Awakening (Telindell Book 1)

by Darren Lee

  Lian laughed and wrapped his arms around the wolf. “Kane! You’re ok!” said Lian. “I thought that thing was going to kill you!”

  Elinar watched with great curiosity. “So this is Kane? I have never seen anyone befriend a wolf such as you have.”

  Lian looked to Elinar. “He and his pack--” Lian was interrupted by his own laughter at Kane’s playfulness. “They saved me,” he said. “Kane and I were the only ones that made it out.”

  Elinar smiled and spoke softly, “And I’m glad you made it.”

  Kane moved from Lian’s chest and sat down, watching the boy with relief in his eyes.

  Lian began to take note of Elinar’s appearance, his eyes settling on Elinar’s ears. “Your ears,” he said. “What’s wrong with them?”

  Elinar reached up and touched his ears. He chuckled a bit. “What?” he asked. “There is nothing wrong with them. They are supposed to be like this. I’m an elf.”

  Lian was puzzled. “An elf? But I thought the Elves were all dead?”

  Elinar smirked. “No. We are not all dead. Far from it, actually. But we stay hidden from humans. We have for a thousand years. There was a time when we were near extinction, but that time has long passed.”

  Lian looked around, noticing the other elves lining the stream as they watered their horses. They had removed their hoods as well. All had the same fair skin as Elinar. Their hair was either black or blonde. The males wore their hair the same as Elinar and the females wore their hair pulled back into tight ponytails.

  Lian looked to Elinar. “Why do you all look alike?”

  Elinar laughed. “We do indeed look similar, but not alike,” he answered. “We resemble humans, yes, but we are not as diverse. We only have two shades of hair color. Our eyes are either blue or brown. Our skin color is mostly the same, with very little variance. Humans on the other hand… Many different hair colors, eye colors and skin pigments.”

  Lian smiled. “I understand. Are there any other differences?”

  Elinar smiled at Lian’s curiosity. “There is one other rather large difference,” he said. “Humans age and eventually die of old age. Elves only age until we are fully mature. I am over five hundred years old myself.”

  Lian became excited. “You can’t die?”

  Elinar smiled. “Yes, we can indeed die,” said Elinar. “Just not of old age. Something has to kill us.”

  Lian’s excitement faded a bit “I understand…”

  Elinar looked to Kane, then back to Lian. “Now, you must be hungry,” he said. “You and Kane both, I’m sure.”

  Lian nodded his head quickly. “Yes, sir!”

  Elinar laughed lightly. “Just call me Elinar, alright?”

  Lian nodded and smiled slightly. Elinar stood and walked to his horse. It was drinking from the cool crystal clear stream. He opened the saddle bags and pulled out some cooked meat wrapped in a cloth. Elinar walked back to Lian and sat down. He unwrapped the cloth and tore the piece of meat in half. He handed part of it to Lian and the other part to Kane. Kane grabbed the meat, dropped it on the ground and began to eat. Lian took the meat and looked at it.

  Elinar looked at Lian. “It’s deer,” he assured him. “Not very fresh, but it’s still good.”

  “Thank you!” said Lian.

  Elinar watched as Lian begin to eat. “Now, tell me what happened,” said Elinar. “We found you on the edge of the forest, unconscious. I suspect your furry friend was dragging you from the mountains. You had a sword clutched in your hand.”

  Lian stopped eating and looked up, realizing he had forgotten all about the sword. “The sword,” he said. “Where is the sword?”

  Elinar placed his hand on Lian’s shoulder. “My lieutenant has it,” he said. “The sword is safe. I wrapped it in a blanket. Do you remember what happened before you lost consciousness?”

  Lian looked at Elinar and shook his head. “I don’t remember very much. There was this monster, or maybe it was a man. It followed us out of the pass. Kane attacked him, but he just knocked Kane away with his staff. He was about to use magic on him and kill him.”

  Elinar raised an eyebrow. “Magic?” he asked.

  Lian nodded. “Yeah. I don’t know what it is, really, but I saw them throw fire from their hands, so I guess that was magic.”

  Elinar was slightly alarmed at Lian’s words. “I see,” he said. “Please continue.”

