War Of The Wildlands(85)

Chapter 50




After catching a ride on one of Al’marr’s gem wagons, Yori found himself back in the village of Marrel. He had changed out of his green robe and donned the more comfortable clothing of the Wild Elves. Eager to see how his grandfather was faring, he hurried into the woods. The paths from the Sycamore village to Marrel were still worn, reassuring Yori that his clan had not been wiped out while he was away. He hoped they were safely settled on the far side of the river.

The snow had melted away, leaving a sogginess to the forest floor. A cold breeze stung his skin as it joined the moisture of the woodlands to create its icy blast. Though the Sunswept Isles were always warm and sunny, Yori happily accepted the winter of his homeland. His nose was reddened and his eyes watered thanks to the frozen air, but he did not complain.

Near the outskirts of the original Sycamore village, a scout called out to Yori from the trees. “Yori?” he called. “Is that you?”

“It is,” he replied, scanning the branches above. He finally spotted the elf, who was waving happily as he sat among the treetops.

“Glad to see you’ve come back.”

“Thanks,” he replied. “Has the river frozen solid, or will I need to use a raft?”

“The Blue River never freezes,” the elf replied. “You won’t need to cross it, though. The war is over, and we’ve returned to our old village. The new king has promised peace.”

Yori’s heart leapt at the news. “That’s good to hear!” he called. “Does that mean King Domren is dead?”

“Cold and stiff,” the elf replied happily. “The new king is drafting a treaty with all of the clans.”

“Then the prince kept his word,” he commented. It was indeed good to hear that the prince had kept his promise. Peace had finally returned to the land, and the elves would no longer be driven from their homes.

“I’m just as surprised as you are,” the elf replied.

Waving goodbye, he quickened his pace until he reached the village. Stopping at its edge, he gazed on his father’s people. Elves moved here and there, going about their daily lives. Fresh elk meat was roasting, sending a pleasant aroma to his nostrils. His stomach growled in anticipation of the fine elven cuisine.

At the far edge of town, he saw his grandfather’s furnace fire glowing a deep orange. The sound of the hammer let him know that Lem was hard at work, probably being yelled at by Darin. He hurried across the village to reunite with his family.

“Yori?” Lem was obviously surprised to see him.

A wide smile spread across Yori’s face. “Yep,” he replied. “I’m back. Where is Grandfather?”

“I’m sorry, Yori,” Lem said, looking down at the anvil. “He’s gone.”

“Gone?” he replied, his heart sinking at the thought that the old elf had died.

“He’s across the river helping them dismantle the forge. The stubborn old elf keeps insisting we should leave no trace that we were ever there. He says it’s bad for the forest.”

Yori sighed in relief. Seeing that his grandfather’s workbench had been left messy, he set down his bag and began tidying the area. Various tools were strewn about, most likely left there by Lem. Without supervision, he was rather forgetful and a bit careless. The tools needed to be cleaned and properly stored to avoid unnecessary wear and tear. As Yori busied himself cleaning, he heard a familiar voice coming from the edge of the village.

“That’s it. Set it right there and don’t drop it. They can’t be reused if they’re all busted up.” Darin was directing two elves carrying heavy loads of brick. One elf bent to place the bricks on the ground, but Darin shouted, “Not there! Over there!” He pointed off to his right. Shaking his head, the elf did as he was commanded.

Happy to see his grandfather hadn’t changed in the short time he was away, Yori strolled to his side. “Are these guys giving you trouble?” he asked jokingly.

Darin turned around, wrinkling his brow. Seeing Yori, his face broke into a warm smile. “You’ve made it back,” he said. Clapping Yori on his back, he added, “I’m glad those snooty islanders didn’t roast you on a spit.”

“I learned a lot from one of them,” Yori replied. “Master Eldon taught me how to set their enchanted gems among weapons.”

“Really?” Darin asked curiously. “Does it combine with the runes?”

“It does.”

“You’ll have to tell me all about it.” He paused a moment and added, “That is, if you’re planning to stick around.”