The hours following sunrise found the surviving Elves and Men tending to the wounded and burying their dead. The army of Men lost nearly all of their troops, the Elves didn’t fare much better. Together they worked on assembling make-shift wagons for the wounded men of Cillitran. Xtalt helped in taking injured Elves back into healing quarters burrowed in the Ailia as the remaining army of Men began their long trek back to Cillitran. Tane stuck around with Ern Dwull, saying their goodbyes and wishes to their new allies. They discussed their thoughts about what had taken place far to the north. Tane voiced his thoughts proudly of his brother saving them.
It was then that an exhausted Shadox stepped in close to Tane. “Tane, you are King of Cillitran. You are the Elf King. Use your best judgment, listen to your council, and be good to your people. I think that you will be fine. You have many allies already that will support you.”
He paused for a moment, his tone changing slightly to something more serious. “The magic is in you. You first thought it just your sword, your weapon. But now you know that it is far more. You are the weapon. The magic, the power of the Issilix Delsoue is in you. Your blood. Your mind. It is all linked to whatever means you wish to channel it.”
“Be wise of its use,” Terill offered.
“Magic can get the best of the weak minded.” Ankar Rie said, looking away into the smoking and charred battlefield. “But I think you will be fine, Tane.”
Tane took their words wholeheartedly. He would be careful. “It would be my hope to never use it again.”
“Well said, Tane.” Shadox patted Tane on the shoulder, then turned to each of them, saying his farewells, ending with Terill. “My friend, I must be going now.”
“And so must I, sorcerer. The Lyyn is always your home, Shadox. You know that.” Terill’s smile was sad.
“Worry not. I will see you soon, Elven Lord.” Shadox extended his hand and Terill accepted.
“I’m going to believe you some day, sorcerer.”
Ankar Rie sighed. He was wishing that his mentor would travel back to Illken Dor with him. “Where to, Shadox?”
Shadox smiled to Ankar. He knew what the other wanted. “I’ll return to Night Well before long, Ankar. I promise you. Farewell, again. Safe travels, my friends.” He turned then and walked away, moving northwest, a solitary figure against the vast Shyl Plains. In moments he was a blur, disappearing altogether.
“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.” 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.
The 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.”
“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.
“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 returning with them. That made them wonder about each other.
“Kandish? Where are you going?”
“I guess I’m not sure. You still have not said where home was going to be.”
“So, you’ll go with me?” Qenn smiled in relief.
“Qenn, there’s no other place I’d rather be than with you.”
Kandish kissed him. Qenn wrapped his arms around her, pulled her close against him and kissed her back.
“First then, we go to find my brother.”
They walked close to each other, hands held tight together.
He was nearing the Stone Flats with the sun sinking just beneath the trees around him, when a figure walked into his path. Ankar Rie stopped immediately. He stared with uncertainty.
“You have something that belongs to me, sorcerer” the sassy 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.
“My scarf. I’ve come to collect it.” 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 and was grateful to still be alive.
It 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 and he inhaled in deep breaths. 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. There was no hurry.
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 close 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. She had come home.
With unbridled excitement, he raced back into his room. Oskalins could sleep in another day.
Tane 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 alwa
ys 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. It is urgent. Well, at least to them it is, my Lord.”
“What do they want?”
“They’ve asked for nothing. Only to speak to you.”
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?”
“Eating, my Lord. We’ve given them room at the main cafeteria.” The man bowed again and stepped back into the hall.
“If you are headed that way, I will join you.” Tane said. The other smiled and nodded. To join the servant 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. 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!”
Kandish stood beside them, watching their embrace, smiling broadly though it hurt her dry, cracked lips to do so. After several long minutes they broke, and she saw each of them wipe their tears.
“Brother. I wasn’t sure…” Tane began, struggling with his emotions.
“And yet here I am! Look at yourself!” Qenn laughed. Tane somehow looked larger than before.
“Kandish!” Tane smiled to her. “I see you’ve kept watch over him! I know what a job you’ve had!”
They each laughed. Kandish said, “He’s a handful. But no more than I was. And yourself as well, I think.”
She lunged out and embraced him briefly. “It’s good to see you again.”
“I was worried about you two.” Tane replied, staring at them both. His smile was gone for the moment.
“Well, it was true then. Shadox knew what he was doing.” Qenn said to Tane. “You’re King. And the demons are destroyed. We did it, Tane. We did it for her.”
Tane held his emotions, nodding only, not wanting them to see him cry.
Qenn added, “I can’t believe you’re King of Cillitran. I could picture King of Stinkweed.”
“I am, and always will be your brother.” Tane hugged Qenn again, patting his back several times in joy. “Save for now, I can throw you in a dungeon. One full of Stinkweed.”
They laughed again.
“Cook!” Tane shouted towards the kitchen. The cook rushed out. “Your finest ale! Deserts! Pies and cakes and whatever else you have to celebrate!”
Qenn smiled broadly. “I have a story for you.”
Tane laughed hard. “As do I, brother. As do I.”
As one, the three walked back to the table, already beginning their tales.
About the Author
Sean McKenzie began writing screenplays shortly after high school. After working with independent film companies, he began his first novel, The Elf King. The sci-fi thriller Project Human became his second book, and following that is his crime-drama The Hitman: Dirty Rotters.
Sean lives in northern Michigan with his wife and kids.
You can connect with the author at:
@AuthorSeanMcKenzie on Facebook
@PizzaAndDews on Twitter
Ebook versions can be found for each book.
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