A Reason to Trust

“Let’s see… At least a month’s rations, done. Assorted potions, done. A selection of arrows, done. Ointments, medicines made from the plants here… ready.”

Leyade crossed off each item on the list she always prepared in her notebook before setting out. She had laid out all her purchases, equipment and personal belongings on the bed in the bark dwelling.

She crossed off the final item: a scabbard bought especially for Kalindra. It was simple, made of forest-green steel, with a cord decorated with small, colourful flowers running along its length. She had chosen something plain not because she lacked an eye for such things, but because Kalindra was already striking enough without an even more eye-catching scabbard. If she was going to carry something so important, keeping it inconspicuous would spare her trouble on the journey.

Leyade sighed and let the notebook fall onto the bed.

“At last…” she murmured. “At last, I have a goal. At last, I know how to move forwards. I’m a little closer.”

She smiled broadly at her belongings.

“It’s time to take charge and fight.”

Leyade stretched and turned on the spot.

“What will happen in Falathel? Will the book be there? Will I understand it? It can’t be too difficult, can it?”

She threw herself onto the bed.

“Will I be able to save them?”

Thoughts and doubts tumbled through her mind, but this time they did not hurt or fill her with fear. This time, it was only nerves and excitement. This time, she understood what she was feeling.

“Whatever is waiting for me, I’ll fight. I’ll face it.”

She brushed her fingertips over the barely visible marks on her neck.

“I’ve looked death in the eye. I know what it’s like, and I’m ready to face it.”

Leyade sprang from the bed, picked up her backpack and began packing everything neatly inside, keeping herself busy until Silas returned.

Some time later, once darkness had fallen outside, a voice called up through the window.

“Leyade, are you there?”

She leaned out and looked down. Silas stood below, lit only by the faint glow of the surrounding flowers. His figure was barely visible in the darkness, but his amber eyes shone clearly in the night.

Leyade smiled and waved.

“Silas, come up if you like.”

He seemed to nod, then began climbing the steps at the side. Leyade opened the door and pulled the chair out from the table for him. When Silas reached the top, he bowed before entering.

“If I may.”

With that, he stepped into her bark dwelling.

“Well? Did you get everything?” Leyade asked, sitting on the bed beside her backpack.

“Judging by how much that backpack is suffering, I’d say you did.” Silas sat down and set out two wooden cups, sweet-smelling steam rising from them. “Yes, I have everything.”

“Wonderful! Yes, I’ve got everything too.” Leyade picked up the pouch he had given her and held it out to him. “I’m really sorry. I’ve used almost everything in it… I’ll pay you back, all right?”

A little embarrassed, she handed him the pouch.

“It doesn’t matter. You bought supplies for both of us, so don’t worry. Besides, I can find more of those things.”

Silas carefully took the pouch from her hand with a smile, then offered her one of the cups.

“It’s flower tea with honey. They gave it to me at the market.” He shrugged. “Apparently, it helps you relax before bed, and for some reason, I thought you might need it…”

Leyade accepted it carefully, breathed in the scent and licked her lips before giving him an amused look.

“I can’t imagine why…” she said with an innocent smile. “So, will we have transport tomorrow?”

“Yes, we will,” the half-elf replied, nodding as he took a sip.

Leyade nodded in turn and blew gently on her tea.

Silence settled over the room. Only the insects outside and the sound of sipping broke the quiet. Every so often, Leyade glanced at Silas, who was looking out of the window with interest.

“Silas…” she said at last.

The half-elf turned towards her.

“I wanted to thank you.”

“No need. The tea was free,” he replied with a shrug.

“That’s not what I meant.” Leyade narrowed her eyes at him. “I wanted to thank you for helping me.”

“Ah, that…” Silas looked thoughtful. “There’s no need to thank me for that either. I’m only keeping my word.”

He took another sip, brushing the matter aside.

“I don’t think that’s all it is. You could have helped me and left it at that. But you offered to vouch for me, to give the Council someone they could hold accountable. So, thank you, Silas.”

Leyade met his eyes, speaking sincerely. Silas seemed determined to make little of it.

He was silent for what felt like minutes before answering.

“If I hadn’t, they wouldn’t have let you go. I would have failed in my task and lost Kiany’s trust,” he explained, looking down at the cup between his hands.

“You don’t have to hide behind half-truths, Silas.” Leyade looked at him over the rim of her cup. “I know that isn’t the only reason, but you don’t have to tell me anything. We don’t know each other well enough for that yet. I just wanted to thank you. Whatever your reason is, I don’t mind. As long as you aren’t planning to hurt me, of course…”

She paused with a mischievous smile, then laughed.

“I’m joking. You don’t seem like the sort of person who would stab me in the back. If you were, with all the questions I ask, you’d have done it at least three times by now.”

She laughed again, pretending to wince in pain.

Silas, whose expression had briefly grown serious, smiled in amusement and shook his head.

“Thank you, Leyade. Perhaps we don’t know each other that well yet, but even so… Yes, I think it’s only fair that I tell you something.” He watched the pinkish tea shift in his cup before continuing. “I know you worked out part of my reason during the trial. I saw it. You’re not foolish. It made sense that you would notice.”

