Aura: Daughter of Light

[Kalon Ordona II]

[Kalon Ordona II]

The sun was falling in the horizon, far west of her. The air was cool, relaxing; but not so much when it was lashing at her in the heat of a chase. Her hair was pulling back, her clothes tugging at her body with the speed at which she ran. She was being followed, and quickly. Pursued by greedy goblins hungry for a taste of danger and violence. Though Taura would usually gift them with said violence, she wasn't in the mood to fight. Her whole day had been devoted to such fighting. Well, that's what happens when you stumble upon a horde of goblins.

The trees were a good place to go. She needed some kind of cover. Fighting them was going to be impossible when they were in the open and able to circle her as they pleased. Taura needed them to be unaware of all her attacks. Just as she needed to watch her back. No matter how many days, months, and years passed; she never grew use to it. The thought of death. When she was once immortal, the Daughter of Light, and death was but a whispering wind passing when the sun fell. It meant nothing to her then. And now it means everything.

She leapt over an availed tree root, the goblin chasing close in her wake tripping and falling. She didn't look back. She continued, weaving through the trees, her legs throbbing in ache. She had come so far; come seeking the elves. While humans were hopeless at times, the elves were greater. They made the best of allies in a battle of knowledge. She leapt again, hearing the wild shrill cry of a goblin behind her, angry at her fleeing ways.

There were perhaps ten of them. Lanky and ugly, with leathery skin of a hideous and foul brown/green rot. They bore cracks in their callous skin, and wore torn rags beneath bone armor. And they had small war cries, sounding like the ripping of metal, the sound of two rusted blades colliding. They cried out angrily, hungrily; their yellow teeth sharp and intimidating. Taura could feel them gaining on her. And they were gaining fast.

She'd run a good hundred wide paces into the forest, finding the trees began to space again. She knew in her heart that it was time to fight. She bit her lip, wincing at the thought. But who was she to stop? Taura put her left foot into the earth, and pivoted. She reached to her side and withdrew a long blade, and cut upwards. The tip sliced into the leathery flesh of a goblin, right beneath his chest plate of bone. She jutted her arm forward, and deepened the gash into a piercing blow. She drew her blade back, watching him fall, the blood black and sickening tainting her blade. She saw another coming quickly, and slashed as best she could for the throat. Where she struck was along the clavicle, cutting halfway into the neck, and sending another one down. But how many did she have to take? When she turned, the first down burst into wicked flames that seared the edges of her soul. She shuddered at the feeling, returning to attack another.

The fight was becoming too much. This one had reached up with a bone axe, blocking her attack. He jerked with monstrous strength and pushed her back. A goblin waited behind her, reaching forth. Ugly hands like the black feet of a raven wrapped around her. One hand latched onto her neck, the gangly sharp nails pressing against her fair skin. The other chose place along her hip, the goblin leaning into her. His tongue brushed over her flesh, hot and damning, the ragged terrain of the muscle making her stomach curl. She lifted her leg, stomping the foot and drawing her leg back up. In the same second, she had turned her body, thrusting upwards towards the goblin with great flexibility. And she landed her heel against his chin, making his head spin up. She latched onto her blade and swung, cutting the head clean from the ugly body, black blood spilling over as it fell to the ground. But then she was struck, the shortsword of another crossing her back in a clean horizontal sweep. She let out a pitched scream, octane in her pain. It was something she had lived hundreds of years without, and suddenly it was a part of everyday life. She felt the blood of her own body trickling down, warm as it soaked her black top.

She was hit then by a fist between her shoulder blades, a good hand's width above the cut. She howled out again, drawing her blade forward and jabbing it behind her in a quick twist, going straight through the goblin. More of the dead bodies were being set ablaze, the smell of which was nauseating. She twisted her blade again, slicing through another, and knocking him back. But he didn't die from her cut. She moved forward, catching the handle of his axe with her hand, and using her foot to stomp against his chest, sending him back and to the ground, only to scramble up again. Another hand came from nowhere, gripping her hair and ripping her back towards him. Her knees buckled and she fell back, staring up at the goblin as he used his nails to cut her shoulder and neck in his tight embrace. Taura let out a whimper, clenching her teeth together. She had dropped her blade.

Taura sent her elbow back and into the goblin's groin, seeming to disable him for only a few seconds. She needed to get back. She closed her eyes, as the goblin drew back his axe. She formed a tight fist with her left hand, til her knuckles were white. Her hand began to glow, as though she were holding a quickly growing orb of light tight in her palm. She pushed her arm back and swung forward, unleashing this curled fist. From it was a bright light, blindingly so. It shot into the sky, pure white from a distance but a rich golden up close. It seemed to daze the goblins, which was good. Because once she watched the light fade, she was unconscious.




Calanon stopped stirring the pot simmering top on his wood-burning stove. He thought he heard something. He held very still and tuned his ear. He did not have to wait long before he heard it again. It was a shrill cry in the distance. The elf had never heard anything like it before. Even from this far away, the sound disturbed his soul. Something was wrong.

Taking the small stew-pot off the hot iron and placing it on a cold iron circle on the countertop, Calanon tended the fire to make sure the house wouldn't burn down while he was gone. Doffing his apron and placing it on a rack by the pantry, Calanon fetched his blue cape that identified him as a water wizard. Taking his golden staff, the elven wizard hastened outside the door of his house and into the woods. Another cry was heard, much nearer. This was bad. What was happening? What kind of creature could produce such a sound?

The elf was running, now, as best he could in his wizard's robes. Abandoning the path, he weaved between trees and ferns, ducking under low branches and avoiding spider webs, heading straight for where the disconcerting sounds were growing louder and louder. Suddenly a woman's cry pierced through whatever silence the forest had left. Shrill, hoarse and raw--and all too brief--the cry sent pangs of guilt and anxiety through his heart. Anxiety on an unnatural level for the woman's safety; extreme guilt that he could allow such a cry to be uttered. He didn't question the feelings; he only knew he had to reach her, and help her.

Bursting from the foliage, Calanon was greeted by a morbid scene. Black fires burned themselves out and ignited nothing, creating fumes and wispy smoke. Some of it entered Calanon's nostrils, making him cough and hold his breath to ward off the unholy stench. Pools, streams and splatters of black blood were burning like acid through fallen leaves, twigs and other fauna. In the middle of it all lay a woman in black clothes, fallen on her side over the body of one of the burning creatures. As the foul thing was consumed, the woman's form sank to the ground amid the horrid smoke.

Calanon rushed forward, waving his staff before him. The large, blue stone at the top of the staff carried a ward that banished some of the fumes and smoke as he went. Reaching the woman he crouched down and examined her: she was alive! He would have turned her on her back, but then he noticed the gash in her back, and instead turned her on her stomach. The wound was bleeding copiously through her black garments. The elf set down his staff and ripped the fabric apart slightly, getting her blood on his hands in the process. He picked up his golden staff again, heedless of the red smears he was putting on it. The wound was very deep; he had to heal her quickly.

Still kneeling, Calanon brought the head of his staff near her wound and uttered an invocation.
"I call upon the power of Ëulos! Flow, Waters of Life."
The large stone began to glow, pulsing with liquid blue light. He felt the energy building, coursing through him. He let it build, filling every inch of his being. Her wound was serious, and would require much. When it was enough, he bent his mind toward the woman, focusing on her, on her wound, on the need to see her made whole.
"Healing Stream!!"
What happened next, were he not experiencing it for himself at that moment, would have been beyond Calanon's imagination.

The power flowed, healing the wound in an instant, but it did not stop. Blue light erupted from the staff, from Calanon, from the woman. The woman's other cuts and bruises completely disappeared. The blood stains were removed from her torn garment. Blood evaporated from the elf's hands and his staff. Still it did not stop. Calanon felt the power overflowing his body, filling him back up, re-energizing the stores of energy inside the head of his staff. Even then, the spell was not worn out. The liquid blue light separated like water, floating toward where it was needed. Plants recovered from the caustic black stains they had suffered. The air was made clean. The leaves on the trees around them grew large, knee-high ferns grew as tall as trolls, and the moss spread like a carpet along the forest floor, many yards in every direction. At last, the energy was spent. Calanon panted and gasped with the ecstasy of vigor. He half expected not to have to eat or sleep for the next three days.

"What was that?" he said aloud, utterly awed. The woman stirred. Calanon looked down. He looked around; what if more of those creatures were on their way? Hurriedly he turned her over and picked her up. With all the energy he was feeling, her weight was hardly noticed--though he did have a little trouble carrying her and his staff at the same time.

Minutes later, he'd managed to get her inside his house. He laid her on a cushioned bench, allowing her to wake on her own. If she slept, she slept; if she woke, she woke. Calanon didn't know whether it would be wise to force it either way. Instead, he went back to the stove and put the stew back on to simmer. In his excited state, he forgot to take off his cape or put on his apron.




Being unconscious was nice. It was blank, and dark, and quiet. It was a break. It was peaceful...

Taura's soul and mind were of the Daughter, it were only her body that was human now. She was able to be aware of the world even in her state. But it was peaceful to ignore it. She knew she weren't dead; unfortunately, she had been unconscious before. She heard something, quiet, in the distance. Words from a voice far beyond her mind's reach. Something outside of her body. Something she was ignoring. She slipped away, as a strange energy pulsed into her body, and the feeling of magnification was expelled from her mind. She slipped away, to a distant place; a memory.

"There is no way." Aura spoke. She was the most beautiful of all of Mother's creations. She had smooth ivory hair that flowed like silk, and glittered like white gold. Her eyes were of smooth violet, with shimmering long lashes that drew the color outward. Her body was perfect to the eye of any who saw it, draped it a flowing robe of white, parting over the ruby and pale dress beneath.

"There is always a way. Sometimes, we just can't see it with our eyes open." The voice was something beyond the world's bearing. A voice you could only hear if your mind was completely open, paired with a figure that sight could not describe. Shaped of goodness, love, and power. It was Mother.

Aura nodded, and turned away, staring out at the world before them both. She stepped out, out from the realm where Mother resided, and into the world. Onto the grass, a Goddess to men.

"I have faith." Aura whispered.


She stirred, finally. Shifted, stretching. Where were the aches and pains? She felt fine for the first time in a long time. Her light hues of a sweet blue- tinted violet- swept over the ceiling, shade clouding her vision. She blinked, and blinked again. She drew a long breath, and pressed her fingers between her eyes, blinking again. Her sight was clearing. Taura leaned up, supporting herself with her arms behind her.

What she saw, was unique. A home, much like the homes of elves, but a bit different. She was sheltered, and not lost to the woods, facing off goblins. She looked about, trying to spot some form of life- and she found it. At first she only saw the stove, the pot atop it. She could smell something delicious, making her mouth water. She tried to ignore it though, which was easier once she spotted a man.

He was tall, and fair. His hair was of the lightest blond, his garments expression some... some sign of element, and power. A blue cape atop a long pale robe. She watched his arms extend to set the pot to a simmer, noticing the smaller things such as rings and whatnot. He turned enough so that she could then see his face. He was handsome; though elves tended to retain an ethereal beauty when compared to humans. She knew; she'd been dealing with humans for a while since mortality hit. She blinked, biting her lip, trying to recognize him. But she did not. Truth be told, she knew no elf.

"Kind sir, where am I?" Taura said, her voice a soft whisper at first. To it, were many qualities. A sweet one, feminine and gentle. But it had a strong quality to its audibility. To hear it, you would hear strength, and persistence. The voice of a strong and willed woman. Of a warrior, and not exactly a Goddess of her own creation. She let her legs hang off the sofa and reached back, her fingers grazing the wide cut in cloth to feel the smooth skin of her back; the slope of the shape there.

"You healed me?" She said a bit louder. Her eyes turned up to his, kindly so. "I owe you great thanks. My name is Taura." She wasn't too good with introductions or making herself known, so she tried to keep it simple. Thank you, my name is-. That was good enough for now. Hopefully this elf would be an amiable one; not one who took badly to humans. She understood why some elves disliked humans. But she could only hope now. She didn't know where she was, and the more Taura thought about it, the more she realized a great fact. This man had total advantage against her now. She was probably in his home, in his village or city. She was clueless to her surroundings, which was rarely ever good...




Calanon heard the woman wake, just as the stew was finally coming to the perfect temperature. He kept stirring, waiting a few moments till just after it began to boil. Then he took the pot off the stove, put it back on the thick iron ring sitting on the countertop, and went to take off his apron. The apron was still on its peg by the pantry. The elf realized he hadn't put it on, and he was wearing his wizard's cape while cooking! Before Calanon could feel flustered about it, though, the woman spoke, catching his attention.

"Kind sir, where am I?" Her voice was gentle, even timid, and yet rich and somehow full of strength.

Calanon turned around and would have responded right away, except he lost himself looking at her face. The color of her large eyes was like a white rainbow--if there was such a thing. The white was flecked with faded violet. Her dark lashes were thick and long around the outside corners of her eyes. Her full, straight black hair fell just past her shoulders, beautifully framing her face. Her skin was fair and porcelain smooth. Unbidden came an image of the skin on her back when the wound had healed, and he felt like blushing. Her shoulders and upper arms were bare as well, swelled slightly with slender muscle. He'd never encountered a human so perfect. He'd scarcely encountered an elf that matched her beauty. She was innocent and yet knowing, vulnerable yet strong.

She felt her back, and the tear in her garment, looking first puzzled and then grateful. "You healed me?" These words were spoken a little louder. Entranced by the voice, Calanon managed a nod. "I owe you great thanks," she replied. "My name is Taura."

Taura.... Calanon thought he really ought to say something, introduce himself. "Calanon, son of Cällon and Caladiel of Ellóredan, water wizard at your service." He was smiling amiably by the end of the introduction, and he finished with a quick, small, customary bow.




She nodded to his name, Calanon, marking it away in the back of her mind. She pressed her feet to the ground as he bowed, and brought herself to a stand, her legs wavering at first, but she steadied. Her eyes rolled over her own figure, assuring that her scratches and cuts were gone. She brought a hand up to her neck and felt it. It must've taken a lot out of the man, but then again, she did have a few godly ways about her. Maybe she should thank Mother for her miraculous recovery.

Taura walked a step closer to him, looking at him once more. Her eyes connected with his and there was a momentary halt; like time twitched. She turned her eyes away, looking to the stew, and then the apron hanging upon a peg. A smirk befell her full lips, and she tried to think of how to bring forth her current dilemma to this stranger named Calanon.

"You're quite the gentleman. But you need not bow." She said, looking up to him once more. Taura still had that slight smirk on her lips, a look of nonchalance. She approved of him. He seemed like a good person, and she trusted elves before she did humans.

"Perhaps I may speak with you, about something that ails me. I seek a companion, to repel the lonesome of my journey. As well, I seek one who is able to provide me service in battle, and aid me with knowledge of... of the world. Around us." She chuckled quietly. "May I sit, and have a while to speak with you? Perhaps you can point me in the direction of a companion, or at least help me out with some questions of my own."

Taura stepped closer and looked about once more, folding her arms across her chest, and then fumbling them downward for her sword.

"Oh!" She patted her sides, and then her back, as though it had to appear. But it did not. "Do you know where my blade is?" She asked then, almost out of the blue. "I had it before I, er, passed out."




She had a blade? Calanon only then realized that all the dead creatures must have been made so by someone. By Taura. No wonder she had a hidden strength about her. "We can go and fetch it, later on. My home isn't far from where you... from where I found you." The tall elf rubbed the back of his neck.

"Here, sit," he said, remembering the stew. He gestured toward the little round table with three chairs. The wooden chairs were varnished, and the back was a curving length of wood carved with a teardrop cross-section, twisting up, back, around, and down. The seat and support were made of thickly woven fibers. Calanon fetched two polished wooden bowls and ladled in a good amount of the stew. There were herbs, wild greens, mushrooms, potatoes, and squares of dried and spiced beef which human trappers were fond of.

Calanon set the bowls on opposite ends of the little table and sat down. The pantry was behind him, the kitchen to his right. Taura was seated with the door behind and to her right, the kitchen in front and to her left, the bench behind and to her left. Calanon gestured for her to please enjoy the food, though the elf intended to wait for his to cool down a bit. "I'm just a young water wizard who makes friends with humans and trolls," he said. That was, young for an elf. Calanon was 279 years old. As for making friends with humans and trolls... it wasn't exactly looked down upon. More askance than down. Calanon thought trolls were horribly under-appreciated. Sobering, Calanon asked the first question he most wanted answered. "What were those creatures? Why were they chasing you?"




Taura watched him with a grin, moving to set across from him at the small round table. She wanted to deny his offer, but she hadn't eaten in a matter of about two days; and this human body wasn't going to keep on like this. So she accepted the offer, watching the elf walk to gather bowls and return. He ladled her a bowlful and then himself. He sat adjacent from her, and it was easier from this perspective to admire his features. She tried to force her eyes down though, upon the stew before her. The aroma was entrancing, and her stomach began to growl; startling her a bit. She knew she was hungry, but did her body have to argue with her about it?

She took the spoon, watching him wait for his to cool down. If her stomach growled any louder, he'd notice. And being an elf, he might've already heard the sound being emitted from her stomach. She held a spoonful to her mouth, parting her lips to blow on it. She then placed it in her mouth. It was hot, but not hot enough to scold her tongue. It was good too, elves usually were well with herbs in cooking. This was spiced nicely, and filling. She felt her body heat up at the taste, and she rested the spoon back into the bowl, readying to answer the man's questions.

"Well, Calanon." She began. "The stew is delicious." She felt like saying that was prying away from the subject. "And the goblins? I... I seem to have... lost my way. I don't know where I am, or where I'm going. Not anymore. I wandered about, seeking help. What I found was a group of goblins who weren't so forgetful. They chased me far, and I killed a great number of them. But the fight was great, and their numbers greater... If not for you, surely I would've bled out in that clearing." She turned her head and looked to the door. Taura turned her head, smiling at Calanon once more. She pushed strands of ebony-colored hair behind her ear, and let her fingers then rest at the end of the varnished wooden spoon.

"I would like it if, after we eat, we go to fetch my blade. It is the only protection I have."




Calanon wanted to say the blade wasn't her only protection anymore. Realizing that that was what he wanted to say made him not say it. What was he thinking? He didn't even know her yet. "Yes of course. We should do so soon, before it gets dark, if you don't think any more of those... goblins... will be coming." He'd never heard of a goblin before. He'd heard of creatures like this; every little child--elf, human or dwarf--had heard of creatures like that, but for them to be real....

Calanon began to eat, to be finished when she was, since she wisely wanted to fetch her weapon. Who was this person? Taura was like nothing he'd ever seen or met in his life. He'd seem some amazing things on his quest to become a wizard, but nothing like her. What was it about her that was so fascinating... so perfect and yet... so imperfect? She was in trouble, that was clear; what Calanon couldn't understand was how she could come to trouble in the first place? Who could ever wish her harm?

The elf's brows drew down as he ate. He was thinking along those lines again. Was she bewitching him? No, she couldn't be; she wasn't a wizard. And she wasn't one of the Shining Ones of fable: she was eating food, and she had been wounded. Still, everything told him that she was more than just a human.

Taura finished her food first, so Calanon drank the rest of his down. It was a good thing he hadn't

[Kalon Ordona II]

She finished up eating quietly, her mind seeming to dance from thought to thought. She thought a lot of this man. Who was he, why had he healed her, why bring her here, why feed her? She pondered at his caring ways, and yet wrote it off as kindness. She stood up from her chair, watching the man return to put the dishes in a washtub, and then return. When he took his staff, she held herself a moment. Her eyes crossed it, and something deep in her mind churned, as though that staff was familiar. And it was. She had seen something like it before, but it was not the same. It was different. It had been black, and wicked, with a silver hold and a black stone...

Taura shook off the feeling of familiarity, and licked her lips, following Calanon. She followed him through the woods. Now that she was moving more slowly, it was easier to admire the beauty of the environment. The way the sun fell through the trees, slivers of orange and red sunset dancing over the forest floor and striking some of the tree trunks and branches. It was a beautiful sight. Taura moved further, until they were back in that clearing where she had fought. Though it was different. There was moss, and shrubbery; wild vegetation.

"This isn't right." Taura said. "The place I fought had a mostly barren ground, lacking in grass here and there. It was not so... developed." But she looked to the trees and saw that the positioning was right. She turned and looked over her shoulder, her eyes narrowing slightly at Calanon. His magics must be greater than she thought. Taura then knelt, trying to fumble about the earth for her blade. But she was without answer.

She watched as the world began to grow dim, darkening the sky from a sweet blue to a darker shade, falling deeper into night. She didn't want to sit here and look forever.

"I swear it was here... I doubt anyone would've taken it." She then looked back, trying to retrace her steps. What occurred to her was to check elsewhere, at the shrubs. She knelt down, and pushed her hand to the base of a growing set of vines. Trapped in their embrace was the hilt of a blade, long and black, wrapped in leather. She grabbed it and gave it a good yank, tugging it free from the ivy. She spun the long blade, smiling at how it sliced through the wind with a howling intimidation.

"I found it, Aruna." She chuckled and turned back to Calanon. She drew the belt at her hip up, sliding it over one shoulder and loosening it to fit better this way. She pulled the edge of her shirt down, and then sheathed her blade on her back.

"I'm sorry it took me so long. This place has grown out a bit." Taura then moved to Calanon's side. "Shall we return to your house, or part ways? The choice is yours. I need a bit of information before I try to journey off again, so it would be the greatest aid if you could provide me said answers." She smiled, then waited, he darkness seeming to ensue.

She knew that she could find their way, no matter the tone of night. Darkness was the one thing that didn't intimidate her. For once upon a time, she was the light that made it cower in fear.




Calanon waited while she searched for her blade. It took her a few minutes, but she finally found it. Then she made as if she might actually venture onward in the dark, which came as a surprise to Calanon. "There isn't anything around for several miles," said the elf. "And the forest is not without its dangers. Especially if there happen to be more goblins about. We should go back to my home for tonight, I think, if you are willing. We can talk there about your quest."

Taura agreed, no small relief to Calanon. As the two walked back, Calanon took the opportunity to explain why the forest had changed. "I don't know what happened," he was saying, "but somehow the magic was far more than I could have ever conjured. When I released it... it just kept going and going. After it healed you, it healed me, and replenished the energy I spent, then turned to the plants, healing the forest of its scars from the battle, and causing them to grow and flourish until the energy was spent. I could have not done that with ten spells, let alone that one spell of healing. I'm not so knowledgeable a wizard; who can say whether this is some phenomenon that all wizards experience at one time or another? Though, such a thing has never happened to me before."




Taura was able and listening, hearing his story of healing the forest. Well, that was both surprising, and not so surprising. She had a feeling she was the cause of it. Taura went with him, on through the night. When silence fell about them, she decided that then was a good time to explain herself. Or at least, part of herself.

"I want to go to the Elementals." She said suddenly, with no warning of the oncoming words. Taura stared forward, knowing that those words were words to be dealt death over. She knew the punishment of saying those around anyone. "I need to. For my own personal reasons. I don't seek gain of power for profit, nor for darkness. My reasons are my own, and I can only hope you trust them to be righteous." She stared ahead, her light violet eyes set on the path before them.

When they reached his home, she stepped inside after him and shut the door, assuring that all was well. She moved to the bench, and slid her long blade off her back and underneath the bench. She then pulled the belt off, and the scarf around her waist. Then she stepped out of her shoes, letting her pants flow loosely to her feet. She then peeled off the outer shirt, made of a stronger woven material to be armor like. Beneath was a gray sleeveless top with a high collar. She took off her gloves and left on the gray arm-sleeves. Taura then sat down on the bench, and looked up at Calanon, hoping that maybe he could understand.

"I hope you do not judge me for what I said Calanon. I cannot speak all the secrets of my existence. But I'm not following some trial of human greed or lust. I hope you believe me... I hope you help me."




Taura didn't seem to have any thoughts about the strange occurrence, so the two walked along in silence for several moments. Then, out of nowhere, Taura said something that was very dangerous to say. "I want to go to the Elementals."

The unexpected words caused Calanon to miss a step. One didn't speak such things to just anyone. The Elementals were gods, watching over the fabled Shields of Life. They were impenetrable guardians, keepers of the source of magical power. They themselves were guarded by dragons--the speaking kind. Only those who could pass the Test of Dragons and the Trials of Light could be trusted with the power to become wizards. It was dangerous to express in public a desire to seek the Elementals themselves. People either tried to come with you, if they were greedy, or tried to kill you if they were self-righteous. And there were those who hated wizards, who were resentful and jealous of their power, who felt the fewer wizards there were in the world, the better.

Calanon was about to express as much to Taura, but she apparently had more to say. "I need to. For my own personal reasons. I don't seek gain of power for profit, nor for darkness. My reasons are my own, and I can only hope you trust them to be righteous."

No one sought the Elementals unless they believed themselves righteous. The Elementals would never trust power to a wicked soul, to one who failed the Trials of Light. It seemed, however, as if Taura did not wish to become a wizard. Calanon found that odd, puzzling. What else could one gain from the Elementals if not power over the elements?

By this time, though, they had reached Calanon's house. The elf led the way inside, and Taura, following, closed the door upon the night. Calanon leaned his staff temporarily against a wall and then lit an oil lamp, setting it on the counter next to the pantry. It was getting late, if they planned to leave as soon as they might. "We should talk in the morning," he said. "Will you be alright on the couch?" Taura nodded. "I'll get you a blanket."

To the right of the pantry was a short hallways leading to the wizard's bedroom and study. Calanon selected one of his spare blankets from a trunk. As an afterthought--which really ought to have been a forethought--he also took one of the pillows from his bed. When he returned, Taura was wearing her sleeves, undershirt and pants, which outside of her boots fell loosely to her feet. The boots, outer vestment, gloves, girdle, belt, pouches, sash, and sheathed blade were arranged neatly below the bench.

A little embarrassed to have a woman alone with him in his house--a human one, indeed, and so very beautiful--the elf was glad that his face was in shadow. He had a feeling he was blushing. Calanon handed her the blanket and pillow. Taura accepted them and sat on the bed. She afforded a small smile. "I hope you do not judge me for what I said, Calanon. I cannot speak all the secrets of my existence, but I'm not following some trial of human greed or lust. I hope you believe me... I hope you'll help me."

Calanon wanted to say that of course he'd help her. This time he did say it. "Of course I'll help you. I am a wizard, after all. This could be my chance to earn the right to wield a second element." He smiled, feeling awkward. "Well, I'll leave you to your rest. Er, sleep. As my people say: the deeds of today and tomorrow are ordered and blessed by the dreams of tonight." His voice dropped to a near whisper. "We can set out in the morning. Sleep well." Dimming the lamp, he made his way through the dark hallway into the bedroom.

In his bedroom, Calanon made his way to his desk, easily even in the dark. Once there, he lit a candle and pulled out papers and ink. He had several letters to write, arrangements to make. Calanon the water wizard would likely be away from his home for a very long time.




While he fetched her blanket and pillow, she felt a bit odd. Awkward even, but not too much so. He told her he would help though, found even the possibility for personal gain in the journey. She watched him, her eyes seeking his own. No usual one would just say yes. Taura took the pillow and laid it at one end of the bench, and laid down, pulling the blanket atop her body. It was warm, and fitted the silhouette of her very well. It was comfortable, and she could use rest. She usually found herself sleeping on the ground anyways, bathing in rivers and streams when she could. Her eyes fell shut, and her dreams formed.

"Til death do us part, sister dearest." The voice was eerily beautiful, beyond human or elf surely. It was a whisper, wicked and taunting, chilling the already thin air on the autumn night. The moon hung in the sky red, the Battle Moon, red with blood to come.

Avaltha had long black hair, and a gray-ish skin tone that was marred with ink designs all over. She wore the garments of her greatest enemies. The bikini top and skirt from a Silver Dragon's scales. The necklace of teeth from a troll village defeated. The sash around her waist from one of the Elven Kings a good two or three hundred years prior. The bracelets on her wrist of bone from humans.

"Agreed." Came the corresponding voice. It was the complete opposite. Airy and gorgeous, instilling hope in all who heard it with the first sound. And then, from the opposing Daughters of Mother and Mistress, came the loudest battle to have been known to the world.

Clashing blades sounded like clapping thunder, heard by all far and near. Avaltha's wicked laugh was the sound of piercing winds, whipping through the woods, carrying her dangerous intent with them. Avaltha struck, cutting into Aura's arm. But Aura healed quickly, her own fingers tracing the wound and making it disappear like nothing at all had even touched that fair smooth skin. She retaliated, jump and slash- her blade piercing into Avaltha's stomach. For a moment there was silence in the world. But the wind began to whistle again, and the rain began to fall from the sky. Avaltha was not through. She stepped closer, the blade pushing through her, and grabbed Aura's neck.

"Sometimes we must use foul play to get what we want. You see, this is how I knew I'd win Aura. I'm not afraid to be... me."

Avaltha's fingers pushed against Aura's jaw, forcing her mouth open. She leaned in, her lips only an inch or so from Aura's. She parted them, and inhaled. And she sucked the immortality right out; golden energy flowing up in Aura's throat, dancing from her lips into Avaltha's evil being.

Avaltha then turned to the sky, opening her mouth and screaming, a war cry of victory. The Daughter of Light's immortal power was shot into the sky, and Avaltha let the woman go. Aura fell, and Avaltha drew out her blade, sliding it into her sheath.

"I like this, I think I'll keep it." She chuckled, turning and walking away.

For the first time, Aura felt pain. She felt hurt, and sick, and weak. Her body ached and trembled, the rain was cold and it stung her skin. Her hair faded black, her skin lost its glow. Her eyes grew pale in color, almost a lavender tone of violet. Her robes disappeared; melting away with the cold rain as death tried to grip her completely. But it did not.

When the morning came, Aura rose; a human...

Open your eyes.


Taura leaned up, quickly so, gasping for air. She touched her shoulder, and there was no cut. She let her fingers graze her throat. No nail marks, no bruising. Those things had healed, four years ago after that fight. She swung her legs over the bench and rubbed her head, the ache strong. But she tried to push it out, tried to ignore it. Taura came to a stand, stretching. She returned her garments to her body, arranging her blade and belt to fit at an angle. She then stepped to the front door, staring out.

"Til death..." She muttered quietly, rubbing her throat again. Then she turned, expecting Calanon to come forth soon.




Calanon had been up for a couple of hours after Taura had gone to bed, composing three letters. He knew he wouldn't have time to take care of it in the morning. When they left, he'd plan for making two quick stops to drop off the letters. When he finished writing them, Calanon puffed out the candle and got ready for bed, removing his cape, shoes, sash, and outer robe. After settling into bed, it was not long before the elf's resting mind wandered into dreams.

For the first few hours, he dreamed of trees, of walking in the woods, of doing magic. He dreamed of cooking for his friends at a feast day. His mind wandered through his thoughts and memories, mixing them all together to weave fantastic worlds and stories of adventure. After a while, he found himself doing great and heroic deeds. He slew black dragons with blue lightning; he widened Mistwater Lake for his friend, Brilig the lake-troll; he flew, staff in hand, over the sea on a blue meirakete's back. All this and more his subconscious thoughts fantasized. And then, all at once, came a flash of golden-white light.

Calanon saw his own hand, holding his own staff. The great maiárdite stone glowed with its same liquid blue light, weaving, twisting, congealing, pulsing. The four golden maeiraketes beneath the staff's head almost seemed to dance along with the shifting light.

Calanon looked down at himself. His robes were different, though he couldn't tell much about them for the light of his staff.

Calanon looked up, into darkness. Black flames rushed toward him in a sudden torrent of noise and heat. Calanon raised his staff, uttering words he could not hear above the sound of flame. There was a bright blue flash. And the dream ended.

Calanon opened his eyes. He could see nothing but a bright blue afterglow. The elf sat up, feeling his frantic heart beating in his throat, and tried to look around. Gradually his vision returned, and the afterglow gave way to shadows and the dim light of approaching dawn. The elf took a breath and looked to the right, out the window; dawn must be about three hours away. He didn't think he could rest anymore. His heart and breath was only just beginning to calm.

Climbing out of bed, Calanon re-ordered the covers with shaking arms. Donning his robes, he looked down the short hallway, wondering about the dream. He shook himself and took another deep breath. The morning air was sweet, cold and fresh, full of promise, full of life. It settled his nerves. Calanon tied the sash about his robes, tucking the folded letters behind it. He slipped into his shoes, put on his wizard's cape, and collected his staff. When he emerged from the hall, Taura was ready and waiting by the door.

"Oh! you're up. Good morning," said Calanon. "I hope you slept well. Here, one moment and we'll be off."

The elf opened a cupboard and selected two cups made of horn. The stew-pot still in its place on the countertop, he opened the lid and poured the rest of the stew into the two cups. He could feel it was still warm. "There'll be food where we're going," he said, "and the forest itself has much to offer, but I always say it's best not to waste." He handed her the cup, then placed the empty pot and ladle into the tub with the two bowls and spoons. Moments later, the stew ingested, Calanon collected the cups and added them also to the items in the water.

That done, Calanon crossed the room to the front door and opened it inward. "After you," he smiled. Calanon followed her out with his hand on the door. From outside, he took a final look at his home, likely the last sight of it he'd see for some time, and went over a quick mental list to make sure he hadn't forgotten anything. Satisfied, he smiled wistfully to himself, fixed the image before him in his memory, and then pulled the door closed.

"Right. Where to?" Calanon was already feeling excited about another journey. "If we're going to find Elementals, the safest one is through elven lands, across the sea to Daenari; that's where we can find Aelos, keeper of Wind. Although, Ëulos is much closer, and I've been there once already."

[Kalon Ordona II]

Taura turned, finding Calanon there. He seemed so effervescent for so early in the morning. She watched him carefully, acknowledging the way he spared the stew. He handed her a cup and she ate; her stomach happy she had taken the time to eat. In a way, it made her feel more energetic for the journey. And that, in itself, was something else she hated about being human. The shifts and changes in energy levels. She ignored it though, as they stood still in the center of the woods.

The woman smiled, staring at the leaves as they fluttered in the winds, the roots a rich and earthen tone, breaking up from the dark earth, and the rich green ivy that twisted up the thick trunks. The nature was beautiful, and somehow Calanon fit quite well along it all. She stood with him, listening to his words cautiously; trying to make map of the world in her mind. While she was once immortal and great, with a mind that never held boundaries with her knowledge; she was now human, and had a pitiful sense of mapping.

"If we're going to find Elementals, the safest one is through elven lands, across the sea to Daenari; that's where we can find Aelos, keeper of Wind. Although, Ëulos is much closer, and I've been there once already."

She nodded, moving towards the sunrise. She could see bright slivers of light cutting through the canopy, and it made her heart feel lighter. She loved the daylight; loved the sunshine. It reminded her of Mother. Taura drew back into her thoughts and looked over to him.

"You decide Calanon. If you have been to Eulos, then perhaps we should start with Aelos. Maybe we can come back to Eulos afterward. I am going to depend on you now as my guide. I hope you won't mind." She said. Taura stared out at the forest, and looked back to Calanon.

"Shall we begin this journey?" She asked curiously.




Taura was moving toward the sunrise, toward human lands, the wrong way, though she seemed to agree that Aelos was the best choice for their first destination. "In that case, we need to go west, not east," Calanon said gently. She seemed reluctant to turn her back on the sun. Calanon led the way, guiding, as she had said. When she fell into place walking beside him, the elf looked over and continued. "Since I'll be away from home for a while, I have to make a couple of arrangements with some friends of mine. Don't worry, it's on the way. Mistwater Lake is just a little north of our road."

They walked in silence for some time. The leaf-covered path wound through the unremarkable wood. The rising sun at their backs enhanced what natural beauty could be found here and there along the side of the road. Intricate ferns lined the path, stands of wildflowers grew tall near large trees, songbirds flitted about or flitted away. Before very long, the path came to a fork, with a wider path heading north-west on their right and and south to their left. Calanon took the right-hand path. "We're nearly there; Mistwater Lake is just around that bend." He pointed in the distance, to where the path curved out of sight.

