The air was cool in the early morning hours, borderline comfortable, Qenn thought as he passed between huts, careful not to wake anyone. He reached the outskirts and entered in the wild foliage without looking back, happy to be successful in his attempt to leave on his own. He missed Kandish already, he realized. He almost wondered if he was doing the right thing, but then pushed down the thoughts and implications right away. There was no room for self-doubts. Weakness and worries were for other times, he told himself. He was on his own.
Passing through the bushes and the tall grass that outlined the lagoon, he found himself wondering of Tane. He would have made the same decision, Qenn thought.
Looking up to the moon, still hanging just beyond the hill’s peak, he whispered, “I wish you were here, Tane.”
He stepped into the lagoon then with purpose and pressed on with no further delays, no more reflections and second-guessing, no more thinking of anything other than what he was sent to do. The present was going to be difficult enough as it was.
He began thinking then of how he could reclaim the staff. The Faerie creature would surely possess it and would not likely just hand it over to him. He would ask, of course. Probably beg. He might have to break down and tell it everything, the purpose of the staff and of his mission to save everyone. But for an eternal creature, what care would it even have for the world’s troubles? It would endure no matter what was happening outside the Pikes.
He decided then to come forth with the truth of his visit. It could see his thoughts anyhow. A lie would only get him killed.
Qenn sighed deeply. Even if he went through with that plan and it gave him the staff, he still had no idea how to use it. Surely he would have to tell the LifeWaters what it was going to do, warn it before the staff attacked it, or else it would feel threatened and react violently. It might even do so once it was informed of the staff’s purpose. Qenn was not sure. He had no idea what to expect. No real plan of action, other than walking up to it and asking it for help.
Qenn reached the end of the tunnel and stepped onto the flat rock and hesitated, staring out to the pool of water where he first saw the LifeWaters. He took a deep breath to steady himself. Then he saw it. Lying on the stone next to the water was the staff. He could not help himself but to smile. With no further hesitation, he left the rock and walked forward to the staff.
Once he was within a few feet from it, he looked up and around, admiring the size of the cavern. It was huge, he thought. The strange blue-light glow cast across the stalactites in a shimmering fashion was mesmerizing. Magical. Immediately he felt another presence watching him. It made him feel small and uncomfortable. He slowly turned to the pool next to him, expecting to see a set of eyes, but there was none. He turned to his other side and stared at the pond there as well. But nothing showed. Swallowing hard, Qenn reached down then, and slowly picked up the staff.
“I need to talk to you,” Qenn said nervously, not knowing what else to do. He waited for a few moments, but when nothing happened, he called out again.
“Please. I know you can hear me.”
“What do you want?” a deep voice belled out.
Qenn turned around in a circle. He saw no one. “I need your help.”
“You are not one of mine.”
Qenn was not sure what it meant, other than he was an outsider to the village. He didn’t know what to do. “No. But I still need your help.”
The water in the shallow pond next to him began to swirl. Slowly a form began to materialize, taking the shape of a man his height. Qenn could see right through him. He impulsively stepped back.
“How do you know of me?”
It spoke with such sincere curiosity that Qenn was briefly confused and stuttered his response. “Your people speak great things of you. I need a great favor.”
Its voice boomed out like thunder. “Do you know of my kind, mortal?”
Qenn nodded. It moved close enough to Qenn’s face that he could make out all the features that a person would have, only it was made of water. As it studied Qenn, he saw it blink.
“I can read your mind.”
Qenn nodded. A response was not necessary.
“You do not approach me as the others have. Are you not afraid?”
“I am.”
Qenn held his breath. It was within inches from him. Then quickly, it moved back away, standing over the water once again.
“I know why you have chosen to come.”
“I have to ask you for your power,” Qenn began, instantly afraid he had said the wrong choice of words. “To save my people.”
“Go back to your dying world.”
“I have come a very long way. I will be leaving here soon.” Qenn held up the staff. “But not before you help me.”
The LifeWaters stood silently for a moment, staring blankly at Qenn. Then it began to recede back into the water. “Go.”
Qenn’s heart sank. “Wait! I was sent here—”
“Your problems are of no consequence to me, mortal. Leave me.”
Qenn was stunned. He had no idea what to do. The LifeWaters slowly sank away into the pond, and all he could do was watch in disbelief. It was not supposed to be this way, he thought. He had expected something to happen.
