Awakening (Telindell Book 1) (28 page)

As they entered the town, not a soul was in sight.  Kane sniffed and looked around vigilantly.  Finally, they approached the Wilted Rose.  Lian opened the door and stepped inside, Sarath and Kane following closely.  Kane raised his head, sniffing in the air.

Lian looked around and called out, “Hello?”

Sarath looked to Lian while she shook her head.  “There is definitely something wrong.”  She studied the turned over tables and broken bottles.  “This place always had its share of fights… but this is different.”

Kane’s ears twitched at a creak from the floor.  He looked to the bar and started growling.

Lian looked to the bar and approached it, gripping his sword.  “Come out!”

The innkeeper slowly raised his head from behind the bar.  “Ye… Ye aren’t one of them… Are ye?”

Sarath crossed her arms.  “What do we look like?”

The innkeeper let out a sigh of relief.  “Oh, it’s you lass!”  He looked to Lian.   “An you, I ‘member you!  Ye made quick work out of them fools who was messin’ with Miss Sarath here.”

Lian looked around.  “What happened here?”

The innkeeper looked around and stuttered, “I… I ain’t sure.”  He took a deep breath. “I know what I seen… but I ain’t sure if I even believe it.”

Sarath glared at the man.  “Loosen that tongue and tell us already.”

The innkeeper pointed at Sarath spitefully.  “You be one to talk about loosening a tongue!”

Sarath stepped toward him and shouted, “I’ll cut your--”

Lian quickly grabbed Sarath’s shoulder and stopped her.  “Sarath, if you cut his tongue out, he won’t be able to tell us anything.”

Sarath glared at the innkeeper.  “He’d only be so lucky if I was going for his tongue.”

Lian smirked.  “She’s not as patient as I am.  Tell me what you saw before I let her go.”

“Alright. Alright,” he said.  “If this sounds like rubbish, just know that I warned ye.”  Lian nodded at the innkeeper and waited for him to begin his story.  The innkeeper grabbed a bottle of stout and turned it up.  He drank it all, turned back to Lian and banged the bottle against the bar.  “They came… They came and took everyone.  Even me wife.”  The innkeeper’s voice trembled.  “They were monstrous.  Far larger than any man I’ve ever seen.”

Lian snarled.  “What did they look like?”

“Their eyes… they glowed this awful red,” he said.  “Their hair, beards if they had them… were white as white could be.  Their skin… a dark grey, almost black even.”  The man shook his head slowly.  “Worst part is their armor…”

Sarath tilted her head.  “Armor?  What about it?”

“It looked like it used to be that of a Kynlynn soldier,” he said.  “It was stretched and ripped, but it had to be Kynlynn armor.”

Lian clenched his fist and dropped his head.  “Dammit.  All those people…”

Sarath grabbed Lian’s arm softly.  “Maybe it isn’t too late.”

The innkeeper nodded his head.  “Aye, what she said!”

Lian shook his head.  “If they don’t kill you… they turn you.”

Sarath took a deep breath.  “Shit… I’m glad you got me out of here.”

The innkeeper’s mouth dropped open and he stared at Lian, shaking his head.  “Turn ye into what?”

“Those monsters you saw,” he said.  “They used to be soldiers of Kynlynn.”

“Then, all those people…” he said while he grabbed another bottle.  Thousands of people?  Me wife?”

Lian nodded his head.  “If they are lucky, they are dead.”

The innkeeper squeezed the bottle of stout in his hand.  “I should’ve tried to save her…”  He turned and threw the bottle against the wall.  “But I hid!  Like a coward!”

Lian shook his head.  “You couldn’t have saved her.  You would have suffered her fate as well.”

The innkeeper took a deep breath.  “Tell me, what is happenin?”

“No time to explain,” he said.  “Just know that it is very bad, and Kynlynn is no longer safe.”

“What am I to do?” he said.  “Where am I to go?”

Lian thought for a moment before he spoke.  “Find a horse.  Gather as many supplies as you can and ride to Shinrok.”

The innkeeper stared at Lian.  “There is a lot of desert between here and Shinrok.”

“We made it on foot,” said Sarath.  “Surely you can make it on horseback.”

“What am I to do there?” he said.

“Seek out Anok-Rin,” said Lian.  “Tell him I sent you, that you are seeking safety.”

