Silevethiel (7 page)

“Then why did she leave?” Irewen demanded. Her expression betrayed her hurt and frustration. “I have elven blood.”

“Unfortunately, that is a question I cannot answer. Perhaps she did not think it was the proper time to cement your relationship. Perhaps she did not feel such a strong connection as you did. That is rare, but sadly it happens. It is true you have elven blood, but only a quarter. Perhaps that is not enough, or perhaps there is not the blood of a Wood Elf in your ancestry. We are the only elven race with Guardians. Even then, only a select few of us are chosen.”

“Then why did she bother to connect with me in the first place? Why inconvenience herself to save my life?”

“Nothing a Guardian does is ever an inconvenience to themselves or to anyone else. For whatever reason, Silevethiel knew she was meant to save you, and she did. I cannot speculate the reasoning behind her actions, and I do not want to. What matters is that you are here. She acted as she saw fit. This does, however, return us to our earlier topic of conversation.”

Irewen cocked her head quizzically.

“Your dream,” he answered in response to her silent question. “Once again, I am extremely thankful for Brégen’s seemingly bottomless pit of knowledge. Without it, I would never have known that you have the blood of a Green Elf.”

The words were out of Laegon’s mouth before he realized his error. He did his best not to let his irritation with himself show.
Ün frayn, Laegon!
he screamed to himself. He couldn’t believe he had told Irewen exactly what he’d wanted to keep hidden. But it was too late for regrets. There was nothing he could do to take back the words. Though it would now be more difficult, he would still find a way to pique her curiosity and allow her interest in her heritage to blossom.

“What?” she asked with surprise, completely unaware of his inner fury. “How could he know such a thing?”

He smiled in spite of himself. Her reaction to the discovery was almost identical to his. “Do you know much of the history of the elves?”

“None.”

“Then make yourself comfortable and get ready for a good bit of storytelling. For in order for you to fully understand, I will need to recount our history since before the Divide.”

Timidly, Irewen leaned against him. He put his arm around her, inviting her to come closer, and his body tingled with excitement when she eventually relaxed into his embrace. Resting her head on his shoulder, an errant raven curl brushed against his lower cheek, and for some inexplicable reason he found it to be one of the most incredible sensations he’d ever experienced.

Slowly, as if someone else had taken control of his voice, he recounted the history of his people, all the while praying this moment would never end.

“SO IT WASN’T A DREAM,” IREWEN SAID QUIETLY WHEN Laegon finished. “It was real.”

“Aye, it was indeed. Because you were able to hear your father speak, your gift is strong. You will become more comfortable with your power as time goes by. Eventually you will be able to enter the world of the dead whenever you choose. Your father’s message will become clear, and you will find your voice. It is a rare and special ability, and one not to be used frivolously.”

“Do you think that may be the reason Silevethiel did not choose me as her Protector?”

“Although it is definitely a possibility, I cannot know for certain. Both abilities are unique to different elven races, Cílléren to the Green Elves and Protectors to the Wood Elves. There have been elves with mixed blood in our past. It would not be impossible for you to have the blood of two, or even all four of the races. Since Silevethiel was able to speak to you with Míendvel, it is highly likely that you have the blood of a Wood Elf. To my knowledge, no Speaker has ever been chosen as a Protector.”

“Forgive me if this sounds childish, but I would rather be a Protector.”

Laegon’s voice was almost severe in his response. “We all have a purpose in this world, Irewen. You were meant to be a Speaker. That much is clear. It is a wonderful gift and its importance should not be taken lightly.”

Irewen sighed laboriously, and Laegon immediately sensed the weight of her misery. He could only imagine the emptiness she felt after the link with Silevethiel was broken. “What is unclear,” he continued, giving her shoulder a slight squeeze, “is your position as a Protector. Simply because something has never happened does not mean it never will. Do not dwell on what is beyond your control. Brégen told me Silevethiel wants to meet with you.”

The princess’s expression brightened. “About becoming my Guardian?”

“Unfortunately, Brégen has not been told. Though it is difficult to believe, the Dame is even more stubborn than Brégen at times. The best thing you can do is simply relax and wait to see what the future holds. You may find you are stressing over nothing.”

“Thank you,” she answered with a timid smile. “You are right, of course.”

“I am only saying what I believe in my heart to be true. This world is riddled with hardships beyond our control. No one, especially someone in your situation, should put added pressure on themselves. If we did, the days would become nearly impossible to live through.”

“Even without self-inflicted stress, our daily lives would be a greater struggle without the help of a friend,” Irewen said.

“Aye,” he agreed, “and although I know it can never be the same as Silevethiel, I will always be here for you. Just like a Guardian, I will watch over you and protect you with my life. That is the promise I made the moment I saw your fragile body lying in the snow. Since then, my bond to you has only grown stronger. I could not turn back even if I wanted to. Whatever road you choose, I will follow. That is an oath that will never be broken.”

