by J D Bowens
“Just a moment longer,” Consus said.
Kyran managed to gain control of the bucket, but Alyss continued to hit him in the shoulder. “Ow, damn, Alyss,” he cried. “I know I was gone a long time. I’m sorry, but I was just trying to make things better for us.”
Alyss growled at him, her face turning a deeper shade of red. “No one asked you to do that,” she said. “I thought we were going to do things together. I thought we would make those decisions together. But you just left me. And you-” Alyss was unable to finish her sentence. “What was I supposed to think when you left me like that?”
Kyran snatched her hand and held it between his. “I love you more than anyone else. I didn’t mean to make you doubt that.”
“Then why not send word to me?”
Kyran shrugged, mouth agape. “I don’t know,” he said. She rolled her eyes. “I’m sorry. My father traveled a lot and never bothered to do that for my mother. I thought it’d be fine.”
“Of course, you would,” Alyss said. Her face was no longer red but remained a fierce frown.
“I guess I was ashamed too,” he said. “I didn’t think it would take this long to earn the coin. I’ve got less than nothing. Everything I own is swallowed by the family debt. I can’t marry you like that. I don’t want you to be swallowed up by it too.”
Alyss placed her other hand over his. “I don’t care about the coin. I’m not marrying a purse; I’m marrying you. Whatever problems there are, we handle them together.”
“Aye, but it’s not going to be a problem anymore,” he said with a smile. “I’ve all the coin I need to pay it off now. I’ve only one more trip-”
“Oh, for goodness sakes.”
Kyran prepared to defend himself from another assault. “It will only be a couple of weeks this time I swear it!” Kyran pulled something from his pocket. It twinkled in the morning light like a small star, and Consus realized it was one of the diamonds. Kyran took Alyss’ hand and placed it in her open palm.
“Wh-What is this?” she said. The anger and heat had vanished, replaced by awe.
“It is a diamond,” he answered. “And it’s my promise to you that I will be back in two weeks’ time to make you my wife.” Moments passed in silence. “Well?”
“I-I-I’m thinking,” she sputtered.
“What’s there to think about?”
“I just can’t believe this is happening,” she said. A wide smile overtook her face, and she wrapped her arms around his neck. “You promise it’s only two weeks?”
Kyran smiled back. “I promise. I love you, Alyss.” He leaned down and kissed her passionately.
She grabbed the back of his head and tried to pull him down. She kissed him several more times. Letting go, she looked over to the brush by the stream. “I don’t think anyone will see us over there,” she said.
Consus felt his face heat up as they scurried behind a large bush. He pulled the cup away from the window. “Well, I think that’s enough,” he said.
“What’s happening?” Milo asked. He snatched the cup from Consus and listened. The halfling giggled and snorted. “They’re going to get wet near the stream like that.”
Consus turned away from the window, shaking his head at the halfling. “Well, I think they plan on getting married.”
“Didn’t she just douse him with water and hit him with a bucket?” Milo shook his head. “If that’s what passes for romance among humans then I’m afraid I don’t know what love is anymore.”
Chapter 19
“Consus was dreaming again last night,” Leiwyn said. “I could almost sense him." She stood in her room watching the sunrise. The gold and orange hue stretched out over the horizon and painted the leaves in sunlight. Though it was beautiful it was not the same as home.
The trees of the Valenforn were thicker and taller. Some of the oldest trees reached the clouds. The red bark stood out against their dark green leaves which created a shady canopy that enveloped the elf kingdom. The sunlight is pretty though, Leiwyn admitted. I never saw this much of its light at home. She looked at her arms and noticed her skin had become darker since she’d left home. The memory of Karinne’s first sunburn was still fresh in her mind.
“What are you smiling about?” Karinne asked. She stuffed a pack on her bed closed, preparing to leave for their journey to the Nor Sea.
Leiwyn bit her lip and pushed the humorous memory of Karinne’s red skin from her mind. “Nothing, just admiring the light,” she said. “It is odd that he is having dreams, though.”
