Chartile: Prophecy (28 page)

“
However, spies within the
elven palace, and the information you yourselves brought to us
certainly speak volumes that Taraniz is planning an attack on us.
It would take great numbers and much time to coordinate enough
power to storm Fortress Kelsii. I do not believe Taraniz to be
quite so ignorant to the contrary.”

“
Look,” said Leo,
snatching the little piece of parchment away from Dimitri. “If you
unscramble the letters, it spells Cannondole.”

Nefiri, Frejah and Brande passed the
parchment between them, looking at the tiny letters and
listening.

“
We think Valar was trying
to tell you that Taraniz’s army is in Cannondole,” Jack
explained.

“
Plus, she’s probably
using magic to hide them. That’s why no one can find them.” Jayson
folded his arms and nodded smugly.

“
I suppose it is entirely
possible,” mused Brande. “Cannondole is one of the largest Elven
cities, and is almost perfectly positioned between here and the
palace.” He stroked his beard and paced. “They still have to cross
the river, but, there are a number of places where the water
narrows, and a small bridge could be built in only a few hours. How
far have your scouts been looking?”

Frejah answered the man without hesitation.
“Cannondole is more than a day away, and I do not like to send my
troops too far. The last time anyone would have received reports
from so far away would have been before the Council met. This
theory is entirely plausible, if we are to believe the rumors that
Taraniz, is indeed, using magic.” She pursed her lips and raised an
eyebrow. “We have such little evidence to support any of this.”

“
Leo has never steered us
wrong before,” said Brande, clapping Leo hard on the shoulder.
“These are our kings, dear ladies. It is our destiny to trust
them.”

Leo smiled, though his stomach sank a bit.
They were closer than ever to the destiny the prophecy had laid
before them – whatever it was.

The two women exchanged looks and
nodded.

“
You know what this means
then?” said Piper, staring at Nefiri.

“
It is time.” the Empress
answered. “May Rashiri watch over you all.” She bowed very low to
them and held her pose for longer than usual.

“
Fear not,” Brande
whispered to Leo, “I have everything taken care of.” He winked and
hugged the boy.

They turned to leave, their bodies feeling
heavier as they went when a voice behind them called out.

“
Dimitri!” Nefiri called.
He stopped and looked over his shoulder. Nefiri took a single step
forward then stopped. She reset her worried face and sighed.
“Please, be careful, my son. I wish more than anything for Rashiri
to return you safely back to me.”

Dimitri looked at her for a long time. He
blinked and followed his friends into the hall without reply.



Jayson made doubly sure that their first
stop was the kitchens. It was deserted, and most of what remained
were perishable items such as cheeses and raw meats. They scrounged
for what they could find that would last them a few days during
their travels. They packed their bags and nibbled at the fresh
fruits and cheeses as they worked. Jayson stuffed the last of his
breakfast into his mouth as they reached the Black Diamonds’ mine.
It was eerily quiet, and they did not linger. They headed out the
door at the back of the market square, and set a well-hidden trap
as planned long ago with Brande and Kylani. Any elves who may have
been working with the Black Diamonds would have known about this
entrance into the mountain, and it meant they may try to use it.
When the door was opened, it would set off a chain of cascading
boulders and alert someone to the matter, as well as kill a good
number of elves in the process.

The food the boys had eaten sat heavy on
their stomachs as they walked down the little path and away from
the mountain. Their trap also meant the mines the Black Diamonds
called home would be destroyed. Once again, these people would be
homeless. If permitted by the Council to be called a new Quarter,
they would be forced to start over. It was the first time they felt
the weight of the necessary evils of war, and what it meant to
sacrifice something you loved to protect something you loved even
more.

Dimitri led the way, as he was far more
familiar with the Belirian Forest having run errands and messages
to the surrounding elven cities and to the elven palace. They had
long ago decided to stay off the main roads, even though it would
take them longer to reach Cannondole. Now that they knew, or at
least suspected, that Taraniz was hiding her army with magic, they
kept a watchful eye out for anything strange.

