Chapter 29

Sara

“That was weird…”, Kim muttered to herself.

I watched as the Gnomes stood up and left the cave. I had wasted my time coming here; weeks I could have spent travelling to the North. The Gnomes had nothing but riddles to offer, empty words about a past they did their best to hide. Only their customs kept me from leaving, and we would stay here until the last tale had been shared.

I left the cave to stand by the edge of the cliff and looked out over the land below. It was still free of the clutches of the Queen, but not for long. I could rely on no one else now; there was no one to aid me. I had always seen this path before me, hoping until the very end that the tribes would rise and offer resistance. But it was a lost cause, I saw that now. I had nothing. So much time lost, with nothing gained. My only fortune was that winter was upon us, and the Queen would make no headway in the coming months. We would travel North after this, spending the winter with the Nomads. We could shelter there, readying ourselves for the spring.

I turned away from the view and almost collided with Kim.

“They… they asked us to come back.”

And so the farce went on.

“Thank you, my child.”

She left, and I followed her to the cave. The Gnomes had already gathered, and I took my place in the circle with the others. With some luck, this would be over soon.

“And so we are gathered once again. We will hear your tales and listen to what you have to share.”

Silvi stirred next to me, and I braced myself for the stupidity to come.

“I want to share what the forest told me.”

The Gnomes nodded in approval. It was useless, just as I had thought. I had long since given up on wondering what the forest had conveyed to her on the fateful night when she decided to come with me. It held no importance, or else I would have seen the fruits of it. Just like the elves, the forest cared nothing for the Queen and her war. Silvi cleared her throat and then looked directly at the Gnome.

“It was dark… I woke up in a land deserted by any animals or trees. At first, I could see nothing, and then flames appeared on the horizon. I watched them consume everything in their path, and when they came closer, I turned and ran. They spread until the world around me was burning. I…”

She paused and sobbed. It was as I had expected; nothing that would aid my cause. Any toddler would have known what awaited us should the Queen get her way. Silvi wiped her eyes and continued,

“I screamed, but there was no one there, and I understood what would happen if I didn’t follow its vision and went with Sara.”

“A tale of great caution. We thank you.”

And so the Gnomes were as deluded as the elves. They did not need the forest’s visions, only eyes to see with. But they never left their mountain, never cared for anyone else but themselves.

“What is your question, forest dweller?”

Silvi paused for a moment and then asked,

“How did the Unicorns defeat the evil?”

And so, when I thought it could not become worse, the elf opened her mouth to speak. Even the cocooned elves knew the tale of this world, and nothing the Gnomes would say would offer any enlightenment. But the Gnome looked at her and offered the first smile I had seen since we’d arrived. Did they feel the elf to be as naive as she was, and showed compassion for her state?

“A fine question and one that could change the course of action for this land”.

I stared at the Gnome speaking. This farce had gone on for too long, and if it hadn’t been for my good name as a Peace Bringer, I would have gone up and left. He looked at Silvi.

“The evil brings nothing but lies upon those it encounters. Weaker souls will succumb to it, walking its path and doing its bidding.”

As I had expected, he offered nothing but riddles. The Gnome went quiet, closed his eyes, and then continued in a monotone voice,

“The Unicorns did not defeat the evil, but formed a pact with it, believing its lies. They hid the truth behind more falsehoods, and so that until this day, most of them don’t recognise the truth. It is only by the grace of the elves’ songs that the evil has not caused more harm.”

I stared at him. Had I not heard it with my own ears, I would not have believed it. I knew no lies would leave the mouth of the Gnomes, and yet… It could not be true. The Gnome sat silent, his eyes closed. He must have understood what he shared; known the consequences of his words. And yet, he offered nothing more. The legend of our race could not be a lie. The Unicorns defeated the evil, we did not make a pact with it. What purpose would our actions have had until now, should that be true?

“What tale do you have for us, wanderer?”

Another Gnome spoke and turned to Kim. She must have replied, but I no longer heard her answer. Had it all been a lie? Was the legend of our race nothing but a falsehood? But we were Peace Bringers. Veena, the forbearer of our tribe, had brought the name upon us, and we had followed it ever since. The Gnome must be mistaken, and the truth something other than what I believed. But they didn’t lie…. I stared at the stone floor before me. Had my life until this point been a fraud, a pretence built upon a falsehood? Had my actions been based on nothing but a hoax? I had begun this journey, my uprising against the Queen, with the wisdom of our race and the knowledge that we did not bring war upon this land. Had it all been a ruse?

“And so the tales have been shared, and the questions answered. We thank you for the wisdom you have brought to us from the land far away.”

I slowly raised my gaze. The Gnomes were leaving the cave; Kim must have already shared her tale. I stared at the dark stone floor. I had nothing left; it had all been a lie.

“Sara…?”

Silvi’s voice reached me from afar, but I paid her no heed. She could not understand the consequences of the Gnome's words; did not grasp the meaning of them.

“We… need to leave.”

She must have left because the cave fell silent. My cause had failed, built on falsehood and lies. I had nowhere to go. It had all been a hoax.

“Sara…? We need to leave.”

It was the Whip’s voice this time.

“You can’t stay here.”

I could not expect her to see the truth of the Gnome’s words. They were all ignorant. A sharp jab landed against my ribs as she poked me with her foot.

“Come on, we need to go.”

I raised my head and looked at her.

“You do not understand what has been shared today. Leave me be.”

She sighed.

“Stupid horse…”

She kneeled down, put her hands against my back and pushed.

“Come… on!”

I could not expect her to understand my state, but being touched by a human was not to be done, and I stood up.

“Finally…”

She turned and left the cave. I would never regain what I once had. This was the end of my uprising, and everything I knew.