by Zora Marie
“Now, keep it clean, and you can have the stitches removed in a couple of weeks. Other than that, just take it easy so you don’t rip the stitches out.”
“How did you learn to do this?”
The boy held his side again, but now more for comfort than out of necessity.
“They teach everyone how to do this where I am from. I learned it, hm, a hundred years ago.”
“I’m sorry to pull you away, dear, but we must get ready,” Eleanor said as she walked down the hall from within the castle. “Alrindel, Vainoff will fetch you when it is time.”
Zelia nodded, then turned back to the boy. “You get some rest.”
She could feel the boy’s gaze as she followed Eleanor down the hall but didn’t look back. When the latch of the heavy wooden door clicked, Zelia gained the nerve to ask Eleanor the question that had been bugging her.
“Eleanor, why do they want me to light the pyres? Shouldn’t one of their men do it?”
“One day, you will understand, but for now, I want you to take this task with the grace I have seen you use as you dance in the starlight. If for no one else, do it for Koin and Eadon. I know you love them both and your Auntie Leena.”
Zelia nodded and shifted her feet. I love Auntie Leena, but why me?
“Let us get you changed, and then I want to show you something.”
Eleanor pulled a little silk black dress with edges dipped in gold from an armoire and held it up in the sunlight streaming through the open window. Its long sleeves glimmered as the breeze swept through the room.
“I remember the day Orania wore this when she was about your size. She asked that you wear it tonight.”
Zelia washed the blood from her hands and slipped into the long black dress. It was tight across her shoulders as she had been working with a bow more than most women. Eleanor gave her a sad smile and plated her hair back in a long braid.
“You know, this is the first time I’ve ever gotten you into an actual dress.”
“They’re not good for climbing,” Zelia said, turning to give Eleanor one of her mischievous grins. “So, what did you want to show me?”
“Something special that you need to see.”
Eleanor took her hand and led her through a maze of corridors, leading deeper into the stone castle. When they came to a large set of doors, a guard nodded and pushed the door open for them. Orania stood at the edge of a platform, staring down at the water falling beneath it. A statue of a man stood staring at the open sky above them, his hand on the hilt of his sword, and the brim of his helmet shading his eyes from the setting sun.
“Do you know what this is, Zelia?” Orania asked.
Zelia shook her head, but Orania didn’t need to see to know.
“It’s a reminder of where the O’Fell family came from. Do you know the story?”
“They are descendants of Yargo, God of the Fallen Warriors. He hoped to unite the people by giving them someone they could follow. And this must be Lumid, guard of the bridge and keeper of the stars.”
Orania turned from the edge.
“That is right, and you will release their souls to live with their ancestor, Yargo, among the stars. It is a tradition for a daughter of a fallen King to lay him to rest, and since he has no daughter, we have asked that you do it.”
Zelia nodded, but she still didn’t quite understand why they would ask her.
“Now, it’ll be getting dark soon. We should start gathering people outside.”
>
Men, women, and children had gathered on the walls and in the field all around the long rows of pyres. Koin stood by her side with Orania. Whatever Eleanor had done seemed to have eased Koin’s pain. Orania had just finished her long speech and excused Elizabeth for not being there, saying the grief was too much for her to bear.
Orania gave Koin a nod, and he handed Zelia a torch. As soon as she took it, the flame grew brighter, and an updraft pulled it higher into the sky.
“I’ll be right beside you the entire time,” Koin whispered.
She started with Skalary and Skyral’s pyres but froze as she went to light Leena’s. Koin squeezed her shoulder as if to say it’s alright, and she stuck the torch into the kindling. When the fire took off, she stepped back and looked up at Koin. There were tears in his eyes as the soft light of the flames lit Leena’s face.
“You can stay here, Koin. I’ll finish.”
She gave his hand a light squeeze and continued down the row. With each one she lit, she glanced back at Koin; the flames had grown, but he hadn’t stepped away. With everyone entranced by the flames, she moved from pyre to pyre a little faster and circled around from one end to the other.
When she lit the last one, she threw the torch at the feet of the King as the flames of the pyres already burned high in the sky. When she did, something happened that made all the crowd gasp. The flames turned blue, and little orbs of light rose from the bodies of those fallen. As each one rose, the flames calmed back to their orange glow.
“Koin!” Zelia pulled him back from Leena’s pyre as a wave of heat rolled out, and Leena’s soul rose from the flames.
One by one, the blue orbs lifted into the stars, twinkling until they faded from view. Zelia glanced around at the mourners. The families crowded together, and those who stood alone held clasped hands over their hearts as they stared up at the stars. The crowd stood staring at the stars long after the souls had gone, but one by one, people trickled away, and the somber silence moved with them.
>
The next few days went by in a bit of a blur for Zelia. They had stayed and tended to the wounded, and Eleanor had scarcely let her out of her sight. Their trip home was much slower than their trip there as the Elves who fought in the battle returned with them; many were injured or had not slept as they tended to the wounded. When they stopped for the night, Eleanor called out to Zelia before she could run off with Alrindel.
