It was late afternoon when Qenn was gently shaken awake. He clutched the staff tightly in response, even before fully awakening. It had become an automated action now. His eyes rolled open to see Kandish wearing a white robe, staring down at him. Her long red hair was wet, her face had a shine to it. She smelled nice, he thought. He did not move for a second, he simply stared at her wondrous face and let everything else be forgotten.
“I guess I’d be smiling too, if I had slept the entire day away.” Kandish gave him a light tap on the cheek with her hand and told him to get up. She walked over to sit on an empty bed while she watched Qenn stretch, rub the sleep from his eyes, and roll his narrow body into a sitting position. “The sun will be setting in a few hours. They will serve dinner just before then.”
“Sounds good.”
She noticed Qenn staring at her wardrobe. “Corwon suggested it was a good time for a bath. I couldn’t argue. They have a warm bath ready for you, too.”
“Kamen and Prevost?”
“They were gone when I got up,” she shrugged. “Aless said that they had left and went out into the woods. Looking for information, I guess.”
“Where’s my robe?” Qenn began removing his boots and socks. He was in dire need of a warm bath and he knew it. It was a small comfort of having a home, a comfort that had been lacking ever since he fled Meadow.
Kandish tossed him a robe off the bed next to her. “Everyone looks so clean here.” Kandish smiled, watching Qenn frown at his own appearance. “They will wash your clothes while you bathe.”
Qenn was a little uncomfortable, but he took his shirt off nonetheless, dressing in the robe. “Will you lead the way?”
Kandish nodded with a smile. She liked the awkward side of Qenn.
The sun was just below the tree tops as they stepped out of the hut, Kandish in the lead, Qenn following with his shirt and boots in hand. She led him away from the other huts, down towards the base of the river near the waterfall where the people had created a few square holes in the earth, walled with smooth stone, and steaming with water. Kandish sat on a block of stone near Qenn, close enough to talk, but still have some privacy. Qenn disrobed, noticing right away that Kandish turned her back towards him, and removed the rest of his outfit, sinking quickly into the hot water.
A woman came along and took care of washing out Qenn’s attire while he bathed, hanging his clothes on a vine stretched between two trees. Kandish’s clothes were there as well, giving Qenn some comfort that they had not run off with them completely. As he sat in the warm water, feeling the sweat and dirt evaporate from his pores, he sat back and stared at the waterfall. It was serene.
“How do you feel, Qenn?” Kandish asked, turning towards him. She rose and moved in closer, stopping within a few feet from him. “Do you feel anything strange in the water?”
Qenn understood what she was referring to right away. “Yeah, I feel it.”
They talked quietly, not wishing anyone lurking to overhear. “I felt it immediately. It was odd, but I think it was stirring with my own magic.”
The sense Qenn felt from the water was unlike anything he had felt before. At first, he thought it was just the fact that he had not bathed in so long that he forgot how soothing it felt to submerge himself. But it was more. There was a cleansing taking place that went beyond soap and water. He ran his fingers across his shoulders, feeling his smooth skin as if he were a child.
“It’s here,” Kandish stated. She made no attempt to pinpoint her statement, looking around at the scenery with a face washed of expression. “It has something to do with how these people act. How they live.”
“I agree.” Qenn held his breath and sank his head under the water for a second, then emerged out, wrapping himself in the robe that was left for him by the same woman who washed his clothes. “Think we should talk to Aless privately?”
“I’m not sure she would have the answers we need. She’s too young to understand it, I think.”
A woman came running out of the woods then, screaming and crying hard, heading into one of the huts nearby. Qenn and Kandish stood watching, unsure how to respond. Within seconds Corwon was rushing into the hut with her, followed by several others. Shouting filled the hut, mostly by Corwon. A few moments later, he walked out of the hut upset, staring at Qenn and Kandish briefly, before walking away.
“What do you think that was about?” Qenn asked Kandish.
“Whatever it was, Corwon was not too happy about it.”
Aless came into sight then, entering the woman’s hut, coming out with tears after a few moments. Her face was directed towards the ground. Her head lifted then, as if she knew they were watching her. She slowly walked over to them.
“Aless, what happened?” Kandish asked, kneeling down to be eye level.
Aless walked over to her, stopping within arm’s reach. “Teig ran out of the circle.”
“What is the circle, Aless?” Qenn asked softly.
“Life.” She sobbed, wiped the tears from her cheeks, and shook her head. “I never thought he would do that.”
“I don’t understand, Aless.” Kandish said, looking up to Qenn. “We are confused.”