Beyond the curve, the forest opened up to reveal a small lake. The surface of the water was always full of mist, though today, in the growing light of morning, the mist was receding a little. A smile spread on Calanon's face. He turned back toward Taura as they continued to walk toward the edge of the water. "Remember when I mentioned making friends with trolls?"

Calanon stepped to the lapping edge of the lake and lowered the head of his staff into the water, just below the surface. "Brilig! Brilig! come on out! It's Calanon, come with important news!"

Calanon backed away smoothly as the water began to ripple. He looked back over at Taura again. "Few people understand them, trolls. Now, don't be afraid. He can be a little... loud. He'll make this gurgly sound; that's just him laughing. He does that a lot. He won't harm you."

Large bubbles could just be seen through the mist, at the center of the lake. The bubbles drew closer and closer, until the water itself began to bulge. Calanon took another step back. "Oh, here he comes; brace yourself."

"GLA-HAAAGL'GL'GL'GL'!!!" Brilig burst cheerfully from the water. He had been crouching as he approached. He liked to think it was terribly funny, splashing people with all that water and startling them at the same time. Having known him for years, Calanon laughed right along with him.

"GLCALALGNLOGL'N!" Water poured from Brilig's mouth. The troll looked like he was made of stones, mud and, somehow, water. He had big shoulders and a big, round head, with a mouth wider than his face. "GLWHAT BIGL NEWSLG?"

"Brilig, I'll be going away for a while! This is Taura; I'm going with her to see Aelos!" Calanon had to raise his voice to reach the tall troll's ears.

"GLOODL GLOODL! GLYOU WANT MEGL TO TEGLL HUMAG'N FRIENDS?"

"Yes! If they ask, go ahead and tell them where I've gone! Tari or Ferian might be dropping by to watch my house for me! You remember them, don't you!?"

"YEGL'S, YEGL'S!! I GLIKE THEG'M!"

"Good! I'm glad you approve! Tell Mist so-long for me! I'm sending her a letter, but it would be good of you to share your lake with her! You know how she loves this place!"

"OGLKAY, CAGLANOGN! DOLGN'T STAYL AWAGLY FOR TOO GLONG!"

"Don't worry, I won't! Oh! Wait a moment!" Calanon turned to Taura. "Would you like to talk to him? He knows a lot of things; you might ask him something."




She walked with Calanon quite some bit of distance, but it wasn't actually far. Her legs were adjusting to the walk again, after having slept good for the first time in a long time. Taura followed at the elf's side, glad she had chosen to do so. He apparently knew his way much better than her, and he had places to go before their journey began. So Calanon led her, down a path and to a fork, breaking onwards towards this "Mistwater Lake." When they arrived, there was a small lake, beautiful with small rays of the sun piercing down over it, making it shimmer. Mist rose above it here and there, but not a thick sheet. It seemed still, but Calanon spoke. He spoke about trolls, and she knew of them. Trolls were creatures she had once known great things about. Though when she was immortal, her mind was filled without end to the many mysteries of this world over thousands of years. Her eyes locked onto Calanon as he dipped his staff into the water, and called forth one by the name of 'Brilig'. He stepped back, and she stood at his side, watching then as the water began to bubble.

From it rose a powerful creature; a water troll. It was massive, and stood a great height; a body of stone and mass and mud, clamored together in a broad composition. Water dripped and rolled from his body, as well as flew through the air in a powerful splash. Taura closed her eyes and flinched back a bit at the oncoming water, as it struck her body and soaked into her shirt a little as well as her hair. She rubbed her eyes and pushed her hair back, looking up to the troll as it spoke gleefully to Calanon.

Back and forth they spoke, about humans and friends she didn't know, and probably would never get to know. She just listened attentively, happy to see a troll that wasn't resentful of humans, or one that had been tortured by the misunderstanding. When the time came, Calanon asked her if she wanted to speak with the troll about anything.

Taura froze up a minute, a pondering expression upon her face. She thought about it, and she thought well. Sifted through her thoughts til one seemed to press forward. It was about the Spawn of the Mistress.

"Brilig." Taura began somewhat loudly, stepping closer. She looked up at him. He was a giant creature. She stepped forward one more step, until her boots were just before the water's rippling edge.

"Do you know of Avaltha, and where she reigns?" Taura said, her voice elevated so that Brilig could hear her. The troll stopped, looking straight out at first. Sifting through answers in his mind until one popped into his head and the name became familiar. Oh, how could he forget that wicked name? His large head turned so that his eyes- like globes beholding whirlpools- fell upon her. Taura could only hope that he would not find rage or judgment upon her for her question.

"GLAVALTHA..." He said loudly, staring down. "GLYELS... GLEE LIS GLIN CLAGERNS. TO GLE WELST. BLGOODSTONE GLMOULNTAINSG..." Time seemed to pass silently, the troll wondering why. Though he was simple, and could let it go, it wouldn't hurt to ask.

"GWHY?"

Taura nodded to him, and reached into the small pouch attached to her belt, pulling the flap up and reaching inside. Her fingers fumbled around a small bundle of smooth silken substances, until she drew something out from the pouch. One long hair, about a two feet long. She took an end in each hand and pulled it until it formed two pieces, putting the second piece back into the small satchel. She then stepped closer, the water lapping around her boots. Taura held the hair up to the sun. It seemed to glow for a moment, and then halted it's glow. It had turned into a chain of finely woven gold, smoother and more intricate than any chain man could make without magic. She stepped deeper into the water and Brilig held his hand forward, seeming intrigued by what she had done. She reached up to the large massive hand that mimicked a boulder when the fist was closed. She stood upon her tip toes and draped the gold chain over his finger. He drew it back and examined it, looking back at her.

"GLOLD!" He said cheerfully, taking a moment. "GLI SEE..." She nodded to him and stepped back out of the water with Calanon.

"Maybe we should be off?" She whispered to the elf, looking back as the troll held the chain like a giant holding a blade of grass. She stepped closer to Calanon and turned back to Brilig, waving kindly.

"Thank you fair friend, your help will not be forgotten." She nodded to him, and then turned for the road. "What's the next stop Calanon?" She said, trying to avoid inquiries of any kind.




Calanon wondered what all that was about. The Bloodstone Mountains were situated in the northeast of human lands. The elf had heard tell that the place was riddled with mines for iron, and of course bloodstones, but he'd never heard of caverns beneath those mountains. And who was Avaltha...? Calanon was more than a little surprised that Taura wasn't afraid of the troll, as most humans were on first encounter, but what she did with a strand of hair left the wizard astonished. Had she done magic? No: there'd been no invocation. Perhaps the thin wire had been enchanted.

Calanon waved good-bye to the troll. "So long, Brilig! I'll come to see you as soon as I return!"

Brilig waved--an impressive gesture--as he walked backward into the lake. "GLOOGD-BYGLE, GLALANON! GLOOGD-BYE GLAURA! GLOOGD-BYYYEGL'GL'GL'GL'!!"

"Alright, the next stop is on our path, but it's quite a ways off. We'll be walking for some time--I should say we'd pass there a few hours after midday."

The two left Mistwater Lake behind as they rounded the bend, coming back along the wider path, taking the south fork that would turn eventually south-west, crossing low pass in the mountains before turning west, into elvenlands. Calanon guided them along the path, the sun on their left casting sunlight and shadows through the trees. "I'm glad you liked Brilig," Calanon said, after they had gone some distance along the southward road. "Only one other human I know hasn't been afraid when first seeing him. That's Mist; she's only fourteen years old, but she comes all the way out here with her grandfather sometimes, to gather herbs and spend time at the lake. They stay at my home every once in a while."

Wanting to know more about Taura, Calanon changed the subject. "What's your family like? Humans often have large families; have you any brothers or sisters?"




They walked away, and things seemed to go fairly nicely. Calanon didn't question the golden chain, and he hadn't questioned who Avaltha was. They walked for a ways, leading towards the elven lands if she was correct. But then again, she wasn't sure. She had lost her sense of direction, and thus wasn't too good at knowing her place of going. She only knew how to get places that she had traveled. The world was beautiful, and she then pondered at what little business Calanon may have left. She was thinking about asking him what he was doing, but she didn't want to intrude upon his personal life when she didn't offer him the same hospitality. Then again, she feared telling him about herself would leave him thinking she was a witch, or a liar. But it was about then that Calanon began to speak of a human friend and the troll. And then he asked about her. About a family.

"Family?" Taura whispered, shaking her head quietly. Her pale purple eyes stared at the ground beneath her feet. She turned her gaze back to Calanon momentarily, then returned to staring at the path ahead. "I have a very small family. I have a Mother, who is the most brilliant and wise of all..." She bit her tongue. Not smart to talk about the great Mother so openly. She decided not to talk about her. "And I have..." Taura shrugged a bit, "a sister. She's not really my sister, but she's something like it... I cannot explain it, for I do not truly understand it." She lied.

Taura walked for a few more minutes, and then smiled. "My Mother; she would like you. Maybe one day, in the distant future, you can meet her." She whispered. She looked back up and reached back, her finger grazing the edge of the long blade on her back. She smiled- it was still there, strong and sturdy.

"What about you Calanon? Do you have a family?"




Elves rarely had more than one child, so Calanon didn't have any siblings. "Just my mother and father. I haven't seen them for years--more than twenty." Calanon stared off wistfully for a moment, then he cocked his head to the side, smiling in Taura's direction as they walked. "You might be able to meet them, if you like, on our way to Ëulos. It really is time I gave them a visit. We'd have to go far out of our way if we went to see them now, though."

Calanon wondered about Taura's father. Was he deceased? Did he leave? The elf didn't ask, though. There might be painful memories down that lane.

A few moments of awkward silence ensured. In the distance, small mountain peaks pierced the horizon. They'd reach those low mountains in two or three hours. Fayrock Pass would lead them through the range, into Ellóredan. "Once we're through the pass up ahead, we'll be in my homeland. We'll follow the coast southwest." Calanon doubted she'd ever been to elvenlands before, so he continued. "It'll be a long journey, but we'll eventually cross the rivers Arnen and Elduin. Then it's the peninsula all the way to Tauluin by the sea, where the distance to Daenari is shortest. Once there, it's a straight shot to the wind god's mountain."

Calanon spoke with confidence and awe. Even though he'd never been there before, he knew exactly where it lay. The elves of Daenari revered Aelos; many wind wizards could be found on that great island. Calanon didn't know what Test and Trials awaited him, but he felt ready to take the challenge.




Calanon told her the way to where they were going, which was the great kingdom of elves. She smiled; she'd wanted to go. That was said to be a great place, and Taura admired the elven peoples more than she did her humans. They were wise, and admirable. Look at Calanon; was he not the epitome of a good companion? The longer this trip ensued, the more she began to think he may be of good aid. When around her to heal, he could heal more than just herself but himself as well. When around her he could offer aid in battle. He was a walking talking map too, which was a definite plus in her current situation.

She walked with him, listening about the elf's parents after a moment. She wondered about it, and then smiled. Her eyes turned up to him, and she said something that had much greater depth to it than he would've known.

"Perhaps we will visit your parents when my journey is through. I believe it would be a nice surprise." She grinned quietly. She missed being the old Aura. She had fallen to earth, become a mortal, and it was hard. She was a lone human on a rainy night, naked and aching. She had run to the human world, which was nearest where she fell. They found her scandalous and strange, but they gave her clothes. Many a man thought she was a brothel girl, and those men got a good taste of their own medicines shortly after. She shook off the memories of the humans she had encountered within her first few months as a mortal. Those were bad memories; sick and warranting. She didn't want to remember them at all. They seemed to hinder her hope for becoming immortal once more.

"Calanon, may I ask what you seek power for? Is it for your own personal challenge and fulfillment, or what?"




Taura asked why he wanted power. Calanon thought about it.

"I'm a wizard... it's what I do. If I had more power, I could do greater things. They say for a wizard to Walk the Path is to obtain each of the four elemental powers. Few wizards have ever done it." Calanon fell into a moment of contemplative silence. "Most wizards eventually become too drunk with power to pass the Trials. That's why I never tried to walk the Path until something like this came along--until someone needed me."

Again the elf looked over at Taura as they walked. "There's something about you..." he said. "You're different from any other human I've met, and I've met more than most elves care to. At least, for being so young. I don't think it was chance that we met.... When you said you wanted to find the Elementals... I just, finally knew what I had to do." He looked away, now keeping his eye on the path. He wasn't sure if what he was about to ask would be taken well. After all, he'd lived so much longer than she; it seemed odd for him to ask for her help. It felt like asking a child to slay a dragon for him. Still... "Will you help me Walk the Path? I feel, if I do it to help or protect someone... if I keep my mind on others and not on myself... I'll be able to pass the final Trials and become a Mage."





She nodded gently to his words, liking his explanation of the journey in his eyes. It was like a thing of belonging, of honor even. Taura had no idea what it must've been like; to be a wizard with a knack for power. She then heard his question, about helping him on the Path. The Path of the Wizard, fabled to be hard and twisting, able to corrupt a man's soul with the great surge of power it brought forth. She then contemplated how to react to the question. Elves usually didn't ask for help, unless they were asking an elder elf, or someone with far more experiences than themselves.

"Surely I will." Taura said softly. "I seek the Elementals for different reason. Yes, their power to be bestowed upon me is one. But the Elementals hold a grand secret. Once upon a time, a thousand years before now, the elves knew of these. They protected the secrets of the immortals, but as time went on, these secrets died. I..." She felt her words lock in her chest, her lungs tight because she knew she had said too much. Something about Taura seemed to close off at that moment.

"Perhaps I will tell you later." She whispered. The woman turned her head, unable to look at him. She stared out and abroad. It was hard pretending. But it would probably be even harder, Taura thought, to be herself. To be Aura, only human.




Calanon smiled when she agreed to help him along the Path. But, secrets of the immortals...? Was she trying to become immortal? Calanon felt that, the more he learned about Taura, she only became more of a mystery. The elf couldn't explain it, but he felt more and more that helping Taura was destined to be one of the greatest deeds he would ever accomplish. And not only because he might become a Mage. There was something else. It was as he said before, the feeling that he was meant to help her. Calanon prayed silently to the Mother for guidance, as the pair traversed the quiet road.

The rest of the distance to the mountains had been walked in silence. Both were contemplating what the future might hold. Finally the trees began to thin out, and the path began to rise. The mountains filled half the sky in front of them. They were not very tall, for mountains, but they still served as a barrier between elvenlands and the wilds between Ellóredan and Gondoa, the human empire. Before them the road became Fayrock Pass, the mystic road into the elven kingdom.

"Here we are: Fayrock Pass. Two-thirds of the way through there is a boulder high on a cliff. It often glows dark indigo, but no one knows why. That's the Fayrock. You hear stories sometimes about strange happenings. They say there is wild magic here, but I have never seen any. Whatever the Fayrock is, it's never done me any harm. But you'll see it for yourself as we pass by." Without further introduction, Calanon led them briskly up the incline and into the pass.

[Kalon Ordona II]

They reached the pass quicker than she had expected, smiling to see that their journey was making such good progress. Indeed, Calanon was a helpful companion. She followed him to the pass, let him tell her of what the Fayrock was. She almost felt a drawing towards this wild magic boulder, but knew that unless she had some strong urge for it, then she'd better stay on course. So stay on course she did, moving close behind Calanon. They traversed the past with little complication, climbing up through the hazardous rock way.

Finally, she saw the Fayrock. It was glowing quite beautifully and yet, something seemed to still the world around her when she saw it. She looked at it for a bit longer; and then a strong twisting sensation hit her gut. Taura felt like strength had been drawn out of her body, and so she knelt down, gasping quietly. That feeling of emptiness- or better, of a cleansing feeling- seemed to rise into her mind, allowing her focus. But it was no doubt she was tired, she wanted a break of her own. She looked up at Calanon and reached for him. Her fingers wrapped into his robe lightly, and she tugged.

"Wait... Please wait..." She said, ashamed to be in such a tight spot. She looked down, hair of sweet ebony framing her face as she did so. She reached up and pushed it behind her ears and leaned back onto her rear, taking seat where she was. She let her legs unfold from underneath her. She pulled her knees up to her chest and folded her arms across them, resting her head down a moment.

"I'm tired. I know, I shouldn't be. But this b-" She bit her tongue so hard that time that the odd coppery taste of blood arose and she could feel a bit of wetness to her eyes where she had done so too hard. She took a cool breath, sucking her tongue to rid of the blood forming. "I shouldn't be tired. I'm just fatigued for some reason. Hopefully with time I will grow stronger physically as well."

She turned her eyes up, blinking away any sign of wetness and felt her chest sink and rise slowly with each breath.

"May we take a break Calanon?"




Calanon looked down, worried, as Taura sank to the ground, clutching at his robe. "May we take a break, Calanon?"

Calanon looked up at the Fayrock. He looked back at Taura. He didn't think taking a break here would be a good idea at all, especially if this sudden fatigue had been brought on by the thing. "I'm not sure that would be wise..." he began. He looked back up at the Fayrock, high on the right-hand cliff above them. He gasped a little as he saw it again. The dark indigo rays were considerable longer, and they were moving. "Uh, Taura? I really don't think..." He looked down; Taura was unconscious. "Taura!"

Calanon knelt down and his free arm clutched the woman under her arms, pulling her up with him as he stood. Half carrying, half dragging her along the pass, the wizard began to draw on his power. "I call upon the power of Ëulos! Water of Haste, dance!" As always, the power built. He didn't need as much as he had thought he needed to heal her, back when he had found her yesterday. When he thought it was enough, Calanon focused his mind and released the magic. "Coursing Rush!!"

"Whaaaaaah!!" Calanon was distressed at the effect the spell was having. Coursing Rush was intended as a spell of escape, giving the recipient the speed and stamina to outrun his pursuer. Calanon was startled because the world had suddenly rushed by in a blur, and Calanon had all he could handle just to keep to the path. He couldn't stop running if he tried! Hoisting Taura's frame onto his shoulder to keep her away from the fast-moving ground, the elf struggled primarily to avoid crashing into any trees. The spell had given him such a rush of adrenaline.... It was several minutes before the spell dissipated. By then, Fayrock pass was out of sight, and even the mountains barely touched the horizon behind them.

Calanon found himself in a clearing near the side of the road. Taura lay, still unconscious, on the grass, next to the wizard's dropped staff. Calanon had stopped there as soon as he felt the energy fade. Having sunk to his hands and knees, he was panting hard. He stayed that way for several more minutes, unable either to stand up or lay down. Finally he felt the rush ending, and he dropped to the ground on his back. Now it was the elf who needed to rest.




Taura wasn't sure what happened next. She was looking to the Fayrock when her body fell limp, and she blacked out. It was cool and peaceful again. She liked this place in the back of her mind...
And it was then that a voice came to her, eerie as the moonless night itself.

"She will see you. As she should. Be wary; she'll seek revenge."

She felt grass beneath her, cool and sweet with dew upon it. Though it was not morning dew, just a soft condensation upon the ground. She writhed a bit at first, wondering what had happened. The last thing she remembered was clutching at the pale fabric of Calanon's robes. She cracked her eyes open, staring straight up towards the sky.

"What..." She turned her head, and saw Calanon lying on his back, and blinked. She took into account what might've happened. Attack, or kidnapping, or whatever. He was down and she was just coming too, after having fainted some distant place away. Taura rose to her knees at Calanon's side, regaining her balance with each passing second. She pressed her hands to his shoulders and stared down at him, looking for some sign of consciousness.

"Calanon... Calanon..." She shook him gently and shook her head. Well then. She leaned forward until her lips were near his ear. And when she spoke, her voice did not travel through the air. It went from her lips and into his mind.

"Calanon, wake for me."




Calanon had fallen into rest, not from physical exhaustion, but from an overload of nerves. The impossible speed had taken a toll on his mental fortitude, so that when he laid on the grass he'd fallen straight into a trance-like half-consciousness. He remained in that state for he did not know how long. It was like floating in quicksilver, smooth and comforting yet cold and fearful.

Calanon might have kept on in that half-life for hours, but a voice appeared through the swirling gray world. "Calanon... Calanon..." it called, as if from a great distance. There was a moment of silence as the elf shrank from the contact, like a human child unwilling to get up in the morning. Then the voice came again, reverberating through the silvery plane. "Calanon, wake for me."

Calanon opened his eyes. Color flooded in. He stared at Taura's face looking down at him, squinting up at her beauty as if trying to decide if she was real. Then it all came rushing back, making his head hurt. "Uhhhgh," he groaned, screwing his eyes shut and shaking his head to clear it. "It happened again," he said aloud, before he realized he wasn't talking only to himself.

It took a few moments of working in his mind, with his hand over his eyes, for the wizard to put together what had happened. His magic had been multiplied somehow--again--just like when he had healed Taura before. He decided to get to the bottom of this. Still lying down, flat on his back on the grass, he caught hold of his staff and muttered another invocation. "I call upon the power of Ëulos.... Water of Life, arise." This time he made sure to charge energy for a very short length of time. Focusing inward he released the spell. "Cleansing Stream."

This time, the spell operated as he would have expected it to. His mind became less muddled, and he could think a little more straight, but the effect was minimal, according to the amount of energy he had supplied to the spell. "Huhh." Interesting.

Calanon heaved himself to a sitting position. Taura was on her hands and knees near him, looking worried. "Thank you," he said, still with one hand massaging his temple. He took a breath and looked around, realizing Taura must be quite in need of an explanation. "When the Fayrock struck you unconscious, I had to get us out of there." He chuckled at what the result had been. "I think I might have overdone it...."




She watched his face contort, his eyes squinting a bit, but they opened. The gentles hues relaxed on her. His eyes seemed to close again, in denial. His lips parted, a sound of distaste pouring forth quietly from them. Calanon finally woke up though. He healed himself, and she sat back, waiting and listening attentively. He had overdone it.

The Fayrock had made her unconscious. Of course. Taura recalled the Fayrock; recalled the voice it had shown her. That voice, it was familiar. The Fayrock was not of good or evil magics. Instead, it was indeed- as said- from wild magics. The spirit of a creature lay within it, a curious creature known to dance along the neutral lands, neither loving Mother or Mistress unless he/she needed it to be so.

But she had forgotten, when she became human, what this creature was.

She rose from her hands and knees, standing, her form strong. She smiled, pushing her hair back with one hand and holding out her other for him.

"I promise I'll try to be less troublesome from now on." Taura said, staring up at the sun. They had to be almost there. "How much further are we?" She asked patiently, looking on down the path in hopes of finding a place where they may both rest.




Calanon was beginning to feel himself again, so he tried standing up. His head spun for a moment, but he made it. How far had they come? "Let me see...." Calanon stepped up to the road, looking first one way and then the other, trying to get his bearings. The pass was beyond sight, but otherwise there were no indications to tell exactly where they were. "Well, I think we must be close to Rimhaven. It's supposed to be close to the pass, so it must be close... unless we've missed it."

The sun had barely wandered into afternoon. To have come so far with so much daylight left was a marvel. Calanon looked again down the road behind them. "No, I don't remember passing it on the way here. It must be just further on. I hope. If not, Farien's house isn't much further. We should be at either place within one or two hours, I would think."

That seemed to suit Taura, so Calanon stepped onto the path and made to move onward. A feeling stopped him, and he turned round. Then, because being on the road had put him at a better angle, he noticed something he hadn't before. "Rimhaven is here! Look! there's the road!" Sure enough, there was a fork in the road leading to their left, not fifty paces back from the clearing. "No wonder I couldn't tell where we were. Come on!" Calanon started to jog over to the path, but he took only a few such steps before again feeling unwell. "Woo..." The test spell he'd cast to clear his head hadn't done much--which was precisely what his intention was, in case the spell multiplied again. Calanon considered casting it again properly, but there was no need, since they would be in Rimhaven soon anyway. It wouldn't be worth the cost of energy. "Maybe we'd better take it easy."

The two walked along the road in considerably higher spirits, knowing there was a place to recuperate close by. Calanon wasn't much for conversation at the moment, though. The road was more beautiful here than it had been behind Fayrock Pass. As humans tended their homes, so elves actually tended their forests, doing little things here and there to improve beauty and encourage growth. The trees seemed greener, the flowers more radiant, the leaves more plentiful. A half hour later, walking at a leisurely pace, the town of Rimhaven appeared ahead, everywhere, on the ground and in the trees. The elf gestured. "Here we are."

[Kalon Ordona II]

Taura watched him look around, not knowing where they were. She turned her head to him as though to question that. Did he really not know of their destination? But Calanon was meant to be her guide. Then again, how the two of them got here was still something of a mystery to her. Taura felt worry forming in her gut, making her feel uneasy. They couldn't have gotten lost! But Calanon spoke of a place called Rimhaven, and said that it had to be near. It was when he approached the road and looked back that he saw the way. She followed him, watching him jog and then still. Of course, he had just risen. Why had he even had the thought to run? Taura didn't. She walked slowly at first and gained speed into a strong walk that was required from her for this journey ahead. She followed him quietly, mentally unwinding as they went...

About a half hour later, they arrived to a place. After a walk through the most beautiful stretch of forest ever, she had made it to the place he called Rimhaven. It was an elven establishment, and it was most glorious when compared to the drab and dull homes of humans. These homes were unique, each and everyone different. Some were built on the ground of wood and cloth, while others wound up in the trees. The cloth that wrapped around some of the homes was an amazing one of the elves. It was strong and thick, yet lightweight. It was stretchable, and tough. Durable, and made for good lightweight armor as well. It came in shades of blue, white, cream, brown, and a few other off colors. And it was magnificent.

Taura smiled happily, stopping at Calanon's side. She stared into this vast place, down the road until it broke in several directions. She turned to Calanon and nodded.

"So what business have we here?" She said, remembering that they were still delivering 'letters' instead of truly traveling in the pure direction of the Elementals. And in an odd way, that annoyed her. Even if only by a very small margin. Because deep in her chest, the thing that ran her now human body was pumping vengeance through her system. It was on her mind, in her heart. It was keeping her going, and yet decaying her soul.




Calanon looked askance at his companion. 'What business have we here?' "We're on our way to the Elementals, of course, but we can't walk all the way there without stopping. What about what happened at the Fayrock? I don't know about you, but it's left me feeling odd. I don't feel tired, just... odd. We would have rested here anyway; we just happen to be here much sooner than I had anticipated. Also... I want to be sure you're all right before we move on." The elf was truly concerned. He knew Taura was embarrassed, feeling like a burden, but Calanon didn't see it that way. It wasn't her fault she'd been struck by wild magic. If it had been him, Calanon knew Taura would have been just as quick to help.

"I do think we should rest here for a little while," Calanon pressed. "It's a long way to the next real settlement, and even in elvenlands it is not wise to sleep unsheltered at night." Taura settled, seeing his reasoning, so the two made their way forward toward the elvish dwellings of Rimhaven.

Elves could be seen among the thick limbs of the trees and on the ground, walking to and fro. A trio of elves spotted them from what was loosely the border of the village. They were presumably there to welcome newcomers, or else, judging from the curved blades at their hips, to guard against them, depending. "Hail, water wizard!" one said with an amiable enough smile. "What brings you and your..." (humans were looked upon kindly by the residents of Rimhaven) "companion... to Rimhaven?"

"Taura is assisting me upon the Path," Calanon responded with a half-truth. Wizards came from all races, and it was also common to bring help along the Path, at least for getting past the Test of Dragons. "Can you direct us to a place where we can rest for a couple of hours?"

Another elf spoke this time, a little more cheerfully. "What is Rimhaven but a resting-place for the weary traveler?"

"And with-adding, indeed it be, a first-guard for to hold back those which are unwanted inside our lands of-the-elf," said the third, telling what would have been tactless and obvious in human speech by speaking tactfully in elvish, for the elf's ears only.

Without further ado the wizard and his human companion were led toward one of the larger dwellings. The inside was furnished comfortably, with many branching hallways and rooms of differing size, and more than one staircase spiraling up the trunks of trees situated in the center of some of the common rooms. Calanon led Taura toward a sort of counter or desk behind which a female elf sat. "First-greeting to-you and to-you. Greetings, and welcome to the Haven Inn! Are you looking for rooms?" the clerk asked with a smile.

"Yes indeed," said Calanon. "We just need one room for my friend for a couple of hours. We both need to rest for our journey." Elves didn't need beds to rest. Calanon had one in his house because they were comfortable and because he found the concept of 'sleep' fascinating.

Calanon paid for the room and the female clerk led them to it. Calanon went inside first to make sure all was in order, then he thanked the clerk, who bowed slightly and headed back toward her desk. The room had only a bed and two chairs. Calanon sat in one and motioned for Taura to sit on the bed. He left the door open, though not for fear of gossip. "Right then, before we rest, I'm concerned what might have happened at the Fayrock? Can you tell me anything about it?"




The elves that came forth seemed welcoming enough. They were kind and gentle, as most elves tended to be. One spoke in elvish, which for some reason, Taura could almost comprehend. It were as though she'd heard it before, like she could make out sounds to barely figure out a meaning; but she only knew that it wasn't exactly bad. She felt like beating herself up for these feelings. She truly missed the mind of the goddess she once had, when she knew all things, and could remember second-long memories a thousand years from their occurrence. She missed the ability to see and understand life from a much higher plane.

They walked to a place called the Haven Inn, where they would take rest for the night. It was a tall and wide place, rising up high into the towering trees. Branches served as base supporters for floors of rooms higher up, and the walls twisted and contorted around them, forming comfortable private residences for temporary use. The elf at the counter greeted them, and led them up a spiraling staircase, showing them then to a room that would be theirs. Of course, Taura wondered why Calanon would ask for only one bed, but when she asked him the question on their way up, he gave her the simple and understandable answer. It only made her hate being human that much more. How weak were her kind! As time passed, she began to feel as though she despised who she was. Four years felt like an eternity, when they use to feel like seconds in her immortal form. She wondered; would she ever return to her previous state of glory? She doubted it. She knew that f she went to the Elementals in search of their Immortal Touch, that they would restore her enough, and give her the power to, face off with Avaltha once more. With the Immortal Touch, she would gain back her previous power. With their power, she would have a wider range of abilities. With Calanon, she stood a chance to ascend this human body...

He asked her a question, pulling her from her thoughts.

"Right then, before we rest, I'm concerned what might have happened at the Fayrock? Can you tell me anything about it?"

She sat on the edge of the bed, took off her sword and belt and laid them beside it. She rubbed her wrists, before pulling off the gloves and sleeves, letting her fair arms be seen. Along her left arm was a long scar, from her wrist to the inside of her elbow- deep and thick. On her right arm, beneath the sleeve she had just taken off, was a set of tiny stitch-like scars that suggested chain lashing. She brought her eyes back to him, folding her hands together in her lap and staring at her limber fingers.

"The Fayrock, it is wild magic indeed. Inside of it lays a spirit, of a creature long fabled. I cannot remember the name of said creature, so please do not ask. But it is a creature that rides the plane of neutral, choosing no side of Mother nor Mistress. He or she is a wicked creature, usually serving as a spy for the highest bidder. He knows greed and gossip, and knows everything in his or her many years of watching. When we walked by... It spoke to me... But..." She turned her head away, lying though she did not want to.

"I cannot remember what was said." She whispered. She didn't look at Calanon. Taura then moved to take off her shoes and side them aside, then removing her sash and outer shirt. "Do you think I may be able to find some clothes in Rimhaven?" She then questioned, still having not looked at Calanon.

It wasn't that it was hard to lie, it was that it was hard to lie when she had once been the epitome of light and the magnification of truth.




Calanon was more than a little confused by her answer; it took him a few moments to respond to her last question. "Um... oh, uh, yes. Yes, there should be... clothes you can buy...." He trailed off, feeling himself staring at her. A neutral plane? What did she know about the Mother and the Mistress? Much more than the average person, clearly. "It... spoke... to you? How?" An answer came to him as he asked the question. "Is that why it struck you unconscious? So it could speak to you?"

Just what was Taura? Calanon wondered for the second time whether she might be an immortal. Again: she ate, she slept, she could be wounded; she couldn't be an immortal. Then Calanon remembered her speak of the secrets of the immortals, and he put it together. She was trying to do the impossible; a human, searching, like the fabled human kings of old once did, for the secrets to unending life. "That's it, isn't it. Taura, are you trying to become immortal? Is that why you seek the Elementals?" He didn't wait for her to answer. "The Mother forbids it, Taura. Humans aren't meant to live such lives. The Elementals would never agree to it, and even if they did... Taura, don't you see? It would destroy you."




Taura sat on the bed, listening to his answer. When he asked her how it spoke to her, she was about to respond that she didn't know. And that answer would be the truth. But then Calanon took two and two and put them together. He spoke to her, but not angrily, about her trying to become immortal. Told her that Mother forbid it. Told her it would destroy her. She looked up, rage and sorrow tearing at the seams of her simple human mind when he was done speaking.

"You do not understand Calanon, you never will." Her voice elevated slightly, stress evident. "You do not know of Mother, how can you say she forbids it?!" Her voice broke at one point and she came to a quick stand. "I already am destroyed, do you not see it? Is it not clear how weak and powerless I am?!"

Taura turned her back to him, staring at the wall boards that crawled up behind smooth sheets of blue cloth. She walked over to one of them, tugging the blue cloth of an open space aside to see out over a great space and set of trees, staring over Rimhaven.

"You don't know anything about me Calanon. This journey, it will define me. If I do not go upon it, then my very existence will have been wasted. You just..." She shook her head. Her eyes were growing wet. Her teeth clenched together. She couldn't just tell him who she was, she couldn't just speak of these things lightly. From now on, she wouldn't speak of it to him anymore. She couldn't trust him with her secrets.

"You don't understand!" She slung her fist forward, the bare knuckles hitting the wallboard with a loud 'Crack!'. The wallboard had splintered slightly, and her knuckles bled. She held her hand outward- still facing away from Calanon. The pain was excruciating. She'd never get used to the pain in this life. It was horrific. She held her hand out and watched the crimson fluid pool around her knuckles, the skin of the knuckles torn and scraped. She felt a tear running down her face when the first drop of blood struck the floor.

"I need to be alone Calanon. Now please." She whispered, her voice stammering as she held her bleeding hand with the other, watching it tremble and crying at the intensity of the ache. But she didn't want to be healed, didn't want to just solve it. Nothing in her existence was just ''solving'' itself anymore. Everything was just spiraling downward. Before this point she had spent her time wandering a world she was unsure of. Being attacked by men who thought her a witch. Being discarded like a dog by whomever sheltered her because hope was something they didn't have. She had learned early on that her identity was trouble. But how could it be so?

Taura sank down to the floor, pressing her back to the bed's side. She pulled her knees up to her chest and burrowed her head in her arms, her hand trembling in pain as she tried not to think of what she had been through.

She was close to beginning this journey. She wasn't far... Wasn't far from showing everyone the truth, and defeating Avaltha. She was so close to returning to happiness...




Taura was right: Calanon didn't understand. Of course the Mother forbade humans from obtaining immortality. Calanon thought everyone knew that--especially humans. None of what she said made any sense to him at all. Already destroyed? Weak and Powerless? Wasted existence? What was she talking about? He didn't know that much about her because she hadn't told him that much about her.

Calanon wanted to tell her he wanted to understand, and that he could understand if only she'd let him. He wanted to tell her she was not weak or powerless. He wanted to tell her she was strong, significant, unique... precious. The elf knew she was special, though he could not quite have said why. He wanted to comfort her somehow when she began to shed tears.

"I need to be alone, Calanon. Now, please."

