Some time later, Seth, Jena, and Ellis rode across the bridge over the Bahr River towards Crey Village. The late afternoon breeze brushed against Seth’s face as Thea trotted along the dirt road.
“Are you going to tell us yet?” Ellis asked as he moved Runt up next to Seth.
Seth just glared at him.
Jena frowned. “Ellis, leave him alone.”
“Come on, she wanted us to stay for a few days, but after one session with him, we’re shown the door. What don’t you want us to know?” Ellis asked.
She looked at Seth. “He’ll tell us when he’s ready.”
Seth cocked an eye at Jena. Was that a hint? Father always complained mother would ask him things without ever really saying it, then get angry when he couldn’t read her mind. Was that what he meant? Did his friends have a right to know that he could have killed Sumia and everyone else because he completely lacks control of his new powers? Was it a gift or a curse? Only time would tell. Maybe, they should—
Ellis snapped his fingers. “Seth, you in there?”
Seth shook his head. “Yeah, I’m here.” He smiled at Jena. “I’m ready.”
“Good, about damn time,” Ellis said.
“I scared her. My magic is more like the dragon magic than human or elf magic. She showed me how to increase the potency of my attacks and how to stop it without killing anything,” Seth said.
Jena’s eyes lit up. “How’d you stop it?”
“I thought of the happiest thing I could think of. Our marriage.” Seth nudged Thea next to Jena and blew her a kiss.
She blushed.
Ellis stuck his finger down his throat and gagged himself. “Please. You two make me sick.” He moved Runt ahead of the trio. “What’s the plan when we get back?”
Seth rubbed his chin. “We see if my father or Alya got back or if there is any word on them. I think, we’ll go to Jena’s house.”
Jena nodded. “Yeah, Alya spends a lot of time with my mother.”
“Well—crap, I’ll have to stop by the bakery and see the old man,” Ellis said. “He’ll force me to make bread or something while he’s lecturing me about responsibility to the family business.”
Seth smiled. “I bet he does that all the time.”
Ellis laughed. “You know it.”
The simple buildings of Crey Village emerged around the corner from behind the trees. Seth slowed Thea down. “Remember, they may be in town looking for us.”
“Damn, Seth, you worry too much. If you act natural, we’ll be fine. Don’t get so uptight,” Ellis said.
Seth looked at his house as they rode past it. “It looks like it’s okay.”
Ellis shrugged his shoulders. “The inside might be torn up.”
Jena glared at him. “Ellis!”
Ellis’ mouth dropped. “What? It’s true.”
Seth punched Ellis in the shoulder. “I hate you.”
Ellis giggled. “Find me later, okay?”
Seth nodded. “Sure.”
Ellis nudged Runt in the ribs and galloped towards his father’s bakery.
Jena’s house was straight ahead. “Well, we’re back,” Jena said.
Seth smiled. “Think your mother’s home?”
After Jena and Seth had tied off their horses, Jena threw herself into Seth’s arms. “Did you hear me? We’re back from going after those knights.”
Seth blinked. What? His face lit up. “Let’s tell your mother we’re getting married.”
Jena nodded as she led the two of them inside.
Keya was crying on the worn couch near the fireplace. The firelight danced across her wet cheeks. She looked up as Jena entered the small home. “Where have you been?” Keya leaped to her feet, embracing Jena with all of her heart. “I’ve been so worried. I—I thought they got you.” She hugged Jena even tighter.
“I’m okay, Mother.” Jena pointed at Seth. “He took good care of me.”
With tears still running down Keya’s face, she hugged Seth. “Thank you for taking care of my little girl.”
“I want to take care of her,” Seth said.
Keya sat back down on the couch. “Please, sit. You must be tired.”
Seth sat close to Jena and held her hand. Should he really go through with it? Sure, he made a promise to Jena, but—her mother was crying—and it was killing the mood. He looked up at Jena’s smile. Her whole face was glowing as if she had been waiting for this moment all her life, too. He promised. Wasn’t that what he wanted, too? “We spent a lot of time together.”
