Chapter 21
"I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the Lord sustained me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people that have set themselves against me round about."
-- Psalm 3: 5-6 KJV
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Iliana and Radagast stood with their departing guests in the foggy morning light, just outside the castle gate– around them clean up was still going on. The queen was huddled unabashedly into the side of her Lieutenant General in an effort to remain warm in defiance of the early chill of dawn and the thin material of her white dress. Oleander and Everst were checking the straps and baggage of their saddles while Herumor spoke with Her Majesty.
"Now remember, should you ever need support– military or otherwise– do not hesitate to call on me. Lunthusthra will answer in full." Iliana said regally despite her slight shivering and using Radagast's dark maroon cloak as an additional shaw regardless of the fact that the man was still wearing it; the tall orange haired elf didn't seem to mind his queen's familiarity and was stoically ignoring the humor filled glances of the observers.
"And of course the same courtesy is extended to you and yours." Herumor answered with a deep bow, a smirk playing on his lips in face of this faux-formality.
It was so difficult to act professional around Iliana and he wondered how Radagast seemed to manage it so easily. If he'd not seen her in action himself it would have been hard to take her seriously at all. "I wish you the best of luck and I'm grateful for how fruitful this trip was in the end." And he sincerely meant it. He doubted he would have gained as much from the Tellurics, the elves of the mountains were relativity simplistic and preferred to keep their distance from their neighbors.
"Do send my regards to your family." Iliana instructed cheerfully. "I can only imagine your poor wife, having to steward a thrown and manage three young children."
Herumor chuckled as he mounted his horse, "Neysa has my brother to help her with some things." He replied before bowing his head once more. "I shall write more often now. Until next time Lady Iliana, General Radagast." With that the three Water elves galloped off towards home.
Once they were some yards away and well out of hearing range Oleander spoke to his friend, "I'm sure it's not just me, but, I believe Her Majesty has quite the crush on the good General."
"I'm sure it's not just me, but, I feel sorry for Radagast if that's the case." Everst cut in sarcastically with a shake of his head.
The three shared a hearty laugh and Herumor kept silent on the fact that he clearly saw that their relationship was deeper than the other two knew.
The king decided to change the subject, "We've been gone two days now, I wonder how Eauva is holding out in our absence." He had confidence in his wife, she was as shrewd as he was when it came to politics, but there were safety concerns to consider now.
"Do you think we'll come across any more of those Light monsters on our way back?" Everst asked, now a bit worried considering that it was just going to be the three of them for the next twenty-four or so hours. The morning haze was lifting and the air was beginning to steadily warm. The sight around them was dominantly green pastures and some distant cottages dotting the horizon but the serene landscape didn't fool him.
"We can only hope not; but, judging from the numbers we dealt with yesterday, I can only surmise that we might." Oleander stated matter-of-factly. The tall elf didn't seem too far concerned with the idea outwardly and this caused some disbelief to make it's way across Everst's features.
"That doesn't seem to bother you." The teen pointed out, unsettled by the older man's relaxed disposition.
"That's because of how many were slain. I believe they were amassing themselves for that attack and now that it's over there should be significantly less." Oleander reasoned while rolling up the arms on his light gray, long-sleeved shirt.
"But you said-"
"I believe," Herumor elaborated from over his shoulder, "he's basing his calculation on how the heartless used to behave when there were more of them. There was always a lot but after such an attack there was never an overwhelming amount to match it for a while. We're likely to be dealing with three to four at a time with long intervals between encounters."
"Ah." The conversation died shortly after that and they trotted along in a semi-comfortable silence, each happily occupied by their own thoughts.
Despite the late hour the streets of the harbor city were bustling with people. "Hm, closing the ports has given us a night life to rival Stehen." Oleander commented as the three wound their way towards the castle. As the citizens became aware of their king's presence a jovial cry rose up and the path was swiftly cleared for him. Knowing he was home gave them hope, hope that things would be able to go back to the way they were.
"Herumor!" A tall red-head was pushing his way through the crowd to greet the returning monarch.
Once Relich had reached his brother he fell in step with his horse and began to rifle off the little things that had happened in the time he'd been absent. Another letter had arrived from Gyo Kostellen, the ports had been fortified as Herumor had asked, some people were coming forward claiming to have killed strange glowing animals, and yes, Neysa and the children were doing fine. "So, did you learn anything from the Lunestris?" He asked after all on the home front had been recounted.
"We learned that our ally, Queen Iliana, is quite possibly insane," Everst quipped with a sardonic smile.
"And that the things in the water are like big anti-heartless made of Light." Oleander supplied, not contradicting the purple haired youth but finding his remark rather amusing.
"And that they can be killed." The tone in Herumor's statement belied his smirk,"How many ships do we have that are specifically designed for battle? Seven, right?" Possibly more than enough, he thought as he urged his mount forward, suddenly eager to consult with his captains.
