The Light of Asteria (28 page)

“Rena? … What is it?”

“Tark left early this morning through the
portal.” Her breath came in short hitches, as she tried to gain
control. “He wanted to surprise you by bringing back the prince
before you awoke. He is not back yet.” Her voice died in a whisper
as she finished her sentence. My heart raced.

“He’ll be back in a moment,” I assured her
with a smile.

Her breath hitched, as tears fell. “The evil
ones are here. We have until sunset before they attack.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter 17—Battle
Cry

“I felt it as soon as he left ...” Rena’s
whisper echoed ominously in Gavin’s room. “It was as if they were
waiting for one of us to go. They know you are here and alone, and
now they know I have no source. There seems to be as many, if not
more, than the attack on the mountain house.”

My heart stopped. I had no webs, and we were
down two warriors. The sun’s rays suddenly became the sands of an
hourglass.

“You must go to Tark; tell him to get more
elves up here, Rena. They cannot raze the last pure land on earth.”
I demanded.

“I will not leave you, my lady.” Her voice
shook.

Running to the closet, I changed into the
first thing I grabbed. “Then we must defend the portal. If they go
through, they could destroy Kailmeyra as well.”

Rena remained frozen in the doorway. Fear
roared in the silence; I paced in front of her, my mind
brainstorming different possibilities. We had to have a plan; we
needed a defense.

“First off, I have to warn the lake. We have
to prepare the land to preserve itself, and then we must come up
with a worst-case scenario. Rena, can you speak to the animals as
Gavin can?” She didn’t answer. I went to her, and shook her
slightly. “Can you speak to the animals as Gavin can?” I
demanded—she nodded that she could, and I sighed in relief.

“We need to give them the opportunity to
either flee or fight.” Her resolve started to focus.

“I’ll go to the lake and explain what’s
happening, and then I’ll show it what the Dokkalfar look like and
give it their scent. Now that I understand the energy it contains,
I think alarm is one of its main purposes. I’ll ask for it to send
Gavin and Tark immediately, as we are under attack.” I hurried on,
my mind racing at a speed that would have not been possible
before.

“I’m now stronger, though not as strong as
you, but I also need to know how to kill these demons so you don’t
fight alone.” She winced. “If I see you’re being drained of energy,
I’ll release my full power, and you must not resist. Do you hear me
Rena?” I stopped, demanding an answer—Rena just stood there.

“I’ve not seen Gavin in a little over a
month, and I don’t have as much power as I used to. It takes longer
to build, but if I can render them defenseless, then you can finish
them off until someone gets here.” Holding her hand with both of
mine, I touched Tark’s soul stone on her wrist. “Worst-case
scenario, we jump in the lake and head for the portal—whether or
not I make it through, you must make it back to Tark.” She had to
know this was the most important factor. I couldn’t allow Tark and
her to be separated. Rena must not die.

Taking the stairs two at a time, I ran to the
bottom floor and went to the kitchen area. The storage closet by
the pantry held all of our travel bags. I got out the tent and put
it in the middle of the living room. Rena watched silently as I
worked.

“We’ll start out with you in the tent. The
webs will protect you. When they come through the door I’ll open up
my power, and we‘ll slaughter the first wave.” The large domed tent
looked like a play place for children in the middle of the living
room.

“When we get a break, we’ll exit through the
window on the first landing and head for the lake. Sound like a
plan?” I asked, trying to lighten the moment. Rena’s emotions were
almost in despair. I grabbed her hand.

“Listen to me, Corina, daughter of Rill, you
are a warrior. You are a friend of the fields, and you
will
help preserve this land.” Rena’s eyes snapped at my tone, and then
they darted away.

“You can’t lose hope, or we’re already
doomed. I will be mated with my Gavin, and you will be reunited
with your source. One way or the other, I am determined. I forgot
who I was for a time; I won’t forget again. I ask you do the same.”
Rena’s eyes went from liquid with fear to the hard warrior I
needed.

“Thank you, my lady. You need not remind me
of my duty again. I will ensure your safety, and we will find a way
to fight.” I hugged her and she took a deep breath.

