Fable, page 14
“I’m sorry, sir. I just wanted to know if you had seen—”
Before Serena could finish her question, two horses came charging up to the camp. On one was Shaylee, and on the other was a taller stranger dressed in green and brown clothing straight from the pages of a medieval book, Serena thought. He was very handsome, and he was only armed with a bow and arrow. She couldn’t help but notice his brown eyes and long dark hair, very long, braided to one side. There were no jewels or silver, and he had a green leaf-weaved tunic on, with brown undergarments. Other than his quiver, that was all he had, although his hair had symbols shaved into it on the other side of his head as he turned to face the other way, revealing also his elegant ears that were slightly longer and more pointed than those of the Elvenfae.
Shaylee jumped off the horse and ran over to Stexinzar, whispering, “We have trouble, Stex, the woodland elves have been monitoring the situation, and they have said that the evil ones have changed direction and are now heading for Maelenflitt. We cannot let them anywhere near the area. Those who live there have been through enough. We have to stop them.”
Stexinzar nodded. He rustled up the guards and warriors, and mounted the horses. The rest of the camp was being packed as this was happening, and in no time the entire group were ready to depart.
“We will head to Toozookus, Stex, and from there we will devise a plan of attack.”
Stex nodded once more as Shaylee dismounted the horse and returned it to the guard. She walked up to Vyyuna, who lowered her neck and allowed her to mount. With Serena and Van Coinan already in position, Vyyuna raised her head high. Shaylee turned to Serena and whispered, “We are off to Toozookus, Serena. We are going to meet the wonderful woodland elves.”
Serena smiled as Shaylee gave the orders to move on. They galloped off together, their pace now a lot faster, heading into the lower mountain forests toward Toozookus.
They were nearly at the foot of the lower mountains when the leader of the group, ahead by about two hundred yards, came off his horse. The rest stopped as Stexinzar jumped off his horse to check what had happened. Upon inspection, he found a woodland arrow in the guard’s neck. He had been killed immediately.
Stexinzar yelled a warning to head for the trees at the edge of the mountains. They still had to get up through them and over the other side, before arriving at a clearing and the start of the woodlands. This was the edge of Toozookus, home to only peaceful forest folk, with wood elf guards scoping the environs and protecting their home.
The entire group galloped to a dense section of cover as more arrows flew by their heads, barely missing Stexinzar as he mounted his horse again to join them. Nimaalah, the woodland elf who was riding with the group, had his bow out, sending arrows flying into the forest, as did Shaylee and the guards. They could see movement in the direction they were aiming for and there was no hesitation—they needed to kill whatever it was. As peaceful as the Fae were, they would protect their stand-in queen at any cost.
The arrows ceased as the group took deep cover in the dense brush. Stexinzar bolted over to Nimaalah and placed his sword around the bowman’s neck. What Stexinzar had not realized was that Nimaalah was quick and at the same time had placed an arrow deep inside the main vein to Stexinzar’s wing stem, ready to cut a primary artery. Nimaalah dug it in a little harder to start the nerve off. As he did this, Stex realized how precarious his position was and slowly lowered his sword. Nimaalah kept the arrow in place, not being able to trust anyone now as he was on his own in the group. He slowly took the pressure off the vein so they could at least talk. Stexinzar went first as he now had his sword well and truly away from the bowman.
“Is this a trap, wood elf? That was one of your arrows that killed my guard. We are here to help, and you ambush us? Is this a trick to take the princess?”
Nimaalah started laughing, then halted, staring directly into Stexinzar’s eyes with a stern look of warning. “If those were our arrows flying straight at all of you, no one would be standing. It is clearly a trap to make you think it was us. Besides, we train to shoot directly into a faery’s heart not their neck—the neck is too messy.” Nimaalah smiled as he pulled the arrow away from Stexinzar’s back.
Shaylee had heard the argument and said, “Stex, Nimaalah is right. One of our guards found a woodland elf over behind the pine. He was without his quiver and bow, and had his throat cut.”
