“You’re talking about the Great War,” Gewey interjected. “Lee told me a little about it. He said that the gods intervened so that man could win.”
“They did more than you could know,” she said. “Long ago, my people were vast in number and bound together by strong nations. The gods cast fear and doubt into our hearts. Our armies splintered, and we turned on one another. Kin fought kin, and man took advantage of our weakness and destroyed us.”
Gewey looked perplexed. “But Lee told me that the elves fought each other after they made peace with man.”
“The half-man only knows what human lies have told,” Kaylia said. “Mankind was beaten. There were no more battles to be fought. His armies were smashed, and his cities in ruin. My people had but to march across the land and slaughter the few that remained, and man would have been gone forever. But instead, we took pity on the humans and left them in peace. It was then the Gods cursed us. We knew hatred for our own kind for the first time, and it consumed us. We prayed to the spirits for help, but the Gods imprisoned them, holding them until we had lost all hope. The humans did not show us the pity we had shown them. Man waited until we had all but destroyed ourselves, then swept down on us like a plague. The few who escaped found refuge in the forests and mountains where humans seldom went. Since then, we have struggled to rebuild, and free ourselves of the curse the Gods put on us.”
“I’m sorry,” Gewey said. “I had no idea how much your people have suffered.”
“Don’t be,” Kaylia responded. “My people will rise again. The suffering of my kin will make us wise-worthy to face the Father.”
She sat back down. “Now you know about us. I have shared secrets known to no other human. Will you not share your secret with me?”
Gewey felt ashamed. It was his kind-the Gods-who destroyed her people. How could he tell her what he was? “Now that I’ve heard your story, I’m even more afraid to tell you.”
“If what I’ve told you isn’t enough, then know this,” said Kaylia, her eyes on fire. “I travel with humans. This I told my kin, and I bargained to save your lives. It is forbidden, and one day I will face judgment and probable death. In the eyes of my people, there is nothing worse I could do than have human companions.”
Gewey gasped. “They’re going to kill you? When?”
“When my journey with you ends, I will return home to answer for my crime,” she replied. “It’s how I prevented my kin from attacking. Knowing this, what could you possibly tell me that would alter the path I have chosen?”
Gewey made up his mind. “I’ll tell you, but please understand that I only found out myself a short time ago.” He took a deep breath and steeled his nerves. “You said that there is nothing worse than having a human as a companion, but there is. I’m worse.”
Kaylia looked confused. “You’re dancing around the issue,” she said. “Just be direct and let me be the judge.”
“The boy is a god,” said Lee from the darkness. He walked up slowly and stood beside Gewey. “I had a feeling you’d do something stupid, boy, so I came to find you.”
Kaylia laughed loudly. “You don’t say,” she teased, seemingly not surprised by Lee’s sudden appearance. “A god! A living, breathing god, here in my presence. You’re right. That would be worse than traveling with a human.”
“This is no joke, elf,” Lee warned. “The tale you told makes me even more certain that you should not know what the boy is. But now you do. The only question is what happens next.” Lee drifted in front of Gewey and slid his hand to the hilt of his sword.
Kaylia’s face shifted from amusement to rage as she realized Lee was serious. “You speak the truth.” Her hand touched her sword, but she did not grab it. “I must ponder this. Go back to camp. If you see me in the morning, I expect you to tell me all that you know.”
“And what if we don’t see you?” Gewey asked. “I can’t help what I am, and I didn’t ask for it. I would never do anything to
harm you, or your people.”
Kaylia said nothing.
“Come,” Lee said, lifting Gewey to his feet. “Leave her be.” Lee guided them back to the camp where Millet sat by the fire waiting.
“How did it go?” asked Millet.
“Not as bad as it could have,” Lee answered. “We’ll know by morning.”
“Things will work out,” said Millet. “Don’t worry.”
“Lee-” Gewey started, but Lee immediately cut him off.
“Go to sleep,” he advised. “We’ll talk tomorrow.”
Gewey lay down, but was unable to stay asleep for more than a few minutes at a time. He kept hearing Kaylia’s story in his head, and seeing the rage on her face when she found out what he was.
‘How could the Gods do this to her people?’ he thought. ‘I’ve got to find a way to make it right.’
Gewey was awake to see the dawn. Lee and Millet were still asleep. He hoped to see Kaylia, but she had not returned. He hated himself for telling her. He hated himself for what his kind had done.
Most of all, he hated the Gods for creating this mess in the first place.
“I’ll hear your tale, young one.” It was Kaylia. She was standing by the wagon, her eyes fixed on Gewey.
Gewey got up and began to walk toward her.
“Stay where you are. I said I would hear your tale, not suffer your company.” She paused. “At least, not yet.”
Gewey looked at the others still sleeping soundly. If Kaylia decided to attack, there would be nothing to stop her.
Kaylia sensed his fear and said, “I have no intention of harming you. I gave you my word, and I’ll keep it. But know this. If my people find out about your existence, they will hunt you down until the end of creation. Whether or not I will tell them depends on you.”
Gewey nodded slowly and began telling his story, leaving out no detail. He told her about how he grew up, about his father, about how he found out about his true nature and, of course, about the Dark Knight. When he finished, Kaylia looked at him thoughtfully and walked over.
“I find no guilt in you. I will help you complete your task. I swear to this.”
“Thank you,” said Gewey, clearly relieved. “But why? Won’t your people kill you if they find out?”
Kaylia smiled. “They’re going to kill me anyway,” she said. “And I can only die once. Besides, from what you have told me, it is unlikely I will live to face their judgment.”
Gewey bowed his head and sighed with relief. He heard Millet stir.
Millet rose and turned toward Gewey, stretching the stiffness from his joints. “Up with the dawn, I see.” He noticed Kaylia standing there and smiled. “I see you’ve decided to join us. Wonderful,” he beamed. “Absolutely wonderful.”
Lee was the last to rouse. He pretended not to notice Kaylia’s return, but Gewey suspected he had been awake to hear their whole conversation. After eating, they packed up and continued on their way to Kaltinor.
Chapter 8
Gewey returned to his seat in the back with Kaylia. He kept the conversation light, telling her about his youth and life in Sharpstone.
To his surprise, she seemed to take great interested his past, asking questions about the way he lived and the people he knew. Gewey had never thought of village life as anything other than dull and common, but Kaylia seemed to enjoy hearing about it.
“It must have been difficult to leave such a wonderful life behind,” said Kaylia.
“Actually, I’ve just learned to appreciate what I’ve lost,” Gewey admitted. “Still, I don’t see how my life would impress you.”