A lump grew in Calanon's throat, making him realize just how much Taura was beginning to matter to him. Yet he obeyed, rising slowly and backing reluctantly outside of the room. He hesitated, still unsure what to do. "...I'll be just outside," he said softly, meaning the lounge down the hall. Calanon waited another moment, and then gently closed the door. At the lounge, the elf walked toward one of the large windows, pinning back the curtains to stare outside. Moving to the side, out of the way, Calanon just kept on staring until his eyes glazed over, and he saw no longer the static life of trees and moss, but the shifting world of dreams.

[Kalon Ordona II]

Taura heard him leave, and felt horrible. How was she to keep a companion for this journey when the possibility of losing said companion was so great? Maybe she was meant to travel this path alone, but she had then said she'd help Calanon to Walk the Path of his own. How was she supposed to deny him that because she was feeling indifferent and alone? Taura couldn't find any of the answers within herself anymore. Everything was just making mess of the world around her.

She pulled herself together, getting up and moving to her pile of clothes. She tore one of the sleeves and wrapped it around her fist, the pressure stinging at first, but then numbing the pain. She moved to the bed, sitting on it and crossing her legs. She opened her palms and held them upwards over her legs. At first, she tried to channel. To move the energy through her body, gathering it. What little faint bit of energy she had left. Taura pushed it, willed it, until she could feel it forming. She drew her hands together in front of her chest. One arm elevated, palm face down- parallel from the other hand palm up and lower than the first arm. Between her palms formed an orb of light. She closed her eyes, and tried to push her power further.

She wanted to make a connection with Mother. She needed encouragement, she needed faith. Hope even. The world around her silenced and she heard the soft breeze of a place far beyond this one. In her mind, the world was light. There was something in the distance, brilliant and unnatural. It was so bright that her eyes would not have seen through the light, but her mind saw. The form of a woman, who had no face, just a voice. She had the most beautiful voice of any. But this time; she spoke none. She was at the horizon, glowing beautifully. She looked to Taura, and Taura held her hand out.

Mother... please help me Mother. Guide me, for I am lost.

No response.

Mother please... Aid me, what am I to do?

And the silence ensued. She shrank back from her dream, the orb dispersing and her eyes opening. Taura was crying again. Even now she was not strong enough to contact Mother. It was impossible! She had to get to that first Elemental, but would Calanon even aid her now? She was confused and couldn't help but hate this person she had become more and more.

She pushed back the sheets and slid beneath them, pulling them up over her chest. She then burrowed the side of her face into a pillow and stared at the wall. She had decided maybe a few short hours of sleep would help her. Then she could buy a new set of traveling clothes, and then they could be off.

Taura closed her eyes, and awaited someone to wake her when the time was come to move again.




Calanon opened his eyes two hours later. The dullness of mind he'd been experiencing ever since the Coursing Rush was gone. The elf turned his thoughts to Taura, wondering how she had fared. He walked softly down the hall and opened the door enough to see her on the bed. She was breathing deep and even. Calanon didn't know how long it had taken her to fall asleep, so he closed the door again and went back to the lounge to wait for her a little longer.

There were other elves about. Some were trancing, some were conversing in hushed tones, some were reading. Calanon noticed a bookshelf and walked over to it, beginning to browse the titles. "The Time of the Birth Of-the-Elf" "Twin of the Mountain" "The War Wizard" "The Tragedy of Morikoru Seregond" "Legends of the Fay" Intrigued, Calanon pulled out Legends of the Fay. Holding his staff in the crook of one arm, he opened the book at random and began flipping through the pages.

The book helped him pass the time quickly. He'd learned several interesting, if unlikely, legends about the Fayrock and some of the stories that had been told about it over the years. Finally Calanon made himself go back to Taura's room and once more softly creak open the door. "Taura?" he called in a near whisper. "We should be leaving soon."




Taura began to wake to a soft and gentle voice. One she recognized, one she didn't fear. She felt it ring through her unconsciousness, and slowly grip her. It was calling her name. Calanon was calling her name. Her eyes parted open and those violet hues rested on the blurry figure that was Calanon. All the crying had made her eyes dry, and she had a bit of a headache throbbing in her temples. Oh how she hated this body beyond good reason... She rubbed her eyes, whimpering at how she touched her wrapped fist when she did so. She slung her legs over the bed and got up, returning her previous garments back to her body where they belonged. Taura stepped into her boots and lifted her sword and belt back onto her back. She checked her pouch for a bit of money and nodded when she felt the jingle of a few hefty coins.

She moved towards the door, stopping besides Calanon. Taura looked in his direction, at his robe but not his face.

"I'm sorry. What I've said, and even done, was inappropriate and childish of me..." She began. She stepped away from him, out into the short hall towards the spiraling staircase downward. "May we leave? Perhaps it is getting later and I would like to purchase some clothes for travel."




Calanon was relieved that she wasn't still angry or very upset. "Taura, I might not understand right now, but I want to, all right? You don't have to tell me everything this minute, so please don't think I mean you harm. I promised I'd help you, so just remember that." He smiled a little as he finished. She gave a soft response and stepped past him, and he closed the door on the empty room.

After making their way back down the spiral steps, Calanon asked where might be a good place for his friend to buy some travel clothes. The elf woman gave them easy directions and wished them a safe journey. The two bid her a quick farewell, and then emerged from the inn, following the clerk's directions through Rimhaven until they found what they were looking for. There were a variety of garments to choose from, and at a fair price, as far as Calanon could tell. Calanon wasn't to be buying anything; wizards tended not to change robes very often.




Taura walked with him according to the directions of the elven woman at the desk of the Haven Inn. She was kind enough to direct them to a small place with a good selection of garments to choose from. Taura had been traveling in these clothes for almost four months now, washing them every few days when she reached a riverside for camping. Even then; the back of her garments beheld a long tear and several other areas held tears and burns and wears. She needed something new to get her at least through this adventure, or until they got to another place where they may choose more.

The selections of clothing were hanging on pegs along the wall boards of the establishment, the place open (as in lacking a door or front wall), and having several shelves on the back wall boards for other accessories and things. Taura didn't waste much time, and she surely wasn't fashionable. She picked what she believed would fit, and draped it over her arm. A long length of wide dark blue fabric would serve as an upper body wrap. A black top that cut short beneath the breast with a dropping neck line. A pair of cream breeches that would be fitting against her figure, and fall just above the knee would be well too. She needed something a bit cooler, yet something to protect against the wind. She picked up a robe of sorts; an open jacket that had several ties at the sides. It was dark blue with cream designs down the trim, and fall to the calf muscles, with a loose fit and wide wrists so that it wouldn't be ''snug'', but instead comfortable. She drew out a handful of coins and paid the elf running the establishment and looked back to Calanon. It was the first time she had looked up at him since she had waken.

"Okay." She said. "I've bought my share. I'm going to go change, and I'll be ready to leave as soon as I'm done." She smiled vaguely, and then returned to the back of the establishment, where they had a cloth cylinder that hung from a higher branch serving as a tent-like room for the 'manager' to take rest. She gained permission to use this room, and didn't take more than a good two minutes. When she emerged, she returned to Calanon, having discarded most of her old clothes. She wore her boots and sash still- as well as her black gloves and her belt and sword. As well, these new clothes seemed to fit her better, showing off more of her lean figure. As well, the blue tones accented her eyes well.

She took to his side and began to walk through Rimhaven.

"Where are we going Calanon?" She asked him kindly, trying to push out the things he had said earlier, about promising to help her, and wanting to know her secrets...




Calanon very much approved of Taura's choice of clothing. The memory of the black and gray garments she had worn up 'till now seemed horribly drab in comparison. Now Taura was eager to be off, apparently feeling much better than she had earlier, which was a relief. When asked where they were headed, Calanon responded cheerfully. "Farien's house, remember? Letters. We'll be able to get supplies and perhaps even a mount. He runs a business raising pantors."

Taura didn't know what pantors were, so Calanon explained as they walked. Out of Rimhaven they went, rejoining the southwest road as the sun began to set. A pantor, Calanon explained, looked something like a horse and something like a muscular deer without horns. It did have a horn, actually, except it was thick and it grew from the creature's forehead. Most pantors were dark in color with coarse fur and cloven hoofs.

Both Calanon and Taura were walking briskly, Taura getting used to her new clothes and Calanon accentuating his long paces with the steady see-sawing of his staff. It was an hour and a half before Farien's house came within sight, and by that time dusk had fallen. Farien's house stood out in the night with its numerous yellow lights. Calanon and Taura hurried toward the place, now that it was there in front of them.




Taura followed, ready to set off. She remembered when he told her that they were headed for Farien's house. That was something she recalled quickly. That Calanon had letters to deliver. He then said that there were other perks to seeing Farien. Things like supplies and a mount could be found. He mentioned something called a pantor, and of course she had no idea what he was talking about. But as they journeyed, he explained. She tried to listen well, his voice soothing the headache that was pulsing in her temples. She knew that she shouldn't let herself cry so easily again. Next time she'd be wary of her emotions and try to be more collected.

When they arrived at Farien's home, it stuck out against the dusk. Yellow light glowed from the establishment as the sun disappeared in the distance. Taura stuck close to Calanon's side. Just before they approached, she halted him. She reached out and took his wrist, ginger and not harshly.

"Calanon wait." Taura said. "You said you are going to stay with me on this journey. Do you mean that?" She looked up to him and stepped back. "I've had many a man; elven, human, dwarven- and they all do not keep trust for long with me. I am a burden whether you have yet to understand it... But you seem different. Are you telling me the truth Calanon? Will you really stick by me?" She asked curiously, looking back to Farien's house. "Or are you going to leave me when things get hard and confusing?"




Calanon thought very carefully about his answer. He had already told Taura that he would help her. What kind of wizard would he be if he did not keep his word? One that would fail to pass the Trials, that's what. It was more than that, though. With each new and mysterious revelation, Calanon became more and more convinced that the Mother would want him on this path. He needn't worry about Taura's intentions, for the Elementals did not grant power to an ignorant or dark-hearted soul. In helping Taura, the wizard would also be helping himself, in order to help others. Calanon felt compelled to do this.

Still, she had not yet told him everything. He had to be careful how far he would commit, knowing as little as he did. Sometimes instinct was not enough. He needed to word his promise in a way that would not violate the moral teachings of the Mother. To Taura's questions, Calanon nodded once in affirmation. "You have already agreed to help me Walk the Path in return for my aid. How could I not also fulfill my word? Taura, I promise you: I will help you on this journey; I will give all that lies within my power to help you strike down the evil that burdens your heart."

Calanon's choice of words seemed to strike home. Taura beamed, her shoulders straightening as if a load of care had been lifted. Calanon smiled back sincerely, nodding once more with finality. He waited a moment, letting the two of them stand there in silence for a moment, allowing a space in which to shift their mindset. The night was drawing on and the pair had a long road ahead of them. Calanon turned and knocked on Farien's door.

"We're closed!" Came a voice, not deep but still resonant, from far inside the house.
"Closed? You're not usually closed this early!" Calanon called.
"Urgh, I'm a little... busy!... at the moment...!"
"Farien, it's Calanon!"
"Calanon?! Ugh, alright. Alright! I'll be there in a moment!"
Calanon had to stop himself from trying to look in through a window. "What are you up to...?"
All of a sudden the door swung open. "Calanon! It is you!" Farien was a little shorter than Calanon, though not by much, and he was considerably more muscular--for an elf. He was sparsely and hastily dressed. Farien was obviously glad to see his old friend, but he was also clearly annoyed at the timing. "I haven't seen you in five years, and you have to pick tonight to show up."
"What are you up to...?" Calanon repeated, suspiciously, trying to look past him into the house. Even in silhouette Calanon could tell Farien was blushing.
Farien gave in with a sigh. "I guess you wouldn't have known. Tari and I... well we were married last year."
Calanon was happily surprised. "You and Tari? Oh... I seeeee...."
"Yes. Don't you feel guilty now?"
"I certainly do...."
"Well then, what's the news? so I can get back."
"You're not going to invite me in?" Calanon asked with a grin.
"No," said Farien, but he stepped aside anyway. "And who is this?"
"My friend Taura. Taura, this is my old friend Farien."
"Charmed, I'm sure, or would be if I had the time." Farien smiled, though he squinted at Calanon. "You might as well walk straight back to Rimhaven, you know. You can't stay the night."
"Wouldn't dream of it."
"Unless you'd like to share a bed with the pantors."
"That either."
"Calanon, you're grinning like a neighing horse. Hurry up and spit it out!"
"I'm finally heading to Daenari."
Instantly Farien's expression changed. "I see.... Well, I guess I forgive you, then. You're thinking of supplies and a good pantor for the trip?"
"That's about right."
"What about your house? I assume you've made arrangements."
Calanon flourished the folded letters. "One for you, one for Tari, and one for Mist. I guess Tari lives here now...."
"...More or less."
Tari's head poked out sideways from the side of a doorway. Her long brown locks dangled over the floor. Calanon could make out a bare shoulder. "Good to hear you're finally taking the Path, Calanon! You look well! Now," she said sweetly, "do hurry it along, if you don't mind."
"Can you manage on your own?" Farien asked Calanon, meaning selecting a pantor and assembling the saddle and tack--all that sort of thing.
"I think so."
"Alright, you can take one of them. One. I assume you'll both be riding, so pick a sturdy one, not a fast one. There's an empty waterskin in the cellar, so you might as well take that and a few bits of food. Just leave everything tidy."
"Many thanks, Farien. How m--"
"Wouln't hear of it. Unless of course you damage my breeding stock. Then I'll be expecting fifty gold coins. As long as you bring it back safe and sound and don't take it outside of elvenlands--treat it well and all that--you needn't worry about compensation. Call it a favor."
"I'll owe you one, then."
"Yes. Yes, you will. And don't worry about your house; I'll take care of everything while you're gone."
"Thanks, Farien. I'll see you when I get back."

Calanon collected the things from the cellar first, so that they'd be out of Farien's house while he and Tari... well, while they did what most married couples do. It was quite a stretch for Calanon's imagination, thinking of Farien and Tari together. Life was full of surprises. Calanon handed the wrapped food and empty waterskin to Taura, and then led the way through Farien's side door to pick out a pantor.

It was fortunate that Calanon was a wizard, otherwise the quarter hour Calanon spent on the chore might have taken many times that. Another few minutes spent arranging the tack, saddlebags and other necessities, and Calanon and Taura were back on the road, riding at a trot upon the pantor's back.

[Kalon Ordona II]

Taura responded well to his answer. Evil in her heart? Well, that was good spoken word. She had evil in her now, she knew. It was vengeful and sorrowful . With this journey she could most definitely eliminate those feelings; but it would take this journey. She stood in the silence with Calanon and then they moved towards the door. Calanon knocked, and after a short conversation a man answered. She looked over Farien. He was an elf, who was somewhat bulky for his race. Usually elves were lean and lithe creatures. This one was just... Masculine, perhaps. She listened intently to their conversation and couldn't figure out what this Farien and Tari had been doing. She poked her head out and saw Tari poke her head out from deeper in the home, and she stepped back. They were a couple, a married couple. But what did that mean they were doing? She tried to think of her time in the human-lands. But nothing came to mind.

She and Calanon went to the cellar, picking out foods and supplies. They gathered a good bit and then went to a set of stables where they picked out a masculine pantor; a beautiful creature of sorts, much more unique than the human-lands' horses. She watched Calanon prepare everything and draw the creature out to the road. He mounted it, and she followed. She took his hand and pulled herself up over the creature. She sat directly behind Calanon, and had one hand on him to assure she felt safer about not falling off. Her right hand was on his side, a most gentle touch that could barely feel his shape beneath his robes. He was warm, and it seemed to draw her closer, but she stopped herself from leaning on him, or wrapping her hands over his sides. This human body sometimes had urges she didn't understand, and probably didn't want to understand. This time it was an urge to stay close to this warm being. Like a child snuggling a parent. But she was no child, and Calanon was her guide.

The road stretched on for a while, and Taura felt her mind swirling through tons and tons of thoughts. She finally spoke after about an hour's travel.

"Calanon... What were they doing back there? Tari and Farien. I don't... eh.. I don't understand."




"Calanon... What were they doing back there? Tari and Farien. I don't... ah... I don't understand."

Taura's question came out of nowhere as they rode along the forest path. The large male pantor was large and strong enough to carry them both easily. The shadows were deepening, but both the elf and the pantor could still see the way ahead. Meanwhile, Calanon was taking an inordinate amount of time to answer. He had been caught off guard, not least because he assumed someone of her age would have discovered the answer for herself long ago.

"You don't...? You've never...? Um, how do I put this...?" Calanon remembered when he was in his eighties, when his parents had told him about such things. However, Calanon knew enough about humans to know that couplings between elves and couplings between humans were profoundly different. For one thing, elves lasted considerably longer. And then there was--Calanon couldn't believe he was thinking along these lines, but Taura was still waiting for an answer.

"Ah... um... humans have many children over the course of there lives, yes? Well, it's a bit different with elves, but... that was essentially the bulk of their activities: ...starting the process of having children." Calanon hoped Taura wouldn't ask what he himself had asked his parents immediately following such a vague explanation.




She listened intently, her other hand moving to rest on Calanon's other side. She was tiring quickly, and the journey was wearing her out some good bit. Taura let her fingers hang over his robes, over his sides. She pressed enough that her palms could shape out his skin beneath his clothes. She looked away from him; out into the darkness. These pitiful human eyes were so weak at night! She wished she could light the path, but it would be bad for him to discover her ability so easily.

Taura then closed her eyes and leaned closer until her cheek was on his back. She thought about what he said, and then pulled her face back, looking at his hair and thinking.

"You mean sex?" She questioned. "What's it like?" Taura then blurted. "Have you ever had it before?"




"I'm not married, so, no, I haven't." How did she know about it without knowing what it was like? He knew humans, being relatively decadent creatures, were not averse to coupling outside of marriage--often often. Calanon heaved a sigh; he wanted to get this over with, going into as little detail as possible. He wondered exactly how much she knew.

"All right, uh... what all do you know about it?" She seemed to know what 'sex' was, but at the same time she still seemed curious as if she knew nothing at all. Now he understood what his parents must have gone through. Somehow, probably because coupling was such a private and intimate act between, well, couples, people didn't like to talk about it openly. Although, here it was doubly straining on Calanon since, as he'd mentioned, he hadn't yet experienced it for himself. Taura's position behind him wasn't helping.




Taura shrugged. She honestly didn't know much.

"When I first went to the human lands, I stayed near a place called a 'brothel'. The men nearby would walk the cobblestone streets and talk about sex. There were a few who tried to use me for such an act. Though I could not understand it. I thought it was only between strangers, between people who sought some kind of... " She shrugged again.

"You say it makes children. I knew that from hearing of pregnancy. But how does it make children? And why do you wait til marriage? I thought sex was for anyone, or does your elven blood have to do with anything?"

Taura leaned her head forward and let her cheek rest against the back of his blue cape of sorts. She felt warm with him near, and the pantor beneath her. She kept her eyes closed and wondered more about this subject. Maybe he could teach her about the humans and elves, and the races of this land. She knew some things, yet missed others. Which by now must've been quite obvious.




What did she mean by visiting human lands for the first time? Where was she from? Had she been raised in some remote area in the country? She must have lived a hard life, especially if it had been only her and her mother. No wonder she was ignorant about such things. But a brothel? How had she wound up near such a place to begin with?

He'd worry about that later; right now the subject at hand was already plenty to occupy one's concentration. Calanon sighed again, reluctant to dive into an explanation. "All right, here it is. You know your private bits between your legs? Well, men have different bits. When the different kinds come together, they often make a child."




Taura listened again, trying to imagine what was going on with his simple answer. So private bits, huh? She knew she had something between her legs, like a void or lack of something. She also knew that this human body was able to be stimulated, though she hadn't felt said stimulation in her four years of mortality. She just knew of it. Sometimes her body tingled, and a warm feeling seemed to pit in her waist. It was unexplainable, yet primal. She had yet to figure out what her body had been trying to tell her.

"That sounds simple." Taura whispered almost sarcastically, her head resting on his back. "But why haven't you done it Calanon? Do you want no children? Why wait til marriage? Are you not married?" She paused, and hoped for more answers to come.




Ahh, now here was something Calanon didn't mind talking about: all the ways prostitution or even coupling out of marriage was horrible. "I told you: I haven't married yet. I haven't met the right person. Humans often suffer much hardship for doing it often. Prostitutes often get terrible diseases because of how many people they couple with. Young women often have a child out of marriage, where the young man only wanted pleasure. Many are abandoned. When two people marry, the Mother binds them together with her love, and the lovers pledge themselves to one another. Then their children will have a happier life, with a mother and a father who love them and love each other. It is hard to stay together without the Mother's love. I think the Mother is sad when a coupling happens between strangers."

A silence ensued, while Taura thought about what Calanon had said. Calanon thought about it, too, wondering not for the first time when an elf maiden would come along who would capture his heart. What would she be like? Perhaps he had not met such a one because he had not yet come to the end of the Path. Perhaps he was not yet ready for love.




Taura nodded against his chest, tired and beginning to doze off. Calanon had such a different perspective on the subject from the humans she'd run into. She felt her mind begin to fade away into sleep, but she stopped trying to daze off. She blinked a bit, shifting to get more comfortable. She let go of his sides and drew her robe around her body tighter and then rested her hands on Calanon's sides again.

"That'll be all of that conversation... for now." She grinned almost childishly against his back and sighed, before yawning. Then she found another good question to ask. "What is love?" She questioned. "I mean, I know what love is, this is different from my knowledge of sex. I love my Mother, and I loved before. But not the kind of love you speak of. Marriage, and whatnot. What kind of love is it? How do you find it? How do you know when it is right?" She whispered, easily obvious that she was tired and close to sleeping against the elf's warm back.




The pantor's trot carried them safe and sure along the road. Once or twice they passed other travelers heading in the opposite direction. The shadowed trees ambled by as Calanon pondered the question. What is a lover's love? Calanon didn't know for certain, but he did remember what his parents had said. He echoed their words now, almost in a whisper. "You'll know it when you feel it."

As the night drew on and the miles steadily passed, Taura fell asleep against the elf's back. Calanon collected her arms and drew them around his stomach, holding them in place with one hand so she wouldn't fall off. His other hand held both the reins and his wizard's staff. Thus they continued for a number of hours, and, because of the pantor's smooth gait, Calanon was able to let his mind rest--not quite dreaming, not quite awake. By the time the approaching dawn once again lightened the world from black to gray, a constant rushing sound could be heard in the distance: the crossing of the river Arnen.

[Kalon Ordona II]

Taura heard his whispering words just before her eyes fell still and shut. Her breathing deepened, and she was asleep. Tonight, she did not dream. Not even a little. And even in sleep, her immortal spirit did not think, nor try to contact Mother. She slept wholly and fully.

The morning came.

The light seemed to easily rest against her face, and she felt warmer than before. Her body shuddered with a quiet yawn, as she spread her fingers over the plane they rested on. It was a strong shape. She traced it quietly, her eyes still shut. She traced her left hand up over her right until she felt a larger hand upon hers. Taura twisted her head a bit and took her cheek from Calanon's back, looking at him. She felt some odd contorting feeling in her body much like shame or embarrassment. She took her hands from his body and looked out over the river.

"Calanon, where are we now?" She questioned, looking at the flowing crystalline waters.




As they approached the wide stone bridge that spanned the Arnen, Taura began to wake. Drawing her arms back, she looked around. "Calanon, where are we now?" she asked. Dawn was still two or three hours away, so the crossing was not as glorious as Calanon had seen it many times before. Even in the dim morning light, though, the place was still quite beautiful.

"The River Arnen," said Calanon loudly. He had to raise his voice a little because of the river's constant flow, and also because of Taura's position behind him. "Between here and the River Elduin lies Galen, one of the larger cities of Ellóredan." Calanon guided the pantor across the great bridge as he talked, keeping close to the left-hand side to afford the best view. That way one could see the lowlands stretching toward the sea, while to the right in the distance loomed the numerous peaks of the Serathel Mountains. "We should be in Galen a little past midday."

A couple hours later, just before dawn, Calanon stopped near a pond a stone's throw from the road. The pantor needed water and rest, and the riders needed to eat and to stretch their legs.




Taura nodded, listening to the soothing sounds of the water. The pantor crossed the bridge and she looked out over it. The scenery was grand, but she was tired. Not sleepy; but having just woken up did leave her a bit dazed. She leaned her head back against Calanon's back and wrapped her arms back around his waist loosely. She didn't close her eyes though. She stared out at the world; the large mountains then the rich plains, the flowing water and the stones and dirt of their path. Everything was beautiful...

A few hours later, the sun had truly risen and dawn was about. They had stopped at a small pond near the road, and were going to take a morning break.

Taura dismounted the pantor after Calanon, moving towards the water. She took the robe from her body and folded it, setting it on a large gray stone nearby. She then pulled off the top part of her top, leaving the wrap beneath. It left her shoulders and neck bare, along with her arms. She felt the soft breezes against her skin and smiled, black hair falling smoothly against her neck and along her shoulders. She slid off her boots, and then the thin shin-high stockings that kept her feet feeling well in long travel. She then stepped towards the shore and dipped her feet into the water, smiling as the cool water stilled around her.

She turned back to Calanon after a few minutes and moved to sit next to him. She stretched her legs out before her, and then laid back. She stared up at the sky and sighed.

"Calanon... What's it like... To be undying?" She whispered. She had known, but she had never really cherished the feeling. And she wanted to know from a different perspective. From an elf's viewpoint. From the thoughts of Calanon.

"Is it lonely?" She then questioned, staring as a fluffy cloud seemed to float by in the distance far above in the sky.




Dawn broke as Taura waded in the shallow pond. Sunlight colored the tops of the trees on the far side of the water. The air was fresh and not as cold or breezy as it had been by the river crossing. Calanon had unsaddled the pantor so that it could drink and graze from the trees, and then the elf sat with his back to the wide trunk of a cedar, holding his staff hear his shoulder and crossing his ankles out on the grass in front of him. When Taura returned from the pond, Calanon unwrapped a small loaf of bread and tore it in half, passing one to half to Taura. The bread had been baked with fruit, making it moist and sweet.

Taura laid back on the grass next to Calanon, watching the sunlight on the trees and the sky turning blue. "Calanon... What's it like... To be undying?" she asked softly.

Calanon responded softly in kind, heavy and thoughtful. "Some elves eventually become weary of the world. I know a few, aged and wise, who long for the mortality of humans just as humans long for the immortality of elves. I have only lived two hundred seventy-nine years and do not fully understand this, just as I do not fully understand the way humans perceive their inevitable death. Many humans feel tremendous peace at the end of their lives, though they be but a fraction of ours. I think perhaps mortality gives meaning. When life is short, every moment is precious.
"And yet, elves can die by blade or bow, the same as any living creature. Perhaps that is why we are both slow to war and slow to yield. On one hand, we elves, having life, wish not to lose it and so make peace, while humans, having death, make war wishing for their death to have meaning. On the other hand, we elves also crave the meaning that comes with mortality and so lay our lives on the line for our cause, while humans, craving life, often war for their own ends or run when they should stand.
"We wizards try to rise above it all, I think. Even those who come to love their power more than they love the Mother. At least, that's what I want, to rise above the petty struggles. I want to make this world into a better place. There are few wars nowadays, but there is little harmony among dwarves, elves, humans... even trolls. Everyone just... keeps to themselves. And we wizards are often few and far between."

Taura pondered Calanon's words in silence for a moment, watching a billowing white cloud floating across the sky. "Is it lonely?"

The elf nodded slightly several times. "Yes, sometimes."




Taura nodded to his words, blinking every now and then and returning to the sky's scape. She watched clouds float by. She watched them twist and shape, slowly. So slowly. She wondered about the life of clouds. Did clouds die? Did they expect a death if they did? She shook off those thoughts. Clouds were masses of air. They couldn't know of their oncoming death. She felt her lids fall shut until she heard Calanon unwrapping bread. She turned her head and reached up, taking the half-loaf. She leaned up, sliding back until she was right next to the elf, her back against the tree as well. She drew her knees up slightly and took a bite of the bread. It was moist and had a sweet touch to it. She finished it after about five minutes, hearing Calanon's quiet answer.

Instead of speaking, she stood up and moved to the water. She wet her hands and cleaned them off, drying them on her sides before coming back to Calanon. She sat next to him, facing his side. She folded her legs beneath her and reached forward. Taura took his hand into her own and began to look at it.

"My Mother use to tell me..." She began softly, turning his hand over. She traced her fingers down the inside of his own, then towards his palm. "That when you look at the hand of a man, you can see what kind of life he leads... She said that you can see a man's past by his hands..." She whispered. Taura let her fingers begin to roll gently over the lines on his hand. She then stretched his hand out and pressed her own against it. She extended her fingers against his own and stared at their hands as she turned them a bit. His fingers were longer, his hand larger. Her own was somewhat small, and she had a few small callouses against her fingertips from wielding her blade and living off the wild for a good period of time. A small tingling sensation formed between their palms. It was where her body was manipulating light energy. Forming a very tiny bond with Calanon's body. It felt like a warm sensation, and she smiled, pulling her hand away once the magic was gone.

"You have very nice hands, and a long past." She chuckled, staring back up at the sky. "I use to have nicer hands..." Taura said then, turning her eyes down and staring at the look of her own hands- one hand wrapped in a gray strip of cloth where she had struck the wallboard at the Haven Inn yesterday. "But they are not so nice anymore."




Taura finished eating her half of the bread, then went to clean her hands in the pond. When she came back, she sat cross-legged facing Calanon's side and asked to see his hand. She began to examine it closely, claiming that her mother had taught her to read a person's history from their hands. It didn't seem to work, as far as Calanon could tell, but she seemed to enjoy the process. When she placed her hand upon his, playfully comparing their size, Calanon took the opportunity to do the same. Her hands were smooth and well-formed, despite some roughness and a few callouses that evidenced her skill as a swordswoman. Calanon's hand, being an elf's, was only a little larger than hers, with longer fingers. For a male, his hand was hardly at all rough or calloused. Thus their hands were in fact more similar than they were different.

All of a sudden Calanon felt a warm tingling on his palm, where Taura's own was pressed against it. Then Taura drew her hand away. "You have very nice hands, and a long past." She chuckled, staring back up at the sky. Calanon thought that was a bit obvious, given that he'd already told her he'd been alive for almost three human lives. "I use to have nicer hands..." Taura said then, eyeing her hands where she had hit the wall yesterday. "But they are not so nice anymore."

"Nonsense," Calanon smiled. If she knew that much about hands--and training with swords--she should already know that. She was probably still trying to apologize. "Cuts mend; bruises heal. Your hands are beautiful and strong; you should be proud of them." He hoped that would make her feel better about it. He really did think her hands were well-formed, just like the rest of her.

Thinking about hands reminded him of whatever had been between their palms a moment ago. He wasn't sure what it was. He held his palm up to examine it, but it seemed the same as before. Then Calanon recalled what had happened when Taura talked with Brilig the Lake-Troll. "Taura," he began out of curiosity. He looked over at her, his head cocked to one side. "What was that thin wire that turned into a gold chain? I've been wondering whether perhaps a wizard might have enchanted that for you, or something. Brilig seemed to recognize it."




Taura nodded to what he said about her hands being strong. In a human sense, they might be good hands. When she was immortal, her hands were gorgeous and gentle. She shook off the memories and turned to face Calanon a bit more. He asked about what she had done with the wire. She didn't have a response readied, but he asked if she had had a wizard enchant it. Taura began to nod slowly.

"Y-yes. It's... enchanted. These wires are very rare. Actually, I think I may be the only one who has them." She blushed a bit. "They aren't wires either. They are hairs. Enchanted though, none the less.." She reached into the small pouch on her belt and drew one of the halves from it, and kept it away from the sun.

"I'd like for you to have one of them. I gave one to Brilig so he would like me. Kind of like a peace offering. I'd like for you to have one simply because you are a friend." She took his wrist and wrapped the hair around it four times, so that it was gently loose and yet not so loose that it'd fall off. She pressed the two ends together with her thumb against the skin, and then held his arm up a bit. The sun was rising up. As the second passed, the sunlight crawled down the trunk and struck his fingers then his hand. When they reached his wrist, the hair began to glow, tingling against his skin until the glow halted. And it was gold. She removed her thumb and the chain was connected, without a clasp or ring; it was just connected.

Taura released his hand and stood up. She stepped into her boots after sliding on the small stockings, and then pulled on her outer top and then her robe. She dipped her fingers into the water then brushed them through her hair pushing it back. She turned back to Calanon and gestured for the pantor.

"I'm ready when you are."




Taura explained that the enchanted gold chains were not made from wire as Calanon had at first thought, but hair. Taking out the other half of the hair that made the chain she'd given to Brilig, she kindly offered to put it on Calanon as a gift of friendship. She wrapped the hair around his left wrist four times and held the two ends in place, then she held up his hand into the spreading light of morning. As the sun touched the length of hair, the hair shimmered and shone with bright yellow light. After a moment the light faded, and as before the hair had turned into a fine gold chain. This time, though, both ends of the chain were joined without any form of clasp. It was a single piece, whole and perfect. Wrapped as it was, is was just the right length so that it was not tight and yet not loose enough to slip off his hand. Moved, Calanon looked up at Taura. "Thank you."

Taura smiled a smile that came from deep in her heart. Standing up, she slid into her stockings and boots and put on her outer shirt and coat, re-tying the sash. Dipping her fingers in the pond, she used the water to straighten and smooth back her hair. "I'm ready when you are," she said, collecting the pantor gently by the bit-less bridle. Calanon smiled and stood, picking up the saddle and putting it back on the fine creature. While the Calanon was busy with that, he directed Taura to fill the waterskin from the pond. When she returned, Calanon cast a small spell upon it. "I call upon the power of Ëulos. Waters of Life, dance." He waited only a short moment. "Purify." The magicked pondwater absorbed and neutralized what little was not water, making it purer and more alive than water from a mountain spring. Calanon drank some, passed it briefly to Taura, and then fastened it to one of the saddlebags.

"Off to Galen!" said the elf happily. Mounting up, he helped Taura up beside him, and off indeed they went.

[Kalon Ordona II]

Taura moved next to the pantor and drank from the pondwater. She watched Calanon mount the pantor and followed him, swinging her legs over the creature and holding her hands against the elf's sides. She watched then as they returned to the nearby road, and they were off once more...

The sun had risen further into the sky, hanging just a bit past noon. It was just past midday, and the world was warm with faint breezes here and there. Taura was realizing how utterly boring this trip was when they were just riding endlessly for hours on end. They had entered a ring of trees that were thin and somewhat short. Taura began to look around, noticing several unique things about this set of woods. She noticed that on several of the trees were worms, with bodies that were only three or four inches long. They appeared thick due to a fuzzy set of hair that was brown, and their bodies beheld small faded red dots down the center back, with golden rings along the way. Some of them were eating away at bark and wood of the trees, leaving marks on them; while others were crawling around ''nests'' that resided in the crevices of trees, within holes in the trunk, and between thick branches. As they passed these, they began to see elves. They had long straps going diagonally over their shoulders that led down to a wooden bowl on their sides. They wielded small knives with a semi-rectangular end that was perfect for scraping the excess material from the trees. The material they scraped away was almost like clay, with a beige color and a smooth texture.

She watched with awe as the trees began to space, opening up to a long open area. There were several elves there, standing almost like a guard to the city before them. It was Galen.

