The Drifting (23 page)

“We leave now,” I say rising, Phoris moving to join me.  Ka, Julia and Tolan remain seated. 

“Why, Tharin?  It’s dark out now and without the silver wolves to cover us, it could be dangerous.”  I know why Tolan hesitates – Julia.  It doesn’t take long to change his mind, however.

“I’m going with Tharin,” says Julia rising and moving to my side.  Tolan gives me a hard look before rising, too.  He moves to stand next to Julia, but she moves to my opposite side.  I stare down at her, but she stares off in the distance with a determined look.

“Think about it, Tolan” I say turning to my brother.  “It seems that we’re being delayed.  I don’t know if the disappearance of the silver wolves has anything to do with it, but I have this urgent feeling about all of this.”  To keep Julia from hearing the rest of my suspicions, I speak to Tolan alone. 
“If Eathos believes Lily is dead, who would be his next hurdle to stand in his way to bring war among the clans?”

“Father,” answers Tolan for all to hear.  Julia turns to him, but when he shifts his to her, she turns away quickly.  I don’t believe Julia blames Tolan for Lily’s death, but there is something there that’s putting a wedge between them.

“I came across assassins at a clearing, they were sent to kill me.  Looks like Eathos is trying eliminate anyone who would get in his way.  Word probably hasn’t gotten back to him that I’m still alive.”
  Tolan gives me a curious look. 
“I’ll tell you about it later,”
I add.

Ka stands slowly, “You may be right, Tharin.”  I know he’s responding to my conversation with Tolan instead to the fact that we need to leave.  Again, I tell myself I have to find a way to block him and Sema from my thoughts.  Perhaps Father would know. 

Before I can ask Phoris to thank the old oak, we find ourselves back on the path in the pouring rain.  The old derelict, bent and frail is leading us toward the
Oak
Tower
gates.  I make my way to walk beside him, followed by Julia and Tolan, and Phoris taking up the rear.  I don’t need to put a shield around us as I feel the old elf’s energy protecting us.  I can feel the power and strength of his will; I’ve never sensed any stronger, not even my father’s.

The stars above give some light, but the moon isn’t at its peak yet, so darkness from the giant oaks spreads across the path like an omen shadow.  The uneasiness felt earlier permeates the surrounding area and my hand slips under my coat to rest on Tazo’s hilt.  The light chinks of Tolan’s chains whisper behind me and I know my brother senses the danger as well. 

Phoris is a Caller by nature and birth, but he is also a formidable warrior in his own right.  I know his silver rings are at the ready.  I suspect that Julia is behind Tolan, holding his hand.  I glance behind me and see not only is she walking beside him, but there is a physical change.  She looks about her sensing the danger as well, and I instruct Tolan to prep her for an attack we all know is coming.  Instantly, Julia looks forward and I know that Tolan is directing her now.  I look ahead of us, and in the far distance I can see the looming gates of the Oak Clan – gates that just closed for the first time in a millennium.

We come to a stop, positioning ourselves for attack when shadows dance several feet ahead of us, blocking our paths to the gates.  Ka pushes his hood and cape back and stands to his full height, holding his knotted branch to the side.  Phoris is instantly at Julia’s open side facing behind us, as well as Tolan.  Julia, drenched but not showing any sign of fear, turns and faces the same direction as Phoris and Tolan, standing in a rudimental fighting stance.  We’ll have to fix that once we’re back at the tower, if we can keep her alive long enough.  I think about that for a minute.  Lily will have my head if anything happens to her friend.  I send a quick note to Tolan and he gives a swift kick hitting me on my calf.  I deserved that.  I should have known better…he’s got Julia covered.

Before me in the shadows, still and standing with his large beast beside him, is the same orc bounty hunter.  He is dressed as he was, the rack of knives lined down his chest in a double formation glints from what little light the stars provide, despite the rain.  He smiles and softly whistles a light tune.  We wait as more orcs dressed as he appears along both sides of the path.  All of them wearing Sidhe cape and all hooded, and at each of their sides is a beast of their own.  I’ve never seen them before nor have I heard of any renegade gang of orcs.  I had mistakenly assumed that the orc before me was a bounty hunter, but I can see he’s an assassin.  And the Sidhe capes are from their leader, Harlu.  I know that because they’re wearing the Ange symbol on their capes – the black arrow emblem. 

“Phoris, how many?”
I call to my cousin.

“There are six on my side,”
replies Phoris quietly.

“There are six on mine, as well,”
shares Tolan.

“I will handle the beasts,”
adds Ka.  I look at the old elf and he turns to me, giving me a wink. 
“Don’t let this old dog fool you, son.  I’m as bad as they come.”

And then all hell breaks loose.

~ * ~

Chapter
Sixteen

~
Lily
~

Every time I think I’m going to be sick of chicken pasta, I find myself devouring every plate put before me.  Tonight, one was enough.  Throughout dinner my thoughts were on Tharin, always on Tharin.  I can’t seem to think of nothing else.

“Tomorrow, we’ll start early,” says Ziri as he finishes off his third plate of pasta.
  Alorn had two plates, and I believe Mellis is polishing off his fifth.  How can elves eat so much and still be in the shape that they’re in?  It must be their high metabolism.  I remember riding on Tharin’s back, and I swear the room seems to sway just at the thought of the speed we were traveling.  If it weren’t for Tolan’s potion he gave Julia and me for the rest of the trip, I don’t think either of us would have made it.  That entire event of the last part of our trip comes back to me, and I see glimpses of moments that I shared with Tharin.  I see visions of him tying me to his back; of him rubbing my legs after he untied me, of him laughing as we stood before the doorway to Velesi, and finally, his look of terror when Ziri grabbed me from his side.  I look over at Ziri and can’t imagine him as the same person who kidnapped me.  In the short time we’ve known each other, I find myself liking him, even trusting him.  It then occurred to me that something is missing from this picture.