The innkeeper nodded and quickly began gathering things from his bar.  Lian turned to Sarath and nodded.  The three began walking toward the Wilted Rose’s exit.

The innkeeper looked to the three leaving and shouted, “Aye!  Do ye need anything?  Take all ye need, if ye do.  Free o’ charge.”

Lian stopped.  “I need an army.  You don’t have that.  Best of luck.”

The innkeeper stared at them as they left the Wilted Rose.  He quickly returned to gathering his supplies.  “They done lost their bloody minds.”

Oryn led his army in many skirmishes while Lian and Sarath were in Shinrok.  Alisia, Elinar, and Daleth carefully planned their move as they studied an old map of Alinshahar.

Alisia pointed to an area just beyond the council chamber.  “There.”

Daleth looked at the map.  “There?”

“Yes,” she said.  “The old drainage tunnels.”

Elinar looked at the pathway of the tunnels closely.  “This will only get us half of the way.”  Elinar sighed.  “There is sure to be heavy resistance.”

“We will have to take our chances,” she said.

Daleth slammed his fist against the table.  “This will get us killed!”

Alisa looked to Daleth.  “Maybe, maybe not.”

Elinar glanced at the two.  “What are you thinking?”

Alisia breathed deeply.  “If we provoke them… they’ll send the majority of their forces to meet Oryn."

Daleth shook his head.  “Even with invisibility, that would leave us dodging through the battlefield and hopefully getting beyond the Council Chamber.”

Elinar brought his hand to his chin.  “It could work.  It will cost the lives of many Elves.”

“Elves are dying already,” said Alisia.  “The longer this goes on, the more will die.  If we can pull this off…  Your ace in the hole will find us, if he comes.  There is always the chance Adanna will submit, that the illusion has been dispelled.”

Elinar nodded.  “He will come… if he yet lives.”

Daleth placed his hand on Elinar’s shoulder.  “If what you have said about him is true…  I doubt he would be so easily killed.”

Alisia looked to each of them.  “I hope you both are right.  Do we have our plan?  This is best option we have been able to come up with since the conflict started.”

Elinar reluctantly shook his head.  “I’ll summon my father.  He will decide if the price of this gamble is worth it.”

Elinar left the room and walked through the ruined building.  The walls were riddled with holes, the floor was lined with broken stone and other debris.  Wounded lay amongst the ruble, awaiting aid.  Elinar exited the building to see Teelia standing next to Oryn.

He approached them and stood at Oryn’s side.  “How are things on the front?”

Teelia stared across the square.  “If by front, you mean our home… not good.”

Oryn nodded slowly.  “Teelia is right.  With each skirmish, more Elves die.  With each barrage of magic cast, more of our home is destroyed.”  He looked to Elinar with a firm, cold expression.  “A city that has stood for thousands of years… only to be destroyed from within by politics.”

Elinar sighed.  “There is hope yet.  We have a plan.”

“Then let us go discuss it,” said Oryn.  He looked to Teelia.  “Assume command.  Only engage if we are engaged.”

Teelia nodded.  “Understood, General.”

Teelia gave Elinar a nod.  Elinar returned it before he turned to follow Oryn.

Oryn and Elinar entered the room where Alisia and Daleth were waiting.  Oryn looked at the group.  “Alisia, Daleth.  Elinar says you have devised a plan.”

Alisia quickly nodded.  “We have.”

“Let’s hear it, then,” he said.

Alisia pointed to the map.  “Look here.  We can use the drainage tunnels to get close.  From there, we can make it to the city walls if we are careful.”

Oryn shook his head.  “That area is sure to be heavily fortified.”

Daleth let out a sigh.  “That is the part of the plan you may not like.”

Oryn looked to Daleth.  “I’m listening.”

“We can provoke them by launching a full-on assault,” said Daleth.  “Even if it is only temporary.  Most troops will be recalled to defend the Council Chamber.”

Alisia looked to everyone.  “It is a gamble, a gamble with a high price.”

Elinar looked to Oryn.  “Alisia’s magic can only get us just beyond the Council Chamber regardless of our course of action.  If the majority of their forces are recalled and we take the cover of the tunnels, we will stand a much greater chance of reaching the walls.  Once we emerge, it is only a short distance.

