by T J Trapp
“We don’t want to take him with us, that’s certain,” Erin said. She confronted the man. “Sleep!” she commanded, and the clutchman promptly fell asleep. “I guess we are good to go now,” she said to Alec.
They group paused at the entryway and Erin stopped and sensed what was outside. “There are many elves in the street below. They are very confident, so I suspect they are well armed.”
“That doesn’t sound good,” Alec muttered. “I wonder if there is another way out of this place.”
Thom pointed to a utility ladder that provided roof access; Alec climbed up to the roof, followed by Erin. The roof provided a panoramic display of the city, sunlight shining off the white walls of the buildings and highlighting the brightly colored panels. At any other time, Alec thought, it would have been a beautiful view. However, now was not that time. On the street below, they could see a crowd of armed elves. “Nice view, but no escape,” Alec noted.
“Look,” Erin said, pointing at an elf woman walking up the path to the building. It was their guide, Zera, followed by her clutch. Zara hailed them.
“I have been selected by the Mothers to handle your capture,” Zera called to them. “May I enter the building?”
“You may enter, but you must leave your ring outside as a sign you don’t intend treachery,” Erin said. “And leave your clutch outside.” Erin scrambled back down the ladder, Alec close behind.
Zera entered the building, alone. “Your behavior in mending our concentrator has been adequate,” Zera said. “Therefore, we will acknowledge your contribution and allow you a peaceful death.” She pointed out the door. “The Disca has assembled many coercers, waiting outside, to curb you if you do not submit. There are thirty coercers already here and another twenty on their way. Submit to me peacefully and allow yourself to be banded without trouble and we will kill you mercifully. However, if we must subdue you, you will be given a very painful death.” She looked at them hopefully. Neither Alec nor Erin moved. The riders scowled at the concept.
“Submit and be banded,” she repeated.
“And then what?” said Erin.
“We will allow you and the other female to die on the Determination Tower this afternoon,” she said to Erin, smiling. “It is close by. Jumping from the tower is a most painless way of death. It is high, death is immediate, and all the elves may gather to watch you die. It is quite nice.” Then pointing to Alec, “We will allow this male to serve in the Pleasure House for a few months before being sent to the Tower to die. The other males we will send to the Drone Master and let her decide their fate.”
She smiled expectantly, then seemed somewhat surprised that no one in the group was quick to accept her offer. “We offer you a quick death. If we must curb you, you will suffer for many months before we allow you to die.”
Erin laughed. “Your offer will let him die happy, and me die unhappy! That is not a deal that is of interest to us. We ask for peaceful passage from your land. If necessary, we will fight for our freedom, or for our death, but we will not surrender!”
“You seem to think we are negotiating. We are not,” Zera said, shaking her head. “Negotiating can only happen among equals. Do not forget your place. You are animals. Animals must be curbed and trained to do their elf’s bidding. Your fate is death, either early and quickly, or slowly and painfully. We are offering you the opportunity to submit peacefully to your fate. If you resist and fight like wild animals, we will treat you accordingly. When you are ready to submit, I am here to facilitate the transition,” Zera said. She turned her back on them and walked back outside where her clutchmen waited.
“What do we do now?” said Erin. “I can sense them out there waiting for us. She’s right – there are at least thirty coercers out there with their clutches. At the Audience Hall we beat a dozen coercers, and maybe we could beat twice that number, but not the entire population of elfdom!”
Alec sighed. “Also,” he said, “fighting that many would require a great deal of dark energy. If we try to draw too much energy we could destroy my medallion and your sword – that could destroy us as well, just like what happened to Sarah! We need to change the equation.” He thought a moment. “I have an idea.” With that, he climbed back up to the roof, Erin close behind him. He pointed to the Determination Tower nearby and the Hatchery slightly farther away. “Give her a warning,” he said to Erin.
“We want to give you fair warning,” Erin shouted to Zera. “Clear everyone away from the Tower, because Alec will bring it down before you can run there.”
Zera’s clutchman relayed the message. As far as Alec could tell, nothing happened – he couldn’t see any movement of people away from the tower.
Focus. After a moment, Alec could see a few stones fall from the side of the tower. Focus. Two more tries – a few more chunks fell. Alec looked at it, disappointed. Then as he watched, he could see that one wall started to slowly lean a bit; after an agonizing second, the wall collapsed. Then, as he intended, the tower started to buckle, and then quickly fell, bringing the entire structure down with it. A column of dust rose up from the rubble of the building, and Alec could hear the screams of the injured, crushed beneath the blocks of stone.
“You didn’t heed our warning, and now you have lost elves,” Erin shouted to Zera. “My Consort, Alec, destroyed your tower to show you that we are serious and that we are angry. We asked for peaceful passage from your land. We ask again and expect everyone to clear away from this building and let us leave.”
Zera, replied, “You are mistaken. There were no elves there; you only killed drones.”
“Let us leave! If you don’t, next we will destroy your Hatchery. When that building goes, not only will all your eggs be crushed, you will also lose your swaddling cradles. That will be the price you pay if you do not let us go!”
Zera’s clutchman relayed the message, and shortly returned to her with an answer.