  Lian nodded again. “I remember being scared,” he said. “Until I saw him raise his hand toward Kane. Then I got mad. I can’t explain it. It’s fuzzy, I guess. I just knew I had to stop him, and then I felt something. I drew the sword…” Lian paused and looked up to Elinar. “Then, blood. That’s all I remember.”

  Elinar remained silent for a moment. “I see,” he said finally. “There is much to tell you, Lian… But not now. We must ride farther north. Our post isn’t far. We should arrive around sunset.”

  Lian nodded and looked to Kane. “Kane can come too, right?”

  Elinar laughed. “I don’t think he would have it any other way,” he said. “I think he’d follow you to the ends of the world.”

  Lian smiled and stood up. “Thanks!” He patted Kane’s head. “You ready, boy?” Kane nodded his head happily.

  Elinar smiled, standing. “Are you ready?”

  Lian nodded. “Whenever you are.”

  Elinar smiled and motioned for the boy to come over to the horse, helping him to mount.

  He mounted the horse behind Lian and called to his riders, “Mount up,” said Elinar. “We ride.”

  The Riders quickly mounted their horses.

  Elinar kicked his horse and stepped off into the shallow stream. His riders swiftly followed. They crossed the stream and set off once again into the forest. Kane ran swiftly beside Elinar’s horse. The forest grew thicker the farther they traveled and forced the riders to move single file behind Elinar. The canopy was thick, allowing very little light to penetrate the tree tops. Lian watched his surroundings while they traveled the forest. It was an amazing sight for him, to finally see the wonders beyond the valley. He was eager to leave behind the horrors that he had escaped. In the distance, Lian could see a large doorway. They drew closer to it. He saw stone walls that were nearly overtaken by the vegetation of the forest. The doors began to open inward, and the riders entered them one after another. Lian’s eyes widened. Inside, he saw wooden houses with green stained glass windows, far more elegantly constructed than anything he had ever seen. Along the top of the walls, he saw vigilant elves. Throughout the square, he saw many elven people. The women wore long, flowing dresses, and the men wore robes of a similar fashion. He watched as elven children chased one another playfully. Lian had never seen anything like this. Elinar came to a halt, as did the riders behind him.

  Elinar turned to face his riders. “Stable your horses and return to your families!”

  The Riders rode deeper into the outpost. Elinar dismounted his horse while Lian jumped off right behind him. Kane brushed his furry head against Lian’s leg. Elinar’s Lieutenant approached them, leading her horse. She had black hair and brown eyes.

  The Lieutenant looked to Elinar. “Any further orders for me, sir?” she asked.

  “Yes actually,” said Elinar. “But first I want to introduce you to Lian.” He nodded to the boy. “Lian, this is lieutenant Teelia Solanas.”

  Lian smiled at Teelia. “Pleased to meet you, Miss Solanas.”

  Teelia smiled. “So polite. But that is not necessary. You may call me Teelia.”

  Lian smiled and nodded. “Alright, Teelia.”

  Teelia looked back to Elinar. “Your orders, sir?”

  Elinar nodded at Teelia. “Fetch our other guest,” he said. “I’m sure she will be delighted to meet young Lian. Then, I want you to place the sword in our chamber. That can wait until tomorrow.”

  Teelia looked to Lian and smiled. “As you command, Sir.”

  Teelia turned and began leading her horse away. She looked back briefly and winked at
Elinar.

  Lian looked up to Elinar, puzzled. “I wonder who it is,” he thought. He looked down to Kane, patting his head, then looked back to Elinar and finally asked, “Who is it?”

  Elinar grinned. “You will see in just a moment,” he said. “You have witnessed a lot of awful things recently, I’m sure. I think this will be a good turn of events.”

  “Good?” Lian asked.

  Before Elinar could reply, a feminine voice cried out. Elinar grinned and pointed toward a nearby house. Lian watched, still confused. A woman was running toward him. She wore a long flowing white elven dress with decorative designs of green vines sewn into it. Her long brunette hair flowed down her back with blonde streaks in it that caught the remaining sunlight. Lian watched the woman running toward him. He didn’t know what to think. The woman hit her knees in front of him and threw her arms around him. She embraced him tightly with tears streaming down her face.

  The woman pulled away, smiling at him through her tears. “You’ve grown so much!” she said in a joyful voice.

  Lian stared at her eyes. They were the same color as his. Lian’s eyes widened and tears welled up in them.

