CYRANThe bathhouse is where I head after the cremation. I hope for some quiet, but also Gylen.Before the fire had died down, Gylen walked away, conspicuous in his dark brown coat. I waited a while before following him, a decision I regret a bit. If a wolven wished to stay hidden, he would stay hidden.I push the door open, cursing and wincing when it creaks loudly. I blink once to adjust my sight to the darkness, and the first thing I notice is that the water is gone. Drained out, it seems, and the place is just an empty, normal hut with a small trench in the ground. Perfect.A wooden stool stands beside the door. The work of a seasoned craftsman, its four legs are carved with symbols…no, not symbols. Wolf faces, styled to resemble ideograms.‘Wonderful workmanship’. The dirk is in my hand before I turn, but it’s just Ronn.I right my stance as I lower the blade but I don’t sheath it. Whenever I see him, tall and threatening in his ash cloak, I see the silver wolven that attacked us
68. DEPARTURE.CAIVANGylen returns with Farden and Pedran from their scout and reports the area empty. "And what about Halden?" I ask. They exchanged glances, and Farden spoke: "It was... deserted." ‘Deserted?’ I repeat, "How is that?" "Not a living soul stirred." "It was like death had struck in one night," Pedran says. I smelled them. The winter wolves like they had been in the village. But if they had, they left little in the way of blood," Gylen quips.I nod. I avoid the temptation to start speculating and connecting ropes, instead turning to Argell’s hut. "Get ready, brothers," I say, "we're headed for Tussel."Someone, most likely Veesa, has cropped his hair so that it lies close to his scalp, low and spiky. It's almost like Keilen’s. They still haven’t seen her, not since yesterday, and I don’t want to bother Father about it. Lupion, I don’t want to think about it. There’s no telling how we’ll find her, dead or alive.I shut down the ill thoughts and walk up to him, where he s
SAELYNA"Recharging" our magic is like drinking a very good mead…without tasting it of course. I don't need Cyran to pull me back this time though, but he needs me to do the same for him.The air began to smell faintly of metal before I yanked his hands from the blue leaves. He blinked severally, breathing hard before the blue leaves his eyes. He had gone in deep. Too deep.'Thank you', he says after taking calming breaths. 'Don't say'. I settle down beside him, staring at the plants that had started all of this. Their leaves dance in the light breeze, like little blue children waving at the sun. Like they were not capable of starting a war.Cyran sighs. 'I've never really noticed how lovely the mornings here can be'. 'Neither have I,' I note thoughtfully, 'It's the beauty behind the madness, I guess'. 'Yes….', he replies, staring at me like I've assumed another skin, 'Yes, something like that'. 'I don't know how to conjure flames, Cyran,' I blurt out. 'You don't know?' he says quietl
SAELYNA'Bad idea,' he says before I even finish.I throw my hands up. 'Look, I'm not asking for your permission, Quain, I'm just letting you know, so you can tell them if they come looking for us'. He shakes his head. 'You never said anything before. Gods, you healed those kids like it was nothing,' he says half shrilly. 'Not exactly, Quain. For the most part it was quite easy, but there's something else. It drains energy from our bodies. And when we…recharge…' Cyran bites a nail, a new habit he's developed. 'Well, it gets tricky. It's like I'm getting pulled in too deep'. Quain turns to me. 'And this happens to you as well?' 'Yes it does. One time, I felt Cyran drifting away and….' 'You two are still connected?' I purse my lips and run a hand through my hair. 'Focus, Quain. The point is, that's not supposed to happen, is it?' He scrunches up his face and I make his hesitation a leverage. 'Even then, we can't set the plants ablaze'. He winces almost immediately I mention "ablaze" and
CYRANThe feel of an arrow between my thumb and index, the tight pull of the taut string on my fingers, the smell of the woods…I don't think I've ever felt this tensed with arrow before. It's an effort to keep it face down as father had said, lest some sound or sight would set me off and I'd end up shooting the wrong "prey"...and gods know I'm very on edge.Morning light barely penetrates the canopy above, made of the very same trees I had been hunting under that fateful evening. The forest is dead silent though; the squinards are silent, the birds are solemn and every sound we make seems to echo through the trees, no matter how quiet it seems.Quain leads us as quietly as a hare, peering all around him with his back bent. Fareedah doesn't show the same caution, though, and neither does Saelyna. We four are quite soundless on foot; elves due to anatomy, Quain because of his genn and wolven due to years of caution; but it doesn't feel like it. Or I'm just on edge.Quain seems more pens
CYRANWe walk on more cautiously than before; even Fareedah doesn't say a word. Her wound has healed completely shut, but there's an air to her now, like she could spring on the person next to her at the slightest inclination.I take the lead, following tracks wholly unfamiliar to me, but Quain points out occasional landmarks. He opted to stay behind me, claiming I'm the one with the arrows and the magic.Presently, the trees are getting closer, the canopy heavier. I know this route; further ahead, and I'd be reliving my first attack. 'Our cottage should just be over the knoll beyond those trees,' I point out. 'There's a shortcut,' Saelyna says, staring at a scanty path to our left. It leads to the road from the glade, straight to our cottage. 'Too easy. And easy is not good,' Quain declares, 'Let's take this path. The forest air is choking me'. 'We need to be fast,' Fareedah says, 'I say we take the shortcut'. Quain curse under his breath but trudges after Saelyna all the same, leavi
