Alni Read online

  There were a great many things Alni could not do, but climbing trees? It was easy enough for him, no matter how exhausted his body was. He raced forward with a burst of speed and grabbed for the same branch she had, body seeming to take control and drive him upward.

  Soon enough, there was no sound at all save for the voices of those searching echoed through the darkness of the forest. Their torches seemed like small dots in the woods, much like the cottage fires Alni had seen in his nightmare. Only the voices and sound of their occasional shifting and his fight to catch his own breath broke the quiet night. At long last, they had escaped whomever hunted her.

  “Ok, helper, you can go now.”

  It was her voice that spoke first, hooded face looking down to him from her position crouched on a thick branch above.

  “I am not your helper! Now, thanks to you, I am wanted as an accomplice! Where shall I go?” Alni shot back, teeth gritting together as he looked up at her.

  It was clear she was a woman and he was no idiot. This was the elf from the wanted poster and now that he had assisted her and the tavern owner knew his face, he’d be right up on the town board alongside her by the next morning. His only hope was that the artist put as much care into his drawing as they had to the woman’s.

  There was a growl as the thief took off her hood. Even in the darkness he could see the short, dark, cropped black hair and long ears, the heart-shaped face and matching snarl from the poster.

  “Listen, I’m not in charge of you,” she said then, sounding exhausted.

  Without the hood to shield them, her deep, golden eyes shone down at him, captivating, like a predator observing their prey.

  “What’s your name?” Alni asked softly.

  “None of your business. Thanks for the help but I really must take my leave.”

  “Just your name,” Alni insisted then, leaning back to adjust his positioning on the branch. Listening for any rustling below.

  “Dora,” came her response, short and cropped, “Happy? Now that you’re already implicated…do you know the direction to the city of Glade?” There was nothing pleased about her voice and he was certain she wasn’t happy to ask for help, especially after dismissing him just a moment before.

  “I do. I have several maps, actually. My name is Alni. Not that you asked.”

  “Let me see them,” she said, voice sounding almost desperate as she reached a pale hand down from her position above him.

  “Now, why would I just give them to you?”

  “Why wouldn’t you?” She retorted, inching closer and moving her body down, slim limbs lowering herself onto the same branch he sat on.

  Alni instinctually pulled his pack against him, other hand moving inside, as if he was grabbing a weapon. Her movements stopped.

  “Because, Dora, you’re trouble and I don’t want any. Happens to be that I’m traveling to Glade. You’re welcome to follow along with me, but there’s no way I’ll show you the map or give it to you after you got me in trouble and tried to cast me away.”

  At this point Dora closed her eyes, sought out the last ounce of patience she could muster, and asked one more time, golden eyes batting as she looked over to him, her entire body seeming to lower and appear weaker…softer.

  “Please, tell me where to go? I am afraid and innocent, and being hunted!”

  “No. Besides, you already owe me gold for helping you. Gold I am sure you will not deliver on.”

  Dora growled, hands balling into fists as her long ears pinned back against her head, reminding him of the horse he had come toe-to-toe with earlier.

  “Why are you being so difficult?” This time her voice was a shrill whisper, inching closer to him despite the unsaid threat that he may have a weapon.

  “Okay, fine. Don’t tell me. I didn’t need you before tonight and I don’t need your help now. I will find it on my own.”

  “Well, then why did you ask? It’s simple, really. Come, follow along and we will go our separate ways once we get there. You know how to run and hide and get your hands on necessities, I’m going to need those skills to get to Glade and set up there. So, do we have a deal? It’s the least you can do…Dora,” Alni said, shrugging.

  Dora looked as though she wanted to kill him, her feelings made clear by both her body language and the glare piercing the space between them. Her body launched downward, leaving him there on the branch as she landed on the ground below. Alni growled, pinching the bridge of his nose before he grasped onto the branch beneath his feet and swung down to meet her on the forest floor. Although the movements were less than practiced and his landing far louder than hers had been, he made it down with no trouble.

  She was already starting off into the darkness. But it took him only a few steps to catch up with her.

  “You know, this is the wrong direction to be traveling, don’t you?”

  Dora froze, slowly turning to face him. The look in her eyes was positively murderous and yet Alni still found the need to push her. Something in his gut wanted to prevent her from disappearing in the night.

  “You owe me gold, by your word. I trade that for a travel partner. That’s it. We’ll be there in a few days’ time at the very most and I’ve proven I’m not interested in collecting gold for your head. Otherwise, have fun wandering off into the darkness. I really don’t know how you got this far…” he let his voice trail off, turning and heading the opposite direction.

  No matter how strong his words, Alni was far from practiced in taking lead or demanding any such thing, let alone bartering with a beautiful stranger whose head was worth more than his family’s old home. His heart raced in his chest, pounding as he wondered if it would work. When the rushed sound of crunching leaves erupted behind him, the smallest of smiles crossed Alni’s face.

