23. Elian

Elian

Elian was in pain, but he had to keep riding. He'd left the fort two nights ago and was now nearly to Luthien. It had been a dangerous ride. He'd encountered a pack of shadow graugs during the first night and had used his Core to kill several before the rest retreated. Clove had helped him as well, as she traveled along with him, never once letting up or leaving his side.

He'd ridden his horse so hard, the poor animal had foamed. Elian knew the horse couldn't keep the same pace for two days. So, the next morning, he let the animal rest near a water hole while he slept fitfully with Clove keeping him warm. He resumed his ride through the gray and cloudy day that afternoon, subsisting on oats for the horse and nuts and smoked boar that the cook had packed for Elian at the fort.

Now, he trotted the horse now at a steady pace through the falling snow, and Clove walked alongside him. Night had fallen again, and it was freezing and quiet, causing every noise to reverberate through the forest. He stayed alert, his Core within easy reach, and hoped with every mile that he would make it to Luthien in time to warn them about Mordren's army and send reinforcements to Fort Arrowcrest. He'd even taken different back roads to avoid any run-ins with Mordren's spies, such as Shirkh .

By the break of dawn, he crested a snowy hill and there, in the valley below, was the city of Luthien. Its stone walls scaled high, and inside those walls he imagined thousands of people going about their day; visiting the markets and shops, selling their wares, laboring, visiting friends, planning events. And towering above them all was the gold-domed building of the citadel. This was where the Legion's headquarters were, shining in the early morning sun, even from this distance.

"Not much longer now," he panted and glanced down at Clove, who stared at him with her tongue out.

He passed through the farms and inns built around the outskirts of Luthien, but the fields were empty and the inns quiet. He urged his horse forward until he came to the road leading to the city's main gate. There were no carts or carriages coming or going, and outside the city wall there were no stalls bustling with activity. It appeared the people of Luthien had heard the rumors coming from Vanhelm.

He wasn't surprised to see the gate closed and the walls surrounded by soldiers. A unit of them marched over to him immediately upon seeing him, and Elian dismounted, showing them his Core.

"I am Elian Darrow," he started. "I come with urgent news from the Gate in Vanhelm."

The soldiers exchanged wary glances but didn't hesitate to escort him and Clove through a small side door, leading him into the guardhouse. Once inside, he handed over his Core for verification, and they swiftly confirmed his identity and escorted him to the guard headquarters. After sloshing through icy puddles on the narrow cobblestone road, Elian came inside the main building and stood before the General's office. Every nerve in his body was taut with anticipation .

Inside, the General looked up with a mustached frown that suggested he had no time for interruptions. "Another Core Wielder," he said, annoyance etched across his face. "Here to tell me what I'm doing wrong now? We're already stretched thin."

A flush of frustration passed over Elian, but he pressed it down. "That's not why I'm here, General."

"Out with it, then," the General barked, gesturing dismissively. "I have reports to organize and plans to strategize."

"I am Elian Darrow. I've come directly from Vanhelm. I was there when the Gate was opened."

The General looked up from his papers and stared at Elian. "Ah, Darrow. We got word from your assistant, Rhielle Shae, a few weeks ago. She brought in a Hunter, and we've questioned him."

Relief washed over him. "Where is she now?"

"She's been staying in the barracks." The General rose to his feet and glanced out the window. "We've had about two quakes and strange beasts attacking in the past week. They've been easy to take care of, but we aren't letting anyone out of the city for now without official clearance. We dispatched a scout group over a few weeks ago to the Gate, as we hadn't heard from the unit stationed there. When we received word from a messenger that the unit stationed outside the graveyard was killed, we sent in more men to see what was happening. They reported the Gate was open, and any Legion soldiers there were dead. Only three of them arrived back yesterday."

Elian's heart sank deep into his stomach. They must have barely missed the scout group when they left the guard post. "The quake you felt was from the Gate being opened. The Hunter in question was led by Rem, and his men killed the unit at the guard post in the graveyard. The dormant one has been released from the Unseen Vale, and he comes with an army."

"We know." The General's eyes were grim as he looked away. "My scouts reported to me about this army yesterday. I have already sent word to the council, and we are prepared should they march upon Luthien."

This made Elian feel slightly better, but it wasn't Luthien he was worried about at the moment. "I've come from Fort Arrowcrest. They are requesting aid."

The general narrowed his eyes. "What for?"

"They are a target… A monster injured a messenger who was supposed to arrive here days ago. He told us the fort was marked in blood." Elian made sure to leave Owen out of the details.

"We can't send aid with the city under lockdown."

Elian's chest deflated as panic rose. "Everyone at the fort will be slaughtered."

