Dryad's Touch

by A. W. Graybill

  Holding back the urge to scoff, Arisa inclined her head. “Again, that is the will of Thaos. Had it not been for Thaos and his siblings, Elona would be here. Her love for Thena is as great as her hatred for Thaos.” Biting the inside of her cheek, she doubted her words but could not say so.

  The doors to the large hall burst open with a roaring thunder, guards scrambling in after a man whose skin was sickly pale. Arisa squinted and could make out deep gashes across his face and blood seeping from the wounds. The guards in gleaming, angelic armor stayed to either side of him while one clutched something wrapped in a dark cloth.

  Passing her daughter to a nearby servant who rushed from the room, Valia stood, moving with ease towards the men and demanding, “What is it? What has happened?” She held the trembling man by the shoulders. Arisa grimaced as she stood, stepping forward along with the priestess at her side.

  The guard holding the bundle dropped it to the ground, and a familiar form fell from within. Arisa’s hands flew to her mouth when she saw the lifeless form of a long-tailed imp that had several arrows still pierced through its small body. Karasim had sent it, but it had acted of its own accord. While Karasim was able to pull the lesser demons through to this world, he was not always in complete control.

  All eyes turned on Arisa after two Maidens led the children from the room. The attacked man crumpled to the floor, too weak to stand. Arisa knew that the imp would have left more than surface damage and she thought for a moment to help him. However, Maidens rushed forward and picked the man up before carrying him from the room, followed by more servants.

  “Someone is searching for me,” she said with shaking breath.

  “We must send for Sera,” Lucius spoke, stepping past Arisa.

  When Valia nodded, Arisa shouted, “No, you cannot!”

  “We warned them,” Valia snapped and stood her full height. “I must have its master rooted out.”

  “You cannot,” Arisa pleaded. “Karasim means no harm!”

  “What of the others?” Valia asked, stepping towards Arisa. “How do we know others have not found their way into the city? Larger demons, perhaps even Thaos?”

  Arisa shook her head, not knowing what to say until Valia turned, and Arisa threw herself at the queen’s feet, taking her gown in hand and pressing it against her forehead.

  “Please, Valia, Karasim could be killed,” Arisa begged again. “I assure you no other would look for me. Thaos cares nothing for me, and Elona has faith enough that I can take care of myself. It is Karasim who wants me.”

  “Demon god,” Jonus whispered.

  “A god,” Valia repeated, gentle eyes resting on Arisa’s face. “Son of Thaos…”

  “He is not as his father is.” Trembling, Arisa clenched the queen’s gown until her knuckles turned white. Stone scraping across her knees, she ignored the pain. “I can send him away or, at the least, call off his imps. He means no harm. The imps are not of this realm. He does not have complete control over them. But he can and will send them away if I ask.”

  “I cannot have you leave my sight,” Valia responded.

  Arisa shook her head. “I can speak to him with my mind. Please.”

  Valia paused, looking at her attendants. No matter the indications they gave, all remained silent behind Arisa; it would be Valia’s decision. Arisa bowed her head and hoped it would not come to bloodshed. If Valia were to call Sera back to their realm, Arisa would use that moment to escape.

  Valia nodded once and stepped away from Arisa.

  With a deep breath, Arisa reopened her mind to the god, her lover.

  She sent to him her intense and quick thoughts. Karasim, call your imps away!

  His response was immediate and panicked, crashing hard into her mind. Arisa! I thought you were dead! Where have you been?

  I live yet. The queen is kind to me. I’ve been busy studying them, to find out why their angels attacked us on Dracoday.

  His response was delayed, and when he replied, her heart shattered. I know what happened; I’ve known.

  Words failed her, shock weighed heavily on her heart. Perhaps he had felt her pain through their bond because he quickly added, Thaos threatened us if we told. Threatened you…

  You must tell Elona now!

  I… His thoughts faltered, pulling away for a long moment. I cannot. Thaos has sworn to hunt you down.

  While I am in Thanis? I would gladly take the pain for a million of my people either way.