The longing in Irewen’s eyes made his very soul tingle with desire. He leaned towards her, wanting nothing more than to feel the warmth of her lips against his, when he suddenly felt Brégen’s presence grow stronger.

«Laegon.»

He ignored the Guardian, making absolutely certain to not make the same mistake he did earlier. He slowly lifted Irewen’s chin, almost bursting with joy when she did not resist. They were so close, he could feel her hot breath upon his lips and smell the sweetness of her skin. He hesitated; suddenly overcome with the same nerves he suspected were fluttering within her.

«LAEGON!»
Brégen’s voice roared through the elf’s mind like thunder, his warning of danger so strong it could no longer be ignored.

Sighing, Laegon drew away. “Forgive me,” he apologized, well aware of Irewen’s irritation. “It is Brégen.”

Irewen nodded curtly before turning her head away.

“
What?”
he asked Brégen with both annoyance and alarm.

Instead of answering his question with words, Brégen flashed an image through Laegon’s mind. The prince’s heart skipped a beat. Walking away from the corpse of a Protector and her dying Guardian were a group of heavily armed warriors.

«Are you absolutely certain?»
Laegon asked, not wanting to believe what he knew to be true.

«Aye.»
Brégen confirmed.
«Zurland transmitted that image to all the Guardians mere seconds before he died. There were twelve in total that passed over our border from Dargon. They happened upon Zurland and Drylenda by chance. The two of them fought valiantly despite the fact that were heavily outnumbered. They were too far away from the watchtowers for anyone to lend any aid. Even so, they managed to kill five of the intruders before they fell.»

Ignoring Irewen’s questioning stare, Laegon tenderly placed his right hand over his heart. “Neryn la pün,” he whispered.

«You are in danger, Protector,»
Brégen continued, knowing this was not the time to grieve for their lost kin.
«I have been tracking their movements since receiving Zurland’s warning. Whether by accident or intent, they are heading straight for you and the princess. Despite the harsh conditions, they are moving at an unnaturally fast pace. They should reach Dremond’s Cave within the hour. I have informed Drell. He and Halthed are the nearest to you and are coming as fast as they can, but even so, it will take them more than an hour to reach you.»

Laegon gradually extended the range of his Sight until he sensed the men. Though he hadn’t doubted the Guardian’s words even for a moment, he was still taken aback by how quickly the intruders were moving. Brégen’s description didn’t seem to do them justice. There was something driving these men. Something almost inhuman. But he couldn’t decipher anything more and didn’t have time to waste in pondering the strangers further. His immediate, and only concern, was Irewen. One thing he did know with absolute certainty: these men were not headed in their direction by mere chance.

“What is wrong?” Irewen asked, her voice hoarse with fear at seeing the anxiety flickering in his eyes.

He took hold of her hands. “Our location is known,” he said quietly.

“How many?”

“Seven,” he replied, completely taken aback by the calm acceptance in the princess’s voice. “Five were killed by a fellow Protector and her Guardian, whom they encountered purely by chance. The remaining seven will be upon us in less than an hour.”

She could not ask him to risk his life so needlessly. “I release you of your oath to me, Laegon,” she said softly. “Go.”

His voice was hard as iron. “You may have released me, Irewen, but I will never release myself.”

“Please, Laegon,” she begged. “Do not do this. Save yourself while there is still time.”

“I am not staying because I have to. I am staying because I want to. There is nothing you could ever say or do to make me change my mind.”

“Thank you,” she whispered, hardly able to form the words. At least now she would go to her grave a happy woman.

“As long as you stay inside the cave, you will be safe,” Laegon assured her after he’d finished securing his fine leather quiver around his back.

“How?”

“It is too much for me to explain at the moment. Right now, all you need to know is that as long as you remain within the mouth of the cave, you will be protected. Though your heart may tell you otherwise, you must not step outside the entrance.”

His statement was met with absolute silence. Abruptly, he knelt by her side. Running his fingers through her hair, he gazed into her eyes.

“Do not worry about me, Irewen. Though I am only one, the situation is not as dire as it may seem. Unlike Drylenda and Zurland, I will not be taken by surprise, and I will have the advantage of higher ground. Drell and Halthed are on their way, and though he is still in Silverden, Brégen will be able to lend me his strength and protection. You must trust me, Irewen. Promise me that no matter what you hear or see, you will not step one foot outside this cave. Promise me.”

Silence descended upon them. Irewen stared at the elf prince, his brow furrowed with concern. She wanted to tell him she would do nothing of the kind, but she bit her tongue. It would only be a distraction. She didn’t want to cause him greater worry. In any case, what good would she be? Though she was much stronger than the previous day, her body was still laden with weakness. She doubted she’d be able to make it to the cave entrance if she tried. Even if she was fully recovered, her skills with any sort of weapon were nonexistent. She would do nothing but get in Laegon’s way. That was something neither of them could afford.