CYRAN'So you can fly?'The incredulity in his voice almost makes me laugh. As if the impossibilities of the last few days have not been enough. 'No, Quain, no one can fly any more than hates can sing,' I say calmly, as Saelyna lifts herself up from my arms, her face turning a light shade of red. She rubs her forehead, staring at the ashes once more but with a sorrowful look and not with rage. 'I'm sorry,' Fareedah says, offering her a hand. Saelyna takes it, pulling herself to her feet. 'Don't be. It is not your fault'.Her eyes widen suddenly, and she dashes to the debris, and begins glancing and searching about for something. It takes me a while to figure it has to be one of two things. 'Be at ease, Sae, Camille took care of Ima. If she was burnt along with the house, we'd have known. Panther bones do not wither,' Quain calls. 'Very droll, Quain!' I call back. 'Who would do this?' Fareedah says, picking up a charred plank. 'The mages, I'd expect,' Saelyna replies stonily, 'Those se
SAELYNAI try to find the part of the house that would have been the library, but I can't. I curse under my breath when ash beters my mouth and it's all I can do not to scream. Deep breaths, I remind myself.Then Fareedah sniffs at the air again and my fury switches to an onset of fear. It's the third time she’s done that since we started the search. ‘What is it?’ I ask worriedly, stealing a glance back at Cyran where he stands on alert behind us, his bowstring drawn taut with alert. ‘I think I smell smoke’. Quain kicks at a pile of ash, squinting down at the white dust that descends on him. ‘We’re surrounded by the aftermath of an inferno. I reckon you would smell smoke. You’d have to,’ he says, not unkindly. Fareedah’s nostrils flare a bit, but she doesn’t say anymore; she turns back to the debris, her face hooded as it had been since we left Eldad. ‘Are you alright?’ She smiles wanely. ‘I suppose I am,’ she says quietly. Her gaze turns distant and she adds, ‘I wasn’t close to Sera…
Reflections Their progress was slow, and the constant motion did little to lessen the stress that weighed heavily on their hearts. Each minute brought them closer to the witch, closer to the woman who threatened the safety of the people of Eriu and their future. Every inch took them further away from home, further away from their families and their friends. Time was running short, and soon enough they would be forced to make a choice. Either they could save their Kingdom or die trying. They had lost track of the number of times they had narrowly escaped the clutches of the witches; yet, none of them gave up hope. A feeling of uneasiness settled inside of them, an uncertainty that they were approaching the center of the witch’s domain. Finally, the group reached an intersection, and all eyes turned in unison towards the hallway that split down the middle, one path leading to freedom and the other to destruction. The Queen raised a trembling hand towards the rightmost passage, ta
Their progress was slow, and the constant motion did little to lessen the stress that weighed heavily on their hearts. Each minute brought them closer to the witch, closer to the woman who threatened the safety of the people of Eriu and their future. Every inch took them further away from home, further away from their families and their friends. Time was running short, and soon enough they would be forced to make a choice. Either they could save their Kingdom or die trying.They had lost track of the number of times they had narrowly escaped the clutches of the witches; yet, none of them gave up hope. A feeling of uneasiness settled inside of them, an uncertainty that they were approaching the center of the witch’s domain.Finally, the group reached an intersection, and all eyes turned in unison towards the hallway that split down the middle, one path leading to freedom and the other to destruction. The Queen raised a trembling hand towards the rightmost passage, taking a deep breath,
With the amulet clutched tightly in his hand, Caivan rejoined Saelyna and Gylen, his expression determined. “I’ve found it,” he declared, his voice filled with a mix of hope and determination.As Cyran continued to engage the witch in a fierce battle, Saelyna stepped forward, her eyes meeting Caivan’s. “Give me the amulet, Caivan. It will amplify my magic and weaken her grip on the Queen.”Caivan nodded, passing the amulet to Saelyna with care. “Use it well, Saelyna. We’re counting on you.”Saelyna held the amulet close to her chest, feeling its power resonate within her. She took a deep breath, channeling her courage, her determination, and the collective strength of her friends.In that moment, time seemed to stand still. The air crackled with anticipation as Saelyna prepared to confront the witch head-on, armed with the ancient incantation and the newfound power of the amulet. The final battle was about to begin, and Saelyna was ready to seize their chance at victory.The room puls