Qenn nodded. “Could you show us?”
Aless looked scared. “No. It is forbidden. It is death.”
“We don’t mean to frighten you, Aless. We just don’t understand.” Kandish replied. “What else can you tell us about it? Help us understand.”
“No one goes outside the circle unless they want to die. Teig knew. We all know. He went because…” Aless paused for a second. It was hard for her to talk about. “There is no life outside the circle. Only death.”
“Aless, we came from outside the circle.” Qenn began, hoping to help her see more in depth.
“But you cannot go back,” she smiled sadly. “Maybe if your stick was magic like Corwon says.”
“Maybe he is right,” Qenn smiled. “Then what?”
“Then maybe you could leave.” Aless smiled brightly, staring at the staff in Qenn’s right hand. “Is it magic? Can I touch it?”
“You can, if you can tell me more about this place.”
Aless thought for a second, then touched the staff. She ran her hands the length and width of it, all with a smile and a twinkle in her eyes. When she was satisfied, she looked up to Qenn with a grin. “Can I have it?”
Qenn laughed softly. “I’m afraid not, Aless.”
“Aless, what else can you tell us about this place?” Kandish asked. She stood up then, standing next to Qenn, wishing her clothes were dry enough to put back on.
“What do you know about the LifeWaters?” Qenn added.
“It gives us life,” Aless began as if the answer was obvious, turning to stare at the waterfall. “Without it, we die. That is why we cannot leave.”
“You cannot leave?”
Aless’ face turned something unpleasant then. She was sad, and something else as well. “Teig knew. He knew what would happen. They always know. Corwon said that they make the easy choice. That they are cowards and the LifeWaters will not save them.”
“Does this happen a lot, Aless?” Kandish asked.
Aless shrugged. “Life is full of choices.”
They were quiet then. Qenn and Kandish took in what information that Aless had given them. They turned to stare at the waterfall in a new way now. It had an important role here, quite different than what they thought upon arrival.
“Aless, can I tell you a secret?” Kandish whispered.
Aless’ eyes widened happily. She nodded eagerly. “I won’t tell.”
“Aless, Qenn and I are on a very secret mission to save a lot of people. We need help though. We need to find the magic here and take some of it with us.”
Aless’ smile slowly faded. “You will die.”
“My stick has magic that will protect us,” Qenn said, holding his staff out for her to see again.
“Silly, elf. Your magic is not stronger than the LifeWaters.”
Qenn thought ab
out his words for a second. She was just a child. “How do you know? What have you seen the LifeWaters do?”
Aless thought for a second. “I don’t know. I just know that it gives life to everything it touches, and that if we try to leave, we die.”
“Do you know where it is?”
Aless shook her head. “Corwon is the only one who has spoken to it.”
Qenn and Kandish looked at each other. They had enough information from Aless. She could not help them further. Corwon is the one they needed to speak with. He was the man with the answers.
“Thank you, Aless.” Kandish patted the girl’s blonde hair. “Let’s keep this all one big secret. Okay?”
Aless agreed. “I like you two. I’m glad you are staying.”
From the far side of the small village, Kandish made out Kamen and Prevost walking. She brought it to Qenn’s attention, letting Aless know that they needed to speak with their friends, then get dressed and ready for dinner. They walked towards the huts then, Aless in the lead, heading for the woman’s hut who was crying for Teig. With a wave of her hand, Aless went in, allowing Qenn and Kandish to continue on privately.
“She was probably fed all her information from Corwon,” Qenn said softly, not wishing Aless to overhear.
“Let’s see what Kamen and Prevost have found,” Kandish whispered back. Qenn agreed, robing himself then walking away with her.
Once Qenn and Kandish met up with Kamen and Prevost, they walked back to the hut they had slept in, each whispering that they had some news to share. Secluded in the hut once again, Kamen and Prevost began talking.
“The other one followed us the entire way.” Kamen began, looking out the flap doors every other second to make sure no one was listening.
“Kev Wah,” Prevost informed. “Once we walked out of this hut, he stayed within sight. He made no attempt to hide, either. He doesn’t want us finding something.”
“We combed the woods around this mess,” Kamen said in frustration. “No one wants to talk about anything. But they know what it is, sure enough. They know enough to keep quiet or they’ll be disciplined for it. They’re under a tight leash.”
“Aless isn’t,” Qenn said with a smile. Kamen and Prevost moved in closer, interest showing in their eyes. “We had a little chat with her about this place.”