Finally, she nodded her head. “I promise.”

Laegon smiled with relief before kissing her lightly on the cheek. Hurriedly, he stood and began checking his weapons. Once everything was positioned exactly where he wanted, he grabbed his bow and headed for the entrance. Pausing in the mouth of the cave, he turned to glance at her once more before disappearing from view.

“Please, let him live,” Irewen whispered, even though there was no one to hear her prayer. “Let him return.”

She huddled beneath Laegon’s cloak and touched her cheek. Willing the warm sensation of his lips to linger on her skin, she prepared for what she knew would be the longest and most strenuous hours of her life.

•••

Dusk descended upon the land. Brilliant shades of red and purple light streaked through the sky, reflecting on the thin sheet of ice covering the snow. The warriors’ dark figures were just visible on the horizon. Laegon forced himself to clear his mind of Irewen and focus on the task at hand. He’d decided to make his stand as far away from the mouth of the cave as possible and took advantage of the coverage provided by one of the trees on the hill above the cave.

Crouched in the snow, he studied the approaching figures, even more certain than before that there was something abnormal about the men. Though on foot, they moved through the deep snow almost as quickly as if they were on horseback. Nothing seemed to faze them. Not the cold. Not the wind. Not even the weight of their armour and weapons. They ran as surely and as easily as if they were bounding through an open field on a pleasant spring afternoon.

Despite the enemy’s impressive speed, Laegon knew he had a few minutes before they were within the range of his bow. Taking advantage of the opportunity, he carefully expanded his Sight with the intent of examining the outer reaches of their minds. His senses were immediately ambushed by a demonic hatred so violent it knocked his breath away.

He clutched his chest in sheer agony as an intense burning pain wracked his body. It was all he could do to keep himself from screaming. A faint nagging sensation told him to withdraw his Sight, but he found he no longer had the ability to do what was normally second nature to him. Spasms tormented his body. He fell to his side, completely unaware of Brégen calling his name.

Suddenly the pain vanished. He felt Brégen’s familiar presence as the Guardian shielded him from whatever wicked being was present in the men.

Panting, he pushed himself up from the snow.
«Thank you, Brégen. I don’t...»

«I do not know what it was either,»
the lion admitted.
«But I am now much more apprehensive about this upcoming battle than I was a few minutes ago.»

«Aye. Even taken completely by surprise, twelve men should not have been a challenge for Drylenda and Zurland. They were both quick-witted and powerful. I could not understand why they were only able to eliminate five of their opponents. Now I know. These warriors are not mere humans.»

The Guardian looked through Laegon’s eyes, carefully scrutinizing the intruders as they barreled through the snow.
«Their pace has quickened,»
Brégen noted.
«They know you are waiting and are hungry for battle. They will be upon the cave sooner than we expected. Halthed will not reach you in time.»

«I will take as many as I can with me when I fall.»
There wasn’t a hint of fear in Laegon’s voice when it floated through his Guardian’s mind. The prince had resigned himself to his fate. As long as Irewen remained true to her promise, Dremond’s cave would protect her. She would live. That was all that mattered.

«If you are going to abandon all of your faith in me so quickly,»
Brégen interjected reproachfully,
«I have a good mind to leave you to your own devices. If you go into this battle prepared to die, you will. Nothing I, or anyone else can do, will save you.»

Laegon smiled.
«You are quite right, my friend. Forgive me.»

«If you live, I will,»
the Guardian snorted.
«Now, pull yourself together and have faith in your Guardians.»

«Guardians?»
Brégen’s use of the plural did not go unnoticed by the prince.

«Aye. Both Drell and Silevethiel have generously agreed to lend you their aid.»

«Well met, Prince Laegon.»
The Dame’s soft purr resonated through Laegon’s mind. Immediately, he understood Irewen’s frustration at Silevethiel’s absence. He lost himself in the sweet purity of her voice. Even though his connection to either Guardian would never be as strong as it was with Brégen, Laegon suspected he would harbor the same disappointment as Irewen when both Silevethiel and Drell were no longer with him.

«It is an honor, Dame Silevethiel and Guardian Drell,»
Laegon answered after a time, finally finding his voice.

«We are glad to be of assistance,»
Drell answered.
«We know this is a strange and rather overwhelming sensation for you, Laegon. Feeling our presence and hearing our voices, even outside of battle, is distracting. Henceforth, we will not speak to you directly. We will assist you through Brégen. Focus on him as you always do, and concentrate on the task at hand. To you, it will seem as though nothing has changed, except that perhaps Brégen’s presence will feel stronger.»