Brian Anderson - Of Gods And Elves

It was nearly dark when they arrived back at the farm.Gewey cleaned the fish on a wooden table next to the house, while hisfather prepared the stove and wash water inside. After they had bothcleaned up and cooked dinner they sat down to eat. The fish tastedbetter than any Gewey could remember.

“I have a surprise,” said Harman, as he gotup and brought a pitcher down from the cabinet. Gewey could smellorange juice as his father placed it on the table.

“Where did you get that?” asked Gewey.

Harman just smiled and poured Gewey a cup. “Mylittle secret.” He winked and returned to the chair.

There was a knock at the door. Harman sprung up andlooked out the window.

“Who is it?” asked Gewey.

“It’s no one. No one at all.”

“No one? Someone knocked.” He got up andstarted to the door. Harman rushed in front of him, barring Gewey’sway.

“I said it was no one,” said Harman, thistime with more force. Again, there was a knock.

“What wrong with you?” said Gewey. “Whywon’t you open the door?” Gewey tried to push his wayaround his father, but Harman shoved him hard, sending him flyingacross the room and crashing into the wall.

“I said leave it!”

Gewey stared in horror as his father changed anddistorted, until he became a creature of quivering mass and swirlingcolors. “What are you?”

“She doesn’t belong here,” cried thecreature. Its voice echoed loudly. “She must leave.”

Gewey felt panic grip him as the creature closed in. Hebolted around the table and tried to get to the door, but thecreature got there first. “You must stay. We love you.”

Gewey slowly backed away until he stood next to thewindow. He propelled his body through the glass and onto the porch.

“Gewey,” a familiar voice called out.

Gewey tried to focus, but the world around him blurred.“Who’s there?” he cried as he tried to regain hisfeet. A figure stood in front of him, but he couldn’t tell whoor what it was.

“It’s me, Kaylia.”

As soon as he heard her name, it all came back to himand the figure cleared revealing Kaylia dressed in the same shirt andtrousers in which he had met her in the forest for the first time.“Kaylia,” he cried, his voice filled with relief and joy.

She took his hand and pulled him from the porch.“Hurry,” she ordered. “We must get out of here.”

The door to the house shattered, splinters flying. Geweyand Kaylia ran as fast as they could, not paying attention to wherethey were going.

“You must not leave!” the creature screamedas it pursued them. It appeared to float just above the ground.

“Where are we going?” asked Gewey as theyran.

“How should I know? Anywhere but here.”

Gewey nodded in agreement, and they headed down the roadeast, away from town. After a few minutes, Gewey glanced over hisshoulder, but he couldn’t see any sign of pursuit. “Holdon.” Gewey grabbed Kaylia’s arm and came to a halt.

“We need to keep going,” she said.

“But where? I don’t even know where we are;let alone where we should go.”

“We’re in the spirit realm.” Kaylialooked around for signs of the creature. “You became trappedhere after your battle with Harlondo.”

“The spirit realm?” said Gewey frowning.“Then how are you here?”

“We took you to Valshara to be healed. But yourspirit was lost. I used our bond to find you.”

“Valshara,” whispered Gewey. “How longhave I been here?”

“Not long,” she said. “Two days. Buttime may not flow the same here. For all I know we’ve both beenhere for weeks…even months.”

“How do we get out?”

“You don’t,” called a voice frombehind them. They turned and saw the form of Gewey’s fathersmiling at them.

“Who are you?” Gewey demanded. “Andwhy are you keeping us here?”

“We did not bring her.” said Harman, lookingat Kaylia. “We only want you. She does not belong here. Shemust leave.”

“We will both be leaving,” said Gewey.“Release us.”

“I cannot,” he replied. “We need youhere. We have been so alone.”

“What are you?” asked Kaylia.

“We will not speak with you,” said Harman.His hand flashed from his side, and a dagger flew through the air atKaylia’s heart.

Gewey shoved her out of the way just in time, and thedagger buried itself deep in his arm. Pain shot through him as hefell to his knees. Kaylia rushed over and pulled out the blade. Bloodsoaked his sleeve and dripped from the ends of his fingers.

“That was foolish,” scolded Harman. “Butno matter.” He waived his hand, and the wound was gone. “Youwill come to no harm, but she must be destroyed. You cannot stopthis.”

Gewey stared in amazement at where the dagger hadstruck. “If you hurt her I’ll kill you all.” He gotto his feet and squared his shoulders.

Harman looked amused. “You cannot kill us. Thedead cannot die.” He stepped towards Kaylia menacingly.

There was a blinding flash of light. When Gewey’seyes adjusted, he gasped. Felsafell stood between Harman and Kaylia.He was dressed in his animal skins and carried his walking stick.

“Leave her be,” Felsafell commanded.

Harman’s face twisted in anger. “Traitor!”he shouted. “Leave this place!”

Gewey looked in Kaylia's eyes and smiled. “Are youokay?”

Kaylia nodded, still staring at the scene.

“Your heart is rotten,” said Felsafell.“It’s rotten and cold. You take what is not yours. Youseal your own doom. Yes, you do.”

“You left us,” said Harman. “You brokeyour promise.”

“There was no promise,” Felsafell replied.“Oh, no. You are doomed and foul. I no longer care for yourwords. Our people are gone, and I will join you soon enough.”

“We will not let him go.” Harman clenchedhis jaw. “You can’t make us.”

Felsafell shook his head slowly. “I can’tmake you. But I’ll tell him not to love you. Yes, I will.You’ll still be alone. Alone forever. Unloved and alone.”

“I will never love you,” cried Gewey. “Notif you hurt Kaylia.”

Harman shifted his eyes to Gewey. “You will loveus,” he said. “Your father and mother loved us. So willyou.”

“You’re wrong,” said Gewey. “ButI will release my mother and father. Then you can be with themagain.”

“You see,” said Felsafell. “You are afool. The fool of fools. You keep the one who can give you love, butif you do he will never love you.”

Harman turned his back and lowered his head. “Willyou return to us, brother?” he asked.

Felsafell walked up and placed his withered hand onHarman’s shoulder. “I cannot. I must help free thefathers and mothers. And more there is to do for me. But I will joinyou soon enough.”

Gewey watched as Harman faded and disappeared. ”Whathappened?” he asked. “Is he gone?”

“Gone?” Felsafell replied. “No, notgone. Just far away.”

“Thank you,” said Kaylia. “I owe you adebt.”

Felsafell smiled. “You will repay,” he said.“Oh, yes. Then I can rest old bones and tired head.”

Millet, Maybell and Malstisos made their way towardHazrah. The first snows began to fall just as they had rounded thewestern end of the Razor Edge Mountains. Luckily, the snow was lightand didn’t bar their way, but Millet feared for Maybell’shealth nonetheless. As strong as she was, he knew the long days oftravel and the cold weather took a toll on her aging body. He andMalstisos kept a close eye on her and did their best to lighten herburden, though she didn’t make it easy for them. Maybell had anannoying habit of taking on extra work, especially if they tried todo anything she saw as her duties.