Chapter 10 #2
Jacthor stood nearby, swinging his sword to deflect a few more fireballs coming for his wife and daughter.
The Frostdar could make his weapons bounce magic spells back at their casters.
It was a helpful skill that had proven vital more than once on this journey.
His efforts now took out a couple of our aggressors, which I appreciated.
Finally, we reached the boulders and slowly pushed through the protection spells as they scanned our intentions.
It only took a few seconds to see that we meant no harm, but it felt like hours.
One of the Frostdar grunted as a fireball hit him in the back, but luckily, he had spelled armor that blocked the worst of it.
His skin and clothes only took minor damage.
Once we crossed to the other side, everyone doubled over and caught their breath. After having little food, water, or rest for days while using our magic heavily, it took little to wear us out.
We turned around, watching the fireballs disintegrate against the wards as our attackers struggled through the tall grass to catch up.
The flames sizzled and extinguished each time they struck, leaving a thickening, acrid odor in their wake.
The figures came close enough for me to verify there were two dozen dark elves remaining—with furious expressions.
They stopped a short distance away but proceeded no farther.
Perhaps the Karganoth soldiers had already tested the Andalagar defenses and found them too difficult to infiltrate, which also explained why they’d been lingering nearby.
I flicked my thumb at them and spat at the ground—an obscene gesture dark elves used to insult each other.
They began shouting curses, while I gave them a sinister smile. The God of Wrath whispered encouragements in my head that I should attack them. All I had to do was cross back over the border, and I could wipe out all two dozen with just a bit of effort. It was tempting.
“Ignore them. They can’t touch us here,” Jacthor said, taking my arm. “Let’s go.”
He must have seen the expression on my face.
I forced myself to take a deep breath and remember my priorities. “Yes, of course.”
We turned and began walking. I knew the whereabouts of one village, but it was at the southern end of the territory and far from our current location.
Thankfully, Lord Hartoll knew the land better.
He found the nearest road and began leading us east toward the coast. We didn’t make it very far before several Pegasi with riders appeared in the sky. They flew straight for us.
Our welcome committee landed a few minutes later, and three tribal warriors dismounted. None of them wore tunics, with only the straps for their sword scabbards crossing their tan chests. Each wore brown or black buckskin pants and sturdy boots. They walked toward us with purpose and confidence.
“We’ve been expecting you.” The Andalagar chief, known as Cinar, dipped his chin. “It’s good to see you made it here whole…if a little worn and ragged.”
He appeared middle-aged, with a long, dark braid running down his back.
The look in his golden eyes held amusement.
I’d met with him a few times over the years and found him to be a good and fair man.
While he did lead this section of Andalagar territory, he was subordinate to Prime Chief Orran within the tribe's overall hierarchy.
“It’s good to see you as well, Cinar. We seek safe passage to your tribal lands in Therress as soon as possible,” Jacthor said.
The leader shook his head. “We have a portal ring only a half-hour walk from here, but our channeler is away. He won’t return for two days.”
I cursed inwardly. “Then we need you to send a sebeska to Prime Chief Orran, requesting that my wife, Aella, portal here to retrieve us.”
“So, it’s true you married a Therressian?” Cinar asked, astonishment in his golden gaze. “I’d never thought such an alliance would occur between your two lands.”
I was in no mood to give a full explanation, nor did he need one. “It did, and she’s mine.”
“Very well. As soon as we reach the village, I’ll send a sebeska,” he said, turning serious.
Jacthor and I joined Cinar, walking ahead of the others.
“What developments have you heard on the dark elves?” the Lord of Hartoll asked.
“They are steadily streaming into Zadrya through portals and ships in greater numbers by the day,” the chief said as he gestured for the Pegasi to leave on their own.
He and his two men would stay on the ground with us.
“Our seers didn’t have any premonitions that they planned to invade, which is unusual for an attack of this scale.
We suspect Karganoth must have used powerful blocking spells to prevent it. ”
I worked my jaw. “None of my contacts over there reported anything, either, but I stopped hearing from them several months ago. Blocking spells do seem likely.”
Even my mother had been silent since I last saw her, which wasn’t entirely unusual.
Sometimes she didn’t make contact with me for months at a time.
It was why I didn’t find it suspicious until now.
Had she attempted to warn me and been caught, or had she been watched too closely to chance it?
I prayed to the nameless ones that she wasn’t in trouble now.
Jacthor rubbed his chin in thought. “It’s possible someone was born among them who has a talent for shielding against seers, and they only needed to wait for them to become powerful enough to do it sufficiently for their needs.”
“Agreed.” Much like my wife had a once-in-multiple-generations type of ability.
Cinar went on to tell us all he knew about the dark elves’ invasion across Zadrya, reassuring me they’d yet to conquer any part of Veronna, but I should get home soon. It would only be a matter of time before we lost ground.
“Karganoth’s army hasn’t infiltrated any of our tribal lands so far.
We’ve only experienced minor attempts to breach our wards, but we suspect they will turn their full attention toward us after they finish with the fae,” Cinar continued, expression grim.
“We’re implementing steps to keep them out. ”
“Such as?” I asked, lifting a brow.
He shook his head. “We prefer to keep that to ourselves.”
It was understandable, though frustrating.
Jacthor had anger and annoyance written all over his face. “Once my family is safe, I plan to gather as many of my soldiers as I can to retake my lands. They caught us unprepared with this attack, but my people are strong, and we will rid ourselves of their filth.”
I was grateful I’d cultivated many friendships over the years among the powerful, or else they’d likely view me with suspicion as a half dark-elf.
Instead, I’d made a point of proving my loyalty to Zadrya time and again.
Only my father had questioned me because I didn’t talk about what I did away from home.
Little did he know I was creating a means of survival for myself and my twin sister—and now my wife.
“We will all rise against them,” I said.
It frustrated me that I couldn’t join the fight immediately, but I had to get Zadrya’s heirs to safety first. Safeguarding the royal family was imperative, or our realm would truly be lost. The fae and other races wouldn’t accept any others without a civil war.
Undoubtedly, my sister was at the forefront of the battles in Veronna, holding the dark elves back with sleeping spells and fire while cursing me for not being there to help.
Was she using the God of Wrath’s powers the same as I’d been doing?
I knew she had done it a time or two when the situation turned desperate enough, but like me, she preferred to avoid it.
Jacthor grunted. “As soon as we reach Prince Armin, I will begin coordinating strategy with him. I must also get my son back. The nameless ones only know what they’ve done with him, but they will pay for taking him.”
“We will save Zelthor if at all possible,” I vowed, though I didn’t want to say what might have become of him. We didn’t even know if he was still alive.
Everyone fell into silence. Nothing more could be said or done at the moment. We’d reached the foothills of the mountains, and it took more energy to maintain our pace. Fatigue began to gnaw at me more than ever. Each step felt heavier and more difficult than the last.
The village we sought appeared after we crested the next rise.
It was a considerable size with at least a few hundred cabins and other structures.
A dark silver ring stood upright on the outskirts near the cerulean waters of the Carsiyan Sea.
It was a picturesque and tranquil sight after what we’d been enduring these last few days.
As we drew close, my vision began to darken and blur. A deep laugh sounded in my head, and a thunderous voice spoke. It’s time to pay your debt, Darrow.
No, not now!
I fell to my knees, overwhelming weakness filling my body. “I can’t…”
Words failed as everything went numb. Strong arms grabbed me while I sank into a deep, dark oblivion that would soon produce my worst nightmares. No one could save me from them.