  Please don’t ask this of me.

  Arisa was sure he felt her anger, the scathing thoughts she had towards him were held back, but the emotions were not. She knew Karasim was not weak, and it angered her that he would not be courageous.

  Arisa swallowed hard, knowing those around her waited patiently.

  Taking a risk, she told him at last, Then please come for me. Bring only yourself and without threat to the city. Do not appear within the city walls. We have to convince Valia to contact Elona and release me. I need you. Alert no one to your presence, send your imps away, and I will say nothing. I only want her to know of your presence when you are here. Any sooner than that and you could be killed.

  Arisa did not wait for a response. Shutting off from him again, she looked back at Valia and nodded. “He will no longer interfere,” she lied.

  MAIDA

  “Tell him to stop watching me,” Maida murmured, thin arms wrapped around her small waist. “You said you spoke to him about it, yet he continues to watch me, Eamon. Even now, look.”

  Looking through the open entrance of their tent, Maida saw Craith some yards away ordering his men to set fires for the night. However, his eyes and the eyes of Vari were not on the men but on her as he stared across the way. When Elona had suggested the leader’s tents be grouped together for the last night to adjust to a close setting for the weeks ahead to recuperate in Choráis, Maida had quietly protested.

  Elona agreed to have Maida sent home on the morrow.

  Eamon, clearly exhausted from trying to protect his sister from a threat that had not touched her, pulled the flap shut, grabbed her by the arm, and dragged her away.

  “I have tried,” he growled. “He is not touching you; can that not be enough?”

  Maida’s eyes narrowed. “His gaze makes my body burn in disgust, Eamon. Why do you not understand that?”

  Eamon released her arm, wiping his hand over the great veined scar on his face. She knew she was asking an immense favor from him, but he would be the one to do it. However, something had happened that he was not telling her. When he had returned to her the other night after speaking with Craith, he had waved her off and gone to bed.

  “I cannot do more than I already have,” Eamon insisted before pointing to the entrance of the tent. “Have Drudan take care of him, Maida.”

  She shook her head. “Drudan has not left Elona’s side since we began.” Pained, she added, “And she will not allow me stay in her company for longer than a moment, the same goes for her other attendants.”

  “Of course he hasn’t,” Eamon grumbled, his skin tightening around his scar. The clouds in Eamon’s eyes moved with fury, and Maida knew she had inadvertently awoken his full anger. Since the day Elona had announced they would accompany Thaos, The Chosen had turned tumultuous. None could speak to the other without anger. Arisa usually took the brunt of their brothers’ emotions, leaving Maida untouched by them until now.

  “And Marun?” Eamon asked, staring hard at the ground. “Why do you not have Marun or Gaius speak to him, Maida?”

  Maida scoffed. “And what could they do? They are not as forceful. I want you—”

  “Then you do it!” Eamon yelled, catching Maida by surprise and causing her to stumble back. “You cannot continue to bow to him and what he has done to you!”

  Maida’s posture sagged. “You know that I can’t.”

  Eamon grabbed her by both arms and shook her once; his eyes pierced hers so deeply she felt she might break. “You want me to face him because you sa
y I am so forceful and strong. Don’t you think that if you were to face him with the strength you once held that would not make him obey you?” His fingers tightened around her arms, causing her to wince. “You cannot continue to show this weakness if we are to stand with them, Maida. I’ve told you time and again that you need to confront him.” When Maida looked away, Eamon shook her again. His voice rasped and he came close to her face. “He is bound to use it against you, sister. You know that.”

  “Let me go,” she murmured, keeping perfectly still.

  “You are too weak.”

  Maida snapped as burning tears fell down heated cheeks. “You want to speak of weakness when you cannot even confront Drudan with our concerns. You choose to be angry with the others instead, they have told me. At least I tell Elona how I feel.” Eamon released her and rubbed a hand across his scar again, memories flashing behind his eyes.

  “You are right.” Eamon laughed, a bitter, angry sound. “Of course you are right.” Lowering himself to his haunches, Eamon placed his head in his hands, fingers digging into ashen hair. “Perhaps I’ve been too weak for far too long as well. Maybe all of us have.”

