Light Chasers (The World of Lasniniar Book 0)

by Jacquelyn Smith

  Daroandir woke a few hours later. Although it had not been sufficient sleep to completely restore him, he was too restless to stay in bed any longer. What had the others discovered?

  Forcing himself to his feet, he smoothed his hair back into their braids as he walked from his hut to the glade of the Quenya. The rest of the village was calm, occupied with the usual daily tasks. Children ran among the trees, playing games. They had never known dark creatures or war. Daroandir hoped that would remain true.

  He walked past the enormous trees that ringed the glade where the Quenya was housed. Only Iadrawyn and Andirlynia were within. They sat cross-legged on the grass with eyes closed. Like her mother, the younger elf had a strong connection with the Quenya. They often spent their time communing together. Daroandir sat slightly apart from them, not wanting to disturb their visions. The familiar tingle of the Quenya welcomed him, shimmering its multifaceted light from within the hollow of the huge tree that housed it. He let the sensation wash over him.

  Valanandir was the next to arrive. He wore a worried frown. Noticing Daroandir, he sat next to him to speak in a low voice.

  “Malarin has had the entire mountain range searched. There is no sign of any dark creatures. Whatever they were doing last night, they left shortly afterward.”

  “That is not good. What could they possibly be doing up there? There is nothing else in that direction they could have been flying to.”

  “I know. That is what worries me.”

  They waited together in silence until Lodariel arrived. She wiped her forearm across her brow and lowered herself to sit to the other side of Daroandir. She would have had to have been running since the last time they had gathered for her to make it to the Lavi Eadros and back by now. She took a long pull on her waterskin before speaking.

  “The dark creatures are there, all right. Drakhalu, Fire Folk, dragons, a whole army camped together.”

  “How do they withstand the sunlight?” Valanandir asked.

  “Some have burrowed into the sides of the hills, but many have brought large tents to huddle in during the day. I cannot say where they will strike first, but I don’t like having creatures of fire so close to our shipyards.”

  “They do not mean for any of us to escape,” Daroandir said.

  “I will send the order to have all our ships set sail. Some of them can attack from the water, while others can be sent to Arindaria to be held in reserve near the island. If Nargaz’s dragons are involved, they will not even be safe at sea.” Valanandir rose to give the command to the guards posted outside the glade.

  “I have other news for you,” Lodariel lowered her voice even further, even though only Daroandir was there to hear her. “I thought I saw the friend you were looking for on my way here. He appeared unharmed, going about his daily business. I had no time to investigate.”

  Saviadro had returned? Daroandir was caught between relief and suspicion. He began to rise to try to find him, but Valanandir was just returning and Iadrawyn and Andirlynia appeared to be stirring. The eyes of the elf women were wide with horror as they turned to face the others.

  Iadrawyn stalked over to Lodariel and knocked the waterskin from her hands. It landed on the ground a few feet away, its clear contents spilling into the grass. Iadrawyn’s expression was wild. Lodariel’s mouth worked, trying to voice a response.

  “When did you draw that water?” Iadrawyn demanded.

  “Earlier today.” Lodariel’s voice was confused.

  “Where did you draw it from?” Iadrawyn leaned in, looming over her.

  Lodariel recoiled with a frown. “A spring in the hills.”

  Iadrawyn turned to face the rest of them, her golden eyes burning. “Have any of you drunk water from the river that was drawn since last night?”

  Daroandir considered before shaking his head. He had filled his waterskins before he had left to find Saviadro. Lodariel and Valanandir frowned and shook their heads. Iadrawyn’s expression turned relieved and her legs gave way. Andirlynia rushed to her side and supported her. Valanandir helped both women to sit on the grass.

  “What’s wrong with the water?” he asked. “What have you seen?”

  Iadrawyn stirred to life, becoming agitated once more, despite her daughter’s and husband’s comforting hands on her shoulders.

  “We must warn the others. We have to stop them!”

  “Stop them from what?” Valanandir’s voice was gentle.

  “Drinking the water! That’s what they were doing in the mountains last night. The dragon Daroandir saw bore a drakhal into the mountains. The Rilaran is fed by a deep spring in the Hamad Balas. They have fouled it with dark water from the Suloras. Anyone who has bathed in it or drank from it will die!”

  Daroandir leaped to his feet as the pieces fell into place. The Suloras was a small lake in the dark lands; its waters were poison. It would take only one drakhal bearing some skins of the tainted liquid and a dragon to bear them to the source of the river to disperse it. Once the task was complete, there would be no need to remain. The dark army would strike as soon as the poison took hold. Fear and despair washed over him.

  Valanandir and Lodariel also stood, wearing shocked expressions. Without a word to one another, they all began to run. They had to warn the village!

  He hoped they weren’t too late.