20. Elowen

20

ELOWEN

I slip through the forest, my feet barely making a sound on the soft earth. The stream's gentle gurgle beckons me, a soothing balm after another grueling day of training. I've learned to be vigilant out here, always on guard for the beasts that roam the wildspont.

As I near the base on my return journey, something catches my eye. A flicker of movement. I freeze, pressing myself against a thick tree trunk, my heart pounding so loudly I'm afraid it might give me away. The forest suddenly feels too quiet, too still.

My breath catches in my throat, a familiar icy dread creeping up my spine. Dark elves. Their sleek, shadowy forms move with an eerie grace through the underbrush, silent as death herself.

My hand instinctively reaches for the dagger at my hip, fingers curling around the worn leather grip, but I force myself to remain still. There are too many of them, and I know all too well what they're capable of.

I count six, maybe seven. Their armor glints dully in the filtered sunlight, intricate designs etched into the metal – symbols of power and cruelty. They move with purpose, heads swiveling as if searching for something. Violet and red and black eyes scan the forest floor, and I hold my breath, praying to whatever gods might listen that they don't look up and spot me.

Suddenly, I see the spot they are headed for, and my eyes widen in disbelief. The air there shimmers, rippling like the surface of a pond. It's subtle, like heat rising from sun-baked stone, but as I focus, it becomes more distinct.

And the dark elves stride towards it without hesitation, like they know exactly where it is. My mind races, trying to make sense of what I'm seeing.

One by one, they step into the distortion and vanish. It's as if they're walking through an invisible doorway, their forms blurring at the edges before disappearing completely. I blink hard, trying to quell the rising fear in my body.

My heart pounds in my chest. I've only seen one of these portals. And though it was late and I was injured, I will never forget the otherworldly power that poured off it. The wildspont, a gateway between realms. And the dark elves know exactly where to find it.

As the last soldier fades from view, the air settles. The forest looks unchanged, but I know what I've witnessed. The enemy was here, right on our doorstep. And now they're gone, slipping back to wherever they came from.

I wait, barely daring to breathe, counting the seconds until I'm sure it's safe to move. My mind races. I need to tell Aldric. We need to warn the others. The dark elves are closer than we thought, and they have a way in and out that we never knew existed.

I take a deep breath, steeling myself. This is reckless, foolish even, but I can't let this opportunity slip away. We need information, and I'm right here. Before I can talk myself out of it, I dart forward.

The air shimmers around me as I step through the portal. For a heartbeat, everything blurs. My stomach lurches, and then?—

I stumble onto soft grass, the scent of magic thick in the air. It's intoxicating, making my head spin. But at the same time, it's familiar.

I am back in Protheka. In fact, spinning toward the portal, I realize this was the very one I was led through before. But I barely have time to think about it because then I hear it.

Voices. Dark elves. Close.

Quickly, I dive behind a massive tree, its bark thrumming with energy beneath my palm. I press myself against the trunk, barely daring to breathe.

I strain my ears, trying to catch every word of the dark elves' conversation. Their voices are low, but the wind flows the sound toward me.

"The vrakken at the next base won't know what hit them," a deep voice chuckles.

"Don't underestimate them," another snaps. "Remember what happened at the last raid?"

There's a moment of tense silence before a third voice speaks up. "It doesn't matter. We have the element of surprise this time."

"That worked well to eliminate a whole base. Besides, we have more numbers," the first voice adds. "How many did the Captain say we're bringing?"

"At least a hundred," comes the reply. "Maybe more if the scouts report back favorably."

My heart races. A hundred dark elves? The base won't stand a chance.

"When do we move out?" someone asks.

"Two days from now," the authoritative voice answers. "At dawn. Use the sun to our advantage. We'll hit them when they least expect it."

I bite my lip to keep from gasping. Two days. That's all the time we have to prepare.

"Enough talk," the leader barks. "Get back to the main camp. We have preparations to make."

I hear the crunch of boots on grass as they move away. Slowly, carefully, I peer around the rough bark of the tree trunk, my fingers digging into the wood.

The dark elves are heading towards a clearing in the distance. I can just make out the shapes of tents and the flicker of magical lights, their eerie glow making nerves curl in my stomach.