“Stay close by, alright?”
“I believe the two of you have some archery practice to catch up on,” Eadon said.
“But I don’t have my bow with me.”
“We can share,” Alrindel offered. “Come on. I saw a board back there.”
“Do not go too far,” Eleanor warned again before the two of them ran off.
They weaved between the clusters of Elves that tended to each other’s wounds. When they found a weathered board tangled in the grass, they wedged it between two stones and stepped back. Alrindel went first, drawing his arrow back by his ear.
“Alrindel?” Zelia asked.
“Trying to distract me?”
“No. I just... do you think Koin will be okay?”
Alrindel released, and the arrow just hit the edge of the board.
“What’s this about me?” Koin’s curious voice made her jump as he approached them from behind.
“Zelia here is worried about you.”
Zelia twisted her foot in the long grass and fought not to look up at Koin.
“She is now, is she?”
There was a hint of the old Koin in his tone, and she glanced at him.
“How about you show Alrindel how a real archer shoots?”
Alrindel pulled an arrow from his quiver and handed it to her.
“Your turn.”
She took his bow and drew it back a little past her ear. A hand touched her arm and pushed her elbow down, so it was level with her arrow.
“Remember, release with the last of your breath.”
She stared down the shaft of her arrow and released as her breath steadied towards the end. The half-rotten board splintered as her arrow shot through, just off the center.
As the arrow shattered the board, it was as if the shell of dark emotion that had held her captive within since the funeral shattered, too. She spun around and gave Koin a hug, holding the bow a
cross his back as she did so.
“Thank you, Koin.”
“You’re welcome.” He gave her a light squeeze and leaned back from her hug. “Now, give the bow back to Alrindel before you hurt yourself with it. It’s still a bit too big for you.”
“But we just started.”
“I will make sure you make up for the lost practice when we get back. Deal?”
Zelia couldn’t help but smile as Koin looked down at her with a raised brow.
“Fine. Here you go, Alrindel.” She tossed the bow to him and grabbed Koin’s hand. “Let’s go find Eadon.”
“Sure,” Alrindel said as they disappeared into the crowd. “Just leave me to pick up your arrow.”
>
Time seemed to glide by as she lay on Starjaina’s back. They had returned to Elyluma and life resumed its normal pace, but Zelia couldn’t forget the burning pyres. While she had stopped asking why they had chosen her, she could not stop her thoughts from questioning why. Riding Starjaina was the only thing that calmed her rolling thoughts.
“There you are.” Koin pulled her from Starjaina’s back and onto his own horse. “You are supposed to be at practice.”
“So are you.”
Koin squinted at her with his lips pressed together, and she giggled.
“Sorry, Koin.” She spun around on her knees and gave him a hug.
“How is it you are so graceful on a horse and in the trees but so clumsy on the ground?”
“Guess I’m just not meant for blades.”
“No, we will get you using a sword with at least a bit of skill one day. We just have to make sure you do not hurt yourself before then.” He tapped her nose and turned his horse around to start back across the pasture.
“Wait, you are forgetting Alrindel.”
“Thanks,” Alrindel said with a sigh and stood from his hiding spot amongst the tall grass.
“Hey, you’re the reason I’m out here. I came to get you, remember?”
“Well, at least you two have been paying attention to one of your teachers. Eadon must be teaching you the ancient Fairy language now.”
“Why do we learn languages the Fairies don’t even bother to learn anymore?” Alrindel asked.
“Why do you use contractions like the humans?” Koin asked, and he let that sink in as they crossed the pasture. “We learn the languages both to keep them alive and because we may one day need them. Just because the Fairies on the mainland no longer use the language does not mean Fairies elsewhere do not.”
Koin helped Zelia from his horse and handed both her and Alrindel a bow.
“Now, you can’t leave until you each hit the target across the field three times in a row.”
Alrindel sighed, and Zelia laughed as she picked up a handful of arrows.
“What’s wrong, Alrindel? Afraid I’ll finish before you?”
“How about a wager? Last one has to retrieve all the arrows?”
“Fine.”
She pulled an arrow back to her ear and released, missing by a foot. Alrindel did the same, but he barely missed. Soon they both had two arrows in the target and they lined up for another shot. They released as one, and an arrow shot from the side knocked both their arrows aside.
“Koin!” Both children complained in unison.
“What? I never said there would be no interference. Try again.”
They sighed and leaned over to grab another handful of arrows.
“Rapid fire?” Alrindel asked in a hushed voice.
Zelia nodded and grabbed up a few more.
“You might need a few more, Koin!” Alrindel yelled as they began shooting arrows one after another at the target.
At first, they were in time with one another, but as they went, Zelia lagged behind. Still, they filled the target and surrounding ground with arrows.
“Alright, now go pick up your mess.” Koin laughed and walked off to where the other Elf children trained with swords.
