Demonkin (72 page)

“Storm?” asked Kyrga.

“A monster of a hurricane,” replied the colonel. “We have had ships entering the harbor over the past couple of days, and each report gets nastier than the one before. According to the latest reports, a massive storm should be hitting Valdo this morning. I doubt we will be getting pigeons today from any of the cities along the coast.”

Grand General Kyrga nodded dismissively, and the colonel left the office. Kyrga stared at a wall map as he waited for the Commanding General of the Second Corps.

“You wanted to see me, Grand General?”

Kyrga turned and nodded to General Fortella. “You have a mission, General. The elven children have escaped from the reeducation center. I want them tracked down and returned. They are being aided by soldiers, or at least men wearing the uniforms of the V Corps. They left the city by the northern gates a little over three hours ago, and they are on foot. Find them and get them back to the center.”

“V Corps,” scoffed the general. “Are they to be treated as enemies?”

“Very much so,” answered Kyrga. “Though, it might be wise to keep a couple of them alive. There are questions that must be answered.”

“I will have the children back by nightfall,” vowed General Fortella, “but you hardly require the services of an entire army for such a task. Was there more to this mission?”

“You are perceptive,” Kyrga smiled thinly. “I believe that the escape is probably the work of rebels, but there might also be elven adventurism in play here. If that proves to be the case, there will be drastic repercussions for King Elengal and his tribe of tree lovers. I want your army ready for a full-scale penetration of Elfwoods.”

“We could allow the children a greater head start,” General Fortella smirked. “That would require my pursuit into the Heart of Elfwoods.”

“The emperor is a bit touchy about such incursions right now,” frowned Kyrga, “but if the elves had a hand in this escape, he will not deny us the right to restore order.”

“And if my tracking of the children takes me into Elfwoods?”

“You must follow the tracks,” clarified Kyrga. “If you must cross the Despair River, go in full force.”

* * * *

Chanz walked into the galley of the Skate. He glanced at the captain, who was sleeping with his head resting on his arms at the small table attached to the wall. The mate tiptoed across the small room and poured himself a mug of tea. He grabbed another mug and filled it with tea for the water witch. As he turned to leave the galley, he saw the captain looking at him through weary eyes.

“Two mugs?” questioned the captain.

“I thought Haditha might like one,” smiled the mate.

The captain glanced around the galley with questioning eyes. While there was still movement indicative of heavy seas, the turmoil from the night before was gone. “Are we out of the storm?”

“For about an hour now. The swells are steep, but they are starting to quiet down. Do you want to take the tea to her?”

“I do,” smiled Captain Gomery as he rose to his feet. “How is the Skate faring?”

“I have seen less seaworthy ships,” chuckled the mate, “but none of them were afloat at the time.” Chanz grew more serious as he continued, “She’s taken a beating, Captain. I’ve got the men topside tending to snapped lines and salt-encrusted winches. We’ve sprung some leaks in the hull. I have some of the elves taking care of the water down there. In short, she is salvageable, but I don’t know about the second part of the voyage. There are cracked timbers below that could snap on a whim. If just one of them goes, the Skate is history.”

“We have to hold her together,” declared the captain. “Too much is riding on it.”

“We’ll do what we can,” vowed Chanz.

“You’re a good mate, Chanz,” smiled the captain. “Do what you can, and we’ll pray about the rest.”

Chanz nodded as the captain took the mug and climbed to the deck. Captain Gomery gazed at the sunny sky overhead and then lowered his eyes to the dark stain on the horizon. He turned away from the storm and headed for the bow. When he arrived, he leaned on the rail next to the water witch, he held the mug out for her without saying a word. He frowned when Haditha didn’t immediately seize the mug and drain it.

“Don’t you want some tea?” the captain asked softly.

Haditha turned towards the captain with a start. Her eyes were puffy and red, and her hair and face were matted with salt. He had never seen her looking so exhausted.

“Drink the tea,” the captain urged in a whispery, caring tone as he placed one of her hands around the mug.