From their place, they could see great things. The trees were no longer the fat short ones that bore many leaves. Instead, they were specially grown trees, with long broad trunks that stretched towards the skies, with few leaves until the canopy which provided great shade over parts of Galen. Houses wound up the trees, spiraling around them and working in unique fashions to fit together. The road before them was a cleared away dirt road, with several sellers along the edge. Elves who stood in many different kinds of clothing selling things, and willing away information. Others who moved about, enjoying the beauty and nature here. Along some of the white and green cloth buildings were flowers. Hydrangeas and lilies sprouted up in many colors, and vines with brilliant red blooms wrapped around several trees and homes. If one looked past these first few establishments and homes, it would be seen the greater buildings beyond. Buildings made of wood, or stone. Or, something else? Taura looked back to the elves from before, walking in with the substance from the carpenter worms. These buildings were like sculptures, moving up the trees in fashionable and shapely forms. But as they went, one building seemed to stick out above the rest in the far distance, seen only for its greatness. It stood between four large trees, a castle of elves. It wasn't as large as a castle, but instead stood as a court and ruling house, where the elven Council lay for Galen. It was beige and white, sculpted with many unique designs and faces, with four base walls that stretched up and broke off into the trees like a set of multiple floors. It beheld two powerful columns before it, and had several strips of blue and green cloth that fell beside the massive doors, that read elven along them, though Taura did not understand it.

She tapped Calanon on the shoulder, her eyes following the people about her- some with swords and others with baskets of vibrant fruit.

"This place... it's beautiful..." She grinned, watching as the elves looked back at her- some kindly. And others... not so kindly.




"It is beautiful," Calanon agreed. The midday sun, high in the sky behind them and to the right, shone on the trees and towers of Galen, infinitely enhanced its beauty. Radiating green and white from its trees and towers, Galen was a sight to behold no matter where one stood within the city. Sculpted arches of ceilian clay decorated nearly every building, adding a grace and elegance to each dwelling. "Remember those worms we saw and the elves harvesting the excess from their nests? That is the carpenter worm; they chew through tree bark like an earthworm eats soil, producing a clay-like substance we call ceilian. Most of Galen's dwellings are made from it, or use it heavily in construction and decoration."

Calanon paused his explanation of Galen to dismount, gesturing for Taura to go ahead and stay on the pantor. They were being hailed by elven guards. Exponentially more impressive than the welcome at Rimhaven, here Calanon and Taura were met by twenty elves in formation. They wore gently curved swords at their hips, with decorative leather-and-cloth scabbards. All of them were male. They wore no helmets, but each had a headband with a shape of metal at the top of his forehead. Their armor was a combination of metal-studded leather, bordered and shaped with ceilian, and decorated with embroidered cloth. The armor sets consisted of a breastplate, a single pauldron upon their defensive shoulder, bracers, guards for the upper leg, and reinforced boots. Underneath the armor they wore battle coats that flowed out to each side, not quite long enough to reach the ground.

"You are welcomed to Galen, honorable wizard", said their captain. "See and be certain that your human friend does neither harm nor despoiling of our lands and dwellings of-the-elf. She is welcomed under your care."
"Much of gratitude I return-offer because of your kindness," replied Calanon. "We are through-passing here of this Galen. What news is here of this that indeed-it-be well to know?"
Several of the elves then began to inform Calanon of certain outstanding events of Galen, as well as a few ominous rumors from outside elvenlands. There was talk of dark creatures about, on the borders of Ellóredan. Calanon payed close attention, listening carefully to every detail. It sounded as if there were indeed more of what Taura had called goblins. As for the latest news of Galen, Calanon took careful note of that also, as it changed a few of Calanon's plans.

Calanon thanked the guards again and walked the pantor onward, remounting once they were inside the tall free-standing arch that was the symbolic entry-point into Galen. Sights and sounds and smells constantly teased their senses as Calanon and Taura pressed onward. As they went, Calanon told Taura some of what he was thinking. "It seems we have to be careful what we do and say right now. There's recently been a scandal among a few members of the Council, and some are being disciplined or replaced. We should probably try to pass through and stay the night at some inn close to the outskirts, on the opposite edge of the city."




Taura walked with him inward, dismounting the pantor and walking alongside Calanon. She walked inside, beyond the gates after having listened to the elvish spoken between Calanon and the other Guard elves. She watched the people pass by, the buildings jut upwards in amazing figures. The work of kind elves, and wise elves, and hard-working elves. They were all marvelous creatures, and all had something to do, no one wasting time though if anyone had time to waste, it was an elf. They moved through town for a good while, and came up upon a long stretch of road. A set of guards were waving down people gingerly, asking Calanon and Taura to dismount. And so they did.

As they moved forward, other elves traveled in the same direction. Taura was growing curious; the both of them were. A loose group of elves were before the Council House talking quietly. Taura moved with Calanon nearby toward the Council House, and watched the door open. It was then that this loose group of people seemed to multiply, coming together before the Council House with expressions of distaste and concern. Some seemed to call out questions, while others just stared angrily at one of the Council members. The Councilman spoke, but Taura did not understand them. Whatever he said seemed to make the elves angry, and the group began to shift a bit, people speaking up more. Taura reached to Calanon's side, gripping with her fingers at his robe. But it didn't save her. The Councilman looked up and made a waving gesture, and it was reacted to quickly. A small group of guards cut into the crowd without kindness and pushed towards the front. Taura heard them coming, looking back over her shoulder.

One of them placed a hand on her right shoulder and pushed her away from Calanon, to the left of the crowd. She let go of Calanon and looked for him, and he was near. But the others in the crowd that she bumped into seemed to show similar attitude. They were not rough, just pushing her aside of their conflict. Aside and aside, hands grabbed and shoved, and she lost sight of Calanon. She could feel panic inside of her chest, thundering like her mortal heart.

"Calanon!" She called, but she was moved once more, this time tripping over a foot and hitting the ground, knocking two other elves down as well. They stood and brushed themselves off, talking in what sounded like angry elvish at her. The elves looked upon her, not angry enough to beat or hurt her. One though, had mind to take her.

He appeared to be in early human thirties, who knows what in his elven years though. He had black hair that fell to the center of his back, and blue eyes. He had a scar from his hair line to his cheek on the left side of his face, and a cold expression. He wore a white open robe over black breeches and a dusty red vest. He reached down and took her wrist, and pulled her to her feet. She whimpered at how he had grabbed her bad hand, her knuckles aching with the pressure he applied. But he didn't seem concerned.

"Ow!" Taura retorted against the stranger, pulling back from him. But when she raised her hand to hit him, he caught it with his open hand. And he jerked her, causing her to stumble until he had dragged her up again. He was not attacking her, nor hurting her. But he was overpowering her all too easily.

This man took her from the crowd, and she kept searching for Calanon behind her. But soon enough, he had turned to her. And he looked her over, speaking something in elvish that didn't seem mean enough. But when it was obvious she didn't understand, it soured his expression.

"Humans not allowed in Galen alone." He said to her in a low deep voice bearing a unique elvish accent. "You coming with me for a while... You should not be here. We will see your true face soon enough woman." He said, returning to his path and tugging her away. Taura was not worried about where she was going.
Elves were more trustworthy when it came to abuse and destructive behaviors. But she was more-so worried about Calanon. She didn't want to be away from him in this large city.

"Calanon!" She called once more, as she moved down the street.




Calanon had been worried as more and more elves filed into the wide courtyard before the Council building. A councilman appeared at the large, stage-like porch, making an announcement concerning one of the recent scandals. When he proclaimed that a certain councilman, having been investigated, would remain in office, the crowd of elves shifted, expressing outrage. More filed into the court. Concerned, Calanon tried to get away. Just then, however, a number of guards hurried through the crowd, pushing people out of their way. The column of sword-bearing elves pushed right past Calanon, brushing him off to the right.

"Calanon!" Calanon heard Taura cry out.
"Taura!"

Calanon had to wait for the column of guards to pass. Even after they did, though, the crowd pressed close together in their wake. Calanon had to mount that pantor just to keep from being swept forward toward the Council building. It would be inexcusable to use magic against his people to clear a path; Calanon's only choice was to wait and take careful note of all he could. His one comfort was that, if he didn't find her himself, she would sooner or later end up among the Galen administrators. It would not be pleasant for her, though. Calanon had to do all he could. She had been taken towards his left. Calanon was unable to turn the pantor sideways, but he looked down that direction. It was a narrow street between several large trees. The dwellings there were crammed close.

"Calanon!" he again heard Taura cry out. Calanon locked on the further distant sound and took precise note of its location, much further along the narrow street.
"I'll find you," Calanon answered, knowing she couldn't possibly hear him above the din of the crowd. "...I'll find you."




Taura looked back, seeing a short glimpse of Calanon atop the pantor before she was pulled inside. Of where? She was unsure. While it may've been smarter to watch where she was going, she couldn't take her eyes off of Calanon. But regardless, he was gone now. And all she had left was this elf. He pulled her through what seemed like a dining area, and into a living room, where there was a set of dark cedar benches with green throws and cushions. But that was not her destination either. He opened another door at the very back and took her into a bedroom. There was a bed, but it looked as though it hadn't been used in a good while. He gave her a shove as she resisted moving any nearer it. But his strength was too much. She stumbled forward, her arms grasping at the green and black bed, until she moved upon it and settled. She stared up at him, refusing to cry or be weak like she wanted to. She stared hard, and the man stepped closer.

"Watch your eyes human." He spat. If she had not tried to resist so much, perhaps he would not be so angry. But what was done was just that, and she couldn't undo her struggle. "My name is Secilon. You may call me Secil, but only if you plan-on-showing respect." He said, his tongue a bit short-winded and his words a bit spaced. The man stripped away his robe and tossed it to the side, and stepped outside of the bedroom.

Taura watched the door shut, and put her hands together like a prayer. She felt light building in her hands, giving them a soft glow. Hurry, faster! She waited until it was warm and pleasant, and then released it. It spread over the room and then disappeared. It would invisibly draw the chain to her. It would bring Calanon to her. She then straightened as Secilon returned to the room. He held a rope in his hand and brought with him another. The man with him looked a lot like him, but younger. His hair was cut shorter, and was spiked. His eyes were a vibrant green, and his face unscathed. He wore no shirt and a pair of breeches. Over that was a robe of which he had taken his arms from the sleeves, so it hung around his waist where the tie was. He stepped forward, his boots sounding heavy on the floor.

"What does human have to do in Galen?" He said, his voice a few small tones lighter than the baritone scowl of Secilon. "Humans-do-not belong here. It is of utmost-importance that Galen is preserved by elves. Do-you-know-better? We do not condone human lives here. Humans desecrate forests. Humans leave destruction in their paths. What destruction-have-you, woman? What disaster have you brought?" He questioned. He took the rope from his father and Secilon neared.

Taura bound up and drew her sword- a mistake, but she wasn't going to be tied down.

"Excuse me, but I must find my friend, I ask kindly that you please let me go." She said quietly. Secil's son drew a curved blade from behind him, one she had yet to notice. It was a special blade, curving slightly, with several hooks that curled out at the base. It was made to disarm and defeat. She had a bad feeling in her gut about this bedroom battle.

He moved towards her with the rope, and Taura stepped back, until she felt the base of the tree against her. There was no escaping. She swung her blade to intimidate, but the young man only repeated the motion.

"I will not hurt you, but I will teach-you a lesson." The man said sternly. Secilon stepped forward and grabbed his son's blade, hushing him and asking him to retreat. He took from the small table next to the opposing wall a strip of cloth. He wrapped it around his hand and moved towards Taura with the rope.

"It is for safety that we take your blade and assure your submission. We will not have you damaging hard work around Galen." He moved forward and held up his hand with the cloth around it. Taura pressed her blade out, as though to say 'back off'. But it didn't work like she had planned. It was what Secil had wanted. He grabbed the blade with his wrapped hand and then shot his other arm forward. He lunged into his quick motions, as his hand pressed into the soft spot on the inside of her elbow. From there his hand jerked up and pushed her shoulder until she was slammed softly into the wall. And when Taura realized what he had done, she was without a blade, and had Secil before her. He tossed her blade back and his son took it, moving out of the room.

"Sit." Secil said, and Taura obeyed. "I respect bravery. Do not respect recklessness." He said. Secil drew her hands up behind her back and prepared to tie them, and halted. He was against it for a moment, but he decided it was better to do it. At least until they got to the Council House. So he wrapped the rope around her wrists just enough so that she wouldn't be free of it.

Taura stared at the floor, her eyes wet in defeat as the elf stepped back.

"My son is name Rurigo. Rurigo is not lenient with humans. Humans killed his wife. You be careful what-you-say to Rurigo." He then turned from the room and left, and soft speaking was heard beyond it.


"Help..." She muttered, laying back and expecting Rurigo to return shortly...

____________________________________________________________

Secilon returned to the front door, and exited his home, leaving the human in the oh-so loving care of his son Rurigo. He walked through the town towards the Council, but halted when he saw the riot still about. The man pushed his hands back against the side of his neck where an ache had formed. He turned away, and began to move towards the edge of Galen...

There, at the edge of the city was a small restaurant of sorts. He walked about outside of it, staring at the fruits and things, but turned inward and began to explore the cuisine they had. He had to at least feed the human; they were not as durable as elves. And Secil had a feeling about her- which he didn't have about many- that she was not so bad. And she was also brave, which was a plus in his eyes. But the worst quality about Taura the human was that she was foolish. He spoke to the woman at the counter and asked for a pouch of sun-dried fruits and nuts, deciding it would not be a meal, but it would suffice. With that, he turned and made way for the door, and then towards the narrow side street that his house was on...

____________________________________________________________

The door opened. Taura drew her violet eyes up and saw Rurigo, the human hater. How nice of him to join her. He still had that curved blade in his hand, and an expression upon his face that looked as though he wanted to devour her like some kind of beast. He stared hard, and she just looked back at him. Taura finally was the one who turned her head away and looked at the wall.

"Turn your head-in-shame?" Rurigo questioned, letting his blade lean against the wall. He stepped forward, those heavy footfalls almost a warning of what kind of wrath this elf had to offer. He reached out and grasped Taura's face in his hand, turning it up until she was looking up at him. Her eyes began to water again, and she thought she may just cry before this elf. "What reason have you here? Who-have-you come to kill human? Every time I see humans, they kill. They murder. Relentless and stupid. Barbaric-idiots come to destroy what we elves work so hard to preserve!" Taura blinked, and a tear rolled down her face. Rurigo scoffed at the sight, leaning closer until his warm breath was against her ear.

"Do not cry. It is pathetic." He leaned back and wiped her face roughly, staring at her hard. "I am sure father told you warning that I did not like humans. Right?" He said coldly. "Good. I don't know when he will return, but I hope it is not soon..." Rurigo said, releasing her face and staring down at her with a hard cold glare.




It had been an hour since Taura had disappeared. Within ten minutes after she was gone, Calanon felt an instinct prick his mind. Somehow, if he allowed his mind to take its own course, he knew exactly which direction Taura was. If he tried to focus on the premonition, the elusive feeling flitted away like a forgotten memory, like a spot in your vision that moves when you look because you look. It had taken most of the hour for the crowd to press far enough into the courtyard to allow Calanon to move. The protestation was still going on, despite the presence of the guards.

At last Calanon was able to move through the crowd--though he only managed it by being atop the pantor, urging the creature to step sideways. Focused on his task, he felt again the instinctive urge that told him where to go to find Taura. When he finally reached the side of the main road, he dismounted and led the pantor down the narrow street. The instinct was gone, now that he was focused on finding Taura. He focused on something else, the architecture--the pleasing shapes of the ceilian arches even back here behind rows of dwellings, the painstaking detail in the carvings, the delicate vine-like sculptures, the inter-weaved lillies and foxglove stalks climbing the sides of the large trees. Somehow, enough sunlight penetrated the dim street to allow flowers to grow healthy and str--there it was. Calanon turned sharply in the direction of the pricking instinct.

He faced a door. Calanon stepped briskly up to it and knocked. He waited several moments, but there was no answer. The wizard knocked again, louder. Again, even after several moments, no answer. Calanon grew angry, so much that he considered simply opening the door and walking in. A wizard, however, held himself to higher standards. If he was not the kind of person who walked uprightly, he would never have passed the Trials. Calanon calmed himself and knocked a third time.

"Wizard! What do-you?" The deep voice came from Calanon's left, back up the narrow street.
Calanon turned and said not a word, staring down the owner of this house as he paced briskly toward the wizard. Calanon's glare held such knowledge and ominous meaning that the scarred, black-haired elf visibly flinched, almost dropping the small cloth pouch he held. He seemed to understand every intent of Calanon's thoughts. Appearing suddenly guilty, he nodded a short bow, stepped past the wizard and opened the door, gesturing for Calanon to come inside.
"Rurigo!" the deep-voiced elf called toward a back room.
Calanon glared him onward and followed him toward it.

[Kalon Ordona II]

Rurigo asked Taura why she was there. She simply responded that she was passing by. But her answer was not good enough. Rurigo asked again. She said she was passing by, trying to move on. He asked her where she was going, she said she couldn't say it. He asked her why she was there again. Taura began to be agitated, but then again so was Rurigo.

"Why are you here?" He spat, and gripped her face tighter.

"Because I'm on a journey."

"Where?"

"None of your business!" Taura hissed. She glared at him and Rurigo leaned inward, staring at her viciously.

"Then why were you before the Council House. Why are you in this side of Galen when you're passing-through?" He said sharply. Taura felt it was right to let her tongue loose and speak her mind; a troublesome statement that would ensure her danger.

"I'm here to annoy stupid and arrogant elves like you who have distaste for humans as a whole instead of individuals, when you do not even know me and I am-" She was silenced as Rurigo drew his hand back and then forward in a quick whistling fashion. His palm hit her face hard and sent her into the bed sheets, muffling her cry as he stared at her hard. After he slapped her, he heard Secilon- his father- calling him.

He turned as the door burst open and Calanon and Secilon were there. Secil looked at Taura, and the large red mark on her face.

"What-have-you done Rurigo!?" Secil said angrily. He stepped aside so that Calanon may claim Taura, but his son was not so eager to let the human go.

"Stop!" Rurigo growled, grabbing Taura's wrist. He pulled her up by it and pushed her against the wall. Taura looked up and saw Calanon, smiling through the sting in her cheek when she saw him. He had come for her... Rurigo pressed his hand against her chest and pinned her to a wall, staring back at Calanon.

"You cannot-have-this foolish-human without telling me first why-you would even bring her-here!" Rurigo growled. Secil motioned for him to let the girl go, but Rurigo did not. "Explain yourself... Wizard..."

"Calanon." Taura smiled softly. She was relieved; this meant freedom... sooner or later.




Calanon had not waited a single moment longer than necessary. As soon as the black-haired elf turned the handle to the door, Calanon shoved himself inside, staff first, flinging the door with enough force that it banged against the opposite wall. Immediately he saw the fire in the young elf Rurigo's eyes, and the red mark on Taura's cheek. Apparently, so did the older elf.

"What have you-done, Rurigo!?" the scarred one said angrily.

Calanon stepped closer to collect Taura, but Rurigo wouldn't have it. "Stop!" he growled, grabbing Taura's wrist and then pinning her to the wall with his hand on her chest. The young one glowered at Calanon. "You-cannot-have this foolish-human without first-telling me how could you-bring her to-here! Explain-you yourself... wizard...."

Calanon's face, already deadly, darkened further. "Foolish-untested-one," he said, calling Rurigo an ignorant youth even though Calanon himself was the younger. "Not for naught it-is-said: Not-meddle-ye in the-affairs of wizards."

"Not-mock-you me, boy! Or, indeed it be, I will turn-against you and with-adding strike you down!" Rurigo spat.

At that point, Calanon was within his rights; he no longer held himself back. The wizard's staff came faster than Rurigo, in his anger, could react. Calanon made a vicious, horizontal swing, using both hands to slash with the base of the staff. The solid metal smote hard into Rurigo's cheek-bone, felling him sideways onto the ground in agony.

Calanon stood over the fallen and groaning elf, the wizard's staff upright and softly glowing. "Regain-you your senses!" he commanded. "The-Immortals tell us that the-Mother created-She all races to be equal. Not-is-it a man's blood that makes him evil. It is a man's heart. Remember-you your place in this world." Calanon added, in human, "She has just as much right to justice and love as any child of the Mother."




It wasn't long until Calanon struck Rurigo. It was one of those few things that left Taura in awe. When the hand pulled away from her chest because Calanon's staff had surely knocked Rurigo aside. She saw the angered elf on the floor, yet he did not speak. Secilon did not seem to speak against Calanon either. Calanon spoke mostly in elvish, which made her feel alone in the sense that she had no idea what they were saying. But the last bit that he said in human comforted her greatly. Taura rose from the wall and stepped forward, quickly so. She did this until she was before Calanon, and looking at Secilon. She turned back to the savior elf- her companion- and leaned inward to him. She rested her head to his chest, wriggling her wrists trying to get them free. She finally tugged one loose pretty hastily and the other came free. When she pulled them to Calanon's sides, her wrists were red with rope burn. She wrapped her arms around Calanon and tried not to cry. These silly human emotions were all too weak, and frail even. She felt the soft tears rolling down her cheek, but they didn't last long. She wiped her eyes and took a long breath, stepping back and looking as Secil stepped inward and Rurigo stood. Rurigo now knew what respect was called for here.

"Take her. She is unsafe even here." Secil said quietly. "Forgive us, human, for we have done much wrong." He then said, turning to his son. From then, he began a true lecture of angry elvish words, the son obviously in shame of his father's verbal lashings. She stepped outside, and just before she left, Secil stopped and handed her a pouch.

"I brought back berries, grains, and nuts from Galen. They are dried, and last long time, as well as taste good. Enjoy. And goodbye."

Calanon and Taura stepped out of the house and she had picked up her sword, sliding it back into her sheath. Once the front door of Secilon's home shut and they were just at the small narrow street, she turned to Calanon, eyes slightly red, cheek a tiny bit swollen.

"I'm so sorry Calanon. It was not right of me, I should've tried harder to stay with you... I'm sorry, please... Please forgive me." She bowed her head and waited for the acceptance of her apology from her companion- who, if had not shown up, may've found himself with a well-beaten Taura, instead of her now with only the swollen red cheek to show for wounds.




Calanon comforted Taura as they walked back through the narrow street. "There's nothing to be sorry about," he said, hugging her shoulders from the side. "It wasn't your fault." Then he lightened his tone. "Come on, let's get through this place." It was probably not a good time to take in the sights of Galen.

Calanon found the pantor where he'd left it. Taura offered to take the reins as they walked. Instead of going back toward the crowds near the Council House, however, the two went back down the dim street, skirting the wide courtyard to avoid the masses. The street led to another, brighter road, and the paths led thus onward as Calanon and Taura made their way across the city. It was better than trying to wade through the crowds, but that was not to say it was a favorable situation. It would already have taken most of the day to cross Galen along the arterial paths; now, taking the back roads, Calanon figured it would be well into night before they neared the city's edge.

At least there was somebody to talk to. As an elf, Calanon was unimpressed at the back-roads scenery, so he was much more interested in contemplation or conversation. Calanon started a couple of topics, but Taura was at first a little more interested in taking in her surroundings. Glad she was enjoying herself, and unwilling to impose, Calanon fell to contemplating their next move. Galen was the last settlement for quite a distance along their road; they would need to stock up on supplies. After a while of walking, Taura had grown more used to the sights, so the two of them began to enjoy pleasant conversation--mostly about the surroundings, Calanon explaining things left and right.

By mid-afternoon, they had gone quite a distance, though they still had a long way to go. Searching for a new topic to keep them entertained, Calanon recalled the way he'd so easily located Taura when she had been in Secilon's house. "But the instinct was only there when I was thinking about something else," Calanon was saying. It hadn't yet occurred to him that the instinct might have originated from the gold chain he'd received from Taura. "I'm not sure what it was, but I'm very glad I got to you when I did. I don't think Secilon would have let Rurigo continue, but still," he gave a small smile, "if the search had taken longer, it would have been dreadful for both of us."




They walked for a good while. As they went, she had realized that they weren't going through Galen anymore. It was almost as if they were going around Galen. The outskirts were beautiful though, the smaller roads of crowded homes and towering trees that broke off into rich forests. She was in awe...

They went onward for a good while, and the two had sparked up conversation several times, mostly about the environment, and Galen itself. It was about half-way through the afternoon when Calanon brought up something else.
He told her about the instinct to find her. When she needed him; how he was drawn to her, but only when he wasn't thinking of her.

Taura smiled quietly to herself. She brought her free hand up, and wrapped it around the inside of his arm, holding on to him. She stared outward at the city and smiled a bit more.

"I'm glad you got there too... I know that the two elves may've been nicer to me had I held my tongue. Rurigo was stuck on rude though. He continued to ask me the same questions until I finally gave him an answer that... well." She winced, remembering the hard slap. "It doesn't matter now though. I believe I'm safe again. We just have to put big elven crowds down on a list of things to stay out of." She shook her head.

"If I have not told you Calanon, I will tell you now. I attract danger in its purest form. I hope you do not think me too troublesome for your watch."

She continued for a bit and released Calanon, rubbing her cheek. It ached and throbbed, but she tried to overcome the pain. It was not as swollen as before...

Taura watched the sun lean towards the horizon, and spoke once more.

"Calanon, has anyone ever saved you before?" She then questioned quietly, turning her smooth pale violet eyes up to him.




Taura still thought herself a burden--or so it seemed to Calanon. Although, at least there was an explanation. Calanon wondered just how long she'd been attracting danger so. It only proved further how special she must be. She was someone to be protected; she was something precious that had to be preserved from harm. The wizard was coming to the conclusion that she was unique. He didn't know how, but there was little other explanation: she was not elf, Immortal, wizard, or even human--of that he was becoming more and more certain. That alone would be reason enough to keep her safe, even if he hadn't already sworn he would. If that wasn't enough, Calanon also believed that having someone like her to protect was his key to Walking the Path. No, Taura would never be too troublesome for his watch.

"Calanon, has anyone ever saved you before?" Taura then asked, her pale violet eyes searching up toward his as they walked. No human could have such deep, beautiful eyes....

Calanon looked away, taking a moment to ponder the question. "The Mother saved me," he said, nodding slowly to himself several times. There was an odd look on his face: relief... love... inspiration... gratitude. "I was not always worthy to become a wizard.... Before I had the Mother's love in my heart, I would never have passed the Trials put to me by Ëulos."




Taura listened to him speak about how the Mother had saved him. She remembered how she scolded him the day before. Told him that he did not know Mother. She felt wronged now, listening to his words. He knew her love, and that was important. She felt a greater respect for a man who loved Mother. But no one could love Mother as she; for Mother was not just her creator, but her founder, caretaker, and birthing entity. Her Mother was her teacher, her healer, her power. And now she had to return to her. It was the mission of this journey. To gain immortality, destroy Avaltha, and return to Mother's open graces. Taura stared ahead, nodding quietly as her thoughts seemed to drift...

The day had slipped onwards, towards the night. They had walked a good ways; spoken about elven cultures and carpenter worms. They talked about his magic, about the power of water. About Mother even, though the subject was short and sweet; not availing too much about Mother from Taura's viewpoint.

In view now was the Erosa Inn, a gracious and subtle little place on the far outskirts. It rose a few stories in a patch of thick forest. It was nestled in a meadow, built over a small clearwater pond that served as a place for residents to enjoy their extra time. The female elf behind the desk greeted Calanon like usual and gave them a room on the third floor, on an extensive canopy branch system. This room had a window of sorts that overlooked just by the canopy, staring out over the land. Some trees obstructed the view, but it seemed that it was good enough nonetheless. The room given had one bed and two tables, one for dining and another as a nightstand. It had several candles about, and seemed quite serene for the edge of such a big city.

She watched the elven lady return with a long slender stick with fire at its end, lighting the candles and wishing them a goodnight. Taura slid her belt and blade into the corner when she left, then removing her robe and folding it over a chair. She slid off her boots and the small top shirt, leaving the body wrap beneath and the breeches to be left. Taura sat on the edge of the bed and leaned back, resting with her arms sprawled out. She stared up at the ceiling; at the several branches and wooden stilts that crossed it to hold it up. Taura blinked, and looked then at Calanon; his smooth skin dancing with shadows caused by the flickering candle flames.

"This place is nice, don't you think so?" Taura said calmly, leaning up. She then had an idea, grinning quietly as she thought of something.

"Hey- it didn't seem as though too many other elves are here. Perhaps the pond is empty. Shall we go see? I'd like to go for a swim..." She said, rubbing her wrist as she pondered the idea.




Calanon hadn't thought of that. He couldn't say about swimming, but nevertheless it would be a good idea to go down to the pond for a bit. Calanon nodded decisively. "It will be refreshing after all that travel," he said, "and anyway I really should wash my robes while I have the chance." He smiled. "Come on."

Down the winding stairs they went, all the way to the ground level where they exited out toward the pond. Without even removing his shoes, Calanon just walked straight into the water until its surface came up to past his waist. When Taura questioned, Calanon only turned and grinned. If she had expected him to have to wash his robes the mundane way, she had been mistaken. Calanon turned back and walked deeper, until he stood chin-deep in the pond.

The wizard muttered an invocation to do his work for him. Wizards had to stay clean, after all. "I call upon the power of Ëulos. Come, Cleansing Waters." Calanon moved his staff repeatedly from one side to the other in a single direction as the energy charged. "Purging Vortex." Within moments, Calanon was in the center of a miniature maelstrom. Enchanted elemental water replaced the natural form from the pond that had soaked into his clothing, expelling particles of soil and leaving it perfectly clean.

As the spell died down, Calanon turned and walked back out of the water. He was still wet, but not from ordinary water. This was its true elemental form. Thus, when Calanon moved the head of his staff about himself, the water responded, morphing into that same liquid blue light and floating into the blue maiárdite stone. When he was finished, he was completely dry.

[Kalon Ordona II]

They went down to the pond, and Calanon walked right on in. She smiled questioningly at him, and shook her head. He did a spell of sorts, and it was a thing to be in awe of. She didn't know that elves or anything below her own race and the Elementals could wield such power. She had seen his spells before, but this one was just more pleasing to the eye. She wished she could do her own magic trick, but she was weak. She needed the Immortal Touch before her own magic began to really come back to her. Just the thought had her excited.

What would she regain from her first Touch?

She watched him step out of the water and took off her robe. She then slid off her boots and stockings, and then her outer top. She stepped into the water and walked in until she was waist-deep. The water was cool; it felt great. She laid back, letting her legs lift up and her body suspend, the water against her cheeks and in her hair, all over her body as she floated. She stared up at the open top of the area, branches coming over, but pulled and tied so that a view of the night sky could be seen just ahead.

Taura then turned to Calanon, her feet pressing to the bottom of the pond. She twisted her hand and splashed towards the elf, laughing.

"Well? Are you going to just stand there? You are a water wizard; I hope you do not plan on sitting out. Come in, the water's fine." She chuckled, her bare arms stroking through the water as she pushed back and swam shortly into the center of the pond.




The air was cooling as night pressed in, but it was not yet cold and would not be until much closer to morning. As Calanon came out of the pond, Taura was re-removing the outer garments she had hastily put on to come down from their room. Wading into the pond, the ripples of her movement spread across the stilled water. Taura had been right: no one else was about. After floating suspended in the water for a few moments, Taura let herself down to stand on the bottom of the pond. She seemed to have just noticed that Calanon was not, in fact, coming back into the water after drying off.

"Well?" she smiled, "are you going to just stand there? You are a water wizard; I hope you do not plan on sitting out. Come in, the water's fine." Without waiting for an answer, Taura struck out for the center of the pond, her bare arms stroking gently through the clear water. Calanon watched her go, hesitating to answer her question.

"I can't swim," he finally admitted, far too softly for Taura to have heard. When Taura reached the middle and turned around, and finding him still standing on the bank she adopted a puzzled expression. Calanon looked around and back toward the inn, hoping no one overheard. He cleared his throat and raised his voice a little. "Um, I can't swim."




She turned, and Calanon was still not in the water. She raised an eyebrow as he said something, but far too softly for her to hear. She began to swim back towards the shore, until she could rest her feet against the ground and the water was at her waist. She pushed the wet black hair back, letting it be flat against her. Water dripped from her skin and lips, and hung in tiny droplets to her long eyelashes. Taura tilted her head and waved him towards her.

"Come on Calanon. Do you really think I would let you drown? Come in. You'll be fine. I promise- I won't let anything happen to you. If I can do anything right, it's swim." She chuckled, moving towards the shore. The more her body rose from the water, the more her shape was availed. The clothes clung to her form, wet and heavy. Every curve and muscle was there to be seen, only hidden by the veil of wet cloth. She reached her hand out to him once she was on the small shore again, and smiled.

"Come on. I won't let go." She smiled gently, taking his hand and seeing if he would move into the water with her.




Taura swam back to the shore. Calanon wasn't sure whether she'd heard him the second time or not. As she waded out of the pool, her already tight clothes clung to her body like a second skin. Calanon wondered--consciously--if she was cold. And then Taura was trying to convince him to join her in the water, taking hold of his hand and pulling it toward the pond. The water wizard stood firm on the earthy ground.

"I can't swim, Taura," Calanon repeated, in case she hadn't heard him. He also had to force himself to look at her face; he'd forgotten what often happens when females go swimming. Clothing shouldn't be allowed to do that. "Besides, even if I could swim, I wouldn't be able to in these robes." He gently resisted her pull on his hand.




Taura watched him, pulled his hand gingerly, but to no avail. She turned to see that he had not moved an inch. He was still as could be, the look on his face of rejection to water. How could a water wizard be afraid to swim? That was pure irony. She stared up at him, poking out her lip thoughtfully. Taura then let go of his hand.

"Well... Can't you do that magic thing and dry off if you get wet? Or..." she thought of how his robes would react in water. "Oh- I see." She shook her head. "We're going to get you something you can swim in one day, I want you to swim with me. Before I go home, promise it." She said, stepping back. Taura shrugged and moved back into the water, staring up at the sky. She was waist-deep, and facing away from him.

She placed her hands flat against the top of the barely rippling water and smiled at the moon as it rose overhead.

"I miss my home... One day, Calanon, I will take you there. And you will love it. It is the most beautiful home of all..."




Calanon managed to make a pair of terse nods by way of a promise. Taura released his hand and waded back into the water, letting her fingers drag and her palms float. She looked up to the night sky. Framed by the silhouettes of the large trees, the sky was both the stage and curtain for the emerging stars, the bright points of light twinkling like a dust of diamonds. Elves, and especially wizards, felt a special, unexplained affinity for the stars.

"I miss my home..." came Taura's soft voice. "One day, Calanon, I will take you there. And you will love it. It is the most beautiful home of all..."

Calanon looked from the sky to Taura. Every once in a while she said things with such depth.... Calanon wanted to ask her where her home was, wanted to ask her what she really was. He knew now was not the time, however. He would find out soon enough anyway, when they reached Aelos. Still, the way she spoke enchanted him. Her home.... "I'd like that," he told the back of her head, the elf smiling softly in the shadows.




She stayed in the water about twenty or thirty minutes, staring up at the beautiful and enchanting sky. It was so gorgeous, and she could only think of Mother when seeing such beauty. Was Mother watching her? She hoped so. She needed to cling to that piece of hope, that sliver of faith, with everything she had. She had to finish this journey, she had to do it with holy intention. But regardless... Taura waded out of the water and with Calanon at her side moved back up to the room. She requested some time alone; and that was to change out of her wet clothes. She put on the outer top over her bare chest and wrapped the robe tight around her body, curling down into the bed so that when Calanon reentered, she was easily and thoroughly covered. And she called Calanon back into the room, and she went to sleep...


The morning came softly, and she rose from the bed. She blinked away those first sharp rays of bright light, and then stretched. Her hair had dried, and was softer now- with several crinkling little waves where she had fallen asleep on it wet. She slid her legs out from beneath the sheets and stood up, stretching and holding the robe closed; though her long legs could be seen, and her neck tapered into the smooth sight of her chest- before the robe hid that too.

Taura smiled, knowing Calanon was probably already awake from the sound of her waking.

"Good morning." She said. "How did you sleep?" Taura said, turning and facing the open space and curtain that was the window, overlooking the forest beyond Galen.




"An interesting question to ask an elf. I have often wondered what true sleep would be like...." Calanon mused. After Taura had gone to bed--and before Calanon had gone to stand in a corner to rest--the elf had laid out Taura's wet clothes to dry. Now morning, he collected them from the window and brought them over to the bed. "I know both elves and humans dream," Calanon went on, "but to be fully unconscious while your mind journeys must be quite a difference. Anyway, I'll wait just outside the door. They will have breakfast for us, I think."

Sure enough, when Calanon and Taura came down the stairs, they were cheerfully directed to an outdoor dining area. There were tables and chairs on different levels, from comfortable hollows dug into the ground to platforms built onto the side of large trees. There were several arrays of fruits and vegetables and several simple elven dishes ready for early risers to partake of them. The gentle light of early morning and its accompanying crisp air greeted them.

"I've already taken care of supplies," said Calanon. The pantor's saddlebags were quite filled the previous night with food and other useful odds and ends. "As soon as we're done eating we can be off." That said, Calanon walked Taura toward the food and began selecting things for himself to eat.

[Kalon Ordona II]

Taura had clothed herself, and followed him downstairs, thinking of what he had said. He sleep standing up, what if he slept laying down? Did he sleep alone like that always? If he slept nearer someone, would he be more likely to sleep deeper, or lighter? She pondered endlessly at silly little things until finally she had gone outside. The sun was on the edge of the world, crawling up the blue sky. They took seat along one of the tree areas, along a thick branch with a broad spread and table upon it. It was nearby, and the food was near the spot she had chosen. She took a cloth and collected a couple fruits and nuts, and moved to the table. She sat down and ate slowly, enjoying it- though there wasn't much she'd chosen to eat. She finished rather quickly and the two moved on, to the pantor awaiting them.

She sat behind Calanon and put her hands at his side, staring forward.

"I would like to know how much further we may have before we reach the Elemental." She finally said, as they began to move onward.




"Four or five days, by my reckoning. Our road turns south to follow the coast. Once we cross the river Elduin, I believe there is a small cove town a short distance to the southeast. From there it's south through dense forest, all the way to the southern tip of Ellóredan. There's a port city there below the Cliffs, and we'll probably be two days at sea before we arrive at Daenari, or more precisely at the opposite port of Alagos. After that, as I said, Aelos's mountain is just over a day away from the coast."

Galen gradually disappeared behind them as Calanon talked. Later on their road, the midday sun beautifully painted the surface of the sea to their left. The crossing of Elduin was much like that of Arnen, except this time Calanon and Taura got a chance to view the rushing river by the radiant light of day. The two ate their midday meal, just across the bridge, watching the moving water as it made its way into the cove. By the time they reached Falas, the small fishing town on the cove, the sun was setting behind the western horizon.

Falas, however, was not a town for humans. Though their buildings were arguably more human-like, in that they were not nestled among trees, the elves there had an even greater dislike of the fish-killing race. They saw humans as greedy profit-mongers who fished the seas as if they owned everything in the water. What was more, Calanon's status as a wizard earned him little respect. Wizards were seen as proud and incapable of honest work. Consequently, Calanon and Taura kept on the edge of the place, venturing in only as far as necessary to find a place to stay the night indoors. Taking their rest early, Calanon and Taura awoke long before dawn. They would need every hour of daylight to get through the long stretch of dense forest ahead.




The day stretched before them, riding the pantor out and through. The long journey seemed to drag Taura's spirit down. How many days would it take to reach full immortality once more? Weeks? Months? Her mind wandered for what felt like the entire day. Finally, they reached a small place called Falas. They stuck to the edge, and Taura was undeniably afraid of being threatened by the elves once more. But they found a small place and took shelter for the night, laying their heads to rest before the sun had been down for more than an hour or so. They slept deeply, and woke early...

The morning was cool, and it was very early. They mounted the pantor and set off again, leaving the place. By the time they had reached the thick forests beyond, the sun had begun to rise. But it didn't reach this place. The forest was composed of many many trees, filling the place. There were no leaves in the actual forest; instead, the canopy contained all the leaves, creating a thick blanket overhead that blocked out the sun. It was semi-dark, with slivers of sunlight occasionally breaking inward. A bad feeling was in Taura's stomach now.

She looked about, her hands resting on Calanon's side. They had traveled a good bit into this forest, the pantor moving slowly to avoid tripping on the availed roots and animal burrows in the earth. She felt an eerie hunch, like she knew something bad were nearing. The hair on the back of her neck stood on end, and she shuddered, clutching closer to Calanon.

"I'm cold..." She whispered, looking about again. Another good set of minutes passed, possibly even an hour, before she saw something. A dashing shadow in the distance, hunched and leathery. She thought it was a goblin almost immediately, and clutched at Calanon tighter. They journeyed on, and she didn't speak of it. Until the few minutes passed, and she saw another shadow in the distance, in the trees to her right instead of her left this time.

"Calanon..." She whispered almost fearfully, leaning into his figure so that her lips were just barely at his ear. When next she spoke, her voice leapt through the air and into his mind, though her lips moved and the air of those silent clear-ringing words brushed against his neck.

"We are not alone here."




Calanon at first had not been much worried when Taura adopted an uneasy manner. Yes this long stretch of forest was dark and it did have its dangers, but people traveled this road back and forth often. When, however, Taura suddenly clutched him tighter, shuddering as if from a flush of cold, Calanon put himself on alert. One did not ignore such persistent feelings. Far better to be thought overly cautious than to be caught dead in a deep forest for lack of prudence.

They journeyed on in silence for several minutes. Calanon kept his eyes constantly roving the dim scene before him as they rode onward. There! a shadow moved somewhere in the trees ahead of them. "Calanon..." Taura whispered, close now to fear. Calanon felt her lean forward against him, craning her neck to whisper something in his ear. He could feel her warm breath as she opened her mouth to speak, but the sound from her voice seemed somehow to bypass his ears, leaping straight into his skull. "We are not alone here."

"I call upon the power of Ëulos," whispered Calanon. "Waters of War, arise...!" This spell would not require much force; the wizard allowed only a moment for the energy to build. "Cycle of Clarity." The spell amplified the elf's physical and mental awareness by increasing the efficiency of his physical functions. The wizard felt time slow ever so slightly; his hearing became even more refined; his senses tingled with heightened perception; his vision penetrated a little further into the shadows. Suddenly revealed was a pair of white eyes that lurked in the distant darkness, sparking waves of foreboding and dread. The eyes were grinning.




She watched him cast a magic spell of the water. How far this water magic went was always entrancing to Taura, but she did not delve into wonder over it. Not this time. She had that gut feeling that something horrible was about them. Those shadows were goblins, right? No. Because goblins would've coursed into their path, and faced battle there and then. They would not run forward. Goblins were mindless creatures who thought ever-so-simply, and lived off of emotions such as greed, hate, and lust. These shadows danced, imitations of things she had seen before. The two, Calanon and Taura, were being lured somewhere.

But by the time she realized this, it was too late. In the distance, she saw a great sweep of black. When it was gone, there was a meadow. The path opened up into a somewhat large expanse of blank space, probably where travelers would take rest, before it dipped into more forest. But the place was not well. The grass was missing in some places, the earth uprooted and scattered about. Stones that marked the path where strewn about recklessly; and the land bore the mark of thick talons. Taura clutched Calanon's jacket when she heard the whoosh of something high over the treetops. A dark shadow loomed near, and disappeared again.

"Calanon... Calanon..." She felt a twinge of pain in her head. Darkness was near. It was a dragon of Avaltha; she knew. Whether it be a wyrm or wyvern, she was unsure. Maybe it was a Black Dragon, as Avaltha favored those most for random placement to torture the peoples of this world. Taura gripped his robe and leaned to his ear, her eyes searching in panic.

"We need to go back, something dangerous lies ahead. If ever we must flee, now is the time-" She was halted as a pitched shrieking roar filled the air. It was the cry of a Black Dragon. The hair on the back of Taura's neck stood on end as suddenly the forest seemed to crumble under the sweeping fist of a dragon above. Claws ripped through the canopy and gripped at the tree trunks, scraping them up and sending wooden splinters in all directions. Taura screamed, gripping tight to Calanon and pointing forward. "We are unsafe!" She rose her finger to the sky; to the hole in the forest canopy. Above them was a burly black dragon, wings spread and beating. It bore white eyes, empty and hollow, evil and wicked. It had scales of oily black that reflected the sun's dim light as clouds gathered gray in the sky. It had claws of rich polished obsidian, and wanted nothing more than battle and blood. It swept its hand back down again, and Calanon and Taura moved away from the spot of attack. They took to the meadow. Taura dismounted the pantor and drew her sword, knowing that a dragon was a truly hard feat.

She watched the dragon swoop down and land in the center of the meadow, and roar again. She was unsure of how to go about it. It raked one hand into the earth, then another. Its jaw parted and between its fangs grew an orb of darkness. It lapped forth like black flames, but remained in its mouth. Suddenly, the orb shrank, and shot forward towards Calanon.

"No!" Darkness was going to devour Calanon, destroy him quite possibly. Darkness was a very powerful element, on the very bottom of the scale instead of in the middle like earth-bound elements. Darkness was born in a whole other realm, where the likes and laws of this one did not apply. The only thing that could defeat a dark attack was something that tipped the opposite of the scale. Light.

Taura stepped in front of Calanon and brought her fist over her heart. She closed her eyes and summoned all the magic her human body could muster at this point in time.

"Mother hear me: I need your Praise..." She whispered.

When Taura opened her eyes, they were as white as the beast's, yet they were brilliant. Encased by a rim of violet, with a pupil that seemed to haze into the white, then shrink until it was gone completely. She slung her fist towards the large dark orb that was flying towards them. Her fist opened, and a small burst of light shot forward and hit the dark orb. The sound that this created was like a gigantic hollow gong being struck. It was a baritone ringing, these two elements clashing, and yet it was a good counter. Both energies were destroyed right then in midair.

Taura's eyes returned to their sweet light lavender tone, and she gasped, feeling her body spur into a soft static pain from the mustering of such power. She touched her chest and closed her eyes, trying to block out the pain. She drew her blade and readied to continue fighting, not daring to look at Calanon after having exposed her magics...




It was a dragon, but it was black, a manifestation of evil. Calanon watched the dragon rise up, tearing at the canopy to roar down at them. The forest opened up as Calanon and Taura rode on in flight. It was a wide meadow bordered by the forest, but it bore signs of recent upheaval and violence that Calanon could only assume to have been caused by the dragon. When they were closer to the center of the meadow, Calanon pulled the pantor to a halt. Taura immediately dismounted, and Calanon followed suit, turning around to face the dragon.

The black beast flew over their heads and landed between them and the forest, blocking the southward path. Calanon didn't wait; he immideately began to invoke a spell. "I call upon the power of Ëulos!" he said with a loud voice. "Waters of the Deep, fall!" Too late he realized his mistake. This spell would require him to charge a huge amount of energy to be effective. While he was building that energy, the Dragon was attacking. "Oh no..."

"No!" cried Taura. Calanon's senses were being drowned out by the buildup of magical energy, so he could not hear what happened next... but he could see the black orb of the dragon's attack ready to strike him down. If he could time it right... perhaps he could leap out of the way just after releasing the spell, and hope it would be enough. Before he could execute his plan, though--indeed, just as the dragon's black orb was released--a ball of bright light collided with the dark attack. There was a cancellation as Light and Dark consumed one another. Calanon was saved, free to allow the energy to build further, enough to possibly incapacitate the dragon!

The dragon itself, however, was not so easily taken that he would sit and wait while Calanon's spell activated. The huge monster roared and came at the wizard. But too late. Calanon felt the energy reach a peak, a high-pitched singing in his ears. If he waited too long, the spell would fizzle, the energy expelled in the form of elemental water, wasted. Just a moment longer.... "GRAVITY WELL!!"

The dragon belched in shock as air was driven out of his lungs. It crumpled to the ground as if under a great weight, being slowly compressed from all sides. It was still alive, still dangerous; it would soon try to get up and renew its assault even under such pressing conditions. Calanon sank to a knee, needing to wait a moment to recuperate. If Taura could slay the dragon now.... Calanon looked around for her. She was there, her blade still drawn, ready to fight. "Find a weakpoint..." said the wizard, breathing heavily. "Strike it down; the spell won't last very long...."




When she drew her blade, Calanon cast out a powerful spell. It seemed to swallow up the dragon, possibly choking it and making it suffocate. The creature writhed, gasping and choking. It shuddered several times, in obvious pain. She heard Calanon say that the spell wasn't going to last long. So she obeyed him. She raced forward without hesitation.

The tail of the beast swept forward, and she leapt over it. Her free hand led her into a roll that brought her back to her feet as she drew her blade back. The beast lifted its head up to roar, as she struck the blade through its throat. The soft space between scales turned a dark violet with blood as she dug the blade hilt-deep into the beast. It cried out again, its eyes glowing as it looked down at Taura. She looked back up at it as she backed away, drawing her blade out. She moved back, as it swept an angry clawed hand at her. It began to die down, staring at her. Those eyes seemed to swirl, as the Black Dragon unleased a Psi attack. As a growl leapt from its chest, words danced through the air and into her and Calanon's mind, though they were meant for Taura.

Forsaken Child, you will lose...

A pain hit Taura's mind as she recalled Avaltha's face from her tattered memory. It hurt trying to recall things she knew existed, yet happened before her mortality. She fell to her knees as the dragon died down, holding her head in her hands and trying to focus. She gasped and looked up, the dragon's eyes now dull and empty, the lids falling shut over them as it died.

"A Dragon..." She shook her head. "Calanon, are you okay?" she said, looking back at him as she drew herself to a stand.




Calanon watched as Taura made her way to the black dragon's throat, dodging its flailing tail, its struggling limbs, its crumpled wings. As the beast lifted its head to roar, Taura plunged her blade deep into its throat. The roar turned to a choking, gasping rumble. As the dragon gurgled and bled its life away, however, Calanon was knocked onto his back as if from a physical blow. His mind echoed with the dragon's reverberating, impossibly loud words.

FORSAKEN CHILD, YOU WILL LOSE.!..!...!....!.....!......!

Calanon had dropped his staff and was writhing on the ground, clutching his skull. The sound seemed to last for hours. When it finally stopped, the lack of the sound hurt more. Calanon's entire body shook for several moments. In truth the sound had only lasted until the dragon died. Calanon's shaking died down gradually, and was almost gone when Taura approached. She knelt near him and put a hand on his shoulder. The elf felt the touch as a lifeline; it helped the silence grow peaceful, helped him forget the tremors that shook his head a moment ago. Calanon groaned, starting to feel better. "How ignorant of me... I should have imagined a dragon could do that if it so chose...."

All dragons could speak. Wyrms and wyverns, while they resembled dragons, were nothing more than beasts of varying intelligence. Dragons, on the other hand, were almost sentient. Calanon did not believe they were capable of moral choice, but they could certainly speak. Some could even communicate mind-to-mind. Calanon knew this, and yet it had never occurred to him that a dragon could attack with such a technique, and with such effectiveness.

Calanon found he was able to stand. "Are you all right?"

[Kalon Ordona II]

Taura saw him slowly coming to a stand, and held his arms, aiding him as she could. She tilted her head so that the tendrils of black hair would fall away from her eyes. She stared at him with concern, one hand rising to brush against his head. She took a moment to overlook him, to analyze his form to assure he had sustained no physical injury. When she was sure of it, she closed the space and wrapped her arms around him.

"Thank the Mother! I swear, you should truly be careful. I mean, so should I, but damn..." She shook her head. "I have never felt such fear before. It outweighed the fear of death...." Taura stepped back and looked at the large Dragon. She didn't want to look at it long. It reminded her of Avaltha, and Avaltha reminded her of too many things. Things that ached her mind to think of.

"This journey is going to be far more dangerous than I had first expected Calanon. I believe that our presence may already be known by Avaltha..." She gestured to the dragon, then turned back to him.

"Are you ready to continue? Or would you rather rest? I want to feel assured that you are okay Calanon..." Taura whispered, concern in her voice.




Avaltha... he'd heard that name before. When had he heard it...? Calanon remembered: it was when Taura had asked Brilig where Avaltha ruled. Under the Bloodstone Mountains, Brilig had said. Calanon wondered again who Avaltha was, and what she had to do with the dragons. And, again, he decided now was not the time to ask. She would have to tell him, sooner later. She would tell him, when she was ready.

"I'm all right," Calanon said, beginning to believe it. The trauma from the dragon's attack had been severe, while it lasted. Now that it was gone, Calanon felt his mind rejecting the memory, shielding him from its horrors. Though, he still remembered the words. Forsaken Child, you will lose. What could that mean? And how could Calanon be a Forsaken Child? His parents had not abandoned him.

Calanon pondered this as they made their way to the pantor. Neither of them were aware that the creature had bolted when the dragon attacked, and the pantor had in fact returned to the same spot in which they had left him. "Come on," said the wizard. "We should still get through this forest before dark, if we can."




Taura moved with him towards the pantor and mounted it after him, putting her hands back at his sides. They moved quickly away, into the evening forest. She rested her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes, thinking. She couldn't dare sleep after the encounter. But instead, she let her thoughts dwindle on different things that had happened. If another dragon showed up, what would Calanon say? What if Avaltha herself stepped into their path, knowing well that mortal Taura could not fight her. She shook her head, raising it as the sun drifted towards the horizon just slightly.

A couple of hours passed and they had made it some good distance. Taura raised her head and rubbed at her temples with one hand. With the other laid upon Calanon's shoulder, she sighed.

"Calanon." She whispered. "Please." She continued, her fingers trailing back over his shoulder. "Please promise that you won't leave me on this journey... I want you to promise me again... Without you, I would've died already. Probably more than once..."

She rested her hands on her legs and stared down at robe of Calanon before her. What if he broke his promise? What if she told him who she was, and he left her? She felt worry building up. And then she remembered a feeling... The feeling that was fearful; greater than the fear of death. It was the fear of Calanon being hurt...

This world was so confusing.




Calanon and Taura had ridden on through the forest without further incident. The sun took its normal course through the sky, sending orange beams through the trees on their left. The contemplative silence had stretched between them for a few hours. Finally Taura spoke up, still troubled. "Calanon," she whispered. "Please." Calanon could feel her hand stroking, almost pleadingly, his shoulder. "Please promise that you won't leave me on this journey... I want you to promise me again... Without you, I would've died already. Probably more than once..."

That was certainly true, Calanon thought. However, Calanon already owed Taura much, even before she had helped him slay the dragon. As for the dragon itself, having seen such a thing attempt to destroy them, Calanon no longer had any doubts about Taura. The dragon could not have been coming for the wizard alone. Like the goblins, that black entity had been a perversion of a true creature; though of flesh and blood, it had been a mere shadow of true dragons. It was evil. Since it had to have come for Taura as well as for him, Calanon could conclude nothing but that Taura's aims--even the quest for immortality--were on the side of right. Calanon would not let her down. "I swear to you, Taura, by the Mother, I will not abandon you on your journey."




He gave her his word, swearing unto it. She had faith that Calanon would not leave, but she wanted to feel assured. She missed the feeling of assurance in word; but humanity had made her wary of the beings around her. Even an elf could not be trusted; a lesson she had learned not too long ago. She trusted Calanon though. She wrapped her arms around his waist, letting them rest at his stomach. She leaned into him and rested her head on his back, and closed her eyes. The sun was beginning to go down...

The traveled out of the forest, making it onto a stretch of plains. It was nice to see the land. It would've normally been green, but it was blue here. With the moon's pale glow cast down, everything was alight yet dim, and beautiful. Even Calanon looked strangely beyond his usual glow. He looked almost like a true Immortal, like a Son of the Mother; had there ever been one before.

Taura raised her eyes from him and looked up to the sky, her hands moving to rest on his sides.

"My mother once told me," she began, very softly, "a long time ago, a story about how humans had come to be. She said she wanted to see. She wanted to know what would happen if she gave people the burden of knowing they would die. But it wasn't about cursing them. She said that it was about giving them a life worth living. She told me that if they knew that death was inevitable, then maybe their lives would be more meaningful, and life would be more beautiful. And so she gave life to an elf, long before when elves were still just born. And this elf had a lack of features. The luster of his immortality was no longer there. Instead, she had made from half this elf, and half her magic, a man. He was not as beautiful as the elves, but he was meant to be more beautiful inside. At first, man was her favored creation... But as time went by, man disappointed her... But then again, all of her creations have, sooner or later..." She stopped and returned to rest her head on his shoulder.

"I miss her... I miss her so much Calanon..." She whispered, staring up to the horizon. "I know this journey is going to be long, but it will be worth it if I succeed...."




No sooner had Calanon's doubts about Taura been assuaged, than more sprung up in their place. Calanon rode onward in silence, shocked, disturbed and speechless. What was she saying? That the Mother was her mother?! Such a declaration was tantamount to blasphemy! Was she playing with him? Was she mad? How could she be a child of the Mother in a literal sense? Was she some immortal's ward, taught to commune with the Mother? Was there a "Father" somewhere that no one in the world knew about, locked away for the sole purpose of producing goddess-children? How was it possible for one to so calmly lay claim to divinity!?

This last question claimed prominence in the elf's mind for several troubled minutes. In that time, he was able to come to no conclusion other than that Taura was sincere. Either she was indeed mad... or she had been deceived... or else, somehow, she was telling the truth. Calanon couldn't bear to think of the damage he might do were he to assume one way or the other. If she was false, her soul might be at stake. If she was true, what did that mean for him? O beloved Mother, Calanon earnestly prayed, grant me your wisdom! Teach me what to say that I might bring my dear friend Taura back into your love. Or else, if she speaks truly... please... send me a sign....




Taura held onto him softly, as they rode further for a few more minutes. She rested her head against his back, clung to him gently almost the way a child wood. She slowly drew her head up after those few minutes had passed, letting a sigh roll over the back of his neck as she turned away. Her eyes rested on the hills in the distance, on everything far away from here.

"This is why I asked for your promise." Taura began quietly. Her lips then moved for a second statement, but her words were heard crystal clear in his mind. "Because everyone I try to trust responds with fear in this world." She whispered. Taura drew her hands back over his sides, and pushed them over his back. She laid them on his shoulders for a moment. "If you would prefer to Walk the Path alone now, I would understand. If you would rather continue with me, I would be grateful." Taura slid her arms down over his shoulders, her fingers crossing his chest as she relaxed and rested her head near his shoulder.

"Explanation is something I am not... as able to do these days Calanon. Memories are so... frail."




Even though Calanon's prayer had been silent, Taura still managed to speak as if she had heard his thoughts. Or perhaps Calanon was just afraid. His long silence must have been harsh. He berated himself for it, though he knew speaking would have been worse. What was he supposed to do? He did not feel any wiser; no sign seemed to be forthcoming.

"Taura..." he hesitated. He didn't want her to think his silence meant rejection, but neither did he want to say something that would drive her away. He still wanted, needed, to see her through her trial. "I... do not yet know what to think. I am not the strongest or the wisest. But, please, believe in me enough to trust my word. I want to protect you, Taura. Just... please, just tell me the truth. I have to hear you say it. What are you...? Who are you truly?"




Taura blushed lightly, taking her hands and letting them slip away from him. Would he laugh at her? Would he jest at how insane she must be? Oh the sinner, no mortal could be so selfish and yet dim! Would he stay with her this journey, but mock her and use her for power and prowess amongst his people- no. Calanon was not like that. She shuddered quietly and leaned close again. She slid her hands around his sides and her left arm reached forward. Her fingers trailed down his arm until she had his hand, moving it from the reigns of the pantor. She shifted closer to him, and held her hand out before him, her arm out. Her fingers parted as her hand opened, palm upwards. In it, began to grow a tiny flicker. It was a wisp of yellow, somewhat eloquent in appearance. It stirred, into a brightness, that slowly formed into an orb of gorgeous white light that seemed to glow more powerfully than any fire of equal, or slightly greater, size.

"Once upon a time, two beings were born. One of Love, and another afterward of Anger and Sorrow. They were the Mother, and the Mistress. The Mother created the land, the water, and the air. The Mistress created the shadow, the monsters, and the dark magic. Mother created elf, and Mistress created Goblin. On so forth they went, until finally, Mother found herself lonely. Though she had created many creatures upon the planet, she had not created one who could be loved independently by her, and who could return said love. She wanted a daughter... Calanon, I am that daughter... My name used to be Aura, and I am, or was, the Daughter of Light; direct descendant of the Holy Mother." She stopped. "But all that needs to be known now is that I lost my immortality, and I need it back."

She balled her fingers inward, covering the light and snuffing it like a stagnant candle flame. Taura placed her hand against his stomach, and her cheek against his back. And she closed her eyes.

"Your aid, Calanon, is of an importance greater than the both of us." She whispered. "I need you."




Calanon waited as Taura reached over and opened his hand, moving hers over it. Gradually a warm yellow light came to life between their palms. It grew and brightened until one might have thought Taura had plucked a star from the sky. Taura kept her hand there, keeping the star alive. She took a shallow breath and began her story.

She spoke of the Mother, of the time before time when she first came into being. She told of the Mistress, the Shadow to the Mother's Light. She explained how, after all was made, the Mother longed for a greater love, and so she bore a daughter. Taura claimed to be Aura, Daughter of Light, the very progeny of the Mother. Somehow Taura... Aura... had lost her immortality and become the way she was now: mortal, diminished, lost. Calanon listened intently, hanging on every word.

Calanon could not make himself believe Taura was lying, and he rejected as ludicrous the notion that she had lost her mind. She could not be one of the Immortals if she was mortal, and an Immortal would never claim to be a direct child of the Mother. She could not be dwarf, elf or human; the orb of light hovering in her palm bore witness to that. Calanon looked at it, glowing like a miniature sun. It reminded him of before, when she had compared her hand with his, of the tingling sensation he'd felt afterwards in his palm. He had to admit, her story fit everything he had ever experienced around her.

Taura brought back her hand, winking out the light. She settled once more onto his back as the pantor's gentle trot ate away the distance. "Your aid, Calanon, is of an importance greater than the both of us," she whispered. "I need you."
Calanon was silent for another long moment. "I believe you, Taura." As soon as he said it, he felt deeply relieved.

Neither had the courage yet to say another word. Many minutes later, they arrived at the Cliffs. Down a set of switchbacks, hard by the seashore, lay the port city Hallas. They would be there within an hour, and then at last they could rest this night away.

[Kalon Ordona II]

Taura closed her eyes when he told her that he believed her. It were like the great weight of her burden had been lifted completely. Ah, relief. Washing over her, pushing her worries away, and then pulling a new series of calming sensations over her. She let her fingers wrap around his sides, and sighed, her eyes growing wet, but drying quickly. A deep emotion struck her chest. She could trust Calanon; he was the first. The first man she could really depend on, and trust. He was surely blessed to be here. Mother must've made him for her, knowing that he would make Taura persist, and that he would bring Taura to a brighter hope beyond that of which she had already.

And she fell asleep...


One hour passed quickly in her darkness, and she woke to find Calanon ushering her gingerly from the pantor. She stepped off of the creature, standing at the edge of a small Inn that was built much like a human home, overlooking the sea. She stared out over the night-lit waters, and smiled, her legs feeling weak and her mind at ease. He returned once the pantor was led to a stable, and walked with her inside.

They were lead to a room on the first floor, overlooking the sea. There was a bed against the wall opposite of the window, and she took to it. Sitting on the edge, she removed her robe and outer shirt, and stared out. Into the sky, the moon- or what she could see of it. Her eyes then turned to Calanon, and she grinned quietly. She stood up and moved towards him, taking his hand and leading him to the window. She pointed out to the sky, and how the sea reflected it in broken slivers that shifted with every thin wave.

"Isn't it beautiful?" Taura whispered. She then turned to him and smiled, grinning the soft and subtle way she did when she was happy. "Calanon, I thank you. You are the greatest of men that Mother has created."

She then broke from his side and moved to the bed, sliding onto it and laying on her back. Her shape stuck out from the flat rectangle of dull brown and blue sheets and pillows. She closed her eyes and let her smile fade as she neared sleep.

"Goodnight Calanon..." She whispered, closing her eyes and waiting for the morning to come, and for Calanon to wake her in ready for their crossing to the island of the first Elemental.




Unlike the fishing town of Falas, the port city of Hallas was far less predjudiced against other races or against wizards. Calanon had no trouble at all securing an inn, and this time he paid for one with two separate beds. They would be on a ship for a while; Calanon wanted to rest comfortably. Elves could rest in any position, but Calanon had been using a bed for many years, ever since he built his house in the wilds between Ellóredan and Gondoa.

When they reached the room, Taura claimed the bed nearest the window. The other bed was situated behind the door, which at first made Calanon wonder if they had the right room. But no, when he closed the door, the bed was there, and the wizard was looking forward to sleeping on it. Taura removed hour outer robe and shirt and looked through the large window, out toward the sea. "Isn't it beautiful?" she said. The dim light from the window highlighted Taura's outline. Calanon could tell that, even in silhouette, Taura was smiling. "Calanon, I thank you. You are the greatest of men that Mother has created."

Calanon smiled back, even though she probably couldn't see his face either. Taura climbed into the bed. "Goodnight, Calanon."
"Goodnight," the elf replied.

---

Calanon rose before dawn and headed down to the docks to secure a ship. Memories flooded in as he breathed the salty morning air. At the docks, the wizard eventually found a ship that planned to depart later that morning, and he was pleased to learn that wizards were offered free passage.

Back at the inn, Calanon rested in the bed for a couple more hours. When dawn saturated the seascape with color, the elf rose and headed into the inn's kitchens to acquire breakfast. Rather than of inflicting upon themselves the constriction of conversing with one another in public, Calanon thought it would work better for Calanon and Taura to eat and talk inside the room, as opposed to out in the inn's common area. The wizard re-entered the room carrying a large tray laden with food. "Rise and shine," he half sang, chuckling to himself at the double meaning.




"Come." Said a wicked voice, parted from the lips of the Spawn of the Mistress. Avaltha, standing lean and powerful in skimpy leather wear with black tattoos marking up and down her body. She was holding a blade forward, the gleaming tip an oily black.

Aura, beautiful and glowing even through the pain, stood once more. She drew the glittering blade of her own accord, raising it. The clash appeared, striking hard, and roaring through the skies. Far above in the clouds, they fought. Suddenly, a blow struck Aura's stomach, propelling her down with such a force that she broke through the cloud's platform, and was propelled downward into the ground far below. The crash was so painful, so dangerous. But pain back then was unlike pain for mortals. It was a stinging of moral defeat, that was ignored in the heat of battle. Thus was why battles between two strong immortals was a true sight to be seen. Their blades clattered again, angry and powerful. Finally, Aura's blade was thrown from her grip.

She was felt by the kick, by the horror. Avaltha raised her blade over her head and lightning crashed into it, and she swung forward; a cleaving show of might...

"Rise and shine."

She opened her eyes with a shock of sorts, staring up to see Calanon with a tray of food. She smiled softly, and pulled herself from the memories. Every time she dreamed of that fight, it seemed to change. She wasn't sure how, but it was little details that seemed to shift. She had a bad feeling about it all, but she didn't think too much of it. She instead swung her legs over the edge of the bed and leaned up a bit, staring up at Calanon. She stood up and gestured towards the small two-person dining table intricately carved of a smooth cedar styled wood. She pulled out a chair and sat, smiling still since she had eliminated the dream from her thoughts. Taura watched the platter of food be set unto the table.

She reached forward and picked up a slice of fruit bread and took a bite, sighing quietly and looking back to Calanon.

"So, I do believe we haven't discussed this before, but how are we getting there? By boat? Is that safe?" She asked curiously, pointing towards the window and out to the sea.




"Oh yes, perfectly safe," said the elf. "Aspiring wizards are ferried back and forth all the time. Of course that's only a small part of the sea trade, catering to would-be wizards. The real livelihood of Hallas is the crystal mines, deep underwater. To answer your question, though: yes, we'll be going by boat. There's one that leaves in a couple of hours--I've already made the arrangements. This way, we have some time to talk."

Calanon sobered. He had so many questions for Taura to answer. His most significant concerns had to do with the revelation of Taura's true identity. Calanon didn't know how he was supposed to treat her, faced with that knowledge. Was she higher than the immortals? Did she deserve the kind of worship offered to the Mother herself? He felt detached from her, as if they could no longer be friends. Another thought occurred to him as well: If she was the Daughter of Light, how old must she be? He felt all his preconceived notions of her evaporating and leaving a void. He couldn't bring himself to spout all that now, though, so he approached the subject from a safer angle. "How is it that have I never before heard of the Daughter of Light?" he asked, genuinely puzzled. He wasn't doubting her, it was just that he wondered why the Mother would keep someone so precious all to herself. Perhaps, he thought, that in itself was the answer. Perhaps terrestrial races were not ready to know of such a one.

Calanon had another thought. "If there is a Daughter of Light, then is there a son or daughter of Shadow? Is there a procreation of the Mistress?"




When Calanon asked about how he had never heard of the Daughter, she felt a small flush on her cheeks. She tilted her head down and stared at the table for a moment, swallowing the quiet knot in her throat. Of course he had never heard of her, but the way he had put it hit her as though he doubted her. But she turned her lightly violet eyes up, and she saw that he did not express doubt, but curiosity. So she cleared her throat again and answered quietly.

"Because I was made for Mother by the Mother, and she kept me to herself. Yes, I have placed my rule upon this world before, instructing the light as Mother would bid me to, but I still preferred to go unheard of. I was not for man's eyes, or ears."

She then paused shortly to muster up a quiet, more stern answer for the question about a daughter of darkness. Taura nodded gently.

"Yes, there is. A daughter made by the Mistress, but she is not known by the title of Daughter. She is the Spawn, and in the world of high immortals, she is something of my sister. She is my sister, because of our proximity in 'births', as well as our similarities in purpose, and our twin-like opposition to each other. I am of Light, she is of Darkness. Avaltha, is her name. She is the one who made me mortal..." She took a long break from speaking, taking a round peach-like fruit and taking a bite from it. Silence ensued for a bit as she ate, thinking of that wretched immortal, and how everything existed.

"How long until the boat is ready?" She finally said, drawing her eyes back up to him.




Calanon felt a little better knowing what Taura's purpose was. She didn't seem so distant, now. Still, she had been an immortal. What would happen when she regained her immortality? Would their friendship end? Calanon still couldn't bring himself to ask such questions, so instead he answered hers. "At the morning tide, about two hours from now."

"Is there anything you'd like to do while we wait?" Calanon then asked. She didn't seem to want to keep talking here. The port city had many sights worth seeing, or, who knows, Taura might have something else in mind. Of course, then the elf remembered she had once existed on a higher plane. Did terrestrial activities hold any merit to her? Calanon wanted to stay cheerful for her, but it was difficult with all these heavy thoughts and questions weighing on his mind.

[Kalon Ordona II]

Calanon asked if there was anything to do to suffice them while they waited. Taura chuckled at the question, the sound of her voice softening greatly. She finished her fruit and stood from the table, pushing the chair in. She moved then across the room, sitting on the soft edge of the bed. For a moment, she thought about just talking, but then another idea came to her. A greater one. She stood up with an almost ecstatic nature, moving with haste for Calanon. She grasped his hand and drew him from his seat, pushing it in beneath him.

"I want to test something, our bond- er- the bond I gave you. The golden bond!" She gestured to the chain on his wrist. Taura reached up to him, releasing his hand. She put her hand over his eyes, her grin fading. "Close your eyes, and clear your mind. Don't focus on anything, especially not me. This works best when the mind is clear and void of any true thought. Now..." She stepped away from him.

Once his eyes were closed, it truly began. She moved through the room, to the window. She closed the drapes, the thick dark blue things shutting out the light save for one or two thin slivers. She moved behind him, and over to a corner of the room. And she moved her lips, but words did not echo forth into the room. Instead, they appeared within his mind, creating a hindrance to the challenge. He could not hear from what direction her voice came from, he could only hear her in his head.

"Find me. Let yourself be guided to me." She had thought. She balled her fist over her chest and focused as well, the light energy running through her veins yet not glowing beyond such. The room was dark still, and the only change was that she was trying to heighten her concentration to allow Calanon to find her with more ease. A true test of simplicity and of her golden chains and odd magics.




Calanon smiled and did as instructed, humming softly to himself to mask whatever sounds she made moving about in the room. When her words echoed in his mind, he knew she was ready for him to start looking. The wizard tried to clear his head, but he had little success. His mind wanted always to focus on something. An empty mind will always fill itself, so Calanon instead directed his thoughts elsewhere. He thought again of his staff. He focused his mind on it, on what he knew it looked like: the multi-faceted maiárdite stone, the four golden depictions of meiraketes, the swirling designs meant to indicate the element of Water, the way it glowed when--there! Calanon lifted an arm and pointed directly toward where Taura was standing.

"There," he said aloud. This of course brought his mind back to focusing on Taura, and the feeling of her location evaporated. Still, his arm kept the direction, and Calanon moved toward where it pointed. He kept his eyes closed. The room was small enough he could almost hear her repressed breathing. Perhaps they should take their game outside, where there was less chance of bumping into things--and more room for Taura to move about. Calanon felt the warmth of her head as he finished crossing the room. He touched her forehead playfully and smiled.




After a moment, he moved. She barely saw his motions, but the sliver of light peering in between the blinds helped aid her. His hand was held out, and he was pointing to her. She grinned widely; it was working well. She felt safer knowing this. Taura pushed her back to the wall as he gently touched her forehead. She chuckled and reached up, wrapping her fingers around his wrist and drawing his hand down to center between them. His skin was so warm, but so was hers. Taura nodded, and spoke softly.

"Okay, you did good. Open your eyes." She said. Though it was pitch black, the silhouette could be seen of her against the wall. She let go of his hand, her human body creating some strange reaction she wasn't used to. It felt like the blood-flow had been redirected to her cheeks. She cleared her throat and tilted her eyes downward.

"Would you like to try this elsewhere? It's pretty easy for you to point me out in a small room." She said. "Or would you like to just talk, or something... I'm sure you have many questions for me now, now that you know I am so very weird." She chuckled.




Calanon drew back the curtains, allowing the ambient light of day to reestablish its dominion of the room. "This bond indeed works marvels. I would never have found you so quickly back in Galen were it not for the gold chain." He was glad she was feeling better, more willing to talk. Perhaps he could again ask her the questions weighing on his heart. Calanon sat again on one of the chairs, saying by the act that he was more interested in talking.

"I know so little about you..." he began. "When we first met... I knew there was something higher, something special about you. Now that I know what it is..." he felt lost and ashamed. "I feel as if... I don't know how to say it..." he felt lost and ashamed, not good enough to help her, suddenly unworthy. "I still want to help you, but I feel the reason changing. I feel you drifting away, and I don't... I don't know... what to do...."




He moved to the window, parting the curtains and letting light flood inwards. The sun was rising slowly, glittering off the water. It was so glorious a sight, one Taura had never before seen. Calanon then moved to the chair, sitting down, his facial expression changing quickly, showing something different from what he usually portrayed. She began to worry instantly as he spoke. As soon as he began, she felt the weight form in her heart, weighing her down heavily. She winced, his words hitting her hard. She let him finish though, talking about how he wasn't sure of anything anymore. Wasn't sure of the correct motives, or the past motives, to aid her. He felt her drifting away...

Taura moved towards him, kneeling before him. She looked up at him, her violet eyes stirring in hope that he would not leave her. She reached forward, taking his hands in hers, and remaining silent for a moment. She racked her mind for an answer; for a solution that would cure all these mortal problems. But she found none.

"Please... Please stay with me Calanon. I need you, and I feel closer to you than any man upon this world. You are my greatest friend, my most powerful ally. My only hope Calanon. If you were to leave my side, I would leave my path. Because without you, I would not want to go it. If you were to chose another path, and it was to be walked without me, then I would give up this life. I would lose my hope. Calanon, you are my light, when my own is not strong enough to shine. Please, I don't want you to feel this way. I owe you so much Calanon, my life, thrice over. I owe you such praise that I cannot speak of it. Calanon, you are my Immortal, my God, my reigning angel sent by the Mother. Please do not feel any other way but well with me. For I feel no other way with you... Please do not leave me... Please do not feel unworthy..."




Though Calanon was disconcerted that she put so very much faith in him, his heart rose when she affirmed their friendship. There was still anxiety, however; for, after all, wasn't their friendship in danger of ending eventually? "What about when you regain your immortality? What happens then? You'll go back to the Mother.... Will I ever see you again?"

Calanon knew their journey had only just begun, but he couldn't help it. He couldn't stand to wonder the entire time what would happen at the end of the journey. That was all he had sworn, to stay by her side until they accomplished her quest. He now realized he didn't want it to end there, and yet it seemed as if there was no other choice. He didn't know why, but... he loathed the thought that he might someday be separated from her. He'd never had such a strong friendship with anyone in his life, even though he had many friends. Calanon thought now that it must be because she was the Daughter of Light, but that didn't change his desire to continue their friendship. He wanted to learn more about her. He wanted their friendship to grow. If she was eventually going to leave forever... he didn't know what would happen, how then he should act toward her.




He spoke then, and voiced concerns that foretold confusion and emotional turmoil. Taura squeezed his hands softly, and tilted her hand downwards, closing her eyes. She sighed relief, relaxing until she was sitting on the floor before him, instead of kneeling. She folded her arms on his lap, letting go of his hands. She rested her head there, staring at the wall as her left hand reached for his left, caressing his fingers gently. If that was what worried him, then she too would be worried. She hadn't thought of it. Would she ever see him again?

Yes. Somehow. She would not let Calanon go. Even Mother could understand such a request...

"Calanon, I will never be the same as I once was. I will never be that pure, after having walked these lands and tasted the blood of mortal sin. I am likely to not regain my place so eagerly in Mother's forgiving arms. Though she will definitely take me back, I will not leave this world completely, not if I can help it. And I will not leave you... I could not bear it. In truth, Calanon, I am unsure of what will happen to me. Once I gain my immortality, I doubt I will be Aura again. I doubt it highly. But at this point in my life, I am doubtful a lot. You are my hope Calanon, and if you aid me, if you help me see through these difficult times, then I will not leave you when the adventure ends. I will not..." She whispered quietly, closing her eyes and trying to settle her own now shifting emotions. She could only hope she could keep her word. She would do her best... Her very best, to stay at his side. Throughout time, and not just this journey...




Taura settled onto the ground and leaned against Calanon's lap. She was wondering much the same as Calanon was. That she, too, wanted their friendship to continue lifted the shadow over Calanon's outlook. Calanon ran his fingers through her hair. Sitting there in front of him, her head in his lap, she seemed very much the troubled young woman he had at first imagined her to be. How terrible it must be for her to exist on the mortal plane, how frightening must every moment seem without the Mother there with her.

They sat thus for several moments. Calanon wanted to know more about her, but he wished not to trouble her with disturbing memories. The elf continued to gently stroke her head. There was still plenty of time before the boat was ready. "If I become a Mage... I wonder if Mist and Farien and Brilig and the others... I wonder if they would feel as I was feeling, up until a moment ago."

[Kalon Ordona II]

Taura was quiet, silenced by the long elven fingers pushing warm through her hair. It was soothing, and relaxing. She couldn't explain why, but it seemed to lull her away from her worries. Her eyes were closed, her mind still stirring quietly. She sighed against his lap, leaning into his legs and cradling herself there like a child would cling to the hope of a parent. Calanon was warm, and simple, and able to soothe her without words, unlike any other she'd ever met in her time existing like this. Taura finally responded to his last statement, about his current friends thinking of the same thing when he becomes a Mage...

"I'm sure they will miss you Calanon, but it is up to you whether you let your friends slip away from you or not. If it is worth holding onto, then you must hold onto it." She whispered. She shifted and looked up at him, a faint little smile on her lips. "Thank you Calanon. I'm sorry, and I know this must be confusing for you to go through. My true identity is not exactly the easiest thing to believe. But if you believe in me, then I will believe in you. For as long as you'll hold onto me."




Calanon smiled from his heart. Taura believed in him; he wouldn't let go of any of his friends. If he ever became a Mage, he might have less time to spend with them. Nevertheless, he would still be himself. He could trust in them to treat him the same as always. He would have to count on it, lest the greater capacity of power enlarge his opinion of himself. The wizard realized he would need friends--ordinary friends such as he had already--to keep his his head humble and his heart in the right place.

Calanon looked at the window. There was still at least an hour before they had to worry about the crossing to Daenari. Calanon gently disengaged from Taura and stood up. "There's still some time left. Would you like to see some of Hallas? Who knows when we'll be back here."




He shifted, and so she did as well. The woman moved up to her feet, smiling as she rubbed her eyes and pushed her fingers through her hair. Truth be told, she was rather in the mood to lay down and sleep, but not alone. She wanted to have him comb his fingers through her hair, to keep her warm. Taura stretched a moment, yawning quietly and nodding to his question about going out. She grabbed her robe and slid her arms through it, and then put her blade's sheath on her side, letting it hang at her hip instead of own her back like usual. Taura then moved for the door, opening it and stepping partly outside. But she returned into the room, holding her arm out.

"Lead the way Calanon. I'd like to go out a bit before we're stuck on open water."




The port city of Hallas was nowhere near the size of Galen, but neither was it a simple fishing village. Most of its streets were cobbled, and its stone-structured buildings were diverse in both purpose and architecture. Humans and dwarves passed through here regularly on their way to Daenari, though 'regularly' was still rare, and dwarves appeared less often than humans. There were several libraries in Hallas, many with sections devoted to wizardry. There were several local businesses plying their trade. Ships sailed not only to Daenari but also toward the troll-infested islands to the east, known to be rich in valuable materials of every sort. This early in the year, however, Hallas was not such a bustling hive of activity. Elves roamed here and there along the streets, and every once in a while a muscular human or a stocky dwarf could be seen going about some errand.

The morning was well underway, and as Calanon led Taura out along cobbled paths the seabirds were a common sight strutting along the ground. Up on the cliffs, more were already emerging from their nests. Calanon pointed up at them, briefly explaining what he'd heard about the part they played in keeping the city clean. The pair kept walking. They had about an hour before they had to take thought of the departing ship to which they were obliged. The quaint city surrounded them, in all its multitude of possibility, waiting only for the pair to select from its bounty a sight to be seen.




The world beyond the inn was marvelous. At first they were born to the small port city streets, of smooth stone and strange new architecture unlike most elves. She was intrigued by everything, even by the few people here. But what intrigued her most was the wildlife. The palms, the birds, the occasional crab scampering near the waters. The birds dancing over the cliffs; rising, falling, swooping and snatching fish from the glittering morning waters. Everything was glorious.

With time, they had traveled towards the outskirts of Hallas, and there it was the most beautiful. Climbing up one of the slopes toward a cliff that overlooked the water. Seagulls and fish-eating birds swarmed over the water, while smaller ones of the the plains lingered about. Worm-eaters, who usually were scattered amongst the rich moist ground here.

"This place is so beautiful Calanon. How long do you think it will be before we can see it again?" She questioned. Taura watched a small bird fly past her. It had a yellow chest, a ruby stomach, and a smooth frosty aqua-green back. It swooped up and tweeted, smooth chiming songs of a language she had no knowledge of. Of the birds. A bird's song. She held her hand up, and watched the bird flutter back around, curving from its path toward the cliff. It dove over her head and swam around her in the cool air, before finally darting off. She chuckled. What was she to think she could actually coo a bird into coming to her?
But her hope was not yet killed. For the bird returned, and perched out its tiny orange talons, and landed upon her finger. A small finch of a bird, only a few inches tall with an oval shape. It was beautiful, with deep green eyes- beautiful for a bird. It chirped at her, and she grinned, looking back at Calanon.

"Isn't it amazing?" She gleamed, twisting her hand up. The bird fluttered away...

They then returned to the inn, where she and Calanon gathered the pantor and their belongings. She walked at his side towards the boat, anxiety fluttering in her chest.

"So what's the sea like? Have you ever traveled upon it before Calanon?"




Their time spent up near the cliffs and seabirds, Calanon and Taura made their way back toward the inn. Calanon checked the two of them out of the inn after collecting the pantor's saddle bags from the room. In short order they were leading the re-encumbered pantor down the lane toward the docks. The sea air soon overcame their senses, and Calanon felt again that familiar giddiness. When Taura asked him if he'd ever been on the sea before, wondering what it was like, Calanon was more than ready to answer.

"Oh yes. Ëulos lives alone on a large island to the northwest of Ellóredan. The crossing was quite dangerous, and I was quite afraid, but I loved every minute of it. Not that the crossing here will be very dangerous. I expect it might be a bit breezy the closer we get to Daenari, but otherwise I'm sure it will be most pleasant. There's something about being on the sea that is freeing. All that wide open space; just sky, sea, the boat, and a distant shore. You'll find out soon enough, of course." He topped the last with a smile and a wink.

[Kalon Ordona II]

They led towards the dock with the pantor by the reins, the smell of the sea overwhelming. It was wonderful an experience; Taura taking long deep breaths and smiling patiently. They were so close, she thought. So so very close. She stayed near Calanon, listening to him respond about having rode cross the sea before. She wondered momentarily what it would be like, but doused such a wonder by knowing that she was about to find out very soon...

She reached the end of the dock, and then reached out. Her hand halted Calanon, and she looked up to him to ask another question. She folded her arms across her chest as a cool sea breeze flowed forward, brushing against her skin and through her hair.

"Calanon, is the sea dangerous?" Taura asked quietly.




"One cannot predict the sea," Calanon replied wistfully. "Still, again: the crossing from Hallas to Alagos is rarely if ever troublesome."

The docks of Hallas were simple. And yet, in their own way, there was something magnificent about them. The size, for one, was certainly a factor: the docks were extraordinarily wide and long. In high summer the west side of the docks would be crammed on all sides with small boats ready to ferry divers toward where the cliffs fell below the sea, toward the crystal mines. Being spring, the predominant activity on the docks at present was fishing, though there were plenty of pearl divers, sponge gatherers, and of course ferries to Daenari.

Calanon and Taura made their way to the relatively small ship making ready to set sail. The smell of fish gave way, allowing once more the smell of the sea to dominate the senses. Calanon had been on human ships only few times in his life; elven ships were more than a little different. For one, human ships were gargantuan things with perpendicular sails. Elven ships were quite different: smaller, sleek, with sails set parallel to the deck. The sails of the elven ferry appeared to glow, reflecting the bright morning sunlight. Calanon led the way to the ship's deckmaster waiting near the boarding plank. After a brief exchange, the wizard and his lovely companion and the noble pantor were allowed onboard.




She walked at his side, feeling a bit of relief when he told her that this travel would be likely without danger. At least, without enough danger to lead them astray from their path. Taura stayed near the man, seeing the docks. They came, and she walked them; the smell of fish growing near. It was not pleasant to her, for thus far she'd found no liking for port-side eateries. In the distance, she could spot a few ships, most of them small and slender; made for speed instead of actual cargo hold and transport. Taura watched them near it further, the smell of fish fading. The smell of the sea overwhelmed her, making her chest flutter with an anticipating feeling.

They came to the boat, with tall sails and a thin wooden structure, the light of the sun reflecting off of the sails and creating a shine over the wood. Calanon had a word with one of the deckhands- if not the man who owned this boat- and then led the pantor on-board. Alongside Calanon, Taura got on. Instantly, she noticed the lack of sturdy earth. The boat rocked softly with the waves of the sea. She reached over, her fingers wrapping around Calanon's arm. Taura smiled brightly, chuckling quietly.

"This feels so odd." Taura grinned. "Awkward, even. I've really never been beyond the land, never been upon the sea's graces." She slowly let go of Calanon and looked back at the man, as he began to untie a rope holding the boat to dock. She felt a bit nervous, but she didn't think of it. Instead, she moved to Calanon's side, and clutched at his arm again as the boat rocked again over the water.

"Are you sure this is safe?" She spat almost inaudibly, a reflex to the boat's rocking.




Calanon looked down fondly at Taura clutching at his arm. There really wasn't anything to be afraid of. One's first time at sea, however, could understandably cause some level of anxiety. Calanon hoped to assuage some of that nervous energy. He half hugged her shoulders, jostling her good-naturedly a bit. "No need to worry. I'm the one who can't swim, remember? If a gust of wind topples us over or a dragon sinks the ship, I'll have my ways of keeping us afloat."

The elven ship cast off, and pulled by the tide into open water it caught the wind in its sails, gaining speed across the waves. Over the course of the next few hours the pantor was kept in a corner of the deck, loosely tethered to a post. Calanon and Taura stayed toward the stern at first, so they could observe the landscape falling steadily back into the distance. This ship was mainly a ferry, not meant to hold much cargo, and so more readily accommodated sightseeing. There windows and portholes in the few cabins and storerooms belowdecks, and above there were several viewing platforms and plenty of rigging, and about all was a sturdy yet ornamental railing.

The sun was climbing, almost no clouds disrupted the blue of the sky, and a fair wind sped them to good start of their crossing to Daenari. Calanon realized, not for the first time this day, just how much he had missed the sea.




The boat set out, upon the sea they went. The sun rose further, and they had taken a bit of time to explore the ship. Taura had gotten somewhat used to the deck and walking upon it, though it was still foreign and every wave or rocking gesture of the sea had her in a crouch. The pantor had been tied away, and Calanon had stood with her, watching the land fade away. And by now, it was gone. She felt the sun moving from overhead towards the horizon. Would it be night before they reached the island?

Taura moved towards Calanon, watching the sunset approach the water's glittering horizon. It was so beautiful, she thought, setting her sights on the handsome elf that was her companion. She reached him, and the boat rocked hard as a wave shifted through the waters. Taura stumbled, losing her balance. Her hands reached up quickly, taking hold of his shoulders. She regained balance quickly and steadied herself back up, laughing quietly- and almost awkwardly.

"Calanon, will it be... I-I'm sorry for having fallen into you... I..." She began to blush quietly, and then cleared her voice. "Calanon, will it be night when we dock, or will the journey take us until the morning?"




Calanon and Taura had spent most of the day familiarizing themselves with the small ship and, for Calanon's part, enjoying the ambience of the sea. As the day progressed toward evening, Taura seemed to be getting a little more comfortable with the steady rocking caused by the waves. Taura presently returned from yet another voyage to the other side of the ship, but a large wave chose that moment to rock the ship a bit harder than usual. Taura was sent sprawling, though fortunately she was near enough to the tall elf to grasp his shoulders and keep herself from a fall.

"Calanon, will it be... I-I'm sorry for having fallen into you... I...." Even in the pinkish light Calanon could tell her cheeks were beginning to blush lightly. Calanon waved it off with a smile. She might have startled him a bit, but it was a small price to pay to keep her unbruised. "Calanon," she began again, "will it be night when we dock, or will the journey take us until the morning?"

"Past morning, I should think. Likely sometime in the late afternoon or evening," the wizard answered pleasantly.

The ship's crew generally left them to themselves, so Calanon had had all day to do as he pleased. Of course, with Taura flustered by the ship and wanting to explore all day, he had grown a little bored. And there weren't any books to read. Watching the waves, as marvelous an activitiy as it was, only stimulated one's enjoyment for so long. "How are you feeling? Getting used to things?" Calanon asked. He had a feeling Taura just wanted to get to the other shore as quickly as may be. "Well then, shall we do something to pass the time?"

[Kalon Ordona II]

She laughed; getting used to things? Honestly, she was trying not to show it, but she wasn't liking this too much. Her stomach was swirling and a feeling of nausea was coming and going though she wasn't sure why. She refused to feel sick, but it was hard to ignore said feeling. Taura finally decided to just offer up some cabin time; but of course she didn't want to go alone.

"Would you mind if we went to our cabin? I'd like to lay down, but I do not want to go alone." She tried to hide the blush that barely tainted her cheeks. "I think the sea is making me sick. Sea-sick?" She said quietly, looking up at the elf. Another wave rocked the boat and she placed a hand gently on his arm, holding herself up by him. Errrrrrr, she felt her stomach growl at her. Ugh.

"Will you come lay down with me Calanon?" Taura said softly, looking between him and the cabin with tired lavender eyes.




"Errr...." What? "I can sit with you if you have trouble sleeping...."

An awkward moment ensued. Calanon decided to assume Taura wasn't thinking clearly because of the sea-sickness. Apparently it was worse than she was letting on. The elf perked up. "Come on, let's go."

The cabin was cozy and picturesque, the latter thanks to large, in-set windows. There were three beds and four bunks. Three sleeping spots were taken up by two lightly sleeping humans and one elf. Calanon escorted Taura to one of the beds and pulled one of the weighted wooden chairs close to it. Taura laid directly on the bed, not yet bothering with covers. Calanon sat, wondering if there was something he could do. Perhaps tell her a story, quietly so as not to disturb the others.




Taura and Calanon went down after a moment of silence that may've suggested he didn't want to lay next to her so that she could sleep. Calanon was a comfort, and he was warm. And she just wanted to feel safe aboard this rocking slab of wood on the sea. The room was nice, large as well, holding several other people sleeping peacefully. How could they sleep without anyone to still them amongst these waves?

She laid down as Calanon pulled up a chair, but she was still cold. She turned, and pushed her fingers into the sheets. They were somewhat cool too. She let her eyes peer out of the window and over the ocean, and she felt her stomach knot up.

"Uggh..." She whispered, turning back. She scooted over, leaving a wider space next to the edge of the bed while her back was near the wall. She placed her hand on that space and then leaned up.

"Please forgive me, but I am not well. I... um..." She shook her head. There was no proper way to ask him to cradle her in sickness and keep her warm. And for some reason, the realization that she wasn't about to ask made her human eyes begin to moisten. What? Was she going to cry? She bit her lip hard, hating this human body. Stop! She demanded it, and blinked away the tears.

"Nevermind." She whispered. She laid down and turned away from him, wrapping her hands over her arms and pulling her knees under her robe so that she could try and cradle herself, and keep herself warm. Though the attempt was a bit of a failure. And sleep was not going to happen for her, not with her stomach and skin both so uncomfortable to these sea breezes and rocking waves.




Calanon was becoming truly concerned. "Taura," he gently got her attention before she slipped into a fitful sleep. "Do you remember when I healed you, back when we first met? I know you weren't awake at the time; there was so much energy, more than I ever could have conjured on my own. I've been puzzling over it all this time. That and our escape from the Fayrock. I've only used Ëulos's power six times since I met you: when I healed you, when we escaped through the pass, when I washed my robes in the pond, and the three spells I used when we slew the dragon. I think I finally know why some spells came with an overabundance of energy. I think it is because of what you are; of who you are. The magic is multiplied whenever I cast a spell that involves you directly. I cast the spell of life to heal you; I cast the spell of haste to save you."

He paused to let it sink in. "If this is true, then just imagine what could be accomplished. I felt the need to protect you ever since I heard your voice in the woods; this must be why. The Mother keeps her daughter safe." Again he paused, this time involuntarily from love and wonder, knowing in his heart that it was the truth. But he wanted to know for certain. "Here on the sea you have been unwell; so much so that you might be in danger. If I heal you now, the Mother may again multiply the magic. May I try?"

Taura, not fully responsive, nodded weakly. Calanon gently placed a hand on one side of her face, and with his staff in the other hand, he began the invocation. "I call upon the power of Ëulos. Flow, Waters of life." He hadn't considered how long he should build up the power. He decided he should do the same as before: use as much power as he thought it would take without the multiplying phenomenon. When he deemed the buildup of energy sufficient, he released the spell. "Healing Stream."

Liquid blue light erupted from the head of Calanon's staff. The energy rushed forth, filling Taura's body until she was thoroughly purged of the seasickness. It overflowed, refilling the stores of energy in Calanon's body and his staff. Inexhausted, the blue stream spread to the sleepers in the cabin, the flowers in a vase, even the fish in the sea.

Full of vigor, full of practical imaginations of other possible applications, breathless with astonishment, Calanon laughed out loud, his eyes alight. So it was true.




Taura nodded when he said something about using the magic. In truth, her mind was millions of other places at once. She was, again, pondering at this human body and its reactions. The desires she felt, the urges and impulses- all of them whimsical and confusing! But she drew her eyes up to him, and her thoughts were washed away before he healed her- but when he put his hand on her face. She closed her eyes, sighing softly at the warmth. She didn't understand this either. Why was it that whenever Calanon was so extremely close, that she felt... safe? No... that wasn't it... She felt... It was impossible to explain. Her heart would race, her body would tingle, her mind would soften of all the endangering thoughts. Her heart felt like it was being healed every time he touched her, but yet it made no sense...

He healed her now, the blue energy flowing into her body. It reached into her stomach, wrapped around and sank in, healing the nausea. She relaxed into the bed as it also relieved body ache and headache too... She opened her eyes when she heard him laugh, seeing him smile.

Mother had to have made him personally, for no one else could have ever birthed such a beautiful smile for me to see.

She reached up and lay her hand atop of his own, holding it there. Taura shifted, moving closer to him until she laid right at the edge of the bed next to where he sat. And she held his hand there, with hers, warming her cheek and soothing her human body's insane and childish urges.

"Thank you." She whispered, unsure if she could even sleep now that she was healed and well, but knowing that she didn't want to remove Calanon from being so near to her. Not yet.




The remainder of the day was spent in conversation, Calanon in the chair by the bed as Taura lay awake, for Taura was both too tired to get up and too invigorated to sleep. Aside from a few pressing queries from the captain and crew regarding the abnormally large fish sighted near the boat, the evening progressed smooth and soft into night, and at last Taura fell asleep. Rather than leave her side as before, standing in some corner of the ship, Calanon stood next to the bed to rest. That night his dreams were filled with the liquid blue light of the Water Elemental's power.

Both Calanon and Taura woke far earlier than usual the next morning. More than half the elves on the ship, in fact, woke far earlier than usual. Some remained abed, some engaged in conversation between one another. Calanon was more interested in getting out of the cabin. Through the window the sea was shrouded in mist; seeing it, the water wizard felt alive. He wanted to go outside and take it all in. "How are you feeling, Taura? Is the sickness coming back?"




Taura finally fell into sleep, after hours spent talking and whatnot, all so near him. Her emotions were confusing her more and more, and she didn't understand. She almost wanted to cry again, but she blamed it on the open ocean around them. Taura fell into a rich sleep, that was dark and entrancing... It was peaceful... and when she woke, she was not alone.

She opened her eyes to Calanon's body, staring up at his own eyes, and forming a grin herself. Taura leaned up, reaching out to him. She took his hand and brought herself to a stand, stretching. She still felt freshly healed, as she looked out the window at the mist.

"I am well, Calanon. Thanks to you." She stepped away from him and towards the upper deck, but reached back to him. Taura sleepily wrapped an arm around his and walked with him to the top deck.

The morning mist seemed to crash in soft hazy billows against the sides of the ship, some pouring over in a thin carpet of foggy mist. It was crisp, cool, and felt amazing. She let the soft ocean breezes toss through her shoulder-length black hair, and move along her skin in smooth waves.

"Calanon, are we almost there?" She grinned childishly, blushing even, as she stared out over the sea at his side.




Calanon actually laughed out loud, merrily. She seemed to ask this question at least twice per day. "We should be there later today, between afternoon and evening," he answered, same as before. "This fog might change things, though," he added as an afterthought. "Still...." He breathed deeply of the damp morning air. The crew was already bustling about, earlier than they were wont.

"Well then, since you're feeling well so far, what would you like to do to pass the time?" Now that they were used to the ship, and Taura was free of the sea-sickness, Calanon was in bright spirits. They'd finally had a chance to talk yesterday evening, but Calanon could easily talk with her for several more hours. There was still so much to ask and to tell. Perhaps there were more things about mortal existence that Taura would want or need to know.

[Kalon Ordona II]

Taura walked with him towards the edge of the boat. She placed her hands at the railing, and stared outwards instead of over it. She felt her stomach slightly tug inside of her body, but did not worry about it too much. Instead, she just simply closed her eyes, and leaned until her head was resting gently against his shoulder.

"Would you like to talk? I'm not sure there is anything else that could be done on a boat in the middle of the open sea... Why don't you tell me about you... You're childhood... Hopes and dreams... What it was like, growing up as an elf... Tell me about your adventure to becoming a wizard..." She said softly, cracking her eyes open to stare out over the sea.




"Ahh, becoming a wizard. That was quite an adventure in itself. It all started-- Oh, don't close your eyes," Calanon said as soon as he noticed. "Keep your eyes on the horizon; you won't feel the motion of the sea as much." Calanon suddenly remembered the fog, looking around at it. "...Oh. Well, it might help to try it anyhow, gazing toward where the horizon would be."

"Let me see, now.... It all started with my fear of water." The water wizard smiled at Taura's incredulous reaction. "Yes, it is true," Calanon admitted. "Why do you think I can't swim? It's nowhere near as bad now as it was before, though I still can't stand the thought of completely immersing myself in a lake or in the sea. When I was young I could not even stand the sight of ponds or rivers. I don't remember why. What memories I have that fuel the fear are of feelings and vague images, rather than an actual event or series of events spelled out and replayed in my mind. All I see is blurry water all around, dark shapes, and the feeling of terror. It always flashes through my head when I step into a body of water, like the pond back at Erosa Inn."

"Growing up with the fear was... problematic, it being so much worse back then. When I discovered my talent for magic, I thought I'd finally found the way to overcome the fear. In the end it turned out I was right, but it wasn't so easy. I've always been impulsive. Most wizards start out with where we're going, with Aelos. There are many reasons for this, the main one being: it is within elven lands. (Dwarf wizards don't start here, but then again there aren't many dwarf wizards.) There were other reasons for my desire to follow the wizard's path, but it was my fear of water that drove me to conquer it, drove me toward Ëulos."




Taura laughed quietly when his story was done, staring out at the horizon in hopes of keeping from sea-sickness. Thus far, it was working better than she had thought it would've. Instead of talking back immediately to his story, she ensued several minutes of peaceful silence. Ah, the smell of the mist was relaxing, and seemed to take her mind off of a lot of things, like how her human body was malfunctioning somehow, and only doing so around Calanon! She turned her head as her cheeks seared with a soft blush. Another fine example, she thought with a mental scowl...

Then she turned, and she spoke.

"Well, you will swim with me one day. I can teach you, Calanon. I mean, I taught myself. It really isn't hard. And I promise not to let you drown if you come with me. I like the water, and even more to swim. It's peaceful, and relates kind of to the weightlessness I felt when I was an Immortal. The weightlessness of no worries, and of being without bodily confusion-" She blushed again... "I m-mean that as in, the emotions. This body reacts to... different feelings... in different ways... It is quite confusing, and I'm not sure what to think of it all."

She turned her head back to him when the blush faded, and took in a deep breath.

"I am going to hate the return trip. It is such a long, boring journey by sea..."




"Oh, there won't be a return trip," said Calanon. His face acquired a restrained grin when Taura's expression turned hopeful. "We have three more trips to make by sea, but none of them are a return trip from Alagos back to Hallas." Taura's hope vanished, and Calanon expressed his sympathy with a grin. "Come, don't worry."

Going from northern Daenari to Ellóredan, and then across the sea again to Ëulos and back, there would be a lot of ocean to cross over the course of this quest. Taura liked the water; that was a start. Anyone who liked the water would like the sea eventually. And if all else failed, they could always devise some sort of spell to help. That way-- was she blushing? Calanon couldn't imagine why she would be blushing... ...so, he payed it little heed. Anyway, one way or another Calanon was sure they'd find a way to keep Taura well on the unavoidable sea voyages. "By the end of it you'll likely be a better seafarer than I am."




She stared out over the water and took in a deep breath. This was going to be a long journey, and whether or not she would turn out a better seafarer than he, would be worth questioning...

~The sun rose and fell, slipping away
'til the shore of the island came into sight,
like a shadow hanging over the sea
blocking out the sweet rays of sunset~

Taura had collected her belongings and come to stand beside Calanon. She was so very nervous, but it was a fleeting joyous anxiety. She was so damned ready to get off that boat! She looked up at Calanon, but just as quickly tore her eyes away. The young woman then watched the boat begin to slow down. Anchoring, to stop and let her and her traveling partner off.

"Is this island dangerous?" Taura asked, as a small piece of wood leveled down and waited for the two to depart. "It doesn't look very... populated." She whispered, brushing her nimble fingers back into her black hair.




Aelos' mountain stood up plainly in the distance, dominating a great deal of the horizon. It was sunset by the time the ship docked at Alagos, the eastern port of Daenari. The buildings of Alagos were all of stone. There was no wood to be seen. Even the docks were made of huge blocks supported by thick stone columns. The reason for this was readily apparent. As soon as foot was set upon the shore, the body it belonged to was commonly thrown off balance by the sudden force of constant wind.

All the air for miles around Aelos' mountain was in motion, at differing speeds and in differing directions. Each and every building rose only one level, and even that was short and wide, set into the ground with the entrances accessed by stairs.

Even though the elf sailors warned the crew and passengers about the wind, and even though everyone there had already heard the stories, Calanon was still not quite prepared for the immediate presence of the wind. It nearly lifted him off his feet. He would have fallen to the ground if he had not been holding on to the pantor's reins. The wizard gathered his cape in one hand and held it up in attempt to shield the wind. "Come on," he said, close to Taura's ear so as not to have to shout very loudly, "let's get to an inn."

The pair made their way up the steep path from the dock to Alagos proper. Signs engraved into the buildings directed them to a place of shelter, and there they tethered the pantor in a small stable and paid for rooms. After a meal of hot stew, they were ready for bed. "We'll want an early start tomorrow," said Calanon as he and Taura made their way down a set of stairs and across a comfortably carpeted hallway. Taura's small room was near the lower common room; Calanon's was across the hall. "Sleep well. I'll wake you when it's time." There were no windows underground, so they would have to rely on the elf's sense of time to wake at the desired hour. "See you in the morning."

[Kalon Ordona II]

Stepping off the boat was an experience within itself. The wind almost knocked Taura's limber body aside, and she had to bend her knees and cover her head to keep from falling over. Taura quickly took a place by Calanon's side and stepped with him as they moved towards an Inn- the idea he had offered which sounded so very nice right now. The inside of the inn was unique; all stone and no windows. Unlike anything she'd ever seen. It reminded her of the human stories of Dwarf caverns; most likely exaggerated and improperly told.

She stepped away from him once inside, and sat down while he tied up the pantor. Then, they spent a few moments in peace eating a warm meal, before she took to her room. It was dark and solemn, while he took to another. When he bid her goodnight, some feeling struck her chest. A straining feeling, as though she should reach out and stop him.

Do not leave me alone... I want you here with me...

But he had left, and she had let him go. Taura turned to face the wall and sighed, the door shut and silence filling the void around her. It was quiet, dark, and odd here. She turned to the candle after sliding off her boots, robe, and outer shirt. With a simple breath, she blew out the candle.

"Guess who."

The voice was not one she recognized, but the power within that voice instantly brought her attention up. Taura snapped her arm out, waving it blankly in the darkness for to be caught by a strong male's hand.

"Your sister has heard you are alive. She thinks it is rumor, and I will tell her no different until you have gained your first taste of immortality. Then the games will begin."

Taura drew her leg up and kicked at the man, but his other hand caught her ankle, and then slid up to her thigh. He pushed her onto the bed and crawled over her. From what she could tell with frantic searching hands, he was some kind of Mage-Warrior. He had a broad body build and was using the dark magic probably given unto him via Avaltha.

That witch!

Taura sucked in a breath to scream, but the hand on her wrist caught her mouth, and he laughed.

"You can't do that, now can you?" He raised a dagger and created a long slender cut down her throat. The blood trickled along her neck and she winced; human pain always being... well, painful...

She bit on his hand, and kicked him off. The man jumped back and drew his sword- which she knew by the sound of metal grinding its sheath. Taura jumped back and screamed at him when her hand shot forth.