  She was suddenly in front of him, a surprisingly strong hand moving upward to grab the collar of Alni’s shirt as his body was yanked downward. He was face-to-face with her, practically rubbing noses. In the soft light of the moon he could see the shadow of freckles on the high of her cheeks, the same brown spots shone in her eyes as she glared at him. He couldn’t explain the need to join forces and convince her, but the longer she held onto his shirt and demanded his attention, the warmer the magical stone in his pocket burned, reminding him that it was still there. Waiting.

  “My threat still stands. Turn me in and you’re a dead man, Alni. Step out of line, even one bit…act suspicious, and you’re dead.”

  “You’ve got it,” Alni managed out.

  Chapter Eight

  Alni was running as fast as he could; his legs felt as if they were melting into the earth beneath him. It was as though he was falling into quicksand, unable to stop himself from enduring this fate as his body threatened to give up. Crashing his way through bushes and dodging trees, Alni drug his legs along the soft ground in a desperate attempt to get there. To get…somewhere.

  There was a muffled voice before him in the trees, one that became clearer and clearer the closer he got to their location. The location he was needed at, the one that the burning in his body led him to. There was a loud, awful scream and Alni grabbed for the stone in his pocket, holding it in his fist as he swung both arms, trying to get more traction and force his body forward through the melting ground beneath him. The swing of his shoulders and body propelled him forward at a faster pace, but still he struggled.

  Hands were reaching from the ground, hands scorched like that of his parents in the dream. They reached for him, grabbing at his clothing and dragging him downward. Alni couldn’t breath, struggling to swim his way free and keep his head above the falling earth around him. One hand reached further than the other, holding the purple, jagged stone high as the world wrapped around his arm and plunged him into darkness. The last thing he saw before the dream ended was a dark hand grasping onto his own, taking the stone from him.

  ~

  Alni awoke to a sharp shove, expecting to see the morning sky as his eyes opened. Instead, it was still
too early, nothing but darkness surrounding him. Slowly, he started to remember the adventure from the night before and who he was with. Tree…they were in the large tree. He was close to falling off the edge and down to the ground below, half his body extended in an awkward angle as it draped over the branch they had been sleeping on.

  Slowly and carefully adjusting himself to keep from falling, he opened his mouth to apologize for waking her when a hand clamped down over it. Her other hand pointed downward before moving to her lips to ensure his silence. The finger at her lips lowered with the hand at his mouth, giving Alni the freedom to look downward at what she had been pointing at.

  Below them on the forest floor, three dark, massive shapes slithered against the leaves. Large, leathery wings spread downward and against their sides as they sniffed the air and ground beneath them. They were moving past the tree they rested in, but slowed with each step, nostrils searching the air.

  Alni caught sight of one of their faces as it tilted upwards, scars scattered amongst the scales just as they had on Silthia’s back. They were snarling and chuffing to each other, speaking soft words that he could not decipher over the distance, but Dora’s long ears were twitching and vibrating, her golden eyes zeroed in on the dragons. They said a few more things to each other before one lifted up on its strong hind legs, front talons hovering as if preparing to swipe at the empty air before it.

  “We know you are here Elladora. We can ssssmell you. Give up now.”

  There was a hiss from the others, one that seemed to chorus ahead like a hum through the woods.

  Alni was holding his breath, body so close to Dora’s he could feel the rise and fall of her breathing. It was calm and collected so, instead of focusing on the words of the dragons, he tried to focus on that; matching her breath in and out, calming his body as the dragons searched below.

  Surely they had already found them and were merely toying with them…surely they were not actually safe. Alni felt Dora tense in anticipation against him when one stopped at the bottom of the tree they resided in. But it did not look up, did not fly, or begin climbing towards them, instead it snapped its head to the left. The others followed suit, all looking at the shining opal dragon that had emerged from the trees.

  A snarl erupted from Silthia’s mouth as she moved into the clearing, eyes fixed on the dragons before her and never once looking up to the tree where the two resided. The snarl made their heads shrink low, hisses erupting as the dragons moved towards each other, getting as close as the large trees around them would allow.

  “What you seek is not here. Go elsewhere, to the North,” came Silthia’s soft and controlled voice, her head jerking in that direction as she spoke.

  Alni could not see her mouth move in the darkness but felt the words as if she was right there next to him.

  “We can ssssmell her,” one spoke, the words coming out as a pained whine as its long black tail whipped around behind it, the sharp horns protruding from the scales tangling in brush and tearing it from the earth.

  “You dare question me?” The words were almost a roar, silencing the world around them, “I said, the prey you are seeking is headed north.”

  The dragons spread their wings, rearing up on their back legs. Alni was certain they were about to attack or deny her words once more, but instead, one-by-one they kicked off the earth. Their bodies spiraled upward, blending in with the darkness of night as they took flight and left the forest. They were hissing and spitting with anger as they flew off, dark shapes like giant bats in the sky.

  Alni’s eyes left the retreating dragons and looked down to where Silthia stood. She was no longer there, only empty space where her eyes had been before. Alni and Dora remained there for several moments in silence, hearing nothing from the world below.

  “You have a lot of explaining to do, Elladora,” Alni murmured, and he didn’t have to look at her to feel the ice of her eyes.

