“Tharin,” calls Alorn. He, Tolan, Mellis and Ziri are the only ones who know my secret.
“I’m okay, Alorn” I assure him. “But you know what you have to do.” My father knew that one day I wouldn’t be able to control the power of the Lunar blood inside me. Alorn trained not only to protect and fight beside me, to become my First Greaneth, but also as my executioner should I lose control.
“No, there is another way. Lily?” he suggests.
“Lily can’t help me now, she doesn’t have the gift anymore, it’s in me. And, I can’t pull up the dragon to stop the destruction when it overtakes me.”
“Master,” interrupts Morlo from the main doors. “I received word our men are ready to leave for the Willow and await your command.”
“Thank you, Morlo,” answers Kolinest.
Aureinia waits until the orc closes the door before asking, “What about you, father, where will you be?”
“I’m heading back to the Willow, to help prepare Colsea’s men for the attack; by the time he calls for the march in the morning, it will be too late. We will have the queen, the key and the Summoner at Gastah Point and have the doorway open before light. As soon as the battle begins, I’ll be back in time to start the summoning and soon after, I’ll be home.”
“You mean, we’ll be home, father,” interjects Aureinia, a tinge of doubt in her voice.
“Until we are home, daughter,” confirms Kolinest. Even from here I know it is a lie.
It is another fifteen minutes before the room is empty and to play it safe, we wait another fifteen minutes before slipping out of the spare room. We move to the double doors and Alorn slips out first, finding shadows between the torches along the far wall. I mean to follow but Mellis stops me.
“Tharin, I have to warn my father,” he says. I can feel the worry in his thoughts.
“When we get back to the garden, take Ziri with you. Return if you can, but I’ll understand if you decide to fight by Colsea’s side.” I reach out and grab hold of his shoulder. “Be careful.”
I wait for his usual off the cuff remark, but instead he gives me a solemn nod and slips into the hallway after Alorn. As we move along the shadows, I stop the others before reaching the queen’s suite.
“It’s Tolan, he has Lily and Glynnis. They’re in the garden,” relief lacing my thoughts as I relay them to the others. Distance plays a large part in the whispering. Usually, from here to the garden I would not be able to connect with anyone else. My bond with my brother enhances our abilities to connect at a longer distance.
Now knowing Lily is safe, I am anxious to get back to her. It wasn’t until she initiated the whispering between us in the study that I realized she did say she loved me. I was in a haze and I didn’t know if it was a hallucination or a dream at the time. And I now know why her kiss was so passionate, so deep, when Harlu had my body.
We find ourselves at the double doors of the queen’s suites, and we hesitate before opening it. Alorn and Mellis stand with their backs to the wall on each side of the doors as I bypass the wards and quickly move inside. Once in, I make it in no time to the garden archway to find everyone there. Lily, Julia and Glynnis are near the trees where the pando leaves gives them some shelter from the rain. Tolan and Ziri are just inside the garden, heads together looking at something in Tolan’s hand.
I nod to my brothers and walk past them, ignoring Tolan’s hand as he tried to wave me over. The only person I want to see and talk to is Lily. I know what sacrifice she made to save me, to save my soul, but I need her to take the gift back.
When Lily senses me, she wraps her coat tightly about her, pulling her hood further down as if cold. I glance at Glynnis, nodding in gratitude for bringing Lily back. She bows in return and moves back to give us some privacy. Julia sees me and steps up, pointing a finger at Lily.
“Tell me you kicked that bastard’s ass,” demands Julia angrily.
“Kicked whose ass?” I ask, a bit taken aback.
“Julia,” calls Lily annoyed. “I took care of it; he doesn’t have to kick anyone’s ass.”
I look from one to the other and finally notice how Lily is holding her coat at the neck. I thought she was keeping warm from the rain, but now I see she is hiding something.
I step to Lily and say tightly, “Let me see.”
“Tharin,” she starts, sighing heavily.
“Let me see,” I say again, this time with an edge that brooks no argument.