"Hey," Relich had been holding onto the straps securing the packs to Herumor's horse and had nearly fallen on his face when it lurched ahead without warning. Oleander had ridden up in time to save him from hitting the ground and pulled him onto his own ride behind him.
"Looks like he has a plan." The king's adviser remarked as he heeled his animal to speed up in order to catch the galloping Herumor.
"He usually does." Relich replied without surprise as he fought to right himself comfortably behind the taller elf, pushing the long green windswept strands out of his face and wishing– not for the first time– that Oleander would cut his hair. "Hey, if he beats these things in the oceans you have to help me convince him to go to the human lord, Gyo," Relich said, sputtering unwanted hair out of his mouth and wondering if it'd be more convenient to jump down and just run the distance to the castle.
Oleander raise an eyebrow out of sight of the man,"Why must we do that?" It wasn't that he wouldn't help his young friend but he was curious as to his reasoning.
"Well, for one, the man is almost dead; and for another, in his latest letter he said he had something urgent to speak with Heru about. About a suspicion as to gain us more allies." The red-head had just decided to look down as much as physically allowable to avoid the forest colored tresses.
"Intriguing. We'll have to see how this battle goes first and foremost though." Came the response.
"Naturally."
Herumor was dismounting at the gate and handing over his reins to one of the foot soldiers standing guard when the other three elves caught up to him, "Everst, I'm going to have to ask you to play messenger boy for a moment. Make sure word is sent to every ship captain that there will be a meeting held in one hour in the Red Chamber."
"Yes, my lord." The teen answered crisply before parting company with them and swiftly entering into the lantern-lit night.
The king hadn't slowed down, he was already through the door, "Hey, Oleander? Could I ask you to get things ready for me? Anything we might need, such as maps. I would do it myself but..."
"Family calls," the other answered him knowingly with a smile on his lips,"yes, I'll help you out. There isn't much to do." It was part of his job after all.
Then it was just the siblings alone walking down the halls towards the private section. "Have the boys been behaving?" The auburn haired elf questioned with no small amount of mirth. It was always easy for him to make the transition between duty as a king and that of a father.
Relich laughed, "As much as can be expected from children under the age of fifteen."
Herumor chuckled and ruffled his brother's short hair, "They're not too unlike their uncle in that aspect." There was a fifty-four year age difference between the two– a testament for the long life expectancy of the Stehen elves– and it often led the way for teasing.
"One can only hope they turn out more like me." Relich shot back, opening the door for them to the living suites. He glanced at the standing clock in the den once they reached it and expectantly noted the time, nine forty-five. He wondered how long the meeting would run once it was called and if they would be moving out the next dawn. 'Going to be another sleepless night,' he thought with a sigh but he couldn't bring himself to be disappointed.
Relich was an action person. The sooner something was done about the problem on the seas the sooner it could be found out what Gyo Kostellen had to say, and that meant an advantage in this war. He watched his brother and felt a pride kindle in his chest. He had the up-most confidence that they could win this conflict. Stehen might not have played a role in the last war, but this time they would make a difference, of that he had no doubt.
Denali blinked against a bright morning sun. If it was not for its position in the sky, she would have sworn it was noon because the heat was so thick. "Lord it's bright..." She complained, working her way to her feet and holding a hand over her brow to shield against the blazing rays.
It took a minute but her eyes finally adjusted to the lighting and she was able to properly observe her surroundings. Not a path was in sight. The foliage was dense with summer's lushness and it wasn't even distinguishable from which way she might have come from. "I need to go North," she reminded herself, putting the question of how she'd come there behind her for the moment.
She turned her body to face the morning sun, what she knew for certain was East, which meant West was behind her. "Nobody," she extended her left hand left, "eats," she pointed in front of her, "sour watermelons." She had said this aloud, recounting a little ditty that her mother had taught her for remembering the directions. As soon as she was certain of her heading she felt a little better.
She clutched at the dark and dirty fabric of her shirt above her heart,"Thanks momma," she whispered. It hurt so much to think that her parents were dead. Her whole family...
"Ne t'inquiétes pas Denali je ne t'ai pas oublié." A frighteningly calm and familiar voice spoke from behind her.
All thoughts left her at the smooth sentence and her legs momentarily locked. He had found her. "What? You thought I'd leave you out 'ere to fend for yourself?"
Despite what her mind was screaming at her, her legs moved of their own violation and she turned to face the man. It was just him this time, but he was enough. His tall figure was now imposing where once he had been just a lighthearted country boy. His dark eyes bore into her and his grin bordered on feral. "Alister... jus-just stay away from me, ya hear?"
