Outcasts of Velrune (27 page)

Lysander had the same expression of wonder on his face as the rest of them. “But, you haven’t done anything, have you?”

“Not a thing. The spirits are acting on their own. They are happy to have company once again.”

Melody bent down to examine the flowers at her feet. “I don’t understand. I have always been taught that we need to impose our will over the spirits in order for them to act.”

“That is why the spirits no longer respond to you and the other Children like they did for us. You do not control them; instead you speak with them as equals and take care of one another. What your order has achieved has come about only because a few spirits felt compassionate enough to help you.”

“Is that why that old man, the collector, said we are misguided?”

Alexandra took Melody’s hand and indicated for her to stand. “Do not feel ashamed. We did not grasp this at first either, but the lacarna taught us. The spirits and the lacarna have always had a special bond. That is why they flourish around Evangeline. She may not remember them, but they know her quite well.”

Lysander stared in awe at the flowers. “I’ve never seen anything like this.”

Alexandra’s smile disappeared. “Few humans have, though they could if they wanted. The Children have nothing special over any other human, merely a basic understanding of the spirits. If taught properly, all could learn to work with them.”

Melody held up her hand. “Wait a second, back up. It is the belief of my church that the Immortals, once called the Creators, made Velrune. If that’s the case, why would the lacarna need to teach you how to communicate with the spirits?”

“Because we are not the Creators. In fact, we are nothing more than humans. In other words, I am the same as you.”

Lysander’s head jerked away from the flowers to face Alexandra. “Blasphemy! You’ve gone mad. Even the Protectors believe the Immortals created Velrune and all that is in it.”

“Ironically, it is the Protectors that have caused so much confusion about our past. If you do not believe me, come, and I will show you proof.” Alexandra turned and began walking across the empty village. “Evangeline, come!”

Eve dropped down out of the branches behind Max, startling him. Focused on the conversation, he had not seen her leave.

“Where did you go?”

Eve pointed to one of the alcoves three quarters up a tree to their left. “I think I lived in that one.”

Alexandra looked back to follow Eve’s finger then smiled. “That you did, but we can reminisce later. Come.”

Alexandra led them across the dome floor, along the way passing a building similar to the one at Alexandra’s camp. Its presence here surprised Max.

“Why is there a Church of the Immortals here?”

Alexandra kept walking, talking back over her shoulder. “Several Immortals lived here at one time. They preferred more than branches and leaves for their homes.”

A moment later, they reached the other side of the dome. Before them stood a dark opening in the vine wall. Alexandra paused.

“This is the entrance to a cave in the western mountains. Be careful entering, it will be quite dark until I can get the torches lit.”

Alexandra stepped through the opening with the others following. Inside, the light from the domed area quickly faded, leaving them in complete darkness. Max put his hand on the wall as he walked to keep his direction. After roughly a hundred feet, Max felt the wall drop away. He immediately stopped, afraid he would run into either a person or a wall. A few seconds later, a torch flared in front of them, displaying Alexandra and the edges of the circular room they stood in. Other torches lit, their flames growing slowly, allowing time for everyone’s eyes to adjust. Beside him, Melody sucked in her breath. “The paintings! This is the cave isn’t it? The one with the history of Velrune.”

Lysander took in the numerous drawings on the walls of the cave. “Or at least the lacarna’s biased version of it.”

Alexandra shook her head. “The lacarna never bothered to record their history.”

“Then who?”

Eve walked over to the wall and crouched in front of him. Studying a small painting, she reached out to touch it. Melody started towards her.

“Eve, I don’t think we should touch anything.”

“Even if it’s mine?”

Melody and Max moved behind Eve, who had her hand placed flat against the wall.

“I thought I remembered, but…”

Eve removed her hand, revealing the yellow handprint of a child.

Alexandra came and squatted next to Eve. She put her hand on a green print next to the yellow one. It was a perfect fit.

“Unlike me, Eve, you have grown since we made these.” A pleasant giggle escaped Alexandra. “We got in such trouble.”

She stood. “To answer your question, Lysander, the humans who lived here with the lacarna recorded these. Sit and I will read them to you, just as I did for Maxwell’s father.”

“My father came here?”

Ignoring Max, Alexandra walked to the edge of the wall next to the tunnel. Pointing to the top she began explaining the paintings.

“Our human ancestors’ first memories were of waking in the plains. They recorded their number as sixty.”

Alexandra read the paintings downward in a strip then moved to the top right. Everyone else took a seat in the middle of the room to listen.

“Seeking shelter, they entered a nearby forest where they came across a group of large cats. To their amazement, one stood, changing to a form similar to theirs. It spoke, welcoming them to the forest. Frightened by the shape-changing beast, most of the humans fled the forest. A few, however, followed the beasts to their home in the woods.

“The large cats befriended the humans that followed, showing them how to live in the forest. Over time, the cats even shared their knowledge of the spirits, teaching the humans how to communicate with them. The humans named the cats lacarnians, which simply meant friend of the spirits.

“At first, the humans in the forest shared what they learned from the lacarna with the humans that remained in the plains. But, as the plains humans grew in number, they became more and more concerned with their own affairs, losing contact with those in the forest. Each group went their own way, with the forest humans living more like the lacarna, some even mating with them.

“Then, one day, the plains humans cut down trees at the forest edge, angering the lacarna. The forest humans spoke on behalf of the lacarna, but, when the plains humans found out that their brethren had mated with the beasts, they were disgusted. Angered at the forest human’s acts, they sought to kill their offspring. The lacarnians came to the defense of the forest humans, driving them off and slaying many in the process.