I turn to Sema, asking, “Before Ziri knocked me out –”

“Ziri knocked you out?” asks Alorn, tension seeming to rise around him.  Even Mellis shoots Ziri a hard look.

I sigh, “No, he didn’t really hit me, he pricked my wrist with a thorn and then I was out.”

Mellis relaxes and goes back to finishing his chicken pasta, but Alorn continues to stare at his cousin.  Ziri sits back giving Alorn a crooked grin.

I shake my head at them and turn back to Sema. “As I was saying, before Ziri, you know, put me under, there was a wolf standing next to him.”  I turn to look at Ziri, “Right?  There was a wolf standing next to you.”

Ziri nods and when I look over, Sema is looking at me with that knowing smile of hers.  “Of course there was, Lily.  It was me.”

I don’t think I heard her right.  “You?  What do you mean it was you?” 

Before my eyes, Sema begins to fade in and out; her body slowly changing form.  At first it seems as if she’s disappearing and shrinking at the same time.  Next, she begins to change to something bestial…furry with large ears and snout.  The last of the transformation is so sudden I almost leap out of my chair.  The wolf eyes me steadily until I realize the eyes belong to Sema.  It didn’t matter – my heart is beating so fast I think I’m about to pass out.  I slowly turn to face the others and I get the feeling they are just as surprised as I am, except for Ziri. 

Alorn looks at me with concern while both Mellis and Ziri stare at me curiously, but no one moves.  Finally, Mellis asks, “Lily, are you all right?”

I shake my head slowly at them and turning to Ziri, I ask nervously, “You…you’re not going to turn into a vampire, are you?”

“What?” he replies, looking at me as if I was a crazy person.

Suddenly, Mellis does the whole speeding thing and is at my side before I can take my next breath.  He covers the lower part of his face with his elbow giving me a dark sensual look that is so ridiculous that I forget that I’m supposed to be scared to death.  He twitches his eyebrows at me and says with the worst Dracula imitation I’ve ever heard, “I vont to bite your neck.”  He grabs me with his other arm and does the
yum-yum-yum
noise again as he tries to pull me close.  That was it – I’m done.  I start to laugh uncontrollably as I try to push him off me.

“Tharin was right,” says Alorn from across the table, “you do watch way too many movies.”  He shakes his head at me.  I look over at Ziri and he continues to stare at me archly as if questioning my sanity. 

Mellis is back at his seat and gives me a wink.  I throw my napkin at him, still laughing.  When I look back at Sema, she’s once again herself.  “How are you able to do that?  Can I do that?”

Sema shakes her head, “Not everyone has the patience to shape-shift.”  She looks over at Alorn.  “You and Tharin have the ability to learn how, but you’re still too involved with your warrior skills.  Time will come when the two of you will learn how to shape-shift.  Tharin is marked, he will become the panther tattooed and scarred on his arm.  You, however, haven’t found yours yet.”

Alorn stares at the old woman, his face unreadable.  Mellis sits up asking, “How about me?”

“All Sidhe have the ability to do so, but only a few can master it.  At the moment, only Ka and I have mastered the transformation.  You,” she addresses Ziri, “have the blood of the Lithi, and although you don’t have the ability to shift, you are able to communicate with the beasts.”

“I’ve never done that,” replies Ziri thoughtfully.

“No, you haven’t, but you’ve always had a way with animals.  It’s too bad that you’re mad at your brother; he has the ability, so does Alorn.  You should put aside your issues with them and ask them to teach you how it’s done.”

“Pfft,” is Ziri’s only response.

Sema shrugs her shoulders and turns to me.  “As for you, Lily, unfortunately, it is one of a few abilities you don’t possess.”

I look over at Mellis and he gives me a quirky grin.  “It’s okay, cousin.  We can still beat them at eating chicken pasta.”

“Speak for yourself,” I reply.  Although I’m grateful for Mellis’ attempt at keeping it light, I am a little disappointed.  Then again, none of them, including Tharin, would be a match for my Cessa.  I lightly touch the black onyx on my wrist and smile wistfully.  She does belong with me.  Tharin gave her to me as a wedding gift and once again my thoughts are on him, but they’re not thoughts I was expecting. 

The images of Tharin shift and suddenly the room grows dark.  I’m no longer in the thela but out in the rain standing in unfamiliar woods.  Around me are dark giant trees and I’m standing on a path.  I turn to see Julia on the ground fighting someone in a cloak and Tharin comes to help her as he takes another cloaked attacker down with his sword of fire.  Tolan is fighting back to back with the old man from the minimart.  He’s using his chains on more attackers while the old man is pointing a stick at what looks like huge wild dogs.  They seem more like werewolves that come out of nowhere. 

Tharin has Julia on her feet and they stand back to back until she takes off and takes down another attacker charging Phoris from behind.  Phoris has silver rings spinning before him, behind him – they seem to be spinning all over the place.  As Julia gets up, one of the rings takes the head of the attacker she took down.  She now stands back to back with Phoris. 

Julia!  Oh my God, is this a dream?  I turn to find Tharin facing off with another cloaked attacker, but this one seems different.  Next to him is a beast bigger than the others…and Tharin is without Cessa.  Oh my God, why did he give her to me?  Just when the cloaked man and beast leap at him I’m suddenly back in the kavi thela.

Somehow I’m lying on the floor with Sema holding my head on her lap.  I’m out of breath as if I’ve sprinted a mile in only a few minutes.  “It’s all right, child.  You had a vision and I’ve seen it, too.  I’ve sent Alorn, Ziri and Mellis to help.  It’ll be all right, Lily.  Calm your breathing.”