“The Disca does not believe you!” Zera shouted back. “They do not believe that you can hurt what is locked inside the safety of our nursery.”
“Then tell them to look at the flames that are rising from the top of your Hatchery,” Erin shouted. “My Consort can make a fire big enough, and that burns hot enough, to roast all of your precious eggs, and melt all of your swaddling cradles.” From the doorway, she could see smoke rising from the roof of the Hatchery, and she knew that all the elves assembled outside of the building could see it too.
After a long time, a message came back.
“The Disca will allow you free passage to the New Haven gate, but they warn you that you will be painfully punished when you are caught outside the city walls.”
✽✽✽
“This is our chance,” said Erin. “We need to get to the gate as fast as we can, while they are putting out the fire in the Hatchery and tending to those trapped by the fallen tower.” As Alec scrambled down from the roof, Erin sensed the outside. “There is a noticeable backing off. Elves are leaving the area.” Then shouting to Zera, “Tell them to leave us an open path to the city gate. You will come with us to the gate to ensure compliance.” When she felt that the elves had pulled back sufficiently for them to reach the gate, Erin motioned to the others.
“Let’s go,” Erin said. The six of them took off toward the gate, Zera’s clutch following close behind. As they came almost within sight of the city gate, Zera gasped.
“They are betraying their agreement!” she said in surprise. “They are going to trap you, just ahead on the path, in the last turn before you would leave the New Haven.” She touched Erin’s arm. “For wild cross-breeds, I feel that you have been as honorable as your animal nature allows. I am ashamed that my people do not keep their agreements – but they feel that agreements with animals do not have to be kept.”
“Aren’t they concerned that we will burn down the Hatchery?” Alec asked.
“They don’t fear you will carry out your threat,” Zera retorted. “Look around. They have picked this point because there is no view of
our Hatchery. They don’t think you can hurt it if you can no longer see it.”
Alec looked around.
“They may be right. We need a new plan,” he said.
“What – die gloriously?” Erin said.
“I wouldn’t be your favorite Great Wizard if I didn’t have a very desperate idea. It may not work, but we will go out with a bang.” Alec started pulling and holding power from the concentrator – he pulled all the power that his medallion and the staff could manage. He could feel them straining.
“Now,” he said to Zera, “Tell them that I have pulled the power from the concentrator. If I let go, it will destroy the concentrator, me, and half the city. Tell them to back off, or I will destroy everything. You can sense I am telling the truth. Without the concentrator, you will not be able to support your lifestyle and have hot baths.”
Zera relayed the message.
“They will back off,” she said, “but they know the precise range of the concentrator’s energy field and will be after you when you are out of range.”
They reached the ornate gate in the New Haven wall and Zera opened it for them. Erin turned to Zera.
“You and your clutch are free to go,” she said. “Thank you for your assistance.”
“You have turned out to be more honorable than I thought possible for your kind,” Zera said. “When we capture you, again, I will put in a favorable word with the Disca for them to kill you painlessly.”
✽✽✽
They were off. They suspected there would be elves ahead of them as well as a large force coming after them. They moved quickly but carefully. Time was important, but they needed to conserve their energy in case they had to fight their way out. They planned as they covered ground.
“We spent two nights making the traverse from our camping ground to the city, but we should be able to make it in one twelve-hour transit. We should expect to encounter at least one set of elves between here and the ravine,” Alec said.
“We must assume they are communicating with each other and are tracking us. I would expect that their strongest elves were called back to the city to stop us, so we can anticipate accordingly,” Erin said to her riders.
Every little while they would stop so that Erin could sense the surroundings. At one stop, Erin detected a party coming from behind, just at the edge of her senses. Alec could feel her apprehension.
They reached the shack where they had been held captive and walked past without stopping. Finally, Erin thought, I feel something ahead. They proceeded carefully. Erin stopped and sensed again.
“It feels like there are three groups ahead. I think they are planning a surprise because they know they aren’t strong enough to tackle us head-to-head,” she said. Alec agreed. They proceeded carefully.
“I can sense two groups on one side and the third group off to the other side,” Erin said. “If these are weak coercers, I should be able to take the first attack, but you need to stay alert for a second attack. Thom, you and the riders need to be ready.”
As they came around the next turn, they came upon the first bunch. Eight elves were arrayed on the path in front of them. The two Mothers didn’t say a word but immediately started twisting the field lines. Erin used her ring to engage them and started twisting the field lines around them. Alec felt the twisting, but his ring deflected the field lines around him. The four riders aligned themselves around Erin in case the clutchmen attacked, but the clutchmen only seemed interested in protecting the Mothers and not attacking Erin. Alec stood behind Erin warily watching. He could see that Erin was gaining ground on the two Mothers.
Alec felt and heard the movement to his side – then the third Mother and her clutch emerged from the woods. Erin and her riders were consumed in their fight and didn’t notice the new threat. Alec stepped up to engage the Mother. He felt the Mother attempt to twist the force around him, but the lines flowed smoothly past him. The Mother realized his ring was protecting him and deployed her clutch. The three clutchmen spread out so that they would engage Alec over a semicircle. They all carried short spears, similar in length to his staff, so he had no advantage in reach.