The water witch brought the mug to her lips with an unsteady hand, and Captain Gomery stepped away from the rail and turned towards the stern.

“Make ready to sail!” the captain shouted to the crew.

The crew all stopped what they were doing and turned towards the captain expecting further orders, but Chanz understood what the others did not. He took command of the crew and began issuing orders to take over for the water witch.

Captain Gomery took the empty mug from Haditha’s hand and placed it on the deck. He put his arm around her and eased her away from the rail.

“It is well past time for you to rest,” the captain said softly. “My men will take it from here.”

Captain Gomery had expected an argument, but he did not receive one. Haditha didn’t say a word as the captain guided her below and into his bunk. She fell fast asleep, but the captain didn’t return topside for a while. He got a basin of water and began to clean Haditha’s face and hair.

* * * *

“Brace yourselves,” warned Cirris. “We are about to run up on the beach. It is nothing to worry about, but it will feel as if we have hit something, so find something to hang onto.”

The elven children nodded in silence, and Cirris raced back up to the deck. He ran to the bow and stood next to the anchor as Captain Gomery ordered the sails lowered. While Cirris waited for the command to set the anchor, he gazed out at the assembled elves waiting on the beach. He saw their hopeful eyes scanning the deck of the Skate in search of their children. The elves were anxious, and the sailor could hardly blame them. The Skate slid onto the beach with a jolt and the captain ordered the anchor set. Cirris tossed the large anchor with a practiced ease. He leaped off the ship after it and set it snuggly into the sand.

“What of the children?” King Elengal asked in a worried tone as the other elves stood in stony silence.

“They are fine,” Cirris replied cheerily. “They are below deck and will start coming up in a moment. They were told to stay below until they were called for.”

“How many?” asked one of the elven women, breaking the silence that the elves had imposed upon themselves.

“We only have those from Farmin and Valdo,” Cirris answered, not understanding the true question.

“How many?” the woman asked again, worry etching her smooth features.

“All of them,” Chanz said cheerily as he jumped to the beach. “Every single one of them.”

A loud collective sigh of relief ushered forth from the elves, and smiles split their worried faces. Some of the normally stoic elves started cheering, and the mood contagiously enveloped the whole beach. At that moment the elven children started filing onto the deck of the Skate. The older children carried the younger ones, and all of them gazed in wonder at the crowd on the beach. Elven parents rushed into the water to take the young ones being handed down by the older children. Cirris and Chanz moved into the water on the opposite side of the ship and climbed onboard, leaving the elves to their reunion. They went about securing the ship as Captain Gomery brought Haditha up on deck. The captain and the water witch walked to the bow and gazed down at the elves.

“That is quite a site to behold,” Haditha said softly. “It is so long since I have witnessed such a display of family. I have forgotten the joy involved in it. I don’t think I have ever seen such a large group as happy as these elves are right now.”

“The parents are happy,” commented Captain Gomery. “I think the children are in a state of shock. Look at them. They do not know what is happening to them.”

“How could they know?” retorted Haditha. “They were taken as babies to live without parents. They do not even know which of those elves are their parents, but they will soon learn that a parent’s love never dies.”

“Look!” Captain Gomery pointed to the entrance of the dwarven mine. Other elven children were emerging to see what was happening. “The ones from Despair must have made it as well.”

“What of the ones from Giza?”

“They will not be coming to the Isle of Despair. At least not right away. The Knights of Alcea have a different hiding spot for them, but eventually they will find a way to get them here. This is just the beginning of the elven reunion.”

“This is just the beginning of many things,” stated the water witch. “The Skate must be readied for the second part of the voyage.”

“She may not make it,” frowned the captain. “She took an awful beating in that storm. I cannot imagine those men taking her out again, especially on such a dangerous voyage.”

“The men will not be coming,” declared Haditha. “I will take the Skate to its doom.”

“What?” balked the captain. “I could never ask that of you. I am thrilled that you helped us gather the elven children, but you have done enough.”

