“A sad end to a brave girl,” Rallie said, scribbling in her papers.
Konowa could only nod in agreement. He picked himself up and brushed off the knees of his trousers. A soldier handed him his shako, which he jammed onto his head. Looking around, the sailors were all grouped together looking forlorn and lost. They were, however, armed. RSM Arkhorn had apparently seen to everything.
“Captain,” Konowa said, “this wasn’t part of the plan, although I suppose it was always the likelihood. I don’t feel right about leaving you here, but if you come with us. .”
Captain Ervod shook his head. “We’d only slow you down and be in your way. And I have wounded. We’ll get ourselves sorted and set up a defense here as best we can. Depending on what happens up there, you’ll have a place to fall back to.”
Konowa smiled. If they needed a place to fall back to, they wouldn’t need it because they’d be dead. “Be well,” Konowa said, saluting.
Captain Ervod returned it. “May a fair wind favor you.”
The flapping of wings brought everyone’s heads up. Konowa broke out into a huge grin.
“They just did.”
A huge falcon the size of a horse landed on the rocks near the group. It laid its cargo on the ground before hopping awkwardly over to Rallie who cooed and petted it. Konowa ran to Visyna and held her, ignoring the frost fire. She awoke yelling and he reluctantly let go only to be bowled over by Jir. Konowa could only offer him a couple of playful swipes before he stood up and motioned for Jir to back off.
The area grew quiet as Jurwan walked over to the body of Chayii. Konowa followed, and knelt down beside his father. “I am sorry. I feel like if I had-”
Jurwan held up his hand. “She was proud of you. Always. She may not have agreed with the path you chose, or that I helped put you on, but she never once doubted the good in you. Know that. Cherish that.”
Konowa realized he did. “We must go, Father. She’ll know we’re here.”
Jurwan stood and faced him. “Yes, you must go. I, however, will stay here with your mother.”
Konowa opened his mouth to object and then understood.
“You climbed Her mountain once. Best you stay here and help the sailors. It’s my turn now.”
Jurwan nodded. He reached out and placed his hand over Konowa’s heart, the palm of his hand resting against the black acorn.
“When all this is done, you may wish to plant this.”
Konowa gently removed his father’s hand. “It’s evil. Look what it did to you. Imagine what it could do as a tree.”
Jurwan nodded. “Perhaps, but perhaps its proximity to your heart all this time has changed it more than it has changed you.”
“I have to go now, Father,” Konowa said, stepping back. He motioned with his hand and knew RSM Arkhorn would get the troops moving. “Stay here, stay safe, and know. . know that I love you.”
“Good luck, my son,” Jurwan said.
Konowa looked at him one more time, then turned and headed up the mountain, slowing his pace so that Visyna could match his stride. Rallie came up behind them and fell into step. Konowa felt comfort, surrounded as he was, but he knew his place was at the front.
He spoke to the two women. “Whatever happens, She is mine to deal with.” It wasn’t a question.
“Konowa-” Visyna started to say, but he just stared her down.
“She is mine.” He turned to look at Rallie.
“As you wish. I’ve only ever been along for the ride,” she said.
Konowa watched her a moment longer then turned back to the path leading up the mountain. He guessed it would take until just before nightfall for them to reach the top, but he planned to sprint ahead long before then. He couldn’t explain it, but the dream was clear. It all came down to him.
“Major Alstonfar, let’s pick up the pace. The
Orders were passed along from soldier to soldier which didn’t take long as they numbered a little over five dozen. Color Sergeant Aguom ordered the unfurling of the regimental and Queen’s Colors. The two cloth symbols were raised and snapped and rippled in the wind. Konowa took a moment to watch them, feeling a sense of pride and honor. His heart beat faster to see them in the air. He looked around at his men. They were a sight. Clad in black bark with tree branches sticking from their shakos they looked more like the monsters they were about to do battle with than Calahr’s finest.
His chest swelled at the sight of them. They weren’t his elves. Those soldiers were gone, lost a long time ago. He’d never had a chance to say he was sorry, to try and make them understand why he did what he did, and why, if he had the chance to do it all again, he would do the same damn thing. All this time he’d spent searching for them, believing that finding them would set everything right, only to realize that he’d had his Iron Elves with him the whole time. This ragtag collection of misfits were his regiment. RSM Arkhorn, quite possibly the best and worst soldier to ever wear sigger green. He sought out the soldiers he knew best, looking each in the eye, perhaps for the very last time. Color Sergeant Aguom, Corporals Vulhber and Feylan, Scolly and even Zwitty. He found his eyes searching for soldiers no longer there. RSM Lorian, Privates Meri and Kester and Teeter and the religious farmer, Inkermon, and above all, Private Renwar. He could still see the slender boy looking far too young to be carrying a musket, and how he changed before his eyes into something Konowa doubted he’d ever fully understand.
He caught himself daydreaming and stomped his boot on the ground. It was time. He motioned to Major Alstonfar and the order went out.
The Iron Elves shouldered their muskets, and marched forward, and into battle.
THIRTY-EIGHT
They’d climbed almost two hours without a sign of any living creature except the sporadic carcasses of
“What killed them?” Konowa asked, walking off the trail to get a closer look at one. It didn’t look like it had been attacked, more that it had just wilted and died.
“The natural order is so polluted here, and there is nothing of value for them to feed on,” Visyna said, her voice quavering.
Konowa was worried about her. She appeared weak and ill. He felt it in the ground himself, but it only fueled his desire to get to the top. “Perhaps you should-”
Visyna glared at him and he closed his mouth.
“I am going with you all the way. If you even think of suggesting otherwise the Shadow Monarch will be the least of your worries.”
Konowa smiled in spite of the situation. “As you wish.”
The snap of a single musket broke the unnatural quiet.
“Rakkes!”
The beasts poured out of the rocks like ants from a nest. “Steady! It’s nothing we haven’t seen before,” Yimt shouted, moving quickly between the soldiers and forming them into a double line as the first row knelt and prepared to fire.
Konowa judged that he was close enough to make his run now, but something gave him pause. The rakkes coming at them were not like those of even a few hours ago. These seemed disoriented, and weak. The first volley of musket fire crashed into them, knocking down thirty and sending an equal number backward where they shrieked and beat their chests, but gave little indication of charging again.
Soldiers cheered, but Konowa didn’t trust it. This wasn’t right. First the dead
“Archers!”
The sky darkened as hundreds of arrows arced toward them. Konowa’s sense of suspicion had been right. He went to grab Visyna to push her to safety, but Rallie stepped into his path and knocked him off balance. The arrows
