Shalini watched as her students left: glad to see that none of them cared a single bit that they had missed lunch. Regardless of the heat in the late afternoon, she had to admit that there was something peaceful about Mironi. Builders were building everywhere, so they were mostly talking amongst themselves, and the booksellers and shop owners were much more laid back than in any other province. It had to have something to do with the heat; one couldn’t be too overexcited with all the heat that was in Mironi.
Still, this was her home—sandstorms, heat and all. As she approached her favourite pub on Magicians Way—a rather boring name for a street if ever there was one—she came across something that she hadn’t seen in a while. What disturbed her more was that everyone was too busy to help. And the Alliance—what happened to the members that always roamed the free land? Where were they? Instinctively, she sent out a wave of magic that pushed the magician, a Mironian, off the peasant boy he was assaulting.
The man got up, and Shalini thought he must be stupid. Did he really not know who she was? Was he really considering fighting her with his mediocre magic? She sighed inwardly. Clearly, he was that daft. Rather than drag it out for too long, she engaged in a quick but clean sword fight that landed him against the wall, with her blade pressed against his heart. That was when a pebble hit her sword. Walking toward her was a man as tall as the average Keldonian, smaller in build but clearly more muscular than his Mironi skin tone would suggest.
“Are you his brother?” Shalini asked.
“That I am.”
“And you plan to stop me from slicing out his—”
“I do. My brother may be a little misguided, but all of Salinor’s people can’t be brilliant.”
“Is that so?” Shalini raised an eyebrow. She wanted to know where he was going with this, and he had the mind-talent to stop her from reading his mind. That alone was impressive enough for Shalini to listen to him.
“Well, yes. How else would we mark the level of intelligence of the smarter people like you and I? The realm needs its idiots; I’m sure you can agree with that.”
Shalini smiled and almost chuckled.
“I’m impressed. I didn’t think it would be that easy,” the man said.
“Don’t worry. I’m impressed as well. Just be sure that the next time I see him doing anything unbecoming of a decent human being, I’ll kill him. And you are?”
“Lynton, and this is my brother Cortell. We are merely travelling through the provinces. We are only young magicians, so it was time that we actually spent more than just visiting time in each province. We need to learn more about our people.”
“Our people?” He said “our people” as if he knew someday he’d rule the realm, Shalini thought.
“Seriously, with all your skills, did you not know that you were looking at the future king?” he asked of Shalini. “I’m quality ruler material. When I’m not flirting with attractive, yet dangerous, women.”
“I resent that statement,” Shalini said with a smile.
“I recant it. You’re only somewhat attractive.”
“I meant the dangerous part,” Shalini said with a burst of warm laughter.
“Ah, so you do agree you’re beautiful?”
Shalini looked at him. He was tall with blue eyes and reddish-brown hair instead of the white which Keldonian mixes usually had. This man was easy on the eyes, and his golden skin tone was almost a match to hers. Shalini wondered, what harm could come out of small talk?
“So I take it that this is how you grab women. This whole torture thing is a ploy.”
“I must confess that a woman only just recently in Atorath said much the same, but you would be the second. And they say lightning doesn’t strike in the same place twice.”
“So are you going to ask a girl into the pub or do I have to give the brother two slices for that?”
“That depends entirely on where you slice him second.” Just for good sport, she quickly swiped at Cortell’s arm leaving a perfect line that broke the skin just enough to promote blood.
“For that kind of slice, I’m going to have to ask to bed you.”
“Really? Had I known that I would’ve sliced him three times.”
“Now who’s flirting with who? I did say you were dangerous.”
“So shall we fuck right here? Or do you have a better place in mind?”
***
Lynton was thoroughly pleased. It wasn’t like he didn’t get his fair share of women, but to get two of the most beautiful and well-respected in the realm—hell, he would’ve been happy just to meet them. And furthermore, he was going to continue his affair with Shalini. He was seriously wanted by the most powerful sorceress of the age. Maybe his brother’s stupidity wasn’t such a bad thing after all. The problem was deciding whether to lie about it once they returned home or just admit it. His father would be most disappointed in Cortell again. Such is the way it is sometimes.
For a whole week, he reasoned, in the bed of such a legend was well worth whatever displeasure Cortell caused in their father. He doubted anyone would believe. He didn’t even know if he should repeat it. Eventually, the continued affair would surface, so there was no need to talk about that and no need to brag about the other encounter with Cherann. Still, there was a need to talk to his brother. All Cortell did was complain and get angry over the smallest things. However, he held hope that Cortell would become a decent human being someday. He wasn’t all bad, after all.
“Why must you always start trouble?” Lynton asked as he and his brother were finally on their way home.
“Why must you always interfere? I could’ve destroyed that bitch.”
“And that is why she had her sword to your chest. And what about you sleeping on the dust in Atorath? You could’ve taken her too,” Lynton said with a smile.
“I was about to finish her off when you interrupted.”
“Do you have a death wish? Why must I always be saving your life? Can’t you be civilised when you’re alone? Ever?”
“I don’t know why you’re complaining. You’ve bedded two exceptional women. Me—what have I done?”
“Fucked a lot more than that.” The two of them shared a laugh.
