Of Gods and Elves

chapter Thirty


Gewey paced the tent. Occasionally he stopped to look outside for Theopolou's return.

“Try to be calm,” advised Linis. “You must have your wits about you if you want to save her.”

Gewey took a deep breath. He knew Linis was right. He must be able to think clearly. He reached out once again, attempting to touch Kaylia's mind, but the result was the same. No matter how hard he tried, he could only sense that she lived. Whatever blocked him was indeed powerful. He prayed they would not harm her.

“Why would they take her, anyway?” asked Gewey. “Why single her out?”

“I can only imagine to get to you,” Linis replied. “Strong leverage.”

“If they harm her...” the words stuck in Gewey throat.

“You cannot let such thoughts enter your mind,” said Linis. “They will cloud your judgment and cause you to make a mistake that could cost both your lives.” He handed Gewey a rag. “Clean your sword and recheck your gear. Make certain you have what you need.”

Gewey nodded and obeyed. He realized he had not brought clothing for Kaylia. She might need it. He searched her room and rummaged through her wardrobe until he found a set a travel clothes. He could smell her scent everywhere, and tears welled in his eyes. He focused his mind and swallowed hard. When he finished, Theopolou had returned. Chiron, Bellisia, Syranis, and Eftichis stood beside him.

“Where are the others?” asked Linis.

“Lord Aneili was slain,” said Theopolou. “Lord Endymion and Lady Leora were injured in the fray and are being tended to. The rest are gathering nearby.”

“Have you figured out who is responsible?” asked Gewey. “Not yet,” answered Chiron. “But we will.”

“We should join the others,” said Eftichis.

“Indeed,” said Theopolou. “But first... what to do with our captive?”

“I would like the chance to question him,” said Chiron.

“As would I,” agreed Bellisia.

“As you wish,” said Theopolou. “But I doubt you will learn anything I have not. I do not think he has any answers that can help us. Those who planned this attack would not have allowed anyone to know too much.”

“All the same, I will try,” said Chiron.

As Bellisia, Syranis, and Chiron approached the captive elf, Bellisia noticed the wounds on his chest. Her eyes met Gewey's with disapproval, but he met her gaze unmoved.

Chiron knelt beside him. “What is your name?”

The elf looked broken and weary. “I have told you all that I am willing to say.” He turned his head and looked away. “Kill me and be done with it. Or better yet, give me to the human. I'm sure he would love to make sport of me.”

“You attacked your own kin,” said Bellisia. “And you took a captive, one bonded to this human. You are fortunate he is human and not an elf. An elf would have made more of you than sport.” She moved closer. “An elf would have you screaming so loudly, it would wake your ancestors.” She moved even closer, forcing him to meet her eyes. Her voice dropped to a whisper “And if Kaylia dies... I will give you to him.”

Fear struck the elf, but he forced it down. “All I know is that you have a traitor among you.” He closed his eyes. “I will say nothing more.”

Bellisia stood up and turned to Theopolou. “Kill him,” she said lowering her head. “But do it without pain.”

“No,” shouted Gewey. “His life is mine.”

“And just what will you do with it?” asked Bellisia. “Will you kill him? Do you wish to torture him further?”

Gewey was speechless.

“Then allow this elf to die,” said Bellisia. “Without pain.”

“Release him,” said Gewey.

The elders stared at Gewey, stunned.

“Release him?” exclaimed Syranis. “Don't be a fool.”

“Linis and Theopolou were right to stop me when I was torturing this elf,” said Gewey. “Though I did not see it.” He closed his eyes and steadied his nerves. “I will not kill him... I will not murder a helpless person. That will not be on my soul.”

Linis placed his hand on Gewey's shoulder. “Is it the best way? If we let him go, our enemies will gain knowledge.”

“Then keep him captive,” offered Gewey.

“How shall we do this?” asked Theopolou. “We have no prison. Our people are reeling from the attack. Where should we keep him?” He drew his knife. “Unless you intend to take him with you, there is nowhere for him.”

“It just feels wrong,” said Gewey.