“A man committed suicide today by running away. Leaving this place causes them to die. They all know it.” Kandish sighed, pausing briefly to reflect on the piles of bones they found just before Aless found them. “Aless told us that the LifeWaters will kill them if they leave. I believe her. Remember all the bones we found?”
“The water!” Qenn exclaimed. Suddenly it made sense to him. “Wix drank the water from the stream. And he didn’t die until he ran back to the circle of bones. That must be the end of the LifeWaters territory. If it is the life source for them, then by leaving the source, maybe its power weakens and they die. Maybe they can’t live without it.”
They were quiet for a moment, each thought back to what they had found. They began wondering if it was true; if they could leave.
“One more thing. Aless said that Corwon was the only person to have seen the LifeWaters.” Kandish added. Prevost sat on a bed across from her. He looked nauseous.
“Not true,” a gruff voice said, startling them. They turned to see Kev Wah standing in the doorway. “He’s not the only one. He just wants to be.”
Prevost stood, joining the others as Kev Wah walked in closer. Kandish impulsively stepped in front of Qenn. His eyes were mean, bitter.
“Corwon lies to get what he wants. And even if he doesn’t say it, he wants what all of us wants.”
“What’s that?” grunted Kamen.
“To be out of this forsaken tomb. He’s brainwashed them all to believe that they are here for a reason. That it is the LifeWaters will. But I don’t think so anymore.”
“Why don’t you leave on your own?” Prevost asked.
“Because we’ve all drank the water. Now we are connected to this place. You can only walk so far away from the river before your body starts to shut down. You get sick. Pressing on kills you. Corwon would have everyone believe that this is a sanctuary, a fountain of youth, that what happened to them is a gift. You never get old, he says. You never get sick, he says. But you can never die.”
“How do we know we can trust you?” Prevost continued with beads of sweat lining his forehead.
“Everyone else would have let you drink the water. It’s the rule; it’s the test. Chosen drink. Corwon makes sure no one talks. I’m letting you decide on your own.” Kev Wah grinned at their reactions. “I think I know why you’re here. And I think we can help each other.”
“What makes you think—?” Kamen Ode tried, but was cut by the other.
“Save it. I’ve been here for a hundred years! Some of them, even longer. So you have two choices. Trust me, or drink the water and join us. But something tells me that you won’t be staying. The elf’s staff is special, like Corwon’s telling everyone. Don’t try to deny it, either. We don’t have time for lies. Tell me everything, and I’ll do the same. I can help you. And you can help me.”
“How?” Qenn asked, noticing how hard he held the staff.
Kev Wah smiled. “I’ll lead you to it. You destroy it.”
“I don’t think I can. Or that I should.”
“You’d try if it was you on the other side of life,” Kev Wah grunted.
As the group turned to face each other, a loud bell rang out three times. People were walking by the hut, and the smell of food was drifting in the air. Kev Wah looked at the four faces in front of him.
“Think hard about it. I want your answer after dinner.”
Without waiting for a reply, Kev Wah walked outside and disappeared within the crowd walking for the dinner tent.
“I was right about this place,” Kamen Ode smirked. “Nothing is what it seems.”
It was agreed then that they would eat and then speak with Kev Wah. They would give him what information that they thought would be necessary, just enough for him to share with them what they needed. Kandish and Qenn retrieved their clothes, walking back to the hut to join Kamen and Prevost for dinner. As one they walked for the eating tent, entering then sitting near the far end opposite Corwon. A large meal was prepared and once everyone was sitting, Corwon stood to make a toast.
“A moment of silence to forgive our fallen brother today.”
Qenn and Kandish looked at each other. They did not care for his choice of words. Teig’s death appeared to have little effect on them. Some people were shaking their heads, as if Teig had let them down. None of them seemed to have a genuine sadness.
“Close family,” Kandish whispered to Qenn.
“Finished. Now let us give thanks to the—” Corwon began cheerfully, but was rudely interrupted by Kev Wah.
“Save if for something we can be thankful for,” Kev Wah spewed angrily. He glared down Corwon, who stood astonished. The family went silent.
“You overstep your boundaries, brother. You cannot curse what gives you life. Not in front of our guests, or our family!” Corwon was outraged. Heads turned from one man to the other as Kev Wah stood with a smile.
“Life? That’s exactly what it has taken!” Kev Wah spit, pounding his fists into the table. “This is more of a prison than a life! We’re cursed!”
“Blasphemy!”
“Preach what you want, brother. But you lost your life the day you drank that wretched water too. And if you had a choice to do it over, you’d choose different.”
