“Now what?” asks Julia.
“Now you tell me where you two think you were going,” demands the voice behind us.
We both turn quickly to face Tharin with a hard look on his face. Tolan stands beside him with an unreadable expression. Alorn is on the opposite side of Tharin with a distant look on his face. And finally, Mellis, standing next to Alorn, grinning with a look telling me he missed me.
“How?” I ask, a little taken aback.
“You left a message,” replies Tharin, stepping up and taking me by the hand. He leads me a few yards from the others and I glance back at Julia. She stands expectantly in front of Tolan, but he turns his back on her and walks off.
Tharin swings me before him, taking hold of my shoulders. “I thought we agreed you wouldn’t run away again.”
It takes me a moment to get what he is implying and decide arguing would be useless.
“Tharin,” I say placing my hand on his chest, “I wasn’t running away. If I did, would I have left a message? I know who has Ziri and who knows how to get to him. And from what Minth told me, he could be seriously hurt. I figured we could make it there to help him and you would be right behind us.”
“Minth?”
“She said they call her the Gija Jumulu here. She came when I called for a dryad.”
Tharin lets go of my shoulders and steps back, taking a patient breath. He straightens, searching about him, and then he gives me that look that irritates the hell out of me.
“What?” I ask, annoyed.
“Lily, I know you want to help everyone and their mother, but you have to understand what kind of danger you’re in just by being here.”
I take a breath, trying to hold onto my own patience.
He continues, “Look, all I’m asking is that wherever it is we need to go, we go together until we’re back at the tower. That’s all I’m asking.”
“Please stop worrying, Tharin. How can you take care of me, any of us, if all you do is worry about me? And just for the record, I did think to wait for you, but the thought of Ziri being tortured I felt I couldn’t wait.”
I can feel the tension coming from him and I take a calming breath. “I’m sorry,” I say and that seems to take the wind out of him. He pulls me close, holding me tight and I don’t resist. In fact, I wrap my arms around him and breathe in his scent, feeling safe and warm within his embrace.
“Tharin,” interrupts Mellis.
We turn and find him standing only a few feet from us. “According to Julia, we need to find the troll Mirnuk. The dresi Ka’sith has Ziri.”
Tharin turns to me, asking, “Is that true? Is that what Minth told you?”
“Yeah. She sounds dangerous, that’s why I wanted to leave, to get to Ziri before the witch can hurt him.”
Tharin takes me by the hand, and we walk back to join the group. “Tharin,” I ask, “what’s a dresi?”
Without looking at me or breaking his stride, he answers, “A high witch of the dryad, schooled in the dark arts.”
“We can take her though, right?” I ask, a bit anxious.
“Being a dresi is one thing, Lily,” he says glancing at me briefly. “But Ka’sith has had centuries to turn her bitterness inward and nothing is more dangerous than a spurned dresi seeking revenge.”
~ * ~
Chapter Six
~ Tharin ~
“Tolan, can you locate Mirnuk?” I ask, putting my concern for Lily aside.
“Yes, I can,” replies my brother.
“Wow,” says Mellis to Tolan. “Your abilities are amazing.”
“Yes, they are and also because I found a pamphlet with the parks information, including the playground,” replies Tolan, waving the pamphlet at us. “They’re all over the place. Anyway, we’ll find Mirnuk within the park, but on the other side from here. When we find him, it will take all my knowledge of the calling to communicate with him.”
I turn to Lily with a half grin. “I’m not leaving you, but you’ll follow behind with Mellis. Understand?”
She squeezes my hand and smiles. “I do, Tharin. One thing,” she asks, standing on her toes to whisper in my near. “Promise me we’ll stay connected.”
My smile broadens. “I promise.”
Facing the others, I give orders. “Alorn, you’re with Tolan and me. We’ll go ahead. Mellis, you’re with Julia and the queen.”
“What queen?” asks Mellis with a blank look on his face.