Focus. Alec tried to create a small rock inside the first clutchman. Nothing happened except a rebound of energy that left his head slightly throbbing. Four to one, he thought. Need better odds than that. A blast of air generated by Alec staggered the three clutchmen, but it also staggered Alec enough that he lost much or his advantage. He recovered just an instant more quickly than the others and attacked the forward clutchman. The clutchman quickly retreated, stumbling backward. Alec could not take advantage of the stumble because the other two clutchmen moved to Alec’s side and a blow to take out the first would leave Alec open to a spear thrust.
Alec backed away. The three clutchman regrouped in a semicircle and started to press him. One thrust a spear at him, but Alec pulled in dark energy and the clutchmen’s movement appeared to be in slow motion. Alec stepped inside the spear thrust and brought his staff around to hit the clutchman. As the staff approached the clutchman, Alec felt a jarring wrench as the force lines smoothed and time returned to normal. His disabling blow converted to a glancing blow on the clutchman’s shoulder.
Alec stumbled back, slightly stunned. The three clutchmen were getting dangerously close, so he attacked vigorously. They retreated in front of his attack and pressed from both sides. Alec tried a combination of gathering dark energy to speed time to get close to his opponents, and then releasing the energy just before attacking. That kept him competitive with his three opponents but didn’t give him enough advantage to land a disabling blow. He initiated a furious series of attacks that caused the clutch to retreat slightly.
Alec was tiring rapidly. Mentally he could call up dark energy, but physically his body was wearing from the exertion. His periodic flushes of dark energy provided some relief, but not enough to restore his body. He needed something else, or one of the spear thrusts would soon hit home, and the fight would be over. Alec attacked the clutchman edging closest. Then he realized it had been a feint. The clutchman on the other side thrust his spear towards where Alec was moving. Alec realized too late what they were doing. He drew more dark energy and increased his speed. He was partially successful as he contorted his torso away from the thrust. He felt the spear approaching and then time returned to normal.
Just as the spear was about to strike him, a second spear appeared at his side and diverted it. He glanced to his side and saw Bon. With the rider assisting him, the tables turned. Alec attacked a clutchman with his staff and Bon used the opportunity to thrust her spear through the momentary opening, skewering the man.
Then the fight ended. The Mother and the other two clutchmen collapsed.
“Good timing,” Alec groaned, and Bon nodded. Alec remembered to collect the Mothers’ rings before they started hiking again.
Erin could feel the elves’ pursuit behind them. It was not dangerously close and was not closing the distance. “Something doesn’t seem right. They seem to be in no hurry to catch up with us.”
They came to the ravine where they had been originally captured. Erin felt ahead and could not sense any opposition.
“It is likely they do not have many clutches out here. They have not anticipated us escaping. But, the number behind us is relatively large.” They walked into the ravine past the spot where they had first encountered the elf Mother Marta, and found their packs where they had dropped them. They took the time to change back into their clothes – most appreciated were their boots since the elf tailor had only provided them with decorative thin-soled walking shoes. They rummaged through the packs and found enough food to satisfy their immediate hunger. Then they were out the other side of the ravine, and to the meadow where they had placed the stakes.
“We need to cross this field without getting lost. We cannot afford to take a long-time backtracking, or they will catch us. Hopefully our stakes are still here,” said Alec. They looked for a few minutes. They were abo
ut to give up and dare the meadow when Alec spotted a stake. “There!” he said, pointing. They ran to the stake and could see several more ahead of them. They were not in a straight line, and there seemed to be at least ten rows of stakes spreading in all directions.
“This is some illusion. I am going to try something.” Alec pulled some rope out of his pack. “Here, you hold one end, and I will take the other,” he said to Erin. “Stay here at the stake.” Then Alec walked to the apparent position of the next stake. There was no stake there. He turned around to look at Erin, and there was ten Erin’s spread over the field. He followed the rope back and returned to Erin.
“I can’t imagine them taking the time to deliberately move our stakes,” said Alec. “This must be another illusion designed to slow us until they can catch us. I wonder – can you can sense the fields here?”
Erin felt for the field lines. She could sense a slight twisting and blurring but could not do anything with it. Alec tried feeding her dark energy, but the lines still did not untwist.
“Let’s try the opposite,” said Alec. “I am going to create a backward blurring field, an imaging field, and you are going to try to sense when I have the field lines right.” Alec created the field, and Erin helped him adjust the focus. The multiple stakes slid together and he could see the next stake. Cryl walked forward carrying the rope. Alec shouted directions. As soon as he quit believing his eyes and followed Alec’s directions, Cryl found the next stake and grabbed it. The others followed the rope to the next stake. They kept repeating this process, alternating Cryl, Bon, and Rhor advancing along the line, until they reached the end of their stakes. They recognized their previous camping spot when they passed it.
“We are almost through now. Thank goodness! Because it will be dark shortly,” Alec said.
✽✽✽
They reached the break in the mountain where they had emerged from their initial climb and scurried down the narrow path towards Theland. They had traveled only a short distance when Erin detected someone ahead. They moved forward until they could see a lone figure sitting on a rock.