‘Who was Ellarn?’ Stein had to clear his throat to speak.
‘He was Ulysan’s younger brother. Ulysan was teaching him how to climb.’
‘How did he get out?’
‘I can’t imagine the suffering he went through,’ said Auum, wiping his eyes. ‘Clinging on for hours in the dark, calling out for Ellarn but only hearing his own voice echoing back his grief. He was rescued when it was plain he and Ellarn were long overdue and in trouble.’
‘Who rescued him?’
‘He doesn’t know,’ said Auum. ‘One day he’ll remember.’
‘How long ago was this?’
Auum blew out his cheeks. ‘More than three thousand years.’
Stein gasped. ‘It all came back when he thought he’d got stuck in the fissure? Such a long time to hold on to such pain.’
‘Immortality has its curses.’
Chapter 29
Those who entertain the possibility of defeat will always suffer the reality.
You are making the right choice. I am certain Auum will forgive you.
Takaar had moved quickly, resting and eating sparingly, following the trail left by Auum and his ill-fated force. Word had reached Julatsa of considerable numbers of Wesmen landing on the northern and southern beaches, moving inland towards the colleges. No doubt they would skirt Xetesk in the south and lay siege to Lystern. It gave yet more impetus to his mission.
‘And if Auum does not, you will get what you want: I’ll be dead.’
I really can’t lose.
Night was full and the shadows were deep in the gently rolling land to either side. Takaar’s ears picked out all manner of sounds: animals, birds and the rustling of breeze across grass but no enemies. His eyes pierced the darkness easily though his long vision was denied him by the night. He’d stop soon, eat and rest for an hour before pushing on until dawn gave him a clearer view of his progress.
You must be very satisfied. Here you are, after all this time, running to save not only the elven race from invasion but humans from destruction too. An opportunity for redemption worth waiting a thousand years for.
‘You make it sound as if I sat around wasting the intervening years. Just look at what I have achieved.’
In Il-Aryn terms a great deal. In terms of elven harmony almost nothing.
‘I care nothing for that.’
Oh, but weren’t you credited with its creation?
‘And look where it got us. The hatred never died; it just festered in our souls. Even I accept it was a mistake. You cannot force such things on people, they have to evolve.’
You’re admitting a mistake?
Takaar didn’t answer. Auum’s trail was going to take him across a river at the mouth of Triverne Lake. He wondered if he should follow, if the passage of a lone elf would go unnoticed if enemies were still waiting there, as Stein had claimed.
Travelling this side of the lake brought him closer to the colleges and he couldn’t afford to be seen until he had reached his destination. Takaar stopped. Several figures rose and moved towards him. He had thought them a tumble of rocks, so still had they been.
Oh dear.
‘I will not die here,’ said Takaar, letting his mind seek the energies needed to create a killing force beneath his enemies’ feet.
‘You cannot cross the river. The enemy is waiting.’
Oh. Your deserters. Do you think they’ve come to finish the job they lacked the courage to finish at the manse?
Takaar flapped a hand at his tormentor for silence while he oscillated between anger and relief.
‘Gilderon,’ he said. ‘Tired of your personal quest, are you? Taken to thieving on the plains of Balaia instead?’
Gilderon led the Senserii to Takaar and they knelt before him, their ikari held in their right hands and away from their bodies. Their heads remained bowed while Gilderon spoke for them.
‘We seek your forgiveness. You saved us and gave us purpose yet we thought you had lost that purpose. We were wrong. We should have trusted you, had faith in you. We are sorry and wish only to serve as your guardians once more. Please hear us.’
‘How did you find me?’
‘We overtook a wagon carrying Auum’s wounded to Julatsa. They had recent contact with Kerela, who told them the path you were travelling. Our first task was to ensure you did not cross the river. So we waited. Your safety is everything.’
That must swell your ego to previously unheard-of proportions.
‘They are the lost seeking a path, just as before,’ said Takaar.
They are betrayers who deserted you on the eve of a great discovery.
‘I discovered nothing.’
You discovered your own purpose, which is why we are here. You needed them then and they were gone. They will do it again.
‘Still your babbling,’ spat Takaar. ‘You sow this poison because you fear that with their aid I might actually survive.’
That is their purpose.
Before him, the Senserii had not moved. They among all elves accepted him and his tormentor and never questioned. Yet his tormentor was right: they had abandoned him in a dangerous country to go and join Auum, whom he hated above all elves. But what was he doing but making the same journey now? Takaar smiled inwardly. Who had been right and who wrong if the conclusion was identical? They awaited his mercy or his wrath and they would accept either without flinching.
Oh, how it must pain you, the agony of such decisions. Decisions such as only the gods can make and be assured they are right. You know what you have to do, what you always do to those who betray you.
‘You have my forgiveness and my gratitude for admitting your error and seeing clearly to your true path, which is at my side for the greater glory of elves.’
His tormentor screamed inside him. The Senserii rose and he allowed them to kiss his hands.
You think mercy is a godlike quality and indeed it is, but it must be meted out correctly, as must punishment. And you have not done so. You will never be among gods; you do not have the wit or the wisdom!
‘Mercy is always wise.’
That’s an assertion you might want to save for Auum.
They would be off the mountains today and down among the foothills in Wesman lands. It didn’t matter that the dangers there probably outweighed those of the snow, ice, wind and rock; elves were not born to these conditions and knowing they would soon become memories had lifted everyone’s spirits.
They ate a spare breakfast at first light before readying themselves for the last leg of the journey. Rith came and sat beside Auum.
‘You saved all our lives,’ said Auum. ‘Bless you.’
‘I didn’t come here to garner compliments.’
Auum chuckled. ‘I’m sure you didn’t. What’s on your mind?’
‘What happens if the Wesmen turn us down?’
Auum was surprised by the directness of her question and had to pause to gather his thoughts.
‘Well, we’d be out of options. No choice but to go home, prepare and pray.’
‘But you’re not considering that eventuality.’ Rith didn’t smile. ‘No, of course you’re not. But even if they do listen to us and rebel, what then? Even without the shamen to aid them, who is strong enough to take on the Wytch Lords?’