Caught in the crossfire SAELYNAQuain let out a long sigh, he was very curious, but, seeing how I answered, he thought he didn't want to disturb my concentration. I tried to concentrate as I thought about the sentences I had read from Gylen's writing.The sound of the door opening made Quain and I turn our heads. Caivan had just come out in the clothes he had changed into."Quain," Caivan called, causing Quain to raise half an eyebrow in surprise. "Me, Saelyna, Cryan, and Gylen are leaving. I trust you to take care of the others. Stay alert and keep an eye on the surroundings. Don't trust anyone except Prince Charles. I'll be back in a little over an hour, but if we're not back in an hour, I authorize you to take the others with you. Caivan gave Quain a message, then reached for me. "Leave the stone the queen gave to Quain, so he can access it if anything happens to us."I immediately nodded in understanding, it was only fitting that Caivan became an Alpha, famous for his ruthless wa
Walking togetherCAIVANThe one I've been waiting for has finally arrived. Saelyna and Cryan came into my room."There's Gylen too," Cryan said to himself, then Gylen told him to sit by his side while Saelyna sat next to me."Why are you all here? Are you having a little meeting?" Saelyna asked with a half-raised eyebrow in surprise."No, we're just having a little discussion," I replied, standing in for Gylen.While Saelyna just nodded in understanding. "What about when you met Prince Charles? What did you talk about?" Saelyna suddenly remembered and asked me and Gylen."I'll explain it to you, but first I have to ask you," I grumbled as I looked at Saelyna from the side, then I picked up a map and some notes we had made because it would be useful for Saelyna and we didn't have to go too far in explaining it. It was all done by Gylen before the two of them came to my room."Everything is summarised here. I'll explain later. But where are you going?" I said, wondering when I saw that
An unsolved mysterySAELYNA"Are you called the Queen?"I nodded my head as Caivan asked. "I will see her now." I quickly closed the door to the room as Caivan made way for me. Maybe Cryan had told him. "When I get back, tell me what happened while you were talking to the prince."Caivan followed my footsteps towards the room where the Queen was. "Of course, you must be careful. I will be waiting for you in the room." When we reached the centre room, with the Queen's room in front of it, guarded by several soldiers, Caivan told me to leave and that he would return to his room.Feeling my heart pounding, I steadied myself before walking over. The soldiers made way for me to pass, apparently they had been informed by the Queen that I was her guest."Excuse me Queen, it's a pleasure to be here and thank you for inviting me." I bowed slightly and waved my hands in front of my stomach.The Queen, who was in her seat, smiled at me and then told me to sit down in one of the empty chairs she
An unsolved mysterySAELYNA"Are you called the Queen?"I nodded my head as Caivan asked. "I will see her now." I quickly closed the door to the room as Caivan made way for me. Maybe Cryan had told him. "When I get back, tell me what happened while you were talking to the prince."Caivan followed my footsteps towards the room where the Queen was. "Of course, you must be careful. I will be waiting for you in the room." When we reached the centre room, with the Queen's room in front of it, guarded by several soldiers, Caivan told me to leave and that he would return to his room.Feeling my heart pounding, I steadied myself before walking over. The soldiers made way for me to pass, apparently they had been informed by the Queen that I was her guest."Excuse me Queen, it's a pleasure to be here and thank you for inviting me." I bowed slightly and waved my hands in front of my stomach.The Queen, who was in her seat, smiled at me and then told me to sit down in one of the empty chairs she
First mission CAIVANI saw the Prince's legs move, he was about to turn and face us. This was the first time we had met, and I had sent the Prince a letter before we had spoken by telephone."Yes, you are my people. And we should protect you if you need our help." The Prince smiled broadly, he was quite handsome and authoritative. He shook his robes back, then walked over to me. I sat up and looked at him seriously. "Have you looked around your room?" he asked again as we faced each other."I have, Your Honour." I wasn't the only one who answered him, my friends in the back also replied."All right, just call me Charles. Are you the leader of them? Is your name Caivan? It's good to see you here, I hear you're a great fighter. If you are not tired from travelling and have more time, perhaps we can have a chat first. Or if you want to bring your deputy with you, that's fine too.I smiled broadly at that, then nodded briefly. "At your service, Your Honour." Then I turned to look at Gyle
Prince's welcome SAELYNAI don't want to, he must be very tired. And who really needs to be carried by Caivan? We decided to walk together. Five minutes was not too far and long, we could observe each other's surroundings and make small talk."Later we will come to a village where people live a simple life and we have to be friendly, don't make any noise. Be polite if you want to pass through their area, when we walk again we will meet the market before entering the city park and there we can see the huge city of Lexington. Then our goal is to find one of the kingdoms there, the kingdom of Brahzeil is the largest and has a lot of knowledge we can seek. There is a prince there who will help us, I hope you don't make a fuss. This prince is called Charles". Gylen explained to the others as Caivan's representative, while they all nodded in agreement. There are ten of us on this journey. We had a well thought out plan and had made sure that we would not betray each other.After about five