First Comes The One Who Wanders (27 page)

"I'm sorry I've taken so long in returning," said Erion, when he returned. "It took some time to gather all of the elders. They have much to do these days."

"What has happened, Erion?"

"As I said before, it will be better if Edan explains it to you." He held the tent flap open for Joshuas. When Joshuas had exited the tent, Erion led him down a lane that was framed by tents on both sides toward a tent at the end that faced the lane and ended the corridor.

"Joshuas, it's good to see you again, my old friend," Edan greeted him, when they entered the large tent where the elders had gathered. He looked around as if expecting someone else. "We'd heard that the Chidra was with you. Hasn't she accompanied you to this meeting?"

"That's why I've come," replied Joshuas. "The Chosen One was spirited away by an evil majik. I was hoping that Erion would help me find her."

"This is indeed grave news," replied Edan. "With the news we've heard from our scouts, it is reason for concern."

"What news have you heard to make you prepare for war?" asked Joshuas.

"Gidron Frey has gone to the School of Land and attacked the majiks there, defying the counsel of the Sky masters. In response the Land crafters have raised an army and are readying to attack the Sky masters and all those who serve the light magic. If the masters of Sky are unable to stop them, then it seems inevitable that we'll be forced to defend our land against them."

"And this was the man we gave the responsibility of training the Chidra?" Joshuas asked the Elven council.

"This was our thought and concern. We were pleased to hear that the Chosen One was under your protection and tutelage. But now you tell us, she isn't with you," replied Edan. "We're worried that she's chosen to align herself with the Dark Lord and Gidron Frey."

"She would never do that, Edan. I've met her and have found no evil in her."

"That is what Cedric Manchu said of Gidron Frey. Yet it's clear, he's turned to the darkness. He was Leilas Leyson’s tutor for ten years. What is there to make us believe she hasn't chosen to stay with her master?"

"Only my word, as your friend. I wouldn’t betray you in this," replied Joshuas, trying to keep the dismay at the direction this conversation was taking off his face.

"We can only hope that you're correct. But we must prepare ourselves for the possibility that you've been deceived in the same manner as the Sky masters."

"We won’t know unless we find her," replied Joshuas. "Will you help me find her? Will you allow Erion to come with me?"

"Erion is free to do as he wishes. We won't compel him to go or stay."

"I'll go with you, of course," said Erion. "The Chosen One must be found. We need to know where her allegiance lies."

"It lies with Jovan, but I'll let her prove that to you herself," replied Joshuas, chastising himself that he'd lost Leilas and allowed this doubt to spring up among the elves and in all probability among the Sky masters as well.

"As regards the Chidra, we may be able to help you in your search," said Atoria, one of the other four elders, sitting with Edan. Next to Edan, he was the eldest elf who still called Atana his home, though like Edan, he still appeared to be in the bloom of his youth. "One of our scouts, reporting on the buildup of the Dredracians, saw a lone Sea crafter sneaking across the valley. Other than her clothes, she matched the description of Leyhan’s daughter."

"Then that's where I’ll begin my search."

"Where we'll begin our search," added Erion. "Two are always better than one alone."

"We'll provide horses to the edge of our land. You must make it on your own from there." Edan paused briefly then continued. "If the Chidra has chosen to follow the Dark Lord, you must stop her now, while you can. I sense in you Joshuas, a reluctance to do this. So, I ask you, Erion, for your word on this. If she's chosen the dark magic, you'll do what you can to stop her."

"You have my word, Edan." Erion took out his sword and offered it to Edan. Edan took it, bowed to his servant and returned it. Joshuas watched the ritual with concern. Leilas would have a formidable enemy in Erion, if she couldn’t convince him that she still served Jovan and followed the light magic.

"You should be off as quickly as possible. Before the Dredracians block the roads and make the way more perilous," said Atoria as the elders rose to leave the council tent.

