knew when the Barrier disappeared, it heralded his coming.”
“But how did you know it was me?” asked Gewey.
“Our people have connection with what you call the flow,” she replied. “Though the elves of this land have lost much of their power, we have not. You could never hide what you are from us.” She held out her hand. Before Gewey realized what he was doing he had taken it and allowed her to pull him onto the platform. “We have learned much about our brethren since we first arrived.” She spoke to the elves, but her eyes were on Gewey. “You despise the Gods. You would turn away your one hope for salvation. But you do not understand what that would mean. You have an enemy rising against you. An enemy that will wipe you from the face of this land. An enemy that has corrupted the hearts of your brothers and sisters.” The persuasive elf released Gewey and pointed to the wounded in the pavilion. “This is the result.” Her voice was hard and cold as steel. “You have made war with your own kind once before. This we know. And though it caused us great sorrow to think of such a thing, we hoped that you had learned from your mistakes. We hoped you had not fallen so far that your spirit was lost.” The air around Aaliyah stirred as the flow rushed through her. “You asked why we reveal ourselves now. You wonder why we waited.” A flame burst to life above her head and shot skyward. The crowd backed away in shock. Gewey stood transfixed. “We waited because you are as different from us as the humans are from you. We feared your own sins would return. We feared you could not regain what you have lost.” She released the flow and the air stilled. Her features softened and a delicate smile returned. “But the time for fear is past, and we waited too long.”
“What do you intend to do?” asked Theopolou.
“We intend to teach you,” she replied. “All of you. Even those who have lost their way. Those who have attacked this place have been warped and controlled by a force they could not resist. The one you know as the Reborn King has unleashed a power beyond your understanding. It is a power you cannot hope to overcome. Even with Shivis Mol at your side, you will need more.”
“We have the Book of Souls,” said Theopolou.
“I know,” she said. “But have you tried to use it?”
“Gewey has opened it,” said Chiron.
“We know of the Book of Souls,” said Aaliyah. “And such a thing will be needed in the days ahead. But you need weapons. Weapons that can match those brought to bear against you.”
“And where shall we acquire such weapons?” asked Theopolou.
Aaliyah looked at Gewey's sword, hanging from his belt. “There is a place. It is where the sword Shivis Mol now wields was forged.”
Theopolou raised an eyebrow. “And you know where it is?”
“We know where to look,” she answered. “In the desert of the east; we have sensed its power.”
“It would take months to make the journey,” said Bellisia. “We are already attacked. I fear we have no time.”
“My ship can take us there in less than two weeks.” She stated this firmly.
Murmurs of doubt spread through the crowd.
“Our fastest ships couldn't cross the distance in twice that,” said Bellisia.
Aaliyah laughed softly. “Our shipbuilders are quite skilled. And, as you will learn, the winds can be controlled.” She surveyed the crowd for a moment. “Nehrutu and Mohanisi shall remain here. I will find the location where the weapons are held.” Nehrutu and Mohanisi stepped forward. “They will help you as best they can to prepare.”
“How many are you?” asked Theopolou.
Nehrutu stepped forward. “We set sail with three ships, and are few in number. But we can help you prepare, and teach you things your people have forgotten. We will show you how the flow can be used in ways you have never imagined.”
“Can you send for more of your people?” asked Bellisia. “Will more not come?”
“It would take many months to make the crossing,” he replied. “More to gather and return. You will be destroyed long before then. I will send one ship back to our land, but do not expect help from my people. You are on your own…for now.”
“Now I would speak to your elders,” said Aaliyah. “And Shivis Mol. We have much to discuss and little time.” She addressed the gathering. “You still have many questions, I know. Tonight, Nehrutu and Mohanisi will tell tales of our home, and answer your questions.”
She stepped down from the platform. Nehrutu and Mohanisi followed. The gathering of elves gave way as they walked toward their bedrolls. She paused and looked back. “Shivis Mol. I would have you and the elders join me. I intend to leave with the dawn.” Linis and Kaylia stepped beside Gewey. Aaliyah held out her hand. “Linis should stay with Nehrutu…but Kaylia should join us.”
Gewey could see Linis tense and placed his hand on the elf's shoulder. “It's fine. I'll tell you what they say.”
Linis' eyes never left Aaliyah. “These elves have plans for you, Gewey. Be careful.”
“I am with him, Linis,” said Kaylia. “They can plan all they wish. But they still must account for me.”
This brought a smile to the elf. “I believe they think us savage and ignorant. But I would wager they have not given you full account.”
Kaylia flashed a fiendish grin and took Gewey's hand. “And that would be a mistake they would not soon forget.”
This brought a round of laughter. Then Kaylia and Gewey headed off to speak with the elves. As they neared they could see Theopolou, Chiron, Bellisia and the other elders standing in a circle with Aaliyah. Nehrutu and Mohanisi were nearby gathering together the other elves in two groups. Gewey noticed Theopolou held the Book of Souls.
Aaliyah beamed as they joined the circle. She bowed. “Shivis Mol.” She turned to Theopolou. “I see you have brought the Book of Souls. Good.”
“Gewey has already opened it once,” Theopolou reminded her again.
“Could you read it?” she asked Gewey.
“I read the cover,” he replied. “But I didn't try to read the rest. There was no time.”
Aaliyah looked at Gewey thoughtfully. “Try it now.”
Gewey took the box and opened it. The book glowed and shimmered in the fading light. Handing the empty box back to Theopolou, he slowly opened the Book. The pages glittered with intricate gold writing. As when he read the cover, at first the words meant nothing. Then slowly they changed in his mind. But this time, only a few. He stared intensely at the first page for several minutes. “I only understand some of it,” he said finally. “The rest means nothing to me.”
“I am not surprised,” said Aaliyah. “These pages were meant for a God. Although a God you are, you have not realized your full power. You only use power from the earth. There is so much more. And once you learn what I will teach you, then you will be able to read from these pages.”
“I don't understand,” said Gewey. “I use what I can feel.”
“You only feel what is easy to feel,” said Aaliyah. “The powers of water, air and spirit are more elusive.”
Gewey recalled Lee saying that because his father was Saraf, God of the Seas, he could draw power from the water. “How do I learn?”
“Through me,” she replied. “I can teach you what you need to know. But there is a price.”
Kaylia stepped forward. “What price?”
She leveled her gaze on Kaylia. “He is to come with me to seek out the weapons in the desert.”
“Is that all?” asked Gewey.
“No,” she replied flatly. “You must allow me to show you why I am the best choice for a mate.”
Kaylia's hand flew to her knife. But before she could pull it free, Aaliyah waved her arm. Heat flashed through the air and Kaylia was thrown back, nearly losing her footing. Theopolou and Gewey jump in front of her.
“Are you hurt?” asked Gewey.
Kaylia steadied herself, glaring at Aaliyah. “No. She did not hurt me.”
“Still your fury,” said Aaliyah. “Fierce though you may be, you cannot do me harm.”
Gewey looked over his shoulder at Aaliyah. “I am bonded to Kaylia…I love her. And if you do that again, you'll find out just how powerful I really am.” He let the flow swell inside him until the ground trembled.
Aaliyah lowered her eyes and stepped back. “Please, Shivis Mol. I meant no offense.”
