“I hope not,” said Gewey.
Linis threw his arm around Gewey's neck. “Don'tworry. Things will go as planned. Besides, you are about to becomethe envy of many an elf.”
They went over the ceremony a few more times, then lettheir conversation drift to lighter subjects. Gewey's guards kepttheir distance, but by midday Akakios joined in. He had heard ofLinis and held him in high regard, despite the fact that he had beennamed a traitor.
They covered another forty miles before they stopped.Gewey noticed the elves occasionally glancing over at him to see ifhe were tiring. Gewey knew it would be wise to feign fatigue, but hispride wouldn't let him. Every time he caught one their eyes he wouldsmile happily and whistle. This brought fierce stares and chatteramong the elders. All except, of course, Theopolou.
Once camped, Kaylia joined them again. She lookedburdened with worry. “What’s wrong?” asked Gewey.
“Theopolou,” she replied. “He doesn'tseem well.”
“You mean he's ill?” asked Gewey.
Kaylia shook her head. “Not ill. It’s likehe is… drained, weary.”
Linis smiled sympathetically. “Theopolou is veryold, Kaylia. Perhaps this trip, and our quick pace, is too much forhim.”
Kaylia shook her head. “I know, but it's more thanthat. It's as if his spirit is being drained from him.”
“I might be able to help,” offered Gewey.
“How do you mean?” asked Linis.
“I could… give him part of what I have”said Gewey. Then he shook his head. “No. That's not what Imean. I… I can't describe it, but I think I can putpower from the earth inside him.”
Linis looked at Gewey in wonder for a moment. “Howdid you learn to do such a thing? Only the greatest of elf sages haveever been able to do this.”
“I don't know,” he admitted. “I don'treally know that I can. I just feel that I can. Ever since Ijourneyed to the spirit world, the first time, I keep gettingthese… impressions. It's like I know I can do a thing, but I don'tknow what it is.” He rubbed his chin. “I don't understandit, but I think I can help Theopolou… if he'll let me.”
“I'll ask him,” said Kaylia and rose tospeak to her uncle. She paused and looked down at Gewey and smiled.“Thank you.” With that, she walked off to speak toTheopolou.
A short time later Kaylia returned, accompanied byTheopolou. The old elf sat next to Gewey, though he did not look athim.
“Kaylia says you have the ability to transfer theflow from yourself toanother,” Theopolou remarked.
“I think so,” said Gewey.
Theopolou turned to Kaylia then to Gewey. “Thenyou are not certain?”
“Not entirely,” Gewey admitted. “Butlike I told Linis and Kaylia, when I woke up from being in the spiritworld, I felt like I knew things… without really knowing them. Iknow I can do this. And if you're ill you should let me try.”
Theopolou scrutinized Gewey for a long moment. “I'mneither ill nor tired as Kaylia might think, but something is wrong.”He stood up slowly. “I feel as if the energy of the earth issomehow being drained from me.”
“Drained how?” asked Linis.
“I don't know. I have never encountered thisbefore. I have attempted to track down the source, but so farunsuccessfully.”
“Could it be one of the elders?” askedGewey.
“I don't think so,” said Theopolou. “Ofall the elders and other elves here, only Chiron has a strongerconnection than I… and perhaps Linis. Neither could do this.Actually, you are the only one here with such ability.”
“I swear-” Gewey began to protest, butTheopolou held up his hand.
“I did not mean to suggest that you had anythingto do with it,” said Theopolou. “Only that you are theonly one I am aware of that could. It is possible another has somehowgained this ability. And it may not be anyone. It just may be ananomaly.” His eyes grew sad. “Our people have lost somuch knowledge. Even the wisest of us are mere children compared toour ancestors. They had such vast knowledge in matters of the flow,it is said they could trace it to its source.”
Linis joined Theopolou in his melancholy. “Yes.The seekers of old were said to have been able to out run a deer, andhear the heartbeat of a rabbit from one-hundred yards away.”
“I do not think it is wise for you to give me yourflow,” saidTheopolou. “But I would ask that Linis help me track down theculprit, if there is one.” Then as if a wave had hit him, hestaggered.
Gewey jumped up and placed his hand on Theopolou'sshoulder. He could feel the elf tense at the unfamiliar contact, sohe withdrew and took a step back. “Are you…”
Theopolou waved him off. “I'm fine.”
“No, you're not,” argued Kaylia. “Youshould let Gewey try to help you.” Linis nodded in agreement.“I…”
Suddenly he looked up to see that Akakios, standing afew feet away, eyes ablaze, his bow drawn and pointed at Gewey. Linisreached for his dagger, but it was too late. The arrow loosed. Timestood still as it flew through the air and Kaylia tried desperatelyto throw herself in its path. But instead of piercing Gewey’sflesh, it flew past him, missing his throat by a hair’sbreadth, and buried itself into the chest of an elf wielding avicious looking dagger, just a few feet behind them. He gasped,clutched at the arrow, and fell to his knees. Kaylia and Linis werealready running towards him, while Gewey threw his arms aroundTheopolou and pressed him towards the guards.
“Unhand me, boy,” boomed Theopolou.
Gewey ignored his protests. When he was in range of theguards, he shoved Theopolou in their direction. “Protect him,”Gewey commanded. The elves obeyed without question, surrounding theelder.
Gewey ran to Akakios' pack and retrieved his sword. Itsang as he pulled it free from its scabbard, and he could feel thewarm throb of the earth rush through him. By this time, Kaylia andLinis had reached the assassin, and were trying to remove the arrow.
“To arms,” yelled Gewey, alerting theothers, who by this time knew something was wrong and had begunforming a protective circle around the elders.
Gewey ran to Kaylia and Linis. The wounded elf wasstruggling against them, trying to reach into his belt. Gewey droppedto the ground, and with all his strength, grabbed the elf's wristsand pinned them to the ground. The assassin’s eyes shot widewhen he felt the power in Gewey's grasp. Realizing he was faroutmatched, the elf relaxed. Still, Linis, Kaylia, and Gewey did notrelease their hold.
“Who are you?” roared Linis.
The wounded elf said nothing and turned his head.
Gewey could hear the camp organizing a search of thenearby forest. He looked at the elf carefully. Then he closed hiseyes, allowing the power of the earth to flow like a relentless tideand reach every fiber of this being.
“Gewey,” whispered Kayla. “What areyou doing?”
Gewey took a deep breath. “I am going to get someanswers.” Releasing his wrists, he placed his hands on thewounded elf's chest.
The ground hummed for a moment as Gewey let the powerflow from him around the elf's body. “You can let him go,”he said to Linis and Kaylia. “He cannot move.”
Slowly Linis and Kaylia relaxed. They marveled at thesight they beheld. Gewey smiled as he also removed his hands. Stillthe wounded elf could not move.
“What have you done to him?” gasped Linis.
“Nothing,” Gewey replied. “I am justusing the same power you do. Only I'm using it to hold the elf down.”
“Amazing,” said Linis, half smiling.
Gewey nodded then turned his attention back to hisprisoner. “You will tell me what I need to know.” Hisvoiced was grim and intimidating. “Who sent you?”
The elf glared with hatred and fear. “Curse youand all of your kind,” he hissed, and looked at Kaylia. “Andyou…”
“Careful,” Gewey warned, then let the powersqueeze in tightly. The elf gasped. “Traitor,” he managedto say.