The Godling Chronicles 02 - Of Gods And Elves (2 page)

“
We’re in the spirit realm.” Kaylia
looked around for signs of the creature. “You became trapped
here after your battle with Harlondo.”

“
The spirit realm?” said Gewey frowning.
“Then how are you here?”

“
We took you to Valshara to be healed. But your
spirit was lost. I used our bond to find you.”

“
Valshara,” whispered Gewey. “How long
have I been here?”

“
Not long,” she said. “Two days. But
time may not flow the same here. For all I know we’ve both been
here for weeks…even months.”

“
How do we get out?”

“
You don’t,” called a voice from
behind them. They turned and saw the form of Gewey’s father
smiling at them.

“
Who are you?” Gewey demanded. “And
why are you keeping us here?”

“
We did not bring her.” said Harman, looking
at Kaylia. “We only want you. She does not belong here. She
must leave.”

“
We will both be leaving,” said Gewey.
“Release us.”

“
I cannot,” he replied. “We need you
here. We have been so alone.”

“
What are you?” asked Kaylia.

“
We will not speak with you,” said Harman.
His hand flashed from his side, and a dagger flew through the air at
Kaylia’s heart.

Gewey shoved her out of the way just in time, and the
dagger buried itself deep in his arm. Pain shot through him as he
fell to his knees. Kaylia rushed over and pulled out the blade. Blood
soaked his sleeve and dripped from the ends of his fingers.

“
That was foolish,” scolded Harman. “But
no matter.” He waived his hand, and the wound was gone. “You
will come to no harm, but she must be destroyed. You cannot stop
this.”

Gewey stared in amazement at where the dagger had
struck. “If you hurt her I’ll kill you all.” He got
to his feet and squared his shoulders.

Harman looked amused. “You cannot kill us. The
dead cannot die.” He stepped towards Kaylia menacingly.

There was a blinding flash of light. When Gewey’s
eyes adjusted, he gasped. Felsafell stood between Harman and Kaylia.
He was dressed in his animal skins and carried his walking stick.

“
Leave her be,” Felsafell commanded.

Harman’s face twisted in anger. “Traitor!”
he shouted. “Leave this place!”

Gewey looked in Kaylia's eyes and smiled. “Are you
okay?”

Kaylia nodded, still staring at the scene.

“
Your heart is rotten,” said Felsafell.
“It’s rotten and cold. You take what is not yours. You
seal your own doom. Yes, you do.”

“
You left us,” said Harman. “You broke
your promise.”

“
There was no promise,” Felsafell replied.
“Oh, no. You are doomed and foul. I no longer care for your
words. Our people are gone, and I will join you soon enough.”

“
We will not let him go.” Harman clenched
his jaw. “You can’t make us.”

Felsafell shook his head slowly. “I can’t
make you. But I’ll tell him not to love you. Yes, I will.
You’ll still be alone. Alone forever. Unloved and alone.”

“
I will never love you,” cried Gewey. “Not
if you hurt Kaylia.”

Harman shifted his eyes to Gewey. “You will love
us,” he said. “Your father and mother loved us. So will
you.”

“
You’re wrong,” said Gewey. “But
I will release my mother and father. Then you can be with them
again.”

“
You see,” said Felsafell. “You are a
fool. The fool of fools. You keep the one who can give you love, but
if you do he will never love you.”

Harman turned his back and lowered his head. “Will
you return to us, brother?” he asked.

Felsafell walked up and placed his withered hand on
Harman’s shoulder. “I cannot. I must help free the
fathers and mothers. And more there is to do for me. But I will join
you soon enough.”

Gewey watched as Harman faded and disappeared. ”What
happened?” he asked. “Is he gone?”

“
Gone?” Felsafell replied. “No, not
gone. Just far away.”

“
Thank you,” said Kaylia. “I owe you a
debt.”

Felsafell smiled. “You will repay,” he said.
“Oh, yes. Then I can rest old bones and tired head.”