The General glared at Elian as he walked around his desk. "Yes, and that will be your fault to bear, won't it? I heard of your mission to track down the Shadowborn. Yet, he opened the Gate anyway. Do you have any idea where he is now?" He narrowed his eyes.

Elian gritted his teeth. "No. The Shadowborn went into the Gate and never came out." This lie had possibly just sealed his fate as a traitor to the Legion. "You have the chance to save lives now." He tried once more to sway the General without telling him about Owen, "The fort is on the enemy's pathway to Luthien. The men there need aid. Mordren is coming—"

"The deaths of forty men to the thousands in this city pale in comparison, Wielder!" The general's face twisted in anger, his face reddening. "I will focus on keeping Luthien standing. She's never fallen, and I won't allow an army of pests to destroy her. Now, get out."

After ensuring Clove was given a space in the guard barracks to rest and eat, Elian found Rhielle in the mess hall. When she looked up from a table and saw him, her eyes widened, and she jumped up and ran to meet him. He wanted to hug her, but being her superior, he knew it wasn't appropriate. Instead, he waited patiently, letting a smile curve on his lips.

She stood tall, her chin raised, and tried to smile, but it came out pained, and then she looked him over and said, "Rough night?"

He let out a tired laugh and said, "You could say that."

"What happened?"

Elian shook his head. "Where do I begin?"

"Let's get you a meal and ale, and you can tell me."

They found an empty table and sat across from each other. After putting in an order for food, Rhielle poured him a mug of ale from a jug sitting on the table. She opened her mouth to speak, but Elian put his hands up, stopping her.

"First, let me ask, how are you doing?"

She smiled. "I'm… hanging on. I got here about four days after I left the river. It wasn't easy riding with the Hunter."

"Then you got to Luthien about the same time I made it to the Gate." Elian sighed and drank deeply from his mug of ale.

"Where is Lou? Did you both capture Owen and the others? Rem?" When Elian said nothing, Rhielle tapped impatiently on the table. "Eli, what happened? "

Elian glanced around, watching for eavesdroppers. When Rhielle noticed his watchful eyes, she straightened in her chair.

"Lou is dead. So are many of Rem's Hunters." When he looked up at Rhielle, her expression tightened, as if she couldn't believe it.

"What happened?" she asked.

"I will spare you the details for now, but I would not be sitting here right now…" His voice was low. "If it wasn't for a certain person that I chased through Avathon."

"He's alive…" Rhielle whispered.

Elian nodded once. Then he pulled off his right glove and showed her where three of his fingers were missing.

She gasped. And for a moment, it looked as if she may reach out and touch his hand, but she only shook her head.

"What happened?" she asked.

"A lot of things," Elian whispered, "but we're running out of time. What do you know?"

"That the Gate has been opened and the city is preparing for a possible attack from outsiders. Monsters, from what I've heard. But the people here don't know that."

"It's an army of strange creatures called Arroki. The General denied my request to send reinforcements to Fort Arrowcrest. Harlan is stationed there… and Owen is there. I promised him I wouldn't tell the Legion that he is still alive and at the fort, but perhaps if I had, they would at least be sending soldiers there now." He looked at Rhielle with agony in his eyes. "No one will be there to help him when the dormant one storms in…" He took a swig from his mug and watched as Rhielle's eyes widened in disbelief.

An immense wave of guilt washed over him. He had failed, again. This time to keep Owen safe. He would have to take on the god of the Unseen Vale with the help of the few men at the fort.

"Why is he there?" Rhielle asked.

"It was the first safe place we could find after making it through Vanhelm. I owe him… my life, my trust." He spread out his two fingers on his right hand and furrowed his brow thoughtfully. "The dormant one wants him for some reason I can't understand." Elian sighed and got to his feet. He had promised Owen he wouldn't tell Legion officials in Luthien about him, to keep him and Colt safe, but Elian didn't seem to have a choice in the matter. It was either let the Legion know where Owen was and send reinforcements to help, or allow Mordren to use him for whatever the god had up his sleeve.

"I need to talk to the general again—"

Just as the words left his mouth, someone shouted an alarm outside the mess hall. Elian and Rhielle made their way to the wall, climbing long stone steps to the battlements. Soldiers prepared firearms and bows, and fires were lit below giant kettles of tar. There were three other Wielders on this part of the wall as well, their Cores at the ready.

In the distance, still miles away, the horizon darkened with billowing clouds that blotted out the sunlight. It was the same terrifying dark fog that had reached them in Vanhelm, and now here it was advancing unmistakably toward Luthien. Mordren's massive army would reach the city in a matter of hours.

In the eerie stillness, snow drifted down. When Elian craned his head, his ears perked up at the sound of something deep and resounding, like the beat of drums.

Rhielle's eyes widened, her mouth dropping open to say exactly what Elian was thinking, "Oh, shit."