Stexinzar looked at Nimaalah and witnessed the woodland elf lower his head in grief. “I’m sorry, Nimaalah, I knew that guard well and I snapped. Can you forgive me?”
Nimaalah looked up at Stex, then at Shaylee, completely dismissing his request. He asked her, “Can you show me his body, please?”
Shaylee nodded and galloped off with Nimaalah and the guard who had found the body. When they reached the spot, Nimaalah jumped off his horse and leaned down to see. He knew straightaway who it was. Looking around, then up at Shaylee, he said in a soft, mournful tone, “It is Japhony, a well-trained guard from a well-known family. I will need to take him with me to his family.”
Nimaalah and the Elvenfae guard helped each other as they mounted the body on his horse. Upon further inspection of the ground while they were finishing tying off, Shaylee noticed a black crooked dagger next to where the body had lain. She jumped off the horse she had borrowed and picked up the blade. It was long and bent, with a crooked black handle that looked like it had been handmade from black saprock. She turned and got the attention of the other two. “Look, a dagger with a blade made from black saprock. You know what this means?”
They both looked shocked as Nimaalah answered, “Yes, they are definitely from Xarkynan. Only lower goblins carry such disgusting weapons, and black saprock is only found under the weeping oaks attached to the castle. We have been played and we’d best be on our toes. Come, we must get to the woodlands, fast.”
Shaylee nodded. Nimaalah shared a horse with the Elvenfae guard, pulling the spare with Japhony tied on, as Shaylee galloped off in front to give the rest a heads-up.
After they were all debriefed and they had completed a search of the area, with no one and nothing to be found, Nimaalah took them through a secret cave under the mountain that no one could access except the woodland elves. They couldn’t take the risk of going up into the forest without knowing where the goblin was.
The cave had firelights glowing all through it, giving them all plenty of light to find their way through. Nimaalah had been given the Elvenfae guard’s horse that Shaylee had borrowed earlier from the fallen guard, as she had now returned to Vyyuna and Serena.
Soon they reached the end of the cave and Nimaalah hit a series of rocks on the side. The mountain wall rose, allowing them all into the fields of the clearing and away from the mountain forest. They all rode swiftly for another three miles and then they finally saw the edge of the very tall and dense entry to the woodland forest. Serena was mesmerized. She had never seen trees so tall and wide; they pointed high into the clear blue sky. Her jaw was stuck open in awe.
Shaylee smiled, as she could hear her quiet comments, and then whispered to her, “You have seen nothing yet, my child.”
Serena looked at the back of Shaylee’s blonde hair covering her neck, then at the forest, as Nimaalah rode off ahead to allow safe entry. Not long after, several woodland elves came out to escort them inside. They did not look happy, as Nimaalah had informed them about Japhony.
Upon entering, it felt like they had transported through a portal into an entirely different realm. Serena had never seen anything so wondrous in all her life, not even in books. Up and all around her was a city in the trees, with ladders and walkways attached from the bottom to the tops. There were holes in the middle of huge trees which connected walkways to others, with houses built up around the massive woods, like cubby houses on steroids. The connecting houses went on for miles and miles into the darkness. Not one thing was on the ground save for the stables and animals.
Serena saw a young boy about her age swing from a vine and fly up into the air, do a somersault, and land on his feet, before running along a pathway through to another house. He then looked out at the visitors through his window. She caught his eye, and he smiled, then disappeared deeper into the house.
The elders were gathering to see them all as they came to a stop directly across from the lower section of the high elf elder’s house.
Serena, still looking around in awe, taking it all in, heard Shaylee whisper again, “See, Serena, I told you.”
Serena smiled; this time nothing could break her concentration as she leaned over, still looking around, and whispered back, “You sure did, Shay, you sure did.”
THE WOODLAND ELVES
NOTHING WAS SAID AND THERE WAS NO welcoming party or greeting until after they had said goodbye to Japhony. The custom was to gather at the oak of the ancestors in the middle of the city. There they had Japhony still in his clothes with his bow and arrow placed neatly on his right side, as family and members of his clan made a single line, each taking turns at saying goodbye and reciting ancient prayers.