Karinne plopped the pack on the ground. “The boy? That could mean nothing. Doesn’t mean he is gifted with Arden’s Blessing like you.”
“That could be true,” Leiwyn said. She hadn’t seen any signs of Arden’s Blessing, no signs of divina magica. No blue light of Arden or peculiar miracles. He seemed rather ordinary. “Still, the dream he describes is the vision that those who are blessed receive. It would be an odd coincidence. Even more oddly timed since we are looking for the Pilgrim Stone.”
Karinne shrugged. “I wouldn’t read too much into it,” she said. “Then again I’m not gifted. You know more about divina magica and the gods.”
Leiwyn nodded as Karinne strapped on one of her boots. Arden has arranged for us to meet these brothers. Yet I cannot be certain of their role in all of this. How has he not made a choice yet? It concerned Leiwyn that Consus still struggled to choose between the gryphon and the dragon, the servant of Arden or of Nemoth.
“If he’s gifted, why not tell him how to choose?” Karinne asked.
Leiwyn scoffed and shook her head. “It would be blasphemous to intervene. The dreams are the gods’ personal speaking to him. I cannot choose his path for him. It would only disrupt his faith with doubt later. Besides, doing so would only expose us as believers. I’ve seen how this land treats people who oppose the Servants of the Quintetta.”
Karinne looked down at the ground. “I cannot forget it,” she said. “Burning whole families alive should be forbidden.” She was silent, but Leiwyn could tell she was recalling the travesties they’d witnessed. “These brothers seem different. And their own mother was a believer. But I suppose the less they know, the less danger we’re in.”
“Consus has a good heart and a kind soul,” Leiwyn said. “I’m sure he’ll choose well.”
Karinne shuddered. “I can’t imagine the dream,” she said. “Being pulled on either side by a dragon and a gryphon; I’m glad I don’t have any magic.”
Leiwyn laughed and sat on the bed. “It’s not all that bad. It is a marvelous thing to be connected to the universe in such a way. Seeing the future through Arden’s eye and what the world could be, it is a true Blessing. If I did not have this gift, we would not know of the Pilgrim Stone or that he needed us to find it.”
Karinne lay back, the remaining boot in her hand and her feet hanging off the edge of the bed. “And we would not be traipsing about the continent,” she complained. “I miss the Valenforn so much. The trees were more beautiful, the animals prettier, and the people were kinder. And food! The fruit and vegetables tasted so much better. Everything here is bland and boring. How can they live off potatoes and cabbages? And this accursed sun!”
Leiwyn laughed so loud she snorted. Karinne threw her boot at her but missed and hit the wall behind Leiwyn's bed. “It’s not fair that my skin turns into a ripe tomato and you just get prettier.”
Leiwyn passed her boot back. “I’m sorry,” she said, “but you look like you’re getting better. Soon we’ll have the Pilgrim Stone and be on our way home. The world will be saved before it is in any danger.” She smiled at Karinne. “I couldn’t have made this trip without you Karinne.”
Her friend gave a humble shrug and smiled. “Ah, think nothing of it.”
“Don’t say that,” Leiwyn chided. “Even before we left, you believed me and my visions. No one else would, not even my own family believed. They thought I was crazy or cursed.”
“Well, I wasn’t about to
let my oldest friend wander the continent alone,” Karinne replied. “Goodness knows what trouble you would have gotten yourself into. You would’ve gotten lost or kidnapped by pirates.” Karinne rose up from the bed and put on her other boot.
Leiwyn tied her pack closed and gathered her cloak. “I wonder if the Valenforn Council will believe me after we’ve destroyed the Pilgrim Stone.”
“House Elthanaas believes you,” Karinne said. “And your Master, she believes you.”
“That is true,” she said. “Their support and aid have been invaluable to me. They understand so much about the ancient gods and worshipping Arden. Without their books and my Master, I would not have been able to control my magic. But I doubt the Valenforn Council will ever listen to them. They have little respect for those who worship the old gods.”
It’s such a pity too. An Elven House should never be banned from politics for their beliefs. The voices of all Houses should be heard. Leiwyn tried not to dwell on the turmoils of home.