“
There is nothing worse
than stumbling right into the middle of the army of the person you
are attempting to bring down,” Dimitri had said.

The Belirian Forest was thick with
underbrush and brambles, slowing their pace the deeper they went.
The trees seemed perfectly spaced to let just the right amount of
sun in while keeping its travelers well shaded. Dimitri slashed at
the undergrowth in front of them, which did little to ease the way.
Piper suspected it was doing more to relieve his frustrations over
Nefiri’s final words to him.

Unlike when they had first traveled to
Fortress Kelsii, they remained rather silent, lost within their own
thoughts. They ate their midday meal as they walked rather than
stopping to make camp. As it neared evening, Piper insisted Dimitri
cease his slashing and bashing of the forest so as not to attract
unwanted attention.

“
We would be foolish to
believe Taraniz has not sent scouts out. She has to suspect I would
come looking for Gran once I learned of her disappearance.” Piper
placed a comforting hand on Dimitri’s shoulder.

“
Piper, we have to keep
moving,” said Dimitri, pulling away from her. “We have little time
to get to Cannondole and then to the palace before the army
attacks.”

Piper sighed. “Dimitri, we do not know
Taraniz’s plans. She could be there now for all we know.”

Dimitri huffed and turned away from Piper,
slashing at one last bush. “Alright,” he said and took a deep
breath, stretching to his full height. “But we keep moving for a
while longer.” He turned, sheathing his sword and pushing his way
through the tall grasses and brambles.

Darkness came to the forest faster than any
of them had expected, and this slowed their progress further. They
agreed to look for a small clearing to make camp when the forest
broke away before them and gave way to a swiftly moving river
several feet below.

“
Is there a bridge
anywhere?” Leo asked.

“
I am afraid not, Leo,”
said Dimitri. “I hope you all can swim.”

Leo looked at his feet and kicked a stone
down the steep bank into the water. “Actually, I can’t,” he
said.

In the end, they tied the ends of all their
ropes together securing one end to a tree. Dimitri swam easily
across the river, and tied the other end to a tree on the opposite
bank. Jayson, Jack, and Leo held onto the rope and pulled
themselves across the deceptively swift current. It was only twenty
yards or so, but it was the longest trek Leo had ever taken in his
life. Once, an undertow caught Leo, pulling him down enough that a
wave splashed over his head. He spluttered, and nearly let go of
the rope. Jack caught him by the collar of his shirt just in time.
When they reached the far bank, Piper undid the rope on her side of
the river, and they all helped to pull her across. They were all
soaked and soon gave up any idea of continuing on until they had
dried their clothes a bit.

They had skirted around a small elven
village called Serestell to avoid being seen, and this had delayed
them a further half day. Cannondole was at least another full day’s
journey ahead of them yet, and none of them could say they were
excited about it. They did not sleep well, and were awake and ready
to set out again at the first sign of light.

“
I never thought I’d miss
sleeping on that weird mattress,” said Jayson, stretching his back
as they walked.

“
Yeah, it was kind of
weird sleeping outside again,” said Jack.

“
I will never complain
about my bed again when I get home, that’s for sure!” Jayson cried,
but his laugh gave way to an uncomfortable silence.

A realization had fallen over Jack, Leo and
Jayson. In a few short days, they could be home again. If they
fulfilled the prophecy, then whatever had brought them to Chartile
would surely send them home again. At least they hoped so.

“
Piper, does the Elven
castle have, like, a library or anything?” Leo asked breaking the
quiet.

“
Really, Leo?” said
Jayson. “What could you possibly want to look up right now?” He
rolled his eyes and, not paying attention, ended up with a face
full of branch he had not grabbed from Jack as they trudged deeper
into the forest.

“
There might be some old
scrolls or something from the time of the old kings that could tell
us how to get home.” Leo glared at Jayson and stuck his chin out
defiantly.

“
Oh,” Jayson muttered, and
brushed the broken twigs from his hair.

“
The largest Elven library
is, of course, at the palace, but other nobles and elders may have
documents in their personal libraries as well,” said
Piper.