"Why? I'm da one keepin dem monsters away from you." He told her loftily and laughed when he saw her gasp. "I can make dem leave you alone for good." He extended a dark hand out to her invitingly.
"Like I'm sure they'll leave all those towns people alone for good too, right?" She answered him, taking a step back. She knew which direction she needed to go but she also knew the chances of her being able to outrun him. 'If he really can control those monsters then there's just no way I can make it!' She thought despairingly, taking another cautious step away.
"Heh, no, cher, not like dat. I give you some of my power and you become like me." As he told her this, his still outstretched hand began to radiate a golden light. It was like the air around her grew warmer and sizzled with energy. Only one thought managed to survive the sudden wave of panic overtaking her mind: Run!
"No!" She screamed before pivoting around and bolting through the greenery. Even though she'd only been awake for a few minutes, pure terror pushed her forward with a speed that only desperation could manage. She heard him call for her, but as before she realized there were no footfalls following in pursuit. 'He's taken another route! He's going to cut me off and I'm gonna die! Worse, I'm gonna be one of those creatures!' Her thoughts only drove her faster. There was a lingering hope that she would be able to escape and she clung to it fiercely as she wove between trees and over fallen ones.
"Do not waste your time going after her." That was his instructions, little did the girl know. "You have other matters to attend to, Alister. The other half, your weaker half, has awoken on the World That Never Was. Seek it out and eliminate it. Nobodies are troublesome flukes that do not have the right to exist no matter how they were created."
Alister's Nephlim looked at the quivering plants that denoted Denali's flight and shook his head sadly. "I wish you could learn ta wait. Dat would 'ave been an easy catch." The man spoke to what appeared thin air.
"Then you can catch her later or send one of the lower kind to do it. You have the power to do that, remember?" The woman spoke directly to his mind, connected by the common bond of Light.
He grinned, "Nah, I wanna take care of dis one personally, Adel.". He preferred one on one interaction when he actually knew the person. "'Nali is a close friend afta all." His arm was still glowing so he waved it in front of him, refocusing the energy to create a portal, "I'll be comin' back." He assured to no one in particular as he stepped through the gate.
Denali bust through the tree line and realized she was still alone. The land before her was open and offered no protection, the main road could be seen a few yards to her right and after some consideration she made her way over to it. There would be no hiding from here till Bramridge anyway, so it was best to just take what was easier on her legs.
Minute after minute and still no sign of danger presented itself. She began to grow suspicious and kept her pace at a jog despite the still quiet. 'Where did he go? How much longer?' It was eerily peaceful. Every so often she would glance over her shoulder only to confirm that she was still alone.
Sweat dripped from her brow profusely and her clothes were damp and sticking to her uncomfortably. As the sun continued to rise so did the temperature and it was slowly draining her. Ten minutes later and she was hardly at a crawl of a walk, slowly trudging forward because stopping would do her no good. Elydria had a very moderate climate and even in summer it rarely rose above eighty degrees. The smoldering heat she was pushing through now was uncannily intense. 'I'm not going to make it. How ironic, it won't be Alister to kill me, but dehydration or heatstroke.'
Reaching up, Denali pulled her thick black hair up off the nape of her neck to let the air reach the skin there in an effort to cool down. She had abandoned her cloak already and was toying with the idea of if she really needed her shirt. That was when something on the horizon caught her attention. Beyond the baked green foothills she could see the tall metallic watchtower that marked her uncle's gummi hanger which lie just out side the city.
"Oh thank you God!" Summoning her last bit of strength she pushed on, relief and anticipation making her muscles throb all the more. "Uncle Elijah!" She called loudly when the building itself came into view. There was no one insight but that didn't deter her. "UNCLE ELIJAH!" Her voice strained with the volume. There was movement up in the tower and she could see a light through the window and her heart soared.
She managed to sprint the last little distance and once she got there she held onto the ladder to catch her breath. 'Hopefully they have something to drink.' She thought cheerfully before forcing herself to ascend the rungs to the walled in platform. Once she got to the top, however, she soon regretted it. Denali stared in horror at three four legged creatures whose fur shimmered like fire and teeth glimmered, uncovered by lip-less mouths. 'No. No. No!' As one their heads snapped to her and she felt her heart sink.
She didn't hesitate, she was speeding back down the ladder, and if it wouldn't have possibly shattered her legs she would have jumped the distance in her eagerness to escape. She heard them clamber for the entrance and she'd only just made it half of the way down before a searing hot pressure landed on her shoulders hard. It knocked loose her grip and she felt herself falling. A shrill scream ripped from her throat and it only redoubled when she hit the ground, her arm snapping painfully beneath her.
"HELP ME!" The creature was scrambling on her back, getting a better position and on either side of her she felt where the other two hit the ground. Her screams had broken off into loud sobs of fear and pain. She didn't hear the clicking of a gun being cocked but the blast was unmistakable and suddenly the weight on her was gone.
