Making Plans

“I still don’t see why we should go to the coast,” Elian grumbled. “We need to warn people, all races, about the bugs and think of a way to stop them.”

“Yes, but you don’t need to go around and do that personally,” Lucen said. “I have access to fast messengers, and we can even send pigeons to remote garrisons to alert them.”

That made sense. As a high officer, Lucen had plenty of resources, and it would be stupid not to use all the help he could offer.

“But why the elves? They usually don’t get involved in matters concerning the other races?”

“They’ve opened up a bit lately. To the point that some of our scholars have been complaining about their ‘interference’. They also have long lifespans and keep records far older than any we have. Perhaps they know something about the bugs and the mysterious cycles that creature mentioned.”

“It’s a long shot at best.” Elian pointed out, and Lucen nodded.

“More things than we’d like to admit come from pure chance, or long shots. But there’s also another reason.” He sighed. “I’d like to keep you away from the capital unless it becomes absolutely necessary for you to make a statement in person.”

“Do you really think the king would… If I come to warn him about a great danger? He seemed like a fair man.”

“He is. But these days he listens mostly to his right hand, Kovak.” Lucen’s face darkened. “I’m sure you remember him.”

“So you need proof,” Kaia concluded. “Other proof than our words.”

“Yes. The bodies of those humanoid bugs made quite the stir, I can tell you, so that’s a start. And you said you have official letters from the dwarves?”

“Yes. From Brinja’s family. They fled the mines under the Northern Peaks, and they explain everything that happened there.” He swallowed hard. “What’s still happening there…”

“Then it’s time for you to tell me everything. From the beginning.”

They did, starting with their encounter with the normal bugs at Theo’s farm. The way the exploding bugs seemed to target children.

“They do.” Lucen nodded grimly. “We lost too many before we realized and started assigning special guards to the child-mages.”

More dead children…

Kaia gave him a sympathetic look and started telling Lucen about their decision to leave the tribes.

“Then when we came to the mines to investigate, we first thought they were empty, but…”

Again, they took turns talking about the nightmares they’d seen, reminding each other of any details that could be important. They finished with how they'd left Brinja with her family in Alenia.

“The Stonehammers said they want to mobilize the others to take back the mines, but they’ll need the humans’ help. They should send a formal request soon.”

“It’s not as if we have men to spare,” Lucen sighed. “But it’s clear we’ll all need to cooperate on this. Unfortunately, politics move slowly.” He placed a hand on the letters he’d brought and pushed them closer to Elian. “Speaking of politics, these are documents proving you are part of my personal squad, and a letter for Sergeant Eigon explaining what he needs to do. He’s a good friend, a good man. You can trust him.”

“Thank you,” Elian said. “Do you want the letters from the Stonehammers? To help convince people?”

“That would be helpful, yes.”

“But what about the Lykar?” Kaia asked. “We didn’t attack any humans, and we want to help. But if your soldiers attack us, we will defend ourselves.”

“You’re Kharun, then? Not from Roahr’s group?” Lucen cleared his throat. “I’m glad to meet you. May your hunting skill guide you,” he said in Lykar. It was understandable, but his accent was terrible.

“And yours guide you,” Kaia replied formally, looking more closely at him. “I didn’t think you spoke our language.”

“Not much, but I spent a couple of weeks with Roahr and Soath when I was a youngling. I still remember what they taught me.”

“So, what about the Kharun? The insects are killing people, not us.”

“I know. It’s a mess, but I hope the soldiers sent to the Deep Forest realize what they’re really up against.” He leaned forward, studying the map. “I could send a message, just in case. They’re not my troops though.”

“But surely they’ll listen,” Elian said.

“Probably. The main thing is to convince all the commanding officers sitting on their butts in the capital… That farmer, Theo, do you think he’d come in and give a formal statement? Having someone who was actually saved from the bugs by the Lykar make an appearance could make all the difference.”

“I’m sure he would.” Elian and Kaia nodded. “His whole family would.”

“Great. Messengers for him, the Kharun, and the dwarves in Alenia to begin with, then. And you two to the elves. That’s a start.” He got up on his feet, stretching. “I’ll go book a room and order us some drinks and snacks. This is going to be a long night, going over all our options for uniting everyone against our common enemy.”

*

The next morning they woke early and had a quiet breakfast, going over their plans one last time.

“I wish you’d come with us,” Elian said as they stood outside the stable, each holding the reins of a brown horse. He was picking at the belt of his uniform with his free hand, feeling strangely uncomfortable.

“Me too, but I have responsibilities here. Not to mention that someone needs to keep pushing for further investigations of the bugs. And the innocence of your people.” He bowed his head briefly to Kaia. “I fear this war will be upon us sooner than we can be ready.”

“Yes. But from what we saw, their goal isn’t to make war. They just want to devour all of our lands. Including the people.”

“We definitely have our work cut out for us.” He mounted his horse, then looked at Elian. “You should stay there, unless you want to head up north to her people. Send a messenger with what you find out. Eigon will arrange it.”

“We will. Thank you for everything.”

Lieutenant Lucen raised a hand in farewell, and nudged his horse into a trot. Then he was gone, leaving Elian feeling strangely lonely.

Wasting no time, Kaia easily leaped onto the back of her horse, grinning down at him. For some reason, it immediately made him feel better. His horse, a patient military mare, gave him a questioning look as he tried to imitate Kaia but failed, slowly sliding back down to the ground. After another failed attempt, he used the stirrup and managed to swing his leg over the bags attached behind the saddle.

“Alright, let’s go,” he said optimistically, nudging the horse with his heels the way he’d seen Lucen do. It moved forward in a steady walk, shaking its head so its mane flowed. He smiled widely. He could get used to this. Not walking for a while was going to be great.

“This is much better than I thought.” Kaia was watching her horse with a look of wonder on her face. Their ears moved in sync as they looked around. “Such fascinating creatures.”

“Comfortable too,” Elian agreed, relaxing as he found his balance.

A week later, he regretted that statement. Muscles he didn’t know he had were sore, and when on his own feet, he walked with an absurdly wobbly gait. Kaia had no such problems, or she was hiding them well.

“Come on, faster,” she shouted, spurring her horse into a gallop, and his followed suit, not wanting to be left behind.

Despite his sore thighs and behind, he had to admit they were making good time… and Kaia… She clearly loved it.

As they raced along the soft dirt road, he couldn’t take his eyes off her. A smile plastered on her face, ears forward, hair and tail flowing behind her as she leaned slightly forward. Occasionally laughing loudly.

Seeing her like that was worth some discomfort.

“Hey,” she said, slowing down. “I think we’re getting close. The air smells different.”

“The sea? I’ve heard it has a special smell…” He sniffed, and there was definitely something new about the air here. They continued at a more leisurely pace until they came to a halt at the edge of a cliff.

“Wow,” Kaia breathed, and Elian nodded, at a loss for words.

Ahead of them lay the ocean, spreading into infinity all the way to the horizon. Specks of sunlight and white foam danced on the bluish-gray water. It was impossibly vast, absolutely breathtaking.

“We made it,” Kaia said, pointing just below them. There, spread out between the wall of the cliff and the water, lay the city of Thimruir. An elven city. A large, silvery dome towered above the other buildings, reflecting the sun even brighter than the sea did. He’d never seen anything like it.

Butterflies gathered in his chest as he took it all in.

They’d made it. They found the elves.