“
The largest library in
Chartile is actually in Tutaria,” Dimitri called over his shoulder.
“It has several Draconian texts as well.”

“
You could always stay,”
said Piper. She stopped and turned to look at them. “As Queen, I
can give you whatever you desire. I promise you will not want for
anything. You are my only friends.” Her voice trailed off. She
looked at the ground and began fidgeting with her hair.

“
What about our families?”
asked Jack. “I can’t leave my mom and sister.”

“
Our parents have to be
really worried,” said Leo, nodding in agreement.

“
Guys, it’s been, like,
over a month now. Our families have probably, you know, come to
terms with us being gone and all that. They probably had a big
funeral and everything. Man, that’s so weird.”

“
We at least have to try,”
said Jack. Piper sighed and nodded her understanding. She turned
and followed after Dimitri who had waited for them several paces
away.

Cannondole’s silhouette stood before them as
the last traces of sunlight dwindled away. They had no idea where
in Cannondole they were going, and decided to make camp and steal
into the city at daybreak.

The ground felt harder and more
uncomfortable for Jayson that night. It seemed to remind him all
too well of the comforts of home, and he lay awake long after his
friends had dozed off into silent slumber. Piper and Dimitri lay
curled together, entwined in each other’s cloaks for warmth. He
wondered if they would get married. He wondered if Jack would marry
Gemari someday. He knew Leo would be content to research in the
libraries for the rest of his life. Maybe Leo would even become an
Elder on one of the councils one day.

When Jayson thought of his own future in
Chartile, there was nothing. If he had to remain, what would he do?
Join the Elven army? Fight for Jack and Gemari? That just sounded
too weird. He had never really fit in anywhere. Not on Earth and
not in Chartile either. No matter how hard he tried, he would never
be free of his vision, his destiny, of killing that man.

Jack woke with a start beside Jayson,
sitting bolt upright. He clasped his hands to his mouth to keep
from screaming, and breathed deeply through his nose to calm
himself.

“
Dude, are you okay?”
Jayson asked, leaning toward him.

Jack was silent for a long time, trying to
catch his breath.

“
Yeah,” he finally
whispered through ragged breaths. “I’m okay. Just a
dream.”

“
I know what you mean,”
said Jayson, patting his friend’s shoulder. He wrapped himself in
his cloak and settled in to stare at the unfamiliar clusters of
stars through the trees above.

Jack looked at him, unsure what Jayson could
have meant. Hesitantly he replied, “I saw my Dad.” Jayson sat up
and turned toward Jack again. Jack’s voice shook as he tried to
hold back his tears. “He was drunk again. He hit my mom, and he was
trying to come after me. I had my bow staff in my hands, but I
couldn’t move. I was frozen. I can’t believe I’m still so scared of
him. I can beat Dimitri on my best days. I know I could easily…”
His voice faltered, and he hoped Jayson couldn’t see the tear
running down his cheek. “It’s just… he’s still my dad.”

Jayson could only nod. He didn’t know what
to say, and could only think of really stupid stuff that might make
Jack feel better. Most likely, it would probably make him look like
an idiot.

Jayson shrugged and sighed. His mom would
have hugged him, but he wasn’t about to do that. They sat in
silence for several minutes, wishing there was a fire to take the
chill out of the early autumn air.

“
Well, g’night, Jayson,”
Jack mumbled and wrapped himself in his cloak.

Jayson watched him, feeling guilty he hadn’t
said anything. “’night,” he said, and settled into a restless
slumber.

Piper was the first to wake the next
morning. She lay quiet, curled into Dimitri’s warmth as his strong
arms wrapped around her. Leo was snoring, and she giggled at the
thought of being caught because of this. Fear soon overtook her
moment of happiness, and she thought of her very near future. It
was only a matter of days before she would confront Taraniz. Days
before she would discover the fate of her Gran. Days before she
could be Queen of all the elves in Chartile. She squeezed Dimitri’s
hand. He didn’t want to be King. He couldn’t be King. Still, he was
the only one she wanted at her side.