The Darkest Revenge

by D. K. Holmberg

  As he stared at them, he couldn’t help but wonder how the Forgers had managed to attack the trees so thoroughly. The barbs covered all of the trees, completely embedded within the trunks, stretching high overhead and ending where the lowest platform was.

  As he approached one of the trees, he searched for a sense of lorcith, something that he could pull upon, but any trace of the metal was faint. He attempted to pull on it, but nothing happened.

  “I thought you couldn’t do anything with them?”

  Haern turned to see Lucy watching him, a hint of a smile on her face. “I wish I could.”

  “What is it?”

  Haern looked to the smithy, shaking his head. “It’s nothing.”

  “I know you quite well, Haern Lareth. And I can tell that it’s more than nothing.”

  “You wouldn’t understand.”

  “Because I’m Elvraeth?”

  Haern shrugged. “That’s part of it.” The fact that she lived in the palace and thus had every opportunity open to her made it so that she couldn’t understand what he was going through. She would never have to spend time doing something she didn’t care for.

  But then, Haern didn’t really know what Lucy wanted to do. She’d always told him that she spent considerable time within the forest because she wanted to understand how to Slide better, and she would never be able to master that ability anywhere but where there were others of the guild able to teach. He enjoyed her company and didn’t want to tell her that she didn’t need to stay within the forest to master Sliding. She could do that anywhere.

  “Why don’t you tell me what’s going on?”

  “I’m going to be leaving the city.”

  “When?”

  Haern shook his head. “I don’t know. We haven’t decided.”

  “We? How many are going with you?” Lucy looked around the clearing before her gaze settled on him once again. “I could go with you.”

  “It’s only two of us. And I don’t know that it’s something you want to do.”

  “Why is it something that you want to do?”

  Haern glanced over to the shop for a moment. It would be easier if his father were here. Then Haern could tell him that he had no interest in following in his footsteps, but telling his grandfather was much more difficult for some reason. Maybe because his grandfather had been such a big part of his life, and disappointing him was a whole lot harder than disappointing his father.

  “We’re going to see if we can’t find my father.”

  “What happens if you can’t?”

  Haern turned his attention back to the trees. “I don’t know. The guilds are having a hard time trying to understand what’s taking place, and if they can’t remove these barbs, then…”

  Lucy touched one of them, jerking her hand back. “They’re strange. It’s almost as if they’re warm.”

  “I noticed that, too.”

  “Does it seem like they’re changing?”

  Haern shook his head. “I don’t know.”

  “It seems like there are simply too many to remove. If your father was here…”

  “I know.”

  Lucy took his hand, squeezing it for a moment. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”

  Haern shook his head. “It doesn’t upset me.”

  “I find it interesting how you view him.”

  “Why is that?”

  “It’s so different from how everybody else does.”

  “It’s not that different.”

  “Fine. It’s different from anyone who doesn’t live in the palace. Most people revere him.”

  “Do you know how hard it is to have a father like that?”

  “Probably harder than having a father who grows angry every time you venture out of the palace.” Lucy flushed. “My parents think I should stay in the library and do my studies. That’s a more befitting station.”

  “For you or in general?”

  She sighed. “If it were up to them, I would be married, serving whatever role the caretakers would have for me…”

  “You know what husband they would choose for you.”

  “Daniel Elvraeth isn’t nearly as bad as you make him out to be.”

  “He’s an Elvraeth.”

  She jabbed him on the shoulder. “As am I.”

  “You’re more of our kind of Elvraeth.”

  “Right. A Trelvraeth.”

  “I don’t think that’s as bad as some things they could call us.”

  “It’s not, but they don’t use it in a way that is complimentary,” Lucy said.

  Most of the time, when they referred to his people in such a way, they did it to demean them over the fact that they lived within the forest. It was another reason he wanted to leave the city. He was tired of the dynamics here. What did it matter if there were people who wanted to stay within the city itself and others who wanted to stay in the forest?

  But then, to the Elvraeth, the fact that they were in the forest was an insult. They would rather have them within the city, where they could rule over them as they used to rule over all people of the city. If nothing else, it was better that his people had moved into the forest, away from the influence of the Elvraeth, though they still had to deal with some of it.

  “When do you plan to leave?”

  “Not soon enough,” he whispered.

  “Is it so bad here?”

  Haern shook his head, smiling at her. “You know it’s not. It’s just that I have been wanting to leave for a while.”

  “I take it that someone will be Sliding you.”

  “Considering where we’re going, I think they will have to.” Otherwise, it would take an incredibly long time, and he wasn’t sure that going by foot would be the best strategy. It would be better if they Slid, but doing so would trap them somewhere, unless they managed to find his father. If they did, then Rsiran would be able to Slide them back to the forest.

  And then Haern could begin his apprenticeship.

  Maybe it would be better if he failed.

  He pushed that thought away. He didn’t want to fail at finding his father. Not only would his mother be devastated, but Haern still held out hope that he and his father could have some sort of relationship, whether as father and son or as blacksmith and apprentice.