Chapter One

Millet, Maybell and Malstisos made their way toward
Hazrah. The first snows began to fall just as they had rounded the
western end of the Razor Edge Mountains. Luckily, the snow was light
and didn’t bar their way, but Millet feared for Maybell’s
health nonetheless. As strong as she was, he knew the long days of
travel and the cold weather took a toll on her aging body. He and
Malstisos kept a close eye on her and did their best to lighten her
burden, though she didn’t make it easy for them. Maybell had an
annoying habit of taking on extra work, especially if they tried to
do anything she saw as
her
duties.

Aside from the dropping temperatures and light snow,
travel was pleasant. Malstisos was open, friendly, and free with his
humor. Millet couldn’t help being pleased to have him along,
and his skill as a hunter came in handy, as did his ability to know
when harsh weather was coming.

They had done well avoiding other travelers, and only
once had they been forced to seek shelter at a village inn. Malstisos
insisted on accompanying them, stating his desire to see humans from
other parts of the world. At first Millet and Maybell objected, but
soon realized that he could remain unnoticed even in a crowded
tavern.

They were three days outside of Hazrah when they
encountered the first indication that things had changed in the north
since Millet had last been there. Malstisos stopped abruptly and led
Millet and Maybell into the nearby brush.

“
Wait here and keep silent,” he whispered,
then disappeared into the woods parallel to the road.

Maybell and Millet did their best to stay hidden and
keep the horses calm, but as the minutes passed, the cold set in and
Maybell began to shiver uncontrollably. Millet held her close in an
attempt to keep her warm. At first, she tried to shake him off, but
eventually relented. Thirty minutes later Malstisos returned, his
expression grave.

“
Five soldiers are camped three-hundred yards down
the road,” he said. “They bear a standard I’m
unfamiliar with, though admittedly I know little of human nations in
the north.”

“
What did it look like?” asked Millet.

“
Red with a gray background, and it bore the image
of broken scales.”

Millet and Maybell looked at each other. “That’s
the standard of Angrääl,” grumbled Millet. “We
must not let them see us.”

“
We should go around then,” said Malstisos.
He turned to Maybell, “I’m sorry, but we cannot rest
yet.”

“
I’ll be fine,” said Maybell. “It’s
not riding that bothers me, it’s standing still that chills old
bones. Lead on.”

Malstisos led them northeast away from the road and
through forest. Millet could feel the wind pick up as it howled
through the bare limbs of the trees. They rode for two hours before
Malstisos finally called for a halt and built a small fire.

“
Rest here,” said Malstisos. “I’ll
scout ahead.” He pulled a small flask from his pack and handed
it to Maybell. “Drink this. It will help you stay warm.”

“
What is it?” she asked. “Not jawas
tea I hope.”

Malstisos smiled warmly. “It’s elf brandy,”
he said. “A small sip should take the chill away. I’ll
return before dawn.” He strode off into the woods.

Millet couldn’t help but look worried, watching
Maybell’s hands tremble as she lifted the flask to her lips.

“
I’m fine,” said Maybell. “Quit
looking at me like that.”

“
I’m sorry,” he said. “But
please understand I’m only thinking of your well-being. Even a
young man couldn’t stand this cold for long.”

“
Then worry about yourself,” she said. The
warm rush of brandy filled her, putting color back in her cheeks. “I
may be an old woman. But, you’re no spring chicken.”

Millet laughed as Maybell passed him the flask. “Point
taken.”

Neither of them was able to sleep. The fire and the
brandy kept them warm, but soon the howl of wolves mixed with the
howl of the wind.

“
How close do you think they are?” asked
Maybell, trying her best to hide her fear.

“
Not far from the sound of it,” he answered.
“But don’t worry. Wolves rarely trouble travelers, and
they won’t come near the fire.”