  Maida started, wanting to reach out to him. Anger held her back. Out of the seven of them, Eamon was the most volatile, letting his emotion take control most often. Though immortal, they were still human, still flawed with the minds they were born with.

  Perhaps that was why she had chosen him to be her messenger. Perhaps she had hoped a battle would ensue and show Elona a treaty could not work with Thaos and his brood. Perhaps only bloodshed could convince her goddess.

  Neither had time to say anything more before the tent flap opened. Sorceress Esther Merriwind met Maida’s gaze. “Miss, I’ve kept watch on Craith as you asked and…” At last the young one noticed Maida’s bulging eyes. Esther pursed her lips and stepped away. Too much had been said; Eamon raised a brow and smirked.

  “You want him to not watch you,” he began, slowly rising.

  “Not a word,” Maida muttered. “Not a word from you, Eamon.” Maida turned, calling on the strength of her blood crystals as she tried to shove him from the tent. Still, he was stronger.

  “No, you owe me an explanation,” Eamon said, pulling his arm free and stepping away. “You expect me to tell a god to leave you alone, and you feign that you cannot do it yourself, yet you spy on him? Are you not the hypocrite for telling him to keep his eyes off you when your eyes are all over him?”

  Nails digging into her palms, Maida snapped, “You defend him?”

  Eamon scoffed, “You defer.” He looked between Maida and her newest pupil. She had partly given the task to Esther to train her to spy. The place of Elona’s sorcerers was not just to cast, kill, and enchant, but to spy, using the aid of illusion, charm, or small stature.

  Maida knew she was a hypocrite, but she would not admit it.

  “Fine, Maida,” Eamon said after a moment’s rest. “I want to make a deal with you, a dare if you will. I know what you are capable of, your anger tonight shows me you are not as timid as you’ve been feigning since you were hurt.”

  “Esther, please leave,” Maida ordered the girl. When Esther turned, Eamon took her by the wrist.

  “No, I want a witness,” he mused, wrapping his arm around Esther’s waist. “A witness, in your favor, will keep your morality in check. Hear me out now, you know I do not normally make arrangements with you if it is to make you do something.” Maida rubbed her eyes, growing weary. Sighing, she nodded once and allowed her brother to at least let it be known what he wanted. “We’ve been cowards and weak for too long. You once showed great strength with a commanding mind fit to lead our infantry. Even when we were under Darsus’s rule. If I talk to Drudan and tell him what we’ve all been thinking, I want you to speak with Craith. I want you to tell him to leave you alone. I want you to command him.”

  “I leave tomorrow morning; if you say you have spoken to him—”

  Eamon snapped, “I am your brother; I would not lie to you.”

  Still, she had more excuses. “When Elona and Thaos are through—”

  “I doubt this is the last battle we will see with them.” Maida knew, with those words, that whatever excuse she could find he would have a way to rebuff her. She knew deep in her heart Eamon was correct; she needed to confront the demons of her nightmares, put a rest to her nights of torment. Perhaps even help her handle a god that she would not be able to escape.

  Looking at Esther, Maida swallowed. “Esther, take note. We, as those who serve Elona, Goddess of Integrity, must do this as our duty. Stay at my brother’s side, and when he has confronted Drudan, you will move swiftly to let me know…so that I might confront Craith.”

  Eamon nodded, satisfied. He knew the presence of a witness would give her strength. If not mental strength, then the courage to do what she said she would, to keep herself an honest woman.

  She prayed Eamon would fail.

  With great dread, she knew he would not.

  CASTIEN

  After several gifts had been presented to Nara, the slaves removed the tables and pushed the benches against the walls before bringing entertainment forth. Combining weapons with mana, several elves moved around the room in a dance, slicing at one another with swords lit aflame or with lightning that flashed across the blade and shot from the tips. They always missed one another, or even teased those in the crowd, causing cheers when they barely missed.

  Castien had seen such things thousands of times and was not amused.