“Did it feel wrong when you were cutting into his flesh?” Bellisia challenged. “If Linis and Theopolou had not stopped you, would you be so kind now? This elf attacked his own kin and abducted your bonded mate. His death is warranted. ”

“You're right,” said Gewey. “If I had continued to hurt him, my heart would have changed. I see that now. And I'm grateful I didn't.” He met Bellisia's eyes. “How could I face Kaylia with a stain on my heart?”

“If you wish him to live,” said Bellisia, “you can only release him.” She looked down at their captive. “Would you like that? Would you simply wander off, and not warn your kin that Gewey is coming for them?”

The elf squirmed and shifted until he could meet Gewey's eyes. “If you wish to let me go, then you have nothing to fear from me. I will not interfere. I will go east. This I swear.” He lowered his eyes. “But they are right. You can only kill me. It is what I would do in your place.”

Gewey's eyes narrowed, then he straightened his back and said, “You will wait until I am gone three days, then release him. If his word is good, then he will not follow. If not....he had better pray that we do not meet again.”

“I do not agree with this,” said Theopolou. “But I will do as you ask. I will have what remains of my guard watch him.” He called outside and two elves entered. He instructed them to guard the prisoner.

“We should meet with the others,” said Chiron.

They made their way through the smoldering ruins of the camp, to the field near the bridge. There Gewey could see more than a hundred elves gathered in a loose circle.

Several yards away, a pavilion was being erected to house the wounded. From the crowd Akakios limped toward them, carrying a bundle under his arm. His leg was bandaged and his left cheek bore a deep gash.

“My lord,” said Akakios. “It is good to see you unharmed.”

“Thank you,” said Theopolou. “I feared you were slain.”

“I nearly was,” he replied. “I only just bandaged my leg. I was caught in the tempest Gewey unleashed when you made your escape.”

“I'm sorry,” said Gewey. “I didn't mean—”

Akakios held up his hand. “You saved the life of my lord and an elder of our people. A small price. Besides... I live.” He smiled. “I do have a bit of good news, my lord. I was stopped by Felsafell just before I entered the Chamber of the Maker. You had already descended to the floor.” He handed Theopolou the bundle. “He gave me this and told me to give it back to you.”

Theopolou unwrapped it and his eyes widened. “The Book of Souls,” he whispered. “This is good news.”

“But that means Felsafell must have known of the attack,” said Chiron. “And that he refused to warn us.”

“Perhaps,” Theopolou replied. “Perhaps not. I do not pretend to understand the motives of Felsafell. But that he safeguarded the Book of Souls means we have not lost hope.” He turned to Gewey. “I must ask one more thing of you before you leave.” He handed Gewey the box containing the Book. “You must open it and read from its pages.”

Gewey ran his fingers over the smooth, polished wood. “Then we must do it now. I will not wait much longer.”

“Agreed,” said Theopolou. “Come.”

“I must see what has become of my seekers,” said Linis. “I must know if they live. And I must find the trail of our attackers. I shall return soon, Gewey. Then we will depart.”

Gewey nodded, and Linis dashed off over the bridge.

Theopolou led the group to where the elves gathered. All eyes turned to them as they drew near.

“He has brought this on us,” called a voice. “He must leave.” This was met by loud shouts of agreement.

“He will leave,” said Bellisia, her voice rising over the crowd. “He will pursue our attackers and free Kaylia. While you bicker and argue, he will take action.” The crowd became silent.

Theopolou nodded to Gewey. “I think it is time for you to speak.”

Gewey squared his shoulders and stepped forward. He was unsure what he was going to say. All he could think about was going to save Kaylia, and he could feel the seconds slipping away. He took a deep breath and began to speak.

“I am Gewey Stedding and I am here to ask for your help. A dark force is rising in the land of Angrääl. A force that threatens to destroy both humans and elves alike. A force that turns brother against brother. A force that will not stop until it has conquered the whole world. I know that you have been promised your lands, and the freedom to rule them. Some of you may believe this promise, others may not. Some of you think you should join Angrääl, and some think you should stay out of it entirely. But I think that today's attack should tell you that there is no way to do either.”