She sighs again, opens her coat, and slowly pulls her hood back. I see the torn jersey, the deep, ugly red scratches on her chest and the dark bruising on her neck that can’t hide the hideous bite mark. Visions of Harlu attacking her, beating her helpless and defenseless turn me cold, and where was I? I was there but I couldn’t find her. With all my abilities and newfound power I wasn’t able to save her.
The rage takes over and before I realize what is happening I’m through the archway making my way back to the suites. Suddenly, Tolan and Alorn are blocking my way to the balcony.
“Move,” I command through clenched teeth.
“No,” says Tolan. “If you go now, everything we have worked for will be wasted. You risk everyone’s lives, including Lily, if you go after Harlu now.”
I glare at him and he puts his hand out to me. “We need you here, Tharin.”
Lily puts herself between us, a fed up look on her face.
“Stop it!” she demands. “Look at me, Tharin. Am I not standing on my own two feet? What do you see on me that you haven’t seen on everyone else? And these are nothing compared to what has happened to Alorn, Mellis, Ziri and Tolan. What makes me any different from them? Please, it’s too late in the game to start going off like an insane, mad elf when we’re this close.”
She points at Alorn. “He told me once that I had to put aside my feelings when under attack. To trust the people beside me to either be okay, or take care of themselves because if I don’t I’ll not only get myself killed, but them too by letting my emotions get in the way. But that’s exactly what you’re doing now; you’re letting your emotions get in the way. Look at me. So he hit me, he tried to choke the life out of me, but he didn’t break me – only you can do that. And if you go now that’s exactly what you’ll be doing. I’m still here, but will I be when you get back?”
She has never looked more beautiful. I step up to her, taking her gently by the chin. “You are different because you are the queen. And because you saved my soul, have become my life and I will have no life if I lose you. You are different because you are my wife and I love you more than you will ever know.”
I lean in and gently take her lips, kissing her with a promise to myself to never let her go.
“Um, Tharin, we have to go,” says Tolan, interrupting us.
I pull back, looking Lily in the eye and we smile at each other, knowing we have business to take care of. I pull her in as I look over her at Alorn. Julia is standing next to Tolan looking proudly at her friend.
Tolan seems to be the only one thinking at the moment. “Tharin, I found the doorway.”
I let go of Lily, but take her hand as we walk back into the garden. Tolan holds out the Junsper Stone and it doesn’t look any different from when he first showed it to me. He turns to the archway, laced with the Mezila flowers.
“Can it be that easy?” I ask.
Tolan shakes his head. “No, it’s not there but watch.”
Julia moves to stand beside Lily and we watch as Tolan walks to the archway to stand directly under it. He closes his eyes and lifts the stone. Quietly he begins to call out to the elements. This time, however, he makes the calling using words I have never heard before and neither has he.
When Tolan opens his eyes they are completely white and unseeing. He continues to chant as the rain starts to pour heavily and the wind picks up. The change in the air causes Alorn to melt into the shadows, left of the archway. Remembering I have the key, I take it from my coat and turn to Lily, who along with Julia stares at Tol
an in awe. I nudge her, startling her into facing me. She sees the key and without a word, lifts her hair so I can place it around her neck. She turns back to Tolan, as Ziri and Mellis return from the Willow path along with Colsea, Lodus and...Walem? Walem is here? Seconds later Dalim falls behind them. What’s he doing here?
“Mellis, what’s going on?” I call to my cousin.
“Colsea has brought the battle to the Oak Clan. We have men ready to charge along the Kufftai forest. By the way, Motai is with them along with his pack. We also have men within the city. Molker has his people situated as well and ready for Colsea’s signal.”
I look at the elves and men I have known all my life and realize that one of them, with the exception of Ziri and Mellis, is actually Kolinest. Damn it.
“Tharin,” says Colsea, “what’s going on?”
“We’re opening the doorway, uncle. Keep watch, as soon as Tolan locates the door and finishes the summoning, Kolinest will be here with his followers.”
Mellis follows Alorn’s lead and melts into the shadows, right of the archway. Ziri and Dalim move back closer to the tree line. Colsea and Lodus take a defensive stance to the far sides of the archway, opposite each other. Walem moves to stand behind Lily.
“Walem, why are you here? I ask my father’s old valet.