“It could work,” said Oryn.  “At great cost.  There are several magic wielders maintaining the illusion.  You all know only our most powerful mages and sorceresses maintain the illusion.”

Alisia smiled slightly.  “With the conflict, they likely haven’t been rotated out properly.  I would be willing to bet that they are weakened.  If we can take out one, maybe two… that should be enough to dispel the illusion.”

Oryn looked to Alisia.  “Once it is dispelled?  The remaining magic wielders will attack you.”

Alisia smirked.  “I didn’t become Command Sorceress because of my looks.  If they insist on a conflict, I will handle them.”  Alisia looked to Elinar.  “He has his fabled hero as an ace in the hole.  I have mine as well.”

Oryn crossed his arms.  “Will your powers have rejuvenated by then?  Invisibility… especially when extending it to two more people… is quite the task.”

Alisia sighed and shook her head.  “Not fully, no.  Trust me, though.  We can handle them.”

Oryn rubbed his hand across his face slowly.  He then looked to Elinar.  “Alright.  I will give you your diversion.  If you do not return within a few hours…”  Oryn took a deep breath.  “I will have no choice but to push forward and end this conflict.  The price we are about to pay… is far too high for it to be for nothing.”

“Understood, father,” said Elinar.

Oryn turned to leave the room.  “Ready yourselves.  I will send word by the Acting Forward Commander when it is time.”

The group nodded to Oryn as he turned and left the room.  Elinar and Daleth readied their swords and bows while Alisia went over her armor, making sure all was secure and ready.

Moments later, Teelia entered the room.  “It’s time.”  The group looked to her and began to exit the room.  Teelia grabbed Elinar’s arm just as he was leaving.  Daleth and Alisia looked back.  “Elinar will be along shortly,” Teelia said, looking sharply at them.  I require a word with him.”  The others nodded and continued on.  Teelia looked to Elinar with tears in her eyes.  She wrapped her arms around him and embraced him tightly.  “Forgive me.”

Elinar wrapped his arms around her.  “For what?”

“For being so cold,” she said.  “Since this conflict started, I have done nothing but lust for revenge.  We haven’t even talked.  You know I suffer… but I know nothing of your feelings.”

Elinar squeezed her tightly.  “I’m not alright.  Our daughter is gone.  I couldn’t save her.”  Elinar looked into Teelia’s eyes.  “I can save others the heartache we have suffered.  I can save our people.  I am trying to focus on that.  At the end of this conflict… we will see that Adanna pays for what he has done.”

Teelia laid her head upon his shoulder and softly said, “I love you.”

“And I love you,” he said.

Teelia looked up to Elinar and kissed him deeply.  Reluctantly, she pulled away.  “Come back from this.  I won’t lose you as well.”

“You have my word,” he said.

Teelia pulled away from him and pointed to the doorway.  “Go.”

Elinar nodded and turned away from Teelia to meet with the others outside.  The Elves were prepared for an assault.  Magic wielders prepared to unleash their hellfire once again.  Archers took point along what was left of the roofline around the square.

Alisia looked to Elinar and Daleth.  “Once the attack begins, take my hands.  Do not let go until we are in the tunnels.  If you do, the magic cloaking you will be broken.”

Elinar and Daleth nodded to Alisia.  A high pitched melody from a horn was heard signaling the attack.  Hellfire launched into the sky, accompanied by a blanket of arrows.  Oryn charged forward with his forces.

Alisia held out her hands.  “Now! Take my hands!”

Elinar and Daleth each took one of her hands.  Alisia closed her eyes and gritted her teeth under the stress of her magic.  Elinar and Daleth felt the strange sensation of invisibility come over their bodies. 

Alisia pulled them forward and shouted, “We must hurry!  I can’t hold this for long!”

The three charged onto the battlefield.  They avoided conflicts as best they could.  Fire and debris crashed down around them as they crossed the enemy line.  Alisia led them past groups of soldiers scrambling to join the battle.  They passed by the Council Chamber.

Alisia spoke in between deep breaths.  “There… The lid… Hurry!”

Daleth knelt down and attempted to lift the iron lid from the ground.  He strained greatly to no avail.  “Elinar, help!”

Elinar knelt down as well and joined in.  The lid wouldn’t budge.

