by Livia Lance
“Then the humans never stood a chance,” Lana remarked, entranced. It was a beautiful tale, but so sad.
“No, they truly didn’t,” Nym responded, smiling at her. “They finally gave up trying to conquer the lands claimed by the elves. The humans sent an ambassador to meet with the elf priestess and an agreement was reached. Eva would belong to the elves and humans would never again try to take it and the elves would never try to encroach on the humans. As her last act of war, the priestess plunged the staff into the exact center of Eva and the land was healed and all humans banished. A wall of pine trees erupted at the border and no humans were allowed to cross without an elf escort. The trees wouldn’t allow it. And so it has been for the many years between then and now.”
“So why are we still at war?” Lana asked, confused. “If there is an agreement, why is there conflict?”
Clay laughed bitterly. “Because humans can never be satisfied, they always want more. They’re like a pig that will never stop eating, gorging itself until it’s too fat to move. The magic that protected the border has weakened over time and the Great Tree is quiet. We have become vulnerable again. The humans will break the treaty.”
They rode together in silence while Lana digested all of that information. She felt somewhat overwhelmed. On the one hand, she felt for the plight of the elves. It sounded as if the humans had tried to destroy their way of life. On the other hand, she knew that there were always two sides to every coin and she wondered about the humans’ motivations. They needed shelter and food and the land didn’t care for them the way it did for the elves. Perhaps the humans thought that the elven lands would help them to survive better than the lands they had already populated. Perhaps it was the elves that instigated the attacks in the first place, looking to eradicate this threat while the humans were only trying to survive.
She decided she would keep her own counsel knowing that such questions were likely to be met with scorn by the two elves in her party.
* * *
As the day wore on, they began scouting for a good spot to spend the night. Lana rode alone on the horse to give it a break from Clay’s added weight. He walked a short distance ahead of them so Lana and Nym found themselves alone for the most part. There was an uncomfortable silence between the two women, each of them unsure of the other.
After a time, Nym spoke up. “So tell me, Rowan, how did you two meet?”
Lana considered her answer for a time and then gave the safest response she could think of, “We met. If you want the story, you will have to ask Clay.”
“Of course,” Nym said, nodding. “I suppose I only wanted to hear a love story. I spend much of my time on the road with… this and that. I have little time to socialize, you see. Forgive me if I overstepped.”
Despite her reservations, Lana could feel herself warming to the woman. Nym had a lost, wistful look in her eyes. Perhaps she was a romantic at heart.
“Have you ever been in love?” she asked.
A cloud passed over Nym’s eyes and she turned her head away from Lana.
“Yes, I think so,” she said. “But it didn’t last.” She looked as if she wanted to say more, but Clay had turned and was jogging back to them.
“There is a small stream ahead near a thicket of trees,” he told them. “The cover is good and we may not find a more suitable spot if we continue to search. I say we stop for the night.”
Lana knew that he hadn’t slept since before her kidnapping and he must have been exhausted. She could see the weariness etched in his face. All of this just to steal me away. I must be worth an awful lot to someone in the elven lands, she thought wryly.
They approached the stream and the women climbed down from their horses. Lana was not a very good rider, she’d only had a few lessons in the castle courtyard until a stray arrow had struck the ground barely a foot away from where her horse stood and that was the end of that. All of that fuss and it was only a servant’s child practicing their archery but she was never allowed to ride again. Suffice it to say, Lana was sore in places she didn’t even know could be sore so she was relieved to dismount.
Clay took the horses from the women and tied them to a nearby tree so they could graze a bit and rest. He took off their saddles and began brushing their coats. Lana, still not totally sure of herself with the beasts, carefully went to each of them to give them pats on their noses. She wanted to be friendly with the horses so they wouldn’t try to buck her off on a whim. They seemed to appreciate the attention, pushing their mouths against her hand hoping for a snack.
She hobbled over to where Nym was spreading out her bedroll and relieving herself of her burdens. She had set her bow aside and Lana reached out to touch the weapon.
“Do you shoot?” Nym asked her, noticing her interest.
“No,” Lana replied softly. “I don’t know how to use any weapon, really.”
“Would you like to learn?” Nym offered, smiling at her in a friendly way.
Lana thought for a moment. Perhaps it would be good to know how to protect herself. There was no telling what danger they may come upon during their travels.
Before long, Nym found a dead tree to serve as a target. She placed her hand upon its trunk and waited, then informed Lana that it no longer had a voice. Lana could sense her sadness and tried to offer comfort, but Nym shrugged her off, saying that all things lived and died and at least this one still had a purpose to serve.
Before she would let Lana loose an arrow, Nym made her practice standing, correcting this and that until she was satisfied. Then she made her practice just holding the bow, not even drawing it, until Lana’s grip was the proper amount of firm and yet relaxed. Finally, Lana was allowed to nock an arrow and draw it back.
Lana saw that Clay had finished with the horses and was sitting nearby, watching them quietly. Her arms were already sore from simply holding the bow steady with tension on the bowstring while Nym spoke to her about her breathing, relaxing her shoulders, finding the target and so on. Finally, she allowed her to loose the arrow and it flew from the bow, missing the target by probably six feet or more.