He turns to Lily, breaking into a wide grin teasing her into laughing with him. She lets go of my hand and moves to stand next to Mellis and Julia.
“We have to assume a trap. Harlu may be behind Ka’sith knowing of Ziri being here in Pathen,” says Alorn.
“I figured as well,” I answer. “I can’t help but feel that we’re being delayed.”
Tolan moves behind Julia, saying, “I think you’re both right. Something’s going on in Velesi and we need to get back. I feel it.”
“I do, too,” adds Lily. I look at her curiously and she shrugs. “I don’t know how, I just do.”
“Stay close to Mellis. You’ll only be behind us by a few minutes and we’ll make sure it’s clear before having you and Julia join us at Mirnuk’s. If it is a trap, Mellis will take you to the nearest doorway and you’ll return with him to Velesi.”
Lily shakes her head. “No. I’m staying with you.”
“And, I’m not leaving Lily. I’m going with her,” says Julia, stepping away from Tolan and closer to Lily.
“No,” I answer. She doesn’t back down but before she goes off, I say quietly, “You are the queen of the Willow Clan. You have responsibilities to your people and to those of the Oak.” I see the uncertainty in her eyes, but her shoulders drop and to ease my words I continue. “I promise you I’ll stay connected, and yes, the plan is to return to Velesi together. But, just in case it is a trap, you need to return – no matter what happens. Remember, it’s not any of us that Harlu is after, it’s you.”
She steps closer. “And that’s my fault?”
“No,” says Alorn. “What he’s saying, Lily, is we can’t afford you getting caught. You need to head back to save Velesi.” After a moment’s pause, he finishes, “I give you my word, Lily, if you return to Velesi, Tharin will follow you there.”
I had promised Lily twice now and yet, it seems it is Alorn’s word that she heeds. I watch as she nods, finally agreeing to the plan. Something inside me jerks slightly, but I push it away and let it go.
I turn to Tolan. “Have you located Mirnuk?”
“Yes. He’s not here in the Botanic Gardens, but close to the outer edge of King’s Park.”
“Have you word from the tower?” I ask Mellis.
“No, nothing,” he replies. “But, I’ve taken a look at the map for King’s park. It’s huge, bigger than the one in New York.”
“We’ll use the trees,” I say. “You follow on ground, but if there is a hint of danger,” I turn to Lily, “you follow Mellis back to Velesi.”
She quietly nods, and I sure hope she doesn’t have her fingers crossed behind her back.
Tolan moves past me and says, “Let’s go.”
Without another word Tolan, Alorn and I take off but I take one last glance back at Lily. She stands staring after me and when I know we’re no longer in her line of sight, she finally turns away. An uneasy feeling comes over me and I almost pull up, turn around and head back.
“What is it, Tharin,” asks Tolan.
“Nothing, I just hate leaving her,” I reply.
“She has Mellis and Julia; and if needed, she will call on Cessa.”
I glance at him and nod. He is right; she is in good hands, but it doesn’t ease the dark feeling in my gut.
We use the trees to travel as often as we can. Some spots in the park the trees are set too far apart and we find ourselves moving along quickly on the ground. Tolan and Alorn keep pace until we near the end of the tree line surrounding what looks like an open park area. In the middle is a
man-made pond with an island close to the edge at one end. On the island is a playground with what looks like large tarps overhead, stretched from tree to tree providing shade. The voices of children and their parents reach my ears and I curse under my breath.
“Tolan, do you see a bridge of any kind here?” I ask, scanning the area closely.
“The only bridges I see are connected from that playground to the edge of the pond, Tharin,” he answers. “It’s too dangerous to move in with the park full like this. Not only that, but it will be difficult not to be seen out in the open like this.”
“Damn it. We’re wasting time, and we still have to find Ka’sith,” I reply, frustrated. “Alorn, slip onto the island and take position.”
A slight tremor runs up my back – father. Something is happening in Velesi and to the king, I’m certain of it now.
“Tharin...” calls Tolan anxiously.