  “Well, you should know that I’m going to miss you.”

  “The Sliding Guild has welcomed you in, Lucy. You don’t have to worry about my presence here.”

  “I know. It’s just, it’s nice to have a friend, even one as obnoxious as you.”

  Haern grinned. It was strange. He had other friends within Elaeavn, but it wasn’t until he had met Lucy that he’d felt a real connection. They were close friends and had been from nearly the moment she had stepped foot in the forest. He had been drawn to her—at first by her beauty, but when he had gotten to know her, he had recognized how funny and smart and kind she was.

  “Be safe while I’m gone,” he said.

  “What do you think will happen?”

  “Well, the Forgers have already attacked once, and though I don’t think they would dare attack a second time so soon, I… just be safe.”

  Lucy grabbed him, wrapping him in a hug. “You be safe, too, Haern Lareth. And when you return, I’m going to want to know all about your adventures.”

  “I think if it were up to my parents, there would be no adventures.”

  “Still, you’re going to be leaving the city, and that means you’re having some adventure. You’re going to see things that I’ve only read about.”

  “In the library?”

  “There are some stories there.”

  Haern laughed. “Eventually, it’s going to be safe enough for you to travel, too.”

  “I hope so,” Lucy said. There was a longing in her voice, and it was almost enough to make him suggest that she come with him. But he couldn’t do that. It was going to be risky enough going on his own, and that was with someone like Galen, who had some experience outside of the city. He wa
sn’t about to bring Lucy and risk her running into danger, too.

  “I hope so, too.”

  11

  Haern

  Wind whipped around Haern’s face. The palace courtyard was quiet at this time of morning, and the only sounds were the whistling of the wind and the crashing of the waves on the shore far below. Occasionally, the scent of the sea drifted toward him, the salty odor mixed with the stink of fish, so different from the fresh scents of the forest. His mother stood next to him, leaning on the cane, every step a significant effort on her part.

  “You can’t do this, Mother.”

  She looked over at him. “I can’t do what?”

  “You can’t come. Look at you. You can barely stand. I don’t know what you think you might face, but if it involves any sort of fighting, there’s not a whole lot you’ll be able to do.”

  “For Rsiran, I’m willing to risk it.”

  “I’m not. If something happens to you while you’re gone because you’re already weakened, I don’t know that I could live with myself.” There was only one thing he could do, but was he willing to? If he didn’t, his mother would push herself, and he was very much unwilling to risk that. “Let me do this.”

  “Haern, we’ve already had this conversation. I know you care about your father, but you’re not ready to take this sort of task on.”

  Haern clenched his jaw. She didn’t even see that it wasn’t his father he did this for, but her. And maybe she didn’t need to see that. Maybe it didn’t matter. “If I’m going with Galen, I’ll be safe.”

  She turned to him and studied him. “You know what Galen was?”

  Haern shrugged. “He’s held one of the crystals, so he has abilities. And it’s not as if I’m helpless.”

  She took his hands, squeezing them. “No. I don’t want you to think you’re helpless at all, but what this involves is something quite a bit different.”

  “I understand, and I have my connection to lorcith. They’re going to be using the metal to trap Father somehow. When we get to him, whoever goes needs to have a connection to it.” He hadn’t made the realization before now, but now that he said it, he knew it was true. The Forgers had to use the metal in some form to hold his father. Haern had no idea what would be involved, but the fact that their weapons had involved lorcith suggested that whatever they planned required the presence of the metal.

  And they had none of the Smith Guild with them.

  None of the other guilds, either. They would be willing to Slide her, but that was it. They wanted to keep the Aisl protected, and the guilds all felt that they needed to ensure the safety of the Elder Trees, determined to find out somehow whether anything could be done to salvage them. He didn’t know if it could, but if so, the guild members would find a way.

  “I can’t lose you, too,” his mother said softly.

  “Like you said, Galen will be doing the hardest work.”

  His mother breathed out heavily. “You’re probably right. If anyone could help, it would be Galen. I just worry that with your father and their shared history, he might not be so inclined to help.”

  “Their history?”

  His mother shook her head. “It doesn’t matter now. All that matters is that they have some history, and because of it, the two of them never really cared for each other.”

  It was possible he might get along better with Galen than his mother knew.

  “Why?”

  “Because of what Galen was.”

  “And what was he?”

  “An assassin.”

  The doors to the palace opened, and Galen strode out wearing a deep gray cloak that covered his frame. He moved with a catlike grace, and Haern suddenly understood the tension he’d seen within the man.

  An assassin.

  That made sense, especially if they were going after someone dangerous. That woman was probably an assassin, too. Why would she have connections with the Forgers?

  Cael followed, arms hugging her chest, a frown creasing the corners of her mouth. She stood a step behind Galen and watched Haern’s mother, the irritation plain on her face.

  “I’m going to be going with you, Galen,” Haern said.