“A promise I made to her mother a long time ago. I lost that chance when she was taken back to Pathen, but I am given a second chance to fulfill that promise now. I stay with the queen.”
If Walem is Kolinest, then I have him at my side, keeping a close eye on him. I continue to cover my brother’s back as I look at each face here in the garden. I know once Tolan ends the summoning, Kolinest will make himself known, he can’t help it. To pass through the doorway, he has to be in his own form; that much I learned in the brief moment he possessed me.
“Dalim, why are you here? I heard you were in Pathen with Marilyn.” I demand.
“I was, but Colsea called me back,” he answers. “Don’t worry, Marilyn is safe, she’s with her sister.”
All eyes lock onto Tolan as he moves in a trance, stepping from the archway, letting the Junsper Stone lead him. We watch expectantly, each of us holding our breaths as Tolan moves to the stone bench. He takes the stone and places it in a hollow that after all these centuries has gone unnoticed. Without moving from his spot, Tolan turns to face Lily. When I look down at her, she, like Tolan is also in a trance. Her eyes are like they were back at the Seating, completely green as the Earth Spirit. She moves to Tolan without a glance or word to me and when I reach for her she evades me.
The tension grows thick and it continues to grow once Lily is at Tolan’s side and he begins the summoning.
I turn to Colsea. “Uncle, give the signal, now!”
He turns to me and nods before turning inward and calling to his captains. “It is done, Tharin. Brace yourself. Kolinest is coming.”
“No, uncle, he is already here.”
I watch as my uncle take hold of his sword, looking around him. I breathe a sigh of relief knowing he is not the demon master.
The summoning begins to vibrate through Tolan and I can feel the air shift, the ground tremble and the trees around us begin to hum as if joining in on the calling. And it is then I see the dagger shooting toward Julia. I push her forward but the missile is intercepted by one of Alorn’s Shadika blades, shooting off to the side harmlessly.
I flash toward the bench to cover Tolan and Lily who are still in a trance. Mellis comes out of the shadows taking Morlo down when he rushes through the archway. I look back toward the balcony and see Dorlan and Kalis come up from below. They still haven’t opened the queen’s doors, so they’re climbing up the balcony. They make their way quickly to the garden, weapons up. Alorn moves to the middle of the grassy area and waits for his brother, who moves purposefully to meet him.
Julia and Dalim stand side by side to face off with Aureinia and Kalis, until Julia sees Frank and Chris move from behind Aureinia. As if paralyzed, her blades fall from her hands and she is shoved back by Colsea and Lodus. Ziri pulls her further back as he steps up to face about twenty or more of Kolinest’s men.
Ziri turns to Julia. “Wake up, woman – I need you!”
Julia stares at Ziri like a lost kitten, nodding slowly. She looks about and sees the garden surrounded by the enemy. As if remembering something, she reaches into her coat and pulls out three seeds. Closing her fist and putting it close to her lips, she whispers something that I can’t make out and then throws the seeds behind her. Instantly, the seeds take root and shoots emerge from the ground, continuing to rise into fully grown boab trees.
From the middle tree, Minth steps forward and a small army of dryads fall beside her, bows in hands. She turns from us and faces the woods, lifting her hands. The pando trees slowly disappear and in their place an image of the giant kavi forest appear. From the high branches of the kavi trees a familiar call can be heard as Kulzo and his brothers swing through and land behind the dryads. All is quiet for a moment, except for the sound of the rain and Tolan’s soft chanting. And then, as if by an invisible signal, all hell breaks loose and the cry of war comes from both sides. I catch a glimpse of Frank and Chris ducking into the Willow path left open since our first arrival.
Tazo comes alive as I face the first attack by Harlu. I place a shield more powerful than I have ever created around Tolan and Lily. Lily. I have to somehow give her back the gift; it may be our only chance. I completely forgot about it when I saw what Harlu did to her. And now, facing him, my anger returns. I pull back my emotions, keeping a clear head as I move in to face him.
“Ah, my dear brother-in-law, I am very unhappy with you,” he sneers. “I didn’t get my invitation to the wedding. I supposed someone forgot to have it delivered.”