  His fingernail dug into the underside of the table, setting sparks flying as it did. He felt the urge to stand and join in, to see just how good they were at avoiding a sword. How good would they be in a fight that had not been practiced several times before?.

  Afterwards, men in costumes burst through the doors. Two carried the puppet of a mighty, shimmering, red dragon; two others wore older uniforms; while another was dressed in an outfit mimicking the gray orcs. The one dressed as an orc juggled large false boulders, and those carrying the dragon danced around the two plainly dressed elves. The two plainly dressed elves showed a mock battle with the others. Castien realized, slightly amused, that it was no longer a show but a demonstration of what his father’s grandfather, Mathios, and the king’s father, Vairon, had accomplished in the north.

  Castien looked down the length of their table, seeing Nara’s wide eyes. Her beauty shone more when she was cheerful, and it left his heart content. He smiled, thinking back to her touch and the devotion he already brought out of her. What they shared on Vheria, he would never have an explanation for, and he could not tell anyone of their interaction. He’d had a faint stirring of emotion for her but taking her innocence was not something he’d planned. He’d only intended to win her heart, which in turn would help him win Ghela.

  Now, he could not be around her enough. Her very scent intoxicated him, and just being in the same room as her brought a weakness to his heart.

  He no longer wanted to restrain himself. As long as he kept appearances with those around him, continuing to take who he pleased while satisfying the king with kind words, he would not need to.

  When false, shimmering eggs exploded and drakes took to the air, impersonating baby dragons, Castien’s smile widened at Nara’s applause and admiration. There were many things the Elders on Vheria had shielded her from. While Vherians were able to read and hear stories from passing travelers, he knew it was not the same as the experience. He felt privileged, knowing only the king and those on the council would have any impact in his life. While he was thankful that the Elders would not direct his life, their positions not held as high on Ghela, a bitterness drifted into his heart because he could not remember the first time he experienced all of what Nara was experiencing. Had he held such amazement the first time his father, and perhaps his mother, had shown him the dragons?

  Looking towards the end of the hall, he saw her friend, Fallon Orindyl. He too seemed caught in the wonder of the show. Castien’s lip
curled before he corrected himself, not wanting another person to catch him in a negative light that night. Nara might not have been able to see it, but Castien knew that Fallon, as well as his brother who continued to stare at her, had feelings for her.

  A strong power surrounded her, the cuts she sustained from the dragon the other day proved such. What power it was remained unknown. Nara clearly held powers that she could not control; beasts of old took to her easily, and demons sought her out. For this alone he knew Fallon and Evert were undeserving of her. Such weakness would only taint her blood.

  Castien wanted to tell Alinar what had happened with the dragon. But he wouldn’t say anything that happened when he and Nara were together until he finished his plans. He prayed she would not come with child and he could continue to draw closer to her as he saw fit. While there were ways to ensure she would not become pregnant, her powers would be affected. With how wild and unknown her abilities were he did not have the heart to tamper with her in such a way.

  When the performers took their bows and the court dancing began.

  Seeing that everyone had become distracted by the night, he stood and moved to Alinar’s side, placing a hand on Nara’s chair. “Your Majesty, might I steal your daughter away for just a moment? I wish to show her something.”

  Alinar turned trusting eyes on Castien, then smiled at his daughter, a look Castien questioned in his heart. “Only if she wishes, this is her night after all.”

  Nara looked between the two of them, and Castien fought the urge to touch her.

  After she nodded, Alinar waved them off, returning his eyes to the upbeat dancing across the stone floor.

  Castien led her into a corridor, peering about to ensure none had followed or would be coming. His sensitivities were trained to track movement, and while not everything could be detected, he still held an edge over most. The only one he had to contend with now was her half-breed guard, Scoria, and he knew the silence she held.

  “Such a wonderful night,” Nara beamed, exploding in a twirl. Her gown flew about her ankles, appearing as waves of light. His heartbeat quickened when the lights in the hall brightened the red of her lips. The flower in her hair slipped, touching her bare, sun-bathed neck.