  “I just borrowed something I shouldn’t have from them. It’s foolish.”

  “Borrowed something? From dragons and didn’t return it? Clearly, you really do have a death wish. At first, I had assumed it would be good to ask for your talents, but I fear you might be dull in the head.”

  His words received a shove that almost sent him falling off the branch. Grasping onto the edges, he offered up a smile.

  “Yes, that’s what I said. Do you think the other dragon is still down there?” She growled, eyes scanning around the clearing.

  Alni clutched his bag to his side, lowering himself down to the ground despite her whispered attempts to get him to come back up the tree. When he landed on the ground, he looked back to where he had seen Silthia.

  “Silthia?” He inquired to the darkness, taking a few steps forward.

  Dora was emitting soft curses behind him as the sound of her feet hitting the ground beneath the tree was heard. Alni continued on, stopping abruptly when he heard a rustling before him. Dora had been following so close behind, her small body slammed into his back and he moved one hand behind him to steady her body against his as they peered into the darkness.

  “You know it?” Alni didn’t answer, hand still on her as he remained frozen in place.

  Two crimson eyes opened in the darkness, glowing as they looked to the both of them. Dora hissed in a breath of air and her hand lowered to her side, struggling to search for something. Alni’s hand moved downward and grabbed hers, feeling the handle of a weapon in her hand. He gave it a soft squeeze, preventing her from pulling it out or moving to attack. Together they remained there, still as the two eyes closed. This time, they did not open.

  The air shifted around them. Where it once buzzed with energy, it now seemed to go back to normal. The crickets began chirping, frogs croaking near the running stream. The forest was absent the noise of a large being making their way through the trees, nor a threat. Not even the presence of Silthia.

  “Oye, you two!” The familiar voice broke their trance, Alni and Dora looking over their shoulder.

  There was a small lantern swaying before a heavily bearded face; moss green eyes cheerfully watching the two of them. A pipe was in his mouth, balanced at the crack of his lips. He took a puff, the smoke was green and hovered about his face for a moment before lifting into the night sky.

  “Better be careful out here. There’s darkness about. If you want a quick bite I can offer it.”

  He turned and walked off, a skip in his step as the lantern started to disappear.

  Alni immediately started off towards the Man in the Tree, questions at the tip of his tongue as he tripped over branches and roots. Dora was right up against him, eyes darting around the forest maniacally as she growled, “What is going on here?”

  “I don’t know, but let’s figure it out,” he responded.

  She didn’t fight him, following wordlessly as they wove through trees and headed after the strange man, stopping when they reached a dimly lit fire. He walked over to it, pushing the logs around before leaning down and blowing upon them. The fire was brought back to life before their eyes, illuminating the area around them.

  “Fire isn’t good, anyone can follow fire,” Dora was murmuring, voice stern as they approached the flames.

  “Not this one,” The Man in the Tree said, looking over to them.

  Alni spoke this time, slowly taking a seat on one of the fallen logs nearby. It was close to the Man in the Tree but not directly next to him, “It’s a wonder we keep running into each other. One would think you’re following me.”

  “I’ve never seen you before, Red. Believe me, I would remember. I know what I know and I know it well.” His voice was trailing off, almost a sing-song tone as his head tilted towards Dora, studying her, “an elf and a half-elf, I am in good company tonight. Have a seat, I’ve got some dried meats here and I can’t eat em’ all myself.”

  Dora glanced to Alni’s hat, surely trying to get a glimpse of the ears beneath, but quickly looked away and back to the Man in the Tree. She cautiously appr
oached and took a seat near Alni, keeping her distance from the both of them.

  “Who are you, stranger?” She asked.

  “That’s not the right question. The question you need to be asking, missy, is how you’re going to escape the grasps of evil.”

  Dora opened her mouth, closed it, then opened it again before falling quiet. Her body had moved slightly closer towards the darkness and the edge of the log, hands wrung together in her lap, nervously.

  “How is that?” She said.

  “Eat and listen to my story, then I will leave you to your quest…”

  Chapter Nine

  In the beginning of Desin, there were only the dragons and elves. Elves, as you’ve been told, were created by magic. The ancient force that gave life to all creatures in our world, the magic beneath the ground in which you stand. We know not if it’s one being that controls the magic or if our Creator is the world itself. It dictates all decisions and works to keep harmony throughout the world.

  It needed a way to nurture and care for Desin. The elves were created to follow the laws of magic and heal the world. To make the forests grow and heal the sick and wounded. They were given magic beyond the reaches of our minds in exchange for their loyalty and obedience to the magic of Desin.

  The dragons were like Gods on Desin from the moment of its birth. The very first creations of magic, or perhaps they are magic itself, none of us truly know, and they would never trust us enough to say. They became friends of the elves and partners in peace. Together this world lived in harmony and flourished for many years. Even with the magic surging through their veins and the power over life, there were elves that desired more. They despised the customs and demands they had been given by the Creator. They strayed away and denied the call of magic. Over the years their refusal to serve the magic of Desin drained their power and connection to the universe.