  Galen glanced over. “I thought this was Jessa.”

  “She’s still injured from the attack. I’m not sure she’s the right person to do this.”

  Galen studied him. “Is he capable?”

  “His father never wanted him to fight.”

  “So he’s not capable.”

  His mother sighed. “He has a connection to lorcith, the same as Rsiran.”

  “Can he Slide?”

  “No. He has Sight, but that’s not all that…” His mother trailed off and flushed.

  It was strange hearing them talk about him this way. Most of the time, speaking of one’s abilities was considered uncouth in Elaeavn. It wasn’t that people didn’t try to determine someone else’s abilities, just that the open discussion of it was certainly frowned upon if not outright discouraged.

  “He understands the dangers we might face?”

  “He understands.”

  “Would you two stop talking about me as if I weren’t here? I want to find my father the same as Mother does. And when we do, I want to understand what the Forgers are after. If that means going after this Carth, then that’s what I’m willing to do.”

  Galen grunted. “Fine. You can come.”

  Haern clamped his mouth shut before he said anything more. He had more of an argument prepared, but apparently with Galen, it wasn’t going to be necessary.

  “You promised us transportation?”

  “We have someone who is willing to Slide, but they won’t be able to remain.”

  “We are on our own returning, then.”

  “You will be.”

  Galen stared at Haern’s mother for a moment before turning back to Cael. “It seems this might take a little longer than I was expecting.”

  “If you find her, she can get you back,” Cael said.

  “Only if she chooses to,” Galen said.

  Haern waited. He didn’t know who his mother had arranged to transport them to wherever it was Galen would have them go. They had walked into the city, his mother wanting the time to gather her thoughts, and maybe that walk was the reason she was enfeebled. It might’ve been too much for her.

  With a flash of colors, Elsa appeared.

  Haern breathed out a sigh. She was a powerful Slider, and with her transporting them, at least he didn’t have to worry about not reaching their destination. Some would be less capable, and some of the Sliders didn’t have the ability to carry too many people with them. Elsa was powerful, and he suspected she had the ability to carry several people with her when she Slid.

  “I do this for Rsiran,” Elsa said.

  “I’ll make sure I let him know,” Haern said.

  Elsa nodded. She held out her arms, and Haern and Galen each grabbed one. They needed to hold on tight. And he waited for Galen, grabbing on to one arm, gripping Elsa in such a way that he wouldn’t lose her during the Slide. Supposedly it was possible to get lost during a Slide, and that idea terrified him. He didn’t mind the process of Sliding itself, but just thinking about the possibility of getting trapped in between, wherever that was, left him trembling.

  His mother glanced at him. “Bring him back to us.”

  Haern nodded.

  Elsa Slid.

  They traveled quickly and emerged from the Slide on a grassy plain far beyond the city, with the mountains rising in the distance to the west. It would take at least two days to travel this far on foot, and by horseback it would take the better part of the day. They had done it in a heartbeat.

  “Where now?” Elsa asked.

  “Asador, to start.”

  “To start?”

  “I was asked to send word, and Asador is the most likely place to be able to get word out. But from there, it might be necessary to travel elsewhere.”

  Elsa shook her head. “I can’t do th
at. If I’m gone too long—”

  “Just get us to Asador,” Haern said. He glanced over to Galen. “It might take time, right?”

  Galen nodded. “It might.”

  “And even if she is in Asador, you won’t know for a while.” Haern didn’t necessarily know how such things went, but he imagined that finding a famous and feared assassin would require a little more work than simply walking into the city and demanding to know where she was.

  “Bring us to Asador, and then you can return. We’ll take it from there.”

  Elsa studied him a moment. “I will get you to the edge of Asador, and no further. You’ll have to make your way from there.”

  He didn’t even have a chance to nod. The Slide carried them quickly, and before he could even think, they emerged with a sprawling city spread out in front of them. Smoke from a dozen different chimneys rose in the distance, mixing together, spiraling toward clouds in the sky. The ocean must be nearby, for he heard the sound of waves, though more violent than what he was accustomed to in Elaeavn. Then again, maybe that was only because he spent most of his time far from the sea. If he spent more of it closer to the shore, would it sound as violent as it did now?

  Elsa shook them off. “This is as far as I can take you.”

  “Thank you.”

  She grunted. “Don’t thank me. You have a dangerous task ahead of you.”

  With another shimmering flash, she Slid away, leaving him and Galen standing on the hillside, looking out toward the distant city of Asador. He glanced over at Galen, expecting some insight as to what he planned, but the other man simply stared, his gaze lingering for a long moment. His eyes had a haunted quality to them, as if whatever he had seen—or expected to see—had left him damaged.

  “Let’s get moving,” Galen said.

  Haern half-expected there to be some easy road to take into the city, but Elsa had transported them into the middle of a field. The city wasn’t far, probably no more than an hour’s walk away, but he felt she could have brought them closer.

  When he said something to Galen, the man shook his head. “Too many still remember what happened before.”