“The two factions remained apart for the next several generations, until a terrible sickness befell the plains humans. The lacarnians, at the request of the forest humans, went to their aid. They brought forth their greatest treasure, the Lifestone. It was a clear, blue stone that they claimed had the power to create life. Using the stone, the plains humans were cured of their sickness, but at a great cost. You see, for the stone to work, it needs to feed. In this case, it fed on the long lifespan of the humans.

“The plains humans were thankful, but became afraid of what their now shortened future held for them and their children. To ease their fears, some of the forest humans ventured out and built gathering places amongst the larger populations of the plains humans. At these places, the forest humans recorded the knowledge and family history of the plains humans for generations.”

Melody interrupted. “Our church in Moenia has an archive room below the main structure filled with scrolls of family trees. Those are the records of the plains humans, aren’t they?”

Alexandra nodded. “The Church of the Immortals was formed by the forest humans, though it did not receive that name until later. Moenia was the first and largest.”

Lysander shook his head. “This is nonsense. I’ve never heard this story before.”

“Few have. You see, the forest humans missed living with the lacarna and most moved back. They tried to encourage the plains humans to join them, but few came.

“Communication between the two once again diminished. After several generations, the plains humans had regained their numbers and spread out far and wide. In doing so, and without record keepers, the knowledge of their past became lost to them. They forgot that the forest humans and the few remaining in the churches were once the same as them. They now saw a people who did not seem to age and recovered from all injuries. In all appearance, they were immortal and added to that was their mysterious ability to commune with the spirits. All of this is what led the plains humans to believe the forest humans were the Creators of Velrune itself, a far cry from the truth.”

Max stopped Alexandra. “Why didn’t they try to correct the misunderstanding?”

“The few that remained in the cities could not overcome the beliefs of so many people.”

“Didn’t those that moved back to the forest try to help?”

“By this time, there were not many humans in the forest either.”

“Why? What happened to them? Didn’t they have children?”

Eve laughed and nodded at Alexandra. “Obviously they did.”

Max’s face flushed. “Oh.”

Alexandra smiled. “Actually, Eve, Maxwell presents a valid question. I was a rarity due to both of my parents being human. Most of the forest humans mated with the lacarna producing, well, children like Eve. To those outside of the forest, children like Eve were not considered human.”

“In the end, three groups existed. The plains humans, who became known generically as humans. They were the largest group, as they had made a point to reproduce to counteract their much shorter lifespan. The second group consisted of the lacarna who were evolving into a half-human half-cat race. Finally, there were the few original forest humans who were now mistakenly called Immortals.”

Alexandra swayed. Eve sprung from her seated position, catching her before she could fall. Together they sat down. Max scooted over to them.

“What’s wrong Alexandra? You’re very pale.”

Lysander sighed. “It is the curse I told you of, Max. A Spirit Leech weakens over time as her spirit energy is depleted. Alexandra has gotten very weak in the time since we left her camp.”

“Is it true then? The cursed ones, the Spirit Leeches, really live off the spirit energy of others.”

“Unfortunately, Maxwell, yes, we do.”

“But, Lysander says the Spirit Leeches are all mad. You don’t seem insane to me.”

“I admit that some could not handle what happened to them. For them I cannot disagree with the Protectors actions. However, they did not discriminate between the mad and the peaceful.”

Lysander’s raised voice echoed off the cave walls. “You call taking another’s spirit energy being peaceful?”

“There were people who understood our plight, willingly giving of their energy. We made sure to take only what we needed to survive, leaving them exhausted, but otherwise unharmed.”

Melody tapped her chin, thinking. “When I talked to the people in your camp, they said you asked little of them. What you asked was to draw their energy, wasn’t it?”

Alexandra nodded.

Lysander stood, pacing back and forth. “They should be tried as well for assisting you. Why would they help someone that betrayed her own people?”

“Another corrupted story, one that comes later. Please, let me finish the one written here first.”

Alexandra pointed at the final strip of paintings. “Eventually, the humans once again tried to take trees from the forest. It was only a few at first. The lacarna easily chased them away. Later, the humans became more determined, sending several hundred to gather trees in hopes of intimidating the lacarna. The lacarna easily overpowered them, killing most outright. A second large-scale battle broke out, lasting several days. At the end, one hundred and twelve lacarnians died while several thousand humans lost their lives.”

“The humans’ loss would have been even greater had the Immortals, once the forest humans, not stepped in to mediate an agreement. The lacarnians saw the human need for shelter and agreed to allow humans to harvest trees they designated. Furthermore, to help settle future issues, the Immortals formed an authoritative group consisting of both lacarnians and humans. They named this group the Protectors. An Immortal was chosen to be the head and ultimate judge of the Protectors.”

Alexandra paused, her eyes slowly closing. Eve gently shook her.

“Alexandra.”

Alexandra’s eyes fluttered back open. “It must be getting late.”

Melody stood, dusting herself off. “You should get some rest.”

Max stood too, giving a big yawn. “I wouldn’t mind a little sleep myself. Are there any beds in the structure outside?”

“At one time there were.”

Melody moved towards the tunnel. “Max and I will go see. Eve, stay here with Alexandra.”

Lysander headed towards the cave passage as well. “I’m coming too. I’ve heard all I can take for now.”

The three left the cave and walked to the building. Lysander stayed outside while Max and Melody went in to investigate. The building had the same layout as the one at Alexandra’s camp. In the back room, they found a few beds made from vines that intertwined with the building.