Ten minutes later, Seth was nearly there. He turned left down a dirt village road. Jena’s modest house was decorated with symbols of Odella. He banged on the oak door. “Ms. Keya, my father needs help!”
Jena opened the door. “My mother is in the library. Come in.”
As soon as Seth entered the small house, he was overtaken by the incense. The living room and kitchen were a large single room. Underneath a large window in the back stood an altar with a bowl of burning incense on top. Paintings of Odella and battles between the gods decorated the room. In front of the giant fireplace were two couches with a small table in front of them.
“I’ll get her,” Jena said as she disappeared into the back.
A moment later, Keya entered the living room. “What is it, Seth?”
Seth swallowed. “A man got stuck in one of our bear traps. He’s bleeding and—and father said to get you.”
“I just finished up with another patient,” Keya said.
Alya stepped out of the back room and smiled at Seth. “I’ll go too, maybe I can help.”
Keya nodded. “Sure.” She started putting incense, bandages, candles, and other magical components into a bag.
Seth frowned. Why didn’t Alya help them when the Dark Elves slapped his mother?
“Where are they taking him?” Alya asked.
“My house.”
Keya hoisted the bag over her shoulder. “Let’s go.” She rushed out the door.
It took them fifteen minutes to reach Seth’s house. He opened the door and they were already there. Dane’s foot was wrapped tight with a bandage, and he was sitting on the couch. William and Jacob stood back, shifting their weight from one foot to the other. “I got them,” Seth said.
Sally rushed over to Keya. “What can I do?”
Keya started to clear the small table in front of the couch. “Take these,” she said as she handed Sally the unwashed plates. Keya pulled out a small bowl and placed it on the table.
Seth leaned over to Jena. “What’s she doing?” he asked as Keya put the little bag of incense on the table.
Jena’s eyes glistened as she looked into his eyes. “She’s going to cast ‘Odella’s Touch.’ It’s the healing spell she’s been trying to teach me.”
“Trying? What happens if you don’t do it right?”
Jena looked away. “You make the wound worse. I was trying to heal a sprained ankle, but I turned it into a broken leg. Mother was not happy with me.”
“Can you do it now?”
Jena shook her head. “Not yet.”
Seth blinked. “I’ll remember that.”
Keya poured the incense into the enchanted bowl and lit it. She bowed her head and said a silent pray to Odella, the goddess of Light. Dane winced as Keya placed his foot on the table. With her eyes closed, she put her face over the burning incense. “Min touch Helbred nom,” Keya muttered in a soft voice. “Min touch Helbred nom.” Her left hand began to glow. “Min touch Helbred nom.” She grasped Dane’s ankle.
Dane arched back in pain. He screamed.
Seth's eyes opened wide. “Did she fail?”
Jena smiled in pride. “Nope.”
As Dane’s bone healed and his flesh regenerated, Keya screamed. Her right ankle began to bleed. The cracking of bone echoed through the house.
Sally rushed over to her friend.
“No!” Jena yelled as she pushed Sally away.
Keya screamed again.
“Get out of the way,” Brock said as he pushed Jena aside. “She’s hurt.”
The pain was visible in Keya’s eyes as she shook her head. She bowed and silently prayed to Odella. After a moment, her right ankle glowed and Keya collapsed.
Seth walked behind Keya and looked at her ankle. “It’s healed.”
Jena nodded. “Yes, this spell causes the healer to take on the wound, removing it from the patient. Afterward, a prayer will heal the faithful priestess.” Her eyes glowed. “Isn’t it beautiful?”
“You want to do this the rest of your life?”
“Yes.”
Seth grimaced. “You’re nuts.”
Sally moved next to Keya, helping her up. “I’ll bring her to the bedroom to rest.”
Brock nodded. “Okay.”
Dane struggled to his feet. A smile latched onto his face as he started to jump up and down. “Amazing. I haven’t seen anything like that since—” He sank into the couch. “Since the Battle of Staerdale Castle. She’s a real priestess of Odella, isn’t she?” he asked.
Jena grinned. “Yes, and she’s my mother. She’s teaching me to be a healer, too.” Her eyes wandered over towards Seth and her smile grew bigger.
“Jena!” Sally called from the bedroom. “Your mother needs you.”