Daleth shook his head.  “It’s no use… you two will have to go without me.”

“What are you doing?” said Alisia.

Daleth let go of Alisia’s hand.  “What I must.”

Elinar watch Daleth phase into visibility.  “Daleth, no!”

Daleth grabbed the lid with both hands and began to lift.  He let out a mighty grunt just as the lid came loose.  Daleth tossed it to the side and motioned for them to enter the narrow hatchway.  Alisia jumped downward with Elinar right behind.

Elinar looked up to the light shining in.  “Daleth, come on!  They haven’t seen you!”

Daleth turned his head and looked into the distance.  He peered down to Elinar and shook his head.  Daleth grabbed the lid and started to drag it back to the open hatch.  He pushed it into place just as arrows littered his body.

Elinar closed his eyes and turned away while he shouted, “No, Daleth!”

Alisia grabbed Elinar.  “Quiet!  They could hear!  He gave his life so we would have this chance.  It would be disrespectful to his sacrifice to give ourselves away immediately after!”

Elinar wiped a tear from his eye and nodded.  “You’re right.”

Alisia stepped forward.  “Let’s go.”

The two turned and waded through the damp, putrid tunnels.  Elinar pushed through thick cobwebs with Alisia following him.

He glanced back to her.  “How are you feeling?”

“Tired.  I’ll manage,” she said.

“What do you have planned?” he asked.  “If things go wrong.”

Alisia took a deep breath.  “Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”

Elinar glanced back again.  “It may very well come to that.  I need to know what to expect.”

Alisia chuckled.  “Let’s just say, I never expected to go out with a bang.”

Elinar came to a stop and turned to face Alisia with wide eyes.  “You, the city walls, and me as well, I take it?”

“Like I said, let’s hope it doesn’t come to that,” she said.

Elinar turned and continued forward.  “I wish I had never asked.”

They made their way to the end of the drainage tunnels.  Elinar climbed up an old rickety ladder to the lid.  He forced it loose with relative ease compared to the other.

Elinar slid the lid to the side and peered out.  He looked back down to Alisia.  “It looks clear.”

“Then go on,” she said.

Elinar nodded and emerged from the hatch.  He looked around and didn’t see any foes along the streets.  Elinar reached to Alisia and helped her out.

Elinar and Alisia turned back towards the square after hearing explosions echo through the city.  “Father hasn’t withdrawn.”

“He did say he was ending this conflict one way or another,” she said.

“Let’s hurry,” said Elinar.

Alisia nodded and the two Elves journeyed down the empty streets towards the city walls.  With the walls in sight, the duo saw two archers perched atop opposing buildings.  Elinar grabbed Alisia and ducked into an alleyway.  They leaned against the wall near the building’s corner.

Elinar drew his bow.  “I can take one.  The other is sure to notice before I can get in another shot.”

Alisia smiled.  “Let me handle that.”

“Magic?” he said.  “Magic will give us away.”

Alisia grinned.  “Will it?”

Elinar watched Alisia while she held out her hand as if she were gripping a bow.  She squinted as a blue aura surrounded her hand.  A transparent blue light extended from the aura and took the shape of a bow as Alisia smirked at Elinar.

Elinar looked at the magical bow with surprise.  “How did you?”

“Magic isn’t all fire balls and explosions,” she said.

“Makes me wish I had taken the time to study it,” he said.

Alisia smiled.  “You’re an elf.  Don’t get killed and you have all the time in the world.”

Elinar smirked.  “Alright.  I’ll take the one on the left.  We move in unison.”

Alisia nodded.

Elinar peeked around the corner at the unaware archers.  He looked back to Alisia.  “Now.”

The Elven duo emerged from the alleyway.  They pulled the strings of their bows back tightly.  Elinar released his arrow into flight.  Alisia released the string as a blue arrow of light materialized into flight.  Elinar’s arrow struck first and pierced the archer’s side.  He tumbled from the building and crashed on to the street, dead.  The second archer turned to see his comrade fall from the building.  Before he could make a sound, Alisia’s light arrow pierced the archer’s neck.  Blood splattered as the light arrow vanished.  The archer fell below and joined his fallen comrade.  Alisia looked to Elinar as her bow slowly faded.  She panted a bit from the effort.