Taming the Elements: Elwin Escari Chronicles: Volume 1 (40 page)

His lips felt cracked and his mouth was beyond dry. He was sure his ribs had been pummeled by pair of giants, and his stomach felt as if it had shriveled to a raisin. But he wasn’t dizzy and his shoulder felt more numb than painful, so it wasn’t a complete lie.

Feffer squatted next to him. “Some of the color has returned to your face.”

“Where are we?” Elwin asked to change the subject.

Feffer watched him a moment before responding. “We have several days until we reach the mountains, then the Lifebringer knows how long to pass through them. Then we will be in wilderness. Once we exit the mountains, I won’t know if we have traveled too far east.”

Elwin nodded. “Maybe we can find a pass through the mountains instead of over?”

Feffer just stared at him for a moment. “How does your shoulder feel?”

He started to say he was fine, but he flexed it and pain stole his words. Flame traveled up his neck and down his arm, and he felt a moment of dizziness. He closed his eyes for a moment and calmed his mind in an attempt to alleviate the pain. That’s when he felt a sense of
loss
.

He could feel the Air around him and sense its power. But there was something
wrong
with his essence. He tried to open his essence to let Air fill him, but he might as well have been trying to catch the fog with his hand. Focusing on it, he could feel it just above him, but he couldn’t will it to move. That hadn’t happened to him. Ever. Even before he had learned how to go through the forms, he could at least fumble around. His essence didn’t respond.

“Elwin,” Feffer’s voice sounded near to panic. “Elwin!”

Elwin opened his eyes and looked at Feffer. He could see the fear in his friend’s eyes, so he almost didn’t tell him. But the words came out. “I can’t tame the Elements.”

“What does that mean?” Feffer said. “You still can’t fly?”

Elwin shook his head. “No.”

“Is it the wound?”

“Maybe. I don’t know. I haven’t been to the shadow realm for days. My essence must be depleted still. Maybe that’s all it is. But, if that’s the case, I shouldn’t be conscious at all.”

Elwin could still feel the pulse of energy from the trees. Did that have something to do with it?

“Do you think you can eat? I have a few rose berries and greenfoot nuts. Maybe once you get your strength back, you’ll be fine.”

The thought of food made Elwin’s stomach churn. “I don’t think I should do that yet.”

“You haven’t eaten for days. You need something. Here. Wash it down with this.”

Feffer handed him the berries and wineskin. Elwin looked at them for a moment. The idea of eating made his stomach lurch. He held his breath for a moment, then popped the berries in his mouth, chewed, and swallowed before his gut was aware. He took several chugs of the water to keep the food down. Only then did he let himself breathe.

He handed the wineskin back to Feffer. He felt the bottom of it and grimaced, then he placed the cork in without taking a drink.

Elwin felt a stab of guilt. He hadn’t even thought about conserving the water.

“How much is left?”

“Enough,” Feffer said. His voice sounded confident, but the grimace never faltered. He glanced up at the sun. “Can you walk? We should try to get under those trees. Out of the sun.”

“Help me up?”

Feffer helped him onto legs that wobbled. He had to lean on Feffer with most of his weight.

“Help me try a few steps,” Elwin said.

Feffer wrapped his arm around Elwin’s waist and assisted him with several steps. The ground didn’t offer the support he remembered from the last time he walked on his own two feet. It was as if the earth pushed off of each footstep with different force.

It took several paces for the ground to feel right again, but he didn’t let go of Feffer until he was a few paces away from the first tree. He had been too distracted to realize it, but as he grew closer to the trees, his legs felt stronger.

“Let go,” Elwin said.

“Are you sure?”

As a reply, Elwin let go of Feffer’s waist. When Feffer released him, Elwin stumbled the first few steps, but he was able to stay upright the remaining few steps to the first tree. The moment his hand touched the bark, he felt his essence give a start and move as if waking.

Air filled Elwin’s lungs, and he felt strength return to his limbs. His pain even lessened, and some of the feeling returned to his shoulder.

