flash through his eyes before he buried it. “They fit you well.”

  “Where did you get them?” I asked. They couldn’t have done this all because I might come here.

  “They were my sister’s,” he said, his face cold and hard.

  I couldn’t stop myself. “Were?”

  “She died. The first one to be infected with this disease, and the first to die of it.” Still, no emotion crossed his face.

  “I’m sorry,” I whispered.

  He looked away from me. “I was not hurt the worst by it. Her fiancé was broken. He died shortly after her. He got the disease because he wouldn’t leave her side while she was dying. I suppose love can kill.” His voice was quiet. “Come on. We should get going.”

  I stood up and followed him out, Cinder following me closely. Liam turned to look at him. “You shouldn’t bring him yet. You scare people enough. They don’t need him to add to their fear. Plus, he needs a bath. My mother has already spoken to someone about cleaning him. They will be here shortly to do that. Does he understand?”

  I sighed. “Yes, he understands. Cinder is a cinderwolf, one of the most intelligent animals there is, and my spirit animal. He’s compatible with my intelligence. If you think I’m smart enough, he is too. Think of us like two halves of one mind, or two minds that are so connected that they almost create a whole new mind. I wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t help me with my research. His heightened senses may detect something I don’t. But I’ll wait to bring him until the people trust me.”

  Don’t attack the one giving you a bath, I told Cinder, knowing that it would probably be something he’d attempt.

  Cinder inwardly sighed. Fine. Be back soon. He was quiet for a moment and then said, Do you think Regan knows we miss her?

  I’m sure she does.

  And Cam?

  Yes. She knows.

  We put her to sleep and left…. And
we left Regan and Ston without saying anything….

  I’m sure they know we didn’t want to leave. We needed to.

  I don’t think Regan thinks it was like that…. I think she thinks you left her.

  It was better this way. I can’t let myself get too close to anyone. It will cloud my judgment.

  Was it Cam or Regan you were afraid of? I didn’t answer. I wasn’t sure if I really knew. I hope we see them again.

  Maybe. I almost hoped not, because while I wanted to see them, I knew I wouldn’t be able to leave again. They wouldn’t let me, and I wouldn’t be able to bring myself to even try.

  “Hurry up.” Liam was already down the hallway, waiting for me to follow.

  Be nice, I told Cinder before following Liam.

  WE WERE standing outside of one of the buildings with a big sign on it saying Quarantine.

  “I can’t go in,” Liam said, and I nodded.

  “I’ll see you soon.”

  “Tell them Prince Liam and the royal family have sent you to see the sick. Convince them you are here to help.”

  I nodded again and then pulled the door open and stepped inside.

  It smelled like sickness and death mixed together, even here at the end of the long hallway.

  And older-looking woman rushed out and down the hall, stopping dead in her tracks when she saw me. “You are no elf. Who are you?” She pointed one clawed finger at me, keeping her distance.

  “My name is Casey Kelley, and no, I am no elf. I am a mage. The royal family believes I can help you.”

  “Our people cannot find a cure, what makes you think you can? You’re just a human, a baby. You know nothing.”

  I smiled sadly. “I know too much. I am a powerful mage, and if you talked to the mage’s Council, they would tell you I’m a prodigy.” I didn’t want to brag about things I’ve done, but how else could I let her know that I can help? She needed to know I could do something. “I created an efficient way to amplify a mage’s power, and I have created many spells over my few years.”

  “I hear any mage can do that. Go, you are not welcome here.”