They invited the Elvenfae to witness this exceedingly rare event as guests, for helping them and keeping the peace between both parties for thousands of cycles. Serena had taken up a seat with Shaylee and Stexinzar, close enough to see, although far enough that they would not interrupt the ceremony. As the last of the family and friends said their goodbyes, the high elf stood on a tall rock. He was dressed in ancient traditional clothing which looked like the trees had wrapped him up with flowers, branches, and leaves, all intertwined around his legs, body, and arms, with a large green leaf on his head that pointed to the sky. The woodland elves were very natural, not spoiled like some in the city environs of Faelynn near the palace. They lived only for nature, and as much as the Elvenfae did too, they were spoiled with riches of high quality clothing, armor, food, and dwellings, though they still very much respected the world around them. The woodland elves did not judge them, nor did the Elvenfae mock the nature elves; in fact, all of Faelynn respected the woodland elves.
Serena was taking all of it in, soaking every bit up so she could tell all her friends when she went back, although she didn’t know yet that Shaylee would not let that happen. The high elf elder raised his hands in the air, as the rest of the clans, tribes, and family were all now in a large circle. He said some words in the old language. Serena had heard bits and pieces of it before but didn’t understand what it meant. She had trouble at times understanding the Elvenfae with their strong traditional accent, English, but a far stronger accent than hers.
His arms stretched all the way into the air while a light came from the surrounding trees, tiny and green, then another followed, and another, until a whole flurry of tiny green lights now circled the body of Japhony. Serena was once again mesmerized. Toozookus was wondrous so far, and she hadn’t even left the woodlands yet. She continued staring intensely, watching what would happen next.
The green lights were now making a humming sound all in unison as they started moving away from the body and returning to the tall trees they came from. As Serena watched them disappear, she smiled. It was like a beautiful light show, however upon glancing at Japhony, she soon realized that he was slowly disappearing. As each light took a part of him, he was soon completely gone. This was all happening very swiftly and without mess or any macabre sight, as if he were being returned to the trees of which he had been a part since his birth.
Serena kept staring as the lights finished completing the task they were summoned for, eventually leaving nothing but the hard oak bench where Japhony’s body had been not more than a few moments ago. They had even taken his clothes and weapons. The high wood elf slowly lowered his hands, gave thanks to the trees, and stepped off his altar to greet the waiting family and friends.
Serena turned to Shaylee and whispered, “Did that just happen, Shay?”
Shaylee smiled and answered, “I’m afraid so, my dear, it is a first for me too. The woodland elves are quite remarkable people. As sad as it was to lose one of their own, they will celebrate tonight knowing he is with his ancestors in the trees watching out for the rest of them. They are very special and ancient, and you have seen something no one else in Faelynn has ever seen, let alone anyone from your world.”
Serena smiled. She didn’t feel sadness for them now; she felt happy that at least they believed that Japhony was still there watching out for them.
After the ceremony, the woodland elves invited Shaylee along with Stexinzar and two high guards to a meeting with the elders to discuss the game plan for the next day’s attack on the intruders. Serena was happy playing with some local children who were in awe of a human girl being able to live in Faelynn without becoming sick or brain-loaded. Van Coinan was chasing some younger ones, hiding behind the trees and scaring them as they ran past. The giggles echoed into the night as Serena laughed and tried to catch the pooka. Happy that she was safe and content for now, Shaylee disappeared into the meeting room high in the trees where discussions were being held.
“Welcome, Your Highness, and thank you for your attendance here today. We are humbled by your presence and welcome any help from the palace to maintain peace in our lands,” said the high elf elder.
“No, it is we who thank you,” Shaylee replied. “We are so sorry for your loss and are also humbled to be invited to your home, to witness such a remarkable event, and to fight alongside you like in old times. Please update us on what you know of these dark events.”