The Faerie creature was gone now. The water settled, calm again. Qenn stood looking at his own reflection. His face was pitifully sad. The weight of the world’s fate had rested on his shoulders, and now he could not help them. The journey had been a waste. So many people were going to die.
He became angry. He shook his head and squeezed his staff so tight that his knuckles turned white. “No!”
Qenn turned to face the pool of water again. His thin eyebrows slanted down to his eyes angrily. “I am not leaving until you help me!”
No response.
He looked around the massive cavern and called out again. But nothing came back. For a brief second, he became scared that it was never going to show again. But that feeling only fueled his anger further. He swept his arm up to the sky and spoke loud and demanding. He was not going to just walk away.
“Show yourself to me!”
He turned and repeated his demand in every direction. Each time his voice lost more of its innocence. He was suddenly aware now of how warm his staff had become. It was not from his boiling rage. It was the staff.
Qenn smiled. It was magic.
Kandish stirred in her sleep. Her body ached. She awoke with the fear that something was terribly wrong. Her magic was coming alive within. And it had never done so without her being in harms reach. She sat upright in her bed, trying to push the magic back down. She looked around the dark space, noticing Qenn’s bed was empty. Deep in her heart, she knew he was in trouble.
“Wake up!” Kandish yelled from her bed, trying to wake Kamen Ode slumbering next to her. Her face was washed in panic. “Something’s wrong! Qenn needs us! He went to get the staff!”
Kamen was a jumble of grunts and groans as he moved quickly out of bed, still half lost in his dream. Prevost sat up, rubbed his face, and ran with them out of the hut. Already Kandish could feel her stomach churn. Her magic was vibrating. It was anticipating release.
“We have to hurry!”
Kandish felt her magic rolling through her then in waves. It would overcome her, she knew. But this time she didn’t care. She would do whatever it took to make certain he was safe.
Hold on, Qenn. I’m coming!
The water behind Qenn exploded skyward, and as he turned quickly, he saw the LifeWaters emerging ten times larger than previously. Qenn drew a deep breath. He held his ground, thrusting the staff out in front of him for protection. He had no idea what it would do, but he could not ignore its presence.
“Fool!”
The LifeWaters rose to the height of the cavern. It bent down violently then, bringing its head down over Qenn. Its words sprayed mist across Qenn in violent roars.
“Why would I care about your world’s problems? I do not breathe as you. I do not think as you.
I do not care, as you! If your Race dies, another will replace it. But I and my people will endure. You have no respect for that. Your Race, your world, full of greed and lies, would struggle to destroy each other. My people live in peace. They know love—”
“Your people are slaves!” Qenn was tired of listening to it talk. “You want to talk about the truth? Your people don’t love you! They don’t love the life that they have! You’ve allowed them to live forever, but they are killing themselves to get rid of you!”
“Lies!” The LifeWaters hiss and coiled.
“Read my mind! The truth is there and you can see it yourself!”
It screamed again. Its mouth opened wide enough to swallow Qenn without effort.
Qenn should have been terrified. It appeared as though the LifeWaters would simply swallow him whole. But the anger still burned within the elf. The power of the staff was pulsating now; the magic was awakening.
“My world that you care nothing for is in danger and I was sent to help it. To destroy the evil that will conquer us, I need a great talisman. So I was sent here to take power from you. But I don’t believe in taking, so I tried to plead with you to help me. But you would not listen. I will not ask you again. My staff is magical. It will do as I say.”
The LifeWaters laughed. “Your stick is useless here boy. You cannot take what is mine.”
“I will, if that is what I have to do.”
“I am too powerful for you, mortal.”
“I am done warning you!”
The LifeWaters screamed, growling so hard that the wind from its mouth sent Qenn off his feet. “Mortal! You cannot fathom what I am. My power, my life, cannot be contained by your stick, or anything else. I am constant. I am restless. Alive for all of time. I take root in the earth and water, growing and giving life, nurturing and healing. I am not of your kind, so I do not pay heed to your demands, mortal. I have read your mind and you have chosen unwisely! You will share the fate of your filthy world!”