“I know, brother, I felt it, too.”
“So did I,” adds Alorn. If Alorn feels it, it is definitely not a good sign. Anxiety comes over me and I take a steadying breath.
“Lily,” I reach out. She connects immediately.
“Tharin, is everything okay?” she asks. I sense the worry in her thoughts and her attempt to stay calm.
“Yes, Lily, I’m okay. We’re at the playground area call Lycopod Island. How far are you from us?”
“I don’t know, hold on.” She disappears, but returns after a few minutes. “According to Mellis another ten, maybe fifteen, minutes.”
I pull Mellis into the conversation. “The playground is full. We have no choice but to wait until the park empties.”
“We’ll stay several yards from you when we get there,” he replies. “We’ll be close enough to help if you need it, but far enough to get Lily and Julia out of here if necessary,”
For my thoughts only, he continues, “Fearless leader, I’ve a slight chill and not in a good way.”
“I know. We all felt it. Keep your eyes open and watch your back,” I caution. I disconnect before Lily can ask any more questions.
“Tolan, where are you and Alorn?”
“On the far side, close to the playground,” he answers. “Alorn has moved ahead, he’s near the pond. It looks like some of the parents are gathering their kids.”
I give the command to hold back, wait for the park to completely empty out. I spy Alorn within the playground area, hidden in one of the larger trees. He settles himself on a branch, pulls his hood over his head and waits. Even from where I stand I can feel the internal turmoil of his thoughts. I reach out to him.
“What is it, cousin?” I ask. He remains quiet and I know it is difficult for him to share his feelings, an emotional scar from his childhood.
“Dorlan. He’s here and he’s with Harlu.”
Damn. Dorlan, Alorn’s older brother. Two daughters came after Dorlan, Alorn following his sisters’ births. Although he is the youngest, as far as my aunt and uncle are concerned, Alorn is their only son. Dorlan was dead to them the day he chose to live among the dark elves, forsaking his family and his heritage.
I stay silent as my thoughts flash images of my older cousin. Dorlan was everything we looked up to and wanted to be.
“We will avenge your sisters, Alorn. When this is done we will have him, I swear it.”
Alorn remains quiet, but I now understand his earlier mood. Dorlan is the only one I know of who can shake Alorn’s emotions from him. It has always been so since the day Alorn was sent home, beaten and near death, by his own brother’s hand.
“By the way,” I add, “your mother wants to see you when we return to the tower.”
“Ah, damn,” is his grumbled response.
Being her only child left, my aunt dotes on Alorn. The dreaded moments of hugs, kisses and anxiety worth a hundred panic attacks my cousin suffers through each time he meets his mother. I smile at his response. He will have something to worry about other than Dorlan, at least for now.
The park starts thinning out, but there are still a few families enjoying a late afternoon outing, despite the heat. We wait patiently and at some point Mellis connect with us to let us know they are here and several yards from the open area. I quickly check in with Lily but keep it short, my focus and attention on the playground. So far we haven’t had any sighting of Mirnuk, not that we could miss him if he did appear.
On the island, there are three different families still using the playground with their kids; a young couple and their toddler daughter, a couple with two children and a father with two boys around the ages of six and seven. It is the single father with the two sons who hold my attention. The boys are playing quietly together while the father stands watching close by. Something about the older boy holds my attention. I stare back at the father and notice his eyes are on the younger child, his posture one ready to snatch up his son at the slightest hint of danger. I was mistaken, the boys aren’t brothers. There is something about the older boy the father senses is not quite right but can’t put his finger on it.
“Tharin,” warns Alorn.
“I know,” I answer. I reach out to Tolan, “The dark haired boy on the playground.”
Tolan is quiet for a moment and then confirms, “Mirnuk.”
No one says a word as we each calculate the scene from our own perspective. Tolan breaks into our thoughts. “What the hell is going on? How’s a troll able to assume a human child’s body?”
“Ka’sith,” answers Alorn.