Shaylee smiled as she took her place in the council room, the only woman, although not for long. The female warrior elves had been out scouting the edges of the forest and would return soon. After the ceremony they went to clean up the area and make sure no other dark creatures were lingering. This was requested by Japhony’s sister and leader of her clan, Kapheeny, as she herself wanted to end the life of the putrid creature that took her younger brother.
“Well, from what we know, Your Highness—”
Shaylee interrupted immediately, “Please, call me Shaylee or Shay. We are all friends and equals here while this threat is around. We cannot afford hierarchy; we must work together.”
Sarphonel, the high elf elder, nodded and continued, “Thank you, Shaylee. Word is that they are a day’s ride from Maelenflitt. What they want from there, we don’t know. Whether they had word of the attacks by the tall sinister goblin creatures cycles ago and thought they might be vulnerable, or whether they had other ideas, all we know is that there are many—a good hundred goblins, trolls, dark Elvenfae warriors, and at least one dullahan. Darphanin has more information as his tribe was the last to see them. Nimaalah is one of his tribe members but he was sent to greet you before this information was witnessed, so you will need to listen to what Darph has to say.”
Sarphonel finished and sat back. Shaylee’s ears had turned red at the tips on hearing the name Darphanin. She had not seen her first love in so long, or even heard his name. He walked through the door and apologized for his lateness, looking over at Shaylee and giving her a tiny smile. Shaylee could not believe how handsome he still was, as if he had not aged a day, more like he had become younger somehow than he was in her memory.
She smiled back and awaited his feedback on the events at hand, trying not to get distracted by his dark eyes, long brown hair in traditional braids, and his dark green and brown tunic, which was the uniform of the houses in the trees.
“Sorry I am late. I wanted to make sure everyone was safe, so after Kapheeny left with her tribe, I took a ride around the other side with mine. I have set up extra watchers for now in addition to our watchtowers near Maelenflitt and the edges of Aurora. Any information we need to know will be sent by special owls so we will start on the right foot with intelligence. Also, welcome, Your Highness, I am sure we will get plenty of time to reminisce, as your group will travel with my tribe. Kapheeny will head straight to Maelenflitt and I am placing Nimaalah as leader of Japhony’s tribe. You are more than ready, my friend. You will take up the far flanks as we rush through the middle, head-on to the dark ones.
“The last two tribes will stay here and maintain a stronghold over the edges of Toozookus and our city here, in case it is a decoy for us to leave so they can attack. I cannot give you all any more than that, other than that there are more than a hundred at last count. We witnessed another group of warriors meet the horde right before we returned. We will leave the festivities for now, and upon returning after our victory, we will show the Elvenfae how we celebrate. So rest up, and we ride before dawn. Thank you all.”
After everyone had left the council room, Darphanin winked at Shaylee, who stood up and hit him in the arm, then hugged him tightly, whispering, “That’s for not coming to see me after my father banned you. I am glad you are here with us.”
Darphanin grabbed his arm and rubbed it gently, then put his arms around her, replying softly, “I see you haven’t lost your strength, Shay. I am so sorry for not returning. Your father made it quite clear that I would see the Vaargix Drop if I was to return, so valuing life I decided not to, not that I didn’t have spies check on you now and then.” As he finished his quip, he started laughing, and Shaylee hit him again, forcing him back. As she did so, she started laughing too.
Shaylee and Darphanin spent the next hour reminiscing, while Serena talked to the boy who was showing off earlier in the afternoon. She had met him while Van Coinan had her on the ground, with his ears hitting her face softly. She was laughing so hard that the boy thought the pooka was hurting her, and he came running over to save her, but quickly realized she was laughing and that she wasn’t under attack.
Van Coinan had looked up and called out, “Do you want a go, do you?”
The boy, confused why someone would want to play with a pooka, just stood there, about to turn and run off, before Serena added, “Do it. It’s so much fun. His ear is soft and doesn’t hurt; in fact, it tickles.” She continued laughing.