“We do not know that the King of Angrääl had anything to do with this,” said a tall, silk-clad elf.

“So you think it's a coincidence that your own kin attacked you while the north gathers for war?”

“I am saying that we do not know,” retorted the elf. “I am saying that we have as much reason to suspect that you were involved as we do to accuse Angrääl.” This brought murmurs of agreement. “I am Marinos, lord and elder of the western isles. We too have been offered lands that we already hold, just as the human says. But what he does not say is that it is the human threat that spreads like a plague. They move ever closer to our lands and keeps. They disregard our borders and poison the spirits of even the most wise.” His eyes fell on Theopolou. “Now you say that Angrääl is gathering for war. You tell us what we already know. You pretend to offer us a way out of danger, but you only offer us destruction. If we join you, the Lord of Angrääl will sweep down upon us like a storm. There will be nothing of our people left to save.”

“I had nothing to do with this attack,” said Gewey. “Have you forgotten that they took Kaylia from me?”

“Exactly,” Marinos countered. “Why was she not killed? The field is littered with the dead. Why did they spare her? Perhaps that was what you intended. Perhaps she awaits you now.”

Gewey's anger swelled, but he managed to keep it at bay. “If that is so, then why didn't I kill Theopolou, or any of the other elders? Why did I help them escape? Why am I still here?”

“Who can know the motives of a human,” said Marinos. “If that is what you are. We all saw you in the Chamber of the Maker. What human can control so much of the flow without destroying himself?” More murmurs of agreement.

“I told you all that I would reveal who and what I am,” said Gewey. “I have told you who I am. I am Gewey Stedding and nothing more. As for what I am...” He held up the box containing the Book of Souls. “I assume you know what this is.”

Marinos glared at Theopolou. “You recover what your family was sworn to protect, only to put it back in the hands of a human?”

Theopolou stood expressionless.

“You have heard that only one that possesses the power of heaven can open the Book of Souls,” said Gewey.

Marinos let out a mocking laugh. “So you propose to open the Book of Souls? You claim to possess the power that resides in heaven? Do you even understand the claim you are making?” He turned to the crowd. “A God. The one the prophecies speak of. Here, among us.” His gaze returned to Gewey. “A half-man, most likely. You cannot open the Book with the diluted blood of a God in your veins.”

Gewey decided this was enough. He grabbed the lip of the box and pulled. At first, nothing happened, but then the lid moved. Gasps could be heard throughout the crowd as the box slowly opened. A strong wind blew across the field and the only sound to be heard was the flapping of the nearby pavilion.

“You...” Marinos stammered. “How is this possible? What trickery is this?”

Gewey reach in and pulled out the Book of Souls. The cover shimmered like gold and radiated a soft light. Intricate writing covered the spine and the cover, in a language that not even Theopolou could recognize.

“Can you read it?” asked Theopolou.

Gewey looked at the cover. At first, the symbols made no sense, but slowly he began to understand them. “I can.”

“What does it say?” asked Chiron.

Gewey ran his hand over the cover. “It says: Within these pages is written the true history of Heaven, of Earth, of Man, of Life, and of Gods and Elves.” He looked out on the crowd and said. “Now you know what I am.”

“How is this possible?” asked Bellisia, in wonder.

“I don't know,” admitted Gewey. “In fact, I know almost nothing. I only know what I am, and what I must do.”

“Do you expect us to follow you?” asked Marinos. “If this is true, then it was your kind that caused our people to fall. By all rights we should kill you, here and now.”

“The Gods had nothing to do with the split,” Theopolou said. “All of us that are old enough to have fought in the Great War know this. It is time that the lie was exposed. It is time for us to become the people we once were.”

“So you would have us follow this....creature?” asked Marinos. “You would have our people mix their blood with that of humans?”

“I would have us become a better people,” Theopolou replied. “The idea of mixing with humans is as disturbing to me as is to you. But how much different are we really? We plot and scheme against one another. We kill our own kind. We lie to ourselves and deceive our children. In fact, is there one of you that sees the virtue and grace of our ancestors in the people we are today?”

No one spoke.

