— Chapter Thirty —
Exodus
All the elves, Sea Folk, and dragons were silent after Valanandir broke the news. How would they respond? All he could do now was wait. Iadrawyn gave his hand a comforting squeeze. Although he hoped some of the crowd would decide to accompany them, he was satisfied knowing at least he and Iadrawyn would be together, fulfilling her vision from the Quenya.
The Sea Folk bobbed silently in the water. The elves sat on the grass, deep in thought, children sitting quietly by their parents. The dragons sat around them. Most of them were younglings, barely fledged. Lodariel and her handpicked sentries stood around the perimeter, watching.
Unable to contain herself any longer, Malarin spoke.
“I don’t know what there is to consider. We need to protect ourselves and the Quenya. I didn’t fight a war and lose my kindred to allow the dark creatures to steal the Quenya again! We have only just gotten the sun back. Are you all willing to lose it and live in fear once more?”
Her bold words were met with an uproar from all parties. Everyone was shouting, trying to be heard. Valanandir sighed. Trust Malarin to provoke a response. He looked at her with a raised eyebrow and she gave him a wink. After several cacophonous moments, she silenced the crowd with a roar.
“Thank you,” Valanandir said. “Now, one at a time.”
A querulous-looking male dragon with green and gold scales spoke first. “Although Malarin has not said so, we dragons agree to be bound by your oath. We have held back too many times in the past, and it has cost us all dearly. We can no longer afford to be isolated from our allies. I recommend the rest of you learn from our mistakes.” He gave the crowd a dire look before resting his head on his forelegs and closing his eyes to soak up the sun.
So the dragons were with them. Perhaps some of them could be persuaded to move their lairs to the Hamad Balas. It would be useful to have them watching over Melavalion’s borders.
The Sea Folk were huddled in the water, speaking rapidly to one another in their own tongue. Valanandir wished he were close enough to hear them. He had managed to learn some of their language since they had been brought into the alliance of the Quenya. Still, they were insular creatures. There was no telling what they would decide. The only thing he knew was either all of them would agree or none. The Sea Folk were a communal group.
The elves muttered amongst themselves, giving the dragons and Sea Folk covert glances. Eventually, the Sea Folk broke apart, and Nimrilwyn swam forward with an ever-scowling Rallavalan at her back. The beach went silent.
“We also have lost loved ones during the war.” Her eerie voice carried on the breeze as she spoke haltingly in Elvish. “We have always believed the many is stronger than the individual. It is our way. We will take the oath of the Quenya and watch over the coast of the elves’ new home.”
The elves sat in silence, refusing to make eye contact with one another, shamed by the commitment of the other races.
“Well?” said Iadrawyn. “The dragons and Sea Folk have had their say. What say the elves? Who among you will join us?”
Eranalfia climbed to his feet. “I will go with you. You have united the elven tribes, brought all the races that serve the light together, and helped us regain the Quenya at great personal risk. Wherever you lead, I will follow.” He walked over to where Valanandir and Iadrawyn were standing.
Iadrawyn accepted her brother’s oath as the first among the elves.
After he sat back down, the floodgates opened. One elf after another stepped forward to take the oath until every last one of them had sworn it. Once this was done, Iadrawyn moved among the dragons and Sea Folk.
Valanandir couldn’t believe it. Everyone had agreed to the relocation. He felt a strong sense of rightness from the Quenya. Whatever happened next, they would all face it together.
Light Chasers (The World of Lasniniar Book 0) Page 53