"In the name of the Mother: Bless me! Luminos!"

A bright, blinding light, shot from her hand and engulfed the man, purging him momentarily before he danced through darkness back to whence he came. She fell on the bed, and light stuck to the room. Glittering shards of her power clung to the walls, giving the room an ethereal feeling. Taura let out a weary but loud groan, hoping Calanon would come. Her hand was bleeding and cut from where the power had escaped and her body was not ready. She trembled before her sight went black, and she collapsed against the bed.

I will kill you... Avaltha.




"--of War, drown!" came Calanon's voice through the door. He burst through it, ready for anything. His alert mind took in everything at once: the glow about the room, the narrow wound on Taura's throat, and the swirling vortex of darkness set into one wall. It was dwindling. A portal! Calanon thrust the head of his staff out toward the purplish hole in space and completed his spell. "Falls of Death!!"

The spell had had plenty of time to charge, so the wizard was prepared for a shock of force. He had forgotten in his haste, however, the effects Taura had on his magic. The awesome blasting torrent of blue energy thrust him back violently against the opposite wall. Yet Calanon had the skill and presence of mind to keep his stance strong and the staff steady-aimed at the portal even as his feet slid across the floor. The portal kept closing even as the wizard's spell coursed through it. At last the portal winked out, but the spell kept going. Calanon began to wonder how long it would last--and how much damage it would do before it did, for once a spell is unleashed it cannot be taken back.

It was several moments before the torrent of magic was exhausted, the blue light fading. When Calanon's vision cleared, there was a wide hole carved through the stone. The elf saw after a moment that hole went deeper into the earth, a tunnel that disappeared into the darkness. For a moment it all stayed suspended, then it all came crashing down at once, the tunnel filling with earth all the way up to the wall of the inn. A large pile of soil decorated Taura's room by the time it all settled.

"...Oh dear...."




At light, I am the greatest. But in darkness, I am weak. It is easiest to shine when the world is already bright. But it is hard to shine when this cloud of thick depravity chokes me...

Mother...

Help me... What am I to do? Sister is going to stop at nothing to put end to my life, and even this world, before I ever regain power. Look- look how weak I was! To barely be able to defend myself from a human! I am so fragile Mother... And what of him?

Why, if Calanon dies... I'd give up...

Do not say that my Child.



Her eyes opened, and all that lit the room now was the dancing orange lights of candle flames, moving like curious performers across the stone walls. She turned her pale lavender hues to Calanon, sitting near her.

"You..." She whispered simply, reaching out to touch him. "Ughh..." Her head swam with pain from the effort of her dream. These powers; they were not hers, not at the moment. The only explanation was that being so close to one of the Elementals was allowing her a taste of what would come...

"Did you kill him?" Taura whispered, leaning up and rubbing her temple before stroking her neck and chest to assure no gash was there...




"I don't know, but I sent a powerful spell through the portal before it closed." Calanon had healed Taura's wounds while she had been unconscious. He had also explained everything to the innkeepers and paid for the damage done to the building. It was past dawn, and Calanon had been lightly resting while Taura slept, guarding her in case there was more trouble, wanting to be there when she woke.

"What happened, Taura? Who came through the portal? Where does it lead?" He spoke slowly, not wanting to overwhelm her with his questions, but the lack of knowledge had kept him anxious all night. He needed to know if she was all right. He needed to know if this would happen again.




The questions came quickly, and indeed were overwhelming. Taura felt her eyes grow moist simply because she recalled the dream- having finally heard Mother's voice. But... Mother's voice rang through her mind softly, as she remembered those words. Taura let out a quiet sigh, and pulled her knees to her chest and giving her apology beforehand.

"I am sorry, first and foremost Calanon. I am more trouble than what it is worth; truly... So first, I hope you can forgive me."

She took a moment to breathe and sighed once more, her chest aching...

"The man- I do not know who he was. A messenger of Avaltha's, scurrying about. He told me that my sister had heard the rumors of my life; but she did not believe them. He said he wanted to wait and prove her my reality until after I reached the first Elemental. He basically told me what I already knew; which was that when I gain my taste of Immortality, that she will sense my existence, and go to great lengths to murder me. Even now, her minions sense my life and are coming for me. It will happen again... As for where he went? Well, I am unsure. But the dark portal is Avaltha's magic. She must've blessed him with it for his soul's selling to her. Who knows? My only guess to where he went is to the strip of mountain ranges in the center of the continent. Rumors say my sister lives there in the cavernous underground, where her dark magic can flourish and toil."

Taura slid over until her legs hung off the bed and she stood up.

"She will try far more dangerous attempts on my life when she actually knows I am alive. For now her toys are playing games with me, and I doubt that will end either. I know that man would not have killed me. But when I try to fathom what he would've done to me, while he had me pinned in this bed and a blade to my throat... I know how human men are... I realize now how weak and pathetic I am in this body. It's almost... disgusting..."

Taura quickly lifted her robe and tied it on and slid her feet into her boots.

"Let us go now. I cannot stay and speak of these things. My mind is already a mess..." She whispered.




Calanon agreed, thankful to have now some idea of what had happened and why. Obviously staying in separate rooms anymore was out of the question--though that presented its own set of problems.

The two acquired a meal and breakfasted in silence. They were soon on their way, riding the pantor through the temperamental winds out of doors. "Closer to the base of the mountain is the starting point for wizards seeking Aelos!" said Calanon toward Taura sitting behind him. "We would have reached it easily before dark if we'd started at dawn, but we should still make it if we hurry."

With that Calanon spurred the pantor onward, and the pair rode on in silence.

The destination Calanon had indicated was a cluster of buildings, built among even more natural shelter. High in the rocky terrain, with several hills and boulders to help stave off the wind--stronger this close to the mountain--the place was nearly impossible to find at night. It was past sunset when they arrived, just light enough for Calanon to negotiate the terrain.

If they had gotten here earlier, Calanon would have headed to the largest building, set slightly higher than the others. This was where wizards came to learn about Aelos and the Path, the Test and the Trials. Since night was closing in, Calanon and Taura instead repeated almost action for action what they had done the previous night: finding an inn, tethering the pantor and making sure he was tended, buying a hot meal, and obtaining lodging. This place was considerably more expensive, even though the accommodations were no better, but since this time Calanon was paying for a single room, he thought little of it.

"We made it," he sighed, exhausted from the ride but more than glad to be here, ready to climb the mountain whenever they were ready. "We will have to wait at least one day before we see Aelos. We need to prepare. We'll go to the wizard's library tomorrow and see what can be learned. How are you faring?"




She left the room with him and they sought the pantor, mounting the creature in their usual fashion and riding the strong beast through the terrorizing torrents. She wrapped her arms tightly around Calanon's waist, and stretching her fingers over his stomach. She pulled her hood up and buried her head into his back to keep the wind from whipping her hair against her eyes and cheeks. Taura, at one point, fell into a light nap, and finally awoke when the winds were stable and unknown; whistling as they tore around rocks and hills.

They were now at a sheltering area, and another Inn. The place was beautiful; stones jutting upward out of the earth and creating a wind-shield. She dismounted the beast and went on inside the lodge while he tied up the pantor, and waited for Calanon. On he came, and they ate, before heading to a single room. She sat down on the bed and rubbed her head, yawning.

"Calanon?" She began softly. "What if we do not return? To your friends? I mean. You have people who will miss you if you are gone. Do you ever think of that? My death will mean nothing, but yours... Do you ever think of what dying would do? The ripple effect, of the pebble of death crashing into the lake of life?"




Calanon thought for a moment about Taura's question. "Long ago, my people despised humans for the brevity of their lives. Some still do, but most have seen the value of mortality. Human lives seem so much more rich, simply because they know they have not long to live. The value of mortality is simply its contrast to life. The same light shines brighter in greater darkness." Calanon nodded to himself. He spoke his conclusion with conviction. "The greatest deeds in life are those worth the risk of death."

Taura seemed satisfied, or else she was too tired to continue the conversation. Either way, her eyes soon closed, and she fell asleep. Next morning, after breakfast, Calanon and Taura went up the small hill to the Wizard's Lodge, as it was called. A watchman at the door spotted Calanon's staff and allowed him to enter without asking questions. The door opened and light spilled out into the dim morning. "Come on," said Calanon, smiling to Taura. "Let's see what we can find out."

[Kalon Ordona II]

The morning that followed possibly left her with more questions than answers. They ate peacefully, and headed then to the library to learn. Calanon entered easily with his staff in hand, while the guards seemed to look over Taura in wonder. She was no wizard, they must've thought to themselves. But she did not mind. She merely stuck close to Calanon's presence, clinging to his back as she slipped inside with him. There, the walls stood massively with books and scrolls and documents alike. It was a magnificent collection of historic findings, surely. And it would definitely hold at least a little information to guide them.

"Where do we begin?" Taura whispered softly, trying not to raise her voice in the place, as she looked around to the different sections and as well the crystalline and stone stands which beheld open books and flattened scrolls or maps.




The place smelled of books and parchment, of course. There were furnishings all about: tables for reading, chairs and desks, comfortable chairs and couches, as well as stands that held the largest books. The colors of paper and stone were everywhere, but besides that the place was awash in blues, greens, and the dark wood of the furniture. Most of the wizards in the place were beginners, aspiring men and women, for whom Aelos would be the first source of power. Calanon had already achieved his first, which made him equal to most of the wizards helping around here and there with the collected materials and answering the aspiring wizards' questions. Despite his experience, however, Calanon had yet to learn in detail what would await them upon Aelos' mountain. Here the aspirers came to study magic itself, as well as Aelos. They read magical philosophy, old spellbooks, and studied systems that would guide them along their future vocation. Most of all they studied or asked to try to get some insight into the Test and the Trials ahead of them.

Calanon had a different purpose. He had already experienced the Trials, so he was not so nervous about them, and he knew the Test was always somewhat scaled to the abilities of the one being tested. All he really needed to know was more about Aelos and the landscape itself. For this he set about looking through books about Aelos' mountain: its history, its terrain, its lore and legends. Along the way, he had the chance to explain many things to Taura, and his explanations often led to more questions or new discoveries. Calanon also intended to speak with the accomplished wizards, but only after Taura was able to keep herself busy on her own. It wouldn't be very polite to bring her into elvish conversations when she didn't yet understand the language.




Taura stepped inside the library, and felt suddenly out of place. Calanon would've fit in perfectly, for all the elves and wizards wandering about here. But her, a human; she was a sore sight. Without realizing it, she had begun to gnaw her lip. She did not want to be alone here with these strangers, but she could not manage to stay up Calanon's rear this entire time. He would love this place, and he had never been. So, she had to give him space, whether he wanted it or not.

Taura stepped away, and looked back at Calanon with a fragile smile.

"I'm going to explore a bit. Thank you Calanon." She stepped away from him and to a large book-shelf, pulling a book of the landscape down. She parted it, and flipped through the pages, reading it faster than any human could- but not as fast as she used to... In a matter of five minutes, she had read through most of the book, having skipped some chapters like horticulture and such things.

Taura put the book back, and then turned away, moving through the library and finally reaching a section that caught her eye. She stopped, and withdrew a book of fabled stories of the Goddesses, and began to read. She read of her sister and her, of the Mother, of the tale of creation. It made her smile a bit, as she sunk to the floor and read away, now at a normal speed as her eyes soaked up the pictures and artwork as well as the penmenship of the actual words.

Tales of Avaltha and herself... She felt her lids growing heavy after about a half hour of this book, and looked up, searching through the wizards for Calanon, if only to see what he was up to.




Calanon's attention was on the book in his hands. He was standing near a bookshelf, his staff in the crook of his right arm, reading The Mountain of Winds by Edrian Hethilien. He'd followed the content numbers to page 142, where there was a detailed sketch of Aelos's temple. The top of Aelos's mountain was flat, though not from a volcano: Aelos had simply crafted it that way. His temple stood in the center of the flat, circular mountaintop. In the book, the author had written several bulleted paragraphs under the heading Dangers and Cautions it-is-Advised. Most of them dealt with the strong, cyclone-like gales that surrounded the temple.

Calanon studied the page for a few moments, then turned back to the list of contents, looking for information on the Test of Dragons. An entire section was devoted to this, from page 23 to page 117. Calanon flipped through, skipping most of the first half that seemed to deal with more introductory matters. On page 98 he found a sketch of common sightings along the mountain's ascent, where the encounters most often took place. For aspiring wizards, the Test was little more than a contest of wills, a test of courage and resolve, though there was an element of combat involved. The person's life was usually not in danger, though deaths did occur. Normally the aspiring wizard would bring along a companion to help him through the Test. Calanon was already a wizard, so the Test would no longer be so easy. He would certainly need Taura's aid. Truthfully, though, Calanon was feeling most confident. Not only had both of them recently faced and defeated a Black Dragon--who WAS intent on killing them--but they had a failsafe: if Taura ever came into real danger, Calanon could count on over-powerful spells to get them through. They shouldn't need to retreat.

Still, there was no harm in being as prepared as possible. Calanon scanned the book for a few more minutes, then replaced it on the shelf and selected a new one. This book was smaller, and it was written in the human language: Aelos for the Experienced, by Semric Cloudwether. It was a thin volume, written like a journal, that detailed one wizard's journey to Aelos, offering practical advice to the reader as it went along.

Calanon was about to flip through this one, too, when he happened to look over and see Taura tiredly trying to catch his attention. She was sitting on the floor with a large book in her lap, discreetly waving in his direction. Calanon started to raise his hand and wave back, but then decided, raising a finger and tapping it sideways on the book in his hand, to go over and see if the little volume might interest her. This he did, weaving around tables and desks to the shelf where Taura sat, then squatting down next to her.

"This one's written in human," he said, holding the book by the edge of it's hard cover, so that the title was easily seen. "Would you like to read this while I got talk to some people? It might help to know what we'll be up against."




Taura was grateful when finally the elf came over. It felt a little awkward to be here, surrounded by elves. But then again, this whole human thing was quite weird itself. She was not used to being so weak. Was she an Immortal again, she could simply walk right through the winds, completely undeterred by their power. No element could stop her then. But now...

He showed her a small volume of a book, and the print on the front made her smile with ease. Reaching out, Taura wrapped her fingers around the book and parted it open, reading a few of the pages.

"I'd like to read this. Perhaps we could get a few books and return to our room for the night, unless we are to leave for the path today?"

She was curious, seeing as how Calanon was now a big part of this adventure, and how he had begun helping to guide her. Truly, she knew, when she gained immortality once more she would grant him a marvelous gift. Of what yet, she was unsure. Perhaps an Angel's Plume, or the feather of a fabled Astral Phoenix. Or she'd cut off a thick lock of her hair, and give him the unbreakable pure gold it would turn into in sunlight.

Taura brought herself to her feet, looking up into the eyes of the tall elf for another moment and smiling.

"Thank you again, by the way. I do not remember elven, though I feel as though I did at one point in time..." She turned her head a bit, sighing, but looking up once more with violet eyes.

"I shall be fine for now." She then returned her gaze to the book, flipping to page one and reading quickly. It would take about an hour, but she'd finish the journal quickly...




Despite the speed at which Taura apparently comprehended the pages, Calanon figured the book would last her for an hour or so. That ought to be enough time for Calanon to commune with whichever elves he'd marked for conversation. There were at least two that Calanon had spotted, each with a staff in hand.

A wizard earned his staff by passing the first Test of Dragons -- the Test of Courage. The staff came without a stone, for that was presented by the Elemental after passing the first Trials of Light -- the Trials of Fear. The staff, complete with its great stone, was the foundation of any wizard's power. Calanon had already passed that first level. From speaking with other wizards before, he knew he would now face the Test of Power and the Trials of Pride. What came at the third and fourth levels, he could only guess, for wizards were not permitted to share arcane knowledge beyond the other's grasp.

Calanon talked for a while with elven wizards one at a time in different parts of the library, gleaning what knowledge he could from their experiences. From time to time an aspiring wizard would come up to him desiring the same thing, and Calanon gladly obliged. Presently Calanon was met by another such novice, a young female elf. Judging from the depth in her eyes, she could not be more than a hundred years old. "Never-before I-have-seen a wizard of-the-water," she said in elvish. "Is-it much-of-different?"

"The power of Ëulos is, indeed-it-be, very different from the power of Aelos," Calanon spoke in the affirmative. "With-adding, the robes are different, and I-believe the frame of mind is even so, different as well. Yet, in practice, the process is similar."

A few more words were exchanged and the young elf was most grateful. Calanon went back to his conversations with other wizards. Eventually he decided he'd learned plenty to be prepared for the ascent, so Calanon headed back to Taura's part of the library. She might be done with the book by now. It would seem that Calanon had inadvertently timed his arrival to perfection, for Taura closed the book with a satisfied thump just as the elf approached.

"How was the journal?" Calanon asked, smiling. "Should we stay and explore more books together, or head back to the inn to rest? We'll have many things to discuss about Aelos, either way."

[Kalon Ordona II]

Taura raised her eyes in satisfaction, those violet hues studying the elf once more. She sighed with completion of the journal, and tucked it under her arm, knowing that on her path out she'd put it back in its place.

"Let's go back to the inn. I know it sounds silly, but I'm a little awkward around all these scholars and elves. N-not you of course, but the ones I do not know." Taura lowered her eyes and then rubbed the back of her neck, stepping past Calanon and heading towards the exit...

~XXX~

Inside the room, she slipped off her shoes and laid herself onto the bed, staring up at the ceiling with curious thoughts bubbling around in her head. She gestured to Calanon with a slight of her hand then, eyes falling shut. Her arms shuddered for a moment at the memory of what had happened the previous night, and all those nights before it. Calanon was her only comfort, and she was grateful to have such a faithful and trusty companion to travel this path with. Her eyes opened and rested on the tall elf, meeting his eyes with a silent beauty that was beheld by what she was inside, what she had been and was meant to be once more in the future.

"Tell me what you learned, of the Elemental. What trials do we have to face, and how do we go about it all?"




Calanon and Taura returned the books and headed back to their room at the inn. There, Calanon launched into a long explanation of the sorts of things they could expect.

First of all, the wind would be a constant but factor, unpredictable save that it would certainly be everpresent.

"The Test of Dragons comes along the way, as we make the ascent. It's different for every wizard, but it mainly consists of facing dragons. We fought the black dragon already, so I don't think these will be much trouble... but we should still be prepared, since this isn't my first time."

To Taura's questioning expression, Calanon expounded further. "The first Test of Dragons is the Test of Courage. Some people cannot go on when a dragon is in their path. Generally there life is not in any danger, unless the person is in a particularly untoward state -- mindless with fear, for example. I've already faced this test, so the next will be more difficult. I know from other wizards that it is known as the Test of Power. With you by my side, that shouldn't be a problem no matter what the requirement is, but I'd rather not leave it to chance: the level of danger is considerably higher."

Taura asked a few more questions and interjected thoughts of her own, gleaned from some of the books she'd read. The ascent up the mountain could be quite complicated at times, and always perilous. A wizard's guardian was a great asset, though it was not feasible to bring more than one.

"And what of Aelos himself?" Taura asked. They already knew roughly what he would look like -- Calanon from first-hand accounts and Taura from the picture book she'd read -- but otherwise there was little else to prepare for.

"Being my second Elemental, I'll be facing the Trials of Pride. The Trials of Light vary between Elementals and from person to person, so I have no idea what to expect. I just have to stay true to my ideals and trust that I will be accepted by Aelos."




Taura smiled from the bed's position as Calanon spoke. It was good to have such a wise, and trustworthy companion. Her eyes fell shut and she turned, laying on her side with her hands pressed together under her cheek. For some reason she felt like a little girl, though a childhood was something she'd never had before. The woman then let out a quiet little yawn. Being in a library was definitely something to get one sleepy. But also, being in a library full of elves speaking in Elvish was surely to make one simple mortal like herself feel... left out and nap-needy.

She leaned up after a few moments, and looked over to Calanon, grinning vaguely.

"Um, other than the library..." Her thoughts halted, and she was staggered in thought of what to do. "What is there else to do here? Is there a supply shop, where we may go gather food for the night, and supplies for tomorrow? It might be smart, for us to restock. Tomorrow morning we are taking a big step..."

Taura came to a stand and walked next to Calanon, reaching up and smoothing a wrinkle from the shoulder of his robe. Her finger brushed across the collar and she withdrew her hand, turning away.

"Besides." She said in a softer tone, running her own fingers across her cheek, pushing her hair aside. "I could use dinner, if you would not mind my companionship out in whatever small public may exist on this island's outskirts."




Calanon and Taura went out into the wind. It was relatively calm here among this small cluster of buildings, thanks to the natural shelter. Even so, the wind was ever-present and ever changing. The few shops near the Wizard's Lodge owed their considerable livelihood to the steady flow of aspiring wizards needing supplies for the climb to see Aelos. Calanon and Taura were in exactly this situation, so the shops were well equipped to supply anything they might need. After some perusal, Calanon settled on a sturdier pair of boots, some rope and other gear, and a pair of supple leather gloves, and in addition to the things Taura bought, the two also made sure to stock up on food. By the time they had outfitted themselves and had gotten everything set up in their room to be ready for their early morning departure, it was late afternoon.

The sun was disappearing behind the steep hills and low cliffs which were part of the tiny town's shelter. Calanon and Taura had acquired an appetite. The inn where they stayed provided food as well as lodging, but it was more basic fare. So, Calanon and Taura headed to the one specialized eatery available, an untitled establishment fondly known as The Squared Loaf. It sat in the middle of the cluster of buildings, this one indeed no more than a large square with a flat roof, and indeed having many kinds of bread was the main attraction of the place. Inside, the motif was forest green, stone and light wood, with burgundy tablecloths. In the relative calm afforded by the shelter, the eatery made a point of having plenty of windows -- not that there was much to see out of them at this hour. The oil lamps were just being lit.

Calanon entered, through the heavy wooden doors, to the low, steady noise of muted conversation, accompanied by the random clinking of ceramic dine-ware, the hot smell of seasoned bread, and the pleasant atmosphere emphasized by the plump human man behind the counter. Calanon turned and beckoned Taura onward, liking the place. "Shall we?"




Taura took a bit of time to relax, before finally rising and moving with Calanon away from the lodge. Outside, the world was a peaceful one, with the soft tussling breezes that spun back and forth, invisible webs being spun on the island of Aelos. Their first trek basically wove them through the area, sifting through the shops and enjoying the little bits of crafts she saw. Other shops bore materials useful for the journey to the Elemental. Her magical eyes scaled every inch of the stores she visited, and her mind only stocked up the knowledge. It was odd, to Taura, to realize the truth of people's handiwork and as well to see yet another new light of people and experiences. This place was unique, as most were to her. And yet again, with those feelings, she began to feel out of place. But all it took was a smile at Calanon to realize she was not as odd as she thought. She had a companion who trusted her, and whom she could as well place trust in. That was what mattered now, Taura thought.

They arrived to The Squared Loaf, and the layout was nice. Taura's eyes absorbed everything, her every breath a document of the dine-in eatery. Taura's hand slipped up, around the elf's elbow. Her fingers gently squeezed Calanon's arm as he spoke, and her eyes met his. For a moment there was silence, as her eyes searched his. But without much hesitance, Taura found herself smiling with a nod.

"Yes, we shall."

The woman then moved in with him, taking a place at a small two person table near one of the dark windows that allowed the sight of the other side of the strip of shops, which bore between two short buildings a large gap that overlooked the dock in the distance and the torchlights there to guide sailors and ships inwards.

Her hands extended onto the table after she sat, folding neatly over each one. Her eyes scanned the room once more before then turning and facing Calanon once more. Taura's full lips tugged into a harmless grin and she tapped her nails against the tablecloth.

"Calanon, thank you. This will be yet another of many experiences I've never had before. It is interesting to see people going about their lives, and being able to explore like this. Taking a break from thinking of Aelos is also nice, no matter how important he is to me." She took in a slow breath and looked from Calanon's eyes to his hair, cheeks, then to his lips, before returning to his gaze. "When is the last you've taken a woman to dine like this?" She grinned, curious to Calanon's lifestyle before she so suddenly fell into his grasp.




It was not so much Taura's question as it was its answer which caught Calanon off-guard. She seemed to have that effect on him rather often, he reflected. The truth was he'd never dined with a woman alone like this before, and that gave him pause. Why, he could not have said. Certainly he knew why he'd never done so; it was the same reason he'd not yet married. What he couldn't tell was why he found it difficult to deliver that answer to Taura just now.

Calanon drew his brow down thoughtfully, if only to fill the growing silence. What, was he embarrassed? Then he realized: it wasn't that he was afraid to tell her; it was that he did want to tell her but was unsure where that path would lead. But what did that mean? It wasn't as if...

"No woman asked me to dine with her before," Calanon replied, finally finding an aswer that avoided... whatever it was he'd been avoiding. He still wasn't sure what it was, but for some reason he felt a relief at no longer having to puzzle it out just then. He was thinking about Aelos -- maybe that was it. Taura had said she felt good thinking about something less worrisome for a while. Calanon decided he ought to follow her advice and allow himself to focus on other things.

For some reason, though, he could think of nothing to say. All the safe subjects his mind submitted as options for conversation seemed dull and insignificant.

In the end, Calanon was saved again, this time by the servingman come to take their order. After the man greeted them, Calanon gave the matter a moment's wistful thought. "I'm not sure yet. What would you like to try, Taura?"

[Kalon Ordona II]

Taura listened and smiled vaguely by his answer, though at first his reaction was puzzled. Or at least, she could somewhat read that he was unsure what to say. Was Calanon hiding something from her? Was there something to be shy of? Well, the admittance could kind of be taken in an unique light. Calanon had not mated with a woman; mated as in betrothed himself with the commitment of a lover.

"You have not dined with a woman before? Well, then we have something in common, as I have obviously never dined with a man. At least until now..." Her eyes turned up, the lavender hues scanning the other plates until she finally decided on the thing she liked the most. "As for what I shall have, the... the herb and spice bread and lemon stew sounds nice."

Her fingers drew over the tablecloth as she drew her vision down to her lap, before looking back up.

"What is it like?" Taura then said, her childlike curiosity showing its face once more. "To... to dine with me? I feel like this is the first true respite we've had together. And I know after this we will not be able to sit and enjoy each other's company like so again for quite some time... Do you enjoy my company? As a person, what am I like? Would you say I was normal, or am I different from others?"

A blush involuntarily lit her cheeks as she reached up and covered her eyes, rubbing her temples.

"I seemed to have opened my mouth and let my naive mortality speak its mind. I hope you do not mind it of me."




Following Taura's menu order, Calanon asked for a particular fillet, popular in this coastal area, even here among the mountains. As a side, he ordered an herb and potato soup, a specialty here where the winds blew, and a similar portion of the bread Taura wanted.

When the servingman left, Taura self-consciously ran her fingers over the tablecloth, asking how it felt to dine like this, with her. Was she normal, she asked, growing embarrassed.

Calanon's eyes fell, and he smiled, half to Taura, half to himself. "What is normal?" The elf reflected for a moment as Taura looked up. "I'm the last person in the world who could claim to be normal." An exaggeration, but sometimes it did feel that way. "Look at us: an unattached wizard who spends his days playing with elves, humans and trolls, and you, the very daughter of..." he caught himself--they were in public, "of a certain mother. How can either of us ever hope to be like everyone else?" He shook his head. "I don't want to be like everyone else. The only thing normal about the world is pain." He cut himself off. He didn't want to sound bitter, yet there it was, the reason he'd become a wizard in the first place: to have the power to change things for the better--himself, the ones he cared for, even the world. He shook his head again. "No, I could never be normal in this world, this world as it is."

Calanon looked up, intently, into Taura's large eyes. "If we want to be normal, we must make a new normal for the world."




Taura listened to his words, to his tone, to the very essence of his voice. Calanon's calming resonance that was his voice- the only voice she could trust in this world. When he made the statement about pain, Taura did not flinch, for she understood it. When she woke up, when she somehow survived her sister's harsh attacks. The darkness, and then returning as something so fickle, fragile, and weak. She remembered the human men, and the goblins. Everything that had shown her in humanity and mortality that the world was full of bitter darkness. He continued though, and as he spoke, Taura's lips tugged into a grin.

Without saying anything, she reached across the table. Her fingertips touched his hand, and suddenly her eyes fell to his skin. For a moment, her feather-like touch just barely grazed his skin, as if she were analyzing his every pore. From his forefinger's knuckle onward to the back of his hand, then pushing her fingers in a graceful stroll over his thumb. Calanon's skin was warm, smooth, and touching an elf would never cease to entertain her curious and innocent mind. But then again, maybe it was not touching an elf to her, deeper it might have been touching Calanon. Feeling his skin, knowing his blood runs under that flesh, that his life energy glows in the core of that vessel.

Her fingers finally took rest as her eyes returned to his. Her smile widened as her fingers wrapped around his own just barely.

"Then we will be the new normal... And together, we can change the world." She whispered. It was about then that she turned just barely to see the servant returning. Her hand broke away from Calanon's and she placed them in her lap while the food and drink was set out.

When the servant left, she took her spoon and eagerly- but respectfully- took a taste of her soup. Her throat was warmed and her mind was at a total ease in the moment. Returning her gaze to Calanon, she smiled and gestured.

"Let's eat and get on back to the inn, we've got quite the journey before us."




"Then we will be the new normal... And together, we can change the world."

Taura's words echoed in Calanon's head as they ate. Though he enjoyed his meal--the savory fish, the hot soup, the fresh, spiced, warm bread--he could not suppress the thought. She had not only grounded his vision in reality, but reflected, encouraged, even joined, his desire. The thought of who it was, daughter of the Mother, that spoke so, made his blood race anxious and excited. Whatever strength he had meant to give her, she had given to him double. After the meal, the rest of the night was a blur.

It was only when Calanon woke, standing, back in their room at the inn the next morning, that he remembered her touch on his hand. Ever so subtly, his heart quickened. He looked over at the fetal shape on the bed that was Taura beneath the covers. Not for the first time it struck him how special, how precious she was to the world, to him.

Knowing even in a room without windows that dawn approached, Calanon stepped over to the bed and gently shook Taura. As she stirred, he found himself noticing the shape beneath his hand, her bare shoulder, beneath the covers. His hand didn't want to move. He gently shook her again, then made himself pull away, curious. Taura sucked in a breath that turned to a yawn, slowly rolling onto her back. This morning, Calanon didn't want to miss a moment of her waking. He barely blinked. Taura brushed slightly damp, somewhat tousled hair from her forehead, rubbed one of her eyelids with the heel of her palm, and then slowly opened her violet eyes. One eye still half beneath her hand opened only partway, its long lashes slanting upward at an angle. The other slowly came fully open, big, round, almond shaped, the color of a rosy twilight. They blinked once, twice. Calanon melted. He felt himself relax, now, where his whole body had been tense, waiting. It felt like coming up for a breath of air to find yourself lying on a cloud. The smile that welled up onto the elf's face was large, wistful, and content.

"It's almost dawn," he said, realizing he meant it in more ways than one. "We'd best get an early start."




The dinner went well enough, and they headed out. Back to the inn, and back into bed. The night went by rather flawlessly after that though. But it was quiet- a peaceful silence that Calanon and Taura could both appreciate. And then she laid in bed. Laid there and thought of everything. Her eyes were shut, and her mind wide awake. She thought about Calanon, about the journey. Not even one Elemental yet, but soon she'd be one step ahead of that. Her thoughts finally spurred off into dreams, and she drifted into peace...

~XXX~

A gentle warmth woke her, a rocking peace. She felt like she was in the heavens again. With the Mother. Warmth. Glowing. Nothing but light, a feeling like being weightless. For a moment she rested in that sleepy place. Then she woke, slowly. Rubbing her eye, yawning quietly, squirming in a light stretch beneath the feel of a warm touch. Her eyes met Calanon's and she smiled, before then slipping out of the bed. She stretched and looked up at Calanon, before grabbing her sword and sliding into her boots.

"Morning came so quickly... Are you ready to leave?" She then said, looking up at Calanon with a curious gaze.




Calanon fetched his staff while Taura, smoothly and swiftly up and dressed, asked whether he was ready to leave. Calanon turned, looking every bit the wizard he was, still in his blue robes and water wizard's cape. Taura, too, looked as ready as she evidently felt, with her travel clothes, her long, comfortably loose, dark blue jacket pulled close by its sash, and her curved sword strapped to her back. Staff in hand, Calanon nodded. "We're ready."

This early, there was only hot stew for breakfast at the inn's common room, but it hit the spot, thick and delicious and nourishing. Since they couldn't bring the pantor up the steep slopes, and since it wasn't a good idea to carry heavy packs, the two of them ate their fill. In addition, the inn wisely had plenty of dried meat and leather pouches for travelers. Calanon bought some of both, put one into the other, and kept a few pouches empty. There were a few things on the mountain, he'd heard, that he would want to have room for. Thus fortified for the day, Calanon and Taura stepped out into the wind, leaving the town behind them, heading straight up the towering pyramid of Aelos's mountain.

The packed dirt path climbed upward, bounded on either side by dense, if shallow, vegetation. The wind whipped stray leaves and grasses first this way and then that, pulling on Calanon and Taura's clothing while it was at it. Trees grew here, after a fashion--a very short, very twisted fashion--quite thickly, in fact, up until a visible line where the trees ended, much farther up. The pair walked onward and upward. Sometimes they were hindered by the wind, sometimes the wind pressed them almost onto their hands and knees against the incline, but more often than not it was to either side. It was odd, having to lean and walk at the same time, uphill.

The first thing they encountered was a pair of elves, one dressed in robes, the other in armor. Both were downcast. It was too windy to converse with or even acknowledge them, but it was evident what had happened. The one in robes must have failed the Trials.

Calanon and Taura pressed on. Most of two hours later, the two came to a cliff face. It was relatively level here. The path turned to the right, almost as steep as before. This must be the point where it was no longer feasible to walk straight up the slope. They had to spiral up the mountainside.

Calanon rested for a moment with his back against the cliff face. Shielded somewhat from the wind here at the end of the first leg of the climb, this was a good place to catch one's breath. Berries grew here in the relative shelter--probably planted and cultivated by locals over the years--and there was a lip of stone where water trailed off the cliff wall, falling onto the grass like a little fountain. "Well, we're here," the elf said, not having to yell very loud, here, to be heard, "and just in time. Look!" Calanon pointed for Taura, away from the mountain and into the distance. Aelos's mountain cast a huge shadow that stretched all the way to the sea. Outside the shadow, there was sunlight. It was dawn. "Beautiful," he said, wistful. "The contrast. I wonder what it will look like when we are higher up, on the sun side of the mountain." Calanon sat down, watching the sunlight, and picked some of the berries, storing them in one of the pouches he'd bought.

[Kalon Ordona II]

Taura and Calanon stopped by the common room early, and she took the stew in as much as she could. She knew deep down with the climb ahead, they'd be burning off their breakfasts easily enough. The stew was filling through, and soon she had cleaned her bowl and was licking her lips and preparing to leave. On the way out she snatched up a few herbs and mint leaves from a thin basket, rolling them into a thick little oval and sticking it on her tongue. It rid the flavor of the stew from her mouth and breath, as well as eased any possible motion sickness she'd maybe encounter. Taura was expecting a lot of resistance on the uphill trek...

And so it was. At first there was shrubbery, life growing around the mountain path, but the further they climbed, the less life existed. It made things worse too. With elevation, the wind was stronger. And without the shrubs and thick trees, there was less wind resistance. They were taking it full force, which was odd and unusual to Taura. But she was glad she had taken the herbs and mint leaves and rested them on her tongues. For it was not the motion sickness or the wind just lashing at her that made her feel a little queasy. It was instead the jerking of her body in the wind, feeling its force against her. It reminded her of the battle with Avaltha.