  “You don’t know me,” said the woman, still smiling. “But my name is--”

  Lian quickly interrupted, “Lyssa. You’re my… You’re my…”

  Lian couldn’t finish his words. He grabbed the woman and squeezed her while tears streamed from his face.

  Lyssa squeezed him tightly and buried her head in his shoulder. “Yes,” she said. “I’m your mother, Lian. And I’ve missed you so!” Lyssa stood and looked at her son, appalled at his blood-stained clothes. “My son…” she said with a shudder, “what happened to you?”

  Lian shook his head. “It was awful--”

  Elinar quickly interrupted Lian. “Lady Lyssa,” he said. “All that I warned you of years ago has come to pass.” Elinar sighed deeply. “You should be thanking this wolf. He was protecting your son when we found him.” Elinar closed his eyes momentarily. “I really wish you would have told us about your son’s survival. We could have brought him here.”

  Lyssa glared at Elinar. “Nonsense! You took me captive after I left Lian! How was I to know your intentions? You knew everything about me and my child.”

  Elinar shook his head. “We knew because of your importance…” said Elinar without raising his voice. “We risked our discovery to stop those who pursued you and your son. After you lied to us about his survival we gave you refuge. Now that he has survived, your child now bears a burden that no one should ever have the weight of!”

  Lyssa shook her head at Elinar. “What burden?” she demanded. “Those things you’ve told me over the years are just stories!”

  Elinar shook his head slowly but remained silent.

  Lian looked to Elinar and his mother. “What stories?”

  Lyssa stared at Elinar. “Aren’t they?” she asked. “Answer me!”

  “I never reached the valley,” said Elinar. “Your son had already fled. Ask him what happened.”

  Lyssa placed her hands on Lian’s shoulders and spoke urgently, “Son…” said Lyssa. “What happened?”

  Lian looked into Lyssa’s eyes for a long moment. “Monsters…” he said finally. “They killed everybody.” Lian dropped his head. “They killed Elder Marrow in front of me… then Miss Eva…” Lian wiped his eyes. “Then Bagra-Shuk, an ogre… he died protecting me… Kane sacrificed his entire pack to save me… and I thought we had escaped… Then that thing was about to kill Kane, but I saved him… I think.”

  Lyssa shook her head. “How? How did you save him?”

  Lian smiled then. “The sword,” he said. “I got angry, and I drew the sword. Something happened, then I woke up with Elinar.”

  Lyssa’s eyes widened. She dropped to the ground, sitting in shock. “It is all true then…” She looked to Elinar, then back to Lian. “I’m so sorry my son… I’m so, so sorry.”

  Elinar knelt down to a sobbing Lyssa. “I’m sorry, I truly am,” he said. “The burden that was meant for you has passed to your son, and I don’t know how much time we have.” Elinar looked to Lian, then back to Lyssa. “I must contact the collective council. With any luck, they will recall us to Alinshahar.”

  Lyssa looked at him. “What are we supposed to do while you consult with your father?” she asked. “If the stories are true they--”

  Elinar interrupted, hoping to ease Lyssa’s mind, “They will have a very difficult time finding us. Don’t forget, my father faced them over a thousand years ago. His counsel will prove invaluable.”

  Lyssa shook her head. “And if it’s not?”

  Elinar smiled. “Let me tend to that. Now, you and Lian take the night. Twelve years apart will require some catching up. I will know our course of action by the morning.”

  Lyssa stood and smiled slightly at Elinar. She held out a hand to Lian. “Come son,” she said. “Let us go, then.”

  Chapter 7: Generations

  Lyssa led Lian through the outpost to her house, a mansion in comparison to anything Lian had ever witnessed. It had stone walls and floors covered with marble tiles with beautiful tapestries along the walls.

  Lian was in shock at the beauty of the home. “You live here?” he asked.

  “I do. I hope you like it. I really hope we can spend many nights together here.” Lyssa smiled at him.

  Lian smiled back. “Of course I like it…” he said, briefly pausing. “I’d like any home.” Lian looked to his mother. “I’ve never had one.”

  Lyssa’s face grew troubled. She knelt down to Lian. “You’ve never had a home?”

  Lian shook his head. “No, I haven’t.”

  Lyssa looked at Lian with confusion. “What about Lana?” she asked. “She was a close friend of mine! She promised to take care of you!”