She frowned. “Coming!” Jena ran into the back.
Seth’s eyes grew big. “Were you at the Battle of Staerdale Castle?” Seth asked.
Dane’s eyes grew tired. “I fought at Port Eldham. The attack ended up being a ruse. We lost a lot of good men. The king was so confident that Port Eldham was the Darkstriders’ main attack that he left a woman in charge of defending the castle.”
Brock’s face reddened. He clenched his fists. “She was a better knight than most.”
Dane sniffed. “She didn’t do such a good job, did she? The castle fell.”
Brock started to rise when William moved between them. “No more. Reliving past mistakes will not lead us to overthrowing Kade and putting the rightful king on the throne. We’ve been down this road too many times with too many people.”
“Dane,” Jacob said. “We should stop this ridiculous quest. The prince is most likely dead or sold as a slave… or worse.”
Seth swallowed. “What could be worse?”
Jacob looked down at Seth. “Nothing you need to worry about now. Let us talk with your father.”
“No,” Brock said. “The boy stays. If you want him to leave, then I suggest you lead by example.”
Dane glared at Jacob. “He’s okay. He’s the one who freed me from the trap, not either one of you.”
Brock settled back into the soft couch. “Why are you here? Crey Village is out of the way and quiet.”
Sweat began to glisten on Dane’s forehead. “We’re—” He glanced up at Jacob. After he had nodded, Dane continued. “We’re trying to join the rebels so we can end this nightmare that has befallen the kingdom. There’s something that scares the Darkstriders more than one hundred legions of war wizards. It’s insane, but they believe it. They’re sending their defense forces out to search for him while leaving the beer wenches to guard the castle.”
Brock frowned. “They may not be beer wenches.”
Dane raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
He leaned forward. “Dark Elves can change their form to appear to be any humanoid creature, but they had to be in contact with that person first. I don’t know if a male elf can turn into a human female, but I wouldn’t put it past them. They would never leave Staerdale Castle and Port Eldham undefended. It sounds more like a trap for overambitious knights to me.”
Alya sat down next to Brock. “Would it hurt to find out if it’s true?”
Seth smiled at Alya. She may not have helped them when the Dark Elves attacked, but she did save them from the Darkstriders in the market. She was brave, no question there. Yeah, she was the real thing.
Brock grunted. “How do you propose we do that? Staerdale Castle is a two-week journey from here.”
She lowered her eyes.
Seth stood up. “How about we question the Dark Elves that are here?”
Dane frowned. “We’d have to kill them. The moment they got back, they’d wipe out everyone in Crey Village. Leave this to the adults, boy.”
Brock glared at him. “I think you may have outstayed your welcome here. That’s my son you’re talking to.”
Dane bucked up on Brock. “You’re pathetic.”
Alya whistled. Both men froze and stared right at her. “The boy is right. Maybe not interrogate them, but at least follow them. If it’s their army, they’ll have their regular equipment and complement of mages. Then we can grab one to confirm the story or not. At the very least, we could get them to tell us what they’re afraid of. Maybe we could use it to our advantage.”
Brock and Dane sat back down. “I can agree to that,” Brock said.
Seth turned towards Alya. “Tell me what I need to look for.”
She smiled. “I think your father is better for that than me.”
Brock nodded. “Thank you. We’re having a meeting tomorrow night. Please, come and join us. We’ll decide then whether or not to bring you in.”
Dane looked over at Jacob and William. “Yeah, we’ll be there.”
Brock looked back at Alya. “You want to come?”
Alya grinned. “I’d love to.”
Seth stared at Alya. Her lips were fuzzy for just a second, then it was clear. He rubbed his eyes. I must be getting tired.
The next morning, Seth and Jena were walking along the dirt road towards the market square. When he looked into her eyes, she smiled. “What do you think Ellis will say? Think he’ll help?”
Jena laughed. “We’ll have to hold him back.” She moved in closer to Seth.
His gut twisted. Sure, she liked him, but… maybe he was a coward. Seth smiled as he took her hand. Relief crashed over him as she pulled him closer. “I like this,” he said quietly.
She blushed. “Me too.”
Seth’s stomach growled as the aroma of baking bread from Messer Bakery overwhelmed him. “Think Ellis is there?”
