Chapter Ten

Chapter Ten

Illianor.

R’ille descended the gentle slope of crystal and stepped from the span onto a land where no Illuminar had ever set foot before. She gazed out upon the world that had come into view during her approach. It was lush and green; a flat expanse of knee-high grass that ran straight away until reaching the feet of majestic mountains that jutted thousands of feet upward into the blue sky. Their jagged tips were capped with the whitest snow. The air smelled of wildflowers and honey.

A tumult of white water from melting snow rushed down from the mountains and passed near where the end of the crystal span touched Illianor. The sound grew into a crisp roar as the river approached the cliff. Reaching the edge, it leapt off the edge of the island in a tremendous waterfall whose end was lost in mist and spray as the water plummeted into the chasm. R’ille approached the water and saw the rush of the rapids over colorful rocks and pebbles. Boulders in mid-stream sent droplets into the air like glistening diamonds in the light of the sun. She christened the river Lumen, for it reminded her of the river of stars that washed across the heavens at night.

Stands of oak and elm were scattered on the verdant lawn, and from them birds sang, while squirrels chattered in the trees. R’ille found it strange: This new place was quiet; tranquil and peaceful, reflecting nothing of the carnage they had left behind. The land was heaven-like, yet something was not right. She concentrated for a moment, and then realized what it was. It was not the land that was wrong, but something within her. It was the chatter of demons in her head, a never-ending cacophony of horrible banter. Looking out on Illianor as the first of her kind to do so, she felt as if she had brought with her a plague, a pestilence that was already beginning to grow across the virgin land. Instead of rejoicing, she felt sick. She started to turn back, but she could not hold back the Illuminar behind her who rushed to set foot upon Illianor.

Those behind her crossed and beheld the majesty. They marveled at Illianor’s beauty, feeling none of the dread that overcame R’ille. They knelt down and took handfuls of grass and lush earth and let it run through their fingers. Several began singing, rejoicing as they helped those behind them off the span.

R’ille followed the river up a bit and then turned back to watch as all the Illuminar that remained came across. Tensed and silent, she watched for over an hour as thousands descended, until at last, a final group stepped down off the crystal bridge. The last Illuminar warriors backed their way off the span under waving emerald banners. They were Brinn’s troops, guarding the rear. She thought again of her beloved husband, still a captive on the far side. She knew he would probably never live to see this place. She realized that his memory was another source of the hurt in her stomach.

“What of Brinn?” R’ille heard from a group nearby. It was another of the king’s handmaidens, a tiny waif in golden gossamer. She was asking a tall, grim faced Illuminar from the king’s guard.

“Nothing,” answered the guard. “He is lost.”

“And of Pashan, sent to bring the mortal Avanyar to our aid?”

At that, R’ille turned, startled.

“He did not return,” the guard answered. He turned and trotted off, answering a call from his division.

“What is this of Pashan?” R’ille asked the handmaiden. “What did you say?”

The handmaiden stared down at R’ille’s feet in silence, afraid to answer.

Tall, dark eyed Pashan had been the leader of the golden-bannered king’s guard. R’ille had not seen him since the king’s death had forced the Illuminar to take flight. She was shocked by the news that Pashan lived. “I thought Pashan died when the king was assassinated!” she said. His division, the king’s guard, had been the hardest hit. “Bellanar leads the king’s guard because Pashan died with the king!”

“’Tis true, Bellanar was given command, though, like Brinn, he has been taken by the enemy and has not been seen again. But Pashan did not die.”

R’ille ached at the news that Bellanar was also lost. “Did Bellanar know that Pashan lives?”

“No,” the handmaiden answered meekly. “It was Lorelai who brought news that Pashan had perished and that Bellanar was to command. But she was acting on the wishes of Pashan. He told her to say he had perished, and to give command to Bellanar, while in secret, he left to summon the aid of the Avanyar.”

“He went seeking the aid of the Avanyar? Who ordered him to do this?”

“No one, milady. He was not sent, he volunteered.”

“How do you know of this.”

“Lorelai told me of it when Bellanar was lost, and she took command of the king’s division.”

“I must speak with Lorelai. Now!”

The handmaiden rushed off toward the golden flags, with R’ille right on her heels.

“Lorelai, what is this news I hear that Pashan went to summon the aid of the Avanyar? I was told that Pashan perished in the assassination of the king!”

“Pashan asked me to keep his mission a secret,” Lorelai answered. “He feared that you, Bellanar, and Brinn would forbid his going. He made me swear upon his Nyakil that I not reveal his quest. ‘Tell them I’ve been killed, if you must,’ he said.”

“And he never returned?”

“No.”

R’ille looked toward the east, to the land she and her people had left. She thought of Brinn and her eyes filled with tears. He was still on the other side. She had thought he was alone, but now there was a glimmer of hope. Bellanar and Pashan were there, still. Bellanar was seen captured by the enemy, like Brinn, but perhaps Pashan could rescue them? She dismissed the hopeless thought. Even if Pashan still lived, he would not stand a chance against the entire army of the Demon Lord.

“What else did Pashan say ere he left?” R’ille asked. She grilled Lorelai, whose fierce expression wilted under R’ille’s fierce questioning.

“Pashan told me he would rejoin us ere we reached the western edge of our lands, with or without aid. If he didn’t make it by then, he was dead.”

R’ille paced in silence for a moment. “I should have been told.” The anger in her voice subsided, but it remained in her fierce blue eyes. “You should have told me Pashan’s plan. Now we have three Illuminar left on the mainland.” She was silent for a time. “We must prepare for the enemy, who will surely follow our path over the crystal span,” she said at last. “But at some point we will have to organize a rescue party to go in search of our lost leaders. Now leave me. I’ve got a defensive battle to plan and a search party to organize.”