Blushing, Lana went to retrieve the arrow. Nym laughed in a good natured sort of way.
“That was good, it doesn’t matter if you hit the target or not,” she told her. “I mean, if we were in a fight it would matter but right now what you need to practice is your breathing and your posture. Your aim will come in time. Try it again.”
So Lana tried it again, and again, and again. She spent probably a good hour or so working on the bow until her arms were screaming and her aim went from getting better to getting worse. Nym called for a halt and Clay stepped away to begin preparing their dinner.
Lana handed the bow back to Nym, feeling a little bashful.
“You did very well for your first time,” Nym told her fondly, taking the weapon back from her and checking the bowstring in a habitual way. “You didn’t quit though you were tired and in pain, I could see your determination. We can continue tomorrow if you’d like.”
“Yes,” Lana said immediately. “I would like that.” She smiled at the elf woman and Nym smiled back. She could feel a friendship budding between them and it exhilarated her. She’d never had a friend before.
They returned to camp to find Clay busy cutting up some fruits and vegetables. Lana joined him and took the dagger from his hands, relieving him of the task. Grinning, he sat back to watch her work. She was determined to make herself useful rather than a hindrance. She sliced up the apples and peppers and portioned them out onto large green leaves from some plant that Clay said came from the lands in the north. The leaves were broad and sturdy and served well as plates to eat from.
The group ate mostly in silence, each of them lost in their own thoughts. Lana had kept the dagger and was peering at it as she ate, turning it this way and that.
“What is this made of?” she asked Clay, holding it out to him. “I have never seen metal that is such a strange color.”
He t
ook the dagger from her and held it up in front of his face, checking the sharpness of the edge.
“It’s bone, not metal. We don’t work with metal if we can help it. When an animal dies in our lands, we use what we can of its body and let the rest naturally decompose. Most elves don’t even wear metal and instead use carved wooden or bone implements,” he responded then turned to Nym. “May I?” he asked, gesturing to her quiver. She nodded, giving him permission.
Pulling out an arrow, he passed it to Lana. She had been using the arrows earlier but hadn’t taken a very good look at them. Now she saw that the arrowhead was also made from the same material as his dagger. She tested the tip with her finger and immediately pulled her hand away, sucking at the small bead of blood that had blossomed there. It was sharp!
Clay took the arrow from her and gave it back to Nym. Then he took out his money pouch and pulled out a silver coin, rolling it across the back of his fingers.
“The process of mining for ore and then heating it to transform it into an object is frowned upon by the elves. The land is meant to be the way it is and manipulation is an abomination. When we travel, we must use coin to survive in the human lands but we don’t have to like it.” He stuck the coin back in his pouch and put it away.
“But how do you pay for things in Eva?” Lana asked, curious about this land she would soon be visiting. This time it was Nym who responded.
“We don’t,” she said. “There is no currency in Eva. We trade goods for goods or give freely. No one in Eva knows poverty or greed. The land provides.” She said that last part as if reciting a commonly used phrase and Clay nodded at her.
“The land provides,” he agreed.
Feeling full, Lana spread out her bedroll and used her cloak as a pillow. She had learned so much today and her mind was swimming with all of the new information. Nym offered to take first watch and Clay said he would be second. Lana tried to offer to take third watch but Nym just chuckled and told her that once she could hit the target during practice, perhaps she’d let her protect the camp for a spell but not until then.
Clay had moved his bedroll next to Lana’s to keep up the pretense that they were in love. In moments, he was fast asleep. Lana laid there for a time, watching his face in the moonlight. He had gone from kidnapper to rescuer and she still wasn’t sure what to make of him.
Sleep was a long time coming that night but eventually exhaustion overtook her, sending her to a deep and dreamless slumber.
* * *
Clay woke suddenly, unsure of what had roused him. He kept himself still and stretched his senses out. He could feel Lana nearby, sleeping, and another presence standing over him. His eyes shot open and he was up in a flash, ready to fight. Lana shifted in her sleep but didn’t wake. Then he relaxed. It was Nym, come to get him for his watch. She had stiffened at his sudden movements but didn’t appear afraid. When he relaxed his stance, she relaxed as well.
“Half the night has passed, it’s your turn,” she told him quietly and, without further comment, walked over to her bedroll and laid down. Clay took a moment to collect himself then went to sit, facing away from the camp and waited for the sun to rise.
Nym was proving to be a useful ally. He couldn’t sense any ill will from her so he had begun to trust her more. Not enough to tell her about his mission or Lana’s identity but enough to allow her to watch over them at night. Something about her felt kindred to him and it wasn’t simply their mutual heritage.
She had been kind to Lana as well, teaching her how to shoot and telling her the old elven story about the First War. He remembered the first time he’d heard it when he was just a child. The story was an old legend and every elf knew it by heart. The fact that the war ended in a stalemate meant that the prophecy of the humans destroying the land was still somewhere in the future and this had always frustrated him. Eventually, something would have to be done about the human threat.