Jena giggled. “His father probably has him chained to a mixing bowl.”
“Yeah, I can see that,” Seth said as he entered the bakery.
Seth’s mouth began to water. The front half of the shop had shelves filled with bread, fruit pies, and cakes. In the center of the room were two tables littered with a variety of baked goods. Past the displays behind a long counter sat a slender man with black hair. “How can you not get fat working here?”
Jena squeezed his hand. “I couldn’t.”
“Can I—oh, it’s you two,” Jim Messer said. He continued to scribble in his log. “Ellis can’t come out and play. He’s still in trouble for stealing.”
“Who’s here, Father?” Ellis called from the back.
Seth giggled as Ellis emerged, covered in flour. “You’re supposed to get it in the bowl, not on your head.”
Ellis frowned. “Not funny.”
Jena couldn’t hold back anymore. She burst out laughing.
Ellis rolled his eyes. “Father, I’m going out for a bit.”
Jim glared at his son. “No, you’ll end up in the stocks.”
“For what?”
“For whatever you three are up to,” Jim said.
“I won’t steal anything,” Ellis said as he crossed his fingers behind his back. “I promise.”
Jim went back to his log. “Be back by supper.” Jim waved them out of his bakery. “Get out, you’re scaring away the customers.”
Ellis followed Seth and Jena outside. “What are we doing?” he asked as he dusted off the flour. “Another try at the apples?”
“No,” Jena said, “something better. You’ll love it.”
“What?”
Seth grinned. “Spying on Dark Elves. They should be in the square.”
“Sounds like fun.” Ellis followed Seth and Jena down the street.
When they arrived at the market square, Seth stopped in the middle of the street and looked around.
“What’s the plan?” Ellis asked.
Seth turned towards Jena. “Is there a prayer or something you can do to help us find them?”
Jena shrugged. “Maybe, but if there is, I don’t know it.”
Ellis sniffed. “What kind of acolyte are you? That would have been the first thing I would have learned.” A grin crawled across his face until he broke out in a giggle.
Seth punched Ellis in the shoulder. “Leave her alone.”
“Who are you looking for?” a voice behind them said.
They whirled around. In front of Seth stood a tall man with curly black hair. Seth swallowed. “Have you seen the Dark Elves?”
The man blinked. “The Darkstriders?”
“Yeah,” Ellis said.
Jena blinked. “Who are you? Are you new here?”
He smiled. “I’m Zeffer. I’m here with a merchant from Port Grurg, just south of Methos Lake.”
“Have you seen them?” Seth asked.
Zeffer shook his head. “No, not today.” He stared right into Seth’s eyes. “You should leave them alone and go play.”
Seth frowned. Should he have asked just anyone? What if Zeffer was a sympathizer? “We just wanted to ask what it was like being a Darkstrider, that’s all.”
A smile cracked Zeffer’s face. “Still, best to leave them alone.”
Seth watched Zeffer walk over to the herb merchant near the docks. “Should we spread out and wait?”
Jena shook her head. “Let’s stay together.” She reached for Seth’s hand.
Ellis rolled his eyes. “Please, knock that crap off.”
“She’s right,” Seth said as he took her hand. “Let’s wait.” They wandered around the square until they found a spot under a tree along the water and sat down. “They’ll be here soon, I know it.”
Six hours later, Ellis was drawing in the sand for the millionth time. “This is stupid. They’re not coming.”
Jena’s eyes were dull. “Maybe he’s right.”
Seth sighed. “Whoever thought to do something this exciting would be so boring.” He shrugged. “Try again later?”
They nodded.
“Let’s go.”
Zeffer looked on as the trio left the square. As soon as they were out of sight, he bolted into the Red Scale Tavern. Straight up the stairs, then he entered the third room on the left.
Malon was sitting in a chair reading a leather-bound book.
“They’re gone,” Zeffer said as his human form melted into a Dark Elf.
Malon looked up. “Elmar, what do we tell Shania?”
“That this boy may be with Brock and Sally Feran, but he might not be the one.” Elmar peeked out of the window. “I don’t understand why Tanyl fears a boy king. These humans could not overwhelm our forces, even if they raised an army. Don’t you agree?”
“Not sure,” Malon said as he shook his head. “I just don’t know.”