“Elwin,” Feffer said walking toward him. “You … You glowed for a minute.”

“These trees. I told you. They feel …,” Elwin searched for the word. “Alive.”

Feffer stared at the trees for a moment. “They look planted. Look. They are all in perfect rows. And they go on for miles.”

Elwin looked down a row. Each tree was spaced only a few paces apart and stretched as far as the eye could see in every direction.

“The Chai Tu Naruo,” Elwin said. “This must be their grove. Maybe they can help us.”

Elwin began walking into the grove.

“Wait, “Feffer said, “I need to get Haven.”

Haven was only a half a dozen paces behind them, gnawing on the tall grass. Feffer took her bridle and led her to Elwin.

“Here, let me help you into the saddle.”

“That’s just it,” Elwin said. “I feel fine. I might even be able to fly.”

“No!” Feffer said quickly. “Don’t push yourself. These trees are spaced enough for riding. You should get into the saddle. I just got you back.” He cupped his hands for Elwin to step into. The look in his eyes held such concern, Elwin couldn’t refuse him.

Once in the saddle, he tested his essence. He willed it through the stanzas of Air form without difficulty. He was certain he could fly.

“These trees,” Elwin said. “I’m telling you. They must be from the Children of Nature. There is an energy. It is helping me some how.”

Feffer frowned up at him. “I’ve seen Tharu, but I don’t know much about them. Gurndol, my squad leader, said they are savages.”

“Not at all,” Elwin said. “Jasmine said the Chai Tu Naruo people have hidden cities in this forest. They believe their purpose in this life is to protect the balance of nature. If we can find them, they will help us. Death bound are an abomination to their ways.”

“Pray we find them, then. But if not, we will be alright.” His voice had a hopeful tone.

“We will,” Elwin agreed. “Thanks to you.”

“Naturally,” Feffer said. “How many times will I have to pull your chestnuts off the fire? You really need to learn to take care of yourself.”

“Nah,” Elwin smiled. “I’ll just keep
you
around. And what you can’t handle, I have Harkin.”

“Harkin?”

“I told you about my manservant.”

“What?” Feffer’s back became rigid. “You … If you weren’t crippled …”

Elwin laughed.

“You know I’m going to make you pay for that, right?

“Pay for what? Oh,” Elwin said in a tone of feigned ignorance, “you mean a prank. I thought you had changed?”

“I did too,” Feffer said. “But, there’s something about blowing up a cage of bones and running for your life from a dark savant that makes you want to live a little. Gives you perspective. You know?”

“Black savant.”

“Hmm?”

“They call themselves black savants.”

“Dark, black … whatever. Dragons take them all before I do.”

Elwin flinched at the mention of dragons. Jasmine believed he would wake them. If she was right, what did that make him?

“Don’t look upset, Elwin. I was just messing around. I didn’t mean to curse. Gurndol’s bad habits are rubbing off on me. That’s all.”

“No. It’s not you. So much has happened this last year, and I want to do the right thing.”

Feffer paused and looked at Elwin over his shoulder. “You always do, Elwin. I’ve been trying to make you do the wrong thing all your life. And you’ve never been good at it.”

“I’m on trial, Feffer. For killing Biron.”

“What? What do you mean, trial? The Inquisition? After a year?”

Hmm. Jasmine had been right. Feffer didn’t remember.

“Yes,” Elwin said. “A man named Jorus Teblin is the High Inquisitor. Last year, he placed me in the care of Jasmine. By now, the trial has already taken place. If they found me guilty, then they are going to seek me out for execution.”

“Guilty of
what
? Murder? Everyone saw it was an accident.”

“Guilty of being Death bound or of intentionally killing. Yes.”

“That’s absolutely ridiculous. I’ll just have to set this Jorus straight.”

Elwin smiled, despite himself. “You already did. Last year.”