“I saw some of the elder wizards this morning. Why do you think they are here?” she asked as they picked through the grass for their arrows.
Alrindel looked as though he was about to say something, but he shook his head.
“I don’t know, but they are watching us.”
Zelia glanced over her shoulder. Eleanor and the wizards she had seen stood on the dining room balcony of their home, their gazes all turned towards her.
“Why do they always watch me when they come here?”
“Why don’t you ask Eleanor that?” Alrindel asked. “But not until you find all those arrows.”
Zelia sighed and continued picking through the grass for her arrows, more of hers had missed than hit.
2
“Gotcha!” Alrindel exclaimed.
Zelia giggled as they fell back into the tall grass. “Fine, you win again Alrindel. But I am going to beat you at archery practice today.”
“Oh really? And what about swordsmanship?” he asked with a brow raised.
“Zelia! Come here, dear,” Eleanor called from across the pasture.
“What did you do this time?” Alrindel asked.
“Nothing, or at least I don’t think I did anything.”
“Well come on, then. It’s about time for practice with Koin, anyway.”
“Fine, race you to the fence?” She took off.
“No fair, you got a head start.”
“But you have longer legs!” She called over her shoulder.
Alrindel was about to pass her when she came to a dead stop at the pasture’s edge.
“Eadon, what’s wrong?”
An ashen tone replaced his usual bright, happy glow. She searched his and Eleanor’s faces for the unvoiced answer. Their vacant expressions told her they were speaking telepathically, something Eleanor used occasionally, to keep conversations private.
“Come Zelia, we are going somewhere,” Eadon finally answered.
“Where?” she asked, the edge in his tone gave her the urge to run.
“We will explain on the way,” Eleanor assured her.
>
Silence hung over their ride to the mountains and left Zelia’s mind to race. She ran through recent events, fishing for a reason, any reason for them to act this way. She hadn’t seen their light so faded since the day they received news that many of their kin and the old King had died in the last battle of the Daemon War many years ago.
The horses stopped and drew her from her thoughts. She looked around and saw the aged faces of many wizards, all men she had met at one point or another. She always thought the elders looked much alike, but then again, she seldom saw them, and they always wore the same grey clothing and long beards. Her favorite wizards of those who weren’t Elves, were the Dwarf Multly and the human Vainoff. Multly, the eccentric lover of The Wild, would always hold a dear place in her heart as he mumbled to the animals but never truly understood them. The elders were human, but they were older than Eleanor. The power of the guild gave them far longer lives than most.
“We should camp here for the night,” Eleanor’s twin brother, Erolith suggested.
“No, we should continue on,” countered the one who appeared to be the oldest of them all.
“Erolith is right,” Asenten said, “she needs to rest before her test. Besides, it would do us well to stay within the guarded outer borders tonight.”
Asenten’s long unkempt eyebrows darkened the shadows across his eyes, yet she caught a gleam in them that made Zelia shrink back against Eadon. The tall and crooked wizard was always among her least favorite, but something about the others this night made him seem almost inviting.
Eadon wrapped his arms around her, his warm breath soothing against the top of her head. He took a breath as if to say something but released it in a silent sigh.
“Eadon, why are we goi
ng towards the Darkan Mountains? You have always told me never to go north of our kingdom.”
“That…” his voice cracked, and she tensed. His voice had never cracked in such a way, not even when Leena died.
“He did, but now we must go there,” Eleanor replied for him, the edge in her tone warning her not to push the subject.
They said little as they set up camp and ate. The food seemed dry and tasteless, but the wizards seemed content with the buzz from the elvish wine. For a moment, Zelia wondered what it was like, even when she drank more than her small cup, she never felt a thing. She looked back from where she sat almost touching the flames to Eadon. He had a distant look in his eye as he watched her.
“Eadon?” she asked, coming to sit on his lap.
“I…”
She followed his gaze to the stern stares of the older wizards burning into them. She shrank back against Eadon’s chest and he stroked her long curls.
“Get some sleep.” He wrapped his arms around her and leaned back against a tree. For a moment, there was silence as he let out a long slow breath, the last of it coming as a whisper, “No matter what happens, I love you.”
“It’ll be okay,” she reassured him. She laid her head against his chest and stared at the darkness beyond the fire for what seemed like forever as Eadon hummed, wondering what silenced him and Eleanor.
>
The next day, they woke early and continued their journey, traveling well into the night. The wizards talked about things she didn’t understand, tests and powers. After a while, she realized they were talking about her.
“Her powers will emerge on their own, we just need to give them time,” Vainoff protested to the others.
“She’s been getting sick has she not?”
“Well, yes, but she hasn’t in a while. I’m not sure what that has to do with this.”
“It’s a buildup of her powers, if she doesn’t have a release soon it will kill her.”
“As soon as her powers emerge, she must train.” Asenten nodded to Zelia.
“But I already train. What are they talking about?” Zelia turned to Eleanor for guidance since Eadon didn’t seem to be able to answer her questions.