“No, Gomery,” smiled Haditha. “I was wrong and selfish by not wanting to help before. Looking at the faces of these elves tells me how wrong I was. There can be no finer meaning to a person’s life than to be part of something as wonderful as this. I will take the Skate to her death, and I will do it alone. You and your men deserve a rest.”

Captain Gomery released Haditha’s hand and walked towards his crew.

“You four have one more task to perform for the Skate,” the captain said. “Get your replacements onboard and positioned as we had planned. I also want as much of the children’s clothing as possible. Be quick about it. The Skate sets sail before dusk.”

The four sailors nodded silently and sprung into action. Captain Gomery turned around and retraced his steps to the bow. He took Haditha’s hand again and smiled.

“You’re not going ashore, are you?” asked the water witch.

“A captain goes down with his ship,” he replied with a determined smile. “You’ll have to sink her to get me off.”

“Then say goodbye to your men, Captain Gomery. We may not be coming back this way.”

General Fortella led the Second Corps into the Heart of Elfwoods. He halted his horse in the main square of the elven capital and gazed around the deserted village. Not an elf was in sight. He shook his head with disbelief and then set his gaze on Colonel Tamora.

“I want every building in this village searched. Make it quick. The elves are fleeing to somewhere.”

The colonel saluted and rode off, shouting orders as he rode the entire breadth of the column. He then led his own company to the southern sector of the village, and his men started searching buildings there. Colonel Tamora was riding slowly along the perimeter of the Heart, watching the progress of his men when he saw the beaten path. He stared at the wide dirt trail heading southward and nodded with understanding. Leaving his men to search the buildings, the colonel returned to the general’s side.

“I think the entire nation of elves ran southward. There is a wide beaten path that is quite fresh. It is unlike anything I have ever seen in Elfwoods.”

“Show me,” commanded General Fortella.

The two officers rode to the southern edge of the Heart and halted at the start of the trail. The general dismounted and knelt next to the dirt path.

“They are indeed on the run,” the general declared as he rose and mounted his horse.

“But to where?” frowned the colonel. “Shark Point is the obvious destination, but there is nothing but death awaiting elves who go there.”

“I doubt that they are going there to worship their dead.”

The general put a whistle to his lips and blew hard. Within moments, all of the company commanders had gathered around him.

“I want two companies to ride westward in search of elves,” ordered the general. “Go as far as the Barrier and then return to the Heart. Two more companies will ride eastward to the Badlands and return. Colonel Tamora, you will take four companies southward to Shark Point. I want all elves returned to the Heart.”

The company commanders rallied their men and departed the Heart. General Fortella remained behind with two companies in case the elves were trying to lead the soldiers astray.

Colonel Tamora led his companies along the dirt path at a frantic pace, trying to catch up to the elves before they reached the coast. He stationed a rider every three leagues so that he had the means to send a message back to the Heart quickly if it was needed. He was not sure why they were heading towards the shark-infested waters, but he knew instinctively that Shark Point was their destination, and he did not have a good feeling about it.

* * * *

The Federation soldiers poured out of the forest onto the wide sandy beach. The soldiers reined their horses to a halt, but Colonel Tamora continued riding through them. He stopped at the very edge of the surf and gazed out over the sea. He shook his head in disbelief as he saw the ships sailing away from Shark Point.

“Where are they going?” asked one of the soldiers.

“I don’t know,” admitted Colonel Tamora, “but wherever it is, the Federation will be chasing them. Emperor Jaar will not stand for being defied.”

The colonel dismounted and called to one of his men. “I want a message sent back to the Heart immediately. Describe the sailing vessels to General Fortella, and let him know that we will be returning to the Heart after a short rest for the horses.”

The chosen rider turned and started back the way they had come. The rest of the soldiers dismounted for a meal break, but they also left the beach after a short while. When all of the soldiers had left, giggling could be heard high up in the palm trees.

“That was our best illusion yet,” chirped one of the fairies.

“Your ship was traveling too fast,” complained another fairy. “It was not a race, you know.”