“You make me sound a lot worse than I am.”
“Oh really. I’m surprised you have time to get anything else done.”
“I am a man. We were made for procreation. How else will the human species continue to exist?”
“So that’s your explanation?” Leo smiled. He had to believe that someday Cortell would be the brother he knew he could be—the man he could laugh with now; the man who was now flirting with one of the servants. For someone who abused mankind, he certainly knew how to treat them when he wanted something from them—or more accurately, when he wanted sex.
“So how much longer till we are back home in Keldon?”
“About two days’ more journey. Why you in such a hurry?”
“I didn’t want to travel. You forced me to.”
“I didn’t—” Lynton stopped himself. He did, on a certain level, force him to come and made him feel guilty about not wanting to know more about himself. They were both half-Mironian, after all. Why not find out more about their mother’s people? Why not find out more about everyone’s culture? Why not find out more about his own even. How could someone be of Salinor and want nothing to do with it?
He had hope that this adventure would open up his brother’s eyes; that seeing the beauty of the world would undo whatever pain he’d endured as a child. It was a failure. Wherever his brother went, the hate went with him—hate toward everyone. He’d attack magicians and the ungifted alike just because he could. Lynton just couldn’t see how someone could hate the world so much. Was he really going to give up on him? Could he just let his own blood waste away and let anger and hate consume him? Was it really time to let go?
While pondering his thoughts, Lynton felt a sort of pull. He wouldn’t mention it, though. This was something his brother was envious of. The last thing he needed was to let him know that he had another ability, especially one uncommon to magicians. So he waited.
It wasn’t too long after that when he was approached by a friend, someone he had met as a boy. Larz was a relative of the royal family of elves. It was customary that all of Salinor’s creatures showed respect to the elves when in their presence, but Larz had long ago stopped expecting that of Lynton. They were friends. Still, Lynton dismounted and bowed along with the rest of his party and a reluctant Cortell.
“Stand. I told you that you no longer have to bow in my presence,” Larz spoke.
“It would be wrong of me to just stand when everyone else still must obey custom.”
“Ever the moral one.”
“My mother taught me well, as did my father.”
“He is not your father. Come with me.”
Lynton did as he was told and walked with the elf. Larz was one of the more muscular elves. This didn’t mean much, though. All elves held a certain amount of power, grace, agility and strength, regardless of their physical stature. Larz was head of the queen’s council. Lynton couldn’t help but notice how he had an uncanny way of turning up when he himself was doubting decisions. If he came with answers instead of more questions, Lynton would be doubly impressed, but he knew elves didn’t help that obviously. He also knew very few even bothered to roam the land, let alone deal with humans.
His father was not his father; this he knew. His father may have raised him well after his mother died, but it was common knowledge that he and Cortell were born before their parents married. He had his suspicions of who his father was, but there was no getting a straight answer, so he gave up years before.
“Still wondering if I’m your father?”
“I know you are. You just refuse to admit it.”
“Confident. Would that be the real reason you insist on not treating me as an equal friend?”
“It would be.”
“I can accept that.” Finally, an admittance—albeit in a roundabout way, Lynton thought. But he’d always been very adamant about them being friends, so to accept Lynton, for this reason, was an answer to Lynton.
“Why have you taken so long to tell me?”
“I doubt it would’ve changed how you treat me. I’m well aware that you knew the moment you met me. Sometimes you seem to just know things instinctively—though not always: which is why I’m here. You have not told your brother; that is wise. He cannot even sense my presence.”
“I thought it was a rare gift to sense an elf.”
“Yes. But a parent can send out a signal. Even nonmagical children can sense it. He has never once sensed my presence. You are special, yes. But this is something all my children can do, just as I can block my presence. And you shouldn’t doubt your choice.”
“But should I give up?”
“Do you believe it will help if you don’t?”
Lynton was too tired for riddles. Too tired for questions. Too tired for circling answers. He just wanted a direct answer. “Can’t you just help me out, just once. Father to son. Must you always force me to come to some sort of conclusion? Must you leave me with more questions and no answers? Help me. Please.”
“How old are you?”
“Twenty-two. Just.”
“So young. Much younger than my last child before you.”
“How old are they?”
“310. Come sit by the river. We are on the edge of Keldon. The air is much cooler. Though it’s unpredictable, I must say Keldon has the best weather in all conditions. Throw a pebble into the water.”
Lynton did as he was told. “The calm water is beautiful and flowing, yet the disturbance of the rock has made ripples. They, too, are beautiful and flow back into the already-beautiful river. You’ve been a pebble for your brother. You’ve thrown yourself in and created ripples in the river of humanity. You can only hope that he will flow back in calmly and come out better than he was.”
Lynton stared at him for a while. Somehow, he knew it wasn’t as simple as a pebble. “My brother isn’t a smooth-running river. One pebble won’t do much. I’d need large rocks. And they would only create more action and rapids.”
“Then perhaps instead of throwing things into the river and making it worse, you should just let the raging waters run their course. Ultimately, all water must rejoin the ocean.”
“And if it doesn’t happen before he dies?”
“You’ve done your part.”