“We have about ten hours to prepare. I’ll ask
the spiders inhabiting the field to start weaving their webs around
the windows of the tree. Perhaps it will help incapacitate some of
the dark elves outside when your power goes off in here.”

We headed out to the meadow, now focused on
making as many provisions as possible before dusk. The black elves
could now come out at twilight, and so Rena and I would have to be
in position long before then. She headed off to the trees; I went
to the lake’s edge.

The water bubbled and stirred as soon as it
felt my power. I replayed the last encounter with the dark elves.
The boiling increased and became angry, and when I showed it Rena’s
and my conversation, a hum vibrated beneath my feet, turning the
lake gold and then a brilliant white-blue
.

I need for you to please sound the alarm; we
need many warriors here to defend the land. I am the prince’s
source. If he is to be here, he needs to come now. For if I fall
and he gets here after I have died, he will surely be defeated.
Hear me lake, it is my intent to protect the kingdom, and the last
descendant of the great King Frey!”

The forest glowed with the lake’s intensity.
It was as if a giant ray of radiant sunlight shot straight from its
depths. I knew the water would do what it could.
Thank you my
friend
, I thought, as the brilliant gold turned deep blue. Rena
came out of the woods.

“The bigger animals will prepare to fight. I
have given them strategy in defeating the dark ones. The smaller
animals will flee into the woods and wait.”

As we headed back to the cabin, my thoughts
were on other issues. I could not believe the queen would come to
this world and not be protected by power. Gavin’s mountain house
had webbing, why wouldn’t the queen have the same?

The stench of bad body odor and rancid dirt
drifted on the gentle breeze. No need to alarm Rena, the sun was
still high in the sky. I practically jogged the rest of the way,
and slammed the front door. Rena’s emotions were curious; I ignored
them for the moment.

“Rena, are you sure the tree is not
protected? What about the queen’s chambers? It seems blatantly
ridiculous she would come here and not have every protection your
world offers. I’m going up to the fourth floor and open up my
powers a bit to see if there are webs anywhere, all right?”

She smiled. “If anyone asks, it was your
idea.”

I ran up the long winding stairs until it
ended. The ornately decorated door seemed intimidating, and I
hesitated. Remembering Gavin would command we do whatever was
necessary to survive, I held my breath for a moment and then
entered the sitting room. The luxury here rivaled Gavin’s bedroom.
The walls were lavender, and accents of violet splashed throughout
the room. I closed the door and opened my mind a bit with the
intent to protect the land. The room flickered. I knew we were on
the right track when a soft glow illuminated the outer walls.

The first time I opened these new eyes, I
could see the health in all living creatures. Some were merely
clear, others held slight variations in transparent colors, but
this was different. It was sky blue, like a force field. This was a
defense. I searched further, allowing a blanket of consciousness to
go out the window and down the tree. Hope surged; blue energy
surrounded the entire surface of the massive oak.

I could feel my power getting stronger with
the discovery of a newfound weapon. Rena needed to know. Running
back down the stairs, I found her by the porch, singing the
brambles to grow. The thorns were thick and hard; she was hoping to
slow the progress of the dark elves.

“The queen’s quarters are imbedded. There’s
also a blue energy field surrounding the tree.” Rena’s eyes rounded
in surprise.

“This is good news, Nora. The elves of old
were suspicious of this world. The ancient ones understood energy
in ways we do not. If you can see the power, then you can control
it and bend it to your intent. I have a feeling the energy
surrounding this tree will serve you as it did the ancients. Ask
the tree to do something.”

“I cannot open my mind with you here, Rena.”
She rolled her eyes.

“You do not always have to use as much power
as possible, my lady. Sometimes only minimal force is required. I
believe if you ask it, the tree will obey without you opening the
floodgates. Go on and try,” she encouraged. “If it’s not enough,
then I’ll go in the tent.”

Doubting anything would happen, I focused on
the intent of keeping Rena safe and thought with all my heart,
protect my friend.
One of the tree’s enormous boughs reached
over and covered Rena. Twigs, branches, and leaves formed a cage so
no one could get to her. I laughed as she struggled; I couldn’t
help it. She was unbelievably strong, yet she was unable to get out
of the birdcage the tree had made for her. If she couldn’t get out,
they couldn’t get in … interesting idea.