“Bah, I never cared for house politics,” Karinne said. “There’s nothing wrong with Elthanaas.”
“Any elves who worship the old gods are seen as misguided zealots,” she said.
“I suppose that makes us both very misguided,” Karinne said with a smile. “But maybe destroying the stone will show the Council the old gods do exist.”
Leiwyn was not as hopeful. She wasn’t sure she’d even tell the Council what she and Karinne had been doing all this time. “We can certainly pray for that,” she said.
As they walked down to the common room, Leiwyn recalled the visions that had led her to the other end of the continent. Images of an orb that glowed with a brilliant light, shadowy figures dancing inside of it. The orb floated above an ornate stone and gold altar to Arden. “Maar Inish,” a voice had boomed. “Find the map in Maar Inish and recover the Pilgrim Stone.”
She’d ignored the visions for days, but her dreams were filled with terrors of what would happen if she did not recover the Pilgrim Stone. The Valenforn was on fire; her people raced to put it out. Their efforts were in vain as a horde of brӧg flooded through the burning trees and cut down the elf men and women.
The silhouette of a woman laughed maniacally as she held up the orb above her head. “Praise be Nemoth,” she screamed.
Children who stopped to cry over their parent’s bodies were gobbled up by a fiery dragon. So many times, Leiwyn had reached to save those children, to pull them away from the dragon. She never succeeded.
All the visions will be gone soon. Leiwyn shuddered at the thought. Everyone will be safe once I destroy the Pilgrim Stone.
Chapter 20
Synara hastened her pace as she followed Dromedus. He moved through the streets of Normead with more agility than her. Not a soul bumped into him as he walked. She had already tripped over a stray cat and had a near brush with a vendor’s cart. I’m so tired after all the riding. It had taken them three days to ride from the Maerstone Keep. Dromedus showed no sign of weariness. He’s so graceful.
She blamed her clumsiness on the city. Grenloch was sloppy country, cruder than Denipoor. The streets were filled with dirt, produce spilled from carts, and raucous calls from shopkeepers and vendors filled the air.
And the people are so unkind. Several passersby gave her a stink-eye. She looked down at her white robes of Serun. I suppose I cannot blame them. I’d hate a Servant of the Quintetta if I were them too. Things would be different when Nemoth came. He would not slaughter people without reason. He would only claim the lives of those who chose not to obey or worship him.
Dromedus paused and looked back at her. “Synara, remind me which god of the Quintetta rules these parts?”
Synara twisted a red curl of hair. “I think it is Dacos, the God of Humility,” she said. “They don’t have a strong following here. Or much influence. Why do you ask?”
“We may need to spy out information on the elves’ guides,” he answered. “We might as well start with our ‘fellow servants.’”
As they came closer to the center of the city, Synara led the way to the Pig in the Pot Inn. She turned off the main street and winded through several narrow streets. It was not the most direct route, but it was what she recalled from her raven’s sight.
Or at least I hope so. She would be embarrassed if they got lost. Dromedus did not complain about the long trek, and Synara was thankful. I’m glad we left Malin with the soldiers and the horses outside the city. He would definitely complain.
After one more turn, they came to a large inviting stone structure. A sign hung from the doorpost displaying a pig smoking inside a kettle. “There it is,” Synara exclaimed with pride.
“Well done, Synara,” he said. “Lead on, then.”
Synara walked up the stairs and opened the door to the inn. The tables were empty and cleaned save for a few patrons near the unlit fireplace. A serving girl walked out from the kitchen entrance and spotted her. She frowned when she saw Synara.
Synara smoothed her robes and put on her friendliest, but serious, face. “Hello,” she said, “we are looking for the innkeeper.” The serving girl still frowned.
Just then a giant man stomped out from the kitchen door. His clothes were soaked through. His scowling face and scraggly beard were wet and dirty.
I’ve never seen a giant before, Synara balked. She realized her mouth was open and shut it. Dromedus appeared calm but had his hand on the hilt of his sword.
