Elfsorrow

Ren was momentarily dumbfounded by Erie

'Kild'aar asks if there is anything you can do.'

Erie

Kild'aar didn't need her words translated. Beckoning them, she made to leave the room, only to stop at the sound of the door opposite opening. Leaning on the frame for support, a half-naked elf shambled out of the room and across the narrow hallway. His right hand was clamped over his left shoulder and his brow was furrowed and covered in a light sweat. His eyes burned as he took in Erie

Erie

The elf wasn't letting up. Whatever Kild'aar said, it wasn't mollifying him. Ren was following the argument. Again and again she looked about to jump in but something she heard stayed her. The noise in the room was intensifying, Kild'aar shouting now. In the end, Ren did finish it. Erie

The elf nodded, spoke two words and Ren moved aside. He walked slowly into the room, Kild'aar next to him, an arm about his back. He pulled the shroud aside and gazed down at Mercuun, Erie

Denser nudged Erie

'Looks like a ta

'There's some resemblance,' agreed Erie

'So there should be,' said Ren quietly from beside them. 'That's Rebraal, Ilkar's brother.'

At the sound of his name, Rebraal pushed himself slowly and painfully back to his feet and turned to Erie

'He says he has to go back to the temple. It must be returned to the hands of the Al-Arynaar. He's leaving at dawn tomorrow.'

'Tell him we'll be with him,' said Denser.

The mage tensed as Rebraal snorted in derision at Ren's translation. Erie

'Going to do it on his own, is he?' asked Denser.

Rebraal snapped out some words. Ren held up her hands, replied and got a terse one-word answer.

'He's going to kill strangers. Why would he want more there?'

'My question still stands,' said Denser.

'His brother Al-Arynaar will join him in a few days. He hopes it will be soon enough,' said Ren.

'And if it isn't? He's left the best chance he's got here mopping sick brows. Put this to him. We're coming. We can help, and whatever it is that's got him so scared will be solved that much more quickly.'

Another short elven conversation.

'He says the forest will kill you.'

'I know I speak for us all when I say this. We want to help. We have to get mages back to Balaia quickly so anything we can do to speed that, to get the elves to trust us, we will do. And does he really have a choice? Right now, we're all he's got and, Gods burning, one of us is his brother.'

Erie

'So we're all right by him now, are we?' Denser was terse.

'No,' said Ren. 'You're here, that's all. The Raven. He knows that he needs all the help he can get. Ilkar is the key. Without him, you would not be allowed to travel with him.'

Erie

'Rebraal knows what's causing this. He's studied the texts at the temple. He's dedicated his life to preserving the harmony.'

'And?' pushed Denser.

'Rebraal says the harmony has been broken. That the strangers who took the temple have done it, but he doesn't know how. That's why we have to go there. Because you can't cure this sickness with magic or herbs, and unless harmony is restored the elves will die.'

Erie

'All of us.' Aeb was unsettled. Protectors were used to being alone, travelling with their Given Xeteskian mage. But in times of conflict the Soul Tank, deep in the catacombs of Xetesk, was always troubled. The souls of those Protectors who could not be physically together communicated their thoughts and their fears for one another. Aeb had been hearing much and the anxiety was rising.

Aeb's position was unique. Officially he was the Given of Denser, the Dawnthief mage. A high honour in itself. But in reality he was more the defender of Sol, The Unknown Warrior, the only man to have been a Protector and returned from the calling, his soul repatriated to his body.

If Protectors could genuinely feel pride, then Aeb would have been proud. But it didn't change the fact that he could hear the agitation of the souls of his brothers in his head. They weren't scared. They were bred to fight and defend. But when they were split they were inevitably weakened, and so anxiety filtered across the Soul Tank.

Aeb had been sitting silent in his room, having bathed his face and let the air play across his maskless features in the dark, calming those he could and listening to the thoughts of others. But now, with the voices still whispering in his head – he could never shut them out and would never want to – he strapped the mask back over his face, ignoring the discomfort, and went to find Sol.

The Unknown Warrior was standing alone but turned when the Protector approached.

'Aeb,' said The Unknown, nodding to him.

Aeb could see immediately that he could sense something. It had been a mystery long cherished in the Soul Tank. How Sol, with his soul in his body and not in contact with his Protector brothers any more, could still sense them all and pick up on feelings, though not fully grasp them. It gave them hope that should they ever be released from thrall they would still be joined in some indelible way. It was what they prayed for.

'I apologise for disturbing you.'

The Unknown shook his head. 'You are still close to me,' he said. 'And something's worried you. You should be at rest.'

'Yes.'

'Then speak freely. Denser has granted you that freedom gladly.'

'It is still difficult,' he said. 'All these years…'

'You've heard something in the Soul Tank,' guessed The Unknown.

'Yes,' said Aeb. 'It is not information I can volunteer, Sol. You know the strictures of the calling.'

'But you ca

Aeb swung to face the mage.