“Gewey Stedding has shown me much,” Theopolou continued. “Though he is not a human, he was raised as one. He has defended our people, upheld our values, and kept his word. He has shown courage and determination. He has placed the lives of others ahead of his own. And he has bonded to my kin.

“I am not fool enough to believe that all humans are as he. But he does represent what is best in man. Perfect? No. But honorable, strong, and true. Something I have not seen in elves of late.” He looked Gewey in the eyes. “I admit that when I started this journey, I had hoped for you to reveal yourself to be false. The idea of one such as you leading my people into a new future repulsed me. My mind has been changed. I pledge my house and my family to your cause.”

“As do I,” said Chiron.

“And I,” said Eftichis.

“There is still the matter of the traitor,” said Bellisia. “Before I make any decision, I will know how we came to this pass.”

“The traitor is among us,” said Theopolou. “And I know who he is.”

“Who?” shouted several voices.

Theopolou let his eyes scan the gathering, until they came to rest on Akakios. “The Book of Souls was never in the possession of Felsafell. It went missing just after we arrived.”

Akakios opened his mouth to protest, then lowered his eyes. “I did it to protect you, my lord. Forgive me.”

The crowd erupted. Two elves seized Akakios and disarmed him.

“Traitor,” Eftichis roared, as he drew his blade.

“Stay your blade, Eftichis,” Theopolou commanded. He turned back to Akakios.

“You pretended to befriend Gewey. You were instrumental in the slaying of dozens of your kin. You betrayed your lord, and dishonored your name.”

“I did what I did to help you keep your honor,” Akakios replied, angrily. “You would have us bow to this... abomination. You would lead our people to their doom. Don't you see? I was protecting you... from yourself.” Tears streamed down his face. “But I swear I never meant for so many to die.”

“For one elf to die by your actions is unforgivable,” said Chiron, furiously. “You have sealed your fate.”

“No,” said Theopolou. “Gewey has taught me a lesson this day. Akakios is in my service, and I will decide what is to be done with him.” He walked close to Akakios and leveled his eyes. “He is to be questioned. Then release him with the prisoner in three days. He is exiled to the east. If he has any honor left, he will abide by this decision. If not, so be it.”

“Is that wise?” asked Chiron.

“Probably not,” Theopolou admitted. “But we must be better than those who oppose us. We must not succumb to vengeance or hatred. I will see elves return to grace, even if that means showing mercy to our enemies.” He stepped back and the two guards took Akakios away.

“What now?” asked Chiron.

Gewey handed the Book of Souls to Theopolou. The old elf gazed at it for a full minute before he looked up again.

“I have to leave,” said Gewey. “I have to rescue Kaylia.”

“I understand,” said Theopolou. He put the Book back inside the box and closed it. “I will guard this for you until you return. In the meantime, we have much to discuss amongst ourselves.”

“I will come with you, Gewey Stedding,” said Eftichis.

“No,” said Theopolou. “You are needed here. Many are still not convinced that this is the way. I will need your help.”

“He's right,” said Gewey. “You must help Theopolou. Linis and I can track down the elves that took Kaylia.”

“But you will be outnumbered,” Eftichis argued. “At least let me send some of my guard with you.”

“Thank you,” said Gewey. “But I think Linis is all the help I'll need. If it comes down to a fight, I'd rather not risk more lives than I have to.”

As if on cue, Linis returned, his face grave. “There are no signs of my seekers.”

“Perhaps they were driven away,” said Eftichis.

“Perhaps,” said Linis. “Whatever the case, I have no time to look for them. I found the attackers trail. They flee north at great speed. Some on horseback. We must leave now, or we will struggle to catch up.” He turned to Gewey. “Are you ready?”

Gewey checked the pack and sword. “I'm ready.”

“Good,” said Linis. “You can tell me what happened while I was gone, later. I'm sure it is worth hearing.”

“Indeed it is,” remarked Chiron.

Gewey placed his hands on Theopolou's shoulders. “I am in your debt, and I promise that Kaylia will be safe.”

“I have no doubt of that,” replied the elf. “We will await your return.”

Linis and Gewey raced off in pursuit of Kaylia.