The giant placed his hands on his hips and looked at the serving girl. He did not appear to notice Synara or Dromedus. “Katie, you were right,” he said. “There is a leak. I’ll be needing that bucket, and you better send for the carpenter. I don’t know what I’m doin’ in there.”
The serving girl, Katie, pointed at Synara and Dromedus. “They are looking for you, Bobboh,” she said. She disappeared into the kitchen leaving them alone.
Bobboh turned and puffed out his chest. “Aye, and who are you, then?”
“I am Dromedus Glemorian, Sword to the Quintetta.” He gestured to Synara. “This is Sister Synara of Serun. We have some questions about your guests-”
Bobboh eyed the man up and down. “Are ya here about the fight with the priest the other night? The one with the Edderick brothers.”
Synara was puzzled and looked at Dromedus. He shrugged his shoulders. “Are they the dark-skinned brothers?” he asked. “There would be four of them.”
He gave a begrudging nod. “Those are the ones,” Bobboh replied. “But in all fairness, it was the priest Gelwig and his men that started the fight. Don’t you punish those brothers for doing what’s right. Your kind needs to be doing a better job.”
“Er-- I will see to it that they are represented fairly,” Dromedus said. “The Swords involved will be disciplined.” He bowed and ushered Synara out of the inn.
“Dromedus,” Synara said once they were outside, “why didn’t we ask him where those brothers were headed?”
“I doubt he would have told us,” he answered. “This region doesn’t much care for the Servants of the Quintetta. And it’s not like I can torture it out of him either. Besides, he told us where we could find those who are willing to help us.”
“The Brothers of Dacos?” Synara asked. Dromedus nodded. They stopped at a nearby vegetable vendor and asked him how to find the Temple of Dacos. After turning back onto one of the city’s main streets, they walked a mile to a residential neighborhood.
She saw the Temple of Dacos first, a three-story hall built of dark cedar and oak. The sides of the building were decorated with ornate carvings of an old man with long hair, bearing a shepherd’s crook guiding sheep and rams through a field.
Why does Dacos have to be so ugly? She wondered. Dacos, the shepherd, was pinched in a perpetual scowl. The hook nose made him appear angry at the sheep.
“Do you really think that Gelwig will know where they went?” she asked.
Dromedus nodded. “The Servants of the Quintetta have eyes everywhere in the North
ern Kingdom. Brother Gelwig sounds like the type of man who would hold a grudge. They will know where those brothers are headed. Those who serve the God of Humility and Contentment are quite small minded.”
God of Contentment and Humility, by my fire!
Of the Servants of the Quintetta, Dacos’ was the most deceitful. They took advantage of poor families who prayed for the removal of perceived curses and misfortune by charging them exorbitant prices for their ‘mystical’ services. Their services often failed but when they succeeded the brothers of Dacos celebrated themselves, even if there was no way to discern between coincidence and “divine intervention.”
Synara entered the temple hall with Dromedus and was greeted by a brother of Dacos. He pointed them towards the back where they could find Brother Gelwig. The back room was lit with dim lamps that barely illumined the brown walls. The fragrance of incense mixed with the scent of cedar chips and hung heavy in the windowless room.
She saw a brother of Dacos, late in age, with thin strands of brown hair combed over his head. He kneeled before an altar where a dead bloodied ram lay. The brother of Dacos held the entrails of the ram, appearing to examine them. Behind him stood a young man and woman in simple garb, their shoes caked in mud. They held one another, and Synara could tell they were whispering prayers.
“Dacos speaks through your sacrifice,” the brother said. “He says your lands have been fouled. You seek to increase your own wealth without consideration for his blessings to you.” He dropped the intestines and rose. “A tithe of silver will be required to lift this curse from your lands.”
“But we have already given all we have to Dacos,” the woman said. “What more can we do?”
“You have livestock, do you not? A tribute in this way would be acceptable as well.” The brother waved his hand, and another younger brother of Dacos appeared from the corner of the room. “My brother will see to this. You must learn to put all your trust in Dacos.”
“Brother Gelwig?” Synara asked as the couple was escorted from the room by the younger brother.