Thank you, tree. Please, let her go
.
The branches sprung back to their positions. Her disgruntled face
made me laugh again; the scowl turned to a grin, and she snickered
too. Maybe we weren’t the underdogs we thought we were.

Now that we knew the queen’s chambers had
webbing in the walls, it would be best to take the tent up to her
bedroom. I would draw them in and disable them with power, Rena
would chop them to pieces, and the tree would help us escape to the
lake if we needed to.

Rena spent the rest of the day growing the
brambles around the tree’s base; the spiders worked on the window
toward the bottom of the trunk. We finished bringing the rest of
the necessities up to the queen’s floor. Food, clothing, and a few
supplies to help pass the time were put in the front sitting room.
The tent held its place of honor next to the imbedded windows.
Camping in the queen’s bedroom made Rena panic, until I asked if
the queen would rather she die—she didn’t argue after that. When
late afternoon hit, we decided we would not go back downstairs
again. I brought up the pillow that held Gavin’s scent, a few
outfits, and my backpack that contained Edna’s quilt, Gavin’s note,
and my sketchpad. The possibility someone could have access to
these things I held so dear felt like a violation. Rena searched
for Tark, Gavin, or any other elf with her mind, but found none on
earth.

I spoke to the tree, asking it to only let
Rena’s mate and the prince through. Loud creaking and cracking
sounds that crunched through the quiet caused the door to meld into
the tree’s base. Knowing the tree was capable of sealing itself
shut, I asked it to defend all of the windows without webbing.
Sounds smashed through the silence once again, and I knew the tree
had done as I had requested. Bark now stood guard where windows
used to be. Darkness crept in, and by late evening, I was sure the
Dokkalfar were waiting for something. We sat on the floor, my back
leaning against the queen’s bed, Rena lying by the tent.

Willing myself to do something, I pulled out
my sketchpad. Rena’s obvious interest begged, but she held her
tongue. I flipped past Gavin’s body in nothing but a towel, and
found a fresh piece of paper. The scrape of charcoal echoed off the
silent walls, as a smooth kidney shape appeared on the stark white
page.

The lake took form, and adrenaline kicked in.
I closed my eyes and willed my mind blank. The charcoal scratched,
scraped, and crescendoed at a frantic pace. My eyes opened briefly;
Gavin and Tark stood next to the cattails facing the cabin’s door.
I jumped as I studied the thin, gaunt figure next to Tark. Gavin
looked like hell. I nodded to Rena that it was all right, her
emotions imploring in their silent plea. She shifted and sat next
to me. I leaned against the purple silk that hung from the queen’s
bed. My hand sprang to life again with fury and purpose. Friction
warmed the charcoal, and my fingertips became hot. My brow furrowed
in concentration, keeping my mind’s eye clear. Rena’s gasp made my
eyes fly open. The Dokkalfar took shape around Gavin and Tark.
Hundreds of them seemed to be in the background of the landscape,
and they were quickly closing in. I slammed my eyes shut and threw
all thoughts out of my mind; my hand aggressively answered its
mandate. The charcoal finally cooled, and I opened my eyes.

“Why did you draw this?” she whispered in
disbelief.

“I have no idea. My instinct cries that this
is the future … which means Gavin and Tark will be here in a few
days when the moon is full.” Joy poured through me. We would only
have to defend our position for one or two more nights before they
got here. We both fed off that hope.

Rena searched my face and finally said, “No
elf can tell for certain the future, Nora, but I bet if there was a
halfling that could, it would be you.”

“Halfling?” I grinned; my heart sang as her
pure laughter rang in the air.

“That is what Tark has named you … Nora of
Light, the Halfling.”

I giggled. That sounded ridiculous. I liked
it. “Remember, I also dreamed of your homeland and have never been
there. Maybe I’m psychic,” I announced.

“Or psychotic,” Rena rebuffed. My grin
widened.