Perhaps sooner rather than later.
His mind stayed on Lana, the image of her holding the bowstring back, her eyes razor focused on the target ahead, her long blonde hair pulled over one shoulder. So fierce and determined to be able to hold her own. He’d thought he was kidnapping some spoiled princess. He had no idea that she would have such depth. At times, she was as regal and composed as a queen on her throne, looking at him as though he were there to serve at her whim. Then in a flash she would be all temper and fury. It was clear that she had an eagerness to learn. She had practiced tirelessly with the bow and just that morning she’d been filled with questions about the elven history. It was easy to see the story of her heritage had deeply touched her. Every layer of her personality was stripped back to reveal another, more complex and unexpected than the one before.
He reminded himself that this was just another job and he shouldn’t get attached. He didn’t know what the elders had in store for her. Perhaps she was meant to be a hostage or perhaps a prisoner. She was half human and the princess of a land that was not at all friendly with the elves. Once they arrived in Thelsamel, he would have to turn her over to his superiors and stand by while they did whatever they wanted to her. His duty to his people had to come first. He could be friendly with the girl if only to make the journey more bearable, but it had to stop there.
His gaze drifted to the east. If they continued in that direction they would eventually arrive in Eva. Home. It would be such a comfort to be back among the groves with his loved ones and his kin. He wondered what Lana would make of it. The human lands were nothing compared to the lushness of Eva where every fruit was ripe and sweet, flowers were always in bloom and all things lived in harmony with one another.
Then his mind turned to the road ahead. Getting to Eva was all well and good but it wouldn’t be easy. There was one more town on the way to the White Mountains and after that there would be few opportunities for comfort. Perhaps they would stay at the inn for a night or two to prepare for the final leg of their journey. The mountains were unforgiving and cold with winds that could strip the skin from your bones if you weren’t careful. He knew of a pass that would make the crossing easier but it would still be very treacherous.
He pushed the worry from his mind. There were still many miles to go before they got to the mountains, no sense in thinking about it now. He yawned then stood up, stretched and began pacing around the perimeter of the camp. Soon, the sun would rise and they would be on their way. For now, he focused on just staying awake and alert.
* * *
The following days passed quickly. No matter how much he tried to keep himself distanced from Lana, the pretense that they were lovers required they spend time together. More than once he cursed himself for coming up with that story. Sometimes Nym would suggest they take a walk while she set up camp, probably assuming that the young couple would like some privacy and they had no choice but to go along with it. He would take Lana’s hand and they would go for a walk.
At first, they spoke very little and she would drop his hand, stepping away from him as soon as Nym could no longer see them. They would walk until they found a spot to sit and pass the time silently then return to camp. She was very much a princess during these walks, always a few steps ahead of him as if he was part of her procession and there to serve her.
Then, things started to change between them. He wasn’t sure when it happened or why, but the time that they had to spend together no longer felt quite so awkward. It became easier to be around her and instead of sitting in silence, they would talk quietly. She would ask about Eva and what it was like to grow up there. He once tried to ask her about her time in the castle but she immediately went quiet and wouldn’t speak to him any further. He found himself anxious to make her talk to him again and realized this was a dangerous way to feel.
She no longer dropped his hand immediately. He wasn’t sure if she simply forgot or if it was intentional. At times she would let go of his hand but then take his arm and he couldn’t help but feel content to have her there so close to him. He w
as beginning to feel protective of this beautiful young woman who was so much more than merely a princess. He kept reminding himself that this was nothing more than a job and there would be other jobs when this one was done but it was getting harder and harder to push her out of his mind.
Nym and Lana were also becoming close and occasionally, instead of taking a walk with Clay, Lana would go exploring with the elf woman, leaving Clay on his own to wonder what the girls were talking about. If he asked, they would give him cryptic answers or just giggle at each other and refuse to respond.
After one of these trips, Lana came back carrying a staff. When he asked about it, she said she’d found it on the ground near a stand of trees and it looked like it would be a good walking stick. Nym stood behind her, watching Clay silently, her expression troubled. Their eyes met and she shook her head slightly and he knew she would speak more later, in private. Lana seemed delighted and kept it with her wherever she went.
Later that night when she woke him to take over the watch, Nym told him what had occurred.
“We were just walking, exploring the area, when we heard a sound behind us, as if something had fallen to the earth,” she said, clearly still shaken. “We turned and Rowan got there first. The staff is oak, perfectly balanced, straight and smooth. It fell from the tree, Clay. The tree gave it to her.”
Clay looked at her for a moment and then looked at Lana. The staff was on the ground next to her sleeping form, within her reach. There didn’t seem to be anything mystical about the length of wood, nothing that he could sense. But a gift from the trees was a rare thing indeed.
“Thank you for telling me,” he said. Nym nodded then went to prepare for bed. Clay spent part of his watch keeping an eye on the surroundings and part of it watching Lana. Could it truly have been a gift from the trees? Why would they give such favor to a halfling?