Jena looked into Keya’s eyes. “How old were you when you married father?”
Keya blinked. “That’s an odd question. Twelve, why?”
Seth swallowed.
Jena smiled. “Seth has something to tell you.”
Keya glared at Seth as if she knew what he was going to say. “I—I want to marry your daughter.”
Keya frowned. “She’s too young.”
“Mother, I’m older than you were when you got married,” Jena said as she leaned into Seth’s chest. “You just said so.”
Keya nodded and started crying again. “I’m losing my little girl.” She hugged Jena. “Congratulations.” She wiped the joyful tears from her eyes and hugged Seth again. “Welcome to the family.”
“Thank you,” Seth said. “Have you heard anything about my father?”
Keya looked away. “Yes, they captured him. The human Darkstrider knights. Alya followed them as long as she could, but they got away.”
“How?”
“They were on horseback. She wasn’t. I’m so sorry, Seth. I don’t know what to say,” Keya said.
Seth frowned. “Do you know where she is now?”
“Yes, the Red Scale Tavern. She has a room on the second floor. The third room on the left.” Keya held Jena’s hand. “Now, we’ve got a wedding to plan.”
Seth rose. “I’m going to find her. If I need—”
Keya shook her head. “No, Jena is staying right here until the wedding is planned.”
Seth smiled at his future bride. “It’s okay. I’ll be back soon.” He kissed her.
Jena held him close. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.” He kissed her one last time before he headed out the door.
Seth’s heart raced as he entered the market square. Neither the sweet smell of baking bread nor the pungent stink from the fishmonger entered his consciousness. Brock’s tormented face appeared in his mind. Seth’s vivid imagination contrived every possible method of torture and horrible death possible. Every image, every scenario had the same catalyst. He had failed to free the only father he ever knew.
He saw the Red Scale Tavern around the corner. Any minute, those outside tables would come into view. What if those knights were sitting there? Seth grimaced. It didn’t matter, especially with Alya inside. She must know something, and he needed help. With Jena staying back with her mother, Seth needed Alya to come. Why wouldn’t she? It was clear that she wanted to be very close to Brock. When he chased after the knights, she followed.
Seth made his way through the crowded market square. He held his breath. The outside tables were empty. He breathed as he went inside.
It was still the work day, later afternoon at that, and the place was crammed with knights, fishermen, adventurers, mercenaries, and who knows what else. The mahogany bar was on the left wall and every stool was taken. The center of the room was littered with high tables and surrounded by tall chairs. Not a single seat was vacant and there were many people, human and Dark Elf alike, standing along the walls drinking and being merry.
A young beer wench was heading back to the bar with a tray full of empty mugs until she saw Seth. She hurried to intercept him before he got into the tavern. “Can I help you?”
Seth forced a smile. “Yes, I’m meeting a friend in her room. It’s on the second floor.”
“Who’s your friend?”
“Alya. I—I don’t know her last name,” Seth said.
She pointed to the stairs along the wall. “Over there. Have fun,” the beer wench said as she headed towards the bar.
Seth walked up the stairs.
The second floor was clean. The hallway was covered by a long multicolored rug. The stained oak walls were broken up by several doors opposing each other like two fighters sizing each other up. The third one on the left, Seth thought.
Sounds of lovemaking came from the first door as Seth moved past it. He smirked. Will he do that after he’s married? Just like Brock and Sally used to do. A tear tried to burst free as an image of his adoptive parents kissing on the couch flashed in his mind. Sure, at the time he found it disgusting. Who wouldn’t? Who wanted to watch their parents kiss—or worse? One time, he even told them that he didn’t want to be corrupted. Seth swallowed. How he missed watching them make out on the couch while his stomach turned.
The third door on the left opened and Alya stepped into the hallway. Her face softened and her eyes lit up. “Seth, you’re okay.” She rushed over and hugged him. “I was so worried. Let me look at you.” She put him at arm’s length, scanning his torso. “You don’t look hurt.”