“No one forgot, Harlu, you just weren’t invited,” I say as I lean back to avoid a strike to the head.
I move in only to step back again as a ball of fur flies in and slams into Harlu, blasting him past the archway and against the Oak wall.
Kulzo lands on his feet with his hands on his hips. “Where the hell was my invitation? The girlie is like a daughter to me.”
I stare at him stunned. “Sorry, old friend, it was a last minute thing.”
I turn to see Alorn spin into a cyclic attack against his brother. Dorlan deflects his attack and pushes to the left taking down two of Kolinest’s warriors coming at Alorn’s back. He is up in a stance when Alorn turns back to him unaware his brother just saved his life.
“Alorn, your brother is innocent,” I call to him.
Alorn reacts by straightening from his low stance, looking confused.
“Look out,” I warn and he ducks in the nick of time, evading a blow from another attacker. “I’ll explain later.”
“There is nothing to explain, Tharin. He isn’t innocent, I know I was there.” He disconnects and after taking out his attacker, he goes after Dorlan who is fighting off another of Kolinest’s men.
I try to make my way over, but I am knocked down from behind. I roll out into a low stance to come face to face with Harlu once again. All around us dryads and Kavirs fight side by side against the growing army of Kolinest.
“Tharin,” calls Tolan. “It is time.”
I evade Harlu’s attack and shoot out a Shadika blade, hitting him in the chest. He goes flying back, but spins mid-air, landing on his feet. He snarls at me as he pulls the knife out, shooting it back at me. I quickly spin to the right, putting my hand out and catching my blade. I set to charge him when from his left, Ziri rushes him and cold-cocks Harlu.
“I can’t keep saving you from this guy, brother,” he smirks before moving on to another cluster of attackers.
I turn back to the bench and can see the summoning is almost over as the door appears, wavering until Tolan is finished. I move to cover him and Lily, turning to look at the scene before me. Dalim and Julia have their hands full with Kalis, who seems to have them on their toes. I look for my uncle to
find him and Lodus fighting side by side, while Walem stands with Minth covering Lily and Tolan from the far end of the bench. I don’t see Aureinia, but it doesn’t mean she isn’t near.
Mellis and Morlo are fighting within the woods, back at the pando trees. I watch as Morlo leaps up, diving at Mellis with his claws out, his aim perfect. Mellis comes in running and at the last minute, hits the ground and slides under the orc. He pulls his blades up, slicing his foe in two. Mellis stays down as he catches his breath.
The fighting suddenly stops when a demonic scream deafens all in the garden. I turn to where it came from only to see Lodus let out another screams as he falls to his knee. Kabba slowly emerges, tearing my uncle apart as he comes out of his host. Both Dorlan and Alorn roar in reaction to their father’s death. Forgetting their differences for the moment, they rush to the demon warden facing off with him. Kabba makes the first move and the battle begins as the two brothers fight in sync as if choreographed.
I search out Ziri and find him with a wounded Kulzo fighting more of Kolinest’s men as they continue to come from the balcony. In the distance I hear a familiar battle call and know that Mareck and the Ogre Nation is in the midst of battle below. Somewhere in the city streets I hear a solo wolf call and within seconds it is answered by other wolves, too many to count.
I pull my attention back when I hear Kalis and Julia cry out, frustrated and in pain. I turn to find them both held off the ground by Dalim, who has each by the throat while Aureinia stands beside him laughing. He slams them together and they drop at his feet where they lay motionless. Dalim looks at me, eyes black with hate and his lips in a demonic snarl. He wavers before us and within seconds he transforms into...Ka. No, not Ka, but his twin. They were twins. That’s how Ka was able to bind Kolinest to him and banish him to the UnderRealm; it’s the same with Tolan and me.
The summoning crescendos to a high pitch creating lightning and thunder as if the pouring rain isn’t enough. As soon as Tolan says the final word, he raises his hands and lightning spears through them. He throws his head back taking in the force of nature and closes his hands into fists, holding the bolts in place. He remains standing, but his body is wracked with pain and his eyes light up as he stares blindly toward the heavens. Before him the doorway to Eirrell solidifies and waits for Lily and the key.