Feffer stopped walking. “What? I’ve never … wait.” He put a hand to his mouth and winced as if struck. “No. Don’t tell me … I? I didn’t?”

“You had a blood-soaked bandage wrapped around your head. Even in a state of delirium, you stood up for me.”

“For the love of Life. And a right-fine job I did of it too, I’m sure. How come no one told me? Oh my … that healer with the bosom. No
wonder
she stared daggers into me. How bad was it?”

“You accused the High Inquisitor of being Death bound.”

Feffer covered his face with his free hand and groaned. “I can’t believe it?! Tell me your joking. I would forgive you. I swear by my life.”

“I’m afraid it’s true.”

“No wonder she didn’t want anything to do with me.”

“Who?”

“Oh, Elwin. You should see her. She had the most tender touch you could imagine and the bosom of Aridiati of legends. She nursed me back to health after I got my skull cracked open. I tried to go back to apologize for any of my ill-spoken words, but she wouldn’t even see me after they released me. The Seeker take me for a fool. Now I know why. Curse it all!”

“I’m sorry, Feffer. I would have told you sooner, but I didn’t see you for a year.”

He waved a hand behind his head as if dismissing the notion. “I know. It would have been nice if someone would have told me, before I went back to … I wrote her a letter, Elwin.”

“You did?”

“Yeah. And unlike you, I’m not one with words. But, I said nice things, and she still refused me.”

“Unlike me?” Elwin laughed. “I don’t know what to say to women. Half the time I can’t tell if Zarah hates me or just tolerates me. She loves me like a growth on her arm she can’t get rid of.”

Feffer laughed, but it sounded bitter. “At least you get to be on her arm.”

“Well, until the inquisitor beheads me.”

“That’s not going to happen,” Feffer touched his sword hilt. “I’ve gotten pretty good with this thing. Anyone wants to get to you, they come through me first.”

“Thanks Feffer.”

“You and Wilton are all I’ve got.”

Wilton. How had he forgotten? He opened his mouth to tell Feffer the truth, but once again, he couldn’t make the words come out. The silence stretched on as Feffer led Haven between the rows of trees. An hour passed, then another. None of the words he chose sounded right.

It wasn’t as if he could come out and say,
“Hey Feffer, your brother brought Zeth and the Lifebringer knows how many other black savants to our home. He’s the reason your father is dead, and mine is something worse. You really only have just me now, because when I see Wilton, I might just kill him myself.”

By the time the light beneath the trees turned pink, Elwin still hadn’t thought of the words to tell Feffer about Wilton’s betrayal.

Feffer reigned Haven to a stop and said, “Alright. I need to stop. These trees seem to go on forever. Here, take my hand.”

Once his feet hit the ground, Elwin sat with his back to a tree, and a warm feeling washed over him. Feffer tethered Haven to a low hanging branch and joined him. Opening his pack, he pulled nuts and berries from a pouch and handed some to Elwin along with the wineskin.

“This is the last of our food and water. These worthless trees don’t seem to produce anything edible, so pray we make it out of this forest soon.”

“I’m still praying the Chai Tu Naruo find us.”

Feffer nodded and began to munch on his meal.

The berries tasted tart, but they were wet. And the nut tasted bitter, but it was dry. Elwin ate them both together, which made it easier to swallow.

“Tell me more about these Children of Nature,” Feffer said. “Do they all carry two swords?”

“I don’t know,” Elwin said. “Tharu is the only one I know of in Justice, and he’s on the White Council. I’ve never spoken to him, so I only know the little Jasmine told me. He doesn’t share much about his heritage. Apparently, they are secretive about most of their customs. He’s served Zaak for more years than we’ve been alive. Something about his
honor quest
. Jasmine had a different word for it, but I don’t remember it.”

“They are a strange people,” Feffer said. “But I’ll take whatever help we can get. I haven’t seen signs that anyone has followed us, but I have a feeling they are out there. Too many game trails for there not to be. If we find a village of people who can use swords like Tharu, we’d be fools to not ask for help.”