Page 39 of Light and Shadow
“I can’t. What are the options for ways to go? You said it’s farther to your home now than it was from the village?” She shifts uncomfortably on the hard ground. Her sweet face twists, and her lips are pulled tight.
I pull her off the dampening ground and into my lap.
She doesn’t protest, just tucks her head under my chin and rests her cheek on my chest.
Pushing aside how perfect and right this feels, I say, “We are on the eastern continent of Ear Talamh. The castle where you were held was where my mother ruled before the witch queen conquered these lands. We could travel east, but the desert would be harsh on you, and many of the elves would perish in their current condition. Beyond the desert is an ocean that swallowed up miles of land centuries ago. It is shallow, but to walk on the lost land holds its own dangers. Beyond that is an ocean, but there’s no port to find a ship.
“Then we go west.” Fancor sounds grim.
Nainsi says, “Will you not go to your own home, Fancor? It might be better for your health to portal to the Great Mountains range and bid our plight farewell.”
I can’t disagree with Nainsi. The dwarf would be safer if he went home. This is not his fight. When he looks at me, I nod, hoping he knows I’d not blame him for moving on with his life. His coming this far was a gift.
Fancor’s gaze softens as he settles his attention on Harper. “If you can use my sword, I’ll see this through. I’ll send word to my people of our quest.”
“How will you do that?” Harper shifts to look at the dwarf.
Blushing, Fancor smiles. “Dwarves have a way with creatures. I’ll call an eagle and ask him to carry my message to my king.”
A hint of a smile pulls at Harper’s lips.
“So we go west and find a boat still intact at the old port?” Nainsi shakes her head. “The journey by the Beò Ocean isn’t much better than traveling east. We did it thirty years ago with well-maintained ships and trained crews, and still lost many on the way.”
I know she’s right. I was a child and still remember the sickness of endless days at sea. Mother and Father hid me away below when it got rough. “It will be worse now. The sailors who bring goods from the south and Great Mountains say anyone who ventures across has to go through or south of the Amadan Islands because the monsters of the north are thriving with Venora’s power growing.”
“Are the islands bad?” Harper asks.
Nainsi shrugs. “Not bad. The people of the Amadan Islands are not fond of outsiders and can be a bit testy.”
Bert pats his wife’s knee. “West it is. Do you think we can remain a day or two and try to get these people fed and a bit stronger?” He directs his question to me.
All around the camp, the freed elves are too thin, and many are sick from lack of magic. “They need their magic restored.Staying here is dangerous. The longer we wait, the more time Venora has to heal and return.”
Fancor grunts. “A good night’s rest away from the dark magic of Tobhtá will help them. They’ve been under the witch’s thumb a long time. Tonight, they can breathe. You’ve done a good thing here.”
My heart tells me he’s right, but my gut tightens with the responsibility of all these lives.
Taking Harper in my arms, I stand and grab the straps of both of our packs brought from her world. “How about a soak in the warm lake? It might help you sleep.”
Since she doesn’t protest, I walk out of our circle of new friends and down the hill to the large lake that used to give sustenance to this area when the ruined castle was white and tall and called Priomh Bhaile. It is where I was born, and seeing it in ruin and black with dark magic stabbed me deep in my soul.
“You were born here?” she asks, probably hearing my thoughts.
At the shoreline, I put her on her feet and miss her arms around my neck as she hobbles to the water’s edge.
“It’s safe.” I untie my boots and step out of them. My knife falls out of one boot, and I place it carefully where I can get it if need be.
She looks back at me with wide eyes as I pull my shirt over my head. “They took my shoes.” She looks down at her bare feet. “I guess so I wouldn’t try to run away.”
Stepping out of my trousers, I swallow down my anger at the witch queen and her token man. “They did it to make you feel vulnerable.”
“It worked,” she squeaks out through tears.
“Turn around.” When she does, I unbutton the dress she had looked so beautiful in at the feast. Only now it is in tatters. “I brought you a change of clothes.” I toss the dress on the shore.It’s hard not to cringe at the bruises marking her skin from her neck down the length of her back. Even her legs are cut and bruised. I run my hand along her spine. “I would have given myself to save you, Harper.”
Facing me with her bottom lip puffed out, she shakes her head. “I wouldn’t have wanted that.”
“You’re very beautiful.” I trace the line of her jaw. Holding my desire for her apart, I lift her and walk into the warm water of Mòr Lake.
