It was useless, she knew. There were no good excuses for her actions. Doing the elders’ bidding would mean nothing to Lana. She hadn’t been raised by them and it hadn’t been drilled into her daily that she must always follow orders, no matter what. She would never be able to understand. Only another elf that worked for them could know.
She was standing at the crest of a hill with Ilann and Lana, looking at the towering forest palace in the distance, when one of the elf followers hurried up to them. She was a younger elf, perhaps sixteen, with curly red hair and a spray of freckles across her face. She fell to her knees before Lana, weeping.
“Stand, please!” Lana exclaimed, obviously unhappy with this show of reverence. “What in the world is the matter?”
The young woman straightened but continued weeping. “It’s Jase, my lady,” she said. The followers had taken to calling her by that title because they couldn’t bring themselves to use her name. “He’s sick, please come see to him!” And with that, the young woman turned and fled, looking occasionally back to see if they were following.
Lana took off after her and the crowd parted easily, Nym and Ilann close behind. Eventually, they found a cluster of elves surrounding the body of a young male elf on the ground. He was obviously in a great deal of pain. Lana knelt and put a hand on him and he went still. After a time, she looked up and addressed the girl.
“He will be well,” she told her, calmly. “Don’t fret.”
Lana stood and walked away, not hurrying. Nym followed her and when they were far enough away that other elves couldn’t hear, Lana stopped and stared off in the distance.
“Nym, that was a man, not a child,” she said quietly.
Nym understood the significance of what she was saying. This boy had been young but not nearly as young as the children who had been falling ill. He was closer to an adult. She felt a stab of panic. The sickness had spread.
“We must go, quickly,” Lana said, turning to face them. “We cannot delay reaching Thelsamel and warning the elders. This situation is dire.” And with that, she turned and began running toward the palace, not looking back to see if anyone was following.
Nym watched Lana for a moment, her tall figure silhouetted against the sky, that curious staff in hand, her presence shining in Nym’s mind like the sun breaking through the clouds.
She looked up at Ilann and he looked at her. Nym’s concern was mirrored in his eyes and he slowly leaned down and kissed her forehead. She closed her eyes and said a silent prayer to the earth to shelter all elves and protect them from this terrible fate. Nym took Ilann’s hand and they hurried after Lana, jogging to catch up. The followers weren’t far behind and a quiet had fallen over them all. A quiet that spoke of fear and dread.
* * *
Thelsamel was a bustling elven city. An entire forest had grown, the trees twisted this way and that, in order to form the buildings. The Great Tree rose from the center of the palace, towering over the city, its top lost in the clouds. The stories said that the Great Tree was the source of all life in Eva and Nym was relieved to see that it was still doing well. She could feel its presence, all peace and tranquility.
Elves were everywhere tending to their daily business. Some shopkeepers stood outside offering various goods for trade. There were far more palace guards around than Nym had ever remembered seeing before and that was concerning. She also spied some elves hurrying away with a stretcher between them, carrying a small form covered in a blanket.
“It’s here, too,” she said sadly. “I had hoped…”
“There is no safe place,” Lana told her flatly. Nym could see how angry her friend was after seeing that little form under the blankets.
Wasting no time, Lana marched directly to the palace entrance and stood in front of the guards as if she was waiting for them to escort her inside. Nym hurried to stand behind her, Ilann in her wake.
“I’m Nym, the elders are expecting me,” she told them. “I come with urgent news that they must hear right away. They are also expecting this woman, Lana.” She nodded her head toward her friend.
The guards immediately parted to allow them through. Nym turned Ilann.
“Would you please stay here with the followers?” she asked him. “You are not expected by the elders and Lana and I will have much to explain. It may be some time before we can send for you.”
“Of course,” he said warmly, putting a hand on her arm affectionately. Then, he turned and started gathering the crowd around him.
Nym led Lana through the corridors, not stopping to speak to anyone. When they reached the central chamber, she finally paused. Taking a deep breath to steady her nerves, she pushed open the doors and entered.
There was a scattering of elves inside the chamber, most of them scribes or messengers. Nym saw a face she recognized and she waved him over.
“Sen, please send for the elders, we must speak with them immediately.” He directed a curious look at Lana but turned to do as she asked.
While Nym and Lana waited for the elders, they had to endure some quizzical looks from the elves who were gathered in the great hall, also waiting to be heard. Ignoring them, Lana walked around the room, carefully inspecting it, then finally placed a hand upon