“No!” Qenn yelled, watching the LifeWaters flare white. He knew what was happening. Kev Wah’s face flashed before him. Then the cavern was lit so bright that Qenn had to shut his eyes. He cringed, waiting to feel the other’s magic rip into him. It never came. With caution, he opened his eyes.
The LifeWaters stood above him, its arms stretched downward spewing white magic from its hands in an attempt to kill him. But the staff was intercepting the light. It was absorbing it.
“Your staff is not strong enough!” The LifeWaters cried menacingly. It mustered more power then, pushing its heated light down to crush Qenn’s staff.
Then Qenn heard it scream anew. Peering through the light, Qenn saw its face change. “No!”
Yet the magic still sped forth. Qenn saw it reel away, thrusting itself backward, appearing to flee. But the magic held intact. The LifeWaters could not escape it.
“What are you?”
Then Qenn realized what was happening. The LifeWaters was not attacking him anymore. His staff was stealing its power. The LifeWaters could not stop it.
“You tricked me, mortal!”
“All I wanted was your help!”
It swirled around the cavern then, running like a chained animal. Qenn watched it closely, the white magic still drawing from the LifeWaters to his staff in a steady beam. And then it slammed down into a pond across the cavern and its magic stopped. Qenn’s heart was racing, his staff glowing and warm. Then he watched it rise up again directly in front of him. It came within feet from Qenn’s face. He waited for it to crush the life out of him. But the look on its face was not anger.
“You love your people. You would offer your life to save them.”
Qenn shrugged. “Yes. That’s what love is. It’s given freely, with risks and with rewards.”
The LifeWaters face was emotionless. “My people die, as you have said. But they have love.”
Not everyone wants to live forever, Qenn thought.
-But they have love. Forever-
Qenn heard its response loud and clear. But it was wrong. It would never see life the way he did. The way its people did. It was immortal, eternal. He wondered how it could care for its people at all.
“Allowing you to live now, is how I am showing you what love is. I am not the enemy to your world.” It pointed to the river flowing out. “You have what you came for, savior. But it’s more than you. It’s alive, mortal. It will find a way to leave your staff. And when it does, I will be alive there as well. I am life. I am eternal.”
Without a pause, the LifeWaters sank beneath the surface.
Qenn held the staff firm, watching it glow brightly. He had no idea how it came to life. It was warm and pulsating in his hands. He smiled.
“Go!” its voice boomed out, echoing through the cavern.
Qenn did so, rushing away across the smooth rock to the tunnel, using the staff for lighted-guidance. He was running so fast that he barely remembered the trip through the tunnel, or how he had got there. He was so excited that his staff worked, that he had accomplished what he had set to do, and that he did it without anyone dying. He could not wait to tell Kandish. He could not wait to see her again.
Within a few seconds he came barreling out to the lagoon, running smack into Kandish and Kamen Ode, sending them all splashing into the water.
“What happened?” Kandish gasped. She embraced Qenn tightly.
“I have it!” Qenn exhaled sharp, his voice and face full of exhilaration. “I have the magic. The staff came to life somehow and… I got it!”
“Good. Let’s get out of here right now!” Kamen Ode pulled himself out of the lagoon, standing on shore with Prevost.
Kandish faced Qenn with hurt in her eyes. “You risked your life doing it yourself. It was foolish, Qenn.”
“I had to do it alone,” Qenn tried to explain. “I couldn’t put you all in danger.”
“You put yourself in danger,” Kandish said, almost yelling.
Qenn kept her gaze for a moment. She was hurt. And she was scared. He nodded and let some of his excitement settle. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”
Kandish’s expression did not change. “If something happens to you…then everything is over, Qenn.”
Qenn understood. But before he could do or say anything, Kandish was pulling him in and wrapping her arms around him tight.
“Okay, he’s learned his lesson. Let’s go.”
Kamen Ode led them away from the lagoon, moving quickly through the thick foliage to the huts of the village. Once there, he slowed, watching his company slow at his side.
“I am going to miss Aless. I wish I could have said goodbye.” Kandish was looking towards the huts, wishing the young girl would come rushing out of her hut to say goodbye.
“I will tell her,” Prevost said casually. He had stopped walking, watching the others slowly walk away.
They stared at him in wonder. Kamen Ode was confused. “What is it, Prevost?”