Silas spoke calmly and sincerely. Though a smile still lingered on his lips, he was serious.

“What do you think is part of my reason for helping?”

Leyade considered the question as she sipped her tea.

“I don’t know exactly, but it seems you have your own reasons for being interested in the dark spirits,” she replied thoughtfully.

The young man nodded.

“I knew you’d noticed. Selwen’s attempt to corner me was rather obvious,” he added with the half-smile of someone who had expected that answer.

Leyade raised her eyebrows and nodded.

“Well, yes. The dark spirits and I are not on the best of terms. As they said before the Council, I represent the spirits. My role is really to act as a link between humans, elves, faerie folk and spirits.”

Silas sighed, then continued slowly, choosing his words with care.

“My duty is to maintain the balance, encourage mutual respect and keep the peace.”

Leyade listened intently, her expression curious. Silas noticed and could not help smiling at her innocence.

“That sounds difficult. And exhausting,” she remarked with a grimace. “What about the dark spirits?”

“I told you to be patient when I’m explaining things, Leyade,” Silas replied, tilting his head and raising an eyebrow.

She covered her mouth as though to say, ‘Oops. Right.’

Silas shook his head.

“It’s all right. Just let me continue. As you know, elves worship spirits. Superstition underlies much of our religious culture. One season, there’s no rain: ‘The spirit is punishing us.’ The next, there’s a good harvest: ‘The spirit is pleased.’ Sometimes that behaviour angers the spirits. Being blamed for something you haven’t done hurts them, just as it would hurt you or me. When the people who worship them lose faith in them, blame them or stop treating them with respect, the spirits may retaliate. So… imagine what happens when a dark spirit appears.” Silas grimaced.

“People blame the spirit who was already there?” Leyade suggested, tilting her head and thoughtfully tracing a finger around the rim of her cup.

“They say some spirits have been corrupted by the anger that dark spirits stir up in them, convincing them that people mistreat and disrespect them. And sometimes, those beliefs only make matters worse.” The half-elf sighed, his expression grave. He clearly disliked the subject. His grip on the cup tightened slightly. “Not all dark spirits are alike. Some have little power of their own, so they try to gain it through other spirits. That’s why I want to find a way to destroy them, so they can never corrupt another spirit. I want spirits, elves, humans and faerie folk to live in harmony.”

Leyade watched him silently for a few moments. His amber eyes had darkened. He was no longer looking at her, only gripping his cup and staring down at it grimly.

“I understand… That’s terrible, because both the people and the spirit suffer because of what the dark spirit does. After all, you might be able to resolve a spirit’s anger by talking to it and to the people involved. But if it becomes corrupted…” Leyade shook her head with a troubled grimace.

Silas nodded heavily. Leyade set her cup on the floor, rose from the bed and approached him with determination. The night breeze stirred her hair and dress. Her eyes shone with conviction as she stood firmly before him and spoke.

“I share your pain. In my village, Faelwenor, dark spirits have emerged, destroying the land around the rift and threatening to sweep away everything in their path. That’s why…” Leyade drew breath. Thinking of her village hurt. “Silas, you and I are going to find that book.”

The half-elf raised his head and met Leyade’s green eyes. She stood before him with an iron resolve, determined to keep her word. He could not help smiling.

“With your help, I’ll learn to use the ramal, and together we’ll put an end to them once and for all.”

Silas and Leyade held each other’s gaze for a few moments. Both had just realised that they were not alone in this. They were two very different people fighting for a common goal. It was not some whim of fate that had brought them together, but they had found something to fight for and a reason to trust each other.

At last, Silas broke the silence.

“We will,” he assured her. “Together.”

The next morning came without incident. Brimming with excitement, Leyade had risen before dawn, ready to leave with Silas. She stood at the window and took a deep breath. She could barely keep still.

Leyade adjusted her cloak of leaves. Luckily, her clothes were in perfect condition. Awful though it sounded, that was one advantage of having fought naked.

She closed her eyes and breathed in again.

Was she ready to leave?

With a determined step, she approached the table, picked up the scabbard she had bought for Kalindra and fastened it to her belt with a nod. It would not be long before she could use it.

She took one last look around the room, then checked herself over. She had her backpack, her armour, her bracers, her family pendant hanging from one of them…

At last, she felt like herself again.

The ranger turned and hurried down the steps. She looked out onto the path. Silas had not come out yet. When she turned towards his bark dwelling, the curtain of leaves was still drawn.

Thinking he might be a while, Leyade sat beside the path, took out her notebook and a piece of charcoal, and began sketching every plant she could find, marvelling at their variety.

Time slipped by as she worked. She was so absorbed that she did not even hear Silas approach from behind. The half-elf crouched silently beside her, only inches away, and watched.

Leyade was drawing carefully, her tongue poking out and her brow slightly furrowed. With a wicked smile, Silas pressed a finger to his lips, signalling to Elindra to keep quiet. Then he leaned carefully towards Leyade’s ear and said:

“You look very sweet with your tongue sticking out.”

Leyade’s heart lurched. She jumped away from him and landed among the flowers beside the path, clutching her notebook to her chest. She turned towards him, wide-eyed, her initial fright quickly giving way to surprise and embarrassment.

“For Selvida’s sake, Silas! You scared me!” she cried as he watched her with an amused expression and a mischievous smile.

“I’m sorry. I couldn’t resist,” he confessed, placing a hand over his chest in a show of remorse.

“You’re so mean…” Elindra emerged from his satchel, shaking her head at him.

“I may be mean, but you’re an accomplice. You didn’t even try to stop me,” Silas replied.

He stood and stepped towards Leyade, offering her a hand.

Still trying to calm down, she accepted it. Silas pulled her out of the flower bed with relative ease, surprising her with his strength.

“Thank you.” The ranger took a deep breath and closed her notebook, waiting for her heartbeat to settle. “If you want to get rid of me, just say so. Don’t try to frighten me to death.”

“Forgive me,” Silas said with a flirtatious smile. “I didn’t know you drew,” he added, pointing to the notebook in her hands.

“Yes. I like recording anything new I discover in nature. A flower, an animal, a place…” she explained as they began walking away from the bark dwelling.

They followed the path until they reached what appeared to be one of the borders of the kingdom of Liarieth. Several guards stood there, like those Leyade had seen at the trial, but they were not alone. Councillor Eldrin was beside them, wearing a broad smile and holding a sack.

“Leyade, Silas, Elindra!” he called, waving as soon as he saw them.

“Councillor Eldrin?” Leyade blinked in surprise.

“Hello, all of you!” The councillor stepped closer and greeted them with an informal bow. “I’ve come to see you off.”

“Have you? How thoughtful,” Silas replied sarcastically. He was not convinced.

“What can I say? That’s just how I am,” Eldrin answered with an amused smile.

“And you’ve only come to say goodbye? What’s in the sack?” the half-elf asked, raising an eyebrow.

“All right, all right. You’ve caught me,” Eldrin admitted with a laugh. “I did come to see you off, but that isn’t the only reason.”

One of the guards returned Leyade’s bow and quiver, which she secured with the rest of her equipment.

The councillor lifted the sack, opened it and reached inside with a theatrical flourish.

“I believe this belongs to you, Leyade.”

With great care, Eldrin drew Kalindra from the sack.

“Kal…!” In her excitement, Leyade almost cried out the sword’s name, but caught herself just in time. “The ramal!”

Eldrin nodded eagerly.

“It isn’t every day you get to see one of these with your own eyes, let alone hold…”

He was about to admire it, but the moment he had drawn it fully from the sack, Leyade snatched it from his hands.

“…one.”

Eldrin remained with his hand raised, staring at the empty space between his fingers.

“It isn’t every day you get to see one and have it snatched away…” he amended under his breath, crestfallen.

Leyade examined the weapon from end to end, making certain it really was Kalindra and that it was unharmed. For the first time, she looked at it with a full understanding of the weight it carried. She could feel the energy coursing through it.

She drew a deep breath and studied the sunlight reflected in the leaves engraved on the hilt. Then, with a deliberately slow, ceremonial movement, she sheathed it.

Silas smiled at the contrast between Leyade’s satisfaction and Eldrin’s disappointment.

“Well, you can still say you’ve seen and touched one,” Elindra said, settling on Silas’s shoulder.

Councillor Eldrin sighed before speaking again.

“Well, the queen asked me to pass on a few things.” His spirits lifted a little. “To you, Leyade…” He gestured towards the elf. “She returns the ramal, as promised. She hopes you understand what you carry and will never forget why you fight or what you are fighting for.”

“I won’t,” Leyade replied firmly before bowing.

“To you, Silas…” He turned towards the half-elf. “She asks that you watch over Leyade and guide her well on the path towards her destiny. She trusts you.”

The councillor watched him for a few moments, smiling.

“Of course,” Silas confirmed, placing a hand over his chest and bowing.

“And finally, to you, Elindra.” Eldrin turned towards the dragon, who was listening attentively from Silas’s shoulder. “She asks that you take care of them and guide them out of here. She also hopes that one day you will be ready to return. Until then, take good care of yourself.”

The dragon regarded him without expression before answering.

“I will always take care of those around me, but I don’t know when I’ll be able to return.”

Eldrin shrugged.

“I’m only the messenger, my dear friend.” He folded the sack and tucked it into a small satchel at his hip. “All that remains is to wish you well, and to hope you can save your village, Leyade. I look forward to hearing how it happened one day. And, well, knowing Silas…” He paused and smiled. “I expect I’ll hear from you soon.”

His smile widened as he looked at each of them in turn.

“However hard the road, however difficult the choices and uncertain the future, enjoy the adventures that await you.”

Eldrin brought his hands together and bowed his head respectfully.

Leyade, Silas and Elindra returned the gesture in farewell. The guards stepped aside, and what had seemed an impassable tangle of roots and ivy, hidden among the trees, slowly opened into a path leading into the forest.

Without looking back, the three of them left Liarieth behind and set off towards the ruins of Falathel.