“I don’t like that you won’t tell him he’s your son.”
“You are lucky I’ve told you.”
“Technically, you didn’t.” Lynton was glad to see that he got a smile for that statement.
“I don’t claim any of my more recent human children. Elves don’t mingle with humans anymore, so on the off chance we do and sire a child, the same rules apply. But you—you are different.”
“I see.”
“He is not worthy of being anybody’s child.” It wasn’t that often an elf made such a direct statement. There was definitely something wrong with his brother. Lynton knew it. He knew it was a waste of time, and that he shouldn’t be questioning his actions. He knew it all. Still, when his brother was good, he was good. He could hold on to the hope. He had to hold on to it.
“You can see the truth in things, even without magic. Why do you persist on asking the one question you have the answer to?”
“Love. Sometimes, if you persist against all odds, you can make a difference. I have to believe this is one of those times. Besides, if I didn’t doubt myself so often, you wouldn’t show up.”
“So it is a ploy to get me in your presence?”
“Not entirely. But whatever works,” Larz laughed. The laughter of an elf was said to be able to warm the coldest of souls and to melt an icy heart. It was probably the purest form of love. It was a beauty to hear and a treasure to cause.
“Sometimes, I wonder if Leanor herself birthed you. You have a capacity for love that even most elves strive to achieve. And you are one of three elementals I know who are at perfect calm with their connection to the elements.”
“There are more like me?”
“There are many elementals.”
“Yes—that can control the five, but you said ‘of three.’ There are others who are masters of all five and not just controllers and pure masters of only one?”
“There are two more that I know of. Both are beyond you, not just in age. Still, I believe there is much they can learn from you, and you from them, in time.”
“How so?”
“I just know. I spoke to the seer.”
“Don’t some elves have the gift of sight?”
“Yes. But that doesn’t mean that humans can’t have equally good seers. And which details come to which seer, the magic behind that neither the gods nor us understand.”
At that moment, Lynton became distracted. He thought he saw something and became quite still. After about twenty minutes of silence, he saw movement in the grass and instantly reacted.
“I take it you started to ignore me with good reason,” Larz said, but even without looking, Lynton could hear the laughter in his voice. When he reached the spot he sent the magic toward, he was glad to find his instincts were right. There, glowing inside a ball was a dragon butterfly. They very seldom left the area of the dragons, but here on the borders of Keldon, he had caught one. He took it back to Larz who was impressed more with the sight of it than his capture of it. And after he showed it to Larz, he set it free. He wasn’t one to keep hold of a magical creature, especially one of the dragon kind. But it didn’t fly away and rested on his shoulder.
“Did I do something wrong?”
“No. Right. Most humans like to keep rare magic as trophies. You, on the other hand, merely wanted to marvel at its beauty for just a while. I’m fairly sure it would never have caught your eye had it sensed even a slight amount of danger. And you have a good eye to have caught it.”
“It is beautiful. More shades of blue than I can count and a dragon on its wings. Just beautiful.”
“The seer told me that one day I would be called by one of my children. She said she saw a dragon and gave me information for that child. Much like your father has done for you; you shall have a son that will not be yours. However, unlike how I’ve somewhat raised you, his father will be even more involved than you. How so, she did not know. This is why I went to her. I had a vision that drew me to her, and she, in turn, had a vision that she would be approached by an elf. It pays to follow the visions of the realm; had I not gone to her, I would not be here to tell you this. You are to teach him well, as only you can. Instilling yourself into this boy may save the realm.”
“Save the realm?”
“Our oldest seer also sees something brewing in the realm. She says that if the human seer has seen this, that then it must coincide with what she has seen. She trusts her sight, and I value her opinion not just as a seer but—”
“But?”
“She is my mother. It was she who helped the current seer with her abilities, which—as far as I know—hasn’t been done in centuries. If she sees something in the seer, then something must be there.”
“I know what I’m going to do with this butterfly.”
“Really. And that is—?”
“My first child. My first real child shall have it.” Lynton knew Larz would understand that there may be some children he would refuse to claim until he found one worthy. It was large for a butterfly. It had a nine-inch wingspan, so it didn’t look too out-of-place on Lynton’s shoulders. He spoke to it, and it flew away.”
“Shalini is a great woman. It would serve you well to keep her if she wants to be kept.”
“How do you always know what I’m doing?”
“Instinct. Now that’s someone who reminds me of the way magicians were when they cared about the realm. Well, I’m heading back home. You enjoy your night.”
“Which way?”
“To the right. That will bring you out in front of them. It’s been a few hours now; they’re very far from us.”
“So, if I go back this way, I’ll be hours behind them?”
“Being an elf has its advantages. If you don’t move fast, though, I might change my mind.”
Lynton did as he was told and found himself back with his party. His brother didn’t bother to hide his jealousy. Sometimes, he wished he were normal. Then maybe his brother couldn’t find new things to hate all the time.
“So how’s your elf friend?”
“Cortell—”
“I don’t see why he only has to talk to you. He treats me like I’m invisible.”
“He treats most humans like they’re invisible. He’s an elf.”
“Don’t patronise me. He doesn’t like me, and it’s more than just the fact that I’m human.”
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