Within the hour, horses had been readied and packs prepared. Erion said his goodbyes, slung his bow across his shoulder and mounted the white stallion waiting patiently for him. Without looking back, the crafter and the elf rode swiftly for the Forest of Furlin. The horses provided by the elves sped across the miles of forest swiftly and soon they were at the edge of the northern forest the elves called home. Reluctantly, Joshuas slipped from his mount and they left the horses to return home on their own and continued toward the Forest of Furlin, not bothering to rest even though darkness was beginning to fall. They entered the dark forest as what there was of the moon began to rise. Erion made his way through the forest easily. Joshuas did his best to keep up with his friend. After hours of trekking through the wood, Erion held up his hand, motioning for Joshuas to come to a halt.

"There's someone up ahead. I can’t be sure who it is," said Erion. "They don’t appear to be moving."

Joshuas sent his thoughts out to probe who was nearby. "It isn’t Frey. I'm getting mixed signals about who's ahead. They appear to be protecting themselves from probing."

"Then it could be the Chosen One. If she's looking for Gidron Frey to join up with him, she wouldn’t want anyone to be able to find her."

"I was hoping you'd give her the benefit of the doubt," said Joshuas.

"You've been my friend for more years than I care to count. I'm willing to give you the opportunity to prove you’re correct. For now, so are the elders."

"I know that's because you stood for me, Erion. I won't forget that."

"You'd do the same for me, just as you're doing for the Chidra." Erion stepped lightly over a fallen log in their path. Joshuas took a bit longer climbing over the obstacle. They moved cautiously in the direction of the person Erion sensed was in the forest near them.

"I see someone by the tree over in that clearing," whispered Erion slipping behind a tree. It took Joshuas a bit longer to find the dark clump at the root of the tree. He'd probably have passed it by without notice. "Is it her?"

"We’ll find out soon enough," replied Joshuas, slipping from his spot and crossing the clearing.

Leilas was on her feet with sword drawn before the man was halfway across the clearing. She saw the other person with him moving in the shadows from tree to tree, but only out of the corner of her eye. When she tried to focus on him, he disappeared.

"That’s far enough if you want to keep breathing," said Leilas, letting what little moonlight there was catch on the blade of her weapon.

"Is that anyway to greet a friend?" asked Joshuas, slipping closer cautiously.

"Joshuas? Is that you?" Leilas dropped her sword and covered the distance between them in an instant. She threw her arms around him and held on tightly. "Is it really you? I’m not dreaming, am I?" She reached up and touched his face with her hand. Then drew it away, her fingers tingling, and smiled. "I’ve missed you."

"Not half as much as I’ve missed you," said Joshuas, emotion making his voice sound husky. "Are you okay?"

"Other than hungry and cold, I’ll survive."

Erion stepped from behind the trees. Self-consciously, Leilas stepped away from Joshuas, immediately missing his comforting warmth.

"I take it we've found our lost crafter," said Erion, bowing slightly in Leilas’ direction. "I’m Erion, son of Erios and Elaina."

Leilas bowed slightly as well. "Leilas, daughter of King Leyhan and Queen Daina of Dirth, formerly King and Queen of Dirth," she amended her introduction.

"It's good to finally meet you, my lady. We've heard much about you."

Leilas glanced at Joshuas accusingly. "Not from me, Chidra," he replied to the silent accusation.

"You'll have to learn that many have heard of you and are curious about you." Erion look around the clearing. "One might be curious, for instance, at what a princess is doing in the Forest of Furlin in the middle of the night. One might also wonder why a Sky crafter is dressed in Land crafter garb with the cloak and insignia of a Sea master."

"You don’t miss much, do you Erion? I suppose I’d better answer your questions before you decide to have me killed."

Erion raised his eyebrows in surprise at her astute guess as to his intentions. "Perhaps if you did put his mind at ease," said Joshuas, finding a tree and sitting under it. "In return, I’ll share my breakfast with you."