Finally they reached the flat platform jutting out of the mountain, where the spiraling path upward began. Taura found a spot to sit next to Calanon, resting the back of her head on the wall. Ache riddled through her in memory, but she knew that it was both the memory and her mortality that she would have to conquer to return to her previous level of power. The woman was silent for a few moments, until Calanon spoke. And it was at his words that she opened her eyes and gazed out over the ocean, over the shadow of the mountain as it fell into the glittering seas.

"It is beautiful." She whispered. The first humanly wonderful sight she'd seen. Taura gazed upon it for a few minutes and chewed lightly on the herbs, before rolling them with her tongue. When complete, she shuffled the little roll of mint and herb under her tongue, all before taking in a long breath of the fresh breezy air there.

"The wind is terrible." She chuckled. "But we're a good step ahead. We've made good time too." She then let her twilight eyes fall upon Calanon, and she grinned. "How are you holding up, having encountered this sort of thing before?"




Calanon looked over at Taura as they sat for a moment. He replied when she asked how he was holding up, "I haven't been tested against Aelos's wind before now. Everything the past few days, though, has probably helped. The wind is everywhere."
"Well, I would've thought otherwise," Taura said with a slight grin. "You seem to handle the winds a good deal better than I. Then again, I doubt I have seen much hinder you from your path."
Calanon wondered. "I doubt I would be this far without you. In fact, I'd probably still be at my home in the woods. Now that you mention it, though, I suppose I have been through this sort of ordeal before. The winds on the sea near Eulos were an ever-present danger. And there was Eulos himself, of course. I think, maybe, the simple presence of such power is daunting enough on its own. Having faced it before, perhaps Aelos's wind is less of a concern to me."

They waited half a moment longer, and by then they had their breath back. It was time to move on. Calanon stood up and held out his hand. Taura didn't need help standing, but she smiled, grasped his hand and pulled herself up. The path ahead waited for them.

Winding slowly around the mountainside, the road became more rocky now as it climbed higher. It was not rough, the oft-trod road, but it was becoming hard, more solid, less forgiving. And, where before the wind blew them predominantly from side to side, now it forced them hard against the ground, or precariously backward toward a fall. Not because the wind had changed, but because the path had changed from straight up to around the side. Most of Aelos's wind blew parallel to the side of the mountain, reversing direction at random intervals. It was during reversals that the wind was wont to crush them against the steep incline on their left, or pull them toward a rolling, falling, injurious setback on their right. Safest to lean forward and to the left and accept falling forward or toward the high ground, rather than risk falling either backward along the path or to the right, unable to stop rolling until the mountain started to level out, far below.

This continued for some time. Calanon's robes grew dusty, and he knew Taurq's cream-colored leggings couldn't be faring much better. Though this would be the least of their worries, at the moment there was little else to worry about. They stayed together, fought the wind, helped each other up if the wind pushed them to the ground, and pressed on. It was perhaps three hours until, once again, the ground leveled off for a small space. It was the next leg of their climb: the dark mouth of a cave. "Come on," Calanon called, taking Taura by the hand to lead her out of the wind, just inside the cave's entrance. Once they were inside, Calanon sat down and leaned against the cave wall, again needing to catch his breath.

"I read about this cave," he began, after a moment. "It stretches on, like a tunnel. The path continues through it almost as if the cave were not here; it winds around the side of the mountain much as it has been up till now." Calanon paused to breathe some more, heaving a contented--if somewhat wearied--sigh. "We're making good progress."




The travel began again, and for the first half hour of their return, Taura felt exceptionally better. She thought about what Calanon had said. Was he really happy to be out with her like this? To have had a weak celestial fall metaphorically into his lap like a babe for him to raise and nurture into strength? Whatever the reason, he did seem content with her company, and that thought provided some little bit of elation for a short duration of travel.

Of course the path got rougher though, and her happy thoughts were washed away as if carried off by the wind. The whipping torrents of air lashed at her, made her duck her head and lean into the rock walling. Her calf muscles ached, threatening cramps from the pushing forward. The back of her body felt as though hammers were being slung into her. Did it hurt so much, or was it the reminder? Taura recalled Avaltha's blade, flat ended smacking into her, knocking her forward or back, slashing at her. Her bursts of magic like balls of invisible force wrecking into her.

Taura drew the herbs from beneath her tongue and slid them between the back of her teeth, on the left side, chewing slowly. The taste of fading mint eased her stomach, and the hint of thyme reminded her of the herbs in the bread when she dined with Calanon the previous night.

Forward, forward, and soon they were given a break. They found themselves upon a cliff edge, and with that at the entrance of a cavern. Taura almost fell into the open space, moving inward until she was no longer affected by the wind. She pressed her back to one of the walls and chewed on the herbs her last bit, before taking out the crumpled leaves and letting them fall to the floor. She took in a long breath, breathed, over and over, taking her time to recover. Soon it felt like her body was recovered, only weary in her legs. She looked up at Calanon and smiled vaguely.

The wind crashed into the open cavern face, and whistled like a howling wolf as it ran through the insides. It was nice, she thought. Especially now, looking out from the shade and seeing the vast sunlight basking the island and sea alike. Glittering waters, brilliant green shrubs and short twisted trees, and the gray and brown paths far below that served a smooth neutral for the brighter shades of the life and water.

"Beautiful." Taura whispered, before then looking at Calanon, a vague smile. "Thank goodness we got here, the wind was quite vicious." She said, and then grinned again. "And the shade is a nice break."

Leaning forward, Taura dusted off her sash and coat, then her leggings, and gestured to continue deeper into the caverns.




The lack of wind was refreshing enough that Calanon needed little time to recover from the previous climb. Taura apparently felt the same, seeming even eager to move on. Calanon, too, felt a certain excitement. He glanced out at the sunbathed world outside. They were on the north-northeast face of the mountain, and the morning light was warm and bright. Calanon ate a piece of the dried meat and, standing up, offered one to Taura. He was getting thirsty, too, but he knew from the books he'd read that there was an underground spring inside this cavern.

The tunnel-like cave was damp, smelling like wet sand. A slight breeze blew through it, again changing direction sporadically, every so often. It was chilly because of the moisture and the perpetual shade, but it was no hindrance to the pair of travelers. The exertion of the climb made their blood quick, carrying heat through their bodies even as the air did its best to suck the heat out.

Though the path went straight through, curving slightly to the left, the cavern was not simply a straight tunnel. Openings small and great appeared often, varying greatly. Some openings were like branching tunnels. Some were simple expansions of the tunnel walls, so that the path opened to clearings, of a sort, of different sizes. Sometimes the ceiling, too, would increase in height. Calanon observed the cave walls as they briskly walked along. Taura had lit the place with a small orb of light levitating above her palm. Shadows moved like a sundial as the light passed on. Calanon was fascinated by the stalactites suspended from the ceiling, creating the weirdest shadows on the rough surroundings. After a short while, Calanon heard a babble of water echoing from one of the openings.

Taura's light was much more steady and many times brighter than any torch, so the pair had no trouble navigating the rougher ground they encountered off the beaten path. Sure enough, here was water, falling down the cave wall to collect in a shallow pool, where its overflow spilled into another crevice in the cave floor. Calanon brightened with realization. "That must be the same water that feeds the little fountain where the spiraling path begins."




Taura moved next to Calanon deeper into the cavern. And every piece of it she saw and etched into memory. The way the cavern walls expanded and contracted with their travel. The way her white, unbreakable light, made the damp floor and ceiling glitter. And the light she summoned, it did not take so much strength from her. An orb the size of an apricot in her palm shone brighter than most lights and could be compared to a teeny little sun.

The wind began to be melodic almost, even musical- especially when paired with the sound of running water somewhere. And that water was soon to be discovered as well, when they came to the tiny crevice and running water along the floor.

"True." Taura whispered in response to Calanon, as she approached the shallow pool. There, she knelt down and dipped her free hand into the water. It was cool, chilly even, and yet smooth, clear, and seemed refreshing by appearance, texture, and smell. She lifted her cupped palm to her lips then, and drained the icy water into her lips, drinking it down with a relaxed expression. Two more cupped handfuls, and then she stood and smiled at Calanon, the orb of light casting unique highlights and shadows along her face since it was at her left side.

"This cave is nice, and peaceful. The kind of place that it would be nice to stay for a night. I wonder what the sunrise looks like from here." She grinned, thinking of the dawn before then approaching Calanon. She looked past him for a moment, but her eyes eagerly came to meet his own.

"We are coming closer to Aelos... Are you ready?"




Calanon, too, drank handfuls of the smooth, cold water. It was even more refreshing than the chafing wind's absence.
"Are you ready?" Taura asked, when they'd finished.
"Of course," said the wizard, excited despite the dangers ahead.

Back on the path the two continued. They went on for an hour or more, climbing uphill, passing more openings and clearings and cavernous spaces. Still with much of the cave yet to traverse, it was in one of the cavernous spaces that Calanon noticed something odd. The brightness of Taura's light illuminated a spark of light in the distance. It was such a fleeting glance that Calanon wondered at first whether he'd imagined it. There was a small opening a little higher than the floor. "Did you see that?" Calanon pointed.

The opening was a little ways off the path, to the left, set into the cavern wall. Calanon went around stalagmites, guided by Taura's light, and found himself standing in front of a hole at chest height. "What is this?" Taura asked, catching up behind Calanon just before he started to climb up onto the shelf-like floor of the chamber beyond. Calanon looked around. The chamber was just tall enough for him to stand in. By the short echo of his breath, he judged the size of the room to be relatively small. Taura held up her light. There was the flash again!
"Did you see that?" Calanon asked again.
"I did! Something..." said Taura.
Calanon turned around and helped her up into the little room. Taura's light illuminated the whole place brightly. She partly covered it with her other hand.

A steel-bound, varnished wooden chest sat at the far end of the space. Its lock was part steel, part gold. "The light must have fell on the lock," Calanon breathed, squatting down near the large box-shape with its arching lid. "See? The lock is part steel, part gold, so it won't rust and ruin the lock-work. I wonder how long it's been here?"
"And what's inside it," Taura added. "It's as big as the opening back there."
Calanon tried lifting it. It was heavy, but he got one side of it off the floor before setting it back down. It wasn't heavy enough to be full of gold. When he dropped it, it made a startlingly loud triple clicking sound. A sharp crack had appeared in the lid. Wood didn't do that. There was another crack and a snick. "What was that?"
"The lock," said an astonished Taura, who had been in a position to see. "The lid moved!"
"Could it really..." Calanon lifted the lid. It was open!

Inside was a thick red cloth. Calanon reached in to feel it. The material was soft but durable. He lifted it and saw that it was folded. It must have been a robe or a cloak. Calanon lifted another fold--and uncovered a gold circlet! It was set with a small, perfectly cut maiárdite stone. "What is this...?" Calanon asked the box, feeling apprehensive.
"What," asked Taura, sensing something was wrong. "What is it?"
"It would have belonged to a wizard. A very powerful wizard. What happened?" Calanon carefully lifted the circlet and uncovered another fold of the red cloth. It revealed a gold medallion, this one set with an amber-colored stone, larger than the one in the circlet. "A medallion from Eiras."
Slowly, Calanon uncovered two more folds, until the whole cloth was lifted out. Beneath it, laying atop a folded red wizard's robe, was the remains of a staff, broken in three places, its cracked dragon-forms sheared from the rod and lying flat, and among the wreckage... the shattered shards of a huge red stone.
"Oh no..." Calanon sagged with regret for whatever wizard had lost his life, it must have been, long ago.
"Calanon?" Taura sounded worried, now. "Are you all right?"
"This wizard must have failed--terribly--the Test of Power." Calanon tried to puzzle together what might have happened. "Maybe his friend carried his things here, afraid of another wizard finding them."
"Should we try to find who they are?"
Calanon shook his head. "Look at this wood; it's hard as the stone around it. This must have happened a very long time ago. Everyone involved is probably long dead."
"Except Aelos," Taura corrected.
Calanon's head came up. "Maybe he would remember, at that."
"What do the jewelry do?"
"They store and help to focus power, like my staff. This wizard had a fyrolite staff from Aunos, a coronite medallion from Eiras, a maiárdite circlet from Ëulos. He was trying to obtain a enargate ring from Aelos. Then he would have been a Sage. I wonder why he failed..."
"Then, if the medallion and circlet would help, couldn't you use them?"
Calanon thought about it. He wasn't sure. "I don't know. I suppose I could bring them along, just in case. But I dare not wear them. Not yet. I'll ask Aelos."
"What of the gold? The staff."
"Aelos can send a dragon to retrieve it. I'd be too afraid to use the gold for profit."

Calanon replaced the red cloak, covering the broken staff. Then he untied his sash enough to thread the circlet through it, then wedged the medallion and its chain between some of the folds of the same sash after retying it. "I suppose we'd better go," he said then, more to himself than to Taura, trying to clear the air and lighten the mood. It didn't work very well. Wordlessly, the two climbed back out of the chamber and worked their way back to the path. There was still some distance to go yet, before the end of the cave.

[Kalon Ordona II]

They had continued and finally came to something unique. Taura used her light to cast light into darkness and show them something- glinting ever so barely in the distance. Calanon stepped up into the hole, and Taura traveled into it after him with the nimble agility of a forest creature. She shone her light closer, and stepped curiously towards it.

The treasure chest availed to Taura things that she had not been expecting in a chest. As Calanon pulled things out and explained them, a pit of worry formed inside of Taura. Had such an experienced wizard truly failed, or was something else apart of this, beyond the Elementals? Maybe someone was jealous and put him to death, and did not want him to achieve the rank of Sage amongst Mages everywhere. But Taura bit her lip. No, she thought too much on things. But that simply meant that the Tests upcoming were going to be vicious and cold. Frightening even. She caressed the handle of her scimitar and she took in a long, cool breath.

"Indeed we should." Taura said softly. She hopped out of the hole in the cavern wall and back to the tunnel...

Finally they had come near the cavern's end. And it had been fifty minutes after their discovery of the fallen Wizard's belongings. Taura caught her breath, and then continued slowly. The cavern was short, and cool, and again bore the same howling of wind traveling through it.

On the other side though, Taura found surprise and readiness clashing inside of her. Upon the mouth of the cavern's end, she saw a wide oval platform that would be as wide as a field. The mouth of the cavern went straight up, as if someone had cut the mountain to make this platform. But at some point, the mountain leaned back out a bit, creating a shadowy alcove over a third of the wide stone ridge. And upon it- this being what summoned forth Taura's spirit and worry all at once- was a dragon. The Test of Power.

It was hunched down in a pouncing position, a dark hunter green dragon. It bore eyes of a wild lime that was vibrant and piercing. Lengthy, powerful, and yet slender. One could look and tell the dragon was designed for the environment. It was somewhat slender, with a broader chest that sloped down into a narrow stomach, and a long winding tail and wiry arms and legs. Long fingers, with thick obsidian claws that dug into the earth and latched the dragon onto it perfectly. And the wings- that was perhaps the most unique. They looked surely as if they could fly, but as if made for some kind of resistance to the wind. The wings stretched open, broad, and a sharp whistling echoed through the area as wind tore through the two long slits in the thick leather wing flesh. Cuts not made by a blade or by battle, but something this dragon was born with. Slits that had a strange thin coating of skin over them that was probably porous and allowed air to pass through with a little resistance. It seemed as if used to allow these dragons to fly against the wind. Surely by the muscles that riddled themselves along the dragon's back, it looked as though such a task was definitely feasible. The face was long, narrow, and jaggedly sharp. The chip came down to a point, and rose up into the nose and muzzle in an upside down triangle styled shape. The teeth were broad and sharp, and vicious to gaze upon, only to rise up the bridge of the dragon's mouth to find on gazing into the brilliant eyes like slices of poisoned kiwi with slitted pupils that seemed to have just a tiny touch of green square in the centers, and a second set of eyelids that enclosed upon the eye from the sides.

"Mother guide us." Taura whispered, and her sword was drawn slowly, the would-be sound of metal against the steely sharpener inside of her sheath's top easily blocked out by the whistling wind and the low grumble of the dragon that seemed to just barely resonate through the ground.




Calanon and Taura spent the better part of an hour walking on through the cavern in silence. It was subduing, what happened to the wizard. If that was what had happened. Either way, a third-level Mage had died here, long ago. Calanon was troubled by it as they walked, ever uphill, along the ever hardening ground.

Before Calanon knew it, there was the light of the cavern's exit. Calanon ate another piece of dried meat and some of the berries he'd picked earlier, offering some to Taura as well. The exit arched upward and grew larger as they came near. The sun brightly lit the left side of the cave mouth, and the ambiance of day flooded toward them through the opening. Fresh air, and a whistle of wind, called to them in greeting. Or was it mockery? Calanon could now see the wide, flat space beyond. The perfect place for a good fight. They must be around half-way up the mountain. The perfect place for the Test. Calanon steeled himself, sure that a dragon was waiting for him.

"This is it," he said softly, then fell into a hushed invocation. "I call upon the power of Ëulos. Waters of Life, arise." All dragons breathed fire. Calanon wanted neither of them caught off-guard. "Wave Shell." Blue, elemental water spread out thin to surround first Calanon, then Taura, turning transparent and then invisible as the spell took effect. This was a spell that did not require energy to maintain. It would protect from flame and last until overpowered.

They stepped out onto the wind-swept mountainside. Taura was watching all around, her back to him. She did not see the dragon that stood tall and erect, blocking the path ahead. It was huge, leaf-green with yellow and black eyes. It crouched on its hind legs, its forelimbs more closely resembling arms. It's expansive wings unfurled in challenge as it caught sight of the elven wizard. Behind him, Calanon heard Taura draw her sword. She must have noticed the dragon; good. Calanon wasted no time. "I call upon the power of Ëulos!! Waters of War, arise!!" Calanon waited. The large dragon fell onto all fours and stalked toward him. Calanon knew enough about dragons to know he was gathering for a flame strike. He waited until it reared to blast him. Just as Calanon was about to unleash the spell, a rumbling roar from behind startled him out of his wits. Without thinking he whirled around and finished his invocation. "Spiral Torrent!!"

A huge amount of blue, glowing water gushed from Calanon's staff. Alive, swirling, it lanced toward the shape of a dragon nestled above the cavern's mouth, ready to pounce from atop the rocky overhang. Calanon yelled as the thing was beaten back, but cried out as intense heat torched against his back. Two at once! Calanon had to trust that the smaller dragon was put off for now; the large dragon was the immediate threat. Wrenching his staff around, water still gushing forth, Calanon trained the torrent on the dragon's fiery maw. The fire stopped using up his water shield, but the dragon's breath did not cease. Orange flame and blue Water clashed in midair, each sustained, each striving for the mastery. Which would prove stronger?"




The battle began immediately, and Taura noted when she turned that there was a second, larger dragon. She hissed quietly, seeing Calanon just take notice to the smaller one she had seen first. It was his spell that was taken surprise too, as it suddenly changed targets. The smaller dragon was pushed up the alcove a bit, while the other cast forth a fiery breath upon Calanon's back. The heat is what mostly reached him, as she watched and did not see the fire make contact. But hell, this fight was going to be tough, could she fight dragons?

Mother, my magic is so weak, how can I fight these?

Taura let her tongue sweep out over her lips as her violet eyes narrowed, and she focused then on the larger dragon as it clashed with Calanon. She rushed forward, staying near the wall of the mountain before she curved off and leaped. She opened her arms back and made for the dragon in a spring. It's eyes turned to see her, but it was too late. She jumped, pushing her feet against the ground. Her legs ached, but she did the feat nonetheless. She leaped up, her boots gripping the dry green scales of the dragon as she propelled upward. Soon she raised her hand just before that muzzle opened and either burned her or ate her alive. A bright light formed in her palm, sudden and brilliant, and stunned the dragon by being thrust towards its eye as it looked down at her. She continued up, moving until she could jump off. As the dragon stood, she had made this jump off, rolling when she hit the ground and turning to slice at the dragon's leg. But it was then that- after her sword's edge scratched and afflicted the scales- that the second dragon jumped down from its place, landing right behind her. She heard its chest rumble, its lungs filling up, nostrils sucking in air.

"Mother." She closed her eyes tightly, and gasped as soon as she felt it. Heat surrounded her, swallowed her up. She felt her clothes growing hotter and hotter, and the spell Calanon cast upon her was quickly wearing down. Taura knelt and dipped her head down covering her head with one arm while her other held the blade up. The sword edge of her scimitar grew red with heat as finally the flames stopped.

Taura gasped, opening her eyes. Her robes had burned off of her body, her clothes beneath charred slightly and her skin a little red and irritated though she had somehow managed. But another breath of fire would leave her roasted and crispy, and only ash to feed the wind. She jumped up, weak and unbalanced at first, but she sucked in a lungful of air and ground her teeth together.

"Grrragh!" She growled out, refusing to collapse and give way to how weak her mortal body felt. She drew the sword back and jumped up, slicing it at a diagonal angle downward as she came back. She fell upon her knees, the landing rattling her body. The dragon hissed and cried, roaring in pain as one hand clutched its throat. The hot steel of her blade was enough. While it was heated by the dragon's fire, it seared right through the scales and bore into the flesh of the dragon's throat. Not deep enough to kill it, but she damn well hurt the thing.

"C..." She couldn't form words, couldn't speak. Her vision hazed but she would keep on. The blade was slowly losing it's red tint, and she came to a stand once more. She was still- a foolish move- while drawing back her blade. The dragon drew back it's large scaled hand. Taura shoved the sword forward, swinging it horizontally. It cut another line into the dragon, in the throat, but not deep enough to kill it. Dragon's blood began to seep over the beautiful green scales, and Taura fell to one knee, gasping, looking up and wondering how to take it out.

Her eyes saw it. She had created an off-balance "X" or "t" on the creature's throat. That center availed a point where she could thrust her sword straight inside and take it down. That kind of injury would put even such a foul beast out of commission.

But she thought too much. When she brought herself up on one knee, she found something like defeat. A heavy weight like a wall crashed into her. The dragon smacked her mortal body, and claws wrapped around her. She fit into its hand like a pet. The sweeping motion led in a slightly curved angle, and sent her downward. Her body crashed into the ground, ache swarmed through her. Her heart beat, and her entirety throbbed. Her pulse in her throat, in her chest, it was like a war drum. Her eyes rolled around her head for a moment. To the sky, to the other dragon, and she found herself slowly sinking back in. Pain raked through her and then she noticed it. The smaller dragon taking another breath- though it was harder with the injury along it's clavicle and throat.

"Fire." She couldn't battle it. She groaned a bit, and then ground her teeth. "Calanon!" She mustered up everything to call his name, as she pushed herself up and drew her knees to her chest, covering her face in fear of the burn of death that was ultimately coming without some aid, be it by the Mother, or by her companion.




Calanon only noticed the larger dragon had been stunned when the spiral torrent of his water magic blasted into the beast, continued, and ceased. Where was the other one? "I call upon the power of Ëulos," he intoned, ready for anything. "Waters of Storm, strike!" Calanon whirled round and gasped, for Taura was in the dragon's clutches, being pressed into the ground. Her robe was burned off! Her shield was out! The dragon was going to flame! No! There was no time!

"TAURA! NO!! DREADED WAVE!!" The water wizard swung his staff to the side, and again, diagonally, to the side, twirled it, again, unleashing wave after wave of dense blue element in a fearsome barrage many times stronger than Calanon had anticipated. The dragon fell back, covering itself with its wings and growling at each strike. Calanon ran out, collapsed to his knees. Was it over?

Calanon saw the smaller dragon rumble deep in its gut.
He heard the larger grunt and roar.
And he heard the rhythmic beating of a third on the wind.

Despair closed in. "No..."
His heart fought back. "No!"
Calanon pulled himself up and staggered toward Taura. "I call upon the... power of Ëulos," he panted. "Waters of Death, break forth!" He fell on top of Taura just as the smaller dragon gathered its breath and unleashed its flame. The larger dragon charged. The third flew in, adding its roars and its own flame to the fray. Calanon waited past his water shield's failing. His cape grew hot, his robes began to burn. He let the energy build until he thought he might burst.

"JET SCYTHE FOUNTAIN!!!"

An explosion of water larger than the size of the entire field erupted from the head of Calanon's staff. Pressurized streams of water joined, and then another explosive wave, and another. The streams turned and whirled all the while, cutting into the surrounding landscape, spraying into the sky, and continuing, and continuing, long after the three dragons were sent flailing from the mountainside, tumbling out of control farther and faster than they could have flown in such a time, all the way out to the sea.

* * * * *

Water was still cascading from the mountain when Calanon woke. Soaked to the bone, the water wizard was on his back. The sky was stark blue; it must be hours past midday. Calanon noticed Taura's face over him just as the concern melted from her expression.

A beat of wings brought it all back. Calanon struggled to get up, fell down onto the wet stone, scrambled for his staff. Taura was up, her sword drawn.

"HOLD!" came a deep voice inside Calanon's head. Taura must have heard it, too, flinching so hard that she half dropped her sword. "IT IS DONE," the booming voice came again--not angry, not shouting, just loud. "BE AT EASE."
Taura did not sheathe her blade.
Calanon struggled to his feet, leaning on his staff.

Another green dragon flew in from the north. Calanon and Taura waited as it drew nearer, swooped in, up, and flared out to land between them and the upward path ahead. It was neither the large dragon from before nor the dark-scaled smaller one. It must be the third that had arrived at the end.
"OF THE THREE OF US, ONLY I HAVE SURVIVED," the dragon communicated, as if it knew the vein of their thoughts. Its head swiveled to stare at Calanon. "YOU HAVE PASSED OUR TEST OF POWER. YOU HONOR THE LIVES OF THE TWO WHO FELL. COME, RECEIVE THE VESSEL FOR YOUR PACT WITH AELOS."

Calanon staggered forward, weary of magic and wary of the wet, slippery ground. Still leaning on his staff, he stood before the green dragon. The beast produced a gold medallion, the chain hanging draped across his claws, the wind causing the dangling chain to sway in the air. Calanon accepted it with his free hand.
The dragon bowed his head, then stepped aside from the path. "MAY YOUR VICTORY NEVER BE IN VAIN." With a mighty beat of his wings, the dragon pushed off from the ground and flew off, letting the crisp, fresh wind carry him out of sight.

Calanon looked down at the medallion in his hand. Gold, shimmering, its edges decorated with wind-like swirls and dragon's wings, its large central space was conspicuously empty, waiting for the stone Aelos would put therein if Calanon passed his Trials. For now, Calanon could only breathe a sigh of relief. The wind blew his tattered wizard's cape; his charred robes snapped in the wind. He looked over at Taura, seeing her appearance similarly marred. He took a deep breath, put the medallion over his head, and fumbled shakily for the pouch full of dried meat--spiced, dried meat that was no longer quite so dry. "Shall we finish these?"

[Kalon Ordona II]

Taura waited, waited for the burn. But instead came a cool refreshing wave of energy. Water, perhaps. It felt of Calanon's ability. Then, when she had fallen back onto her rear and stared up at the sky, she was hit. Wave after wave of water hit the ground and rebound off of the dragon, splashing her. She coughed and sputtered, and turned onto her side, covering her face. She sheathed her sword quickly and hoped to hide.

Calanon has never been so powerful! Mother, is this your doing that gives him strength?

Things began to fade, and slowly Taura's eyes fell shut as she sheltered her face. Darkness. Cool, refreshing darkness was coming about...

No my Daughter, it is yours.

~XXX~

It wasn't even a full minute of being out. Not at all, she was up in short time. Waking, she felt refreshed and calm, and her skin which had been lightly irritated by heat was now moist and quenched from Calanon's water. Her black hair was damp and clung to her face, her dark lashes clumped together wetly and holding tiny beads of moisture on their ends. Her face and skin had tiny droplets of dew upon it, and her clothes were heavy with water. It would not take long in the wind to dry, and the feel of it all was so refreshing.

She moved over towards Calanon. Her first sight in standing was him, upon the empty platform. She knelt over his form, watched him peacefully. He was breathing, he was alive, and he would be well. Should he be injured, Taura would nurture him, but she felt like he was well. Her fingertips grazed his forehead, curving to draw down his cheek and to his chin, then along his throat. A soft touch, so caring and tender. A part of her was glad he was not awake to notice this touch. There was an innocent longing in the way her violet eyes saw him then. She did not understand, she could not fathom what it was about his skin and about him as a sentient being that made her care so much. Her fingertips had removed themselves, and she heard the soft beating far in the distance.

It was then he woke, and Taura stood, unsheathing her blade. She would fight all the dragons that came, she thought. Taura stood, steadfast in her tracks as this dragon spoke to them- both, mentally. As it did so, she found herself calming, and glad.

And she was happy, happy they survived. It was harmonious, seeing Calanon be given the medallion as they decided to head on. He pulled out the remaining meat and Taura smiled. Appetite? She had none, but it was smart to eat. She took a sliver of the now dampened meat and chewed on it slowly, eating as she stared out to the sea.

What she would give, for a peaceful world, where they could both be free without responsibility and destiny. Where they could be together. Would Calanon be her friend then, if she were not the Daughter? If she had not stumbled into his home and subconsciously chosen him as her friend, companion, guardian, and guide?

Something deep within her told her Calanon was far to her more than what her mind perceived him to be.

"I am ready to continue." Taura said softly, looking at Calanon. She saw how weary he seemed, so she stood on the other side of him- opposite of his staff. And she hooked her arm around his own and began to walk forward slowly.

"Come, let us go... This trip is far from over... And oh, how I will be so grateful for an Inn bed when we are through."




Calanon's hands were still shaking as he and Taura ate. It took him a while to get over the aftereffects of the whole ordeal. A few deep breaths of cold air, a little mental organization, and the elf started to feel better. Walking, in fact, did more to ease his tension. For now, instead of the brisk walk with which they had traversed the mountain thus far, they kept themselves to a more leisurely pace. This also gave their clothes time to dry in the sun, while they were still on this side of the mountain. They passed the time in silence or brief comments, finding that they were both too shaken for any real conversation.

Having defeated the dragons, the pair had passed the midpoint of their ascent. Their clothes were mostly dry, now, from the past two hours of sun and wind, and already the two had again quickened their pace. They were almost out of sight of the sun as they progressed along the spiraling, upward path. About this point they reached a large alcove set into the mountainside, a sort of roofless, conical chamber. Amazingly, plants grew here. This was what Calanon had heard about, why he'd made sure to have an extra pouch or two.

They were on the south-eastern face of the mountain, the part that got the most sun throughout the year. The plants that grew here were a special type of herb, rare and potent, called Wizard's Touch. It was so named because only aspiring wizards had access to the plant. It grew above where dragons gathered for the Test of Power; none but a wizard was even capable of venturing any higher. "Look," said Calanon, "the only herb that can increase magic resistance." The elf knelt and picked several of the dark green, almost black, leaves. Then he stood up and plucked some of the whole plants, smaller than those on the ground, growing from cracks in the rock wall. Stowing them in a pouch, Calanon picked two final leaves and handed one to Taura. "Try one. They're supposed to be a little rejuvenating as well." He smiled, putting the other in his own mouth, and turned back toward the trail.

[Eternity]

The travel was as it had been even up to this point; tiring. Her legs burned, the muscles under her skin seeming to sear with newfound limits. Being mortal was so difficult, so insanely uncommon and even now, after so long, she was still not used to it. Not used to a body that could be broken, a mind that could be swayed, or a heart that could be tempted. But she was thankful, thankful to the Mother, that in the challenges brought on by having to face all such things, she had a guardian such as Calanon, a pillar of strength that could hold even a fallen Goddess to stand. For that, she thought, she would strive onwards. For justice, for hope, for peace. For Calanon...

She'd dwindled into her mind basically for the next piece of time they were traveling the mountain's path, her off-magenta colored eyes gazing at the ground. Brushing the ebony tendrils of her hair away from her face, she finally saw the alcove, the dip into the mountainside that seemed to call in silence for them to take break. And Taura would not deny such a desire, her body already tired.

Moving into the alcove, she slipped down, dropping herself to the ground in a slow motion to relax. A sigh of relief escaped her, as her legs sang internal songs of thanks for the break as well.

"They're what?" She said, looking up to Calanon. Her gaze locked onto his for a moment as a soft, barely seen smile formed upon her lips as she reached out, clamping the leaf between her finger and thumb very, very gently. Pulling it towards herself, she gazed at it, seeming to study it over with bright eyes, turning it, and looking it over, before finally she popped it into her mouth. Laying it against the bed of her tongue, she closed her lips and felt the saliva building at its touch to her taste buds already beginning to wear at the leaf, until she began to swirl it over to the side of her mouth and quietly and scarcely chew and gnaw on it, breaking it down further as the taste flooded her mouth and spun down her throat. Shortly after the very first swallow of its flavor, she could feel herself feeling just a little less fatigued, a little less weak.

"Thank you." She said, as she pushed her palms against the ground, her arms flexing as she rose up from the ground and she came to a full stand, moving to his side once more. For a moment she gazed off the mountain, to the endless oceans spread out for miles, casting a graceful blue amongst the horizon, where sea met sky being a fine line to barely break the two. So far... so long... This journey was truly one for the ages, for the books; for scribes to read and for fathers to tell to their sons when they speak of the fables of honor and resilient virtue.

Turning her head, she looked up at the much taller elf, and with a tilt of her head gestured back to the path again, taking the first step but standing near him, her arm ready to hook around her companion's waist again if he needed aid in traveling. To count on one another; for together, they seemed... unstoppable.

[Kalon Ordona II]

"It's not much farther now," said Calanon, looking up toward the mountain's peak. The winds half succeeded in whipping his hair in front of his eyes. "I think we'll make it."

Indeed before long their pace had quickened, thanks to the rich-tasting herb. They wound their way around the mountain. All at once, the rocky path became stairs cut into the stone ground. Calanon had read about this; they were almost to the top. "Someone even counted," the wizard was saying. "There are supposed to be four hundred steps."

The pair didn't bother duplicating the count. They were too busy discussing possible scenarios once they reached the top. They were on the north face of the mountain, now. Directly below them, far down on the outward slope Calanon pointed out, was the point where the spiral path began. And then, all at once, the stairs ended. They had reached the top of Aelos' mountain.

It was a wide plateau, as if someone had sliced off the mountain's peak with a knife--a knife the size of fifty trees. The ground was perfectly flat. Toward the southern end, but nowhere near the edge, stood a half-circle of fluted columns connected by a horizontal arc of stone. The columns appeared as thick as both outstretched arms. Their crowns were depictions of dragons--their statued, outstretched wings supported the curved stone arc. Wind patterns decorated the arc and wound in spirals around the columns.

The sun was setting in the southwest, on their right, as Calanon and Taura looked on. It cast the entire scene in fiery contrast. Coming closer, the winds abruptly calmed, and they could see that the columns rested on a dais that could have comfortably cradled Calanon's house. A second, smaller dais stood at the center of the plateau, about as far from the columns as the larger platform was wide. The smaller dais, with stairs leading up to it, obscured the larger platform's center. Calanon knew who would be there. Even now he could hear the wind whistling through the fluted columns. With a last look at Taura, Calanon led the way up the short flight of stairs.

Once at the top, the sight of Aelos, keeper of Wind, commanded all attention. As Ëulos had been, Calanon remembered, Aelos was nothing less than the embodiment of his element. This was the Elemental of Air. Calanon could not tell if it was a man or a cyclone. He was certainly taller than any man could be, and his limbs seemed to be swirling with cyclones of their own. The air moved about him in great spirals, halfway visible as transparent streaks of swift, circular movement in both directions. As all wizards did, Aelos held a staff, but this one was intricate, its head larger and more elaborate than any wizard's staff, and all carved of pure, deep green enargate. Just as Ëulos' maiárdite staff.

Calanon was spellbound, casting in his mind how he should proceed. He could come up with nothing, so he waited, while the whistling sounds grew louder, finding himself unable to stop watching the wind converge in blinding orbit around its keeper, its Elemental, Aelos.

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