My heart thunders in my chest as I creep after the dark elves, each step careful and measured. The forest floor is damp beneath my feet, and I have to fight the urge to run.

As I near the edge of the clearing, my breath catches in my throat, strangled by the fear clawing its way up. The sight before me is terrifying, worse than anything I could have imagined.

Hundreds of dark elves mill about a massive encampment, their tall, lithe forms moving with an otherworldly grace that makes my stomach churn. Tents stretch as far as I can see, magical lights bobbing between them, casting long shadows that trick my eye. The air thrums with power, making my skin prickle and my hair stand on end. It's like the very atmosphere is charged, ready to ignite at any moment.

Warriors sharpen blades that gleam with an unnatural light, the sound of metal on stone setting my teeth on edge.The sheer number of them is overwhelming, a sea of potential destruction that threatens to drown me in despair. How can we possibly stand against this?

This isn't just a raiding party. It's an army.

And they're only sending a fraction of their forces to attack our base.

My mind reels with the implications. If we somehow manage to fend off this attack, there are hundreds more waiting to take their place. The enormity of what we're up against hits me like a physical blow.

I can't stay here. We need to prepare.

Turning, I sprint back towards the portal, my feet barely touching the ground. Branches whip at my face, but I ignore the sting. Every second counts.

I burst through the shimmering air, stumbling as I cross back into the wildspont. For a moment, I'm disoriented. Squeezing my eyes shut, I picture my base, Aldric, the forest I am desperate to be back into.

Then my feet hit the ground and I recognize the familiar forest around our base, and relief floods through me. The wildspont can be fickle, the portals connecting throughout Protheka.

Without pausing to catch my breath, I run. My lungs burn, but I push harder. The base. I have to warn them.

As I near our hidden entrance, I see a figure emerge from the shadows. Tall, pale, with wings folded against his back. One. I would know anywhere.

"Aldric!" I gasp, skidding to a stop in front of him.

His silver eyes narrow as he takes in my disheveled state. "Elowen? What?—"

"Dark elves," I pant, grabbing his arm. "Hundreds of them. They're coming. Two days."

Aldric's grip on my shoulders tightens, his silver eyes boring into mine. "Slow down, Elowen. Take a breath."

I inhale shakily, trying to calm my racing heart. His steady presence grounds me, and I force myself to focus.

"Now, tell me everything," he says, his voice low and urgent.

I nod, swallowing hard. "I saw them, Aldric. Dark elves. They used a wildspont portal, just beyond our perimeter. I followed them through."

His eyebrows shoot up, but he doesn't interrupt.

"There's an army," I continue, the words tumbling out. "Hundreds of them, maybe more. They're planning to attack our base in two days, at dawn. They're sending at least a hundred soldiers."

Aldric's jaw clenches, his wings rustling with tension. I watch as his expression shifts, the warrior in him taking over. His eyes harden, calculating.

"You're certain?" he asks, his voice clipped.

I nod emphatically. "I heard them planning it myself. Aldric, they have no idea we know. We have to warn the others, prepare?—"

"You're right," he cuts me off, his grip on my shoulders loosening slightly. "We need to tell Raziel and the others immediately."

He takes my hand, his larger one engulfing mine. The gesture is firm, purposeful, but I can't help the flutter in my chest at his touch.

"Come on," Aldric says, already striding towards the base entrance. "We don't have a moment to lose."

I hurry to keep up with his long strides, my mind racing. As we descend into the cool darkness of the base, I can feel the urgency radiating off Aldric. His wings are tucked tight against his back, his posture tense and alert.

"Raziel!" Aldric calls out just outside the library in the back of the base. "Selene! We need you now!"

His voice echoes through the room and the hallway we're standing in, and within moments, I hear footsteps approaching. Raziel appears first, his dark eyes sharp with concern. Selene is right behind him, with Nikolai and Jessa bringing up the rear.

"What is it?" Raziel asks, his gaze flicking between Aldric and me.

Aldric's hand tightens around mine. "We have a situation," he says grimly. "Elowen has information. The dark elves are coming."