Seth frowned. “I’m fine, but my father is not. Can we talk?”
Alya nodded. “Of course. Let’s go inside.” She lowered her voice. “The walls have ears in this place.”
Seth followed her inside.
The inn room was simple. A large bed, with its sheet disheveled, was in the center of the room. A small desk was in the corner, and there was a window overlooking the market square. There was a chair by the window with a green pillow on its seat. Seth sniffed. A smell—a smell like—sweat or—it was like Brock’s and Sally’s bedroom in the morning. He looked right at her. “Are you alone?”
Alya swallowed. “I—yes, I am now. I had—” she pulled her eyes away from his gaze. “Company. I needed some companionship.”
Seth turned the chair to face Alya and sat down. There was no way he’d sit down on that bed, now. “Where’s my father?”
Alya sat on the corner of the bed. “I don’t know.”
Seth focused on her face. Alya’s eyes were going left and right, occasionally looking at him, as if—as if something was wrong or she was hiding something. “Well, can you tell me what happened?”
Alya sighed. “After we saw him chase after those knights, I followed them to the square. After I got closer, I recognized the one he called ‘Sir Robert.’ He used to be a knight under King Galin the IV and the years were kind to him.”
“If he was a knight under King Galin, why was he with the Darkstriders?” Seth asked. How many other knights defected after the fall of Staerdale Castle? Where was their true loyalty?
“Well, I don’t know.” Her eyes welled up. “Once he caught up with Sir Robert, they got into a fight. Brock yelled the name Thea the Loyal, and then the other knights took him down.”
Seth leaned forward. “What did you do? Why didn’t you free my father?”
A tear rolled down Alya’s cheek. “Don’t you think I wanted to? I—I want to be with him.” She grabbed the pillow and sobbed into it. “They took him. I’m so sorry.”
Seth’s face reddened. “Did you at least see where they took him?”
Alya nodded. “They headed north. One of them said something about returning to camp to—to question him.”
Seth nodded. “I know where that is.”
“What? How?”
He glared at her. “Never mind.” Brock could already he dead, but he had to be sure. If he were dead, Seth would draw and quarter every Dark Elf that he finds, just like they did to Sally. What about the human knights? Traitors to their own, they deserved and would get far worse. He’d make sure of it. He was no longer a little boy who reached the age of manhood, now he was truly a man. But, he couldn’t do it alone. Jena’s mother wouldn’t let her go and Ellis—well, he didn’t know where Ellis was, and there was still a chance to save Brock’s life. There was no time to look for Ellis. He stood up and reached out towards Alya. “Come with me and help me save my father.”
Alya blinked. “I—no, I can’t.”
“I thought you liked him,” Seth said.
“I—I do, but I can’t go with you. You’re too young. I already lost Sally and Brock. I will not lose you too.” She grabbed his arm. “I won’t let you go.”
Seth wrenched himself away from Alya. “I’m not a child. I am my own man and I will save my father.”
“You’re only thirteen years old. What makes you so special that you’re a man while the other thirteen-year-olds are still boys?” Alya demanded. “Why should I follow you?”
“Because I—” Seth slammed his mouth shut. Could she be trusted? Brock told him never to tell anyone that he was the prince everyone has been looking for. What if—what if she was a traitor too, like that human knight that Brock recognized? They’d take him and—they would treat Jena like they did Sally. Those sick bastards would probably make him watch, too. No, it was too much of a risk. “Because I will not lose my father too.” He forced an image of Jena being killed, trying to conjure up a tear. He welled up and his eyes became puffy. “I’ll go alone if I have to.” He wiped his eyes as tears started to flow down his cheeks.
Alya shook her head. “I won’t be part of your death. I owe that to Brock, but I won’t stop you, either. I’ll be here when you get back.”
“If I come back.” Seth ran out the door.
Alya watched him jump on Thea’s back and ride out of the market square.
The door slammed open.
Alya whirled around to see a tall, dark-blue-skinned elf with a sword on his waist. “I heard everything.” Elmar smiled at Alya.