Corwon’s smile was anything but loving. “Maybe you should choose to leave. Free yourself. Join Teig and the rest of the cowards.”
“I will leave here.” Kev Wah smiled, listening to gasps out of everyone. “Don’t look so happy, Corwon. You can have this village and be the prisoner for an eternity. And anyone who wants to stay here can do the same.”
He turned away from Corwon then, staring down to Qenn a
nd his company. “When these four leave, I am leaving with them.”
Everyone was speechless. Kev Wah picked up a container of water and threw it at Corwon. “Have your life!”
He walked out then, leaving everyone to question his intentions. As voices faded to hushed whispers, eyes settled on the newcomers. None of them had an answer.
“I don’t like this,” grunted Kamen to himself.
“What have you done to our brother? What lies have you spread?” Corwon began asking the newcomers. “Have you told him your magic stick will save him? Will save anyone? Because it will not! You are chosen to be here!”
Kamen stood, quieting the murmurs, silencing Corwon. “We have told him nothing. Whatever that man hates about this place, began long before we came here.”
“Fools!” Corwon yelled in return. “You think that we are simple minded, because we live a simple life. But I can see through your mirage. You wish to trick us. You wish to steal—”
“Enough!” Qenn shouted, standing quickly next to Kamen Ode. Then he began to tell them everything. From his flight out of Meadow, to his encounter with Shadox in Skadar Port, to the giving of the staff from Lord Estrial, to his present situation. He left nothing out. No one said anything. They all listened to his story with open mouths and wide eyes. When he was finished, he looked down the table to a sitting Corwon, and told him that they would be leaving soon. He wished them luck in their lives, and told them he felt sorry for them.
“But I don’t see how I can help any of you.”
The room was quiet for a few moments afterward. Qenn heard Kamen grunt something to himself, and felt Kandish rub one of his hands for support. But there were no further arguments. Corwon was left speechless.
“Well, if that is all true, my friend, then you need to speak with the LifeWaters.” He slowly stood. “I will go tonight to speak with it and let it know of your intentions, of your situation. It listens to me. Only to me.”
Corwon looked scared. He moved slowly away from the table. Kandish joined Qenn in standing, followed by Kamen and Prevost. Soon everyone was standing as Corwon reached the door flaps and looked back.
“I will return shortly,” he said. “Eat. Drink. Rejoice.”
Qenn simply nodded. Corwon walked out and disappeared in the night. Qenn turned to Kandish. “I should have gone with him.”
“I don’t think he would have let you, Qenn.”
“He handled it better than I would have thought,” Kamen Ode said. “I guess we wait.” He sat down and began eating. Others picked away at their food as well, seemingly following orders.
Prevost sat down, too. There was sadness in his voice as he spoke. “One never knows their measure of strength, until they are truly tested. As in times like this.”
Kandish said to him. “I’m sure he’ll be fine.”
Prevost smiled back. The look in his eyes let her know she had missed what he was trying to say. “I’m sure he will.”
Qenn sat then, followed by Kandish, but neither ate. Everyone was quiet, staring at them. “Hope he comes back soon.”
It was late in the night when the screaming rang out like a siren sent to level the earth. Qenn and Kandish were sleeping in beds next to Prevost and Kamen when it started, awaking them at once. All four rushed out of their hut, moon and stars shining overhead casting a faint light over the river, the rushing of the waterfall as soothing as ever. People were moving frantically towards the river where a man was yelling for help.
Kamen led his group there, moving quickly, eyes alert and prepared for the worst. They reached the small crowd standing on the riverbank as a man walked out of the river. He was holding something large. As the man drew closer, what he was carrying became obvious, and more screams rang out. People began crying. Some ran away hysterically, having no idea what to do, or who to turn to. The man was helped out of the river, as he laid Corwon’s dead body in the grass.
“Find Kev Wah!” the man yelled.
Corwon’s eye sockets were black, as if they had been burned out. His mouth was wide open in a silent scream. His body was in a stage of decay, rapidly increasing.
Voices whispered, stating that Kev Wah needed to be questioned, ordering for him to be found. Men lit torches and ran through their so-called village in search. But Kev Wah was not to be found. People began crying in prayer, asking the LifeWaters to help, pleading for it to save their fallen leader. One man rushed over to Corwon’s body and began pouring river-water from a large bowl over Corwon’s head in a failed attempt to heal him.
As if it could.
As if it would.
Watching in disbelief, they all waited for the miracle that never came.
In minutes, Corwon erased away until only his bones remained.
Kamen Ode turned to Qenn. “I guess it didn’t listen to him.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE