The Elf King (72 page)

“
The gates to Cillitran
will be open to your people, Terill.” Tane stated, Ern Dwull
agreeing at his side. “Whatever befalls the Elves in the future,
Cillitran will side with you.”

Terill Estrial shook Tane’s
hand, then Ern’s. “Let’s hope that is a long time coming, friends.
Farewell.”

A blur of movement in the
sky landed Xtalt carrying Slina. Terill smiled. Hours earlier the
young elf found her charge and rode it back into the Ailia Court to
check on her friend Bim. She had taken back the remaining Blooders,
locked safely away in the black box to be dealt with much later.
She returned now, waving bye to Tane and the rest of the army she
had fought beside.

“
Luck to you, King
Andelline!” Slina dismounted and hugged Tane briefly. “When your
brother returns, I wish to thank him as well.”

Tane smiled back at her.
“As do I, Slina. Take care of Xtalt.”

With a quick wave to the
others, Slina said goodbye then mounted Xtalt again. Terill took a
seat behind her, waving a final hand to the group watching before
Xtalt ascended skyward, disappearing over the Lyyn Forest in a
flash.

“
Where to, Ankar Rie?” Ern
asked.

“
Home to finish my studies,
I guess, Ern.” Ankar looked on with a melancholy smile. “I wish you
both the best of luck and safe travels back to Cillitran. Enjoy
your Kingdom, Tane. Rebuild your army, Ern. I suppose after a while
I’ll get bored and want to travel. Cillitran will be my first
destination.”

“
Good.” Tane smiled. He
turned to Ern. “Ready, commander?”

“
As good of time now as
any, my Lord.” Ern Dwull groaned. “Take care, sorcerer. Till we
meet again.”

Ankar nodded. He turned and
walked north then, heading for Illken Dor. Tane and Ern Dwull
reined their horses and began to ride south.

T
he sun was beating overhead a day later when Kamen Ode
brought them to a halt. The
Takers
trail turned south, he turned facing east. “This
is it. This is where we part.”

Qenn and Kandish were
shocked. “We’ll be in Skadar Port before—” Qenn began, but the big
man cut him short.

“
I won’t be going back.
I’ve got a promise to keep to an old friend. You don’t need me any
more. I doubt you ever did, elf.”

“
Kamen, we can walk with—”
Kandish tried, but was also cut off.

“
Look, this is something I
need to do alone.” He looked at each of them, then turned and began
walking away. “Follow the trail home.”

Qenn and Kandish looked on
in disbelief. They had not figured that Kamen would not be return
with them. That made them both wonder about the other.

“
Kandish? Where are you
going?”

“
Not sure. You still have
not said where home was going to be.”

“
So, you’ll go with me?”
Qenn smiled in relief. He had hoped she would.

Kandish laughed softly.
“Qenn, I don’t have anywhere else to go.”

Qenn joined her laughing.
The twinkle in her eyes made him at peace. “First then, we go to
find my brother.”

They walked close to each
other, hands held tight together.

H
e was nearing the Stone Flats, sun sinking just beneath the
trees around him, when a figure walked into his path out ahead.
Ankar Rie stopped immediately. He waited a second, staring ahead
with uncertainty.

“
You have something that
belongs to me,” the voice shot out.

Ankar Rie was confused. The
figure began walking towards him. Ankar could not think of anything
he owed anyone. As the figure came closer, he was overwhelmed in
shock.

“
You have my scarf,
sorcerer. I’ve come to collect.” Jendi’s smile was broad and
dazzling. “What? You didn’t think I’d forget, did you?”

Ankar was stunned. He
reached into his cloak. He felt it right away. He pulled it out,
thinking to himself that it still carried her scent. Smiling, he
put it back into his cloak. “I’m afraid I don’t know what you’re
talking about.”

Jendi laughed. She walked
over to him and kissed him hard on the mouth. Ankar held her close,
breathing in her scent, feeling happy to be alive.

I
t was nearly a week later when Terill Estrial stepped outside
his bedroom onto his brick walkway to catch a glimpse of the sun as
it rose, shedding an orange glow across his flower beds. The air
was fresh. The nightmares of the past were settling and sleep was
accumulating more each night. The day would be hot, he thought,
watching the sun rise through breaks in the Lyyn. He would wake
Oskalins soon. Get her outside and let the fresh air help cleanse
her dampened spirit. It was something he began doing two days
earlier. He would continue to do so for as long as it took. Let her
sleep for another hour, he thought.

His eyes caught sight of a
shadow moving through the trees. It was an elf. Short, slender. A
girl, perhaps. It was unusual for anyone to be out there this
early, he thought. Standing erect and paying attention, his eyes
focused on the figure heading his way.

It took him but a few
seconds before he was staring with disbelief. A broad smile swept
across his calm face then. His eyes filled with childlike
happiness. The crystal had worked, he realized.

With unbridled excitement,
he raced back into his room. Oskalins could sleep in another
day.

T
ane Andelline-Ellantri stood on his balcony facing the Caltar
Mountains watching the sun’s early rise shed light across the
snow-capped peaks. It was his morning ritual now. At dusk he would
settle on the opposite balcony and watch the sunlight dim across
his city and even further into the Shyl. The moments were his
alone.

Being the King of Cillitran
for nearly two full weeks, Tane was still not used to the constant
pampering or the endless decision making. His attention was always
in want. He was tired of it already and wanted nothing more than to
just settle in and relax.

Thinking back, his life in
Meadow seemed small and carefree.

A knock at the door brought
him back inside, calling out to the Red Knights in the hall that he
was on his way. That was also something he was not used to yet. The
Red Knights were always with him, watching out for him in one way
or another. He didn’t mind it, but it was something he thought he
could do without.

“
Enter,” he called out
after dressing himself.

A moment later the door
swung in and a wispy old man stood, bowing at once. “My Lord,
forgive this intrusion so early.”

“
It is fine.” Tane beckoned
him to speak. He had seen the man on a few occasions already. He
was a house servant.

“
There were two beggars
outside just before dawn. They have seen hard times, my Lord and
said that they were to speak with you personally.”

“
What do they
want?”

“
They’ve asked for nothing.
Only to speak to you directly.”

Tane thought nothing of it.
In the beginning of the week he had made his servants aware that
all beggars were to be fed, and if requested, bathed.

“
Where are they now?” Tane
had already decided to meet them.

“
Eating, my Lord. We’ve
given them room at the main cafeteria.” The man bowed again,
stepping back into the hall.

“
If you are headed that
way, I will join you.” Tane said. The other smiled and nodded. Tane
was still not certain where exactly all the rooms of the castle
were and to join the other made him feel like less a king and more
like his former self.

Together they walked the
halls, turning this way and that, descending a few flights of
stairs to the main floor. Tane was happy with his choice to let the
other guide him. At the large chamber designated for the servants
to eat, Tane saw two shabby, dirty beggars sitting at a table,
eating side by side with their backs to him. They looked awful, he
thought. And their reek was equally disturbing, if not
more-so.

He turned to his servant.
“Prepare two baths and find them some good clothing.”

The other nodded and left
Tane alone. Only a few cooks were in the room, staying to the
kitchen preparing meals.

Tane approached the two
beggars and felt his heart ache for them. He would not let them
leave without taking in their needs. And yet, he thought, he still
did not know what they wanted.

He walked to their table
and stood to their right. Their plates were nearly empty. Their
filthy fingers scrambled eagerly for what food was left. At that
moment, he was happy to be king, happy to be in a position where he
could help.

“
My friends, welcome to
Cillitran.”

In unison, the beggars
stopped chewing and turned their heads up to the
speaker.

Tane felt his heart break
then, watching the surprise mirror in their eyes.

“
Brother!” Qenn gasped. His
eyes were as wide as his empty plate.

“
Qenn?”

Qenn jumped off his seat
and hobbled over to meet his brother. The aches in his legs and
feet were quickly forgotten. “Tane!”