Malstisos returned just as the sun broke the horizon.
“There is a garrison due east of here bearing the same standard
as the other soldiers,” he said. “But I found a way
around that should keep us out of sight.”

“
If they have built a garrison this close to
Hazrah, then it’s likely they’ve already taken the city
itself,” said Millet. “The king would never allow a
foreign army to go unchallenged this close to the capital.” He
turned to Maybell. “There is a mining village a day’s
ride from here. I have a friend there that can shelter us while we
gather information and form a plan. I don’t want to march
headlong into the sights of Angrääl unless there is no
other choice.”

“
If Hazrah has fallen, this trip may have been for
naught,” said Malstisos. “The garrison is organized, and
they are well prepared. Whoever leads them is no fool. Entering the
city unnoticed may be impossible.”

“
If getting into the city unnoticed isn’t an
option then we’ll hide in plain sight,” Millet replied.
“This is not my first dangerous mission.”

“
I may be able to help,” said Maybell. “If
your friend can get word to the Hazrah temple then perhaps they can
find us a way in.”

“
There may not be a temple to contact,” said
Millet. “Remember what Salmitaya did to the temples in
Kaltinor?”

Maybell’s heart ached at the thought. “I
should have killed her when I had the chance.”

“
Don’t second guess yourself,” replied
Millet. “Your actions were correct and merciful. I, for one, am
glad you spared her. Once her masters discover her failure I’m
sure they will be less than pleased. I doubt that her comfortable
life in Kaltinor will last much longer.”

“
I hope you’re right.” Maybell wiped a
tear from her cheek.

Millet explained to Malstisos their position relative to
the mining village so that he could scout it for patrols. They were
forced to change direction three times to avoid detection. When they
reached the edge of the village, they hid behind some bushes and
watched for a time. When no soldiers were in sight, Millet told
Maybell and Malstisos to wait while he entered and made contact with
his friend.

“
I don’t like you going alone,” said
Maybell.

“
Until we know what’s going on we can’t
risk being taken together,” he replied. “I'll need to
talk to Markus and make sure it’s safe.”

“
Don’t worry, Maybell,” said
Malstisos. “If he is taken, I will free him.”

“
Fine,” said Maybell, scowling. “Who
is this Markus person anyway?”

“
He’s the foreman of the Kessel copper
mine,” said Millet. “He and I were good friends when we
were young.”

“
How do you know you can still trust him?”
she asked.

“
I don’t. But when we were young he was the
most honest and dependable man I knew. Besides, it’s either
this, or we ride blindly into danger. I’d rather try to escape
from here than from the city gates.”

“
If you are captured be certain to make enough
noise so that I know to come get you,” said Malstisos.

“
Absolutely,” Millet agreed.

Millet scanned the area one last time, making certain he
wasn’t being watched, and then hurried to the nearby street.
Malstisos handed Maybell the flask of elf brandy, which she
gratefully accepted. An hour later Millet returned.

“
I spoke to Markus,” he said. “He
offers us food and shelter.”

“
What news of Hazrah?” asked Malstisos.

“
It’s not good,” he replied. “We
can discuss it at Markus’ house. Keep your hood on until we’re
inside. Markus knows you’re with me so there will be no reason
to hide your identity once we get there.”

Millet led them to the street and into the village. It
was typical of a mining town, mostly single story, wood buildings,
built for utility rather than aesthetics. The streets were empty,
aside from a few workers on their way home from the mines.

Being the mine foreman, Markus lived in one of the
larger houses in the village, but even so, it was not much bigger
than the average farmhouse. Millet tied the horses to a nearby
hitching post then walked straight up and opened the door. The
interior was modest yet comfortable. A sturdy dining table was
already set for the evening meal at the far end of the great room,
and a fire crackled in the fireplace just inside the door. A balding,
stocky man with deep-set eyes, and a weathered face stood next to the
table, slicing a loaf of fresh bread. He looked up and smiled as the
party entered.