  Lian dropped his head. “I never knew Lana,” he said. “The Elder told me she had been killed by wolves. I’ve been on my own for as long as I can remember.”

  Tears welled in Lyssa’s eyes. “No one took care of you? No one at all?”

  Lian shook his head again. “Miss Eva would take care of me sometimes,” he said.

  Lyssa raised an eyebrow. “Eva?”

  Lian smiled. “Yeah,” he said. “She said she used to visit you in your bakery. That she was the one who told you about the village, that you could come there if you needed to.”

  Lyssa shook her head. “I never knew anyone named Eva,” she said. “Lana always visited me. She told me about the village in the valley.”

  Lian reached behind his head and pulled the ribbon from his shaggy long hair. He held it out to Lyssa. “Eva gave me this yesterday for my birthday,” he said. “She said it was yours, that she found it while looking for you.”

  Lyssa took the ribbon and looked at it. She knew it was hers, but she was still puzzled about this Eva. “It was mine,” she said. “I want you to keep it.” Lyssa smiled. “How old was Miss Eva?” she asked, thinking perhaps Lana had changed her name for some reason.

  Lian shrugged. “She was old,” he said. “The oldest woman in the village.”

  Lyssa smiled at Lian and hugged him tightly. “I’ll take care of you now Lian,” she said. “I promise.”

  Lian smiled. “I know you will,” he said. “Kane can help too…” Lian paused before becoming alarmed. “We left him outside!”

  Lian and Lyssa heard scratching at the door and the sound of Kane whining. Lian quickly ran over to the door and opened it. Kane ran inside.

  Lyssa looked at the wolf. “Elinar said this wolf protected you?”

  Lian nodded. “Yeah, he did. His name is Kane!”

  “Thank you Kane,” said Lyssa, “for watching after my little boy.”

  Kane distinctively nodded at her and kneeled as if he were bowing to her.

  Lyssa raised an eyebrow at the wolf. “You understood me?” Kane nodded his head once again. Lyssa smiled. “You’re not an ordinary wolf, are you?” Kane seemed to wink one of his eyes. Lyss
a giggled lightly and patted Kane’s head. “Again, thank you!” Lyssa looked to Lian and his blood-stained clothes. “We must get you out of those clothes and get you cleaned up!”

  Lian nodded. “Yes, mother,” said Lian, testing the feeling of those new words on his tongue.

  Night fell upon the outpost. Now clean and wearing new clothes, Lian was ready to spend time with his mother. Lyssa was sitting on her large bed, and she motioned for Lian to join her. The boy approached the bed wearing a snug sleeveless black shirt and loose-fitting black silk pants. He sat down next to his mother. Kane jumped onto the bed with them and lay down next to Lian.

  Lyssa smiled at Lian. “Now,” she said. “Tell me everything I’ve missed these past twelve years.”

  Lian nodded and began telling his story. All the hurtful words and horrible treatment from the villagers. The kind words and care that Eva had given him. Finally, he ended with the story of Ebon and the events that led to Elinar finding him.

  Lyssa hugged him tightly and whispered into his ear, “I’m so sorry Lian. I should have let Elinar come for you. I hope you can forgive me, my son.”

  Lian held Lyssa tightly. “It’s alright, mother. A lot of bad things have happened, but out of all of it, I got you and Kane, so there is some good.” Lian smiled at Lyssa. “I think the good parts outweigh the bad.”

  Lyssa smiled him. “Yes, Lian” she said. “I think so too!”

  Lian looked at Lyssa and thought of Elinar’s words. “What was Elinar talking about?” said Lian.

  “What do you mean, Lian?” she asked.

  Lian quickly spoke up, “You know, the burden he spoke of and those things that you said weren’t true.”

  Lyssa looked upon her son with grief in her heart. “Well, you’re a little old for bedtime stories,” said Lyssa. “But since we have lost so much time together, I don’t think one will hurt.” Lyssa pointed at the large pillow on the bed. “Now, lie down. You can sleep in my bed tonight.”

  Lian smiled. “Alright.” He lay back on the soft bed, having never felt anything quite like it in his short life.

  Lyssa moved closer to him. “Long ago, Lian, there was a great war,” she said, placing her hand on his. “Invaders that became known as the Dalronians came to Zaneen from another world.”