“I’ll…have to think about it, Your Majesty,” I said. “If that’s all right.”
“Of course.” Sharald was obviously disappointed, but his fading emerald eyes twinkled. I knew he wouldn’t let it go.
Sharald dropped the discussion of sending a team to Alexandria and changed the subject to more personal matters. He dismissed me and said I was free to roam the city if I liked. I did want to explore Sharald, but I also felt like being alone. I needed to decide whether or not to go with the elves to Alexandria.
I took leave from the others and went outside to get some fresh air. I stood in a beautiful garden. Hedges cut in the shapes of animals surrounded me. There were large ones, like elk and horses, along with smaller sculptures of grasshoppers and pigs. In the middle of them all was a small pond. I stood at the edge of it, watching the turtles, fish, and frogs. Waterfowl dove beneath the water, gulping down food. The place reminded me of Peaceful Pond, and more importantly, of home. My heart ached to return there. Fresh footsteps approached me from behind.
“May I speak with you?” King Sharald asked.
I turned around and bowed. “Of course, Your Majesty.”
“Sharald, Hellsfire. Please call me that.”
“Forgive me Si—Sharald.”
“It's all right. I need your help, Hellsfire.”
“I’m flattered, but I haven’t decided anything yet.
“Please, you must listen to me,” Sharald said, grasping my shoulder with his soft hand. He looked up at me, green eyes pleading, while he waited for a response.
I nodded.
“I may look healthy to a human's eyes, yet I’m not. I’m getting on in years, though I do my best to look well in front of my people. Although some suspect the truth, they don’t acknowledge it. I’m sorry to say I have no natural successor. I'm barren and the line of Sharald ends with me. Prastian is to succeed me. He’s skilled at dealing with those both in and outside this forest, he’s excellent with words, and he’s good in combat. The problem is, he’s a bit too adventurous. Instead of remaining here, he prefers to travel, to better understand people. He may get himself killed before he is able to become king. I need to find out what happened in Alexandria, so I’m going to have to send my best elves. But if anything should happen to them….” Sharald rubbed his hand across his wrinkled ear and stared at me, reading my face. “I can see you do not understand, Hellsfire. Let me tell you what's been happening lately.
“I don’t know if you are aware, but things have slowly been getting out of hand here in the north. The creatures of the Wastelands have been sighted more and more often. We were used to occasionally getting a few, though even that was a rarity. Yet for the past six months, we’ve had to send regular patrols to kill the creatures. The thought did cross our minds that Alexandria had been taken over, though word of that would surely have reached us, and the creatures would come in greater numbers. Nevertheless, something is terribly wrong up there. It’s as if creatures are regularly walking by Alexandria’s defenses. I need to find out what is happening, and your services would be greatly appreciated. Like in days past, we need a wizard.”
That was the problem. Master Stradus had taught me a lot about being a wizard. He taught me how to perform spells, how to use my powers correctly, how to access and use mana. But what he didn’t teach me, what he didn’t have time for and what I might have to learn from experience, was how to be responsible. How was I to use my powers with non-magical people, but not overdo it or have them rely on me?
“This isn’t just for me or my people, it’s for all Northern Shala,” King Sharald said.
I raised an eyebrow. “How so?”
“The things that come from the Wastelands aren’t just a threat to us, Hellsfire, they’re a threat to everyone. Look at it this way. Why did Shala beat Renak? Renak had the better wizards, more resources, the element of surprise, was more aggressive, and was better organized.” Sharald swept his hands across the pond. “But it was Shala who came out on top. Shala won because he was able to pull together the different peoples of the land. If he had not, we all would have lost. I see the same thing happening now.
“We are all different peoples, but unlike then, there’s no one to lead us. If the creatures get through and Alexandria falls, we will all fall—one by one. Hardly anyone in the land will be safe. Our first defense is and always has been Alexandria. That’s the reason why it was built in the first place, and that’s why it must always stand.” His voice grew louder and stronger. “We must find out what’s going on there.”