“What’s our next move?” asks Tolan.
Damn. This changes everything. “We have to assume Ka’sith expects us to come after Ziri,” I answer. “If that’s the case, she’s put the troll in the middle of innocents to delay us. We have no choice but to wait for the park to empty out. It will be a few hours before it gets dark. The days are long here.”
“Tharin,” calls Alorn, alarmed.
“What?” I answer, distracted, my mind spinning out a plan of attack.
“It’s Lily,” he answers.
“What about her?” He has my full attention now.
“She’s here, and she’s coming my way.”
I turn to scan the park until I find Lily. She is walking toward the playground island as if in a trance. I turn to see the dark haired boy stop what he is doing, and turn slowly toward Lily.
“Mellis, what the hell?” I reach out to my cousin. No answer. “Mellis?”
“Tharin,” he sluggishly replies a second later and as if from a distance.
“Mellis, snap out of it. Where’s Julia?”
I can feel Mellis trying to get his bearings. Finally, he says, “Julia is out, but we’re okay. As soon as I can get her awake, we’ll be on our way.”
I turn back to Lily and take off, no longer caring who sees us. “Tolan, can you bring up an illusion shield?”
“Yes, but I’ll be no good to you while I hold the shield up. I’ll do what I can to help.”
I spot Tolan stepping away from the tree line, his hands and face held up to the skies. I leave him to bring up the shield for those outside of the island. Those on the island Alorn will take care of.
I plan on catching Lily and taking her back to the trees but there is a shield preventing me from getting close.
“Lily,” I call, but she ignores me, coming to a stop several yards from the island.
I watch as Alorn speeds to each person on the playground, moving from one to the next. Once each has been put to sleep, he then carries them off the island, placing them at a safe distance. The dark haired boy stands, his eyes on Lily as if hypnotized.
“Lily,” I call once again.
This time she turns to me and I know the spirit of Jarhan has taken over. Her eyes are of the golden serpent and her hair wisps about her with a touch of gold at the ends.
“Tharin,” she answers, her voice distant.
“Lily, what are you doing?” I ask slowly, not wanting to anger her alter ego.
“The Mother called me. She told me I must save one of
her children, to free him.”
She stands watching me, not in any hurry or caring that we are out in the open. I glance around and see people still going on with their business. Tolan’s illusion is up.
I step closer. “Lily, you don’t understand what you’re facing. He may look like a child, but he’s not. He’s a beast, a monster.” I offer my hand to her. “Please, we’ll take care of him together.”
She shakes her head. “No, Tharin. I can’t allow you and the others to hurt him.”
I take another step closer. “All right, all right. I promise; no harm will come to him, but you have to let me do this, please.”
A vision of Lily being crushed by the troll’s fist raises panic in me. “Please, Lily.”
The serpent eyes, the Healer’s eyes, waver until Lily’s own focus on me. Her shoulders slump and I reach for her.
“I’m sorry, Tharin. It hit me so fast I had no time to react to it,” she says shaking her head.
“Is it a separate entity? Is it you…”
I stop, pushing Lily behind me. The ferocious roar from the island shakes the ground and vibrates throughout the park. Again I look at the bystanders. A few look around not sure what just happened; others continue not noticing any change around them.
I turn to Lily. “Get back to Mellis, now!”
I push her from me toward the tree line. For a moment Lily is frozen, staring at the island. The boy disappears as his true form literally starts to rip out of the small body. His body distorts and forms into a giant, clearing ten feet with bulging biceps, peppered with pebbles, stones and rocks. Long arms, thick with boulder size muscles, end with hands that can palm a hummer. Strong legs the size of redwoods brace a rock solid upper body that tapers to his stomach and hips that gives Mirnuk a speed not known with his kind. The most terrifying is his face, full of rage and anger. His large black eyes, matching his long stringy hair, are pools of insanity. A large, flat nose flares keeping pace with his harsh breathing; his dark lips pulled back in a sneer causing the scars on his face to deepen.