"Deal," said Leilas quickly, sitting next to him in anticipation of food. Leilas took the piece of meat he offered and sniffed it suspiciously. "Venison," she said in delight, taking a big bite. Joshuas handed her some of the bread, which she stuffed in her mouth as quickly as she could. "Mif if monderful," she said around a mouthful of food. "Much better than rat stew," she said after swallowing.

"That's what dark creatures eat," remarked Erion, his hand on the hilt of his sword.

"I wish someone had told me that before I tried eating it," chuckled Leilas. She grew more serious when she spied the expression on Erion’s face and saw his hand twitching on his sword. "No I haven’t chosen the path Master Frey has taken. I only go to warn the crafters with him what is coming if they haven’t already guessed. With all the racket these poor souls are making, I don’t know how anyone could be unaware."

"What racket? What souls?" asked Joshuas and Erion looked equally as confused.

Leilas looked at them in disbelief, unable to understand that they couldn’t hear the unending wailing above them. "Listen." Leilas gestured to the sound that was all around them. Joshuas and Erion listened dutifully then shook their heads.

"I hear only the trees speaking," said Erion. "And they aren't concerned with the affairs of men or crafters."

Taking another bite of meat and bread, Leilas chewed thoughtfully. "I guess then this is a gift I didn’t know I had. Perhaps one Master Frey suspected, which is why he sent me to the Echoes."

"It would be a rare gift indeed, to be able to hear the cries of the lost," remarked Joshuas.

"Especially for a Light crafter," remarked Erion under his breath.

Leilas leveled a glare at him. "Do what you’ve come to do, if you're so certain I've been corrupted, elf. I won't try to stop you." Leilas pulled her cloak aside to give him a better target. "I've died a hundred times, I'm not afraid of death."

"What are you talking about, Leilas?" asked Joshuas. "A crafter can die only once, and you aren’t dead."

"In this world that's true. But not where I've been."

Erion and Joshuas looked at each other. Leilas knew they thought she'd lost her mind. There was no way she could explain Neothera to them, so she didn’t try. She simply opened her cloak wider.

"You know I can’t kill you, Chidra. I'm no crafter. But I've sworn to stop you should I determine you are our enemy."

"If you determine I'm your enemy, then I would expect you to do everything in your power to stop me. But if that is not the case right now, we need to be on our way. I slept longer than I'd intended."

"Do you believe that any of those crafters are still loyal to the light?" asked Erion in derision, his hand not moving from his sword. "They followed Frey in the destruction of the School of Land."

"I don’t know, but I have to save them if I can."

Joshuas and Erion looked at each other again. Erion looked less than convinced, but then shrugged and let his hand fall from his sword.

Leilas took that as acquiescence and began to breathe easier. She didn’t need this elf as an enemy. Picking up her weapons, and throwing her sword over her shoulder, she glanced at Erion. "Do you want to lead or do you want to trust my sense of direction?"

Erion snorted in derision and started off through the trees. Leilas laughed softly as she trailed him into the wood.

~~~

Joshuas brought up the rear, deep in thought. When he’d left Leilas she'd seemed different. The magic she used carried more knowledge than she’d had the day before. He’d put it off on the poison. Now he wasn’t sure that was the case. This woman was not the girl he'd met a few weeks ago. She was a stranger, more knowledgeable, older somehow. More like he’d expected the Chidra to be. Yet, she was still the beautiful girl that stirred something inside him. What had happened to her in the short time she’d been gone to change her so completely?

"It's an effect of the poison. I'll tell you about it when we have more time. I have some questions I need to ask," whispered Leilas, answering his unspoken question.

Joshuas shook his head in wonderment. She was definitely not the same. "Erion is sworn to stop you if he believes you're in league with Gidron."

"I'm not worried, Joshuas. Are you?"

He felt a change in her, but he still didn’t detect any evil in her. Still, he wasn’t sure she'd be able to convince Erion.

"Erion will see the truth. Give him time to get to know me."