Prevost stood facing them. He sighed, having no idea how to begin. His voice was melancholy. “I guess you can say this place has attached itself to me.”
“Don’t tell me you want to stay.”
Prevost smiled in spite of him. “No, can’t say that I do.”
“Then let’s go.”
Kamen Ode led them through the village, moving northeast to the woods. No one said more than a few words at first. They did not want to stir any attention. Once they reached the woods and were clear of the huts, Qenn whispered to Kandish what had happened with the LifeWaters. They walked side-by-side, staring at Qenn’s staff. They were watching the white glow dissipate, the staff returning to its normal color. The conversation continued for a while, until they noticed Prevost trailing. They slowed, waiting for him. But once it was evident that he was not intending to catch up, they walked back to him.
“Prevost?” Qenn asked.
He heard Kamen Ode order them to hurry up. Kandish called out to him, telling him that something was wrong with Prevost. Kamen Ode mov
ed quickly to join them.
Prevost pointed northeast. “You’ll want to head that way—”
“Wait a minute.” Kamen interrupted right away. “You can’t tell me you’re staying.”
Prevost’s smile was sad. His breathing was labored. He leaned against a tree stump, wincing painfully. Something was wrong.
“Prevost?” Kandish urged.
Dawn was approaching fast, with the sky behind already lit with expectance. Prevost sighed. “You’ll have to go without me.”
“You can’t be serious!” Kamen Ode growled. He stepped in closer to his friend. “You can’t stay here! You’ll be miserable. You don’t want to—”
“My journey with you has been a good one, my friend.” Prevost reached out and patted the other’s shoulder. “But it ends here. I can go no further. I have to stay.”
“You’re not one of them! You have a choice!”
Prevost shook his head. “No, my friend. I wasn’t given a choice, either. I guess I was chosen.”
Kandish shook her head. “What are you talking about?”
“You drank the water?” Qenn could not believe it. “When?”
“Breakfast. Before the note. I felt it change me immediately.”
Qenn heard Kandish gasp next to him. “Prevost, I’m sorry. I had no idea.”
Kandish stepped over to him, wrapping her long arms around him and squeezing him tight. “You should have said something.”
“There was nothing to say,” he whispered. He turned her loose then, looking at the tears in her eyes, watching them stream down her cheeks.
“This is so terrible,” she cried softly. “We can’t just leave you.”
“Oh, it’s not so bad,” he lied. “Plus, these people need someone like me to step in and guide them. Someone they can look to for help. A final act of repentance for all the wrongs I have placed in my past.”
Kamen Ode stood staring at Prevost as though he was ready to crumble. “Okay, then. Be their leader. They can use you.”
“No, wait.” Qenn said. “I can go back and talk to the LifeWaters. I can use my staff to make it change you back. I have the power now, I can—”
But Prevost was already shaking his head. “I cannot let you risk your life again, Qenn. What you need to do now is greater than myself. You cannot risk going back. I won’t let you.”
Kandish stared at Qenn for a second, noticing the anger in his eyes. She thought at that moment, he looked different. It wasn’t in his physical appearance, but rather in his general persona. But the thought went as easy as it came and she focused on Prevost.
“Prevost, I’m sorry.”
“There’s nothing we can do,” Kamen stated in dismay.
Prevost smiled. “You gave me back my life, friend. What more could you do? “
Qenn could see a look pass between them, a brief ache that they shared. It would be the same for him if Kandish was parting with them, he guessed. Still, he had not the words. “I am going to miss you, Prevost.”
“You’ll be fine, elf. You’re in good hands.” He patted Qenn on the shoulder. “When this mess is all cleaned up, you’ll know where to find me.”
Qenn nodded. “I will. I will come back and see you. I promise.”
“Me, too.” Kamen Ode grunted. He slapped Prevost with a handshake, then whispered something to him that the others could not hear. When he pulled away, Prevost wiped the corners of his eyes.
“Go. Go be the saviors of the world.” Prevost waved them off, not looking them in the eyes, not wanting them to see. “Be safe, my friends.”
Kandish cried, waving bye to Prevost. Qenn held one of her hands and walked her away, Kamen Ode holding his ground a moment longer. In a matter of seconds, he was pushing past them. Qenn thought he saw the big man crying.
When Qenn looked back again, Prevost was nowhere in sight.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE