Eldana had someone shout behind her, and she turned to see Meko, holding, and shaking Fraweyni. Fraweyni’s eyes glowed more than their usual golden. This was brighter. Like fire.
“Mother!” Meko shouted, trying to draw her mother’s attention.
“I think we should leave,” Kochob said, coming upon them.
“What is happening?” Siem asked.
“It is Fraweyni,” Kochob said. “She has not been this way for a very long time.”
“What is happening?” Hermon asked.
“She is annoyed, that is what is happening,” Kochob said. “You should leave. Things could get much worse.”
Just as Hermon and Siem helped Eldana turn around, the commotion slowed. Eldana looked to where Fraweyni sat and saw that the glow in her eyes was diminishing.
All the while, the orc had been watching with a smile on his face.
“What a wonderful display.” Lord Taboon’s voice boomed – but then his voice caught, and he began to choke.
Eldana sensed a burning psychic presence, going through the orc, and to the mind in control of the hex. Eldana turned with astonishment, realizing that the psychic presence was Fraweyni herself.
“Hear me, vile mage. My name is Fraweyni, Child of the First, Daughter of Tessa, Mother of the Elves.”
The skin of the orc glowered like coals and then caught fire.
“You have slain enough of my children. And we are not vacating our natural home for anyone. Again, I warn you. Disturb us again, and you will find that the wrath of the elves is the nightmare you cannot wake from.”
Lord Taboon began to laugh, even as the body of the orc was covered in flames. The smell of burning flesh pervaded the air. Eldana and her friends were forced to retreat as the flames increased in density.
“You are a dying race!” Lord Taboon shouted through the flames. “We will watch you go extinct. Hide in the Ciroc for now, but we will come for you. One day we…”
Lord Taboon’s voice was cut off, as the fire burnt the orc’s speech organs.
The fire lessened to reveal a charred black carcass. Eldana felt Fraweyni’s psychic presence withdraw. Fraweyni shut her eyes and walked out of the clearing without a word.
Siem never knew Fraweyni could be anything other than her usual bright, and happy self. She always looked untouchable, resistant to anything that she did not want to affect her. She saw another side today and knew that she never wanted to be on the wrong side of Fraweyni’s wrath.
“You did not have to see that,” Meko said, as she walked towards the group.
“Oh please, we have seen worse,” Hermon said.
“Hermon,” Siem called. “She is not talking about the burnt orc.”
“Ah,” Hermon said, quietening as he came into the realization of what Meko meant.
“She very rarely gets that way.” Meko continued. “If Lord Taboon values his life, and the joy in it, he should never come in contact with her. She bears grudges.”
“This is one threat I pray Lord Taboon carries through,” Mikko said. “The man should die already.”
“Well, the elves are not ready to go into war just yet. Though with the kind of attacks we have received, and the losses we have taken, I do not know for how long that decision will continue to stand,” Meko said.
“They know where we are now,” Eldana said. “Something has to be done about that.”
The entire group was silent. The next course of action hung in the air, haunting them. The time had come to leave the elves. Though no one had asked them to leave, yet they could not throw Lord Taboon’s threat and the chances of another attack to the wind. A bigger company of orcs might mean more trouble than the elves ever anticipated. The orcs were like pawns, wondering wherever anyone with magic wanted them. They were the loosest race on Toas, with settlements spreading far and just about anywhere there was thick forest. They had no leader.
“Well,” Meko interrupted their dark thoughts, “I should look at your injuries Eldana, and complete the healing process. You are no good to the fate of Toas like this.”
“Thank you, Meko. For everything.” Eldana smiled.
“Do not thank me yet,” Meko replied. “We should head back to the infirmary.”
Siem turned to Mikko and D’rmas. “Eldana’s healing will not take time. And we must be away from here by tomorrow at dawn. While Hermon and I take her to the infirmary, you two should begin to saddle up.”
“Aye, aye, mother.” Mikko mocked.
Siem grimaced. Mikko laughed painfully, while D’rmas grunted. Then she turned and, still supporting Eldana, followed Meko’s lead.
Eldana did not expect the healing process to be this painful. She was grateful that Meko had given her a slim piece of hard, burnished wood to bite on. Meko’s eyes were shut, but they glowed red like coals. Her hands hovered over Eldana’s limbs, and emitted a soft golden glow. Eldana felt like her insides were on fire. She could feel everything moving inside of her. Blood, bone, muscle, tissue. Everything screamed in pain, but she had to be awake to complete the healing process or she would sail away into the light. Siem held her comfortingly, while Hermon stood to one side, watching the process.
Gradually, Eldana’s agitations began to drop as the pain she felt subsided. And then the glow on Meko’s hands dissipated. She opened her eyes.
Eldana was heaving, and sweating profusely. She sat up, and let the piece of wood fall from her mouth.
“How do you feel?” Meko asked. “Any pain?”
“Are you kidding me?” Eldana asked, her eyes widening with excitement. “It hurt so bad, yes. But I feel like a whole new being right now.”
Siem and Hermon’s faces brightened at this, a small piece of good news on an otherwise dark day.
“Do I have the ability to heal?” Eldana asked Meko.
“The being of Balance and Chaos can learn almost all the kind of magics available. That you do not