"That's my family you're messin' with." Came a gruff and aged voice from her right.
Elijah Wren's thick frame stood protectively six feet away with a shotgun in his thickly calloused hands, already reloaded and aimed expertly at the remaining two; nothing was left of the first but glittering ash in the breeze.
Sensing the danger they ran for it and in quick succession two more shots rang out and two more creatures dusted. "You alright 'Nali?" The middle-aged man asked as he ran over to help her up. "We've been fightin' off those buggers for the past three days now." He huffed as he squatted down beside her. She was still crying, exceeding joy now mingled in with the pain. He lifted her up and it was seen that bone broke through the skin of her left forearm. "Ouch." He commented sympathetically. "Abby! You was right, it's her! We're gonna need you to help fix her up!" He was calling over his shoulder towards the gummi hanger.
"There's a tough girl." He said to her gently, leading her away from the tower with him. He knew she was along, and that left him with questions. He stared at her for a moment as she leaned against him; as much as he didn't want to ask it he had to know, "Where'er Thomas and Ashland?" He was referring to her parents. "Are your brothers with them?" Deep down he knew the answer but he couldn't let it rest unconfirmed.
"Keene was out of town, like me and... I don't know what's become of him. Zachary was with Mom and Dad, he was still too young to travel." Denali said, her voice hallow and worn. The past tense told him all that had become of his brother and sister-in-law.
"Oh honey!" Abigale had joined them at the door, medic kit in hand and dark blue eyes full of worry as she looked upon her injured and disheveled niece.
She wasn't alone in the building. One of the two gummi ships was docked and a dozen haunted faces watched the new comer silently; refugees like herself.
"Abby, she says Keene might still be out there." Elijah said, his voice held a decisive note to it; his blue violet eyes spoke volumes to his wife. The older woman was holding Denali's broken arm gingerly but looked over at the man in hesitant understanding. "I'll wait til' Sofia gets back with The Chariot and see you and Denali off safely with the next load before I go." He assured. Sofia was the couple's go-to girl and had been employed as a pilot the very year after the Wrens had gotten their second ship.
"You'll send her off but I'm stayin' put." She led the teen away before the man had time to counter. "In a case like yours dear, anyone is old enough to drink. Eighteen is plenty old to stomach some brandy to take the edge off because this is going to hurt. All the real medicine around here is gone." She told her remorsefully.
Denali nodded, her body on autopilot now. She was numb, adrenaline ebbing away and the world around her surreal. She had made it, beyond all her hope she had made it to her aunt and uncle's and there were survivors! Tiredly she looked around the wide hanger, people were using crates and tables as chairs and in the eyes of the adults there was the shell-shocked expression that mirrored Denali's own. A mother with four young children, two old men, two young ones, and three women who looked to be just a few years older than her. With the slowness of a mind overstimulated Denali digested all of this.
"How many people have come to you?" She asked when her aunt had handed her a glass of strong smelling drink.
"Well," Abigale waited for her to swallow and watched the girl's face cringe at the taste, "They started coming in droves a week ago and there have been fewer and fewer as time's gone on but each one looks worse than the last. Here, put this in your mouth to bite on. I would say, there's been maybe two-hundred total." The older woman had handed Denali a twisted rag after the glass had been emptied. "You want me to fill it for you again before we do this?"
The dark haired girl eyed her arm squeamishly before looking away again and nodding vigorously, the pain having sharpened at the fresh sight of it. She was given a whole three minutes afterwards before Abigale gripped her arm firmly—she had been cleaning it all the while. "I'm sorry honey, but I have to set it now." There was a loud crack and Denali's vision blurred, her jaw hurting from the sheer force she was biting the rag she'd been given. With the worse over it seemed like no time before she was bandaged and set in a splint and sling.
"You'll be in Traverse Town by the end of the day." Abigale told her comfortingly. "You can find you someone there who knows white magic and get it fixed proper." She patted the girl's damp cheek tenderly. "We'll give you munny enough to stay someplace nice and I won't let your uncle be too long before we follow after you alright?"
Denali nodded sleepily. "Can I ha'ff somethin' to eat?" Her head was light but her stomach was reminding her vehemently of it's dissatisfaction.
"That a girl." Her aunt praised. "We'll get you fed then you can take a nap, I'll wake you when Sofia gets back. She left three hours ago so you've got a while yet, hun."
The teen dimly heard her, her mind was on other things: her family, her future, and food. She looked around her again then back at the empty glass still clutched in her right hand. She examined her dirty refracted reflection in the surface and let her gaze unfocus. This day, like the two before, would be taken one hour at a time. She had survived and for this hour that was enough.
Alister's line, spoken in French means, "Do not worry, Denali, I did not forget about you."